Do not be paranoid, enjoy the outdoors as they revive you holistically. Avoid strenuous activity or extreme terrain, advises Dr Atul Mathur, Executive Director-Interventional Cardiology and Chief of Cath Lab, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute

Just because you have had a cardiac event — be it heart attack, heart failure, stroke, coronary artery disease (CAD), cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heart rate), a heart surgery or stenting — doesn’t mean you cannot go on a holiday. Of course, strenuous travel is ruled out for people who have just had a procedure, intervention or developed a condition. For this lot of people, you must sit out and stabilise before venturing out. Others just have to get their health status reviewed before they proceed on a vacation, plan their days, identify triggers and stressors and go prepared with a medical kit. All everybody needs to do is to follow the advisory and not over-exert themselves. And do not forget to carry your latest heart reports. Keep them handy so that no time is lost should there be an emergency.

PRE-TRAVEL ROUTINE

Consult your cardiologist and run a fresh series of tests like ECG, stress tests, TMT and echocardiography. If you experience any abnormal discomfort while doing these tests or while walking, such as breathlessness or chest pain, report them to your doctor. Do not travel till he/she clears you.

IN THE HILLS

Most cardiac patients are under the impression that while the beach is a safe option, they cannot travel to the hills. We are often asked a particular question, “Can I go up to 10,000 feet, say Leh, with stents and bypass?” Even normal persons can have severe breathlessness on reaching high altitude if they start exerting before getting acclimatised. The same rule applies to all cardiac patients with normal heart function. Those with impaired heart function, however, need proper evaluation by their physician before planning a trip to Leh. If they do not qualify, the Himalayas at lower altitudes are no less beautiful.

If you are in a high altitude terrain, you should take Diamox over and above the prescribed medication. Also, keep yourself informed about the nearest medical facility. Seaside is always considered a better option as the fresh breeze airs out your lungs and oxygenates you well enough.

TELEMEDICINE OPTIONS

Teleconsult is legally allowed in our country and can be arranged with your own physician or other sources. Several wearable devices like Apple Watch can monitor the heart rate but the most important factor is to monitor your SpO2 levels.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

Most cardiac patients can travel safely. Only those with weak hearts and ongoing active conditions should seek prior screening by a physician. If you are on a long haul flight, take plenty of fluids and frequent walks down the aisle. This eliminates the possibility of developing venous clots. It is for the same reason that you need to flex and move your ankle joints. Make sure you are carrying your travel insurance.

TAKE YOUR MEDICINE ON TIME

No matter what time zone you are in, please take your medication as prescribed at the right time and maintain the gap between doses. You can always reset your watch to India time to follow this regime.

Take a blood pressure monitor with you. Don’t forget to carry your medicines, including emergency ones, and keep some extra strips just in case you’ve had to overstay for some reason. Do not skip medicines while travelling.

Do not be paranoid, enjoy the outdoors as they revive you holistically. However, do not ignore chest pain, breathlessness or exhaustion and seek the opinion of your doctor immediately.

Travelers can easily explore five of of the most amazing national parks and everything in between because of Utah’s strategic position at the crossroads of the western United States. The geography of Utah is diverse, including high desert plateaus, alpine meadows, snow-capped peaks, and wetlands with plenty of birds.

In addition to endless outdoor activity, the diversified landscape is home to a variety of national parks and monuments, state parks, and cultural and historic events. It’s easier to see it all with a multi-week road trip. Therefore, your best bet is to pick a region you plan to start with, then return time and time again.

Utah is a friendly, beautiful, diverse, and eclectic place. If you don’t have a specific plan, you may get bogged down with decisions about where and how to travel. Here are some tips for traveling in Utah that will help you make the most of your time:

1. Travel by Car

Driving is the best way to navigate this large state and the quickest option for domestic tourists to get to Utah. With your car, whether rented or owned, you have the freedom to tour towns and national parks at your own pace. The trip can easily be done in an RV as well.

In your vehicle, you can experience the Scenic Byway, renowned for its spectacular views. The Mount Nebo Loop in Utah is one of the most beautiful drives in the country.

2. Carry a Credit Card and Cash

Most establishments accept credit cards. However, having some cash on hand is also a good idea. There are banks all around the state that provide reasonable exchange rates, and a lot of places have ATMs. Both McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City International Airport provide currency exchange desks.

3. Know the Controlled Substance Laws

In Utah, alcoholic beverages may only be purchased and consumed by those who are at least 21 years old. A passport is essential for international passengers as photographic identification of age.

Most eateries, bars, and nightclubs have permits to sell only beer and wine. In addition, alcohol cannot be sold on some reservations, including the Navajo Reservation in Monument Valley, according to regional tribal laws.

Furthermore, it is against the law in Utah to buy tobacco products if you are under 19 years old. Smoking is not permitted in any enclosed indoor public space except in limited instances.

4. Check the Weather

Utah’s weather is often relatively mild. Utah is semiarid with a lot of sunshine and dry, high-country air. However, everywhere in Utah has a different climate, from the distinctive desert environment of the American Southwest to whiteout blizzard conditions on high Rocky Mountain routes. This is because Utah has an elevation range of more than 3,350 meters. You can enjoy Utah to the fullest with an additional water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat to provide shade. Additionally, it’s critical to maintain hydration and prevent altitude sickness.

5. Get the Digital Travel Guide

Order and download free travel guides to carefully explore Utah’s red rock, picturesque byways, ski slopes, distinctive history, metropolitan culture, and much more. If you want to learn more about Utah, start with the official Utah Travel Guide, which details the five national parks, ski areas, the metropolitan Wasatch Front, and all the charming towns and roads in between. Also make sure to online safety recommendations when downloading digital content.

6. Spend Some Time Off the Beaten Path

Some of the best travel experiences happen when you lay down your map and just explore a new location. You can discover some wonderful spots when you have no plan and no idea what you’re looking for. Also, remember to bring sturdy walking shoes and make sure you’ve already broken them in. Utah is a big place!

7. Talk to the Locals and Find out Their Favorite Spots

Locals are the most knowledgeable about their own area. Therefore, make an effort to interact with locals whenever you can. Whether it’s a waiter at a restaurant, a bartender, or the person seated next to you at dinner the night before, find out what they recommend. It may make the difference between an OK and an OMG! vacation. Ask them about their favorite hobbies, the best restaurants that only locals know about, the coolest shops, and the locations that the majority of tourists wouldn’t be able to learn about in travel guides. Of course, not everyone will share your taste, but asking locals for recommendations is a terrific way to get started on your own trip research and find some incredible locations.

8. Plan Loosely but Allow for Spontaneity.

When traveling to Utah, it’s wise to plan far enough ahead of time to give your vacation some structure. However, it’s also a good idea to leave some opportunity for improvisation. Maybe you made a reservation for dinner and then a local urges you to see this undiscovered gem of a place, or maybe you had a day trip to one town planned, but a fellow tourist tells you about an amazing excursion they went on in the opposite way. In any event, traveling with a flexible schedule allows for last-minute alterations to give you the best experience on your trip.

As a travel enthusiast, your first passion would undoubtedly be to explore new places. But the pain of staying away from your pets can discourage you to book those dreamy trips. However, there’s a way to keep your pets close as you enjoy the picturesque view of the mountains or have a fun day out at the beach. Wondering how? Well, you can book a trip to one of the most pet-friendly tourist destinations listed below. Earlier, travelling with pets was a huge challenge, but today, vacationing with your fur balls has become much more feasible and easy, all thanks to pet-friendly destinations and hotels.

A list of five pet-friendly destinations where you can travel with your pets this year. Take a look!

Finland

You can visit Finland’s vibrant capital Helsinki with your pet along with Finnish Lakeland and Kvarken Archipelago for the best travel experience. You can step out for a camping adventure or visit a lighthouse on an isolated island to enjoy the picturesque view of the sea.

Berlin

Germany has plenty of pet-friendly hotels, shops, restaurants and parks. While vacationing in the region, you must visit one of the many dog-friendly beaches on the Baltic coast and walk along the Upper Palatinate and Bavarian Forest on the Goldsteig Trail.

St Croix, US Virgin Islands, Caribbean

If you are longing for turquoise water and pristine beaches, consider taking a cruise on The Queen Mary 2 to US Virgin Islands. You will find comfortable accommodation for both yourself and your fur baby in this luxury liner. You can stop at St. Croix and look for establishments that happily welcome leashed dogs. Enjoy a sunset walk along the pristine beaches with your pet and make unforgettable memories that you can cherish for life.

Auckland

Auckland is a paradise for pets and pet parents. This place in New Zealand offers amazing pet-friendly accommodations along with hiking trails, dog-friendly beaches and tons of off-leash dog parks to choose from.

Tasmania

Tasmania has miles and miles of hiking trails, both on and off the beaten path, which you can explore with your pet. Many who visit this place say that its pet-friendly atmosphere can tempt any pet parent to stay there permanently. This place is often called the best vacation spot for an energetic dog.

Feel like you haven’t had a proper summer holiday, but Christmas has left you strapped for cash?

Don’t despair – it’s not too late to squeeze in a break. And there are some incredible close-to-home options that won’t break the bank.

From wallet-friendly island escapes to road trip destinations with a wealth of free attractions and activities, here are five cheap and cheerful summer getaway ideas.

Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua

Anywhere else in the world, you’d pay hundreds – even thousands – a night to stay on a private island. But you can spend the night on Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua in Otago Harbour for $20.

As the name suggests, the 15-hectare island was previously used as a quarantine station, but these days it’s a public recreation reserve where visitors are welcome.

St Martin Lodge is the only accommodation on the island, and can sleep up to 30 people, in a combination of bunk and small bedrooms. It costs $20 per adult, or $50 for a family of two adults and two children.

Port to Port Cruises offers boat transfers from Port Chalmers. The 25-minute trip costs $30 return per adult.

New Plymouth

New Plymouth is perfect North Island summer road trip destination. There are so many amazing things to do and see in this sunny city that won’t cost you a cent.

Time your trip around the TSB Festival of Lights, which this year runs until January 22. This free event sees Pukekura Park transformed into an after-dark wonderland of light installations.

Take the time to stroll along the Coastal Walkway, a 13km path which hugs the sea, while families will love the free Brooklands Zoo, home to everything from farmyard animals to cotton-top tamarins and squirrel monkeys.

Rotoroa Island

Many are familiar with the wonders of Waiheke Island, but right beside it is a lesser-known island escape – Rotoroa Island, an 80-hectare sanctuary home to kiwi, takahē, and many more endangered native species.

There’s plenty to keep humans occupied, too. Follow a walking track or take a guided nature walk ($20 per person). You can also visit the museum to find out more about the island’s fascinating history (it was previously home to New Zealand’s first and longest-running addiction treatment centre). Or take your pick of four beautiful beaches, safe for swimming and snorkelling.

The 75-minute ferry ride will cost you $60 return. You can visit for the day, or stay overnight – there are a handful of holiday homes, including the communal Superintendent’s House, where you can stay for $50 per person. The island is blissfully undeveloped, so you’ll need to bring in your own provisions.

Vanished World Trail, Waitaki

For a South Island road trip, the Waitaki District is hard to beat.

Here you’ll find the Vanished World Trail – a self-guided drive that takes you to many spectacular locations, including a site where you can see ancient Māori rock art, the iconic Elephant Rocks, and the Valley of Whales – where bones that are tens of millions of years old have been found.

Pick up a map from the Vanished World Centre in Duntroon. The centre itself boasts an impressive selection of fossils, including a shark-toothed dolphin and the skull of a four-legged whale.

You can even head to the extraction room to hunt for your own fossils – the experience costs $10 for adults, and is free for kids.

Mātiu/Somes Island

Despite being smack-bang in the middle of Wellington Harbour, Mātiu/Somes Island feels a world away from the buzzing capital.

The 25-hectare island is run by the Department of Conservation as a pest-free scientific and historic reserve, home to kākāriki, tuatara, giant wētā and little blue penguins.

You can visit the historic lighthouse, or climb up to the anti-aircraft gun emplacements from World War II, enjoying the spectacular views over Wellington, Lower Hutt and the Eastern Bays. If you’ve struck a good day, you can even go for a swim at the main beach near the ferry wharf.

Until January 31, the ferry is half-price ($12.50 return for an adult). You can visit for the day or stay overnight, either camping ($15 per night for adults) or in one of two houses which can be booked by groups – either the Education House, which sleeps up to 12 from $220 per night, or the Caretakers Cottage, which sleeps up to nine from $200 per night.