Europe has been registering record-breaking temperatures since the first week of July, with some areas experiencing temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius, leaving travellers unsure whether they want to go ahead with their plans to reach the continent.
Massive wildfires have been ranging throughout Greece, pushing hundreds of locals and tourists to evacuate from Rhodes. Certain parts of Italy also saw extremely high temperatures of 47 degrees Celsius last week.
While it is still unclear how long the heatwave in Europe will last, experts have forecasted that the temperatures will continue to remain high until the end of this month, with signs that the dome could start to weaken by the end of this week, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tony Zartman.
From picking the right destinations and staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen, going sightseeing at night, and purchasing travel health insurance, there are several tips that can make a difference in safeguarding oneself from the heatwave.
In this article, SchengenVisaInfo.com presents a comprehensive guide of some tips for travelling safely to Europe during the heatwave, helping everyone to make the most of their visit while staying comfortable and protected.
Avoid Exhausting Activities
The Weather Channel suggests that everyone who will be visiting Europe during the heatwave avoid strenuous activities, such as climbing, hiking, running, or walking uphill, as they require lots of energy and when doing such activities, you are exposed to direct sunlight, most of the time.
Instead, it is suggested that visitors take a walk outside in the green spaces and give themselves enough time to reach their destination so that they do not hurry.
Purchase Travel Health Insurance
All travellers taking a trip to Europe, especially now that the temperatures are at an all-time high, are recommended to purchase travel health insurance.
Travel health insurance for Europe is important as it helps in protecting all travellers against unexpected expenses.
A good travel health insurance plan for Europe must include coverage for several services, including medical emergency services, trip cancellation coverage, coverage for missing, lost, or stolen items, and repatriation of remains.
Some of the best insurance companies based on experience, reputation and overall customer satisfaction that offer travel insurance to Europe for travellers worldwide are AXA Travel Insurance, Europ Assistance, Allianz Travel Insurance, Mondial Care, Mutuaide, and DR-WALTER.
The travel health insurance for Europe, valid for a one-week period, costs from €30 to €100 for two people.
However, the price depends on several factors and generally, the cost of an insurance plan can go up to 4 per cent or 12 per cent of the entire trip.
Bring Reusable Water Bottles & Avoid Consumption of Sugary Drinks
In order to make sure that they stay hydrated throughout the whole day, travellers are advised to bring reusable water bottles with them so that they can easily fill them without having to buy single-use plastic bottles.
As the Red Cross explains, a person needs to consume over 2.5 litres of water each day, and it is important that during the hot summer days, everyone makes sure to follow such advice to avoid dehydration.
While everyone is advised to drink water, the case is not the same for sugary drinks and alcohol. During the hot summer days, it is recommended that everyone avoids consuming alcohol and sugary drinks as they can worsen dehydration and not hydrate as well as water does.
Avoid Direct Sunlight & Consider Visiting Green Spaces
In addition to the above-mentioned, the Weather Channel has recommended that everyone avoids booking excursions during the part of the day when they are exposed to direct sunlight – between 11 am and 6 pm.
Instead, it has been suggested that during this time, travellers visit indoor places such as museums, restaurants, and malls.
Moreover, travellers have been advised to consider visiting green spaces during the part of the day when the temperature is the highest. Those who insist on being outdoors can visit a local park.
“Green spaces tend to be several degrees cooler than the high-density cores and are some of the best parts of European cities. Just bring plenty of water, find some shade and enjoy a summer day as the locals do,” the Senior Digital Meteorologist at the Weather Channel, Jon Erdman, said.
Wear Sunscreen Before Venturing Outdoors
One of the most important things that one must not forget when out and about during the daytime, especially during midday, is to wear sunscreen, as the sun is strong enough to cause burns.
Everyone must make sure to apply the sunscreen before leaving their accommodation and reapply it throughout the day so they get the right amount of protection.
As the Weather Channel explains, Johns Hopkins Medicine has recommended that all those spending time outdoors use sunscreen with SPF 60 or higher and reapply it every 2 hours if sweating or swimming.
Explore New Places at Night
For those who are okay with not going outside during the day when visiting new places, they can go sightseeing at night.
Temperatures generally start dropping once the sun sets, and travellers can sightsee more safely without worrying about being exposed to direct sunlight.
Moreover, travellers can also look for destinations that are not registering high temperatures.
Previously, SchengenVisaInfo.com listed some Schengen destinations where travellers can take a break from the high temperatures.
Part of the list are cities like Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Oslo, Reykjavík, Helsinki, and Lauterbrunnen, among others.