For the past 5 years, my husband, Steve, and I rang in New Years with champagne and fireworks in a different capital city with our friends and family. Needless to say, we love to travel and take every opportunity to – like New Years, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations. In traveling, both locally and abroad, I've found tips and tricks that make it easier to travel with an autoimmune disease.

Traveling Tips & Tricks

  • Stay hydrated! I always bring Superieur electrolytes with me and take them 24 hours before traveling in a plane.
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes. You want a pair of shoes that will support your joints while walking around and exploring a new town or city. It doesn't have to be clunky, black sneakers, but rather a comfortable pair of shoes that you can dress up or down. My favorite shoes are Cole Haan's mesh sneakers.
  • Go grocery shopping. When we first arrive in a new city or town, we always find the closest grocery store and stock up on bottled water, fruits, nuts, and any other snacks we may want. This takes some pressure off from finding a restaurant I can eat at.
  • Set eating parameters for yourself before you go. What foods do you have to be diligent on? For me, I have to stay away from sugar, alcohol, and nightshades. But eating 100% organic will be challenging and ordering a salad in Rome will most likely contain gluten. To help control this, plan your meals, eat a snack before you go to a restaurant, check restaurant menus before you go, and consider staying at an airbnb with a kitchen where you can cook in for most meals.
  • Bring epsom salt, especially if you plan to walk a lot. My feet ballooned after spending an entire day walking through Hyde park in London. I found a pharmacy that sold epsom salt and soaked me feet in our hotel sink. I will never forget the relief this brought. Now, I always bring some with me and usually end up soaking my feet a couple of times during our trips.  
  • For ladies, bring a scarf or shall for your shoulders. I tend to run cold and wrap up in a scarf even in sunny Bermuda! I always bring a scarf to wrap around my shoulders if I get cold at a restaurant or while out site seeing. They're easy to pack and don't take up much space, but I always appreciate having one with me.
  • Bring your supplements and vitamins in a weekly pill organizer. This avoids bringing all supplement and vitamin containers. I usually pack 1-2 days worth extra just in case we are delayed coming home.