At some point, almost every traveler suffers from seasickness or some other form of motion sickness. Mal de mer, as the French call it, is so common on cruise ships that some lines dispense anti-nausea pills free of charge. Remember, your vulnerability to seasickness is not a reflection of your fortitude or machismo. Even actor George Clooney was stricken during the filming of the seafaring movie saga “The Perfect Storm.”

Doctors think motion sickness stems from conflicting signals from your brain and body. The balance mechanism in your inner ears and the nerves in your feet tell your brain you’re moving, but your eyes see a motionless deck and cabin and send signals that you’re not moving. The conflicting signals cause confusion in your brain, resulting in nausea, dizziness and sweating. If these symptoms sound familiar, here are a few tips on combating nausea on the high seas.

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Once upon a time, I was talked into taking a Windjammer Barefoot Cruise in the Caribbean. Much to my surprise, it included toga parties and nude beaches. It was, shall we say, an epic mismatch.

Not surprisingly, being sure you and your ship are a good fit lands at the top of cruise experts’ tips list. Here’s a sampling of their best advice, whether you’re a novice or a vet:

Match your ship to your personality and your needs

Reggae bands and singing waiters = Carnival. String quartets and serene service = Cunard. Read the rest of this entry »

• Before you go, treat your body well before you fly. Get a good night’s sleep, stay hydrated, exercise, and stay sober.
• Try to take care of as many travel details as possible before you leave so that flight day is stress and anxiety free.
• If you love listening to music as you rest, try noise cancellation headsets. These headsets can be used with your favorite MP3 player and most airline music/video systems (some airlines will require an adapter). These adapters can be purchased at your local electronics or travel store.
• Exercise before you go, this can actually help you sleep better on the plane.
• Once you get to the airport, walk and take stairs on the way to your check-in area and gate connections. Avoid the escalators and moving sidewalks.
• Limit your diet to foods that are easily digested, like those that are relatively high in fiber but not too rich. Fats tend to keep you awake, while carbs usually put you to sleep.
• If you need to stay awake caffeine is useful, but don’t over do it.
• Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
• Get out of your seat regularly to walk and stretch. Do some exercises like toe raises, stomach crunches and shoulder shrugs right in your seat. This will keep your blood flowing and prevents pooling at your extremities.
• Sleeping on a plane is difficult at best. Use earplugs, eyeshades, and a comfortable neck pillow.
• After boarding, set your watch to the time at the destination you are traveling too.

Independent Traveler 9 December 2008

Between commissions, credit card surcharges, ATM fees and other expenses, you’ll almost always have to pay a little extra for the privilege of exchanging one currency for another. How can you minimize these expenses and get the best exchange rate when traveling in a foreign country? Read on to learn how to evaluate exchange rates, avoid pesky fees and stretch your dollar further on your next trip abroad.

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