Part two of the Enjoying Air Travel Tip is about entertainment. Here are some ideas on how to sit back relax and have a fun flight.

Book Shop Swap
As you make your way down the airport corridors to get to your terminal, stop and take a look. You may find this to be a surprise but many bookstores at airports are now encouraging book swaps. Bring your latest read and leave it on the shelf. Take a book left by another passenger that looks interesting to you. It will give you something to do in downtime and could become your new favorite and best of all it is FREE!

Traveling with Vantage Deluxe World Travel? Go to your MyAccount Page to check out your trip specific reading list.

In Flight Raffle
Here is a suggestion many of you may have never heard! On your next flight, try this out. When you’re allowed, get up from your seat and start the collection process. As you travel through the plane, ask people if they want to participate. Not everyone may want to join. If someone wants to join into the raffle they should take a 1-dollar bill and write their seat number on it fairly small, have them place it in a hat or a bag whichever is more suitable. After collecting the participants entry dollars, have someone pull 1 dollar from the bag. This dollar will have a seat number listed and will be your winner of all of the money collected! Congrats to John Q in seat 3C!

This tip may especially be helpful for group leaders who travel with their groups as a whole and want to get everyone involved.

Movie Magic
It is surprising how an in flight movie can make time fly! Plug into the movie provided by your airline for a chance to escape the noise of the plane or even the noise of the person next to you. Many flights may offer multiple selections so pick the one that suits you best. It may be a movie that you have never heard of but give it a shot. Airlines would not play movies that people are not interested in! In Flight television is now available on some airlines. If you travel on one of these planes, this is a great way to enjoy your time. Flip to the food network, the news, the sports channel and more with this enjoyable in flight activity.

Thanks for reading this week’s 151 travel tip, check back next week for more information on how to make the next trip of yours, the very best!

Don’t Skip Meals!
You are going to need the energy for sightseeing! If you want to save money, try going to a local market and buying snacks such as bread, cheese and fruit to keep you going. Enjoy it at a nearby park instead of eating in a restaurant!

Don’t Overeat!
Since eating is a delicacy of many foreign countries, it will be tough to turn down the large array of cuisine offered. Try eating the healthier options provided!

Drink Plenty of Fluids
Bring water bottles with you everywhere you go! This will help keep you hydrated and ready to explore what your destination has to offer. Along with drinking bottled water, fruit juices can also help hydrate. Depending on your destination, there may be precautions to take with drinking tap water. Some countries do not have a clean enough water source to drink from. Be careful when ordering drinks to make sure you are not drinking water directly from the tap or drinking anything with ice cubes. Drink bottled water to ensure your personal health. You can never be too safe!

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask
When eating out, do not be afraid to try new foods. If you are hesitant, ask the waiter of the restaurant or your program manager on how certain foods are prepared. This will help you find which foods are right for your diet.

Here are a few ideas on how to prepare for your upcoming journey and to be able to enjoy it to the fullest extent.

Start Exercising!
A few weeks before your trip, begin slightly increasing your physical activity to prepare for travel. Carrying luggage, sitting for long periods of time, and sleeping in an unfamiliar bed are all activities that differ from daily life at home. Stretching and walking are both a good way to be prepared for whatever your trip has to offer. They are an enjoyable way to prepare you for your trip and it is easy! Move at your own pace and have as much fun possible with the activity of your choosing!

Catch Up On Your Sleep
In the upcoming weeks before your journey, try to get as much sleep as possible. Sleep is a vital activity which will allow a traveler to enjoy the opportunities that their journey has to offer. Rest Up!

Check Your Feet
Some people have trouble walking for extended periods of time and their feet get tired very quickly. If you are one of these people, visit your doctor or your nearest sporting goods store to purchase orthotic inserts for your shoes! These insert will support your arches and create a great fit for your shoes. They are affordable and comfortable. When you get fitted for these insoles, your feet will thank you and you will notice the difference immediately! Check out Dr. Scholls Inserts, you can find them at your common sporting goods store or drug store and they are fully customizable to your needs.

Thanks for reading this week’s travel tip! Join us soon for the next!

Here are some tips to help you stay healthy when you travel to other countries.

• If you take prescription medications, make absolutely sure that you have ordered enough of your medicine to last you throughout your entire trip, plus at least seven days beyond your expected date of return. It is always best to be over-prepared rather than to find yourself in a far-away place without the medication that you need to stay safe and healthy. Inform your doctor of your travel plans, and find out what you should do if you have a medical problem while you are away. Make sure that you carry a list of your health conditions and the medications that you are taking in your wallet or on your person in the event that there is a medical emergency when you are away. At the top of the list, clearly print your name, your doctor’s name and telephone number, and the telephone number and name of an emergency contact from back home. Your fellow travelers should also be privy to all this information, as you should be about their health conditions and medication use.
• Depending on your situation, ask for a prescription for some just-in-case antibiotics. Azithromycin or ciprofloxacin are frequently prescribed, but discuss with your doctor what would be best for you.
• Plan ahead. If you need any immunizations or vaccinations, see your doctor at least 6 weeks before you leave. Some vaccines don’t reach the highest protection until about 6 weeks after you get the shots.
• Do your homework. The CDC has a very helpful country-by-country list of health hazards. In addition to disease information, they also provide info on safety, crime, security, insects, etc.

Street vendor roasting chestnuts in Seville, Spain. To find the best street food, watch where the locals go.

Budget Travel Magazine recently released its list of the cities with the world’s tastiest street food. An eclectic selection of culinary treasure troves, the list features a number of Vantage destinations: Rio de Janeiro (#6), Brussels (#8), Vienna (#9), Istanbul (#10), Tel Aviv (#11), Bangkok (#12) and Hanoi (#13).

But while sampling a city’s delicious food can be one of the most gratifying aspects of traveling, smart travelers take special care to make sure what they’re eating won’t make them sick. Remembering a handful of general principles relating to food safety can make your culinary experience the best it can be — whether you’re picking up a fresh acai shake in Rio or a sabich pita sandwich in Tel Aviv.

1. Drinking water is the most common source of dietary problems while traveling. Because foods are often washed and cooked in water, water quality ought to be a concern for any discerning traveler. [Note: We recommend bringing along a reusable bottle to refill with water that has been boiled or purified with tablets, which are available at most outdoors stores. Plastic bottle waste is one of the biggest environmental crises in many developing countries popular to travelers.] As a last resort, bottled water is available in most places around the world.
2. Above safety concerns in mind, drink lots of water. You’re walking around a lot, often in warm temperatures, and thus your likelihood of becoming dehydrated is much higher than when you’re sedentary. Aim for drinking around 2 Liters of water throughout the day.
3. Live by the colonial mantra, “Cook it, wash it, peel it or forget it.” Foods that are cooked or in their peels are less susceptible to airborne contaminants than raw or uncooked foods. Any raw fruits or vegetables you consume should be washed in purified water.
4. Stick to condiments – like mayonnaise, ketchup and salad dressing – that are served in sealed packages.
5. Order meats and eggs well-done or medium-well and eat them while they are hot.
6. In certain places, avoid cold meat platters, cheese, buffet foods, unpasteurized dairy products and unsealed condiments.
7. Fish tend to accumulate and store contaminants from a variety of sources. Order seafood at your own risk and only from well-trusted sources.
8. A good snack food in most places are nuts and other shelled foods.
9. Not all street vendors or restaurants are created equal. Ask locals or a hotel concierge for their recommended list of restaurants or vendors, or else follow the crowds to the area’s better dining-out spots.
10. Bring your own plates and utensils, if you have them. This is a way to cut risk from food-borne illness due to improper washing.

Though these tips don’t apply in every travel situation, thinking about what you’re eating and drinking while traveling will ensure that you stay happy and healthy while on vacation. For the latest food advisories in your travel destinations, visit The World Health Organization’s Food Safety website before you leave home.

PHOTO CREDIT: CHESTNUTS IN SEVILLA BY SUE ANNA JOE VIA STOCK.XCHNG.

You have most likely read or heard about (or even already experienced) new airline fees for checked and carry-on bags. Since fees seem to be changing on a fairly frequent basis, the best advice we can give you is to contact your airline two to three weeks before you depart on your trip to get the most up-to-date fee information. That way you can plan your packing accordingly and avoid being surprised or caught off guard when you arrive at the airport.

Here are links to several web sites or travel blogs that can give you additional information about baggage fees:

• http://budgettravel.about.com/od/airfarescruises/tp/majors_bagfees.htm

• http://www.orbitz.com/blog/tag/baggage-fees/

• http://www.csmonitor.com/Money/new-economy/2010/0112/Delta-baggage-fees-go-up.-Here-are-three-ways-to-avoid-them

With baggage costs on the rise, it is also the perfect time to remind travelers about packing tips to help lighten your load and potentially reduce your costs:

• Pack only what you need, or put another way, bring only half as much as you will need
• Organize by packing for your “typical day” and make a checklist if you have difficulty deciding what necessities to bring
• Try to keep heavy, bulky footwear to a minimum
• Use every inch of luggage space
• Insert hosiery into your shoes
• Roll up sweaters and undergarments on the bottom and sides of your luggage, followed by layers of clothing that wrinkle more easily
• Bring sample sizes of toiletry items

Before flying, remember to phone your airline (or visit its web site) for the latest information. Happy and safe travels!

PHOTO CREDIT: LUGGAGE, ANYONE? BY LINDA DuBOSE VIA STOCK.XCHNG.

Spectacular view of ash plume & lightning above Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano, source of the recent flight delays.

Given travel disruptions throughout much of Europe and other parts of the world following Iceland’s massive volcanic plume, it is the perfect time to discuss the topic of weather-related airline delays and cancellations. While extreme weather conditions demonstrating Mother Nature’s wrath are beyond everyone’s control, there are things you can do as traveler to reduce the negative impact of prolonged flight delays and cancellations.

Expecting the unexpected can go a long way toward helping you successfully manage travel delays and minimize stress:

• Before departing on your trip, know your airline’s policy for cancellations due to adverse weather.
• If you hear about probable weather delays and haven’t left for the airport, call your airline or visit its web site for the latest information.
• If you live nearby, go to the airport and speak with an airline representative. Work directly with your airline to reschedule any cancelled flights. Airlines have the most up-to-date seat information and know if they are scheduling extra flights and diversions to other airports that remain open.
• Use one of the airport’s often underused kiosks. These can be much faster than calling the airline’s 800 number which is likely to be overwhelmed with callers.
• As soon as you learn about a flight cancellation, check the departure screen and find the gates for the next two flights to your destination. Go directly to these gates and begin making inquiries about getting on the stand-by list.
• Fly as early in the day as possible, especially in the summer. You’ll be much less likely to encounter delays due to severe weather.
• Allow extra time whenever traveling, and if you absolutely must be somewhere by a certain date and time, try to fly at least a day earlier.
• In the event of extended weather delays, take a carry-on bag with sufficient necessities to last you at least two days.
• Bring phone numbers for a couple airport hotels so you can call them quickly if you need to book a room for a night or two.
• Have a debit or credit card with you to cover any additional expenses you might incur while stranded (i.e. meals, lodging, clothing, etc.).
• Be patient and flexible. Remember the airlines can’t control the weather or “acts of God” any more than you can.

Here are links to two web sites / travel blogs that include additional information to help you prepare for unforeseen flight disruptions:

• http://airtravel.about.com/od/flightdelayscancellations/a/policiescommon.htm
• http://www.tripwolf.com/en/blog/2010/04/14/flight-delays-a-captains-advice/

Wishing everyone happy, safe and on-time travels!

See a diabetes professional or your physician before you travel, especially if you have been recently diagnosed or if you are an infrequent traveler. If you are insulin dependent, advise your travel consultant prior to departure so that they may request refrigeration services at hotels and on cruise ships.

The American Diabetes Association publishes an excellent guide for diabetic travelers (shown to the right). And travelers with diabetes will also find that there are a number of nutrition bars for diabetic travelers made specifically for their needs.

More Informational Resources

• Traveling with Diabetes Supplies. A very informative post by the American Diabetes Association, including advice on bringing your diabetes supplies through airport security.
• The Diabetic Traveler. A blog devoted to issues faced by travelers with diabetes.

Happy Eustachian tubes, happy traveler!

If you suffer from earaches while flying, try these tricks:

• A half hour to 45 minutes before takeoff, take an antihistamine or decongestant.
• Just before takeoff, “pop” your ears by holding your nose shut, closing your mouth, and attempting to blow air through your nostrils. This helps to clear your Eustachian tubes, which can become swollen and blocked when cabin pressure changes.
• While in flight you should swallow frequently, chew gum or candy, and “pop” your ears when the pressure builds.

It’s especially important to take these precautions if you feel a cold coming on — if the tubes are blocked, fluids can become trapped, causing painful ear infections.

PHOTO CREDIT: EAR BY HELMUT GEVERT VIA STOCK.XCHNG

Looking for a good book to pass the time on your flight? Here are ten books recommended by our Twitter followers and by fans of Vantage Travel’s Facebook page.

Pat (via Facebook) loves reading John Grisham novels when traveling by air, and enthusiastically recommended the following Grisham titles:

• The Innocent Man
• The Partner
• A Painted House

Susan (via Facebook) suggested:

• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson
• The Girl Who Played with Fire, also by Stieg Larsson

Apparently Susan is a fan of Scandinavian crime novels, which have been a big favorite with whodunnit readers over the last few years. Fair warning, though: crime novels in this genre are not always a good choice for more sensitive readers.

@Scottiegirl (via Twitter) suggested an interesting mix of novels, including:

• Face of Betrayal (A Triple Threat Novel), by Lis Wiehl
• The Beach House: A Novel, by Jane Green
• The Glassblower of Murano, by Marina Fiorato

Linda (via Facebook) suggested a mystery:

• Smoke Screen: A Novel, by Sandra Brown

And Jim (via Twitter) suggested a recent World War II history:

• With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, by E.B. Sledge

Do you have a favorite book you enjoyed on a long flight? If so, leave a comment to let us know about it!