How to stay healthy while you travel

When we travel for work or for a vacation we have to put up with a lot of health-related things: Recycled airplane air, fatty foods, fancy cocktails and copious amounts of hidden germs! All these things can put strain on our immune systems, so here’s how to stay fit as a fiddle no matter where you are travelling.

Stay hydrated – In order to keep all your systems going you need to drink your daily water requirement. Travelling can be dehydrating for your body, so if you can try to stock your car, backpack or hotel room with nice cold bottles of water. Always bring water wherever you go!

Avoid the minibar – Alcohol, sweets, chocolates and fizzy drinks, this is basically all you will find majority of minibars. Not only are these things extremely unhealthy for you but they are also ridiculously overpriced. Instead of getting sucked in by the minibar’s stock of unhealthy treats, pack your own drinks and snacks.

Pack snacks – Always carry back-up snacks in case you’re travelling and can’t find anything healthy to eat. Stick to fresh or dried fruits, protein bars, cereal etc. You will save money and you won’t be tempted to buy MacDonald’s or any other fast food ever again.

Check out the hotel gym – Hotels, apartments and guest houses have definitely gotten into the fitness craze recently! When you are booking yourself accommodation check first to see if there is a gym available, that way you can spend some time on the treadmill – your body will thank you later!

Steer clear of airplane germs – Before you settle into your seat get out your disinfectant wipes and do a quick wipe down of the cushions, armrests and the table tray. If it is possible avoid the in flight restroom at all costs!

Stretch – Are you planning a long 12 hour flight with no layover? Well here’s how to avoid DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) or painful leg cramping by exercising your foot and calf muscles regularly:
· Bend and straighten your legs, feet and toes when you are seated.
· Increase the blood flow to your legs by pressing the balls of your feet down hard against the floor.
· Take a walk up and down the aisle

Avoid the Top Ten tainted foods – There is a new report that lists the tainted foods that are most likely to make you sick when you are travelling around the world, sadly these include some of the best foods! If you buy them organically or from an upscale restaurant you will probably avoid getting sick:
· Berries
· Sprouts
· Tomatoes
· Ice cream
· Potatoes
· Cheese
· Oysters
· Tuna
· Eggs
· Leafy greens

Choose a quality hand sanitizer – Hand sanitizers and soaps kill as many as 40 000 germs per hand! So when it comes to fighting bacteria when travelling and you can’t get to a sink, hand sanitizers are your best bet. When you choose a hand sanitizer try to buy one with at least 60% alcohol in it.

As fun as travelling is, it can also be an unhealthy experience for you, so always try to choose the healthier options and cut your immune system some slack!

Airport Shuttle in Cape Town can provide you with a reliable, affordable shuttle service too and from Cape Town International Airport, contact us today!

6 ways to keep your Kids busy during a Flight

Just imagine sitting on a flight with your children and you have no electronic devices to keep them busy. It can make a calm, relaxed flight into the ultimate trip from hell.

Don’t panic, all you need to do is reach for that bag of things that you’ve packed to keep them entertained – here are some of the best screen-free ways to keep your kids busy…

Colour In – These days, colouring in is for children as well as teenagers and even adults!

Build LEGO – There are some pretty cool ways to build your own DIY LEGO travel boxes to avoid losing any pieces.

Do an activity book – Bring a book that is full of interactive activities so it takes a bit of time for your children to get bored.

Play travel games – Lots of games are easy enough to pack and bring along with you, including UNO, cards and Guess Who?

Design a postcard – A blank pack of postcards and a few pens is all they need to design something fun and then send it off when you arrive at your destination.

Read a book – It may seem old school, but there are still paper books out there! Pack a few for your younger children as well as your teens.

What do you do when it’s a screen-free flight and you need to keep your kids busy? Pack these 6 things and be prepared!

Entertaining your children during the flight can be exhausting, make sure you have a reliable, comfortable lift to and from the airport by booking your airport shuttle today! Airport Shuttle in Cape Town and Durban offers the best shuttle services at the most affordable prices, simply book with the easy online booking system otherwise contact us directly on +27 (0)21 551 8785 or +27 (0)82 951 3646 or info@asct.co.za

5 Top Tips to Survive the Middle Seat

You have two choices, either sit in the middle seat of a long flight, or drill a hole in your head. Which do you pick?

A recent survey was done to determine the top five middle seat annoyances:

1. Having a nosy seatmate looking over your shoulder

2. Falling over someone to get to the bathroom

3. Not being able to stretch out

4. Having an overweight seatmate on either side of you

5. Not having a place to rest your head

Here are 5 top tips to avoid as well as survive the middle seat:

Make a narrow escape – Your first chance to escape the middle seat is to select an aisle or window when your first book your flight, however some airlines charge an additional fee, but it’s definitely worth it!

Use the armrests – Travelers often get confused about proper armrest etiquette, there is a rule of thumb that has worked for many people over the years: the person in the middle seat has priority when it comes to the armrests on both sides. It’s only fair!

Go before you go – If there was ever a time to behave like a four year old and visit the bathroom multiple times in the airport before your flight, this is it! And if you do ever have to get up from your seat during the flight do it before the person starts watching a movie, reading a book or sleeping.

Use sleep and comfort aids – No, I don’t mean drugs, but rather neck pillows, eye covers, noise cancelling headphones or anything else that can make it possible for you to sleep or rest while sitting straight with nothing to lean on.

Just give in – If you do end up in the dreaded middle seat, it will help if you just accept early that it’s not going be fun, easy or comfortable, so you might as well make the best of it! It’s going to be horrible, but sooner or later you will be on the ground. In other words: this too shall pass.

People dislike the middle seat so much that they will go to great lengths to avoid it! It’s true that majority of us would rather go to the dentist than have to tell a seatmate that you have to go to the bathroom.

Avoid the middle seat completely and book your shuttle service with Airport Shuttle in Cape Town or Durban today! 

5 Helpful Tips to make Flying more enjoyable

Imagine you’re taking an amazing holiday trip abroad, the only thing in your way is the long plane ride ahead; do you want to enjoy your flight? Of course you do, flying can really suck at times! Use these tips to make your flight less painful, after all you don’t want to arrive at your destination in a bad mood.

Tip No.1) Do your research and book a good airline, cheaper isn't always better! In my opinion if you’re going to be on a long flight, it’s better to pay more and be comfortable.

Tip No.2) If you hate listening to other peoples conversations, babies screaming and the planes loud engine bring headphones with you, you can listen to music or watch a movie to cancel out the noise and keep you entertained.

Tip No.3) Sleeping on a plane can be very uncomfortable, so make sure to fasten your seat belt over your blankets so the flight attendants don’t wake you up to check if you’re strapped in. If you can, buy a neck pillow it can help you get more comfortable and reduces head and neck ache.  

Tip No.4) Food can be very expensive to buy on a plane, and most of it isn't very tasty, rather make sure to pack yourself a few healthy snacks for your flight.

Tip No.5) Occasionally get up and walk around the plane, it’s good for blood flow and can help kill a lot of time.

The golden rule to enjoy your flight is to be positive and polite, don’t get upset with the flight attendants and always be polite to your fellow travelers, thinking positive thoughts can really make you feel better and improve your trip.

At Airport Shuttle, we offer easy and convenient online bookings and pricing - click Book Now or visit our website today www.airportshuttlecapetown.co.za |  www.airportshuttledurban.co.za

If you would like to contact us directly, call +27 (0)21 551 8785 or +27 (0)82 951 3646 or email info@asct.co.za

What Hangover Cures look like around the World

 So you’re travelling to a different country for a bit of a well-deserved holiday. Whether you intend to party hard or not, it’s bound to happen. BUT what happens when you wake up the next morning with a terrible hangover and realise your usual remedy isn’t available?

We searched and found out what different people around the world consider to be the best hangover cure…

(Be warned these are pretty strange)

1.       Prairie Oyster – USA

Ingredients: Tomato juice, one raw egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and a dash of Tabasco.

Does it work? The tomato juice is rich in vitamin C and fructose, the egg has a lot of protein and the ability to step up your liver function and help your poor body break down those toxins faster.

     2.       Balut – Philippines

Ingredients: A poached fertilised duck embryo.

Does it work? It sounds grim, but eggs contain lots of cysteine which breaks down the hangover-causing toxin in the liver. I’d rather stick to bacon and eggs though!

     3.       Sparrow Droppings in Brandy - Hungary

Ingredients: You heard us!

Does it work? Well, this cure could actually do more wrong than right as you could be ingesting parasites, bacteria or diseases into your body. The brandy may postpone the alcohol withdrawal, but it’s best to steer clear of this one if you’re in Hungary.

     4.       Pickled Sheep Eyeballs in Tomato Juice – Mongolia

Ingredients: A pair of sheep’s eyeballs in tomato juice.

Does it work? The tomato juice will help the liver get rid of the alcohol from your system, but I don’t know how the eyeballs help!

     5.       Buffalo Milk – Namibia

Ingredients: Clotted cream, cream, two different rums and crème liqueurs.

Does it work? The cream will line your stomach and the excessive amount of alcohol will just postpone your hangover until later.

     6.       Sheep Lungs and Owl eggs – Ancient Greece

Ingredients: Sheep lungs and two owl eggs – hopefully cooked!

Does it work? Sounds pretty disgusting but back in the day this cheap protein probably worked wonders because of all the vital amino acids.

     7.       English Fry Up – UK

Ingredients: Fried bacon, eggs, sausage, toast, tomatoes, mushrooms sometimes with black pudding, hash browns and baked beans.

Does it work? The giant heap of protein, fat and salt will help your suffering liver to recover and replenish your lost electrolytes. Apparently a recent study showed that this is one of the best hangover cures!

What do you consider to be the best hangover cure? And does it actually work?

Whether you have a hangover or not, getting to and from the airport can be a real hassle. If you're looking for a shuttle service that can get you to and from the airport contact Airport Shuttle in Cape Town, Durban or Johannesburg today! 

Are you a Selfish Airplane Passenger?

Yes, everyone has their own travel habits (some bad, some good) whether it’s bringing along your trusty neck pillow or munching on your homemade snacks. However, the most important factor of your entire trip is where you sit!

Sitting next to the window means you have the best views and a nifty place to lean, but the seat by the aisle means you have easy access to the bathroom and stretching capabilities. Recent studies have shown that choosing a window seat or an aisle seat actually reveals something about your personality…

In an interview with a scientist, it was revealed that those who choose to sit by the window are actually more selfish, and those who sit by the aisle are more reserved.

“Passengers, who favour the window seat like to be in control, tend to take an ‘every man for themselves’ attitude towards life and are often more easily irritable. They also like to ‘nest’ and prefer to exist in their own bubble.”

BUT

“Aisle passengers are often more sociable and definitely more amenable as people; they are also more likely to be restless fliers and less adept at sleeping on planes.”

There’s no studying showing what it is revealed about those who choose the middle seat – most likely because no one ever does!

Airport Shuttle is a reliable, affordable shuttle service in Cape Town and Durban that offers rides to and from the airport - book your shuttle online here or contact us directly on +27 (0)21 551 8785 or +27 (0)82 951 3646 or info@asct.co.za if you prefer personal contact in making your booking.

5 Quick Tips to Make Flying Suck Less

Do you want to enjoy your flight to your holiday destination? Of course you do, but flying can really suck at times! Use these 5 quick tips to make your flight less painful, after all you don’t want to arrive at your destination in a horrible mood…

#1  Do your research and book a good airline, cheaper isn't always better! If you’re going to be on a long flight, it’s better to pay a bit more and be comfortable.

#2  If you hate listening to other people chatting continuously, babies screaming and the planes loud engine – bring headphones with you. You can listen to music or watch a movie to cancel out the noise and keep yourself entertained.

#3  Sleeping on a plane can be very uncomfortable, so make sure to fasten your seat belt over your blankets so the flight attendants don’t wake you up to check if you’re strapped in. If you can, buy a neck pillow, it can help you get more comfortable and reduces head and neck pains. 

 

#4  Food can be very expensive to buy on a plane, and most of it isn't very tasty. Rather make sure to pack yourself a few healthy snacks for your flight. Read this blog for some nifty dining hacks…

http://airportshuttlecapetown.blogspot.co.za/2016/09/10-genius-in-flight-dining-hacks.html

#5  Occasionally get up and walk around the plane, it’s good for blood flow and can help kill a lot of time.

The golden rule to enjoy your flight is to be positive and polite, don’t get upset with the flight attendants and always be polite to your fellow travellers, thinking positive thoughts can really make you feel better and improve your trip!

For a comfortable, affordable shuttle ride to or from the airport, contact Airport Shuttle in Cape Town or Durban!