Are you a mosquito magnet? Do they buzz you like a swarm of tiny drones? Me too!
If there’s a mosquito party I’m always invited, and even though I cover up every inch of skin, they always find a way in (clearly I’m not drinking enough gin and tonic). And there’s nothing worse than itching when you’re on the road travelling. So here’s a little tip – tea tree oil.
Yep, this magical liquid soothes an itchy bite right down, Melaleuca alternifolia how I love thee!
My little bottle of tea tree oil comes with me everywhere, and always, always on my travels. This beautiful leaf nectar is a natural antiseptic that also battles bacteria and fungi (essential application after thong-free shower at youth hostel).
I truly lament that it took me so many years to make this discovery. Now I pass this sacred knowledge on to you. Stop scratching.
Travel tip number 2 is to get yourself a pocket sized power bank, you know, for that emergency tweet or selfie at the Louvre. We all travel with our phones these days and there’s nothing more disappointing than the ‘beep beep’ as your phone tells you it’s almost out of juice.
With a portable power bank you always have battery power in reserve, like RACQ for your phone (always there when you need them). And they come with a multi-tool of adaptors which means you can provide rescue missions for fellow travellers who desperately need an itunes fix. With a power bank in your pocket you’ll always find it easy to make friends.
My last travel tip is to get yourself a SPOT if you’re heading off on crazy adventures. SPOT is a GPS tracking system that helps you to keep in touch when you’re off the beaten track.
We all know how much Mum worries when she doesn’t hear from us, with a SPOT you can let her know you’re safe and sound.
It’s a cool little gizmo that fits in the palm of your hand. You simply find a clear line of site to the sky (outside, away from trees), turn it on, and press the button. It searches for a satellite connection, then sends a pre-programmed message to your contact list (you can load up to 10 email addresses, and can also link it to Facebook and Twitter).
I bought a SPOT when I sailed across the Pacific. I called it ‘Shan’s homing pigeon’. Whenever I used it my friends were pinged an ‘I’m OK’ message with a link to Google Maps™ that showed my location.
SPOT also has an SOS emergency button which alerts an emergency response centre if you’re in serious trouble – it has been used in dozens of rescues all around the world.
One thing to note – although SPOT’s coverage area is good, make sure you check the coverage maps (in Russia, not so good!).
So there you have it, 3 of my very bestest travel tips. Do you have one to add to my list?
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