How to Prepare for Altitude Sickness

Similar to seasickness, altitude sickness can throw a wrench into what’s meant to be the trip of a lifetime.

Altitude sickness is a taxing form of oxygen starvation that’s common for hikers and climbers who ascend above 8,000 feet. The air is atmospherically ‘thinner’, meaning there’s less oxygen. Less oxygen is problematic for any mammal, but for hikers and adventurers who head above that threshold, those low oxygen levels pose even more of a threat.

The more we push our bodies to do things like scale mountains, the more oxygen our bodies need to perform optimally. It’s a vicious cycle that intensifies the higher we go.

Even those who have extensive training in mountaineering can run into headaches and nausea, or even more serious symptoms like shortness of breath and severe fatigue.

Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix to altitude sickness. Even an oxygen mask might take a few minutes to kick in for someone suffering from severe symptoms.

If you’re heading to a high-altitude zone, you might want a crash course in how to prepare for altitude sickness. First up, let’s cover where the average traveler is most likely to run into it.

Where do most travelers get altitude sickness?

The most common places for travelers to get altitude sickness are when summitting peaks like Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro, along with visiting sites like Machu Picchu.

Aside from these famous sites, be mindful when you’re heading to towering mountain ranges like the Andes, the Rocky Mountains, and the Alaska Range.

You might want to look out for plateaus, as well. While the highest mountain ranges in the world border Pakistan and China (home to the Himalayas, Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush Mountains), you’re more likely to end up in Tibet.

The region’s capital of Lhasa is located at around 11,000 feet, so be mindful that even flat landscapes might be closer to heaven than they seem. Now, onto how to prepare for altitude sickness before you head out on your climb.

How to prepare for altitude sickness

Prep your body

Earlier this year, one of my friends summited Mount Kilimanjaro. One thing he wishes he had done beforehand is train with a Stairmaster—and an oxygen mask.

Devices like the Breather Fit can help train your respiratory muscles for more stressful situations. In a high-altitude case, a Breather Fit can train the lungs to manage less oxygen.

Some mountaineers also recommend training in deep breathing. Deep breathing can help you maintain the right oxygen levels as you ascend, which is particularly helpful if you’re taking a challenging, steep trail.

Learn the early signs

Altitude sickness doesn’t always look the same. Every person is likely to experience different symptoms, and at different points in time. Before you head out, consider your previous experiences in mountaineering.

What challenges did you face? When did your symptoms intensify?

The more aware you are of any potential challenges, the more readily you can make an itinerary that will work for you. And when it comes to travel and high altitudes, it might be tempting to push forward and forge ahead.

But, as we’ll see by the tips below, it’s usually better to go slow. Very slow.

Give yourself a few days to adjust before the climb

Climbers, hikers, and mountaineers all have one consistent piece of advice for fellow travelers: bake a few days into your schedule to let your body adjust.

This is before you head into high-altitude zones. The farther you travel from home, the more time your body needs to adjust to its new time zone, diet, and sleep routine.

You want your body to be healthy and ready when you start your ascent. For this reason, don’t plan on showing up and taking off. Again, slowly but surely is the key here. This is also the perfect time to start carbo-loading, as many hikers swear by carbs before heading out on a long adventure.

Plan to ascend slowly

This tip should be obvious, especially if you have experience in high-altitude adventures. But know that you shouldn’t be ascending over 1,000 feet per day.

Many experts also recommend taking a day off once you’ve notched 3,000 feet. Obviously, your pace depends on the hike and your fitness, but if you want to prevent altitude sickness, you’ll be gracious when you plan your hiking schedule.

Plan to sleep lower

Again, this might not be possible depending on your route, destination, and fitness level—but whenever possible, sleep at a lower altitude to give your body a chance to truly rest. Your body won’t magically handle less oxygen better just because you’re asleep.

**Know what to avoid—and what to not avoid**

Drinking and smoking are going to wreak havoc on your health at high altitudes, so it’s highly recommended that you avoid both altogether.

That being said, many hikers recommend sticking to caffeine if it’s usually part of your schedule. Not only can it help with headaches, but if you’re reliant on caffeine, now isn’t the time to send your body into withdrawal. It will only intensify symptoms of altitude sickness.

How to Use the One-Stop Hack to Save on Transportation

I’ve got a city-dweller hack that you can use on your next vacation to save on transportation.

It’s a well-known trick that people who face packed train rides and bus rides use to get a seat after a long day at work.

Here’s how it works. You know that Train Stop C will be jam-packed at a certain time, meaning you’ll need to wait for a chance to board. Even if you do manage to squeeze onboard on the first train that comes in, you’re going to be cramped and uncomfortable for the whole ride.

So, instead of boarding at Train Stop C, you scurry over to Train Stop B, backtracking the metro map to skip out on the super-packed stop.

You board the train at Train Stop B and land a seat. Bada-boom, bada-bing. You miss out on all the madness at Train Stop C, having successfully MacGyvered your way to a comfortable seat.

The same idea can be used during your travels—in more than one way, too.

Ready to use your brain to save more and wait less? Here’s how to use the one-stop trick to save on transportation when traveling.

One-stop trick: save on transportation with cheaper airport taxis

The most impactful way you can use the one-stop trick to save on transportation is to wait to call for a taxi until you’ve left the airport grounds.

Oftentimes, taxis and rideshares must pay a fee to pick up passengers from the airport, which you’ll often cover in your fare. In some cases, rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft will also upcharge based on demand.

If you’re tired of overspending on taxis when leaving the airport, use the one-stop hack.

All you need to do is take a public bus or a public train one stop from your airport, then get off and order a ride from there. Now that you’re away from the airport, you won’t face any airport fees. You might even have cut down on high-traffic spots, saving you time and a bit more money, if the meter is running.

Just know that this won’t always work. I live in Barcelona, Spain, where the airport is around 20 minutes outside of town. There’s no train that will drop you off, and the first stop on the public bus is inside the city, meaning you might as well see the ride through at that point.

That being said, it’s a great hack to keep in your back pocket for more urban airports, especially if you’re traveling during peak season.

One-stop trick: how to save on transportation with car rentals

You can use the exact same logic to save on car rentals. Usually, the closer to the city center (and especially any tourist zones) a car rental shop is, the more expensive it will be in terms of add-on fees.

If you want to save big on a car rental, consider reserving a vehicle at a location that’s further outside of town.

To be clear, don’t rent from the airport if you can help it—airport rentals usually incur the highest costs. On the flip side, also avoid renting a car in the city center and in tourist zones. Instead, look for the middle ground—ie, a car rental spot that’s ‘one stop’ from your lodging, and a place a local would pick one up for the weekend.

One-stop trick: how to avoid huge lines for subways/metros

Let’s head back to the original one-stop hack: avoiding jam-packed subway cars during peak rush hour. Depending on where you’re going and what you’re doing, you (hopefully) won’t face too many journeys by rail at rush hour.

That being said, if you’re heading to a major concert or sporting event, it’s likely to happen when the experience wraps up.

It’s one of the most brutal experiences a traveler can face. You’re feeling exhausted after a long day and a big event, and you need to get back to your lodging, but all the taxis and rideshares are booked. Even if they aren’t, they might be out of your price range.

So you head to the metro or bus station to head back with the hordes of attendees, then end up waiting an hour or longer just to pack onto a busy, hectic car or train. It’s mayhem, and you get off feeling fatigued and overwhelmed.

Use the one-stop hack to plan ahead. Figure out the metro or bus stop before where all those attendees are likely to get on, then backtrack to its predecessor. Though you might need to walk a bit, you might land a seat, letting you cruise home in (relative) comfort—and without having overpaid for transportation.

Are There Any American Rivieras?

Italian for ‘coastline’, the term riviera today conjures opulent, sun-drenched images of gorgeous coastlines on the Mediterranean.

While the word originated in Italy, the most famous Rivieras belong to France and Mexico via the French Riviera and Riviera Maya, respectively.

But they’re just the tip of the iceberg. In terms of popular, visit-worthy coastlines around the world, other heavy-hitters can be found in Italy, Albania, Turkey, and even as far as China.

Even England has its own Riviera in the region of Torbay, which sits on the coast of the English Channel.

But what about the United States? While we’re home to plenty of coastlines that draw in tens of thousands of visitors to our beaches, do we actually have a bona fide Riviera?

Is there an American Riviera?

The United States is home to one well-known Riviera, which I’ll cover below. (I’d start writing down your guesses now—and get creative, because it’s not in Florida.)

But there’s no official rubric for what makes a Riviera; like the Italian word suggests, it could cover any stretch of coastline.

So, what makes for a Riviera? Aside from the beaches and saltwater, it’s about tourists. Any coastal area that becomes a hotspot (no pun intended) for sun-hungry visitors will steadily gain a reputation as a Riviera.

That being said, Rivieras also have an upscale and stately association, as the term was born on some of Europe’s wealthiest and most opulent Mediterranean coasts. Monaco, one of the wealthiest nation-states in the world, is a pretty great example of the historic vibes you could expect from a trip to the French or Italian Rivieras.

For this reason, you’ll see most American Rivieras listed on the West Coast in Southern California, where Santa Barbara’s more arid Mediterranean climate has created coastal scenes that look familiar to southern France and Italy.

But if we stick to the broader definition of a Riviera, the US is home to more than you might think.

3 American Rivieras

The American Riviera

Sunset on the Santa Barbara coastline above Butterfly Beach (Getty)

The (semi) official American Riviera is located on the West Coast around Santa Barbara, including areas like Carmel and Torrance. (Don’t get mixed up with La Riviera, which is a municipal district around Sacramento.)

In fact, Santa Barbara has a neighborhood called The Riviera, which is one of the most scenic hillsides facing the Pacific Ocean.

Like I just mentioned, this area became known as the American Riviera thanks to its Mediterranean climate, ample sunshine, and gorgeous scenes that bring to mind the French and Italian Rivieras.

On top of that, Santa Barbara is home to delicious restaurants with impressive wine lists. Even its pace of life is a bit slower than other Californian hubs, offering a callback to a more European approach to life.

The Irish Riviera (South Shore)

Dune’s edge, pitch pine, Marconi beach near South Shore (Getty)

There are a handful of American Rivieras that are unofficially dubbed Irish Rivieras—pretty much any East Coast shoreline that became home to Irish immigrants has landed on the list over the last century. Even New York City’s Rockaway Beach was informally dubbed an Irish Riviera for a short period.

However, the largest and most well-known Irish Riviera is Massachusetts’ South Shore. It’s got a dense population of Irish-Americans, and they’ve been flocking to places between Massachusetts Bay and Cape Cod for close to a century.

That being said, the Irish Riviera is a geo-cultural term that covers an area where Irish culture is still alive—not necessarily a coastal area where people flock for great beach days.

If you want to learn more, check out the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail. It’ll take you across nine scenic South Shore towns.

The Florida Riviera

Early light at Sunny Isles beach in Miami (Getty)

Depending on how loose you want to be with the Mediterranean climate factor, you could name a few Rivieras in the state of Florida. However, Sunny Isles Beach usually takes the crown.

Sunny Isles Beach is a barrier island located in South Florida in the Miami metro area and near Fort Lauderdale. It’s known for its nearly three-mile stretch of clear water and soft sand beach.

It’s hugely popular for beach getaways, high-class dining, and luxury resorts, giving a slightly more refined air than other parts of the Sunshine State.

Picture modern skyscrapers lining the beach for a Dubai-esque, tropical beachfront escape. When the land was purchased for development back in 1920, one goal in building the tourist zone was to foster an American Riviera.

While California took the title thanks to its climate, Sunny Isles certainly fits the bill when it comes to popularity. Each year, nearly one million vacationers head to the barrier island, making this a successful Riviera business venture.

AI Travel Hacks: The Easy & Free Jet Lag Prevention Plan

AI has steadily become one of the most reliable trip-planning tools in a traveler’s arsenal.

Sure, you need to know how to use AI for trip-planning, along with avoiding the most common mistakes and pitfalls. And it might be a good idea to use AI that’s created specifically for travelers and their itinerary-building.

But one of the latest AI-based travel hacks is beautifully straightforward and simple. It’s something even a non-digital-native who’s never heard of OpenAI could figure out—and I’m always a fan of uncomplicated solutions.

Ready to get a free jet lag prevention plan? Here’s how to do it.

3 steps to create an easy and free jet lag prevention plan

Step one: Head to ChatGPT and present your trip information

You don’t need to set up an account to use ChatGPT—just head straight to the website to start interacting. Start with a simple introduction explaining that you need a jet lag prevention plan based on the specific flight information for your trip.

Here’s what you need to include in this prompt:

The time zones you’re traveling between
Your departing location and final destination
Include information on any layovers that you have
Your sleep patterns, age, and other relevant health information
Clarify when you’ll arrive and that you want to be refreshed
Ask for information on when you should sleep and for how long

Step two: Add on meal suggestions if you want

That prompt will give you a list of ideal times to sleep, along with suggestions on how long. The duration of your naps will be driven by the amount of time you have on a flight or a layover.

Additionally, you can ask for prompts on when to eat. That’s a good idea for anyone who struggles more heavily with jet lag, as it not only affects our energy levels but also our body’s digestive system. Asking ChatGPT to incorporate meals into your overall sleep plan is an easy way to start optimizing your international trips.

Step three: Set yourself up for success

I always suggest you double-check any information presented by AI, including jet lag prevention plans. They aren’t foolproof solutions, and inquiry results can come from a range of non-medical sources.

Once ChatGPT generates a plan for you, I suggest double-checking that the suggested nap times fit with your flights and layovers, along with any meal plan suggestions.

Last but not least, make sure you have all the right items with you for a nap at 35,000 feet. Though some of us can power down for a nap just about anytime and anywhere, that’s not the case for all travelers.

If you’re going to take ChatGPT’s advice on napping, you might need a great neck pillow and a few sleep tips from experts.

Architecture in Europe You Haven’t Seen Before: 4 Unique Picks

Architecture is one of the most quietly impactful elements in travel.

Whether or not you know who Frank Lloyd Wright is or could point out a feature like a flying buttress, we can all feel the sway of powerful architecture. Maybe it leaves us in awe, or searching for little details, or busting out our cameras for artsy pictures.

When it comes to European architecture, there’s a strong interest in Renaissance feats like those found in Florence and Bologna, along with baroque and rococo projects like Versailles Palace.

Maybe it’s the grand estates in London that have caught your eye, or the medieval remnants of castles dotting France’s countryside, or the brutalist structures found farther east. It could even be a more modern project with famous sister sites.

Regardless, there’s always something new on the horizon, and it’s surprisingly easy to miss out on some of Europe’s coolest architecture.

Ready to explore? These are some of the most awesome, most eyebrow-raising, and otherwise intriguing architecture in Europe you probably haven’t heard of before.

Architecture in Europe you probably haven’t heard of before

Wotruba Church (Vienna, Austria)

The Wotrubakirche (Wotruba Church) in Vienna, Austria (Getty)

The Church of the Most Holy Trinity is a Catholic Church found in Vienna, Austria… but it doesn’t look like most of the continent’s other Catholic sites.

This brutalist structure was completed in 1976 and was based on a design from an Austrian sculptor named Fritz Wotruba. (I’m sure that also makes it one of the few churches named after an artist, too.)

The church is made of concrete blocks stacked in an asymmetrical way, which are interspersed by massive windows. The result is a space that feels at once heavy and foreboding, while also filled with light. It was built on the grounds of a former Nazi barracks, a bold decision made by the project’s lead that was meant to comment on the 1970s secular sentiments.

Church of the Holy Spirit or Makovecz Church (Paks, Hungary)

If brutalist churches don’t tickle your fancy, maybe you’ll enjoy this modern project from Imre Makovecz of Hungary. Built from 1988-1990, it’s considered a modern, organic masterpiece—one that combines traditional elements of Hungarian architecture with Roman Catholic elements.

The small church is built largely of wood, much of which was upcycled from surrounding structures or sourced immediately from the area. Uniquely, much of the church’s interior was also built by locals, as the parish lacked the funds to complete the construction.

But the real star of the show is the organic, flowing angles, which feel embedded into the overall landscape. With smooth angles and lines, it almost feels like a Gaudi-esque project, making it stand out as a contemporary champion of architecture in Europe.

National Library of Kosovo (Pristina, Kosovo)

The unique architecture of the National Library of Kosovo (Getty)

The National Library of Kosovo has landed at the top of the list for ugliest buildings in the world by publications like VirtualTourist, which I find highly unfair. Since its completion in 1982, the library has served as an important cultural institution in the nation… and one that has been reviled by many.

The construction has almost 100 white dome tops of varying sizes. They cap small rooms, which are covered in veil-like metallic fishing net. The goal was to blend elements of Kosovo’s Byzantine, Islamic, and Balkan heritage—but opinions differ strongly from there about why the building looks like it does and what the architect (a Croat named Anrija Mtnjakovic) intended to communicate.

Here’s my unpopular opinion: it looks cool as hell and brings to mind other buildings with exoskeleton-like exteriors, such as Zaha Hadid’s Morpheus Hotel.

City of Arts and Sciences (Valencia, Spain)

Reflections at the Science Museum, City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain (Getty)

This cultural and architectural complex in Valencia feels like something out of a sci-fi movie. Unsurprisingly, it’s considered one of the 12 Treasures of Spain.

It opened in 1998, nestled into the now-dry riverbed of the rerouted Turia River. However, new additions have been added since then, with the L’Ágora being added in 2009.

Similar to the Church of the Holy Spirit in Paks, organic architecture takes center stage. With shallow pools surrounding many of the eight buildings, there’s also a dramatic visual element at play, similar to the ponds around Bell Works.

All eight projects are impressive enough to capture your attention, from the graceful Assut de ‘lOr Bridge to the futuristic Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia.

Ugandan National Park Ranger Weighs in on the Humans vs Silverback Debate

I love a good pop culture debate—especially those that take social media by storm.

This year, one of the most debate-inducing questions is on who would win a street fight: 100 Brits or 100 Americans?

It’s kicked off more than a few lively back-and-forths, and I’ve laughed at just about every argument I’ve seen. (It looks like many Americans believe a single Waffle House shift could do serious damage to even the most hardened Brits.) Even The Guardian has weighed in at this point.

Now, onto my next favorite debate: who would win in a fight between 100 humans and one silverback gorilla?

This one has caught my attention for a few reasons. First, because it’s actually a great question—one that will make you sit and think about mountain gorillas in a new light.

Second, because there are a lot of experts out there who have started weighing in—and some of them actually have face-to-face experience with a silverback gorilla. A wild silverback, I should clarify, which is the oversized male leader of the group.

Ready to see what one Ugandan park ranger has to say about who would win in a fight between 100 humans and a silverback? The prognosis isn’t great, my friends.

100 humans vs silverback: An expert Ugandan National Park ranger weighs in

Unfortunately, I can’t identify who the park ranger is in the Instagram video linked above, nor list which park he works for.

But I’m apt to trust him; Uganda is home to over half the world’s population of wild mountain gorillas, especially at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and it’s the prime spot where travelers who want to come face-to-face with a silverback go.

So, what does this intrepid park ranger say about the pretend fight?

Once clarifying the context of the question, the ranger says that humans could theoretically take on a silverback—but only if they are ‘strong-hearted’.

That’s pretty optimistic… but he immediately goes on to clarify that just the sound of a silverback beating its chest is probably enough to send people running for the hills or falling to the ground.

The park ranger says that when a silverback makes an intimidating growl, beats its chest, and charges at you, it’s enough to put you down. Fear will take over, and you won’t be able to move.

That’s spine-tingling enough, but the tour guide then goes on to the next plan of attack: a good old-fashioned clobbering. Silverbacks are short, but their arms are long and muscular. If the humans approach to fight the silverback shoulder to shoulder, a gorilla could wipe out the whole line with a single swipe. Sort of like a devastatingly effective clothesline.

That’s not even counting what type of harm those massive incisors could do. So, it seems we have more fodder for the debate, and it’s not looking good for any humans who decide to fight the silverback.

The bright side? The 100 humans vs silverback fight would never happen. All that chest beating is due to the fact that the silverback would rather scare you into submission than brawl Super Smash Bros. style.

The good news: mountain gorillas don’t want to fight us

Some of the best places in the world to trek into silverback territory are in Uganda, along with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in places like Virunga.

Gorilla tourism has actually served as a boon to highland and lowland mountain gorillas, which are native to the mountainous jungles of central Africa.

These intelligent gorillas face habitat loss and poaching. To survive and continue to thrive, they rely on habitat protection and preservation, along with consistent censuses. The censuses are important because they help conservationists and researchers monitor populations. The highland gorillas have seen a recent uptick in population, while lowland gorillas remain critically endangered.

Like I mentioned above, gorilla tourism helps prevent habitat loss and keeps poachers at bay, boosting efforts of other conservation and rehabilitation groups. So, if you’ve been dreaming of coming closer to these wonderful creatures (and especially the silverback), then don’t let the debate turn you off.