If you’re like most people, you’re probably already looking forward to summer. There’s nothing better than sitting on a beach somewhere tropical with a cool beverage in-hand, or wandering the streets of a historic city. Traveling has an array of benefits, not only for your mind, but for your body and soul as well. It can help you to discover new things about yourself, and it encourages you to learn something new and step outside of your comfort zone.

Before you hit the road or board your flight for your next adventure, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Traveling can be exhausting to say the least, and unless you prepare ahead of time for your trip, you run the risk of running into obstacles during your vacation.

Here are some travel strategies and tips to ensure your travels are smooth and stress-free. We’ll also look at ways to stay on top of your health, so you don’t end up sick on the sandy beaches of Mexico or Puerto Rico.

If you plan on traveling out of Denver International Airport (DIA), make the smart move and park your vehicle with ParkDIA. We offer the closest private, near-airport parking facility near DIA, with a number of affordable airport parking options including covered, uncovered, and VIP parking spots. Check out our parking rates and options online today or download our mobile app on your smartphone to reserve your spot!

Staying Healthy On The Road

We understand how challenging it can be to stay healthy while traveling. When you’re at home, you have a daily routine that you likely abide by. From preparing healthy meals to going to the gym on a weekly basis, there’s a good chance you have a routine that works for you. When you board a flight to head off to some tropical destination,your healthy routine may take the backseat, or be completely forgotten.

That’s why it’s so important to bring pieces of your home habits with you while you travel. While you don’t have to pack the entire refrigerator, you can bring small, healthy snacks to munch on while you’re on-the-go. Not only will these healthy snacks help to curb your hunger, your body will be properly fueled for the new adventures that lie ahead. Whether you carve out time in your day to meditate every morning or you make sure you get eight hours of sleep each night, these small and healthy habits can go a long way.

Don’t Forget To Exercise

As we mentioned, you probably have an exercise or workout regimen you abide by when you’re home, back in the normal swing of things. When you board a long flight or sit in the car for hours at a time, this can lead to stiffness in your legs, and even cramps over time. When you have the option of taking a cab or walking, always opt to walk to your next destination. A little bodily movement is a great way to get your blood pumping, and if you have the option of enrolling in any type of fitness class while you’re away, it will only benefit you.

Drink A Ton Of Water

No matter where you plan on traveling, it’s critical to drink clean water. Water can be a major safety concern for people traveling abroad, especially because there are a variety of ailments that can occur from drinking unsafe water.

So how do you know if the water is safe to drink?

For the most part, you should be safe to drink tap water in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong. While the water may taste a little different in these places, it’s only because certain countries add different things to their water.

Water safety goes far beyond simply not drinking tap water in foreign places. If you plan on traveling to a rural area, you don’t want to spend all of your money on bottled water. Luckily, there are a variety of products on the market that can help you purify water. A couple of our favorites include:

• LifeStraw Personal Water Filter – This lightweight straw will let you drink water from anywhere. It filters out nearly all waterborne bacteria and waterborne protozoan parasites, and can last anywhere from 3 to 5 years.
• SteriPen Traveler – This unique device uses ultraviolet light (UV) to purify water from bacteria, parasites, and even viruses. This pen can protect you from waterborne microorganisms that cause diseases like botulism, cholera, and typhoid.

Get A Restful Night’s Sleep

Going on vacation means you get to partake in a ton of new adventures. While you may be tempted to stay out late every night drinking cervezas with the locals, we highly recommend that you get at least eight hours of sleep each night. It’s okay to miss out on some late-night activities, and you’ll have much more energy in the morning to take on the day.

Whether you plan on staying in a hotel or with a friend, there are a few things you can do to make your sleeping space feel like home. If it behooves you, pack your favorite slippers, pillow, and pajamas. If you have a bedtime routine at home, such as making a hot cup of tea before bed, make sure to continue this routine while you are traveling.

Take Your Vitamins

One of the easiest ways to stay healthy while on the road is by taking your vitamins and supplements with you. Most vitamins come in an easy-to-consume form, and are relatively easy to pack in your suitcase. If you’re traveling with children, there is a wonderful selection of tasty gummy vitamins that you can choose from on the market as well.

Learn About Common Travel Scams

Wherever you plan on traveling, it’s important to be aware of common travel scams. Thieves and scammers target tourists traveling from other countries because they know they can trick them out of your hard-earned cash. If you’re lucky, these scammers will be obvious to spot, but it’s important to note that there are plenty of crafty con-artists out there, too.

As travelers, it’s easy to think that we are smart enough to avoid getting ripped off, but the truth is, it can happen to anyone. Whether it’s getting ridiculously overcharged on a 10-minute cab ride or accidentally providing the wrong person with your credit card information, these scams exist all over the world. Some common travel scams to keep an eye out for include:

• A Broken Taxi Meter – This is a common scam that can be found in cabs near airports or train stations. When you get into the taxi and the driver starts to drive, they may inform you that their meter is broken. This can lead them to charge you an insanely high price for your ride. To avoid any surprises, if this happens to you, make sure you negotiate the taxi rate ahead of time. If the taxi driver tells you that it’s cheaper without the meter, get out and start looking for another driver.
• Overbooked or Closed Hotels – This is another common scam that happens with cab drivers. While you are on your way to your hotel, the cab driver may tell you that your hotel is either overbooked or closed due to renovation. As a result, they may try to steer you towards a different, more expensive hotel, where the driver will receive a nice compensation for his referral. To avoid this scam, call your hotel in advance to make sure they are indeed open.

Lock Up Your Valuables

While we don’t recommend you bring your most valuable jewelry or electronics on your trip, you’ll likely be carrying a few things that you just can’t live without (passport, cell phone, etc). For tech-savvy travelers, it can be tempting to carry around every camera accessory possible, but you don’t need to go overboard.

Your main concern should be to minimize opportunities for theft, and the first thing you’ll want to look at is your luggage. Unless you have a slash-proof backpack, the luggage you carry can easily be cut or torn by a thief on the street.

On a similar note, you’ll also want to mark your bags with an easily recognizable item, so you don’t get your bag confused with Joe Shmo’s. If you’ve ever retrieved baggage from a carousel, you already know how similar and even identical suitcases can be. As an act of precaution, we recommend you mark your bag by tying a colorful ribbon or putting a large tag with your information on your bag. This will allow you to see your suitcase coming down the carousel from a mile away.

Park Your Car In A Safe Spot At The Airport

If you’re traveling out of the Denver International Airport and you’re looking for safe and secure airport parking that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, be sure to learn more about ParkDia. We offer the closest off-site airport parking to the airport, with speedy door-to-door shuttle services that will have you to your terminal within five minutes. We also offer a wonderful array of parking options, including uncovered and covered parking spots – with 15% off parking for Triple A members, military, first responders, and teachers. Reserve your parking spot online today!