“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us…”
– Anonymous
Travel is good for the soul. Immersed in new surroundings you learn, explore and experience the unknown, which broadens your mind and makes you grow as a human. Turns out, travel provides some additional benefits.
The US Travel Association launched a project this year called The Travel Effect, a multi-year, multimillion dollar research and marketing campaign to study and publicize the benefits of travel. “What we’ve long known anecdotally, we will now prove through authoritative research: travel has a positive effect on health, relationships, business performance and the well-being of communities,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.
Below are a few statistics revealed by The Travel Effect.
57% of people who traveled as a children went to COLLEGE.
Adults who went on domestic education trips during their youth EARN $5000 MORE OR 12% GREATER INCOME than those who took no trips.
85% of talent managers at “use it or lose it PTO” organizations agree that employees who take time off are “more productive in jobs.”
Family vacation memories last a lifetime, 62% of adults remember vacation from a young age.
And if that’s not enough motivation to book a ticket, check out this video from BuzzFeed.
You belong in the sun, Coolibar takes you there. Bon Voyage!
Like most companies, Coolibar employees are busy. They devote the majority of their waking hours to Coolibar yet still make time to travel, explore and do the things they love. A true testament to our brand is when an employee takes Coolibar along on their adventure and returns with an even greater enthusiasm for our products and mission. Such is the case with Seth.
Meet Coolibar employee Seth Epstein. Seth has been with us for roughly 8 years in various rolls and currently reports to the Interactive Marketing Department. He recently had the opportunity to not only visit the Philippines but be guided by a resident, a friend serving in the Peace Corps. He took Coolibar with him and shares his thoughts on its usefulness.
My travel buddy (who also happens to be Coolibar’s IT Director) and I packed our favorite Coolibar apparel and even gathered some items to share with my 2 friends living in the Philippines. Despite knowing I work for Coolibar, Gina insisted on reminding me about the importance of sun protection. They had been using massive amount of sunscreen to prevent burning from the intense sun in MogPog.
Considering our Midwestern roots, and my Viking ancestry, the high temperatures and oppressive humidity was almost unbearable. My friends weren’t sure what to expect when I told them I was bringing sun protective clothing. Joe, who had worn cotton shirts with cut off sleeves for 6 months straight to beat the heat, ditched them for a long sleeve UPF 50+ swim shirt. Not having to go through his daily sunscreen ritual to cover his arms was also appreciated. I gave up trying to wear any of my cotton shirts after a couple of days (they were wet and heavy) and lived in my Coolibar the rest of the trip.
Every time I travel with Coolibar, I discover more about the versatility of our fabrics. I spent more time in my aquaSUNTECT clothing out of the water than in. Wearing something quick drying, lightweight, and breathable allowed me to truly enjoy this amazing country, with less distraction from the island heat. I want people to know how amazingly lightweight this stuff is, you can’t go wrong traveling with Coolibar.
-Seth
Follow up note: Our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost loved ones and are recovering in typhoon-devastated central Philippines. Our friends, who are located north of the damage, survived the typhoon and are currently helping with relief efforts.
Flying soon? Whether you’re en route to Grandma’s or a family vacay in Hawaii, you’ll more than likely have to battle the airport during the holiday season, which happens to be the busiest time of the year. The long lines are inevitable, but a few shortcuts can help expedite the travel process. We’ve compiled a list of travel tips so you can relax and focus on the good stuff.
Packing
Travel light. It’s difficult to lug around a heavy suitcase, especially in holiday crowds.
Pack smart. Bring items that can do double duty. For example, the Coolibar Ruche Water Jacket can protect you while swimming and be a great throw on for touring around town.
Roll your clothing, don’t fold. Packing your clothing neat and efficiently will save room in your suitcase. Our friends at Momtrends offer up the “clothing sandwich” method.
Plan
Plan your travel day ahead of time to reduce stress and ensure you catch your flight.
Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours early. The holiday season is a busy time, which means long lines.
Watch the weather. Depending on where you live (or are going) weather will be a factor in what you bring.
Traveling with kids
Bring new toys and books, something that they have never seen before will hold their attention. Tablets are great to play games and watch favorite movies.
Don’t forget snacks! Use snacks they are familiar with, don’t rely on airport food.
Drink fluids. Just because you aren’t thirsty, doesn’t mean your body doesn’t need water; by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated.
Prevent sunburn. There are few better ways to ruin a vacation than painful burn! Wear sun protective clothing and a hat and remember to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.
To beat the heat in style, choose from our new head-to-toe UPF 50+ travel outfits that will take you anywhere.
We want to hear your travel tips! Use #CoolibarVacay to share yours.
Tomorrow, Coolibar will be heading off to sunny Florida to visit the great Pediatricians of America. So we invited guest Denise Preskitt, a seasoned Walt Disney World explorer and blogger at MouseSteps, to let us in on a few of her favorite attractions and why staying sun protected at the parks matters. So grab your mouse ears and get excited!
Keeping my skin safe in the sun has long been important to me, but it wasn’t always. On yearly family trips to Walt Disney World as a child, I didn’t know much about sun protection and ended up with blistering sunburns. In my 30’s, my dermatologist introduced me to sun protective clothing. I spend several days or more per week at Walt Disney World and neighboring parks. It’s very important to me that I wear my Coolibar shirts during daylight hours to prevent additional skin cancers (as I’ve had a pre-melanoma spot removed), and the clothes save me money on sunscreen! Almost everything I own works at night as well.
I started my website, MouseSteps, in 2007 to share my experiences at Florida’s theme parks. Here is a look at one day at Walt Disney World. No two days are the same!
This October, I won a tour of the Fantasyland castles at the Magic Kingdom with an imagineer (a person who devises and implements a new or highly imaginative concept or technology in Walt Disney theme parks). Upon arrival, we, along with other breakfast guests, headed to Cinderella’s Royal Table and The Crystal Palace. Cinderella’s Castle is already decorated in lights for Christmas, which begins at Walt Disney World in early November.
Be Our Guest Restaurant
Jeff, my husband, and I learned a fun details about Fantasyland during the tour – like that the castle walls start showing battle scars on the way to Be Our Guest Restaurant. Be Our Guest Restaurant is the most sought-after restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, both for lunch and dinner. Guests can purchase fun goodies from the movie, such as The Grey Stuff, during dinner.
After breakfast, our group then headed to the Cinderella Castle Suite. A 30,000 mosaic tile of Cinderella’s coach is part of the foyer floor, where Cinderella’s crown and glass slipper are also on display. Stained glass artwork shares the story of Cinderella. Each piece of furniture, and every mirror and decoration look like they were made just for the suite.
After our tour, we spent an hour taking photos inside the Magic Kingdom. The rides we enjoy most often at the Magic Kingdom are The Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan and Pirates of the Caribbean. Halloween decorations line Main Street, although it will be just a couple of weeks until Christmas shows up! There is a Christmas pumpkin displayed during Halloween that is one of my favorites.
Our day wasn’t quite finished, as we wanted to go to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. The Villas weren’t open yet, but will officially debut on October 23rd (in time for the AAP!). Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is Walt Disney World’s flagship resort, and this is the newest Disney Vacation Club offering.
Boat ride to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort (You can see it in the background)
On a final note, living in Florida, sun protection is extremely important, and I’m so glad I found Coolibar! It travels so well, whether it’s in my gym bag or luggage on vacation, Coolibar is lightweight and dries quickly. I hope you come to Florida soon (with your sun protection of course) and take advantage of all the fun Orlando has to offer.
Lisa Lurie has a renewed passion for life. After her treatment for Breast Cancer, she co-founded Cancer Be Glammed to provide women with a single resource that provides easy, online access to fashionable yet practical recovery products and style solutions.“In a very short period of time I became bald, breast-less, and bloated from surgery and chemotherapy,” said Lisa. “It was soul destroying.” Now, with no evidence of disease, on top of helping other women find comfort in the face of cancer, Lisa’s making family travel a priority.
I have never been a fan of the term, “bucket list.” When I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer, I came to like it even less. As I recovered, I decided that I would start a “Here & Now” list instead. A list that would be a celebration of all the things I wanted to do with my family while I was feeling good, in the here and now.
#3 on my list was to travel to South Africa with my husband Brian and our two daughters, Michelle (18) and Gillian (14). Brian grew up in S.A. and we dreamed of visiting his family in Johannesburg, traveling to Cape Town for some seaside fun, and going into the bush on a safari. To celebrate my five year survival anniversary, we decided to leave Pittsburgh behind us and head into the African sunshine to cross item #3 off my list.
Lisa Lurie off to Africa
I have always loved the sun, yet I’ve appreciated the need to protect my skin from its harmful rays. Cancer treatment required that I become even more cautious. Radiation and chemotherapy makes skin ultra-sun sensitive. And now due to my lymph node surgery and resulting lymphedema, it is critical that I don’t burn my right arm. With my husband grumbling about bag weight, (my two teenage girls remember?!) I slipped in my favorite sun protective clothes and hats from Coolibar. As a Co-founder of Cancer Be Glammed, a company that helps women “recover in style,” Coolibar products do what we like best, combine fashion with function.
So now for a little name-dropping. Into my bag went two hats, a Marina Sun Hat and an Adventure Hat. Both hats pack and travel very well. Next I tossed in my Long Sleeve Swim Shirt, a must-have for me. I love having the full coverage without having to worry about slathering on sunscreen constantly. Then finally, I neatly folded my Belted Sun Wrap and put it on top. I live in this—it’s lightweight and stylish, and you can add accessories, such as a scarf, to dress up your look. With my Coolibar wardrobe safely packed, I put on my Travel Shirt, (Coolibar—of course!) and the Lurie family headed to the airport for the twenty- four hour flight to South Africa. Twenty-four hours and twelve amazing days later we returned home. We had a spectacular time and so many amazing experiences that we will be talking our friend’s and families’ ears off for years to come. Together, my family and I contentedly scratched item #3 off the list—our South African trip of a lifetime, and started discussing item #4.
I’ve never felt like writing a fan letter to a company before, but I do now.
Recently, when preparing for a Maui vacation, I entered panic city—I hadn’t been to Hawaii in 20 years and the thought of wearing a bathing suit suddenly horrified me! Local stores offered only boxy board shorts and blah rash guards as alternatives to the ubiquitous skimpy suits. I’d never shopped online for clothes before, but I was desperate!
Quickly, I discovered that only two sites, HyrdoChic and Coolibar, might fit my needs. I came across criticism about Coolibar in a few places, so I tried HydroChic first. I chose five items, though apprehensive about the ones on sale being nonreturnable. The $19 shipping fee was a shock, especially so when the items arrived, 5 days after ordering, stuffed in an envelope that barely survived intact. Unfortunately, none of the pants fit correctly (mainly because of the lack of drawstrings) but I didn’t return them immediately because at that point I had no alternatives. When I was ready to return them I realized they give you only 14 days from the date they were shipped to return them for a refund—my 11 days had long passed!
I decided to give Coolibar a try—and I’m so glad I did! I found none of the criticism I’d read to be true, save one—the fact that you don’t offer swim bras! Otherwise, I found Coolibar to be superior in every way! My 9 items were packed with care and shipped for free (they arrived 8 days after ordering; for my following order of 6 items, I opted to pay the $12.95 for 2nd day air.) All items were of the highest quality, the pants thankfully had drawstrings and the shirts had internal gripper strips as an extra feature. Also, I was amazed to find how the outfits totally withstood the abuse I subjected them to, with all the snorkeling I did and the many times I got smashed around into the powerful shore breaks and ground into the sand (I saw people in regular bathing suits practically stripped naked.)
My favorite outfit was the Ruche Swim Shirt worn with the Swim Tights (which I found versatile because with the legs pulled up they could be worn as capris.) Also, I was thrilled to find I could go swimming and then go straight to any store or restaurant (if still a bit damp it didn’t show, buy they dried fast!) It helped make my trip more carefree and easy.
Of course, your clothing’s most important feature is sun protection (having had melanoma I learned the importance of that the hard way.) It was great to only have to apply sunscreen to my face, neck, hands and feet, and never get burned. My travel companions went through bottles of sunscreen, and still got sunburned. Also, I learned on my trip that sunscreen is a source of pollution, that there are even days when the water in places like Molokini Crater are covered with oil slicks from their use!
Since I bought multiple sizes (being unsure how they’d fit) I’m very thankful that you have a customer-friendly, REALISTIC, return policy! And, it was great being able to wait until after my trip, when I was certain of what I wanted to keep, to return my unused items!
After a lifetime of holidays abroad, Suzanne Morphet combined her passion for travel with her profession as a news reporter and became a travel writer. Suzanne shares her latest venture to Marquesas Islands – which she calls a tropical paradise – as well as the Coolibar gear she took along.
“Before my recent cruise through the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific I looked for clothing that would protect me from the harsh equatorial sun. But I also wanted clothes that would be comfortable in the heat and stylish. I was pleased to discover Coolibar, which uses innovative new fabrics and technology to make clothes that are breathable and a pleasure to wear.
For ease of travel, I pack lightly. I took just one small suitcase for my two-week cruise, with only clothes that I could wash and hang-dry overnight. Coolibar clothes fit the bill perfectly. These are some of my favorites:
Sport Shirt: I wore this shirt many of the days we went ashore. It’s light as a feather, with a hidden front pocket for a passport or money. I loved the vibrant color (Lagoon) and got lots of compliments on it.
ZnO Sun Wrap: This is what I mean by innovative technology. The ZnO line is made with bamboo cotton embedded with micro-particles of zinc oxide. Sounds like sunscreen for your skin, but there’s no messy application. It’s safe to say I wore my ZnO Sun Wrap every day. It kept me comfortable in air-conditioned restaurants or out on deck late at night while stargazing.
ZnO Beach Pants: They might be considered beach pants, but I got away wearing them into town, to market, sightseeing, you-name-it. Indispensable, they are the perfect accompaniment to the Sport Shirt or other sun-protective shirt. Mine are white and I worried if they would stand up to frequent hand-washing but they did and still look like new.
Sun Shawl: Sometimes I just wanted to wear my skimpiest bathing suit and lie in the sun. That’s when my sun shawl came in handy. It’s long enough to cover me from head to toe. And it’s so lightweight I wouldn’t heat up underneath it. Perfect for lying poolside and reading.
ZnO Maxi Dress: You can dress it up or down. Nicely fitted, but not clingy. Does double duty as a sundress and a dinner dress. I never thought a little black dress could be so versatile!”
For an article and more on her in the Marquesas Islands, see Suzanne’s article in The Dallas Morning News.
Meet Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey. An Explorer for National Geographic, Dr. Lindsey is a native Hawaiian and the first Polynesian Explorer and female Fellow in the history of the National Geographic Society. She is an internationally recognized expert in the emergent field of cultural intelligence — and she chooses Coolibar for her sun protection needs.
“In late June I boarded a deep-sea voyaging canoe in Vanuatu to set sail for the Solomon Islands. The 16-member crew and I hoped to make the journey in under a week. But like Life, things don’t always go as planned. In this case, we lost our wind for almost three days and slowly slipped into Honiara Harbor after 10 days at sea.
It would be easy to romanticize a languid voyage across the South Pacific on a 74-foot double-hulled canoe. But the truth was that we bobbed like a cork on the ocean for days with few places to escape the sweltering heat and unrelenting blaze of the sun.
As an Explorer for the National Geographic, I’m often in remote regions of the world. Preparation for my travels can at times feel overwhelming. From malaria to sea sickness, food poisoning to snake bites… I do my best to cover my bases but it’s not easy. When it comes to UV protection, however, I no longer worry about how to prepare. Coolibar has made this part of my life a breeze…no pun intended.
Before I discovered Coolibar I spent an inordinate amount of time searching the internet for products that would provide the best possible sun protection. The fact that Coolibar also creates beautiful clothing is an added bonus.
My travel is extreme, I know. Yet, it affords me the opportunity to test-drive what’s on the market. And, believe me, I put a lot of products to the test! I need to know what works then I count on them completely. And because my travel is precise, I don’t have a spare ounce to pack anything but the best.
Coolibar’s long sleeve shirts, jackets, hat, and long pants proved indispensible.
My skin and I thank you for creating such amazing products!”
National Geographic Explorer Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey
We recently received some great feedback from a new Coolibar customer after his trip to Taiwan. Cory expressed what we try to convey, he just does it much better. Cory’s note is below.
“I wanted to let you know that I recently purchased an XXL Blue Sky Sun Shirt on the recommendation of Tim Ferriss. I got it right before a trip to Taiwan. It was perfect.
I wore it during the hot, humid day to keep cool and protected from the sun.
I wore it to a semi-formal meeting where it fit in just fine.
I wore it on a boat between scuba dives.
I wore it on a scooter around the island of Lanyu after I got a little too much sun one day.
I wore it on the plane ride home because I was so comfy.
I never write letters about products, but I was compelled after the experience I had with this shirt. Thanks for making a great product.”
Cory H. Washington DC
About Cory Originally from Kentucky, Cory is an entrepreneur, a former officer in the Air Force and a high school basketball coach. He loves to travel! He once rode a bicycle from Cairo, Egypt to Cape Town, South Africa. He is always up for a good old fashioned road trip in his truck…he lived out of it for two years while exploring the U.S. He also writes about music on his blog yobigbro.com.
Cory at the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial – Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
Way up high in the sky your skin goes to battle with re-circulated dry air and an extra dose of sunlight. These elements leave skin near lifeless by the time you land. Never fear! We have suggestions to save your skin (all 3.4 oz or less of course).
Airplanes have low-humidity. Drinking water and avoiding alcoholic beverages can help retain moisture, but it only goes so far. Additionally, daytime flyers are exposed to UVA – aging rays (all glass will filter UVB (burning) rays). An airplane’s proximity to the sun intensifies UVA exposure. The American Optometric Association estimates a 4% increase in UV radiation with every 1000 feet of elevation, and most commercial aircrafts fly between 30,000 to 40,000 feet above ground. Holly extra UVA!
Step off the plane looking and feeling great by keeping these simple tips and products in mind:
SUNSCREEN
Your number one skin saver should be sunscreen. Not only are most sunscreens moisturizing, but they’ll help prevent skin from absorbing aging rays!
If UVA reaches your skin, it reaches your eyes too. Look for shades that block 100% of UVA and UVB or are rated UV400. Sunglasses may help keep your eyes moist too!
Your lips have some of the thinnest skin on your body. Because lips do not contain oil glands, they tend to dry out easily and become chapped. Additionally, the sun only causes chapped lips to worsen. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen rated SPF 15 or higher.
Spritzing will help your skin stay moist temporarily, but it’s not a necessity. Future Derm beauty blogger Nicki Zevola and guest blogger Jana Levin have two varying opinions on when to use hydrating mist. 1) Before take-off lightly spray the mist on your face and apply sunscreen over top; or 2) when arriving at your final destination remove all makeup and sunscreen, give your skin a spritz and then reapply sunscreen.
