Often, summertime and travel go hand in hand. The warm months also serve as a good reminder to stay hydrated—especially while traveling. Whether you’re about to hit the road or waiting at the departure gate, take some time to review these 5 tips on how to stay hydrated when traveling this summer.
Why Adequate Hydration is Crucial for Traveling
You may be prioritizing roadtrip snacks or how to reduce the weight in your carry-on bags, but water should be another key part of your travel planning. We all know that hydration is important, but it’s especially important while on the road or in the air.
Driving while dehydrated has been found to be as risky as drunk driving. A 2015 study discovered that drivers who were even mildly dehydrated made errors like late braking and lane drifting—similar to people driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. Like alcohol, dehydration can slow reaction times, alter mood, compromise concentration, and negatively impact memory recall.
Even when you’re behind a seatback TV screen instead of the steering wheel, hydration is just as important. Because airplanes bring in outside air to combat viral transmission, what we’re inhaling on flights is about 15-20% less humid than we’re used to. So, breathing alone means that we lose about 8 ounces of water every hour on our flights. As such, we should drink an equivalent amount of water to stay hydrated.
For safer driving and less swelling and jet lag once we arrive at our destination, it’s critical to make a bottle of water (or several) our co-pilot for summer travel.
5 Ways to Stay Hydrated While You Travel
1. BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle)
Having your favorite water bottle with you will make terminal or rest stop refills a breeze. Plus, it’ll serve as a good reminder to continue sipping throughout your journey.
2. Snack on Water-Rich Fruits and Veggies
Many of our favorite fruits and vegetables are water-rich and contribute to better hydration. Before your flight or while you’re driving, snack on things like cucumbers, celery, watermelon, berries, bell peppers, and pineapple.
3. Sip on Tea
Water is by far the best hydration drink-of-choice, but tea can provide a flavorful backup. Herbal teas, in particular, can help keep your hydration levels. Stash a few tea bags in your carry-on luggage (they’re TSA-compliant) and just ask your flight attendant for a cup of hot water—or bring your own thermos if you’re driving.
4. Make Sure Your Essential Electrolytes Are in Balance
Sometimes, the pre-travel rush makes it hard to take the time for proper hydration. Fortunately, hydration water packets provide an easy solution. They can be found in most grocery stores and added to your bottle of water to ensure that you get an adequate amount of fluid, vitamins, and minerals. Just consider avoiding those with a lot of sugar.
5. Keep Your Skin Moisturized
We may not consider our skin when we think about hydration, but to avoid the dryness and irritation that follows travel (especially air travel), it’s a good idea to keep moisturizer handy. Skin is the body’s largest organ and it will be one of the first things to suffer from dehydration.
Bon Voyage!
Proper hydration should begin hours—or even days—before the trip does. Even before you pack, you should up your intake of purified water. If you’re heading on a road trip, consider filling several bottles (or a new AquaTru stainless steel bottle) with filtered water from your AquaTru. You’ll be worried about directions and departure times, so we’ll help you de-stress with contaminant-free water.
