The world is sweltering: Here's a guide for Kiwi travellers to deal with heatwaves
We all hope for amazing sunshine filled days on holiday best combined, of course, with grey and dreary days back home. July 2023 could be a tipping point, with heatwaves across three continents Europe, North America and Asia making the usual peak summer holiday period unbearable. Spain, southern Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, Cyprus and Greece are scorching at the moment . Wildfires north of Athens have residents and summer camp students fleeing. In Rome, at nearly 42C on Wednesday, emergency departments are reporting a sharp rise in admissions. The European temperature record of 48.8C - recorded close to Siracusa, Sicily in 2021 - could be broken, meteorologists are forecasting. Meanwhile, in the aptly named Death Valley, California recorded a temperature of 53C at the weekend. Phoenix, Arizona has had a run of nearly three weeks when the mercury tops 41C. And at those temperatures, you cant just frolic in the sunshine aimlessly without a care in the world. It can be deadly. Last year in Phoenix, 425 people died from the heatwave. And yet, its probably way down your list of concerns if youre heading off on holiday. The UNs World Meteorological Organization said preliminary figures for average world temperatures for June indicate itll be the hottest on record. July doesn't look better. So, although Id rather be reeling off a list of how governments and organisations are stepping up efforts to drastically cut emissions and see off the worst consequences of climate change, instead here are some ways you can reduce the discomfort and disruption caused to your travels by one of these ever-more-frequent consequences of global warming. It would be foolish to head out for the day without litres of water, cash to buy more and a general idea of where you can top up supplies. Hats and sunblock should also go without saying. Handheld fans, either flamenco style or mini handheld electric ones are recommended. Match your days activities to the availability of shade and air conditioning. Your airfares will almost certainly be non-refundable, but you might have been smart enough to have wiggle room with your accommodation or only have certain parts of your holiday locked in in which case Id advise leaning into that flexibility. Put simply, avoid city centre stays where the temperatures are headed above 36C. Choose beaches. Choose glacial Swiss Alp lakes. Choose whole other countries like the UK, where I can attest for an entirely lacklustre summer and highs of a comfortable 21C. There is nothing wrong with writing off a day or three of exploring and wallowing instead in the pool or beach shallows with a book and a hat. Despite the aggressive, cancerous sun rays in New Zealand every summer, Kiwis have not always taken to beach umbrella use like the Europeans, where its almost unheard of to venture onto the sand without some shade. Dont be cheap, buy a 10 sun umbrella or go all out and rent one at a beach club. See it as an essential investment. You know whats terrible in 40C heat? Dawdling around a concrete and stone fort, city wall or old town with a large group straining to hear a tour guide with very little shade. These always seem to start at either 10am or 2pm. Cancel. Opt for city night tours instead. High temperatures can easily lead to flight delays, train cancellations and slower travel times. Make a Plan B. Expect disruption in some form. Travel insurance is highly recommended. Even officials in stereotypically efficient Germany are recommending citizens there embrace the siesta lifestyle: rise early, do a couple of activities before the heat becomes unbearable and then rest up during the hottest hours of the day. If youre a Kiwi whos just landed with a bout of jet-lag you may find yourself up at 3.30am anyway, so you might want to just embrace that. I recall wandering the streets of Rome in 2014 at 5am and had the Trevi fountain all to myself. Silver linings and all that. You're on holiday. Its hot. Youre wanting to relax/celebrate/take in the local concoctions. We see where this is going. But resist indulging in alcohol (or at least go 1:1 with water) as this will dehydrate you further and cause heatstroke.