A long summer road trip is a great way to explore and enjoy the warm weather. However, sitting in the car for long periods can cause joint stiffness and poor circulation. Here are a few tips for staying comfortable on the road.

1. Plan your stops. Before you hit the road, plan rest stops at various points of interest. This will allow you to take a short walk and stretch your legs while enjoying new sights.

2. Drink plenty of water. People often drink as little water as possible to avoid pit stops. However, this increases your chances of becoming dehydrated. When dehydrated, your body stores energy by decreasing blood circulation. Make sure to sip on water regularly.

3. Perform simple exercises. If your legs start to feel achy and pulling over isn’t an option, flex your feet, wiggle your legs, or do some sitting calf raises to encourage healthy blood flow and prevent blood clots.

4. Wear loose-fitting clothes. Tight-fitting clothes like skinny jeans and leggings can restrict blood flow to your legs. It’s best to wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing while on the road for several hours.

5. Invest in compression garments. Purchase medical-grade compression garments, like socks or stockings, to assist with circulation while sitting. Talk to your doctor about medication options if you’re at risk for blood clots.

Stay safe and enjoy yourself this summer!

While on vacation or a work trip, it is crucial to take extra care of your eyes

Travelling involves long days and could include flights or road trips, which could strain your eyes. Therefore, taking extra care of your eye health while travelling is imperative. For this reason, we contacted leading health experts to learn about easy ways to care for your eyes while travelling. Please note that these are general recommendations. If you have any pre-existing eye conditions, speak to a healthcare professional before your trip; if you experience persistent eye discomfort while on your trip, it is best to seek medical attention. Here are 7 simple ways to protect your eyes while travelling.

Eye health: 7 expert tips to protect your eyes while travelling

Take Breaks from Gadgets

While on your trip, be mindful of the time you spend in front of a screen. “Prioritise your eye health while travelling by observing the 20-20-20 rule and taking regular breaks from digital gadgets. Look away from the screen every 20 minutes and concentrate for 20 seconds on anything 20 feet away. This keeps your eyes rejuvenated and lessens eye strain,” says Prateek Kumar, fitness expert, nutritionist, and founder of FitCru.

Also, be aware of where you are using your gadgets. “A big no to watching gadgets in a moving vehicle, especially on a road trip or a train. Focusing the eyes on the constantly moving gadgets due to the jerks puts extreme stress on the eyes. Additionally, on long-distance road trips, drivers can suffer from ‘highway hypnosis,’ which can prove fatal. Taking breaks every two hours, washing your eyes with plain cold water, and keeping yourself hydrated with plenty of fluids are the proven ways to care for the eyes,” adds Dr. Pramod Mane, wellbeing director – of SOM wellbeing at Woods At Sasan.

Hydrate

While on the move, drink plenty of water for the eye and overall health. “Often during travel, our water intake goes drastically down as we are out and about. This can often lead to dehydration, affecting your eyes’ moisture levels. Drinking enough water helps support the production of tears, ensuring that your eyes stay properly lubricated and protected. So consciously drink plenty of water throughout your journey to reduce the risk of dryness, discomfort, and irritation,” states Nyela Kapadia, fitness expert, founder of WWN, and co-founder of Intermittent Fasting Mindful Living.

Wear Sunglasses

While outdoors during the day, make it a point to wear sunglasses. “Wear broad and large sunglasses that completely filter UVA and UVB radiation to save your eyes from damaging UV rays,” remarks Dr. Manoj Kutteri, medical director of Atmantan Wellness Centre.

Furthermore, when swimming, wear goggles to protect your eyes. “Sunglasses help minimise glare from bright sunlight, making it easier to see and reducing eye strain. When travelling, it is also an excellent idea to bring a pair of swimming goggles to engage in water activities, protecting your eyes from potential irritants, chemicals, or microorganisms present in the water,” adds Dr. Arun Suraj, Ayurveda doctor and wellness head at Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra.

Manage Contact Lenses Usage

Before embarking on a long flight, wear your glasses instead of your contact lenses. “To safeguard the well-being of your eyes and maintain optimal vision, it is crucial to prioritise eye care while travelling. Whether embarking on a thrilling adventure or relaxing on a beach getaway, taking special care of your eyes should be your top priority. Extended travel, especially in dry environments like aeroplanes, can lead to dry and uncomfortable eyes. Contact lenses can exacerbate this dryness and cause discomfort or irritation. It is a good idea to use moisturising eye drops made especially for those who wear contact lenses or to switch to eyeglasses for flights,” states Dr. Arun Suraj.

Be Hygienic

Not touching your eyes with dirty hands is good advice, even when you’re not travelling. “Clean your hands before handling contact lenses or your eyes. Make sure your hands are clean and dry. This will lessen the chance of eye infections and help stop the transmission of germs,” adds Dr. Manoj Kutteri.

Wash Your Eyes Frequently

If you are driving on your trip, remember to take breaks often to rest your eyes. “Remember to rinse your eyes often with cold water while driving. Take breaks to rest your eyes and wash your eyes with cold water to keep them cool and revitalised while driving,” concludes Dr Arun Suraj.

Get Adequate Rest

Travelling could include tiring days that can strain your eyes. Ensure you are getting adequate sleep at night, and if you have a long flight or road journey, try to take a nap to rest your eyes.

Lost bags can take days or even weeks to locate again, but following some simple steps could reduce the risk of them getting misplaced.

There’s nothing more exciting than that first step off the plane when you arrive in a different country – arguably one of the best things about a holiday.

But things can get stressful very quickly if you arrive at the dreaded baggage carousel only to find that your luggage hasn’t quite found its way to you.

Lost bags can take days or even weeks to find again, and it can put a real sour mood on your holiday. But there are certain things holidaymakers can do to reduce the risk of luggage being misplaced.

Travel whizz Anthony Collias, co-founder of luggage storage service Stasher, said: “Despite taking every precaution, luggage can occasionally go astray,”

“Ensure you’re covered with suitable travel insurance that includes provision for lost or delayed luggage.”

He also recommends keeping valuable items in your hand luggage: “This includes crucial documents, money, jewellery, electronic devices and medications.”

And if you’re travelling with others, consider dividing your belongings between your bags: “This means that if one bag gets lost or delayed, both of you will still have access to some of your items.”

Here are Anthony’s tips for the best chances of keeping your luggage safe on holiday.

Tag your bags

You should always make sure to have current ID tags on your luggage, as well as the tags the airline gives you at check-in.

“These should detail your name, mobile number, and email address,” Anthony said.

“For security reasons, it’s best to leave off your home address.”

Attach a tracker

Electronic tags such as the Apple AirTag, Tile and DynoTag are really popular at the moment. Starting from around £15, they help provide travellers with peace of mind.

“These devices, utilising GPS or Bluetooth technology, enable you to keep track of your bag’s location,” Anthony explained.

“Through a mobile app you can conveniently track your luggage with real-time updates.”

Take photos

It’s worth snapping a picture of your bags prior to checking them in for your flight, as it could help to identify them if lost.

“These pictures can prove invaluable if your luggage is misplaced and you need to describe it to the airline or insurance firms,” said Anthony.

Stand out from the crowd

Brightly coloured or distinctive bags aren’t just for making a fashion statement – they serve a useful purpose.

“It simplifies the task of identifying your bag on the carousel and minimises the risk of another passenger mistakenly picking it up,” said Anthony.

But try to avoid designer bags covered in logos, as these can be targeted by thieves.

Check in early

One of the reasons bags don’t make it to the right destination is because they don’t make it into the airplane hold on time.

“Endeavour to check in your luggage as early as you can,” Anthony suggested.

“This provides airline staff with ample time to load your bags onto the aircraft.”

Choose direct flights

To really reduce the risk of misplaced luggage, try avoid booking flights with stopovers.

Anthony said: “Where feasible, select direct flights to minimise the risk of your luggage being misplaced or delayed during transfers.”

Is it possible to rank the world’s best beaches? Of course not, as preferences will differ from traveler to traveler, based on amenities, accessibility, swimming & water sports options, safety, sense of place, relaxation, and scenery. Nevertheless, being well-traveled and having put my feet in the sand of numerous beaches around the globe, I hereby present you my list of the 10 most spectacular beaches in the world. From coral to sandy and long to enclosed, it should come as no surprise that most of these beaches are located in the world’s best beach destinations. Unfortunately, these beaches are no secret (anymore) and you will have to share their incredible beauty with many others travelers. If tranquility is a must, you may consider swapping the beaches listed below for one of the world’s most beautiful (semi-)private hotel beaches or opt for a stay at one of the world’s most exclusive private island resorts.

10. TULUM, RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO

What sets Tulum apart is its proximity to some of the most stunning Mayan ruins in all of Mexico: it is here that one of the world’s best cultural destinations meets one of the world’s best beaches. Tulum’s ruin is an ancient walled city sitting on rocky cliff that overlooks a spectacular beach. With hordes of tourists visiting every day, the area is not exactly private, but the broad stretch of white sand and mesmerizing turquoise Caribbean waters more than make up for it.

9. NAVAGIO BEACH, ZAKYNTHOS, GREECE

Navagio beach is an isolated yet strikingly beautiful sandy cove on the Greek island of Zakynthos. It is often referred to as the Shipwreck Beach because it is home to the wreck of a ship called Panagiotis that is believed to have been a smugglers ship. The area is defined by its sheer limestone cliffs, white sand beaches, and clear blue water, which attract thousands of tourists yearly. The strip of beach is accessed only by boat, but you can see it from above if you stand on the high side of the surrounding cliffs.

8. GRACE BAY, TURKS & CAICOS

The Turks and Caicos comprise 40 islands and cays, of which Providenciales is the main tourist centre. It’s here, on the northern shore, that you’ll find Grace Bay, a 19km (12 miles) paradise-perfect mix of sugary sand and transparent water, fringed by a coral reef system with fabulous snorkeling and diving. Unfortunately, an increasing number of resorts and condo hotels have sprung up along the shore in recent years, so you may be better off these days on the more private hotel beaches of Amanyara or Parrot Cay.

7. WHITEHAVEN BEACH, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

Whitehaven Beach is protected by the Whitsunday Islands National Park, and is located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Australia’s most famous beach stretches for 4,4 miles (7 km) and is washed by swirls of turquoise, blue and green water. The sand is 98% pure white silica, which gives it a brilliant, near luminescent color. You can reach the beach via a helicopter or seaplane, or you can sail to Whitehaven Beach with one of the many yacht excursions in the area.

6. BAIA DO SANCHO, FERNANDO DE NORONHO, BRAZIL

Baio Do Sancho is situated on the remote island of Fernando de Noronha, an active volcanic archipelago of 21 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, located approximately 220 miles (350 km) off the coast of northeastern Brazil bay. Sparkling emerald water and soft white sands are surrounded by vegetation-covered 250 ft (75 m) cliffs. The beach can only be reached by boat or by foot on a dirt trail through a crack in a rock wall with a few dozen uneven, slippery-sandy steps. The beach is perfect for snorkeling and spotting rays.

5. LONG BEACH, VANCOUVER ISLAND, CANADA

It are not only tropical beaches whose breathtaking beauty can make one speechless. The best example is Long Beach, the longest sandy beach on Canada’s Vancouver Island, which offers eye-popping scenic views and an unmatched maritime wilderness. Located within the boundaries of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve between Tofino and Ucluelet, its 10 miles (16 km) of pristine sand are backed by lush rainforests and washed by a cool pounding surf. Twenty-thousand grey whales migrate up this coast each spring and summer.

4. MAYA BAY, KOH PHI PHI, THAILAND

Maya Bay is a stunningly beautiful, sheltered bay on Thailand’s Koh Phi Phi. With a ring of white sand surrounded by mangroves and towering limestone walls blanketed by dense foliage, it’s easy to see why director Danny Boyle chose this beach for cult-favorite The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The main beach within the bay is around 200 m (650 ft) long and features silky soft white sand, with underwater colorful coral and exotic fish in exceptionally clear water.

3. CAMPS BAY, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Cape Town tops my list of the world’s most beautiful cities, not least because of the magnificent beaches on its doorstep. Camps Bay is not only Cape Town’s most popular beach, but also the only urban beach to make it into my top 10 list. Boasting blinding white sand set against the majestic backdrop of the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range and Table Mountain, Camps Bay’s water is a bit cold, due to the currents in the Atlantic Ocean, but that will not distract you from the amazing surrounding scenery and world-famous sunsets.

2. POLIHALE BEACH, HAWAII, USA

Polihale is hands-down the Hawaiian archipelago’s most breathtakingly beautiful beach. This seemingly deserted 11 km (7 mi) stretch on the western end of Kauai, one of the world’s most scenic islands, is several miles from the nearest town and holds a vibe of enchantment and mystique, still alive on Hawaii today. The beach can only be reached via a poorly marked, dirt sugarcane road, making a four-wheel drive vehicle preferable (check with your rental car company for restrictions before heading out).

1. ANSE SOURCE D’ARGENT, SEYCHELLES

One of the most photographed beaches in the world, the blinding white sands of Anse Source d’Argent unfurl across La Digue, one of the 115 island that make us this paradisiacal archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The beach sparkles against a backdrop of enormous granite boulders, worn by time and weather. An offshore reef provides protection from ocean waves, making the turquoise water an ideal spot for swimming. Keep an eye out for endangered birds and giant tortoises!