Tips for Planning Your Timeshare Vacation

After telling you in yesterday’s post on the Timeshare Owners Blog about the health benefits of taking regular vacations, I thought I would mention one item you need to beware of anytime you travel, whether it is for business, pleasure or to and from your favorite timeshare resort.

Sit in a plane, automobile, bus, or train seat too long, and you put yourself at risk for developing DVT—deep vein thrombosis. Some travel writers refer to this as “Economy Class Syndrome” but trust me, it can affect anyone who sits too long and develops circulation problems in his or her legs because of lack of movement.

The simple explanation for the condition is that sitting for too long at a time puts pressure on the legs, potentially causing swelling and the formation of blood clots. While the clot may stay within the leg until the clot dissolves naturally, it can also—and here is the real risk in DVT—dislodge and travel to the heart, brain or lungs, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

Magellan’s, a store known for wonderful travel products, has a good short article on their website as well as special socks that can help prevent or reduce the problem. Over at Beebleblog, a great health and fitness blog, you’ll find a more extensive article that talks about deep vein thrombosis as a risk, not just for travelers, but to everyone who spends long hours sitting at a desk.

How serious is this problem?

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, more than 600,000 people in the US experience a pulmonary embolism each year. Other reports say that globally the figure is 2 million people. Yet according to WebMD, a 2002 survey conducted by the American Public Health Association found that 74 percent of US adults knew little or nothing about DVT.

Yes, your risk for developing this condition increases as you age, but in 2000, a 28-year-old passenger died when she experienced a pulmonary embolism shortly after she stepped off a 20-hour Qantas flight. Today, Qantas Airlines prints warnings about DVT directly on their air tickets.

The solution is simple. You may want to drive “straight through” to reach your favorite timeshare resort and start your timeshare holiday as soon as possible, but that extra hour you gain on the beach isn’t worth risking your life over. Take driving breaks every couple of hours. Get out and walk around, stretching your legs.

If your timeshare vacation calls for train or air travel, drink plenty of water during the flight to avoid dehydration. Steer clear of caffeine, and whatever you do, get up and walk around—even if the flight is crowded and even if it means climbing over a few other passengers in the process.

A timeshare vacation is about relaxation, fun and doing something that is good for both your mind and your body.