What’s the cheapest way to travel? If you go by social media memes, it’s by becoming a ‘lost luggage delivery guy.’ However, if you aren’t one of those ‘do-anything-to-travel’ wanderlusters, here are some simple tips from the popular travel aggregator Expedia to travel free.

According to the platform, these travel hacks, driven by data, offer the best days to book, the right days to travel, the month in which flights are the cheapest, the right booking windows, and a handful of myth busters.

Check them out:

1) February and March see the highest travel fares

2) August is the cheapest month to travel, and you can save up to 12 per cent on domestic and 7 per cent on international flights

3) Sundays are the ideal day to book flights. As per data, airfares are around 6 per cent low for domestic and 17 per cent for international flights when booked on Sundays, as compared to other days.

4) The day of your departure affects the cost. Foreign flights cost less if you depart on Thursdays, and Saturday fights are cheaper domestically.

5) Hate delayed flights? Pick mornings to fly as disruptions and cancellations are limited in this window.

6) Booking too much in advance doesn’t help much. The best time to book domestic flights is around three months in advance. You can save around 25 per cent if you do so. Surprisingly, the best time to book international flights is 18-29 days before your departure! Yes, it can be a gamble, but if saving money is your priority, you can try it.

Myth busters

1) Airfare doesn’t increase with every year. Interestingly, economy flights were 15 cheaper and international flights were 4 per cent cheaper in the past two years.

2) Premium tickets need not mean airfares are higher than economy tickets. In fact, the gap is increasingly shrinking.

Nutritionist Lovneet Batra shares a few tips we can follow to prevent and cure travel constipation.

Travel constipation refers to the difficulty or inability to have regular bowel movements while traveling. It can be caused by various factors such as changes in routine, dehydration, dietary changes, stress, and lack of mobility. To help prevent travel constipation, nutritionist Lovneet Batra shares a few tips.

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Here are some more simple tips to help avoid travel constipation:

1. Drink plenty of water throughout your journey to prevent dehydration, which can contribute to constipation.
2. Include high-fibre foods in your meals such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. These can aid in digestion and promote regular bowel movements.
3. Engage in physical activity during your trip, such as taking short walks, stretching, or doing simple exercises. Regular movement can help stimulate bowel function.
4. Bring along nutritious snacks like nuts, seeds, or dried fruits to avoid relying solely on convenience store or airport food options.
5. Taking probiotics, either through supplements or in naturally fermented foods, can promote healthy gut bacteria and improve digestion.

Remember, if you continue to have persistent constipation or experience severe discomfort, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional for further guidance.

Staying healthy starts before your flight, too

Flying is a convenient and efficient way to reach your destination quickly any time of the year, but the confined space and recycled air inside the plane can heighten your risk of getting sick during or just after your flight. Take it from me; catching a cold or the flu during a trip can dampen your plans and keep you from spending time enjoying your trip.

You can significantly reduce the likelihood of falling ill while flying with a few proactive measures. To help you out, I’ve come up with some travel tips that will help you avoid getting sick on a plane, allowing you to enjoy your journey without worrying about any airborne illnesses.

Pre-flight considerations

Preventing illness when you travel starts before you even board the plane. You are much more likely to get sick if you aren’t mentally and physically prepared for your journey.

Boost your immune system

Start preparing for your trip well in advance by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is a great way to ensure your body gets the vitamins it needs to thrive. Supplements such as vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc are also great for boosting your immune system.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Airplane cabins are notoriously dry, and dehydration can quickly weaken your immune system. Ensure you drink plenty of water before, during, and after your flight. It is also a good idea to avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption, as they can contribute to dehydration.

Rest up

Lack of sleep can compromise your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness. Make sure you are prioritizing sleep for a few days before your flight. This is especially important if you have a long or late-night flight where sleeping may not be possible.

On the flight

Once you are on the plane, it is important to do everything you can to keep your space clean and prevent germs from entering your body. Although this is often easier said than done, you can take a few preventive measures to keep yourself in good health.

Choose the right seat

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that germs from sneezing, coughing, or breathing are unlikely to be directly transmitted beyond 1 meter (3.28 feet) from the infected passenger. Because of this, it’s likely (but not guaranteed) that the window seat is the “healthiest” seat. Sitting in a window seat reduces your likelihood of direct contact with fellow passengers walking down the aisle. Window seats also provide a barrier on one side, minimizing exposure to germs.

Sanitize your space

Bring antibacterial wipes in your carry-on and clean your seat, armrests, and tray table before sitting down. These surfaces often harbor germs from previous flights, so a quick wipe-down can help reduce your exposure risk.

Use air vents strategically

According to NBC News, airplane air is typically circulated through hospital-grade filters designed to remove 99.97% of all bacteria. Use this to your advantage and direct the air vent above your seat to create a personal airflow barrier.

Avoid touching your face

Refrain from touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth. These are entry points for germs, and keeping your hands away from your face can reduce the risk of infection.

Stay active

If your flight is over two hours long, make it a point to take short walks and stretch periodically to improve circulation. Doing this can help prevent stiffness and boost your overall well-being.

Keep your belongings in the overhead bins

Place as many of your belongings as possible in the overhead bins and refrain from opening them during the flight. Keeping your purse, backpack, or other possessions on the floor exposes them to your shoes, a hotspot for germs. If you can, keep everything you need in the seatback pocket or in the seat with you.

Post-flight practices

Your work isn’t done once you exit the plane. It is essential to continue caring for yourself in the days following your flight.

Continue hydration

After the flight, continue to stay hydrated to counteract the dehydrating effects of air travel. Water will help to flush out toxins and support your body’s natural defenses against illness.

Rest and recover

If you can, give yourself some time to rest and recover after the flight. Jet lag and fatigue can weaken your immune system, so listen to your body and prioritize self-care.

Maintain good hygiene

A little bit of good hygiene goes a long way. Hop in the shower as soon as you can after leaving the airport, wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and use hand sanitizer when necessary.

What to do if you do get sick

If you carefully follow these tips, it will certainly increase your chances of staying healthy while traveling. However, as I know from experience, no matter how careful you are, you can still catch something on your flight or during your travels. If you get seriously sick after traveling, especially if you went outside the country, the CDC recommends calling your healthcare provider when you get home and have the following information available:

• Vaccination history
• The places where you went
• The reason for the trip (pleasure, business, or another reason)
• What you did while traveling (swimming, hiking, etc.)
• The dates of your trip
• Where you stayed
• What you ate and drank
• If you came in contact with any animals
• Did you have any injuries during the trip
• Any bug bites or scratches you got while traveling
• If you had to seek health care or medications during the trip

The ecological state of our planet is getting worse every year, motivating many people to pay attention to their negative impact on the environment. That also includes travelers, who often fly between their destinations and utilize many one-use products during the journey.

Tourists who want to become more eco-conscious choose the green travel approach. This concept incorporates many tips and tricks for producing less waste and minimizing emissions while enjoying their time abroad. In this article, we will explain five main ways you can lower your carbon footprint and travel green.

Reduce Plastic Use

The first instinct of a tourist is to buy a ton of single-use products in plastic bottles or get a hold of hotel toiletries and then toss the empty packaging away. This is very convenient, indeed, as you don’t have to bring full-sized bottles of shampoo and shower gel in a suitcase. Unfortunately, this is not sustainable at all. According to Sustainable Travel International, travelers end up creating twice as much waste as residents! Most of this waste can’t be recycled, so it ends in a landfill, polluting the planet.

To reduce plastic use and waste, purchase a set of travel bottles and fill them with your own products, such as shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and other self-care products. Bar soap and shampoos are an even better option. Pack a tote bag for groceries and souvenirs, and avoid getting plastic bags at the destination.

Carry a reusable water bottle and refill it with water in the hotels and coffee shops. Invest in an international eSIM instead of buying a physical SIM card for every destination to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste from SIM card packaging. A good eSIM will let you switch carriers when needed, even if you have multiple locations planned for your trip.

With sustainable communication, you can reduce your carbon footprint even further. However, before buying it blindly, make sure to check reviews

Choose Eco-Friendly Transportation

Let’s make one thing clear – there are no totally green transportation options available nowadays. Still, aviation is the most polluting industry when it comes to traveling. Out of all emissions on the planet, aviation creates 2% of them, which is a bigger amount than the carbon footprint of the UK! Naturally, you’d want to minimize traveling by plane when possible. Choose trains or electric vehicles since these two are more sustainable than planes. When you do have to fly, book only direct flights, which wastes less fossil fuel.

When traveling inside the destination, choose public transport or shared taxi rides. Petrol and diesel one-person vehicles are the worst choices for green travel, so stick to buses, trains, and trams — the latter runs on electricity, which is the most eco-friendly.

Book Sustainable Accommodations

Thanks to ecological awareness, there are a lot of sustainable hotels and hostels that minimize their carbon footprint and waste. Accommodations like that reduce their energy and water use, do not utilize single-use plastic, purchase only local foods, and do not use harsh chemicals when cleaning. Sustainable hotels also motivate their patrons to travel by eco-friendly transportation, recycle, and save as much energy as possible.

Moreover, some of these accommodations collaborate with local communities to promote sustainable tourism and engage in important conversations regarding cultural preservation. The result is real experiences for guests who truly want to connect with authentic cultures and learn more about their heritage.

One of the programs that provide accommodations with eco-friendly certifications is Green Globe. You can also check booking services and websites for full sustainability information about certain hotels.

Shop Local

Prioritizing locally produced items not only supports the community you’re visiting but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation and packaging, resulting in energy use and waste reduction across the whole supply chain. The same is true for local foods and goods! When you shop only for products made at the destination you’re in, you stop encouraging outsourcing.

In turn, groceries do not have to travel as long and waste fuel, which means smaller carbon footprint. The same applies to souvenirs and trinkets, too. It is always best to shop locally from farmers’ markets and stalls. Not only will you get fresher food and better-quality products, but you will also support the country economically, motivating overall growth and local conservation.

Stay Eco-Conscious

In the end, it is essential to remember that green travel is not possible to the full extent. Unfortunately, we still do not have fully eco-friendly flight solutions, and most carbon offset plans do not work efficiently. It is also impossible to stop producing waste when you travel. Yet, you can still minimize your impact as an individual.

For example, reduce your plastic use by investing in an international eSIM, pack your own self-care products, use a refillable water bottle, and avoid plastic packaging. Swapping flights to bus and train travel when possible will greatly save fossil fuel and offset carbon emissions. Booking sustainable accommodations can encourage you to save energy and water. Moreover, shopping for local products and foods not only provides you with fresh produce and high-quality souvenirs but also encourages economic growth.