You’ve been looking forward to this trip for months. The kids are excited. You’ve even checked the pollen forecast, and you don’t anticipate any problems. The rental looks perfect. You’ve reserved a four-wheel drive for this rugged adventure in the great outdoors. You get inside, take a deep breath, and start the car. Then it happens.

(more…)

With its subtropical climate and lush vegetation, the sultry Southeast offers travelers with allergies a number of trigger-avoidance challenges. However, if holiday visits to family and friends are bringing you to the Southeast, rejoice. Late fall (November and December) may be the only time you can successfully avoid airborne pollens. The following seasonal guidelines can help you plan your vacation to avoid the allergens and irritants that trigger allergies in this region of the country.

(more…)

Painted desert skies. Stark, barren landscapes. Red mountains rising like clay monuments. Few vacation spots on earth are as dramatic as the American Southwest. With the exception of agricultural areas and urban landscapes full of nonnative plants, this region’s generally sparse vegetation provides a measure of relief for the pollen-allergic all year long. Moderate to dry Southwestern winters are also largely free of the mold and mildew spores common to wet winter climates in other regions.

(more…)

If you have asthma or allergies, a couple of hours on a plane can give new meaning to the term airborne allergens. The threat of noxious irritants and triggers can make air travel feel like torture, but it doesn’t need to be. You can still avoid your triggers even when you yourself, not just the allergens, are airborne.

(more…)

Excusing yourself from a conference room between the tenth and eleventh sneeze will probably result in some sympathy. Explaining to your mother-in-law that you need your own hotel room when you come for a visit probably won’t. Be strong. Turning down an invitation to sleep over isn’t easy, but when you take allergies or asthma on vacation, a clean room retreat comes right after “toothbrush” on the must-have list. Your goal is to create a place with the best possible conditions for holding off an allergic episode.

(more…)

America’s heartland is characterized by extreme climactic changes. The clearly defined seasons of the Midwest limit pollinating plants to specific months — good news for the traveler with allergies. You can vacation with confidence any time from late fall through early spring, when the skies are relatively free from pollens. The following seasonal guidelines can help you plan your travel to avoid the allergens and irritants that trigger symptoms.

(more…)

The Northeastern region of the United States features clear-cut seasonal changes that can help the traveler with allergies avoid triggers. The fresh, dry air of autumn brings brilliant fall colors and a respite from the mold spores that can trigger allergies. Unfortunately, fall is also pollen season. As with much of the United States, winter may be the best time for the pollen-allergic to visit the Northeast.

(more…)

The lush forests of the Northwest make this a destination spot of choice for people who love hiking and outdoor travel. Fortunately, the region’s most abundant trees — pines and other cone-bearing varieties — have relatively large pollen (it’s hard for our mucous membranes to absorb so it’s not likely to be a problem). And the pollen is so heavy it rarely becomes airborne. Between the less-allergenic conifer pollen and the relatively few allergenic grasses, the Northwest is fairly comfortable for people with pollen allergies most of the year.

(more…)

You won’t get any red flares or orange cones before you run into an asthma-related roadside emergency (although you may notice a warning sign or two). Yet any time you travel with asthma or allergies, you should be prepared to find medical care if needed. Furthermore, your travel partner should be prepared to take action on your behalf.

(more…)