4 Tips To Beat The Summer Heat At Home

Summer is finally here, and with summer comes summer vacation! If you’re a part of the 100 million people planning to go on a trip this year, preparation is a must; whether you’re headed to the rolling hills of Ireland to tour some medieval castles (of which there are 30,000 in the Emerald Isle) or are more interested in lounging on the shores of Hawaii, what you pack decides how relaxing your time away from home actually is. Let’s take a look at some of the most useful and fun travel accessories you should have with you during your excursion.

For Practical Use

We know that space inside luggage is tight (especially if you’re leaving a little extra room for souvenirs on the return trip), but there are some things that you should make room for due to their practical applications. If you leave the following items behind, you’ll end up cursing your hubris when you inevitably need them!

• Luggage scale: Airports charge hefty fees for luggage that is over the weight limit. In the U.S., that usually amounts to 50 lbs — any more and you’ll either have to pay through the nose or will be asked to dig through your perfectly packed bag to remove the excess weight. It can be harder to judge your luggage’s weight when you add all the souvenirs you’ve picked up, so this handy tool is invaluable to your trip — and your wallet.
• Collapsible water bottle: Unless you want to spend your hard-earned money on costly airport water bottles, you must bring your own. Collapsible bottles are specifically designed for travel and take up very little space in your suitcase as a result. Regardless of your final destination, you’ll be happy you had a bottle of your own.
• Travel adapters: One of the frustrations of international vacations is the difference in outlets. To avoid the risk of your phone dying and the resulting hunt for the right adapter in a foreign country, you can make sure you have an adapter all packed up and ready to go before you leave. Many come with several options to ensure that you’ll be able to get power no matter what country you’re in.

For Fun

There are many products that you don’t particularly need, but will find improve your overall travel experience. Portable speakers are at the top of our list; there are a number of Bluetooth options available to ensure you get your musical fix, whether you’re hiking through the 3.2 million acres of the Alaska State Park system or are simply enjoying a bath in your hotel room. With additional features galore (some are waterproof and come with clips for easy use), you’re sure to find one perfect for your needs.

No Matter What

There’s one thing you’ll always need, regardless of where it is you’re headed on your summer vacation: sunglasses. Even the gloomiest of places have their days of bright sunshine, and you’ll be remiss (and extremely uncomfortable) if you leave your favorite pair of shades at home. Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource on the planet — 173,000 terawatts of solar energy strike the Earth at all times; however, these rays can be harmful to your eyes. While even cosmetic lenses offer protection from UVA and UVB rays, you’ll want to invest in general purpose or special purpose sunglasses (which block 95% and 99%, respectively) if your vacation destination is particularly sunny.

With the right accessories, you’ll find that your summer vacation will be as relaxing and rejuvenating as planned.