Beat the Heat: Advice from O.A.T. Associates

When traveling in hot climates, some universal constants apply: sunscreen, hats, and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Other suggestions, like local sweet treats and swimming spots, are more unique to a destination. Read on for a few strategies we’ve learned from our travels.

Make your own shade

I traveled on Immersion in Egypt: Cairo to Luxor in late May—one of the final departures of the season before the heat becomes officially unbearable. For this reason, I opted to try a sun parasol for the first time. Unlike a rain umbrella, a quality parasol will offer high UPF protection (the fabric equivalent of SPF) to protect from UV rays. Putting it down to snap photos was a little awkward, but worth it in places like the Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut, where the sun reflects off the desert sand and shade can be hard to come by.

I personally felt too hot in the long-sleeved SPF hoodies I brought, lightweight though they were (your mileage may vary). So I kept myself slathered in Supergoop sunscreen, which I highly recommend because it doesn’t break me out or leave a strong scent in my clothes. In retrospect, I envied my fellow traveler who brought a neck fan—I think everyone did!

I’m not much of a swimmer, but when our dahabeya docked at a small island and gave us the opportunity to swim in the Nile, I could not pass it up. Our Trip Experience Leader initially said we could “dip our feet,” but as I was readying to leave my cabin, I was surprised (and amused) to see several group members floating by my window and waving. I immediately closed those blinds and changed into a swimsuit! Many a wise traveler has told me to always bring a swimsuit, whatever the destination, because you never know. This trip proved them correct!

— Laura Chavanne, Director, Traveler Relationship Copy

Seaside spritzes & swimming in Italy

Summer in the southern Mediterranean is not for the faint of heart. Thankfully, when you’re on a Small Ship Adventure like Cruising Italy’s Western Coast: The Maltese Archipelago, the Aeolian Islands & More, the ocean’s cooling currents are never far away.

While visiting the island of Lipari, the group I was traveling with spent a free afternoon at Canneto Beach, which is an easy taxi ride from the harbor and known as one of the best beaches on the island. In addition to calm, clear waters, it also offers ample amenities—from beach chair and cabana rentals to restaurants serving ice-cold spritzes. During our time in Siracusa, one of our fellow travelers worked with our Trip Experience Leaders to reserve a boat ride through the nearby grottos. Once our tour concluded, the boat dropped anchor, and several of us leapt into the water.

Another fellow traveler wisely harnessed wind power to keep cool: The rechargeable handheld fan he purchased from Amazon prior to our trip was an essential “cool tool” when the sea was out of reach.

A welcome Irish rain

When it comes to summertime destinations, Ireland really can’t be beat. When my husband and I visited in June, we were welcomed by cool temperatures, blue skies, lush countryside, and flowers in full bloom.

Rain, of course, is part of the Irish experience no matter the season, so a rain jacket is still essential. That said, the showers were usually brief and rarely disrupted our plans. And if you’re as lucky as we were, you might even be treated to a rainbow. (Pots of gold and leprechauns included, naturally.)

If you happen to experience a rare warm day, the ideal antidote is a scoop of Murphy’s ice cream—a local specialty that originated on the Dingle Peninsula and can now be found throughout the island.

— Sarah West, Senior Copy Manager

Those (literally) chill desert vibes

A few years ago, I spent July in Chile’s Atacama Desert right in the middle of their winter. It felt strange leaving peak summer in a thick coat, but while the days were pleasant, the temperature would quickly drop with the sun.

One of the more unexpected moments was swimming in a salt lagoon. Standing in the middle of the desert, getting into cold water felt a little surreal. It was definitely more of a cold plunge than a swim, but absolutely the coolest place I’ve been submerged.

If you’re looking for a different way to cool off this summer, consider the Atacama Desert!

— Krista Brochu, Content Producer, Video

Summer on the Seine

I took The Seine: Paris & the Heart of Normandy twice, once in mid-June and again in early August, and both times it felt like stepping right into a Van Gogh painting. Even with the scorching heat waves—holding all of France in their grip. Standing in Auvers-sur-Oise surrounded by those endless wheat fields, I saw what he saw during the final months of his life. The famous crows, the golden fields, the dramatic skies—it all felt eerily familiar, as if the paintings had come to life.

Parisians also find their own way to navigate the heat by turning the banks of the Seine into a beach, and all the cities and towns along the Seine have a festive summer feeling. The best part about river cruising at any age is you can choose to cool off back in A/C after walking around. Or, brave the heat for new adventures while everyone else is taking a break: Explore museums and gardens, or take early pre-heat morning walks along the banks of the river.

My recommendations are:

• Always bring a packable but fashionable sunhat. It is Paris, after all.
• Bring a pack of wet wipes to pop into your cabin’s fridge for cool, quick refresh after a day of walking around in the sun. 
• Sip an Aperol spritz or a Kir Royale at a shady cafe and watch the world go by. 

— Elena Fernandez, Senior Air Program Manager

Sip and slide

My son Charlie and I were on Crossroads of the Adriatic: Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia in July of 2024.

Ways to beat the heat:

• In Dubrovnik, five minutes from the Lero Hotel, we walked down to a beach to escape the heat. Many locals were there, enjoying the cool water of the Adriatic. It was a great way to cool off.
• We had ice cream from a shop called Cacao in Ljubljana. During our entire tour, our Trip Experience Leader kept saying, “Wait until we get to Ljubljana and go to Cacao for the world’s greatest ice cream!” We were thinking, yeah, okay. But once we tasted it, our guide was right. The greatest ice cream I’ve ever had. Charlie and I went there five times in two days!

A year earlier, my daughter Caroline and I took Costa Rica: Pura Vida & Rainforest Discoveries in July of 2023.

Ways to beat the heat:

• Caroline sipped a pina colada (non-alcoholic, of course) in our hotel in San Jose.
• While at the Chachagua Rainforest Resort, there is a small river that runs through the heart of the resort. The resort has carved a waterslide out of a large tree, and placed it over the river. Caroline and I went down the slide multiple times to beat the Costa Rican heat and humidity.

— Joseph Stull, Call Center Training Specialist

Seasonality matters

Having gone on Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari twice, once in the wet season (November/December) and once in the dry season (July/August), I would stress the importance of a mask or bandana to cover the nose/mouth, along with sunglasses, for the dust in the dry season. With the ability to stand up in safari vehicles and roads being unpaved, dust can be intense. I thought I was an old pro from my first trip during the wet season and was surprised how much more dust I encountered during the drier peak season.

— Vadim Pokotilov, Senior Financial Systems Analyst

Enjoy the chance to “dip your feet” in the Nile from your 16-passenger dahabeya during Immersion in Egypt: Cairo to Luxor or Egypt & the Eternal Nile by Private, Classic River-Yacht.