How to Travel During a Heat Wave Without Melting Into a Puddle of Regret

So, you’ve booked a fabulous summer trip months in advance (hopefully with me!), and now Mother Nature has decided to crank the thermostat to lava. Congratulations—you’re now an involuntary contestant in Survivor: Heatwave Edition. Don’t cancel. Don’t panic. Instead, prepare to travel smart, laugh at your own sweat stains, and maybe—just maybe—enjoy yourself without dissolving into a sweaty blob.

I’ve been in Italy for the past two weeks baking.  Temperatures in the 30’s (Celsius, 90’s Fahrenheit). Here are a few tips I’ve discovered to beat the heat like a pro (or at least fake it convincingly).

1. Embrace the Siesta Lifestyle

If the locals are napping at 2 PM, they’re not lazy—they’re geniuses. The middle of the day is not the time to scale ancient ruins, hike picturesque hills, or stand in the world’s longest queue for a mildly interesting church. During a heat wave, the sun isn’t your friend. It’s a fireball with a personal vendetta.

Rise early, do your adventuring in the cool (read: less murderous) morning hours, and reserve the afternoon for guilt-free lounging in air-conditioned cafés, museums, or by the pool.

2. Dress Like You’re Auditioning for a Linen Commercial

Denim? No. Black? No. (wellll….sometimes). Polyester? Absolutely not. You want to look like you’re wafting through a Tuscan field, not slow-roasting in a self-made sauna. Linen, cotton, and light colors are your best allies. Hats aren’t just cute Instagram props—they’re crucial. Bonus points if you can rock a floppy brim with the confidence of a 1950s movie star.

And please, for the love of your travel companions, embrace the magic of breathable footwear. Socks and sweat are a one-way ticket to misery.

3. Hydrate Like You’re Training for a Camel Convention

In heat wave travel, water bottles are not accessories; they are lifelines. Carry one everywhere. Treat it better than your passport. Refill at every opportunity. Yes, you’ll need more bathroom breaks, but think of them as strategic air-conditioned pit stops.

And no, sangria does not count as hydration. (Okay, maybe it does, but only after you’ve had at least three glasses of water.)

4. Become a Shade Hunter

Forget monuments and statues—the only landmarks you should be chasing are patches of shade. Move from tree to awning to suspiciously convenient umbrella like you’re playing an urban version of “the floor is lava” (because, honestly, it probably is).

5. Cool Down Creatively

Get inventive: pop into churches (stone walls = natural air-con), linger in the freezer aisle of foreign supermarkets, or buy a local popsicle you can’t pronounce but will cherish forever. And don’t underestimate the power of a good old-fashioned hand fan—it’s low-tech, high-impact, and makes you look slightly mysterious.

Final Thought: Laugh, You’re Already Sweaty

Ultimately, you can’t control the weather, but you can control your attitude. Lean into the absurdity. Collect heat wave horror stories. Befriend fellow sweaty travelers. And remember: it’s all part of the adventure. Just think how gloriously cool your hotel shower will feel when you finally stagger back.

Stay cool, traveler—you’ve got this.