Category: Villas

Safe and healthy travel is in all of the headlines these days as the coronavirus causes immense problems and concerns. And while it is important to know how to protect ourselves from germs as we go about our daily lives, most of us also worry about them when traveling.

For example, we have all learned that airplanes are quite heavy in the germ department and that it is best to bring antiseptic wipes to clean your airplane tray, TV controller, armrests, seat buckle, and so on. We know to avoid using blankets and pillows as they are not always sanitized, and the bathroom could be the topic for an entire article.

We know that we must also be attentive to germs and exposure as we go about the tasks in most travel ventures. But, what about health and fitness during a holiday? In other words, how do you easily maintain your current level of fitness or do your usual exercises when you are on the move?

Is a Vacation Going to Sabotage Your Fitness?

While getting away on a holiday is going to be a stress reducing experience for most of us, it can also get in the way of our usual daily workouts or other fitness regimens. It is very challenging to stick to the routine when there is no routine! Because of that, we suggest that you start your travel planning with an exploration of your options for accommodations, and focus on those with amenities that match your fitness needs.

As an example, when you book a luxury villa, it often includes a private fitness room or use of resort-like fitness facilities. It might also include a private swimming pool, beachfront with watersports gear, or access to training or exercise sessions.

Additionally, a larger space like a villa is going to also ensure that you have adequate room to do your usual moves. As an example, a traveler may have a bodyweight circuit workout they do each day with a resistance band. They need the space that a hotel room cannot allow, but they might not enjoy standing in the hotel or resort fitness room to do this routine.

If this travelers had a private villa, they could do all of their moves out on the terrace around the pool, in the private garden or in one of the larger rooms inside of the property.

Be Realistic

Another tip to consider is that you have to be realistic about what is and what is not possible while on vacation. If you spend over an hour a day jogging and working out, chances are that cannot be reasonably accomplished while on a vacation. Instead, you may want to simply plan for half of the usual routine. For example, if you do 30 minutes of body work and an hour of running, cut that down to 45 minutes of exercise total.

By looking into an accommodation with fitness options and being realistic, you may have already cut down on the amount of self-sabotage to occur. After that, it is about a bit of advance planning and packing, and you will more than likely find your normal routine remains on track.

What to Pack and Plan

We find that most travelers can do well with one or two of their usual resistance bands tucked into their suitcase. This allows them to do continue with an entire upper and lower body routine even if they are in an area where no fitness facilities are available.

And though we already noted that travelers should plan to do only half of their routine, they should also plan on enjoying themselves in a way that does NOT support their current weight or level of fitness. For example, one expert in travel and fitness said that you must plan “to enjoy some special meals,” and never deprive yourself of local delicacies.

Why? What is travel for, if not to experience memorable local foods and treats, after all!

You should also plan on being very creative in your workouts. For example, take some time to learn the best ways to use resistance bands for your fitness goals, and pack them to bring along. If you are a runner, but there is no good spot to run, switch out the exercise for something that is possible. Can you bicycle a long way around the area? Maybe you can learn water skiing and use new muscles or discover how to kayak? Perhaps you can hop in the pool and jog in place to enjoy the resistance the water creates.

There are many ways to burn calories, use muscles, and keep in shape. The basic plan is to avoid overeating and sitting around too much.

And before you pack away those resistance bands and get ready to go on your adventure, we also recommend that you plan on doing your routine at home at least once. Why? If you are going to try something entirely new and unfamiliar, you run the risk of injury, frustration and tossing the whole routine aside. Don’t set yourself up for this sort of trouble. Don’t allow yourself an excuse to skip the workout.

Be Prepared

So, you chose a location with onsite fitness facilities or plenty of privacy and space to do your usual routine. You packed your resistance bands and made plans for the kinds of exercises you will do. You have reminded yourself that you can and should cut things down a bit and enjoy yourself.

Did you also bring all of your workout gear? One of the worst feelings is to leave home and realize your favorite workout clothes are not in the suitcase. Bring two sets of comfortable workout gear, including the footwear, and don’t forget those other essentials. That might mean your MP3 player or phone, earbuds, headbands, and all the rest.

You can stay totally fit while on vacation, but just try to remember that it is not all about the routine. Try to shake things up a bit and plan ahead for success, and you’ll return home in top shape and with lots of memories of fun in the sun.

As the world waits for the current travel bans to disappear and for global health to once again be restored, many of us are dreaming of our next getaway. If you are like millions of others, your mind is drifting to turquoise waters, white sands, swaying palms, and the Caribbean Sea. To help you enjoy this period of limited travel, while still getting your fill of the Caribbean, we offer this list of recommended books to inspire your travel plans.

An Embarrassment of Mangoes

The subtitle of this book is “A Caribbean Interlude by Ann Vanderhoof,” and the book has become a favorite among travel writers and armchair enthusiasts. As one expert on beach literature explains, it is the tale of two Canadians who “pursue their dream of a Caribbean sailing adventure,” which becomes something they were not expecting.

The pair rents out their house and sets sail aboard their boat, the Receta. It is a true story of two years at sea and visits to more than 16 countries and over forty Caribbean islands.

Again, as that one expert said, “Apart from sunbathing on white-sand beaches, hiking through colorful rain-forests and savoring local rum on deck, Ann Vanderhoof takes a special interest in the region’s exotic cuisine. A few pages into the book, it becomes clear that the boat’s name—translating to ‘’recipe’’ in Spanish—was definitely no accident. The narrative encompasses tips for shopping at local markets, accounts of some of the most peculiar dishes the author came upon, as well as detailed recipes for heavenly meals, all written in a refreshing, enchanting style.”

We’d say that this is a perfect book if you are looking for some recommendations about where to go – after all, with 16 countries under their belts, the couple’s experiences are sure to inspire and guide others.

Pirate Latitudes

The author of Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton put his amazing skills to work with this (what The New York Times called) “suspenseful tale of skulduggery, theft, and betrayal, with useful insight on Caribbean’s maritime history and its legendary piracy era.” The book focuses on Jamaica and looks at a group of pirates who follow their college-educated captain on a treasure hunting adventure. It is full of excellent descriptions of the Jamaican coast and inland as well as offering a lovely bit of escapism and fun.

Hurricanes & Hangovers: And Other Tall Tales and Loose Lies from the Coconut Telegraph by Dear Miss Mermaid

The title is as fun as the book and inspired by the blogs written by Dear Miss Mermaid for the past decade or more. Living in the Caribbean for decades, she has turned her memories into popular blogs, as well as this collection of more than 15 stories about her life in the Caribbean. Each story has been cited by readers as inspiring their own travel plans to the region.

Caribbean

If you want to learn the history of any area, and author James A. Michener has written about it, you’re guaranteed an insightful read. His book on the Hawaiian islands took readers from the volcanic formation of the island chain past the attacks on Pearl Harbour in the 1940s. The author’s look at the Caribbean is not so in-depth, but still a remarkable read.

As one reviewer noted, it is Michener’s typical “blend of fiction and history,” and he masters the “extremely demanding challenge of squeezing hundreds of years of history in a few hundred pages – and easily comes out on top.” Starting in the  14th century, the tale goes on to “the most critical points and periods of the region’s turbulent past. Tales of cannibal tribes, the Mayan Empire, European settlers, pirates, politicians, and revolutionaries unfold in a masterful, beguiling prose that celebrates Caribbean culture and its boundless diversity.”

If you want the fullest portrait possible of the region, this is definitely one to tackle as you map out your plans for a visit to the area.

Wide Sargasso Sea

This book has long been considered a masterpiece, and author Jeanne Rhys never produced another novel of such immense popularity. It is a look at Caribbean mysticism as well as human emotion and human history in the Caribbean region. It is often compared to Jane Eyre because of its use of a character directly from that equally famous work. Yet, it is not as dark as one might think and includes amazing descriptions of the region, the people, the era, and more.

Island People

An entirely different approach to the history of the region, and one without the added element of fiction, this book by Joshua Jelly-Schapiro covers Barbados, Jamaica and other islands. The author delves into the cultural identities of each island, demonstrating how unique they are from one another and how modern society has shaped each location.

Beginning with the arrival of Columbus, his text is full of text that is sure to inspire. As a commentator noted, sandy “beaches, exotic food and a tropical climate might be more than enough to spark a flame in a traveler’s imagination, but this masterpiece comes to show that there is much more to the Caribbean than that.”

Inspire your next visit to the Caribbean with a far more insightful glimpse of the people, languages, music, religion, politics, and culture contained in this book.

In the Time of Butterflies

A beautiful book about the Dominican Republic, it is set in the 1960s and is an award-winning novel that is both fictional and fact-based. It is strongly political in its content, but not in its message. It is considered an inspired read for those who want to learn more about the region, without picking up a textbook to do so.

Dr. No

This James Bond story by author Ian Fleming deserves a read because the author wrote many of the most famous Bond stories from his home in Jamaica. This is a rare Caribbean-based story and takes place in Jamaica. Full of the usual Bond characters, it can be an inspired read while in Jamaica or as you wait for your next visit.

You now have a good list of works to read when you want to be inspired for your next Caribbean holiday or to enjoy now as winter ends and travel promises to begin again.

There is an old saying about it being darkest before the dawn, and those who love travel should think of the current period as that hour or so before the sun peeps up over the horizon. Though global travel has halted or been severely restricted, the time when such bans exist will come to an end and the world can begin again.

However, many will feel concerned about health and safety when traveling. Even if travelers have few worries about such matters, it will always pay to the safest and most sanitary ways to travel. Private, luxury rentals offer one of the best ways to enjoy a visit of any length or duration, and in the cleanest most controllable conditions possible.

Whether travel is for leisure or work, a luxury villa is among the easiest ways to limit exposure to a long list of potentially harmful materials, including viral agents. How? It helps a traveler to avoid close contact with people who may carry a germ or virus.

While it is, naturally, a space that is kept ultra-clean and disinfected, it is also a space that is entirely yours to enjoy. Every doorknob, sink, countertop, piece of furniture, terrace, pool, book or remote control…the list of areas where exposure is reduced to you and your party is endless.

Think Like Business or Corporate Travelers

For many decades, business travelers have always looked at private villas and luxury homes as the ideal space to stay. This makes sense when your visit will be much longer than a quick weekend. For instance, a business trip may mean weeks or months in one area, and a luxury villa would be far more home-like and conducive to well-being.

Yet there is more to it, just consider what a private luxury villa also offers:

1. Far more space – Even an upscale resort suite has far less space than a private and luxury villa. There will be a full-sized living room, dining area, kitchen, bedrooms, and outdoor spaces. Most have a space to use as a home office, and will even feature high-speed Internet, making it easy to work, travel, and relax in one, clean and quiet area.
2. Privacy – You limit exposure in a private villa because there are no shared elevators, hallways, dining areas, fitness spaces, and so on. Every area is yours and without any risks from others.
3. Healthier meals – In a luxury villa, you will have full use of a large, gourmet-friendly kitchen. This means healthier meals that you can prepare yourself. Some even have pantry services that fill the cupboards for you before arriving, re-stock while there, and may include a private cook or chef to make meals.
4. Traffic – It is an obvious factor that is easy to overlook, but a luxury villa has seen far less traffic from the public than even the finest resort suite. Only a few people will have touched the different surfaces or spaces inside of the property, guaranteeing healthier conditions.
5. Outdoor spaces – Fresh air and sunlight are a virus’s worst enemies and yet it can be difficult to get out and enjoy yourself in the outdoors if you are in a crowded or heavily booked property. With a luxury villa, though, you are guaranteed a large, sunny and private terrace, and may even have private beachfront, a larger garden or landscape, multiple outdoor living areas (dining pavilions, gazebos, and so on). You may even have a plunge pool or swimming pool of your own!
6. Entertainment – Though you have those outdoor spaces to enjoy, many luxury villas also provide their guests with the very best in in-house entertainment options. Home cinemas, high-end electronics, optimized sound systems, music, and video streaming, and that high-speed Wi-Fi that allows you to enjoy a podcast, movie, or another streaming service even if sunning yourself on a terrace.
7. The whole family – Another of the major benefits of a luxury villa is that it can be booked for a larger group or family. For example, it is not at all unusual to find villas sized for groups of ten or more, with private rooms and baths for everyone in the party. This means multiple generations can be safely housed in a clean and sanitary setting.

While traveling in this particular period can be difficult or even impossible, it won’t remain that way for long. Now is the perfect time to explore options for a safe, healthy and enjoyable break with your family or closest friends. One of the most sanitary places to book a visit is in a large, family-friendly or larger villa. It will have all of the benefits already mentioned, plus the bonus of being in a wonderful location. After all, most luxury villas are built because they can exist in a stunning destination close to beaches, mountains, or amazing scenery.

And if you are worried that the rates are higher, just consider what experts say about them. As one travel enthusiast explained, one of the largest “misconceptions about luxury travel is the assumption that hotels offer the best rates. But if you’re traveling with a group of people, or booking an extended stay, you’ll probably find that few hotels can compete with the value of money you get from renting a luxury villa.

Whether you’re looking for two bedrooms or twelve, the room rates are often more affordable…” Add to it the fact they are self-contained and include all of the amenities without added charges for food, drinks, and activities and you see why it is such a great option.

Now is a Good Time to Explore the Options

For now, experts can only guess at how long the current health crisis will impact travel plans. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make your next big plans for a holiday or getaway with family and friends. It is the perfect moment to explore the many options and destinations for luxury travel that has private villas available. The locations are as far-ranging as the Caribbean to the Fiji Islands, Orlando to Maui, and beyond. Start enjoying the light at the end of the tunnel by making your next travel plans, today.

There is a difference between being healthy and being fit. Health is usually a term used when describing general wellness, while fitness is used to describe things like exercise regimens and your level of muscle tone or cardiovascular capabilities. If you are like most frequent travelers, you look for ways to maintain both health and fitness when on the road. You have your routines or tactics that let you get in workouts and also eat well, even when it might involve airport food or hours in a plane.

But, what can you do now with the recent surge in viral agents and worries about remaining healthy during travel of any kind (car, plane, train, boat, and so on)? It came as a bolt out of the blue to millions that a single virus could disrupt modern life. As we write this, there are travel bans, business closures, and even national borders or towns being closed or shutdown.

Basic Methods for Staying Healthy While Traveling

While health experts say that it is a matter of time before the virus is under control and all of the current restrictions lifted, it will be wise to know for future travel how to best remain healthy at even the very best of times.

As one group of experts said, there are 11 basic methods you can use to remain healthy at all times when traveling, and they are:

1. Practice good hand hygiene – Now more than ever we all need to be far more aware of the gentle art of washing our hands. We’ve all seen the guides that say two minutes of soap and scrubbing are essential, but not many of us can stand at a basin and scrub for that length of time as a regular practice. We recommend always carrying sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, or sanitizing spray in your travel bag. Use this on your hands, rubbing between the fingers, but also on any surfaces you will touch (airplane trays and armrests, remote controls of any kind, railings, and so on).
2. Eat well – This is very challenging when traveling, and so we always recommend that you choose one meal per day and make sure it is as nutrient-dense as possible. Breakfast may be the easiest option for this way of eating, but don’t limit yourself to that meal. If your evening meal is the only time you have to fuel up with vegetables and lean proteins, make sure you do so. Take a multi-vitamin, and try to be aware of your needs for the “macros” (protein, fat, and carb) to remain in top condition.
3. Hydrate – Another challenge when traveling is to get enough to drink. We might hesitate to consume adequate water because we fear there may not be an adequate number of facilities when needed. However, it is best to get that hydration as it fuels the cells, including immune cells, that keep you in your best shape at all times – from the skin cells that are a barrier against germs to the brain cells that help you as you go about your waking hours and sleeping recovery times.
4. Practice good sleep hygiene – When your body is fatigued it is open to all kinds of problems. Rest helps the brain to function and reboot, but it also delivers nutrients to the cells, keeps the body on its normal routine or pattern, and allows for the highest level of personal health possible. We get tired when ills for a reason – the body is asking for a refractory period in which it can recover and rejuvenate, and that is best done when sleeping. So, be sure you listen to your body and get the amount of sleep it requires.
5. Think pacing – While you may be traveling for business or leisure, you can set the pace of your travel. For example, if you are in a luxury villa and want to enjoy a day trip to an area that is a considerable distance from the property, why not make it an overnight rather than a day trip? You can pace the journey accordingly, see more or savor what you are doing, and not run the risk of fatiguing yourself. Do the same when organizing your travel plans. You can set a healthier pace on the day of your flights and keep better control over your mental state, level of anxiety or stress, and even the cleanliness of your surroundings if you give yourself the time to do so.
6. Get physical – Ten minutes of gentle stretching each day can work wonders, and especially during travel. Do some stretching and breathing in the morning, sneak in a bit of time during the day, and just before bed. Nothing rigorous, just a sort of check-in with your joints to ensure that nothing is sore, stiff, or out of sorts. This ensures optimal sleep, better body positioning during the day, and heightens self-awareness to help you be alert to any changes in your health.
7. Breathing – Very few of us practice conscious breathing and yet it can work wonders for mental and physical health. You simply sit in a quiet and comfortable position, inhale slowly and deeply through the nose, and hold it for a beat of one or two. Then, release fully. Do this five to ten times and you will quickly learn the benefits of meditative breathing. It will purge air from the lungs, clean the sinuses, and clear the head in a way that allows you to feel your best.
8. Walk it out – If you are traveling and want to remain healthy, be sure you are walking at least 30 minutes out of each day. Yes, you want time in that hammock or a few hours in that spa, but also be sure you get in those steps to keep the blood flowing to the limbs and brain. Plus, a bit of walking is essential if you want to take in the local sights!
9. Book private – A strange, but increasingly popular way to remain healthier while traveling is to book a private villa rather than a hotel or suite. This is because a villa has far less traffic, is far more sanitary and clean, is private and yet large and spacious. It will have a kitchen, private amenities, your own entrances, and will guarantee the utmost in cleanliness and controls to ensure your healthiest possible holiday or trip.

There are many other steps to take to guarantee health and fitness when traveling, but those above are your best bets when you want to feel your best at all times.