Tips for Feeling Fresh on a Long-Haul Flight

A long-haul flight can take a lot out of you. The A/C is blasted sky-high and drying out your skin; you’re stuck in the same clothes for hours upon hours. Let’s be honest—you barely got sleep last night and refreshed is the last word anyone would use to describe you.

But don’t fear! There are a few easy steps you can take to refresh your skin and sanity during and after a flight. These can go a long way to perk you up and get you ready to face your destination (and jet lag).

Here are my tips for feeling fresh on a long-haul flight!

Moisturize

Keep your face and skin moisturized by packing a small bottle of lotion. (Be sure it’s travel-sized so it passes security.) Apply the lotion liberally whenever you feel that your skin is getting dry.

Try to keep your makeup to a minimum, or opt out of it altogether—your skin wants to breathe. And stay away from alcohol—it will dehydrate you faster than anything.

Pack Always Sheer Dailies Liners and Wipes

The Always brand makes these amazing Sheer Dailies liners and wipes to cancel out odors you’d rather not be stuck with. They’re really absorbent and keep you smelling clean all day.

Be sure to opt for liners instead of pads—liners are usually small and light enough that you don’t notice even them. The wipes are handy to keep around when you want a quick pick-me-up. They are small enough to take on the go, are individually wrapped, and have a light fragrance.

Drink Lots of Water!

Staying hydrated is the number one way to keep refreshed on the plane. Though airplanes usually offer water on board, it’s never enough! Take an empty stainless steel water bottle with you and fill it up just before boarding the plane.

Get Some Rest

I know, sometimes it’s impossible, but try to sleep a full eight hours the night before your flight. You’ll be able to handle the stress and foreign environment of air travel with greater ease.

If you can, try to sleep on the plane too—after a long-haul flight, you’ll probably be dealing with jet lag. If you’re traveling to Europe, red-eye flights are quite common, and they can mess up your body’s schedule. More sleep means more sanity when you’re on the ground!

Pack a Change of Clothes in your Carry On

Sometimes you just want to get out of the same old clothes you’ve been in all day from airport to airport. Dress yourself in comfy and loose-fitting clothes before you board. Then you can swap back into your dress or whatnot when you land.

Keep the Essentials Handy

There’s something magical about items like the toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wipes, and hand sanitizer after a long flight. Clean skin and teeth can keep you feeling refreshed.

While on the plane (or right after it lands) be sure to brush your teeth, apply deodorant, and wash your face and hands. If you’re prone to bad breath, bring along some mints or a breath spray. This will also help to minimize germs you’re exposed to on the plane.

Be careful not to overdo it with the wipes and hand sanitizer; they can dry out your skin.

READ NEXT: The Ultimate Survival Guide for Long-Haul Flights

 

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This article was written in partnership with Always. As always, opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Tips for Feeling Fresh on a Long-Haul Flight is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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The Ultimate Cape Town Travel Guide

On my first trip to the continent of Africa, I was lucky enough to spend about a week exploring the wonders of Cape Town. It truly has stunning natural landscapes, delicious and diverse cuisines and so many activities for all ages.

Check out all of my tips in the ultimate Cape Town travel guide!

• What to Expect

• Getting Around

• Where to Stay

• What to Do

• Where to Eat

• What to Expect

What to Expect in Cape Town

Cape Town is a cosmopolitan city with a wealth of historical sites, café culture, and lively nightlife.

• Language: South Africa claims a whopping eleven official languages but the most common you’ll hear in and around Cape Town is English—the lingo of business and media—followed by Afrikaans and Xhosa on the streets.
• Currency:The South African rand
• Credit Cards and Banks: The majority of retailers and restaurants accept debit card as payment.
• Climate: Humidity is quite low in Cape Town, so while the summers are hot, they aren’t too muggy. Wintertime, however, is chilly with the ocean winds blowing in from the southeast.

The best times to visit are the cusp months, October and November, springtime in South Africa, or from December to February when the days are at their longest and warmest. Winter from June to August tends to be rainy and cold.

• Getting Around

Getting Around Cape Town

Cape Town is rather spread out and with many things to do around the Cape, I recommend renting a car. It will save you from spare you from the somewhat unreliable public transportation and pricey taxis.

Getting Around Town

I highly recommend renting a car—especially if you plan to do road trips. Overall, the best way to get around Cape Town is by car, because although the street signage can be a bit confusing, you’ll find that the city is auto-friendly with ample parking and not a lot of traffic.

Uber enjoys a healthy clientele in and around Cape Town, so you can use the Uber app to get around if driving on your own doesn’t sound like a great idea.

Getting To Cape Town

From Cape Town International Airport, you can rent a car, take a metered taxi (about R300 to R400) or catch the MyCiti shuttle bus (about R64 per person but depends on your destination) into the city centre.

• Where to Stay

Where to Stay in Cape Town

Cape Town, and South Africa in general, is filled with beautiful, luxury boutique hotels. Note that in Cape Town, hostel prices are fairly high, so unless you’re traveling on your own, you might as well stay in a hotel.

The Best of Budget Accommodations in Cape Town

• The Backpack Cape Town: A colorful and trendy hostel with dorms for up to eight people, private rooms, and a studio apartment with a kitchenette. The premises also boast an outdoor pool, a café and bar, free continental breakfast, and free Wi-Fi.
• Fritz Hotel: The budget but charming House Fritz Guest House is in the center of town, just 15 minutes away from the Green Market Square. Tucked away in a quiet residential area, the B&B offers spacious rooms with hardwood floors, some with private gardens or balconies with views of Table Mountain.
• Ashanti Lodge Gardens: This lodge is a former Victorian mansion that has been converted to a beautiful hostel just a brief walk from the Iziko South African Museum. Accommodations are geared toward a variety of travelers: simple dorms, campsites, and private rooms with bathrooms en suite.

The Best Luxury Accommodations in Cape Town

• South Beach in Camps Bay: South Beach is a gorgeous collection of waterfront apartments with ocean-view balconies and kitchens. As you can imagine, they are fairly luxurious and have modern amenities, flat-screen TVs, free WI-FI, and continental breakfast served in-room. Ask for the upgrades if you can—these come with direct pool access and whirlpool tubs.
• MannaBay Boutique Guest House: Mannabay is a sophisticated hotel with eclectic decor and offers a beautiful swimming pool, a fire pit, and complimentary airport transfers. Each one of the eight luxury rooms is distinctly decorated and can host up to 16 guests. The rooms are huge and have spacious bathrooms, walk-in showers, and under-floor heating—ingredients for a heavenly stay! Enjoy complimentary drinks served every afternoon at High Tea.
• Cape View Clifton Beach House: The stylish and flawless Cape View Clifton is the perfect place to relax. The rooms are spacious with stunning panoramic views and made-to-order breakfast. Book a romantic deluxe or junior suite or spring for a two- or three-bedroom suite with your band of girlfriends. The Clifton area is a beach lover’s paradise with four coves protected from the famous southeasterly winds.

• What to Do

What to Do in Cape Town

Surrounded by so many natural sights, there are endless adventures you can get into in Cape Town!

• Cape Point Road Trip: Take a drive along the beautiful coastal road to scenic Cape Point. The highway will take you through historical Hout Bay and Sentinel Peak and to the winding Chapman’s Peak Road. Cape Point is located in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and has dramatic views of the ocean, a charming historical lighthouse, and dangerous rocks that have led to many a shipwreck in olden times.

• 

• Hike Lion’s Head: Need to escape the city? The options are endless around the mountains and national parks. One of the more popular is Lion’s Head, a slightly challenging but rewarding climb.
• Cable Car up to Table Mountain: You can hop on the cable car to scale nearby Table Mountain and see its panoramic views over Cape Town.

• 

• Helicopter Tour: Several helicopter companies offer scenic flights of Cape Town with stunning views of the city and the Cape of Good Hope. 
• City Bus Sightseeing Tour: Cape Town hosts a wonderful hop-on and hop-off double decker that will take you through all the main highlights: The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the Clock Tower, Foreshore, 81 Long Street, Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, and Camps Bay. It’s a great way to get a brief overview of town! Plus you can buy cableway tickets to Table Mountain onboard and skip the lines! 

• 

• Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden: The Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden is home to a large collection of African plants and offers trails carved out for trekkers and stone sculptures set in the gardens for artists. In summertime, you´ll often find live concerts held on the grass on Sundays. 
• Shop at Watershed: The Watershed is an indoor market on the waterfront that offers a variety of treats, including artist exhibitions, workshops, and products for your mind and body.

• 

• Woodstock Art Walk Tour: Since 2010, Woodstock has been the epicenter for street art, and these days you can hire a guide to take you around to see more than 40 pieces of artwork from local and international artists. Truly a place to get inspired!

• Where to Eat

Where to Eat in Cape Town

There’s no end to delectable restaurants and cheerful cafés in Cape Town. The city’s rich history of colliding cultures has led to hearty, award-winning cuisine . . . you’ll find samosas, curries, chakalaka, imifino patties, pizza, and gelato.

• Willoughby & Co: Willoughby & Co on Victoria Wharf is the locals’ much-loved, go-to restaurant for sushi.
• The Biscuit Mill: The Old Biscuit Mill is a heartfelt collaboration between chefs, designers, photographers, and other artists in and around town. Once a biscuit factory, it now hosts a market featuring more than 100 specialty traders every Saturday.

• 

• Mama Africa: As the restaurant claims, “If you haven’t been to Mama Africa, you haven’t been to Cape Town.” A vibrant yet cozy oasis where you can enjoy authentic live music, traditional foods, such as shaved meats and game kebab, and a gift shop open in the evenings.
• Codfather: Codfather Seafood & Sushi is a lively restaurant that’s always full of hungry patrons. Your taste buds will thank you after the heaps of deliciously prepared fish, prawns, langoustines, crayfish, and more.
• Truth Coffee or Tribe Coffee: Grab your daily cup of joe at Truth Coffee or Tribe Coffee—both exceptional cafés in the heart of Cape Town. Truth Coffee boasts a relaxed yet trendy steampunk vibe, while Tribe Coffee is an unassuming café just a brief walk from the Woodstock train station.

• 

• The Test Kitchen: Located in The Old Biscuit Mill, the Test Kitchen is a blend of South African and Latin cuisine with inventive dishes, including home-smoked trout with parsley jellies and saffron pickled onions, light curry-glazed kingklip, and cauliflower salad with caper and pine nut salsa.

Back to Top

Read Next: 20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Cape Town

 

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The Ultimate Cape Town Travel Guide is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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Exploring Viñales: Farm Life In Rural Cuba

Exploring Viñales, Cuba

Viñales, Cuba

Riding through endless fields of green tobacco and fertile red soil in Viñales, we passed local farmers harvesting the leaves that would become Cuba’s world famous cigars.

Viñales is a small town located on the Western tip of Cuba. Set in a beautiful lush valley with funky looking hills and limestone caves, people have been growing tobacco in the area for over 200 years.

In Havana we hired Jose and his sweet red 1957 Ford Victoria to drive the four of us 3 hours out to Viñales, passing only a handful of other classic cars and a bunch of horse-drawn carriages on Cuba’s poorly maintained highways.

Lush Green Viñales Valley

Plenty of Classic Cars

Welcome To Viñales

Viñales feels stuck in time. The main street is lined with small single story wooden homes with faded paint. Locals pass by riding old bicycles, horses, or driving colorful vintage American cars.

While there are some hotels in town, most travelers stay with locals in casas particulares, which are like guest bedrooms in other people’s homes.

Our host was Lay, a welcoming lady who turned her home into a guesthouse with two double rooms. This is how many Cubans make extra income beyond their communist government regulated salary of about $30 USD per month.

The town has plenty of small restaurants and bars with live music, but it doesn’t feel overcrowded. In fact, Viñales is rumored to be Fidel Castro’s favorite part of Cuba!

Horseback Riding Through Tobacco Farms

Best Cigars in the World?

Viñales National Park

Viñales Valley was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 due to its dramatic landscape of karst limestone domes called mogotes, traditional agricultural methods of farming, and rich cultural history.

The valley was formed underwater, rising from the sea millions of years ago. Ancient ocean fossils can still be found in the caves that dot the landscape.

The New York Times called Viñales one of the top places to visit in 2016.

But aside from being a beautiful travel destination, Viñales is known for the quality of its tobacco. I’m not a “smoker” per se, but I do enjoy the occasional cigar at the end of a big trek or for special occasions.

So I was excited to learn how Cuba’s world-famous cigars are actually made.

Harvesting Tobacco Leaves

Friendly Livestock!

Home Of Cuban Cigars

Why are Cuban cigars so special? Well, many people believe Cuba is the birthplace of cigars. Christopher Columbus encountered native Cubans smoking cylindrical bundles of twisted tobacco leaves in 1492.

The practice was eventually exported to Europe, and by the 19th century, smoking cigars became a popular pastime for wealthy men — who formed special cigar clubs called divans.

Cuba’s time-honored tobacco growing and production techniques were exported to places like the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Then came the United States trade embargo, making Cuban cigars illegal — and increasing their value even more.

The fertile land and favorable climate of Viñales make for perfect cigar tobacco growing conditions. Most residents here are in the tobacco farming business.

Pastel Colored Farmhouse

Our Horse Guide “Papito”

Tobacco Farm Experience

We hired a guide and some horses to take a tour of Viñales National Park, learning about the traditional techniques used here for hundreds of years. No machines are used, which means crops are picked by hand and fields are plowed with oxen.

Passing through farms with pigs, chickens, and turkeys, we rode along green tobacco fields where local workers were harvesting the last of the season’s prized leaves. Tobacco grows fast, ready for harvest after 2-3 months.

The leaves are then hung in special curing barns, where they dry for about a month, turning a toasty brown color. The Cuban government buys 90% of the tobacco, while locals are allowed to keep 10% for themselves.

To prepare Cuban cigars, the center vein of the leaf is removed, where 98% of the nicotine resides. Next, leaves are sprayed with a special mixture of ingredients like pineapple, lemon, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, and rum for the fermentation process.

Three different types of leaves are used to roll the final cigar — filler (inside), binder (holding it together), and the wrapper (visually appealing outer layer).

Tobacco Drying Barn

Cuban Cowboys

Adventures In Viñales

Visiting tobacco farms isn’t the only thing to do in Viñales though. As part of the farm tour, we also explored one of the many limestone caves in the area. Rock climbing these unique limestone formations is a popular activity too.

Aside from guided horseback riding, you can also rent a bicycle, ATV, or motorcycle and explore the valley on your own. There’s a popular cave called Cueva del Indio where you can ride a boat on the underground river that flows through the cave.

We heard stories about a nice little beach about an hour North of Viñales called Cayo Jutías, but didn’t have time to visit.

Ox Cart Animal Power

Tips For Visiting

Viñales is located about 3-4 hours West of Havana. There are regular Viazul Busses that run twice a day for about $15 USD per person. But you often need to buy your ticket a day in advance.

Or you can do what we did, and rent a vintage taxi with room for 4 people for about $60-$70 depending on your bargaining skills.

While walking the outskirts of Viñales, you might be waved over to learn about the cigar making process at some random farm. It’s a fun experience, just understand that at the end your host will ask you to buy a bundle of 15-20 cigars for about $1 each.

Cuban cigars can cost $10-$20 each in the USA… so it’s a pretty good deal!

“If I cannot smoke in heaven, then I shall not go.” ~ Mark Twain ★

Watch Video: Viñales Farm Adventure

(Click to watch Viñales Farm Adventure – Cuba on YouTube)

More Information

Location: Viñales, Cuba [Map]
Accommodation: Casa Lay (email: layvinales@nauta.cu)
Horseback Farm Tour: 35 CUC ($35 USD)
Useful Notes: Our tobacco farm tour was done on horseback, but they also have ox carts or bikes available. It lasts about 4 hours, with an option for a short cave excursion for a few CUC more. In addition to cigars, you can also purchase cuban coffee at the end.
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Cuba
Suggested Reading: The Other Side Of Paradise

READ NEXT: How To Visit Cuba For Americans

Are you planning to visit Cuba? Have you ever smoked a cigar?

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

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Using Hawaiian Tropic® for Your Next Tropical Getaway

As you guys might already know, I am a bit obsessed with the sun, but also taking care of my skin. While I may not always have the time or patience to follow an elaborate routine, I do always make sure to cover my basic skincare needs every single day whether I am at home or away.

When it comes to having flawless skin, simplicity is key. In my dream life, I would love to have a dazzling vanity full of lotions and potions but, in real life, I’m all about the basics.

For me that means cleanse, moisturize, and protect.

No matter how late my night ends up being, I always make sure to take off my makeup and hydrate my skin. In the morning, it’s all about skin protection. Whether I am on a tropical getaway or a ski weekend, SPF is essential and I’ve found that Hawaiian Tropic® products offer awesome benefits for my skin, and feature a unique, breathable formula that feels weightless.

I tend to sway towards tropical and beach destinations more in my travels, mainly because I love bikinis and water sports (who doesn’t?!), but there’s something about the scent of Hawaiian Tropic® and the Aloha Therapy that take me to some beach, somewhere, every time.

Just in time for the upcoming, summer holiday weekends, like Memorial Day, Walgreens stores are offering huge promotions on Hawaiian Tropic® products, including new items in the Silk Hydration line through May and June. Here’s your opportunity to indulge in the sun Aloha-style with no regrets!

There is no point in weighing down your luggage with unnecessary toiletries. Between leaking bottles and those impossibly small airport-security-approved liquid bags, skincare products aren’t very transportable. So, my traveling beauties, we have got to keep it easy and portable. Before you pack it, ask yourself if you really need it.

There is one thing that every drop-dead gorgeous older woman will tell you: you always need sunscreen! Rain, sleet, or snow, it’s a must-have.

I used to think that sunscreen was one of the least fun products in my beauty arsenal, but forget about the stinky old SPF creams of your childhood. Lounge poolside with the smells of hibiscus and coconut encircling you, and pretend you’re on the beaches of Hawaii.

Pamper yourself in the warmth of the sun with luxuriously lightweight broad spectrum protection for your face and body with a tropical scent to transport you away to paradise. After a day in the sun, soothe and moisturize your skin withHawaiian Tropic® After Sun Lotion, treating your senses to a much needed Aloha Therapy session.

Aloha Therapy takes your senses on a mini vacay every time you put it on and I love that tropical indulgence the lotions provide. Who wouldn’t love a bottled Hawaiian getaway? Ditch the perfume and go for a hardworking lotion that will leave you smelling like a dream.

The amazing scents aside, Hawaiian Tropic® provides top-notch skincare. Its sun protection and after sun skincare is second to none. Be sure to consider these products for your next outing:

• Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless Sunscreen Lotion

• Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration After Sun Ultra Hydrating Lotion & Soothing Aloe Gel

Treat your skin and retreat to an island getaway!

For full body coverage, go for Hawaiian Tropic® Silk Hydration Weightless Sunscreen Lotion. It provides a remarkable 12 hours of lush moisture while keeping your skin protected from the sun’s harmful rays.

Available in SPF 15 and 30, you can get long-lasting UVA/UVB protection and keep your skin feeling baby soft. And don’t be stingy! You don’t want to grow up to look like an old leather bag. Bottom line, keep your skin healthy.

Helpful Tip: As with any lotion or sunscreen product, be cautious while wearing light-colored bikinis as they may stain! 

Even the most serious sunscreen addicts out there can end up with sunburns from time to time.

If you are a bit overexposed after a long day out in the sun, soothe your aching skin with Hawaiian Tropic® Silk Hydration™ After Sun Lotion. With cooling aloe and ribbons of moisturizing silk protein and shea butter, this after sun lotion will leave your skin feeling hydrated and refreshed.

This is definitely my favorite Aloha Therapy product because no matter how much sun I get, it’s the perfect amount of hydration for my skin, and I never feel greasy or dried out after using it.

Plus, the smell of coconut and papaya keeps you day dreaming of your fun in the sun for hours!

So, ladies, are you ready to transport yourself to a Hawaiian dreamland of soft, ageless skin? Grab your Hawaiian Tropic® and let’s go!

#AlohaYourSenses Giveaway

Create your own oasis this summer with Hawaiian Tropic® by entering the #AlohaYourSenses Sweepstakes through June 11^th. This is your chance to win themed prize packs, featuring Hawaiian Tropic products, a Walgreens gift cards, and other summer essentials! 

ENTER TO WIN HERE

Get $1.00 off ONE Hawaiian Tropic® Sun Care product!

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This article was written in partnership with Hawaiian Tropic® at Walgreens. For more information on skincare and the products, please visit Hawaiian Tropic® website. As always, opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Using Hawaiian Tropic® for Your Next Tropical Getaway is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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How to Keep Your Energy Up While Traveling

Traveling can be exhausting! Between jet lag, long afternoons of walking and late nights out, you might feel like you need a vacation after your vacation. But it doesn’t have to be that way! You can explore the world and make the most of every moment without running yourself ragged.

Check out my easy tips to keep your energy up while traveling!

Always Get a Good Night of Sleep

By far and away the most important thing is to get a good night’s sleep. If you don’t get at least seven hours per night, it is going to be impossible to say energetic all day long. I know it’s hard for night owls to shut down at the end of the day but it is one of the best habits you can create.

Whatever you are doing, it will still be there tomorrow! Drop your phone, leave the club and shut off your laptop. Sleeping is the best way to spend your night.

One of my travel must-haves is Montmorency Tart Cherries. These little cherries are a natural source of melatonin, which promotes better quality sleep and helps restore a normal sleep cycle. Just two 8 oz. glasses of Tart Cherry Juice each day can help to improve the quality and duration of sleep, so try adding it to some sparking water in flight.

That extra melatonin may help your body fight jet lag and regulate its natural sleep cycle when arriving in a different time zone. If you are feeling too wound up at the end of the day, this is the perfect fix.

Keep Moving

Couldn’t resist sampling the local greasy breakfast? And the four-course lunch? And, of course, who can turn down the dinner buffet followed by dessert and after dinner drinks? No problem! Indulgence isn’t a big deal if you keep moving.

Have an amazing meal then opt to walk around the city rather than taking the metro. Go out for drinks then get up early for a seaside run.

It’s especially important to keep moving during travel days. Pace the aisles during a long flight. Walk to the back of the train and do heel lifts. When you really restricted for space, every little bit helps so take every chance to get moving.

Eat Right

One of my favorite things about traveling is the FOOD! From Pacific salmon to African cucumbers to cherimoya, there are so many delicious and healthy treats out there.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be an elaborate affair. I’d love to be one of those women who always has a fridge packed full of healthy, home cooked food but that’s not always realistic.

Healthy eating on the go is all about making good decisions on the fly.

I usually prep my own snacks for long travel days and flights. One of my favorite (and easiest) snacks is trail mix with dried tart cherries, walnuts (another melatonin-rich food) and organic dark chocolate for a delicious and healthy in flight snack that’s high in antioxidants.

You can find healthy food anywhere. Even at fast food joints, you can opt for grilled rather than fried food. Nearly any convenience store has bananas alongside candy bars. Remember, guys, food is fuel!

A healthy diet isn’t about restriction. Eating well means providing your body with a diet rich in diversity.

Stay Hydrated

Tired? Hungry? Irritable? There is a good chance that you are thirsty! Before you reach for a coffee or snack, down a glass of water. You’ll be amazed at what a difference it can make. When you are flying, drink at least one glass of water per hour in the air.

When it is hot out, keep up the same momentum. Drinking eight glasses a day is a good rule of thumb but when you are wandering through a 100 degree city, it might not be enough. Listen to your body.

Keep up Your Hygiene Routine

It’s important to keep things fresh! Be sure to pack all of your beauty and hygiene essentials. Keep a travel toothbrush and face wipes stashed in your bag for long journeys. When you’re traveling in the summer, don’t hesitate to up your showering game.

In tropical weather, I have found that taking two five-minute showers is so much better than one long ten-minute showering. Even just stepping into a cold shower for one minute with my hair up will totally wake up me and leave me feeling refreshed.

Ultimately, staying energized is all about treating your body well! Sleep late, stay well fed, keep hydrated and always listen to your body.

If you are still feeling exhausted, it might be time for a siesta!

READ NEXT: Tips to Reset Your Sleep Schedule After Traveling

 

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This article was written in partnership with the Cherry Marketing Institute. For more information on the research and science supporting the health benefits of tart cherries and delicious cherry recipes, visit the Choose Cherries website. As always, opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

How to Keep Your Energy Up While Traveling is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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The Best Time to Go to Croatia

With its stunning natural beauty, fascinating history, amazing wine, and delicious seafood, Croatia is easily one of my favorite destinations. Whatever your budget, whatever your interests, this is the place for you.

You can have a great time in Croatia at any time of year. Traditionally, this eastern European country’s travel periods are broken up in three seasons: high, low, and shoulder season. Before you book your dates, choose your theme!

Want a city break? A beach getaway? A spa retreat? Croatia has it.

You just need to know the best time to go to Croatia.

The Low Season

• Months: October – April

Croatia sees the fewest tourists from October to April. While it does get cold there, you can still have a fabulous time. The prices hit rock bottom throughout the country and it’s a perfect opportunity to have an ultra-luxe holiday for an incredible bargain. Go on a skiing sojourn. Enjoy a long, blissed-out spa stay.

Stay away from the Adriatic coast during the winter—you’ll find nothing but closed beaches and abandoned resorts. Head inland for the best winter adventure. Fly into Dubrovnik or Zagreb and see how the locals live.

If you are fortunate enough to get to Croatia during Christmas, the New Year, or Carnival, you are in for a serious treat. Croatian festivals are always fun so be sure to search local calendars to maximize your trip!

When you aren’t partying it up, check out one of Croatia’s luxury hotel spas. During the winter, you can get pampered there for a fraction of the price that you would pay in North America or Europe.

Go for a massage, chill in a mud bath, sweat it out in a sauna.

When you are ready to get your blood pumping, go skiing for cheap! Croatia has a dozen ski resorts. If you decide to stay in Zagreb, be sure to check out Mount Sljeme.

Highlights: Christmas, New Years Eve and Carnival

The High Season

• Months: June – August

Croatia’s travel season is at its peak in June, July and August. The weather is consistently sunny and warm. Looking for your own picture-perfect Mediterranean oasis?

Find a place for yourself on the luminous beaches of Hvar Island, Split, Korčula Island, and Dubrovnik. The afternoons are hot and the water is great for swimming.

Croatian summers are known for their rocking music festivals so be sure to hit at least one while you are there. There are countless options: the INmusic Festival and International Folklore Festival in Zagreb and the ULTRA Music Festival in Split are among the continent’s top picks.

The only downside to this time of year is that you’ll find yourself among a sea of tourists and you will end up paying the highest prices of the year. Ultimately, though, that’s what you’ll find on any quality beach during the summer and it is so worth it here!

Highlights: ULTRA Music Festival, INmusic Festival and International Folklore Festival

The Shoulder Season

• Months: May & September

The time on either side of the high season is what the pros call the “shoulder season.” This is definitely my favorite time to visit Croatia. During the month of May and again in September you will find truly perfect conditions.

While the weather isn’t quite as reliable as it is during the peak season, you can still enjoy warm days with minimal crowds and lower prices.

The beaches aren’t quite as hospitable in early summer and early autumn but that won’t stop you from having a great time! With temperatures pushing 100 degrees Fahrenheit during July and August, it can get overwhelming. If you want to explore the cities or hike the spectacular countryside, you will definitely appreciate the cooler days.

Highlights: The Weather!

So, guys, what’s it going to be?

A mud bath in Zagreb or basking in the sun of Korčula Island? Whatever you pick, you are sure to fall in love with this remarkable eastern European gem.

READ NEXT: Top Destinations in Istria, Croatia

 

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The Best Time to Go to Croatia is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

from The Blonde Abroad http://ift.tt/1Xxa0yM