Tis the season to be smiling…

Traffic jams, airport delays and tired toddlers – travelling at Christmas, especially with children, can be, how shall we put it, interesting.

‘Tis the season to jolly, but research also shows that over a quarter of us feel the strain and admit to feeling stressed around Christmas. Even if you’re flying off to an exotic destination travelling can put pressure on you – as it could no doubt mean meltdowns, squabbles and tired tots.

However, there is some prep you can do before you get in the car, or make your way to the airport, we speak to Leah Davis, founder of RyRy Compact who shares a few tips with us – allowing you to start of your festive holidays with a smile on your face.

Give Santa a heads up

You’ll be stressing about the turkey and making sure all the presents are wrapped, but Leah says that the most important worry for kids is: How will Father Christmas know where we are? ‘This is a problem that’s easily solved, get your children to let him know in their Christmas letter.

‘If you’re a fan of Elf on the Shelf, get your kids to tell your Elf what your travel plans are and where you’ll be on Christmas Day – just don’t forget to make sure that Elf comes with you!’ Sorted!

Pack their favourites

Although a holiday is a great way to ‘vacate’ your lives for a few days, the kids will want some of their home comforts with them: ‘A few of your kid’s favourite Christmas toys could make all the difference,’ explains Leah.

‘They will help to make your holiday accommodation or hotel room feel more festive – even if it’s just a favourite Christmas stocking or festive pyjamas. Also remember that the festive spirit can come in reciting a favourite Christmas poem or story, which will also help pass the time for those long car journeys with kids.’

Plan, plan, plan

Have you made a list and checked it twice? Planning ahead is they key to less stress over the Christmas period, especially if you’re travelling, says Leah: ‘Include your kids in the planning – they might actually turn out to be helpful and enjoy the sense of responsibility.’

This also includes where you’re going and how you’ll be getting there: ‘Talk them through the travel plans and build a sense of excitement for each stage of your journey, I find this also helps to remove any anxiety they might have around travelling during the festive season.’
Take your own car seat

We know you’re going abroad, and you don’t want the stress of carrying too much stuff. But, have you ever tried to hire a car seat with your rental car? ‘It’s a somewhat disappointing experience,’ says Leah. ‘They are invariably a health hazard waiting to happen. Anti-bacterial wipes aren’t even going to solve this one for you. Save yourself this level of hassle by taking one with you.’

Gift ahead

Thinking ahead, aka present buying and sending them direct will mean more room for the kids and their toys in the car: ‘This will save on time, space and stress as you can rest assured that the perfect gift for mother-in-law is already sitting in Manchester wrapped and ready to go,’ says Leah.

‘But, it’s always worth packing an extra roll of wrapping paper and sticky tape just in case you pick up any last-minute gifts along the way.’

Steamy, multi-cultural, and hugely underrated, Malaysia is Southeast Asia’s unsung tropical hero. Marrying tradition, nature, and modernity, it’s a country of space-age cityscapes, Islamic minarets, and gilded Chinese shrines. A world where South Indian temples back onto million-year-old rainforests. This mish-mash can confuse first-timers.

From what to pack to navigating the nation’s confounding ethnic and religious tapestry, these are the top things to know before you embark on a trip to Malaysia – an experience that can often feel like being in several countries at once.

Planning your trip to Malaysia

Malaysia is a dazzlingly diverse country

Be prepared for many types of culture shock. In multi-ethnic yet predominantly Islamic Peninsular Malaysia, a 69.8% majority of Malay Muslims share the land with ethnic Chinese, Tamil Indians, and a dozen aboriginal groups categorized as orang asli (original peoples). This means that red lantern-studded Chinese temples sit next to Hindu gopurams (temple gates) and the onion-shaped domes of intricate, modern mosques. Prayers go up to the sky in three main languages – Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, and Tamil – and to three main religions: Islam, Chinese Taoism and Hinduism.

A short flight away across the South China Sea, the East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah in Borneo feel like another world. The former has some 26 different ethnic groups, most of whom are Christian or Protestant, while Sabah is home to another 33 who communicate in over 50 languages and 80 dialects.

Pack for an eternal summer – but carry a light jacket

Tropical Malaysia enjoys steamy temperatures hovering around 86°F (30°C) year long. All you really need to pack are light, loose fitting cotton clothes to best cope with heat and humidity, and a pair of sneakers and flip-flops. If you forget anything you can pick it up here. Also pack a hoodie or light jacket to prepare for the Malaysian habit of keeping air conditioning to frosty levels, especially inside shopping malls, buses and trains.

Technology is widely available…

Kuala Lumpur must be one of the world’s most futuristic cities, with ever-expanding highways, towers and skyscrapers eternally contending for space. Beyond the capital, there’s excellent 4G mobile network coverage and fast wifi at most hotels and guest houses across the nation. Celcom is the best operator when traveling the Peninsula’s jungly interior and Borneo.

…but carry cash in the interior

ATMS (cashpoints) are widely available, but thin out in the countryside, and are often hard to find outside of Borneo’s main cities. Stock up on the local currency, the Malaysian ringgit (equal to US$0.24 at the time of writing) if planning to go off the grid.

The food is something to write home about

The delightfully spicy intricacies of Malaysian food (a concoction of curries, southern Chinese cuisines, and pan-Indian dishes that never stop intermarrying) are best consumed fresh off the street, served without embellishments by cranky local “uncles” – slang for older person – on plastic plates.

The alternative is to sit and rub elbows with locals at a food court, or “hawker center” – large open areas, usually covered by a rooftop, packed with simple food stalls squeezed one against the other.

Partying is a bit more expensive

Compared to its backpacker-centric Southeast Asian neighbors Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, Malaysia is a more expensive party destination because of heavy taxes on alcohol, which is forbidden to Muslims. The rest of the population is free to drink, but forced to pay a higher price.

Alcohol is widely available in major tourist cities like Kuala Lumpur, George Town, Ipoh, Melaka and Johor Bahru while in smaller towns, beer is most often available at Chinese-run businesses. The best antidote to steep drinks and cigarette prices is a visit to the tax-free islands of Langkawi and Tioman.

Etiquette in Malaysia

Dress casual but modest

Due to the constant punishing heat, Malaysia’s dress code is very casual. Wearing short pants, sandals, flip-flops and t-shirts is the accepted norm everywhere, but is considered rude when visiting public offices, where long slacks, close-toed shoes and collared shirts are expected. In Malaysia’s many kampung (villages), avoid revealing outfits to comply with local religious sensibilities.

Modesty is also essential when choosing your beach wear. Bikinis and speedos are fine at big hotels, resorts and the tourist islands off the East Coast, such as Pulau Perhentian and Pualu Redang. But it’s best to wear one piece bathing suits and knee-length swimming trunks on any other beach, where the locals dip fully clothed.

It’s OK to speak in English, if you don’t know Malay

Picking up some survival Bahasa Malaysia (Malay language), the national lingo, is pretty straightforward – with its Roman alphabet and absence of tones, it’s one of the easiest Asian languages to learn. But it’s fine to speak English, especially with Malaysian Chinese and Indians, whose mother tongues are not Malay. Blame it on the British colonization, but practically everyone can communicate in English, and most prefer to do so when talking to foreigners.

You might be unknowingly rude

When pointing at someone or something, use the thumb and not the index finger, which is considered rude in Malaysia. Always keep your voice down, for raising the tone is an absolute no-no – like asking direct questions, which many Malaysians may take as “losing face” or an invasion of their personal space.

When shaking hands, always remember to use your right hand, for the left is considered “toilet hand” in any Islamic culture. The only dining etiquette that matters in Malaysia is to never use the left hand when trying to eat with fingers like many locals do.

Respect nature, and its spirits

When a bunch of foreign tourists bared their bottoms on top of Mount Kinabalu in 2015, enraged Kadazan-Dusun locals blamed their act for the consequent magnitude 5.9 earthquake that killed at least 16 and snapped one of the sacred mountain top’s two iconic “Donkey Ear” outcrops.

Malaysians are very superstitious: The animist beliefs that predate the arrival of Islam to the Malay Peninsula have helped foster an uncanny supernatural world in which nature plays a crucial role. For example, it’s common to “ask for permission” before urinating in the jungle, from where locals never bring anything back for fear of piggybacking a curse into their own homes.

Whenever a group enters a forest, it’s best to give out nicknames or not call out each other at all – spirits are always listening. The orang bunian (invisible forest-dwelling creatures comparable to elves) can trick hikers and campers into following them deep into the jungle to never be seen again.

Health and safety in Malaysia

Call 999 for any emergency

A single three-digit number, 999, connects to the police, the fire department, the ministry of health, the maritime enforcement agency and the Department of Civil Defence. Dial 999 112 if calling from a mobile phone.

Boil the tap water

Because of increasing pollution of water sources and aging buildings fitted with rusted pipes, it’s always best to boil tap water before drinking, or buy mineral water. Most hotels allow guests to refill their water containers. Carrying a water filtration system or purifying tablets can come handy when striking out on multi-day hikes.

Vaccines are recommended

It is advisable to travel to Malaysia after being inoculated against Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid. Malaria is generally not an issue in cities and most forested areas, so a prophylaxis is not strictly necessary. Dengue fever occurs sporadically in cities, but as there are no vaccines for it, the best strategy is to not get bitten by mosquitoes – use heavy duty insect repellent.

Malaysia is one of Asia’s top medical tourism destinations and boasts private hospitals equipped with excellent facilities. Make sure to have proper health insurance cover, or be ready to pay for the premium.

Beware of snatch thieves

Traveling in Malaysia is generally a pretty safe experience for travelers of both sexes, but whether they travel solo or in groups, female travelers should pay attention when walking along the busiest roads of capital Kuala Lumpur – keep your bags away from the roadside, for motorbike snatch thieves are well-known to target women, and some attacks have resulted in a victim’s death.

Lots of people would absolutely love to travel more, but sadly, few actually end up doing it. For many, there’s always some obstacle that gets in the way, like thinking they don’t have enough money or vacation time.

I’ve had those same hesitations, so I get it. But if you really want to travel more, you can make it happen, and you definitely don’t need to wait years to do it. Here are all the ways you can go on some exciting new adventures in 2023.

1. Start planning now

The best way to turn traveling from a dream into reality is to start seriously planning it. If you’re just hoping to travel more next year, without taking any action, you probably won’t end up doing anything differently than before. When you figure out where you want to go, how much money you’ll need, and when you’ll do it, you’re much more likely to follow through.

2. Set up a travel savings fund

Money is usually the main reason that people don’t travel as much as they’d like. It’s a good idea to set up savings specifically for travel so that you don’t need to go into debt to take a trip.

If you haven’t already, open a high-yield savings account, since these offer the highest interest rates. You can normally set up multiple sub-savings accounts toward different goals. So, make a sub-account with a name like “Travel Fund,” and start transferring money to it every month.

3. Find expenses you can cut back on

When you hear about someone who travels all the time, you might wonder, “How do they do it?” There’s hardly ever a real secret. They’ve made traveling a priority, and they don’t spend much on other expenses so that they have more to spend on it.

To free up more money for your travel savings, look for ways to cut expenses elsewhere in areas that aren’t as important to you. For example, if you’re always buying the latest smartphones and other devices, consider whether you’d rather have those or that trip to Europe you’ve always dreamed of.

4. Look for remote working opportunities

One great way to make travel work for you financially is by working remotely while on your trips. Consider looking at job boards with remote work or seeing if there’s a way to work remotely at your current job, even if it’s just from time to time.

I know that working while you travel probably doesn’t sound like the most appealing thing in the world. Trust me, you can have a fantastic time on a vacation while getting some work done, as well. And working remotely makes it possible to travel much more than if you were taking time off for every trip.

5. Open a travel credit card

A travel credit card earns rewards that you can redeem toward travel purchases, such as airfare and hotel stays. Many of the best travel credit cards also include lots of other perks, like points you can transfer to different airlines and hotels or access to airport lounges. The right card, or perhaps multiple credit cards, could help you travel at a much lower cost.

6. Visit places in the offseason

Prices are normally much lower when you visit destinations in their offseasons. For example, Europe is most expensive during the summer, but you can have just as much fun visiting in the spring or fall. For trips to popular destinations, be flexible about when you go, and you have a much better chance of finding cheap travel opportunities.

7. Sign up for travel deal alerts

There are lots of places where you can get alerts on the latest travel deals. These work especially well if you’re flexible about when you travel. Here are a few of the most popular places to set up travel alerts:

• Skyscanner
• Kayak
• Google Flights
• Hopper
• Scott’s Cheap Flights

8. Go on shorter trips

Not every trip needs to be a big, two-week vacation somewhere far away from home. One of the easiest ways to travel more often is to add shorter trips that you can take over a long weekend. Look for places that are within driving distance or that you can reach with a quick flight. These are a nice way to get a break from your normal routine without spending much time or money.

9. Consider more affordable destinations

There are travel destinations to fit pretty much any budget. If you want to travel somewhere without breaking the bank, it’s all a matter of choosing the right place. You could try Latin America or Southeast Asia, both of which offer lots of incredible and affordable places to visit.

Or, if there’s a specific country you want to visit, try going somewhere other than the most popular tourist attraction. Sure, Paris is far from cheap, but there are plenty of other cities that will allow you to experience France without paying nearly as much.

10. Spend smart while you travel

It’s easier to travel often if you get good at managing your money while you’re away from home. But if you spend too much, then you’ll probably need to wait a while before you can afford another trip.

My preferred approach is to find a middle ground between budget-friendly options and splurging. I’ll go to some nice restaurants and spring for more expensive activities that really interest me. However, I’ll also buy food to eat at my hotel, find cheaper places to grab a bite, and do low-cost activities, like visiting parks and museums.

Traveling doesn’t need to be something you dream about doing years in the future. If you make it a priority, and you follow the right tips, you’ll be able to visit plenty of new places in 2023.

Maybe you have one of those internal thermostats. If your home’s indoor temperature is even 1 degree cooler than usual, you get a chill. And if it’s 1 degree warmer than normal, you register that, too. Whether your body is sensitive to temperature changes or you’re prone to picking up bugs, it’s normal to be a little worried about staying healthy while you travel. After all, you’ll probably be frequently moving from indoors to out, pushing through changes in humidity, and maybe climbing on and off airplanes, where you may be sitting near an infectiously ill person for a long period of time, per Inside Science.

Couple these influences with some natural travel hiccups, such as erratic sleep and unusual food, and it becomes clear that it’s wise to take proactive steps to stay healthy while you travel. Because as fun as travel can be, there’s no denying it can tax your body and play upon a weakened immune system, Complete Care says.

Health experts are remarkably consistent in offering advice, which should bolster your confidence — and ensure you look back on happy and healthy travels.

Conquer jet lag

Jet lag may seem like the absolute worst way to begin a vacation. But actually, it could be worse: Trying to beat jet lag by “knocking yourself out” with alcohol will make it worse, as will pumping yourself up with caffeine, Advanced Infectious Disease Medical says.

Before jet lag triggers a domino effect — from fatigue to sickness — do your best to adjust as best you can to the current time zone. Your goal is to make the adjustment as soon as possible while drinking plenty of water. It will keep you hydrated, along with aiding in digestion and detoxing bacteria from your bladder, Harvard Medical School explains.

Pack a first-aid kit

The guy standing in line with a portable first-aid kit may attract chuckles, much like that kid in grade school who made people laugh with his bulging pencil case. But remember how many people ended up relying on that resourceful kid?

Complete Care recommends following this practical lead by either buying a ready-made first aid kit or assembling your own with over-the-counter pain relievers, anti-nausea meds, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and anti-bacteria wipes. Bring your usual meds, too, and keep your kit with you rather than tucking it in a carry-on.

Keep your hands clean

Whether you’re at home or traveling, hand washing is the best way to protect yourself from germs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises. The necessity for keeping your hands clean is magnified when you’re on the road, since the potential for touching germy substances increases, too. Be especially careful not to touch your nose, eyes, and mouth with dirty hands.

Soap and running water can be hard to find, so keep a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer with you at all times, the U.S. Travel Insurance Association recommends.

Stay hydrated

Heat stroke is probably more common than you think — and it strikes with lightning speed. It can take only 15 minutes for the body’s internal temperature to soar to 106 degrees Fahrenheit in the hot, stifling sun, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And then all types of maladies can occur, including loss of consciousness.

Keep your body cool by making a water bottle your constant travel companion. Since you can lose track of your water intake in a snap while you travel, New York-Presbyterian’s website Health Matters recommends starting the day by downing two glasses of water so you can get a jump on this good habit.

Walk or bike, but move

It can be a challenge to tip the scales just right when it comes to food. You don’t want to fall asleep completely exhausted from exertion but you don’t want to be stuffed to the gills from overeating, either. Maintaining a steady amount of exercise by walking during your travels will keep your blood flowing and ensure you stay balanced and healthy, Travel Bugs World explains.

Plus, there’s nothing quite like visiting a new town or tourist attraction on foot (or, if you prefer, by bike). It takes longer, which fitness enthusiasts often say is precisely the point.

Get plenty of rest

If you’ve ever heard someone who has just returned from vacation announce that they now need a vacation, you can be almost certain they overdid it while they were gone. You may never know whether they ate too much, drank too much, or danced too much, but chances are they didn’t sleep enough. And this is exactly when people are most likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus — when they already feel tired and run down, Mayo Clinic says.

No one says you have to go “lights out” by 10 p.m. every night while you’re away, but getting seven or eight hours of sleep will help your immune system recharge and stay resilient.

Eat nutritious food

If you equate traveling to adventure, then you may make some thrilling food choices while you’re away. It’s part of the fun of having an adventurer’s spirit. But there are limits while you travel, especially if you assume your digestive system will be okay with you eating anything you want and as much as you want, all hours of the day.

Be sure to send postcards to your nearest and dearest if this occurs. You should have plenty of time to address them as you roll on the bed, clutching your stomach in pain.

To avoid that, stick to a nutritious diet while you travel, You’ll give your body one less reason to revolt on the way home.