But rest assured: “There’s no such thing as a scary or dangerous airport. Each airport has its own idiosyncrasies,” emphasizes pilot Patrick Smith, author of the Ask the Pilot blog. So buckle your seatbelt, and prepare for an adrenaline-filled ride. We’ve asked a couple of pilots, along with SmarterTravel readers, for their insights and experiences with difficult takeoffs and landings.

Toncontin International Airport, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Getting through the mountains is only one hurdle to overcome for a safe landing in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. During descent, planes need to make a 45-degree bank to effectively reach the 7,000-foot runway located in a valley. Due to the surrounding mountainous terrain, passengers will experience a quick drop in altitude in order for the plane to line up with the runway. Frequent winds complicate matters, as pilots are forced to make several last-second adjustments.

Gibraltar Airport, Gibraltar

As if having the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the Bay of Gibraltar to the west of the airport weren’t enough to complicate a landing, the main road to Spain also intersects the runway. You may be thankful if your plane gets diverted to a nearby airport due to weather, though you’ll still have to brave the runway when you walk over it to get from Spain to the British overseas territory. Because of this, traffic must be stopped when planes are using the airport, and pilots must take care when landing to quickly engage the brakes, as the 6,000-foot runway doesn’t leave much room for error.

Nantucket Memorial Airport, Nantucket, Massachusetts

The U.S. Army Air Corps specifically chose Nantucket, or the Grey Lady, as a training base in World War II because of the frequent fog and low ceilings that make navigation a challenge, forcing pilots to rely solely on instruments to fly. “In a matter of minutes, fog can roll in and turn clear, blue skies gray,” says pilot Andrew Sitarz. “Sometimes you can’t see anything until the last second; you break out of the fog, and the plane is landing.” According to Smith, “[Nantucket] has more low-visibility instrument approaches than the average airport.” Nevertheless, both pilots cite parameters, such as minimum visibility and ceiling regulations, that prevent planes from landing in poor conditions.

Paro International Airport, Paro, Bhutan

If you want to visit Bhutan, chances are you’ll have to fly into Paro, the only international airport in the country. “Anywhere where there’s mountainous terrain there’s a challenge,” says Captain Sitarz. And Paro is no exception. Soaring through 16,000-foot Himalayan Mountains with whipping winds gets your adrenaline pumping as you approach the roughly 7,400-foot runway, located in a deep, tree-lined valley. According to the website of Drukair, one of the only two airlines serving Paro, “each flight is a mesmerizing aeronautical feat and offers an exciting descent into the kingdom.” But fear not: Pilots are specially trained to fly into Bhutan, and accessing the airport is entirely dependent on good weather conditions.

Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia

Located on Coonskin Ridge in Charleston, West Virginia, Yeager Airport’s cliff face, at an elevation of 982 feet, can be intimidating, especially when you only have 6,715 feet of runway (the closed secondary runway is a mere 4,750 feet). When we asked our Facebook followers about their scariest airport experiences, Chris Randall noted Yeager, saying, “It’s a flattened mountaintop, so if they overshoot the runway there’s nowhere to go but down.” Of course, a takeoff or landing is the same whether you’re on a mountaintop or on the ground, but for those flying into Yeager for the first time, it can be a nervous landing until you’ve come to a complete stop.

Barra Airport, Barra, Scotland

Touching down without a paved strip may seem like a crash landing for unsuspecting passengers, but in Barra, Scotland, it’s a normal experience. When the airport isn’t in service, the beach is a popular spot for locals to hunt for cockles, but when the wind sock is flying, you’ll do well to observe from afar. On Loganair, the only airline that flies there, passengers can expect to arrive safely on one of the three runways (marked by concrete poles) formed when the tide goes out. As one of the only airports in the world where beach landings still occur, you shouldn’t miss this unique experience.

La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City, Guatemala

Surrounding mountains, a high altitude, and a steep drop at the end of the runway make flying into La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City a fun ride, even from a pilot’s point of view. According to Smith, “Passengers find [landing here] startling because you weave your way through a series of volcanoes,” including the active Pacaya Volcano that has been a cause of airport closures in the past, before flying low over the city and approaching a runway situated at the edge of a valley. But despite the unusual landing, Smith notes that based on weight and weather, the types of aircraft that can attempt a landing must be guaranteed to stop within a certain amount of time.

LaGuardia Airport, New York City, New York

The main, 7,000-foot runways at New York’s LaGuardia Airport were extended back in 1967 over water. In case gliding over Flushing and Bowery bays isn’t enough of a thrill, pilots have to avoid interfering with flights from two other extremely busy airports nearby: JFK and Newark. Plus, the airport is located a mere eight miles from Midtown Manhattan, sometimes creating the illusion that the plane is skimming rooftops. Smith cites LaGuardia’s shared airspace, climbs, and twists and turns as reasons why it is a more challenging airport. “On one approach to runway 31, the plane makes a steep, continuous low-altitude turn around what was Shea Stadium, now Citi Field, from south to northwest; it’s very low to the ground and a short final approach.”

Wellington International Airport, Wellington, New Zealand

With a single, short, 6,351-foot runway that appears to begin and end in crystal blue waters, it’s easy to see why flying into Wellington may make you uneasy. Plus, as SmarterTravel Twitter follower @trickericke says, “They don’t call it ‘windy Wellington’ for nothing,” noting the strong crosswinds that seem to attack landing planes. Plus, the northern approach descends between hills and over trolley lines.

John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, California

Strict noise reduction requirements may not seem scary at first, but if you’re not expecting engine cutbacks during takeoff you might be spooked. According to Jenny Wedge, former public relations manager at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, “Due to its close proximity to nearby communities, JWA has one of the most stringent aircraft access and noise monitoring programs in the United States, if not the world.” Pilots begin their takeoffs at close to full power, then “incline quickly and steeply” before reducing engine power.

“It’s like a space shuttle liftoff,” says Facebook follower Elizabeth Conrad. Smith notes that passengers contact him about this airport all the time, some even claiming the pilots turn off the engines after take off. But although the procedure seems unusual, he says “there’s nothing that the plane does that is not within its capabilities.”

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2010. It has been updated and verified for accuracy.

The post 10 Scariest Airports in the World appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Ever dream of selling your house, taking a sabbatical from your job, and moving to beautiful Paris? Best-selling author Eloisa James did just that. Her enchanting memoir, Paris in Love, chronicles her year in the City of Light.

Interested in reading more? SmarterTravel is giving away a copy of Paris in Love to one of our Pinterest followers. To enter the contest, follow these simple rules:

A winner will be chosen at random on May 31. Find the official rules and conditions here.

If you haven’t already joined Pinterest, email stpinterest@smartertravelmedia.com with a request for an invitation.

Update: This contest has ended. Congratulations to Amanda B., the winner of our Pinterest sweepstakes!

The post Pinterest Giveaway for ‘Paris in Love’ by Eloisa James appeared first on SmarterTravel.

At SmarterTravel, we’re all about bringing you the best travel news, tips, and inspiration. And now we have a new way to share our amazing finds with you: Pinterest!

For those of you who aren’t already obsessed, Pinterest is a new social-media site that functions as a virtual photo pinboard. You can organize and categorize your favorite images from around the Web and save them for a later date. There are two ways to find pins: Follow travel sites and repin things they’ve found, or you can pin any useful items you find on the Internet.

So, how can you use this new site for traveling? We’ve shared a few ideas below.

Create an Aspirational Pinboard

Pinterest can be a great way to find out about destinations you never dreamed of visiting before. You might find that the Rock Creek Wilderness in Oregon or Wentworth Falls in Australia is the perfect addition to your bucket list. Or you might find that doing a little armchair traveling during your lunch break might be the perfect respite from work, leaving you refreshed and focused for the rest of the day.

Plan Your Next Vacation

If you know your destination, pin the specific attractions you want to see or the activities you want to do. After all, much of the fun of traveling is planning your next vacation, so why not let a visually stunning website help you do it? Pin articles about great local restaurants, the top hotels, and must-see attractions. When it’s time to actually go, you’ll have an easy reference for your itinerary. You can even collaborate on boards with other members in your group, so that everyone has a chance to include their favorite spots.

Find Travel Tips

On Pinterest, SmarterTravel has boards that hold tips on everything from packing to useful travel products. And other travel providers, like our sister site Independent Traveler, also have boards with lots of tips and advice you shouldn’t miss. The best part is, you can pin them now, then go back and refresh your memory when you need them.

Remember Your Vacation

Gone are the days when travelers broke out the slideshow equipment to elicit jealousy—ahem, we mean share their vacation photos. Even Facebook is so last year (but you should really “like” us there, too). The new hot thing is to pin your favorite photos you took of the best attractions, most delicious vacation food, and recommended stops. Save them for a much-needed reminder on a rainy day.

Are you on Pinterest? How do you use your boards for virtual travel inspiration? Leave a message in the comments section below!

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• New Social Network Connects Hotel Guests
• Travel Smarter With a Smartphone
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The post A Guide to Pinterest for Travelers appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Who: Copyeditor Jaclyn Liechti, 27, and boyfriend

Where I Went: Cancun, Mexico

When: February 2012

High Points: What’s not to love about a beach vacation in the middle of winter? This trip was all about relaxing, and Cancun is the perfect location to do just that. An entire week with nothing to do but lounge by the pool or on the beach was the perfect remedy to Boston’s cooler temps and hectic lifestyle. Plus, the sushi bar’s cream-cheese confections, the poolside daiquiri delivery, and the Jacuzzi bar’s warmth on overcast days—all part of our hotel’s all-inclusive option—made us feel like celebrities rather than workaday vacationers.

The Caribbean Sea was incredible. The water was warm enough for swimming and shallow enough to walk out quite a distance while still being able to feel the sand beneath our toes. There were lifeguards stationed up and down the beach, and flags posted to advise about the swim conditions for the day, so we felt safe jumping right in. And, of course, the view of the many shades of blue water from our balcony was simply breathtaking.

Low Points: Unfortunately, traveling during high season can put a damper on things. In our case, it took us more than two-and-a-half hours to make our way through customs and immigration, and our plan of arriving early to snag an extra day at the beach was dashed. The line was so long that it traveled back from the corrals through a large room, up a flight of stairs, and into the airport terminal! However, other travelers in the crowd noted that this was the only time they had ever seen such a mob of people at the airport in years of going to Cancun, so it seems that it was just a fluke.

Savings Strategy: We booked our room through our sister site, SniqueAway, saving about $500 off the rack rate for the entire trip. We also added the all-inclusive option, which proved to be a great value compared with buying meals (and drinks) at the hotel’s overpriced a la carte costs.

Where I Stayed: We stayed at the Omni Cancun, which is located in the middle of the Hotel Zone. The hotel has several restaurants, including a beach restaurant and a poolside buffet with nightly shows; two pools; a Jacuzzi bar and a large hot tub; and a beachfront location. We booked a spacious oceanview room with a balcony, an upgrade from a lagoon-view room that was well worth it.

If You Go: If you can only spend so much time on the beach without going crazy, consider participating in watersports like jet skiing or parasailing, or joining an excursion to the beautiful Isla Mujeres or to amazing ruins like Chichen Itza or Tulum.

Have a question for Jaclyn about her trip to Cancun? Planning a trip yourself and need advice? Want to share your own experience? Leave a comment below!

You Might Also Like:

• Cancun Travel Guide
• All Cancun, Mexico, Photos
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The post Trip Report: Cancun, Mexico appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Flying over the Thanksgiving holiday is rarely a treat, thanks to long security lines and packed flights. This year, storms around some of the nation’s major airports threaten to add delays into the mix, according to Ben Mutzabaugh at the Today in the Sky blog.

As of the time of this post (Tuesday afternoon), flights heading to O’Hare, LaGuardia, Newark International, and Philadelphia International are being delayed at their departure points. Delays at these busy airports can affect you even if you’re not traveling through the stormy area, as hub cities experiencing problems create a ripple effect on outlying airports.

The weather forecast in key cities like New York and Philadelphia shows rain is expected to continue to fall tomorrow, which may only add to the delays.

Be sure to check in with your airline as you travel today and tomorrow to see if your flight schedule has changed. If it looks like everything is on time, arrive at the airport early—if things worsen, you’ll be first in line to speak with a representative. Or, if you find yourself standing behind a throng of passengers dealing with delayed or canceled flights, use your cell phone to call the airline’s reservations center. You might be able to get through to customer service sooner that way.

Editor Caroline Morse will be tweeting live about airport conditions and flight delays tomorrow, so be sure to check in for a firsthand account.

Are you worried about your flight being delayed? Leave a message below.

You might also like:

• America’s 10 Worst Airports
• 10 Tips for Sailing Through Airport Security
• What Are My Rights in a Really Long Delay?

The post Thanksgiving Flights Jeopardized by Delays appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Have you come down with a case of spring fever or the travel bug? If so, then a vacation to an off-peak destination may be just what the doctor ordered. We’ve searched high and low to find this spring’s best getaways that won’t break the bank. Our top five picks this year range from sunny beaches to cultural hotspots, and the bargains can’t be beat.

Vermont

While spring brings the end of peak ski season and the beginning of “mud season” in Vermont, there are still plenty of outdoor adventures to enjoy. Maple sugar season begins in March, and festivals across the state offer more sweet reasons to visit. For example, the Vermont Maple Open House Weekend kicks spring off March 19 and 20 at sugarhouses throughout Vermont, offering visitors the chance to watch maple syrup being made (and even sample the goods).

Syrup isn’t the only thing tempting travelers this spring, as lower prices make the off-season a particularly tantalizing time to visit. I compared peak and off-peak rates at several hotels in Vermont, and found savings of up to $120 per night for weekend stays.

Off-peak rates are based on Thursday through Sunday stays in April; peak travel prices are based on Thursday through Sunday stays in September or October. All rates were found on the respective hotel’s websites and do not include taxes or fees.{{{SmarterBuddy|align=left}}}

Hotel deals are popping up all over. For instance, Rabbit Hill Inn is offering Hot Deals in March and May, granting travelers at least 20 percent off nightly rates that include afternoon tea, pastries, and a candlelit breakfast. Through May 26, guests at Equinox Resort can take advantage of its Economic Antidote and receive a $50 gift certificate to Manchester Designer Outlets, while Brandmeyer’s Mountainside Lodge in Weston is offering web value packages through May 31 for two-night stays. Through April 12, guests at Stratton Mountain Resort can save up to 30 percent with its The More You Stay, the More You Save package. And the Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa is offering up to 30 percent off room rates and 25 percent off apres-ski spa treatments through March 31. Plus, Vermont travelers can enter to win a $100 gas card through mid-April with the Vermont Fuels Your Vacation promotion from the state’s tourism bureau.

Spring packages are also a great way to save. Three Mountain Inn has a Mud Season Special providing guests three nights’ accommodations, a three-course breakfast each morning, afternoon snacks, and two dinners starting at $650. Wildflower Inn has a Northern Woods Pedal and Paddle Package, which includes two nights’ lodging, daily breakfast, a picnic lunch, half-day canoe or kayak rentals, a Kingdom Trails pass, and a $25 dinner voucher, starting at $375 during low season. At West Mountain Inn, guests receive two nights’ accommodations, two five-course dinners, a tour of Ennis Sugarhouse, and a pint of maple syrup as part of the Maple Madness promotion, from March 1 through April 30.

To learn more about travel to Vermont, visit our Vermont Travel Guide.

The post Top Five Off-Peak Destinations for Spring 2011 appeared first on SmarterTravel.

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We write a lot of articles over the course of a year, so choosing our favorites was no easy task. For this Top 10 list, we looked to you, our readers, for guidance. Here are the ones you loved, loved to hate, and couldn’t stop talking about.

The post Our Top 10 Stories of the Year appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Want to escape those winter blues on a budget? We’ve searched everywhere to find the best locations where smart travelers can save top dollar. Our top five off-peak destinations for this winter include options across the globe, from lesser-known ski areas to temperate climates to hot cultural spots.

Philadelphia

While Philadelphia is a popular summer location due to Independence Day celebrations and warmer weather, crowds thin out when the temperatures cool down. However, the City of Brotherly Love still has plenty of cultural attractions—from a zoo to a UNESCO World Heritage site—during the winter months, and lower airfare and low-season promotions make them more accessible.

For example, I compared airfare to Philadelphia during peak and off-peak times and found savings of up to $140.

Off-peak rates are based on travel from February 8 through 15; peak travel prices are based on travel from July 12 through 19. All fares were found using Orbitz and include taxes and fees.{{{SmarterBuddy|align=left}}}

This winter marks an especially good time to visit Philly. The city was included on Bing Travel’s Top Destinations for 2010 list for its burgeoning galleries and new hotels and restaurants. Besides the always-popular Independence Hall, visitors can tour a slew of new art exhibits that are slated to commence this winter. The brand new, one-of-a-kind National Museum of American Jewish History will open to the public on November 26. And, the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris exhibit will open February 24, while the Philagrafika festival, the first annual celebration of print in contemporary art, will run from January 29 through April 11. Meanwhile, a collaboration between the City of Philadelphia and the National Park Service, President’s House: Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation, is expected to open in mid-December.

Food lovers will want to visit during Center City Restaurant Week in January, when more than 100 restaurants offer prix fixe menus at bargain prices. And if that’s not enough, there are holiday festivities throughout the city, such as tree lightings in Rittenhouse Square and at City Hall, the Holiday Light Show and Dickens Village at Macy’s, and the unique Mummers Parade on New Year’s Day.

For more information, visit the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors’ Bureau’s Top 10 Reasons to Love Philadelphia Right Now.

The post Top Five Off-Peak Destinations for Winter 2010/2011 appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Tipping is a controversial custom: Just take a look at the comments on Ed Perkins’ “What’s the Appropriate Tip?” and the SmarterTravel Ultimate Guide to Tipping, and you’ll see heated debates taking place in the comments. Even a recent article about scoring upgrades, which included a hint about tipping the front desk staff for a better room, roused the ire of at least one reader who compared the action with a bribe.

Reader RouteBG is pro-tipping, saying, “What travelers need to understand is that the wages of many of those who serve them are not fully included in the posted prices. What may theoretically have begun as a kind of incentive system has long since become a device for business owners to list prices that are below the actual cost of the service provided … Believe it or not, people in the service industry aren’t working just for the mere joy of it, and the skills and effort required are no less than those in other jobs.”

On the other side of the coin, DancinBear offers this thought: “I find it insulting that I am expected to tip a service provider who more and more frequently could care less about the service they are providing.”

Reader kokayi takes the middle ground, saying “I actually do not mind leaving tips. That probably comes from having a lot of close friends who work or have worked in the service industry. I do believe in basing it on the service provided though. So I have no problem not tipping a cabbie who takes the long route or a waiter who provides poor service. But, as my friends have convinced me, along with that I should not shy away from letting them know why I will not tip them. This is one way to encourage better service.”

As for me, I typically leave 20 percent at restaurants, unless service was really poor. And I tip my hair dresser and manicurist that much or more (hopefully ensuring good service in the future). I don’t, however, leave tips in jars on the counter.

So what’s your stance on tipping? Do you think that the system is antiquated and a price gouge on customers? Or do you want to reward employees who go above and beyond? Leave a message in the comments section below—and remember, good service has a lot to do with being polite, so let’s keep things civil.

The post Tipping Controversy: What’s Your Stance? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Oily skin, red eyes, and greasy hair: That paints a pretty accurate picture of what many of us travelers look like when we step off the plane for vacation. On the return trip, add sunburn, exhaustion, and blisters. Fortunately, you don’t have to look like a hot mess when you arrive at your destination. Here a few tips and tricks for looking fresh and staying healthy whether traveling by car, plane, or boat.

Know your skin.

Before you even head out for vacation, stop to think for a few minutes about what beauty pitfalls may lie ahead for your specific trip. Will you face dry cabin air on a long overseas flight? Are you going to a sunny beach destination during long summer days? Will you be crossing multiple time zones?

Joanna Schlip, celebrity makeup artist for Physician Formula, says that the most important thing travelers need to know is their skin. “There is no one fix-it-all for everybody … you have to know how you’re going to react.” And that means picking products you’re used to using and that work with your body. Dr. Joseph Kvedar, director of Partners Center for Connected Health and associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School says, “What I tell my patients is, it’s most important what feels good on your face and what you feel comfortable wearing, rather than a specific brand.”

Stay hydrated.

Drinking water is an obvious health tip, and it’s even more important when you take to the skies. Kvedar says that people don’t think enough about the dehydration they will face on airplanes. It’s a good idea to drink eight glasses of water the day before your trip, and avoid caffeine and alcohol.

{{{SmarterBuddy|align=left}}}And while you’re hydrating from the inside out, don’t forget to keep your skin looking luminous by using moisturizer, which, according to Kvedar, is the most important item travelers can pack. “Your face is what everyone sees first,” he says. “Even if you have oily skin or acne, moisturizers don’t tend to aggravate that, and almost everyone can benefit from them.” Schlip recommends misting your face with water if you tend to dry out when you travel.

Pack products that work harder.

Unless you’re planning to rough it in nature, you might be loath to leave behind any of your beauty products. But with airlines now charging for checked bags (and in Spirit’s case, carry-ons), space is even more at a premium. The trick to including everything you’re used to using, according to Schlip, is to choose items that have multiple uses. For example, pick a lip tint that is also a blush or eye shadow, or a cleanser that also tones and moisturizes. “If you can find a bronzer that can go as an eye shadow and SPF, perfect, slam dunk,” says Schlip. Brands like LUSH and Dr. Bronner’s offer products that can be used in several different ways, from shampoo to shaving cream, making them favorites among travelers.

Go naked!

Let’s face it: The chances that your makeup is going to look as fresh on your arrival as it did when you began your trip are slim. The dry air and close quarters are just waiting to wreak havoc on your skin, not to mention the mascara smudges that tend to happen if you nod off. Instead, wait until you reach your destination before applying makeup. At the very most, Irene Hatziantoniou and Mary Ditto, aestheticians and owners of North Coast Aesthetic Center, recommend wearing a tinted moisturizer instead of a heavy foundation, or a tinted lip balm instead of lipstick if you want a little color.

Powder your nose, literally.

If going au natural isn’t your thing, try to pick powder products. Not only are they 3-1-1 compliant, so you can take as many as you like in your carry-on, but they’re also practical in other ways. “Powder not only gives you coverage, it gives you SPF protection and it can absorb excess oil,” Schlip says. Be sure to pick a product that is buildable, like a compact powder so that you can reapply. Before leaving the terminal, you can make a quick stop in the restroom to touch up powder foundation, bronzer, and blush.

Get your beauty sleep.

It’s no secret that being rested reflects in the way you look. “Sleep is critical to your appearance,” according to Kvedar, “and there’s no better way to mess up your sleep than crossing time zones.” When you’re trying to adjust to a new locale, avoid drinking caffeine after 2:00 p.m. local time and forgo heavy alcohol use. Combined with good hydration, staying rested will also help you to prevent jetlag. Also, if you wear contacts, consider wearing your glasses while you travel so you can take a quick nap without irritating your eyes or risking an eye infection.

Don’t let the TSA fool you.

If you’re bringing a bag of toiletries on the airplane, make sure you know what’s allowed—and what’s not. Things you should pack in your checked bag include liquids in quantities of 3.4 ounces or more, such as gel deodorants, toothpaste, perfume, and liquid makeup. Saline solution, petroleum jelly, and eye drops are excluded from the rule, since they are used for medical conditions and can be packed in larger quantities in your carry-on. Although you don’t need to include those items in your one-quart bag, you do need to declare them. You can also feel free to pack lipsticks, disposable razors, cuticle cutters, eyelash curlers, nail clippers, tweezers and small toiletry scissors (less than four inches) in your carry-on, since they’re all permitted by the TSA.

Wash your hands.

Wash your hands with soap and water, especially before you apply makeup. Not only will this help you avoid getting sick on vacation, but it’ll also keep your skin looking fresh and breakout-free. And while this tip may seem basic, it can often be a challenge to find a reasonably clean sink with soap in places like buses, subways, and germy tourist attractions. For those moments, make sure you have a small bottle of hand sanitizer readily available.

Wear sunscreen, even on the plane.

If you’re going to a hot, tropical destination, chances are you’re already packing the sunscreen, and with good reason. “The closer you get to the equator, the stronger the sun is and the shorter amount of time you can stay out [without getting] serious sun damage consequences,” says Kvedar. But your UV exposure might be happening while you’re still 30,000 feet above the ground. Kvedar notes that windows don’t block all UV rays, so “if you’re in a window seat on a long flight, and there’s a lot of sunshine, you could get a lot of exposure to UVA. The higher you go the more intense that is.”

In order to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun, Schlip recommends products with SPF already included. “Sunblock is hard to reapply, and most people, when they’ve done their makeup, they don’t think to reapply in the middle of the day. You feel like it’s going to take your makeup off.” But new technologies have allowed for SPF in powder form, from mass market lines to department store products. “It’s awesome because it’s so easy to reapply a bronzer or powder,” she says.

Pack a repair bag in your carry-on.

“Having a touch-up bag is key,” says Schlip. By packing a small, 3-1-1 compliant bag that you can pull out as soon as you arrive at your destination, you can head out on the town without missing a beat. Hatziantoniou and Ditto recommend including eye drops for red eyes. Schlip recommends combating oily skin with blotting papers, and to apply powder when you reach your destination.

A little shimmer powder on your cheekbones can brighten up your complexion, and if your hair looks a little greasy, tap in some translucent powder or dry shampoo to absorb the oil. Other quick fixes to include are mini emery boards for broken nails, or moleskin for shoes that pinch and rub your feet to avoid blisters.

Your Turn

What are your foolproof ways of staying beautiful and healthy on vacation? Share your tips with other readers below!

The post Top 10 Health and Beauty Tips for Travelers appeared first on SmarterTravel.