Wine + Travel can equal an unforgettable vacation. But organized wine tours can seem a bit intimidating for a variety of reasons. Some of those reasons are just misconceptions though and aren’t necessarily true. Here are five myths about wine tours – along with why they are flawed.
We are in the middle of the holiday season which for most people means traveling to and from family and friend gatherings. Not only does this mean that you may be vulnerable to your adorable little nephew’s cold that he got from daycare, but you are most likely getting exposed to a large number of other people who may be sick as well. We thought it would be helpful to provide a few tips on how to avoid getting sick while traveling.
Drink More Water.
Staying hydrated can be one the best actions you can take in fighting off an impending sickness. It oxygenates your blood and flushes out harmful toxins from your immune system. It allows you to digest your food better saving you from potential stomach aches. And, it helps organs like your eyes and mouth to retain moisture and repel foreign particles or contaminants that could cause infections. So keep a water bottle with you whenever possible.
(Photos source: Rubbermaid Products)
Boost Your Immune System.
You may already be taking a daily multi-vitamin but during cold season that may not be enough. Try taking a few Vitamin C supplements and using a nasal spray before you get on the plane. The Vitamin C will help fight off the airborne germs that are sealed in once they close the cabin door of the plane. The air is quite dry when flying so spraying a few puffs of nasal spray will help your nose stay moist and therefore able to flush out the germs.
Stay Active.
We get it – most holiday celebrations involve food and drink, but it’s important to stay active while traveling (or anytime really). One of the best ways to fight off unwanted germs or infections is exercise. It not only helps get rid of toxins in your body when you sweat, but it has been proven to strengthen your immune system. Instead of sitting on the couch after a big meal, gather your family or friends to head out for a nice long walk.
Wash Your Hands Frequently.
You already wash your hands whenever you have used the bathroom (hopefully!) but when you are traveling and even during cold season in general, you should wash your hands more frequently. Just think of how many door knobs, counters, or arm rests you touch while you travel. Now think of how many other people are traveling through the airport or have been on the plane before you. Washing your hands more frequently helps prevent the germs that you’ve been in contact with throughout your day from getting into your system. Those anti-bacterial soaps that were so popular a few years ago have proven to be less effective – nothing beats good old soap and water.
Avoid Touching Certain Surfaces
Sometimes it is impossible to avoid touching germy surfaces – you most likely will have to use the bathroom at least once on a longer flight, right? But there are a few other germy surfaces that can be more easily avoided. The website, Travelmath, did a study of the dirtiest surfaces on an airplane and in airports. The number one offender was the tray table. They speculate that they are the worst due to the littler turnaround time airline staff have to clean a plane between flights – bathrooms on the other hand always get cleaned. You may want to think twice before placing food or even your laptop on a tray table, but if it can’t be avoided, the best thing to do is to wash your hands frequently and try not to touch your face, mouth, or eyes.
Hopefully, these tips will arm you against potential germs and help you avoid getting sick while traveling this holiday season – warm wishes and stay healthy!
Starting with our 2017 tours, Taste Vacations will be changing the cost of our tours.
We will reduce the average tour cost by $920 and the average cost per tour day by $153.
Earlier this year, we sent out a survey asking for your input on various aspects of Taste Vacations’ offerings as well as your own personal travel preferences. The result? We found you like our tour offerings and our focus on providing truly memorable, authentic experiences. However, you are more focused on these experiences than you are staying in a fancy hotel.
That is good news – because we feel the same way!
With our sister company Zephyr Adventures, we have been running active tours around the world for 19 years with a focus on the local culture. We have always chosen centrally located, high-quality hotels but avoided the five-star options because, frankly, there is a large premium for those options.
However, when we started Taste Vacations, we strayed from this philosophy thinking that those interested in our food and drink tours would prefer that extra luxury. That was our error as it didn’t really reflect who we are and, we now know, it doesn’t reflect who you are either.
What does this mean in practice? We will still be staying primarily in four star hotels, seeking out the local option that is centrally located and with excellent service. We will be dropping five-star options that simply raise the cost of our tours without a corresponding benefit. And we have even dropped a couple of tours (Napa Valley Wine and Kentucky Bourbon) where the costs of the location made the tour expensive no matter the hotel.
The result is that $920 drop in our average tour price.
We are excited to move forward with this new direction and promise that, although we have reduced the cost of our tours, the quality of our unforgettable vacations will remain at the highest standard.
The Rioja wine region in Northern Spain is famous for its high-quality wines, scenic patchwork of vineyard-covered hills, medieval villages, and stunning winery hotels. It also has an incredible history, exquisite cuisine, and a captivating culture.
Wine isn’t the only beverage that deserves to be tasted, analyzed, and appreciated. Beer has so many different styles, flavors, textures, and nuances that you have a plethora of options to try. Though a beer tasting can feel more “accessible” to the every day person than a wine tasting, it can still be intimidating to try to analyze what you are drinking. Here are a few tips on how to help hone your skills and improve your sensory analysis:
