Flying Before and After Diving

Unless you're super lucky (like we are), you have to travel by air to go scuba diving. An important thing to take into account when you're planning your dive holiday is your flight dates and times, which will determine your diving schedule. When you scuba dive, you get nitrogen build-up in your body, and you need to make sure you expel it to a healthy amount before going up to altitude. We get a lot of e-mails about this and there is often confusion about the rules, so we're going to break it down really simply to make your holiday scheduling even easier (hint on the guidelines: they're more relaxed than you think they are)!

Rule #1: You need 18 hours before you go to altitude

Different organizations will say different things when it comes to the hours required on land before going to altitude, but PADI currently states that you need 12 hours before you fly if you do one dive and 18 hours if you're doing multiple dives over multiple days. This means that if you've been diving for a week and you're flying out at 1PM, you can dive up to 7PM the day before safely.

A lot of people like giving themselves 24 hours to be on cautious side, and because they'd like to just spend some time relaxing on the beach on their last day of holiday, and you are of course welcome to give yourself as many hours as you want. But if you're a dive freak, 18 hours is what you need, even if you're diving a lot from a liveaboard. As always, though, make sure to practice conservative dive practices and avoid pushing your no-decompression limits when you dive.

Rule #2: Altitude doesn't just mean flying

If you dive, and then are planning on driving up the mountains to get to your next destination, this still counts as altitude. Anything above 300 meters/1000 feet counts as altitude because the atmospheric pressure drops, so keep this in mind when you're planning your post-diving travels. If you need to drive over the Colorado Rockies to get home, give yourself the appropriate time before making the trip to make sure you're safe.

Rule #3: You can dive right after flying

There is a common misconception that, similar to needing time before you fly, you also need to wait after flying as well. The reason you shouldn't fly right after diving is because of the nitrogen build-up in your body, but you won't have that if you just got off a plane. You can literally jump from the plane into the water directly if you want to, although we wouldn't recommend doing that unless you're a professional stunt person.

So that's it, the 3 super simple rules to follow when it comes to flying and diving. Easy, right? Have a great dive holiday, and we hope we can dive with you all some day.

Happy diving!

---

Come to dive with Roatan Divers!

Fun Dive

Are you a certified diver? Come to dive with us. As a boutique dive center, we cater to small groups and focus on personal attention.

Open Water Course

Do you want to learn how to dive? In only 3 days you can complete your PADI Open Water Course and become a certified diver.

Specialties Courses

Do you want to be a better diver? Add a Specialty Course in your vacation and increase your knowledge and learn new skills

8 Easy Ways to Prepare for a Storm

Well, Hurricane Earl came and went, and fortunately its trajectory changed at the last minute and Roatan was able to avoid a lot of the predicted damages. The island still suffered, but not to the extent that we all thought, and for that we are grateful. Other parts of Central American were not so lucky, and we wish them well in their continuing reconstruction efforts.

We have been through a variety of storms since we came to Roatan three years ago, but since Roatan is below the hurricane belt, this is the first time in several years where there has been even the possibility of a hurricane reaching Roatan's shores. We had seen this one coming for a week and the forecast had gotten worse in the three days before Earl's arrival, so we had ample time to prepare. And while the worst of the storm missed us and we didn't have to implement all the preparations we made, it was a good test run to see how we would face next rainy season and to see if any changes need to be made.

Storm preparedness is imperative to surviving a storm (in style). After three years of storm power outages, we finally bit and bought a generator, which was immensely helpful. We will, however, be omitting ideas like that, as we're just focusing on affordable and easy ways to prepare for a storm. Let's have at it!

Tip 1. Research and make a checklist

Before we started preparing, we made a checklist of what we needed to get through this storm based on what we felt we were missing in the last storms. We had a general idea of what we would need, but we wanted to make sure that there wasn't anything significant that we missed. We went online to look up different preparations lists, and figured out what we felt was useful and feasible.

When you make a checklist, make sure to also write down any emergency numbers you may need, and make a mental (or physical) plan for an emergencies that may crop up, like water leaks or power outages. It's better to be too prepared than to be caught unawares.

Tip 2. Stock up on non-perishables

It's important to hit the grocery store before a storm hits (but please don't hoard so that other people are out of food). While the storm itself may only last a day or two, there will always be longer lasting effects from the storm. Roads may get wiped out or power lines may go down, so make sure you are prepared with non-perishable items to get you through. Canned goods last forever (and can be used after a storm as well) and dry items like rice and pasta are good as well. If you have a gas stove, make sure that you have a lighter so that you can still cook while power is out. Try to focus on meals that can be made quickly in one pot or two, rather than things that require seven hours and eight courses.

Tip 3. Prepare food for the first day

Well, this seems contradictory after telling you to stock up on non-perishables, no? Try to prepare something, at least for the first day of the storm, so that you don't have to worry about cooking. We figured that power would go out, so I slow-cooked some food the night before, then transferred it to a Thermos cooker on the day of so that it would stay warm throughout the day. When the storm hit and power did go out, at least we had a warm meal to have. Food is a physical and mental experience, and getting to eat barbecue pork while the storm raged outside helped us feel more comfortable.

Tip 4. Store some water

When power goes, so does water, and it sucks to be out of power and not have enough water to be able to do normal things like flush the toilet. If you have a bathtub, it's a good idea to fill it up before a storm so that you can take the water as necessary. We don't have a bathtub, so we filled up three 5-gallon empty water jugs and kept them outside, filling up small containers and bringing the water inside when necessary. Even though water was out, we could still use the bathroom and rinse off dishes, which made riding out the storm much easier.

Make sure to also have some filtered water to drink. Even if you live somewhere where you can drink the tap water, storm surges can bring in all sorts of bacteria-laden water, and stagnant water can turn nasty as well. Keep several gallons of filtered water to be on the safe side. Getting stomach sickness with no power and no water is no fun, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

Tip 5. Let there be light

So you're all prepped with a homemade comfort meal and plenty of water to ride out the storm. And then the power goes out and you're sitting there in the dark. This is no bueno. Make sure you have plenty of light on hand for both safety and comfort.

A lot of people like to stock up on candles, which are the most affordable option, but candles tend to emit a lot of heat, which can make things stuffy when you're stuck in a room, can't open the windows because of the wind and rain and therefore have no air circulation. There are some nice solar powered options out there that charge quickly and are energy efficient, and the designs are getting sleeker every year.

Solar powered, inflatable and waterproof, good for all sorts of activities! https://mpowerd.com/

For an even more efficient light source, consider a headlamp. You have full use of your hands, whether you're cutting vegetables or trying to stop a leak, and headlamps are small and useful enough that you'll definitely find uses for them in daily life as well.

Tip 6. Buy phone data

When power goes down, wifi goes with it. Make sure you have enough data on your phone that you don't have to rely on external wifi. Social media is actually great for keeping people updated during emergencies, and is a good way for valuable information to be spread, especially if the information infrastructure isn't amazing where you are.

Tip 7. Top up your batteries

Before the storm hits, make sure all your electronic items are fully charged. This goes for phones, computers and even batteries for torches or radios. Using data on your phone can deplete the batteries quickly, so it wouldn't hurt to have some portable chargers as emergency backups as well. Portable battery chargers and solar powered battered chargers are super affordable these days with a lot space efficient designs, and it wouldn't hurt to have extra portable chargers for your every day life, either (I'm looking at you, Pokemon-Goers)!

Tip 8. Finish your household chores

I don't know if this is actually a thing, but it was for me so I'm going to include it. When we knew that a storm/hurricane would hit, I did all the laundry and all the dishes and made sure to clean the kitchen. Was it necessary? No. But I was also preparing for the possibility of no power and water for a few days, and nothing is more disheartening than having nothing to eat on or nothing to wear because it's all dirty. Making sure that everything was clean and usable before the storm hit was more for peace of mind, but I went into the storm feeling more prepared.

Bonus tip. Practice patience

Nothing tests your patience like no power and no water. Believe me, I know. But when the power is out all day, I try to keep my impatience in check and remember that as much as it sucks for me as a consumer, it really sucks for the guys working at the power plant and the linemen working on the power lines, trying to keep everything from falling apart. They have an enormously tough job, and a pretty thankless one considering we're all chomping at the bit to get them when our power becomes inconsistent. So when your area struggles to get back on its feet or isn't as efficient as it could be, practice patience and be kind.

---

So there you have it, some useful ways to prepare for a storm. Whatever storm comes your way, may you weather it well.

5 Things to Pack for a Travel First Aid Kit

Going on trips to unknown places can pose a bit of a conundrum. You don't want to over-pack and be forced to lug your too-heavy bags everywhere, especially on the strong chance that your destination doesn't have elevators, but you also don't want to be stuck missing something important.

The need for first aid will inevitably be part of your holiday. Whether you have a bug bite, a scrape, an allergic reaction or a headache, a good, travel-friendly first aid kit is a must when you travel. Let's discuss how to make a good first aid kit for when you're on the go.

---

Tip 1. Do your research

Check in advance if there are any pharmacies or supermarkets in the area you're visiting. A jungle trek through the Amazon? Bring a well stocked first aid kit and try to be prepared for any situation. Visiting Roatan? You can get everything you need here, so don't worry so much. We have plenty of pharmacies on the island, and the supermarkets all sell basic first aid equipment, so you're pretty well covered.

A great first aid kit for at home, but maybe too big for on the go, and certainly not necessary for Roatan!

Tip 2. Take everything out of the boxes

While you want to stock up on your medications and first aid tools to make sure you're covered for any (normal) situation, keeping everything in their boxes will only take up space. Take medication out of the boxes and cut them up to cut down on the bulk. If you have plasters and sanitizing wipes, be smart. There's no need to bring a 100-pack box of plasters with you. Take out a reasonable amount for your first aid kit, and leave the rest at home.

Tip 3. Anticipate travel stomach

Not to be a bummer (ha!), but there's a very good chance that you or your travel buddies will get a bad stomach on holiday. Every place in the world has different bacteria on their food, and while that isn't a bad thing in and of itself, if your stomach isn't used to that particular bacteria or your immune system is weakened (which tends to happen on holidays), you're going to have stomach issues. Anticipating stomach issues will mean you're prepared if it happens, and if it doesn't happen, then you're extra happy!

Tip 4. Make your own ear drops

If you are going on a water-based holiday and are prone to ear problems, make your own ear drops and bring them in a travel container instead of purchasing manufactured ear drops. You can make a half-and-half mix of rubbing alcohol and vinegar, which should be two products that you would have lying around at home anyways, as a way of preventing ear infections. The rubbing alcohol dries your skin out while the vinegar balances the pH to prevent bacteria from growing, and you know exactly what went into the mixture so you don't have to worry about loading your body up with weird chemicals. You'll smell like a salad, but you'll be ear infection free!

Tip 5. Keep everything separate

The environmental side of me says to put everything into one bag. The practical, travel side of me says to keep everything separate. Get reusable bags (look for recycled, water-resistant materials), or sandwich bags that you have lying around, to keep your medications, plasters and bandages, tweezers, and any liquid items separate from each other. You can keep reusing the bags for however long they last so it's not a repeated expense, but it saves you having to tear apart your first aid kit looking for something, and you can avoid the dreaded soggy plaster.

So there are our Top Five Tips for packing the perfect travel first aid kit! Of course, we hope you never have to use it, but it's always better to be safe than sorry. Happy travels!

Top 5 Tips for Visiting Roatan with Babies

We have family visiting with a 15 month old baby, so we thought this would be the perfect opportunity for another Top Five Tips! We’ve talked about what to remember when visiting Roatan, but what about when you’re visiting Roatan with a baby?

Roatan is a very family-friendly island. The locals love kids, the beaches are beautiful and the ocean is warm. It’s a great place for your kids to develop a love of the ocean and introduce them to different people and different cultures, all in a nice environment. Even if you’re only here for a week, you’ll see development and growth in your baby that you didn’t think was possible.

Word of warning, all the photos on this post feature the same baby. There are two reason for this, the first being that he is our nephew and is the most adorable baby in the history of histories, and you also can’t randomly approach people and ask to take photos of their babies to put on a website. 

And on that note, Top Five Tips: The Baby Edition!

Tip #1: You don't have to bring everything and the kitchen sink

Roatan is quite a developed island. We have big supermarkets, Carrion, Ace Hardware, Bojangles, Pizza Inn, the works. You don’t have to bring every.single.thing that your child could possibly need during your time here.
Case in point: the airline lost our family’s bag filled with everything for their 15 month old (we managed to get it the next day). Formula, baby food, diapers, all of it. While it was an inconvenience, and not a great way to start a vacation (of all bags to lose, they chose THAT one?), we were able to pick up everything we needed at Eldon’s Supermarket. The only thing not available at Eldon’s was a stroller. You still won’t find one as high tech as what you can get back home, but you can find used strollers for cheap at some stores around the island if you’re in a pinch.
You can also buy water floaties (Spiderman keeps our nephew afloat), sand toys and all kinds of kids things here, so save your overweight baggage fees for all the rum you’re going to take home with you!

Tip #2: Bring your own sun wear

Yes, I know I just said you could buy pretty much everything you need for your kids on Roatan. The one thing the island is missing, though, is quality sun wear. Especially for toddlers, full body SPF rashguards just aren’t available, and if you manage to get your hands on one, they won’t be the quality you’re looking for. Sunscreen alone won’t protect your baby’s sensitive skin, and kids are shockingly resistant to being slathered up in sunscreen, so make sure to bring a hat and different sun wear options for them. If you can also accessorize your stroller with a sun canopy, do it.

Tip #3: Have a portable booster seat

A lot of restaurants won’t have booster seats or high chairs, so make sure your stroller can double as a chair, or bring a portable seat with you. Restaurants will try to be as accommodating as possible, but a lot of times they just don’t have the facilities.
Whether you’re staying in a hotel or renting a condo, it’s also highly likely that you’ll be feeding your baby at home, so you’ll want something that can keep your kid in place so that they don’t fall over while eating. I had never seen this before, but this In The Pocket Baby Seat may be the most useful, travel-friendly tool ever.

Tip #4: Netting is your friend

Nets are the best friend you will have as a parent of a toddler. Use mosquito netting over your baby’s stroller to make sure they don’t get bitten by mosquitoes and sand flies when you’re out having dinner. If you’re staying somewhere with open windows, cover your baby’s sleeping area with netting at night.
Use a netted bag to hold your baby’s belongings, like their diapers, formula and toys. Netted bags are great because they won’t collect the sand if you go to the beach, and you can see everything in the bag so you know if you’re missing something.

Tip #5: Car seats are hard to find on the island

Based on what we’ve experienced so far, a lot of car rental companies on Roatan do not have car seats available. The bigger companies, like Avis, might have car seats, but the smaller companies probably won’t. If you have a stroller that can double as a car seat and a booster chair, that’s the best kind to bring to the island.

Bonus tip: Have fun and enjoy the moments with your little one. They're only this little once, so take advantage of the island of life and savor your time together.

3 Cool Facts about the History of Roatan

Roatan is a cool island, there's no denying it. We have an amazing, well-protected reef, an interesting collection of cultures and a lush, hilly landscape that's unusual for the Caribbean. What else makes Roatan unique? Here are 3 cool historical facts that you may not have known about Roatan!

Fact 1. Columbus "discovered" the Bay Islands

Roatan, Utila and Guanaja were well-populated by the time Columbus came across them in 1502, but it was his "discovery" that first brought in Western influences to the islands. The Spanish and British started mining for silver and gold on the mainland, so the Bay Islands were raided for slaves to work the mines. The original inhabitants of the Bay Islands were probably the Paya people, and those that weren't taken as slaves succumbed to diseases born by the Spanish, like measles and smallpox.

Honduras itself means "depths", from the deep waters that plunge off its coasts. Christopher Columbus is said to have exclaimed, "Gracias a Dios que hemos salido de esas Honduras! (Thanks God we have departed these depths!)," when he entered the to-be-named Cabo Gracias a Dios in Trujillo, which provided calm shelter in the midst of a storm.

Fact 2. Roatan was a pirate hangout

Pirates were certainly not the first Western inhabitants of Roatan, but they were probably the most interesting. French and Dutch pirates used to lie in wait on the Bay Islands for passing Spanish galleon ships so they could take their treasure. Henry Morgan and Blackbeard were among the 5,000 pirates that called the Bay Islands home in the 17th century. Coxen Hole? Named after another famous pirate, John Coxen.

Fact 3. The Garifuna were "deported" to Roatan

The Garifuna are mixed descendants of Arawakan Indians, Island Carib and African people. The British colonialists also referred to them as "Black Caribs".

The Garifuna first started in the late 1700's, when about 2500 slaves were left on the island by the British (the journey started with 5000 people, but half of them didn't survive the journey). Those that didn't move to the mainland started a settlement called Punta Gorda, which is now the Garifuna cultural center of Roatan. As cultures go, they're relatively new, only going back around 200 years on this island, but their mix of British, Spanish and Black Carib culture makes them an interesting and integral part of Roatan and Central American history.

---

Did you already know these cool facts about Roatan, or did they surprise you? Let us know what other “3 Cool Facts” you’d be interested in learning, whether it be about scuba diving or Honduras, and let’s get our learning on!

5 Delicious Ways to Eat Lionfish

With the 2019 Roatan International Lionfish Tournament and Cook-off around the corner there is no better time than the present to brush up on your knowledge about these super destructive yet alluring and tasty creatures.

The lionfish is such beautiful, magnificent animal that, sadly, has been invading the Caribbean and the Americas for a few decades now. For those of us that started diving in Australia and Southeast Asia, lionfish are a welcome sight that we delight in showing our divers. Unfortunately, human influence has released them into our American waters and we are now tasked with keeping their numbers in check for the sake of our reefs' safety.

In some places, like Roatan, we have quelled the invasion to a certain extent, at least within the Roatan Marine Park, but some places that were hit first and reacted more slowly have had invasions of apocalyptic proportions.

After a successful lionfish hunting trip!

Fortunately for us, and unfortunately for them, lionfish are delicious eating, so one of the things that Roatan is doing is offering lionfish on the menu in lieu of other more "traditional" fish, like snapper, to increase the demand and make it financially smart for the local community to provide a supply. Lionfish is a dense, white fish that's not very oily or fishy tasting, so it can be prepared in a ton of delicious ways.

Whether you get your lionfish from restaurants like Blue Marlin and Cannibal Cafe in West End or prepare it yourself, here are 5 delicious ways to eat lionfish!

Recipe 1. Lionfish ceviche

Ceviche is a cornerstone of Caribbean cuisine, and there's a good reason why. It's delicious, easy to prepare, and there's no cooking involved!

Cure the lionfish in lime juice, letting it sit for a while as you prepare your other ingredients. Cut up onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos (or any other chili pepper) and garlic and mix it together. Add the lionfish and another healthy dose of lime juice. Voila! Use as a dip for chips or as a side.

Feeling fancy? Throw in some mango or passionfruit and make it a truly tropical ceviche!

Recipe 2. Lionfish wrapped in bacon

Everything tastes better with bacon, right? This age old theory rings true with lionfish as well. Cut the lionfish into small cutlets, wrap them in bacon and oven bake them at 350 degrees until cooked through. These make an excellent appetizer or side. If you're feeling fancy, use the lionfish spines as your skewer to hold it all together. The heat will neutralize the toxins in the spines and it's a cool conversation piece as well. Just be careful when you're handing them, the spines are as sharp as needles!

Recipe 3. Coconut lionfish curry

Since lionfish is a wonderfully dense, white fish that isn't oily or "fishy", it's a fantastic fish to use in curries. Try pairing it with a light curry, like green curry or red curry, instead of a heavy, thick curry, to get the most out of the light flavor of the fish.

If you're not so into curries, you can also cook up some coconut milk with fish sauce, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, red chili and black pepper, then throw in some lionfish cutlets at the end to cook for a few minutes. This goes amazing with white rice or rice noodles with a dash of lime juice and cilantro.

Recipe 4. Breaded and fried lionfish

I am of the firm belief that life is better when it's breaded and deep fried. It genuinely makes the world go round. You can either marinade the lionfish before breading it or just go with some salt and pepper, then bread with panko or coconut flakes, and deep fry it. Garnish with lemon or tar tar sauce. Buen provecho!

Recipe 5. Lionfish stir fry

Take your veggie stir fry to the next level with some lionfish. You don't want to overcook the lionfish, so start frying up your vegetables first before throwing the lionfish in towards the end. Try adding some dark green vegetables, like kale, bok choy and chives to really bring out the beautiful white flakes of the lionfish. Your belly will thank you.

---

And there you have it, 5 delicious ways to save the reef and eat a lionfish!

Our favorite source for all of our lionfish recipes comes from REEF's Lionfish Cookbook. When we're looking for new culinary inspiration, that's always our go-to source, so do yourself a favor and purchase the book today!

If you're interested in learning how to hunt lionfish while you're on Roatan, the Roatan Marine Park offers lionfish licenses. All spearfishing is illegal on Roatan except for lionfish hunting, but you need to have a license and designated spear to do so. Talk to your dive center or visit the Roatan Marine Park Eco Store in Half Moon Bay to sign up for the lionfish license course and get hunting!

5 Important Packing Tips for Roatan

Ever gotten back from a trip and felt like you’ve only used 10% of what you brought? Overpacking is easy to do, especially when you’re going to hot, tropical climates. Roatan has a very laidback vibe and casual clothing requirements, so to help you out before your trip we’ve put together our 5 most important packing trips for Roatan. Some of these tips will apply to packing in general and some apply to Roatan specifically, so check out our Top Five Tips and get packing!

Tip 1. Lay everything out

Before you start throwing things indiscriminately into your bag, lay everything out so you can see exactly what you're bringing. Making a checklist, preferably in writing, so you can note exactly what you will need for your trip. Packing 20 shirts, a pair of heels and just one pair of shorts may not be ideal for a 7 day trip to a beachy island, but you may not even know that you've packed all that if you're not keeping track.

Once you've laid everything out and made a plan, roll everything up and put it in your bag. Low on space? Head to Tip 2 for what to do next!

Tip 2. Need vs Want

There's a lot of stuff that we want to take on vacation, but how much of that do we really need? If you're visiting Roatan, you don't really need a pair of heels or hiking boots, just a pair of flip flops and maybe sneakers if you like to work out will do. Do you really need a fancy dress if you're staying in a hostel, or four pairs of long pants when the humidity is 90%? If you really want to bring those heels or those fancy dresses, go for it, but make sure that you've taken care of all your needs and that you have adequate space before you start packing your wants.

Tip 3. No shoes, still service!

On Roatan, shoes are a recommendation, not a requirement. Even at the fancier restaurants, like Roatan Oasis or Ibagari, you'll see at least one local sitting there barefoot. Now, your visiting city feet are probably not strong enough for you to wander around barefoot all the time here, but you also don't need to adhere to any strict dress codes here, either.

While this tip applies to everyone visiting Roatan for an extended period of time, it doesn't apply to people traveling on cruise ships. Most cruise ships have a fancy dress night, and we’re pretty sure you can't walk into the cruise ship restaurants without at least a pair of flip flops on, so make sure you pack at least one pair of nice shoes if you're cruise shipping.

Tip 4. Laundry is cheap on Roatan

If you're coming to Roatan for two weeks, you don't have to pack two weeks' worth of clothing. We have laundry shops all over the island, where you drop your clothes off and they'll have them washed, dried and folded by the next day. And we promise, no one around here will notice that you've worn the same shirt twice in *gasp* the same week, so save yourself the heavy lifting and pack light.

As a word of warning, your laundry is charged per pound. It normally runs about 45 lempiras, or $2.00-2.50 per pound, so make sure that you don't bring in sopping wet clothing or else the bill will be way higher. Also, dry cleaning is not an option here, so don't bother bringing down fancy silks. Cotton is the fabric of our lives.

Tip 5. Leave room for souvenirs

Anywhere you go, you're going to want to bring home souvenirs, either as a memento for yourself or as presents for family and friends.

To get some special, not run of the mill souvenirs, you can check out Rusty Fish, where they train locals to take locally sourced materials from the dump, like Texaco oil drums, and turn them into cool wall ornaments and magnets. The Roatan Marine Park stores sell Roatan Marine Park branded t-shirts and sweatshirts and locally made honey, jewelry, vinegars and jams, all benefiting the marine park and local communities. Rusty Fish and the Roatan Marine Park have stores in West End and both cruise ships ports, so whether you're visiting for a day or a week, you'll find an awesome memento of Roatan without being kitschy.

And if you want your friends to really love you, pick up some good ol' Caribbean rum!

---

So there you have it, our Top Five Tips for packing for Roatan! Happy packing and we'll see you all soon!

5 Survival Tips You Need for Layovers

With the advancement of technology, the world has gotten smaller. You can connect with people of different cultures and languages all over the world, the smart phone has taken the place of books and pay phones, and you can travel to places you can't even pronounce!

And since we're on the subject of travel...layovers suck. Short or long, it doesn't matter, layovers are not fun. And even if you think that a layover will be short, there's a good chance that your transport will be delayed or cancelled, so it's important to be prepared for any transportation crisis.

Some context: I was catching a flight from Los Angeles down to Roatan, with an intended 90 minute layover in San Salvador. I've been on trips where the layovers have been really long before, and I've been prepared for them, but this was the first time that my layover was delayed to pretty cataclysmic proportions (cataclysmic, I tell you!). We spent about ten hours each day for two days at the airport (7AM to 5PM the first day, 6AM to 3:30PM the second) with a night in an airport hotel in between. There was a lot of going back and forth with the airline staff, a re-routed flight, and a lot of people panicking (justifiably) and getting quite angry before we could find a resolution. It was kind of a mess, and exhausting. I think I fared better because I was going home, not going on a precious one week holiday that was just slashed by a few days. I wasn't panicking, but I certainly wasn't happy with being stuck at the airport, away from my husband and work, without any substantial updates or information.

So whether you're taking plane, bus or boat, layovers are something you are going to suffer many times in your life if you want to travel and see the world. So let's discuss our Top Five Tips for surviving layovers!

Tip 1. Keep an extra set of clothes in your carry-on

If you're not planning on checking any bags in, you're good to go. Next!

If you are checking a bag in, make sure to keep an extra change of clothing in your carry-on, just in case you're stuck at the airport or need to be transported to a hotel without getting access to your check-in luggage. To keep your carry-on light and your packing efficient, just focus on clean underwear and a shirt made of light, thin material, that can be easily rolled up and stuffed away somewhere. Delays are more mentally tiring than physically tiring, and having a fresh set of clothing to change into can give you a bit of a boost, even if only for a second.

Tip 2. Layer, layer, layer

Airports, buses and airplanes are horrifically cold. I die every.single.time. I've learned over the years that instead of carrying a thick sweatshirt or hoodie, I should focus on thinner layers so that it takes up less room in my bag and I can adjust my layering as the temperature changes. It's not abnormal for the temperature to rise and fall in increments, and you don't want to have your only two options to be hotter than Hades or Arctic freeze. I always keep a thin cardigan and a scarf on me at all times, as well as a pair of socks. I have a gorgeous scarf that my friend got me in Saudi Arabia 10 years ago, and it's big enough to double as a pillow or a blanket, and just seems to match with everything I own. That scarf has been all over the world with me, and I will travel with it until the day it disintegrates.

Tip 3. Books are sexy

I didn't bring a book with me for this trip (because "the layover is so short, I won't have time read") and I deeply regretted it. I was smart enough to fully charge my computer and phone before I got on my first flight, but after 10 hours stuck at the airport, I eventually needed to recharge. I ate up my batteries faster than normal because I was contacting home a lot in the chaos and also trying to get some work done since I was stuck anyways, and while I was fortunate to be able to find an outlet nearby, when a flight's delayed and there's 100 passengers needing juice and only two outlets, blood will be spilled. Having a book would have helped pass the time faster and given me something other than work to distract me from the never-ending delays. 

If you don't want to haul around a heavy book, a reading tablet, like the Kindle, is a great way to carry multiple books in a slim package. The battery life on those things are normally very good so they'll cover you for a long time, and their screens are designed so your eyes don't get tired! A fellow passenger also very kindly lent me his portable charger when I couldn't find an outlet, and that really helped me out as well. I think for my next trip, I'll invest in a portable charger as well so that I don't start to panic when I see my battery level falling.

Tip 4. Keep a universal adapter on you

And in the spirit of charging things, keep a universal adapter in your carry-on when you travel. You never know what kind of outlets places will have, and you don't want to be low on battery, find an outlet and find out you can't plug into it! Universal adapters are pretty inexpensive, are small, and can save you a little heartache.

Tip 5. Keep a snack on hand

Airports can be super expensive, and sometimes they don't have any food options other than beer, burgers and pretzels. To make sure you don't get so hungry that you buy all of Burger King, keep some portable snacks, like chocolate, trail mix or nuts in your bag. Even sandwiches will do! Just be kind to the people around you and avoid particularly pungent food, like Indian lamb curry. Or deviled eggs. Or garlic toast.

Bonus tip. Be kind

This is one that I had to remind myself of constantly during my two 10-hours days at the airport. It's not the staff's fault that the flight is grounded or delayed. They are in the line of fire and take everyone's anger and blame, but nobody reacts very well to getting yelled at, and taking your frustration out on them will only make them not want to help you.

And don't just be kind to the staff. Be kind to your fellow passengers. Be friendly. If someone needs help, help them. No matter how bad your day is, someone else probably has it much, much worse, and showing even a sliver of kindness may be the only bright spot of that person's day. It doesn't cost you anything to be kind, but it may mean the world to someone else.

---

Being stuck at the airport doesn't have to be an isolating event, or one that divides people. The people stuck on our flight actually bonded together very well, and though I wish I hadn't been stuck for so long, I am also grateful that I had the opportunity to meet some fantastic people and be in the position, for once, to assist others.

I learned a lot about myself on this very long layover, mostly learning that I'm actually capable of not stressing so much and of seeing the bigger picture, and that if something's outside of my control, then that's just the way it is. I saw people being kind to each other and taking care of each other, and it was a good reminder of humanity's ability to see beyond themselves and focus on others. It was a reminder that I was grateful to have, and I hope I don't forget those lessons learned any time soon.