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Travelling this summer? Check out this holiday packing list with vacation must-haves

With the summer season here, there are inevitable questions of vacations and when one hears vacation, travelling is all that clouds one’s mind. Summers remind us especially of that time of the year when hot tea becomes less favoured and lemon soda becomes a go-to option. That is what everyone wants and prefers as an essential need which is to keep yourself hydrated even while traveling. When we say travelling, apart from excitement, packing is the most important thing that clogs our mind. Whether you plan a vacation close to home or travel abroad, packing your bags smartly is the first order of business. When packing for a holiday in the summer, a must-have packing list is all we need. Worried already? We got you all covered with some pointers for packing from experts. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Aditya Arya, Co-founder of Yes Madam, insisted that packing wisely equals less worry and more enjoyment when on vacation. He listed some summer vacation must-haves to keep in hand in order to put the ease in easy living at your summer vacation, from arid air to saline coasts and every travel place in between: 1. Vacation reads - Read a travel lovers book list before you decide on your next adventure. 2. New socks - You don’t want to wear sweaty socks especially everyday when talking about summers. Carry an extra pair of socks. 3. Hats and sunglasses - Whether it’s wide-brimmed or floppy, keep one in your carry-on bag to avoid getting crushed. Wear it on your journey if possible, and don’t forget your shades. You’ll need those while relaxing by the pool. 4. Comfortable clothes - Cotton is unsurprisingly the most common summer fabric and is light weight hence this fabric is ideal for summertime. Summer friendly clothes are essential. 5. Skincare essentials - Taking care of skin in summer can be very crucial and if failed it can lead to bad results. Let’s have a look on some skincare essentials one needs to pack on there summer holidays : iv) All moist and fresh - Cleanse, tone and moisturise. Moisturizer for moist and fresh skin, Toner for disinfecting the face, and Cleanser for the removal of all the dirt from the skin. v) Face wipes - Face wipes must be kept on hand. Simply wipe your face with one when your skin feels tired, and it will instantly moisturize and revive your skin. vi) Sunscreen - Going on a vacation and experiencing sunblock would be insane. It’s not so much about avoiding a tan as it is about protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, which can cause skin cancer. Use a UVA/UVB broad-spectrum sunscreen. A vacation is your long awaited chance to relax and refresh your depleted batteries. Don’t let skin issues ruin your vacation. Remember to drink plenty of water to make your inexpensive skincare routine even more effective. Bringing her expertise to the same, Mannat, owner of Mannat Makeovers too shared a holiday packing list of skincare essentials that can come handy while travelling in summers: 1. Oil-blotting sheets - Try oil-blotting papers as they absorb sweat and oil without messing with your makeup this summer. 2. Anti-dandruff/fungal shampoo - Nizral 2% Solution, 50 ml belongs to a family of Alniche Life Sciences & class of Drugs called 'antifungal' primarily used to treat fungal infections of the skin. It works by killing fungi and yeast. It is available in both topical and oral dosage forms. 3. Lightweight moisturizer - It’s super important to have a great lightweight moisturizer on hand at all times to keep your skin happy and healthy. 4. Travel-sized face cleanser - Keep your face blemish-free by packing your face cleanser in a small TSA-friendly bottle for a satisfying, deep facial cleanse. 5. Serious sunscreen - The most important thing to pack is some heavy-duty sunscreen. Don’t let your skin suffer under harmful UV rays while you’re out. For the best skin protection in the summer use SPF over 45+ if you’re going in and out. 6. Makeup wipes - Be sure to pack some always-handy makeup removing wipes to keep your skin blemish-free during your vacay. 7. Cooling spray - Cooling Spray will keep your skin feeling hydrated even in the worst heat. Simply spray the mist on your face for a refreshing experience

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Paris sees return of tourists post-pandemic but Asians, Americans stay away

On a sunny afternoon this week, Eli Mwenda happily snapped pictures of his sister Rebekah Mithinji by the Eiffel Tower, two of many tourists enjoying a long overdue break in Paris after freezing holiday plans due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Paris trip for the siblings was a graduation gift for Mithinji, initially planned for 2020. Two years later they finally made it, with Mithinji travelling from Britain and Mwenda all the way from Kenya. "I'm so glad we made it, it's been such a long time coming," said Mithinji, all smiles under her sunglasses. "It's refreshing, feels like we're sort of going back to normal," added Mwenda. "Walking around the street, seeing people's faces without masks, going to restaurants." The Paris tourist office is forecasting that foreign visits will increase more than five-fold in May-July compared to the same period last year, mainly thanks to tourists from Spain, Germany, Britain and Italy. That will, however, still be a third less than pre-pandemic levels, partly because US and Asian tourists are not expected to be back in large numbers yet. At Chez Eugene, a restaurant on the scenic Place du Tertre in the heart of Montmartre, manager Jonas Seignovert was relieved tourists had started coming back. "We've had quite a few Italians, quite a few Spaniards, some from Eastern Europe countries, quite a few British people, it remains really European," Seignovert said, adding he had also seen some Brazilians and U.S. tourists, but almost no Asians. During the pandemic, he had adapted his offer to cater to Parisians' taste rather than his usual tourism clientele, which was gone. Now that tourists are returning, he's hoping for a mix of local and foreign customers.

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EU-wide mask rules for flights, airports to be eased

EU-wide guidance on requiring masks for air travel will be lifted from next week, the bloc's aviation safety agency said on Wednesday, as the pandemic eases in Europe. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said that under the new guidelines developed with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), masks were no longer considered essential for all flights and airports. Nevertheless national regulators and airlines will still have scope to demand face and nose covering by passengers and staff, it noted. “From next week, face masks will no longer need to be mandatory in air travel in all cases, broadly aligning with the changing requirements of national authorities across Europe for public transport,” said EASA Executive Director, Patrick Ky, in a statement. “For passengers and air crews, this is a big step forward in the normalisation of air travel,” he added. Despite the new guidance, Germany as the EU's most populous country and top economy said it had no plans to lift the mask mandate for flights. “The mask requirement on airplanes continues to be in place for all domestic routes as well as on flights that take off or land in Germany,” Health Ministry’s Spokesman, Hanno Kautz, said in an emailed statement. No globally consistent approach EASA said, “rules for masks in particular will continue to vary by airline beyond that date.” It further stated that “flights to or from a destination where mask-wearing is still required on public transport should continue to encourage mask wearing.” Vulnerable passengers with compromised health “should continue to wear a face mask regardless of the rules”, it added. The EASA said passengers were also encouraged to observe social distancing at the airport but that operators should adopt a “pragmatic approach”, meaning avoiding measures that would “lead to a bottleneck in another location in the passenger journey”. The Geneva-based International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the new guidance for the EU but acknowledged the picture was more complex in an international context. “Although the European protocol comes into effect next week, there is no globally consistent approach to mask-wearing on board aircraft,” said Willie Walsh, IATA's director general, in a statement. “Airlines must comply with the regulations applicable to the routes they are operating. The aircraft crew will know what rules apply and it is critical that passengers follow their instructions.” He added that the IATA asked all passengers to “be respectful of other people's decision to voluntarily wear masks even if it not a requirement”. The European aviation sector has predicted a return to near pre-pandemic traffic levels this summer despite soaring fuel prices, the war in Ukraine and inflation.

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Uttarakhand Tourism issues health advisory for Char Dham pilgrims

For ensuring the safety of pilgrims on Char Dham yatra, UTDB has issued a health advisory for pilgrims' health and safety. Keeping in mind, Char Dham shrines in Uttarakhand are located in high altitude areas which are 2700 meters above sea level, often pilgrims with comorbidities face health hazards after getting exposed to extremely cold conditions, excess ultraviolet radiation, low humidity, and lack of oxygen. The health advisory issued through various channels including the department’s own social media handles advises pilgrims to get their health examination done before departing for the Char Dham pilgrimage from their respective destinations. It advises that those suffering from any disease should bring along a doctor's prescription, doctor’s phone number, and adequate supplies of medicines. Senior citizens with serious ailments and those who are having post-Covid complications must avoid undertaking the Char Dham yatra at this juncture. The advisory further held that as part of precautions, avoid strenuous exercise at high altitude sites. It suggests drinking two liters of fluids daily along with a nutritious diet and suggests travelling slowly for acclimatisation. In case of acute mountain sicknesses like loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, congestion, fast breathing and increased heart rate, etc., pilgrims must contact the nearest medical facility. The advisory also held that a pilgrim must not consume alcohol, caffeinated drinks, sleeping pills, and strong painkillers during the yatra and also refrain from smoking. It also calls for carrying adequate woolens. Meanwhile, the health department has also strengthened its infrastructure on Char Dham routes.

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Europe focus point for Vistara as it goes daily Delhi-London

Europe has been flagged as a focus point for Vistara, India's newest full-service carrier which expanded its international offering with daily flights between London and New Delhi this month. The Tata Group and Singapore Airlines joint venture celebrated its daily route connecting Heathrow with the Indian capital, in London on Tuesday with the news that a second flight would be on the cards once more aircraft and slots become available. The Gurugram-headquartered airline welcomed the high load factors it has been enjoying ever since it went daily with its London flights at the beginning of this month. "Internationally, we cover a total of 10 cities, London being the crown jewel which we have ramped up to a daily service this month," Vinod Kannan, CEO, Vistara told reporters at a briefing at Taj Hotel in London. "For now, we are very, very happy with the route, the load factors are very strong. The average load factors are in excess of 80-85 per cent and the frontend cabins are well subscribed. If we did have the aircraft, Europe would definitely be a focus point, probably with a second London-Delhi [flight] if we get the slots, and Paris and Frankfurt would go up to daily. The US is a sector we would look at further down the line," he said. Operating Boeing's 787 Dreamliners on its London route, Vistara like many other airlines is constrained by the supply of the aircraft from the US aerospace major. Kannan revealed that his airline's requirements are for six Dreamliners but is currently operating with just two, with conversations on supply ongoing with Boeing as part of its post-pandemic expansion plans. "The name of the game over the last two years has been flexibility. We planned, re-planned, un-planned like every other airline because everyday things were changing, with varying requirements and necessities. But then after all that we are finally here and what matters is looking ahead, things are looking bright. We are not out of the woods, but there is definitely light at the

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Myanmar junta to accept e-Visa applications of tourists from May 15

Myanmar's junta will allow tourists to apply for visas after a break of more than two years, state media said, sparking calls by an activist group for foreign travellers to stay away. The country closed its borders to visitors in March 2020 at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic in an attempt to prevent infections rising. It was further isolated after the army toppled the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, prompting huge protests and a bloody military crackdown on dissent. "With an aim to develop the tourism sector... e-Visa (Tourist) applications will be allowed and accepted from May 15 2022," said a notice in the Global New Light of Myanmar. It did not give details on when the first visitors could be expected to arrive. Activist groups warn that the military's vested interests in swathes of the economy, including mines, banks, petroleum, agriculture and tourism, mean tourist dollars will likely end up in the junta's coffers. "Even if foreign visitors avoid hotels and transport owned by the Myanmar military and their associates, they will still fund the junta through visa fees, insurance and tax," said activist group Justice for Myanmar. "We call on anyone considering a holiday in Myanmar to boycott." After democracy was established in 2011 following decades of military rule, Myanmar opened up to tourists, becoming popular with travellers seeking an exotic destination away from the well-trodden backpacker haunts of Southeast Asia. But the tourism sector was battered by the pandemic, with the country registering 40,000 daily Covid-19 cases at its peak last year. It has recorded almost 20,000 deaths in total. Clashes between anti-coup fighters and security forces following the military takeover, including in the main cities of Yangon and Mandalay, have also dented business, with many international firms pulling out of the nation. The economy has slumped, with the local kyat currency plunging against the dollar and rolling power outages in major cities aggravating economic misery. Access to ATMs and foreign exchange counters is patchy even in commercial hub Yangon. Commercial flights for business travellers resumed in April, with visitors required to take a Covid-19 test on arrival but no longer required to quarantine. More than 1,800 people have been killed by security forces and over 13,000 arrested since the coup, according to a local monitoring group.

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