There are few things more glorious than a sun-soaked vacation. We Vancouverites spend a good 9 months of the year in less than tropical weather conditions, so we understand the desire to get out in the sun as much as humanly possible when on vacation.

 

Pasty Nation

Let’s be honest, Vancouverites can get a little pasty looking over the winter months, and getting out in the sunshine is an opportunity to achieve a healthy glow. And that “just got back from Hawaii” look shows really well on Instagram! #nofilter!

There are, indeed, lots of positive effects to that ball of fire in the sky. For one, it’s warm! But it also synthesises vitamin D3 in the body, and enhances our mood and kills pathogens. So, yay for the sun!

 

“Leathery” Only Looks Good on Handbags

So, yes, while being out in the sun can be a healthy and uplifting experience, it’s also paramount that you take the necessary precautions and protect yourself from the dangers of too much exposure! Overdoing your time in the sun can leave you looking like “Tan-Mom”–not someone you want to be likened to!

Crispy, leathery and wrinkled are not good adjectives to describe your complexion! No one wants to look like a lobster. So to avoid the “George Hamilton” look, and, more importantly, the health risks associated with the this perennially tanned look, we offer the following sun-safety tips!

Terrific Sun-Safety Tips

Despite the advantages to sun exposure, overexposure to UV radiation can also have adverse health effects, including sunburn, premature ageing, skin cancers, eye-diseases, and immune suppression.

The following tips will help you enjoy the sun, without the drawbacks negatively impacting your health!

 

Limit Your Time in the Sun

The most effective way you can avoid the dangers of sun exposure is to limit your time in the sun. The Government of Canada website recommends “keeping out of the sun and heat between 11am and 4pm.

 

Sun-Safety Hack!

When your shadow is shorter than you, the sun is very strong. Look for places with lots of shade, like a park with big trees, partial roofs, awnings, umbrellas or gazebo tents. Always take an umbrella to the beach.”

 

Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Sunscreen!

We can’t repeat this mantra enough. Your mother was right when she told you never to leave the house without sunscreen! However, it’s important to know which sunscreens are the best and how to use them properly. The following information from the Canadian Health section of the government website is very useful:

• Choose a high SPF. Protect your health by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. The sunscreen should also say “broad-spectrum” on the label, to screen out most of the UVA and UVB rays.
• Look for “water resistant”. Look for claims on the label that the product stays on better in water (water resistant, very water resistant).
• Read application instructions. For best results, be sure to follow the instructions on the product label.
• Use lots of sunscreen. Use the recommended amount of sunscreen.
• Apply it early. Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you go outside; reapply 20 minutes after going outside and at least every 2 hours after that. Use a generous amount. Cover exposed areas generously, including ears, nose, the tops of feet and backs of knees.
• Reapply often. Reapply sunscreen often to get the best possible protection especially if you are swimming or sweating heavily.
• Protect yourself. Sunscreen and insect repellents can be used safely together. Apply the sunscreen first, then the insect repellent.
• Sunscreens and babies. Do not put sunscreen on babies less than 6 months of age. Keep them out of the sun and heat as their skin and bodies are much more sensitive than an adult’s.
• Test for an allergic reaction. Before using any tanning product on you or your child check for an allergic reaction, especially if you have sensitive skin. Apply it to a small patch of skin on the inner forearm for several days in a row. If the skin turns red or otherwise reacts, change products.

Sunglasses Aren’t Just for Looking Cool!

Wear sunglasses. If you choose them properly, sunglasses will protect your eyes against damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation and visible light. You can look like a rock star and protect your eyes at the same time!

 

It’s a Cover Up!

When you’re not frolicking in the water, it’s best to wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts, pants, and a wide-brimmed hat made from breathable fabric.

Before going to Cuba I kept on reading, “go without expectations”. A setting of rich dichotomy there are too many contrasting and curious elements to the Island that you shouldn’t assume anything about this fascinating destination. So, I managed to arrive with zero expectations and I completely agree that this is the best way to visit. However, my advice would be….go without expectations but with preparation and bookings!

It is so easy these days to travel making day by day and last minute decisions. The internet and smart phones have allowed us to feel like we have a tiny travel agent in the palm of our hand, who is there to sort out any issues, book the next hotel, find out train times and almost anything else we might need to know, day or night. This is the mentality I arrived with in Havana. I had done some research in to what to see and do and the best day trips from the city, we also had an Airbnb booked in Trinidad for the second half of our week but had chosen to leave all the decision making for once we were there, including how to get to and from Trinidad.

The Arrival

You arrive in Havana airport and it is quickly clear that you are in for a new and exciting experience. With no air-conditioning, low-ceilings and a throng of confused tourists, the baggage carousels quickly descend in to over-heated chaos. With, apparently, only one truck ferrying the bags from the plane to the airport, baggage claim can take anywhere from one hour to four hours, we have been told. For both mine and my Dad’s bag to arrive I was in the windowless, wifi-less airport for two and a half hours.

Money Exchange

Once free and out in the open air we decided to avoid the queue for the money exchange, we had friends who waited for a further two hours in the airport to get their Cuban dollars, and pay for a cab with either American or Canadian dollars. We were told before arriving that Cubans are happy to accept either currency, particularly Canadian because of the exchange rate but no-one would touch a Canadian dollar and the problem with paying American is that whoever you are paying will give you their own, slightly inflated, exchange rate. Other options for changing money are the money exchange offices in Havana centre, these can have very long line-ups as Cubans use them as well as tourists. Any bank, which can have the same long wait times and certain hotels. The upmarket hotels that line the Parque Central can become a refuge from the dusty, humid frenzy, offering air-conditioning, possible wifi and a calm interlude. However, not all the hotels will exchange money for visitors not staying at the hotel and if they do, they often don’t receive the Cuban dollars to exchange until the afternoon.

Transportation

On our first full day in the city we decided to book our travel out to Trinidad and this was when we discovered the confusing contrast of this laid-back Caribbean Island and the need for everything to be booked and prepared days in advance. The first option would be a 6 hour bus but the bus has to be booked three days in advance, if we booked that morning we were told we could just make the cut off. As we were about to hand over the money we were told that Monday is May 1^st, an important date in Cuba and there is a parade that will run through the city and because of this there is no guarantee that the bus will run. Not that the bus definitely won’t run but that no-one could guarantee if it would or would not. We didn’t want to take the risk so the bus was out. Secretly pleased that the bus wasn’t an option, we moved on to rental cars. I had already envisioned driving passed the tobacco fields in an open top Cadillac, sunglasses on and scarf blowing in the wind. However, we were told that there is a limited amount of cars available to rent in Havana and all the cars were reserved for people who had had the fore-sight and sense to book them weeks in advance before arriving.

Our last option was a private taxi, this would be the expensive option but we had saved money staying at Airbnb’s, so we decided it would be worth it. Unfortunately, due to my return flight being changed to an earlier time we had to be back in Havana at 11am, which would mean leaving Trinidad at 5am. At this point we got a similar response to the bus dilemma, no-one could guarantee if we would be able to get a private taxi back at that time of the morning. It wasn’t a definite no but it most certainly wasn’t a definite yes. With this now being a pricey option and the looming risk of not being able to get back in time for my flight, we had to finally admit defeat and curse our foolishness. We managed to stay on at our Airbnb in Havana and cancelled the trip to Trinidad.

A quick transportation tip for if you are travelling to the local beaches, which are around half an hour outside of Havana, shared taxis are the quickest and easiest option. If you have 4 to a car it is the same price as the bus and we managed to find people to share with every day in the long line-up for the bus in Parque Central.

Wifi

We were extremely happy with our decision to stay at an Airbnb, rather than a resort or hotel. The family we stayed with were lovely and it allowed us to thoroughly experience the Cuban culture in a relaxed and welcoming environment. As hardy as we felt choosing the ‘true Cuban’ experience, we definitely savoured those moments sipping cold beers, on air conditioned hotel patios, having fleeting connections to wifi and contact with the outside world. Some of the hotels sell wifi cards to non-guests of the hotel, each is a slightly different price ranging between $3-$8 per hour. Unfortunately, these cards are not always successful and can take a long time to get connected to wifi, you can be dropped off at any time and the connection is often weak. It is better to not leave anything relying on the internet. I would recommend downloading the free app Maps.me and the Havana map before you arrive. If you have a terrible sense of direction like me, you will be saving yourself from wandering lost countless times, as you can often walk for about 10 minutes before coming across a street name.

‘This is Cuba’

While waiting for a bus in Parque Central we heard an American tourist lament ‘Nobody here knows nothing!’, this made us smile as we heard similar cries in a variety of accents around the city. Somehow it only adds to the charm of this remarkable city. Trying to book a day trip out to Varadero we were told by one tourist agent that the trips only happened if enough people were booked on to them, the next told us that no trip would be running the next day regardless of how many people requested it and the final one told us that the trip was always running and booked us on to it. We were told different information every time we asked a question and you often have to decipher some very vague answers but this intriguing city makes you feel like the hard work is worth it. We were told to arrive 15 minutes early for our bus out to Varadero, and when it arrived an hour late the hotel concierge who had been stood with us merely shrugged and said ‘This is Cuba’.

Captivating and stimulating, the city will definitely test you and you should not expect things to work like how you have come accustomed to but don’t let any of this put you off. Embrace the confusing charm of Cuba and just remember to be prepared!

 

 

 

 The “Not-So-Good” Old Days

Remember planning a trip waaaaay back in the early 90’s? We certainly do! Back in the “good old days” when Milli Vanilli, acid-washed jeans and Seinfeld were king, planning a trip meant having to book hotels, transportation, and restaurants by snail mail (what is that!?) and making sure you had all your hard-copy maps and relevant information prepared long before you left home. Sure, you could make long-distance calls, if you were okay with paying 100 dollars a minute!

 

 Traveling Into the Future

Indeed, modern technology, travel data plans, and the advent of travel apps, in particular, have changed the game when it comes to making traveling easier, faster, less confusing and more spontaneous! However, like so much of the internet, it can be a daunting task to figure out which apps are useful and which one’s aren’t worth taking up precious memory on your smartphone. Don’t fret. TravelSafe to the rescue!

 

“App”ropriate: Some Excellent Travel Apps

You are most likely aware of apps and websites such as Orbitz, Priceline, Booking.com, Expedia, and Travelocity. They are all good places to start; however, the online-travel industry is always innovating. Here is a list of cutting-edge travel apps that will enhance your travel experience, and help you get the most out of your vacation! You can thank us later–we like commemorative mugs!

 

 

 

Skyscanner covers your flights, hotels, and rental car needs. The app searches for the most affordable and best options via its travel partners. You can see the cheapest dates to fly, and get alerts when prices change. If you’re not sure exactly where you want to go, Skyscanner offers a category that lets you explore “Top Deals” from your nearest airport, as well as a curated list of destinations at affordable prices.

 

 

 

Duolingo is a free and very well-designed language learning app. Though not a replacement for proper language acquisition, the app is a fun way to get the basics or to keep yourself fresh on grammar and vocabulary, before a trip abroad. Similar to a computer game, the app guides you through levels before advancing, and you gain experience points along the way.

 

 

 

XE is one of the most popular and widely used currency apps on the web. With over 20 million downloads since launch, it’s most useful because of its ability to convert every world currency. It also functions offline by saving the last updated rates, which is great if you’re in a place with limited connectivity or trying to save on data.

 

 

 

 

Airbnb is perhaps the best-known travel app in the world! The app offers far cheaper prices, and a more authentic experience by staying with a local, or their home. The app recently added a new feature called Trips, which offers Experiences to choose from during your stay.

 

 

 

 

 

Sidekix is a great city exploration app that had downloadable city guides that list recommended coffee shops, museums, shops, bars, and restaurants. A wonderful app to have in your back pocket when traveling in any city!

 

 

 

 

This is a great app if your flight was delayed, the hotel lost your reservation, or you just want to take a spontaneous, last-minute trip! Hotel Tonight is a reliable service that specializes in last minute deals. It partners with hotels to offer discounts on empty rooms, and you’ll be able to book one in seconds! You also get 24/7 customer service from the Hotel Tonight team, in case something goes wrong.

 

We “App”reciate your feedback!

TravelSafe hopes that these apps will help you on your next adventure! If you have used other travel apps and liked them, please let us know so we can add them to our list!

 

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandratalty/2016/12/22/the-best-travel-apps-for-2017/2/#11fe305d16b4

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-travel-apps/

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/jan/02/10-best-travel-apps-free-paid-for

www.airbnb.ca

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/apps-for-travelers

Adults need boosters too

The need for vaccination does not end after childhood, as many people may think. Some diseases such as measles, mumps and whooping cough are still a risk in BC.

 

Protection from many vaccines received as a child can wear off over time so getting another dose (called a booster) can increase immunity to provide the best and longest lasting protection.

 

Some people cannot get immunized, such as babies that are too young for vaccines, or people with certain medical conditions. Vaccination is the best way to protect you and those around you from vaccine-preventable diseases.

 

 

Vaccine-preventable diseases that adults can get immunized for include:

• diphtheria
• hepatitis A
• hepatitis B
• herpes zoster (shingles)
• human papillomavirus (HPV)
• influenza
• measles
• mumps
• meningococcal
• pertussis (whooping cough)
• pneumococcal
• polio
• rubella
• tetanus
• varicella (chicken pox)

 

Travelling? There might be other vaccines too!

As well as keeping up to date on your routine vaccines, you might need others for travel. Depending on your destination you may also need vaccines for typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, rabies, cholera, or traveller’s diarrhea.

Whethertravelling or not, at TravelSafe clinic we can help you determine what vaccines are needed and how many doses.

 

It’s never too late to finish your vaccine series!

Sometimes life gets in the way and it’s not always possible to come back to the clinic to complete a vaccine series according to the recommended schedule. It’s never too late to finish! Completing your vaccine series ensures long term protection, so when that next vacation presents itself all you’ll need to worry about is what to pack!

For more information see the Public Health Agency of Canada’s guide, “Not Just For Kids. An Adult Guide to Vaccination”