Planning a trip to Antarctica requires intensive preparation, with the ideal time to visit being from November to March. Choose the right expedition, prepare for the Drake Passage, pack warm clothes, and respect environmental protocols. Travel insurance is crucial. Witness unique wildlife in this pristine and picturesque destination.

Planning a trip is always fun and exciting, but planning a trip to Antarctica is an expedition to one of the most pristine and picturesque places in the world, which required intensive planning and research. Imagine standing at the edge of the world, surrounded by glaciers, snow, and a peaceful silence that speaks louder than words. Antarctica is not just a destination; it’s a journey to a dreamland that has adventure, thrill, and peaceful silence. If you are planning a trip to Antarctica, here are some things you should keep in mind before planning your trip :

Timing - The ideal time to visit this destination is from November to March; the southern hemisphere’s summer is when the ice begins to melt, daylight stretches up to 24 hours, and wildlife is abundant. If you plan on coming to Antarctica in the early season, you will see breathtaking and flawless landscapes and majestic icebergs; if you are lucky, you can also spot whales and penguins.

Choosing the right expedition — If you are going to Antarctica, you must make sure you book your seats in advance. Antarctica is accessible only by organized tours; they are abroad ships or luxury cruises that provide you the services. Small ships can easily navigate tighter spaces and provide a more intimate experience, while large ships often come with many other services and luxury. You will get to choose if you only want to cruise or try other activities while you are there, such as hiking or kayaking.

Prepare for the Drake Passage - You must prepare yourself for the turbulent stretch of water between South America and Antarctica. It is a part of the adventure; there is a high chance of seasickness, so pack your motion sickness medicines and be prepared for a bumpy ride.

Pack Carefully — Antarctica’s cold weather is unpredictable and unexpected; you will never know when the temperature drops to -2°C. You must pack all your layers, thick thermals, sweaters, coats, and jackets. Don’t forget your essentials like a cap, gloves, moisturizer, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Experience the wildlife — you will not find Antarctica’s wildlife elsewhere. Penguins, seals, and whales are the most beautiful creatures in this untouched ecosystem. Do not forget to bring your binoculars and a good camera to capture these incredible moments.

Follow protocols - Antarctica is protected by the Antarctic Treaty; it ensures the continent remains a natural reserve. You should follow all the guidelines to minimize your environmental impact.

Have travel insurance — Make sure you have travel insurance for a trip to Antarctica. You should be extra careful and prepared here; you must ensure your policy covers emergency evacuation and medical care.

Traveling during the winter months means preparing for possible hazardous road conditions. As you prepare for your trip, please be sure to keep an emergency supply kit in your car. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Center for Disease Control suggest the following items to be included in your emergency kit:

• Jumper cables
• Flares or reflective triangle
• Bright color flag
• Ice scraper
• Blanket
• Flashlight
• Shovel
• Tow chain/rope
• Car cell phone charger
• Extra coats, hats and/or gloves
• Battery-powered radio
• Road salt to melt ice
• Cat litter or sand for tire traction

“You should have an emergency kit in your car, and this should include a paper map as well as the other various items included in the list above,” said Jessica Post, emergency manager for the U of A Police Department.

In addition to putting together your emergency kit, prior to the trip, you should also have a car mechanic check the following:

• Antifreeze levels
• Battery and ignition system
• Brake conditions
• Exhaust system
• Fuel and air systems
• Heater and defroster
• Lights and flashing hazard lights
• Oil
• Thermostat
• Windshield wiper equipment and washer fluid level

Once your trip is underway, here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

• Keep your gas tank full. A full tank will keep the fuel line from freezing.
• Do not drive through flooded areas. Six inches of water can cause a vehicle to lose control or stall. A foot of water will float many cars.
• Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car.
• If a power line falls on your car you are at risk of electrical shock. Stay inside until a trained professional removes the wire.
• If it becomes hard to control the car, pull over, stop the car and set the parking brake.

Listen to the radio or television for up-to-date weather forecasts and road conditions as you are planning your trip, and in bad weather drive only if absolutely necessary.

Here’s what you need to know about every airline’s cleanliness dilemma.

Frequent fliers are familiar with the many ways your body changes while in a pressurized tube at 40,000 feet: Your ears pop, your ability to taste shifts, and you may find it harder to put your shoes back on after flying. And while there are some tricks to help you combat that last problem — start with a good pair of compression socks, for one — the best advice may be just to keep your shoes on the whole time.

It turns out the real reasons you should do this have more to do with avoiding some seriously icky situations than keeping your feet cozy. Here’s the truth about every airline’s cleanliness dilemma, and how being barefoot could even keep you from flying in the first place.

Planes aren’t cleaned as often as you think.

Generally speaking, airplane cabins are not very clean — although, for what it’s worth, the air very much is.

“Cabins are cleaned prior to every flight, but that will be more perfunctory on a quick turn when there are only 15 or 20 minutes to get it done,” says pilot Patrick Smith, author of “Ask the Pilot: Everything You Need to Know About Air Travel.”

That means what counts as cleaning the cabin could be as meager as tossing out the trash left behind in the seatback pockets and quickly wiping down high-touch surfaces like lavatory door handles. The reality is planes do go through deep cleaning, but not very often — the actual frequency varies by airline, but in general, this usually happens once every four to six weeks.

Otherwise, an airplane’s carpets are typically only vacuumed if time allows and spot-cleaned when necessary. In other words, whenever something — like food, a drink, or a type of bodily fluid — is spilled, the cleaning crew will eliminate the stain, but won’t necessarily disinfect the entire area, which could allow germs to spread.

“Those who decide to go barefoot might be picking up bacteria and viruses that could negatively impact their health,” says David Krause, the former owner of a business that manufactured cleaning products used on airplanes. “Likewise, the concern of picking up a fungal infection is always there as well.”

Oh, and while we’re discussing germs, the tray tables and armrests are absolutely filthy. Tray tables are one of the dirtiest parts of the plane — in addition to the bathroom handles, seat covers, overhead bins, and instruction cards — so put those alcohol wipes to good use and disinfect your space as soon as you board.

Flight attendants aren’t required to clean the restroom, just tidy it up.

Germaphobes everywhere, brace yourselves for this next part. You know those liquids on the floor in the lavatory? Flight attendants are not necessarily required to clean them up mid-flight, which means you could be stepping in urine.

Fortunately, airplane cleaning routines seem to have improved as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Krause says, adding that more disinfectants are being used to help prevent the spread of the virus. The real question is whether or not they’ve stayed that way.

According to an article by The Washington Post, staff shortages during and after the height of the pandemic have contributed to cleaning regimens becoming less thorough, as have changes in virus prevention protocol. Only time will tell if another outbreak results in cleanliness measures becoming more strict.

Being barefoot could get you kicked off the plane.

While airlines in general seem to have pretty standard dress code guidelines, being barefoot comes up in the contract of carriage when you agree to fly with a given carrier. The idea of “no shoes, no service” is actually quite prevalent in the terms and conditions of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines, and may keep you from flying at all.

Besides preventing a potentially smelly and unhygienic situation for everyone else on board, airlines need passengers to wear shoes for safety reasons, namely so they have their feet covered in the event of an emergency.

If anything, save your most comfortable footwear for your next flight or invest in some flight attendant-approved travel shoes. And whatever you do — out of courtesy for everyone else who sits there after you — don’t put your feet up on the tray tables or armrests. We’re all in this together. And come on, that’s just gross.

Taking a trip soon? Here are simple ways to protect your sleep from time zone changes.

It’s no secret that traveling can disrupt your sleep patterns. Sleep problems can multiply if you’re traveling long distances across multiple time zones, resulting in jet lag.

Jet lag isn’t just a made-up term frequent flyers use to describe being tired. It’s a real thing. The circadian rhythm is our internal clock, and it helps regulate when we should go to sleep and wake up. Changing your time zone affects the time you go to bed, and your body can become out of sync. According to the Mayo Clinic, common jet lag symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Trouble falling asleep
• Headaches
• Difficulty concentrating
• Lack of appetite
• Stomach problems
• Mood changes

Don’t let jet lag ruin your travel plans. I’ve pulled together a list of tips to help you adjust to the new time zone quicker and save your sleep quality.

7 tips for combating jet lag

1. Start prepping before your trip

Making slight adjustments before entering the new time zone can lessen jet lag symptoms. To do this, you can gradually change your circadian rhythm to the new time zone by shifting the time you go to sleep and wake up. Typically, you want the changes to be minor, around 30 minutes at a time. Doing this the week leading up to your trip can help you bounce back quicker.

2. Live like the locals

When you change time zones, you want to adapt your activities as quickly as possible. Forget your old time zone; it means nothing to you now. That means eating and sleeping when you would normally, according to the new time zone, even if you wouldn’t usually sleep for another three hours. If possible, it’s also good practice to time your meals with local mealtimes.

Before taking off, act like you are already there. Set your watch to the correct time and sleep when you can. If you’re flying when you would be sleeping at your destination, try sleeping on the plane to avoid jet lag. Small changes in advance will make the later ones less drastic.

3. Hang out in the sunshine

Light is one of the most important ways your circadian rhythm determines when you fall asleep and wake up. As it gets dark, our bodies release melatonin to prepare for sleep. Spending time in the sun will help your body adjust to the new time zone by halting the natural release of melatonin. If you arrive at your destination during the day, don’t immediately duck into your hotel room — hang outside for a few hours and soak up the sun.

4. Make sure the room is ready for sleep

Sleeping in a new space can be challenging. To combat this, make sure the room you’re sleeping in — whether a hotel room or the spare bedroom of your grandmother’s house — is conducive to sleep.

Ways to make sleeping when traveling easy:

• Set the thermostat to a cool temperature to keep things comfortable all night. The best temperature for sleep is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Pack items from home to make it more familiar — a blanket, a white noise machine or your favorite pajamas.
• Try using a sleep mask to block out any light in the room.
• Make sure you’re sleeping on a comfortable mattress that suits your sleeping position and body type.

5. Avoid drinking caffeine (and alcohol)

The instinct is to reach for a cup of coffee to keep you going through the fog of jet lag, but it can actually make the situation worse. It’s not that you can’t drink it; you just need to be strategic about timing. If you arrive at your destination in the evening, drinking coffee or soda will make sleeping harder if it’s too close to bedtime. Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol a few hours before bed. Substitute those beverages with water to ensure you’re hydrated as dehydration can exacerbate the symptoms of jet lag.

6. Try melatonin

Our bodies naturally produce melatonin to help regulate our circadian rhythm. As the sun goes down, our body is flooded with melatonin, which makes us sleepy. Melatonin supplements can help you fall asleep more easily by jump-starting that process. Regarding dosage, 0.5mg is typically considered a lower dose, while 5mg is on the higher side.

7. Take a warm shower or bath

After taking melatonin, jump in the shower or soak in the tub to relax. Research suggests that taking a shower or bath can help you fall asleep faster. As you cycle through the stages of sleep, your body temperature naturally fluctuates a couple of degrees. Bathing helps that process along by cooling your body temperature. But not just any shower will do; you should aim for warm water about an hour and a half before bed.