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PrintYour feet can take you anywhere, but they can also spoil your holidays
So take special care of your personal little mode of transportation!
In an airplane…
Feet tend to swell. Choose slightly loose-fitting shoes that will allow room for your feet to expand without discomfort. For relatively short flights, leave your shoes on. Do some foot exercises from time to time: simply rotate your ankles ten times clockwise and ten times counterclockwise.
After walking…
If you have time, soak your feet in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes. Then dry them well, particularly in between your toes. Dust them with baby powder – it’s easily obtainable if you’ve forgotten yours at home, and it has the advantage of being very absorbent. For an even more soothing experience, make your foot bath a little hotter and infuse two tea bags into it. Don’t use more unless you want to dye your feet!
Walking barefoot – Careful!
Walking barefoot – particularly in bathrooms and around swimming pools – can lead to athlete’s foot. Bring a pair of mules that you can use both in the bathroom and when going to the hotel pool, whirlpool or sauna.
Feet and sea water
There are pros and cons. First the advantages: a nice stroll on the beach with your feet in the water is a wonderfully relaxing experience, since your feet are massaged by the waves lapping at the shore. On the other hand, some people develop an allergy to sea water and their feet swell up. If this happens to you, lie on your back (with no pillow under your head), and raise your legs from the knees with cushions so they are higher than your head. Stay in this position for 15 minutes or during a nap. You can also prevent future problems by maintaining this position for the night.
Feet and sun
The tops of your feet are very sensitive – if you’re in the sun for an extended period, bury your feet in cool sand to protect them if you feel they’re starting to redden. This is even more important in countries like Peru and Uruguay where the sun beats down at a powerful direct angle. However, if despite your precautions you end up sunburned, use a miracle remedy from the tropics: place a slice of tomato onto the sunburned area for 5 minutes. It’s extraordinary!
After feet, shoes
Whether you’re leaving on a cruise, a hike or an organized vacation, or just heading to the cottage or the beach, be sure you’ve made your feet your first priority before closing your suitcase. Remember that your feet have special needs – and you’ll hear from them if you don’t choose your footwear wisely. Spending a day or evening in inappropriate shoes can make you miserable and spoil any vacation.
Check The Worldwide Traveler or ask your travel agent what kind of shoes to bring along. Just as an example, here are a few guidelines:
- In Peru and Uruguay, the sun is very strong and beats down from an angle that hits the top of your feet. Choose a covered shoe.
- In Lisbon, Portugal, you’ll find yourself in a capital city built on seven hills with sidewalks and streets made of uneven cobblestones. Choose a flat shoe with a rubber sole.
- In Cozumel, Mexico, the ground is packed red earth – avoid white or light-colored shoes unless you want them dyed!
- In sandy countries, choose a tightly closed laced-up shoe; avoid sandals and openwork shoes because the sand will get in and irritate your feet.
- In the jungle, choose boot-type footwear that covers your ankles to protect you from plants, snakes and other disagreeable things.
For city walking tours and long strolls, opt for running shoes with cotton socks, and powder your feet well first.
Plastic or vinyl sandals are excellent on the beach and poolside, but for walking you should powder your feet well before putting them on; the combination of plastic and heat will make your feet damp, leading to blisters, etc.
Shoe-Shopping Advice
Always buy your shoes in the afternoon when your feet tend to have expanded the most.
A pair that seemed fine in the morning might feel very tight by the end of the day.
Choose an ordinary jogging shoe for long walks. Bring along a pair of loafers that can be paired with sportswear, a blazer or a dressier outfit. They have the advantage of being wider and don’t press on the tops of your feet. If your feet swell in the plane or after a long day, they’ll feel less constrained in loafers. Since they’re not laced up or closed up high, they let your feet breathe more easily, preventing sweating and blisters. For the bathroom or pool, bring along supple leather slippers that fold up and take up little space in your luggage – you might even tuck them into your carry-on if you’re taking a long flight and you’re not flying first class.
After feet and shoes… socks!
Choose absorbent socks made from cotton, not synthetic fibers;
tennis sockettes are excellent because they’re cotton and cushiony – to avoid friction on the bottom of your feet – and absorbent.
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