Educational Travel Tip Tuesday: Say Goodbye to Sickness
What’s a guaranteed way to make or break your experience on a tour? Simply, staying healthy. Play it safe with these tips to keep your bod in shape and your itinerary on schedule.
1. Make colds fly away
You might think a plane’s recycled air is your ticket to Sickville, but there’s another culprit that could put you there if you’re not careful. That tray table or armrest might be your worst enemy on a flight. That’s because germs stay alive for up to 72 hours on plastic surfaces. You could use disinfectant to wipe them down but your best bet is tried and true. Wash your hands as often as you can and avoid touching your face. You may not be able to control the number of germs in the air but you can make efforts to control the number of germs that reach you.
2. Move motion sickness right along
Even the most fearsome traveler can get a bout of motion sickness in transit. To keep your tour in motion (and not your belly,) give these tips a try.
Avoid standing and find a seat with the smoothest ride. If you’re traveling by bus, boat or train that’s usually somewhere in the middle.
Focus your gaze on something in the distance to help your brain match the movement your body feels. If you’re on a boat, keep all hands (and feet) on deck, not below.
Consider taking an over-the-counter antihistamine an hour before you travel, which works by targeting the part of your brain that causes nausea. Remember to check the side effects before you try.
3. Tame your tummy troubles
One of the main causes of an upset stomach while traveling is drinking local tap water—especially in South and Central America, Asia and the Middle East. If you’re unsure whether it’s safe, buy bottled for drinking and brushing your teeth. (Oh, and make that soda “no ice, please.”) Lastly, avoid salads, fruits and shellfish because these are oftentimes a breeding ground for bugs, especially in hot climates.
Educational Travel Photo of the Week: Boston Marathon
Massachusetts will be celebrating Patriots’ Day on April 16th, which honors the battles of Lexington and Concord in the revolutionary war. Two other states observe this day as well – Maine (which was once part of Massachusetts) and Wisconsin. This holiday falls on the third Monday of April, and in Boston, it’s known as Marathon Monday because of the annual marathon race held there.
Three Must-Dos on a Science Class Trip to the Pacific Coast
Add one part science to three parts Pacific Coast and you’ve got the perfect formula for a science class trip. Join Explorica at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Yosemite National Park and Point Reyes National Seashore to discover how easily science and fun go hand in hand.
1. First, experience life under the sea—without getting wet.
As one of the most ecologically advanced aquariums in the world, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a major Pacific Coast must-see. You’ll find seahorses, bluefin tuna, stingrays and sea otters swimming in water pumped in from the Pacific Ocean. So life at the aquarium is always as fresh for the fish as their natural habitat. And with one tank that’s a massive 33-feet high (and the first in the world to grow California Sea Kelp) you’ll feel like you’re swimming with the fishies at the bottom of the ocean.
Educational Travel Tip Tuesday: Manage On-Tour Group Dynamics
What’s it like traveling with a group of 10 to 20 (or more!) high school students? It can be rewarding, inspiring and no doubt…a little challenging! You know how to keep a classroom in synch but what happens when you have no walls, period bells or chalkboard to get your points across? Here are three ways to structure the chaotic side of travel and make organizing groups fun!
1. Play for Punctuality
Tardiness is tough to control in any school, and when you’re moving through tours in sporadic time slots (not neat 50 minute class periods), it’s tough to keep all kids marching to same beat. One way to get a rhythm going is to gamify start times. Assign fun leadership roles or unique prizes to the first down to breakfast and the first back on the bus. This can be anything from getting to decide the lunch spot to winning a goodie bag related to the days activities. Get creative!
Education Travel Tip Tuesday: Passport Prep
You know not to forget your passport when you travel. But don’t forget to get your passport in tip-top travel shape, well before you leave. Take a peek at Explorica’s handy hints on how to make it smoothly through your host country’s border control so that the only thing you’ll be worried about upon arrival is whether you remembered to pack your toothbrush!
1. Check the expiration date on your passport.
Many countries won’t allow visitors to enter if they have less than six months left on their passport. And others, such as Spain and Costa Rica, require that you have at least three. Visit the government’s official travel website and make sure that your passport meets your destination country’s entry requirements. Worried you’ve left it too late? Don’t worry because help may be at hand. For an additional fee, the US Passport Office can get you a new one in under two weeks.
2. Find out if you need a visa to travel to your destination.
Traveling between the USA, Canada and many European countries is easy due to a special agreement allowing you to travel for up to 90 days visa-free. However, some countries require you to obtain a visa, such as Brazil, India and Turkey. Although you’ll usually need to submit an application to your host country’s local consulate by mail, the good news is that travelers to Australia can obtain it right over the internet. Oh, and remember you’ll need a valid passport before you can put in your visa application.
3. Make copies of your passport’s information page before you travel.
Leave one copy at home with a trustworthy friend or family member and keep hold of another in a safe, but separate, place from your passport. So, should the worst occur you’ll have all your information at hand for the staff at the US consulate abroad to get you back home, hassle-free.