If you’re like a lot of people, the idea of boarding an airplane, sitting down, and giving up complete control to an unseen pilot, maintenance crew, and other factors that are beyond you can be difficult, at best. A lot of people fear flying, but for many different reasons. The most common reason why people are afraid of flying is that whenever there is a plane crash, it makes headline news. That can make it seem as though planes are just falling out of the sky all the time.

When you’re planning a vacation to Mombasa, Kenya, you’re going to have to take an airplane to get there. Dealing with stress and anxiety about flying is important, especially if you want to enjoy your trip as much as possible. After all, part of the fun in a vacation to a place like Mombasa is the anticipation of getting there.

Here are some tips that can help relieve stress and anxiety when flying.

1. Spend some time at the airport watching planes take off and land.

Many people simply don’t sit down and watch how many planes take off every hour from major, international airports that when you spend an hour or two just watching this routine, including planes landing, you can see just how many planes take off and land at one single airport in an hour or two. Multiply that by the thousands of airports and commercial flights around the world taking off and landing every day.

It can help you realize just how safe you will be once you board the plane.

2. Have something to keep your mind occupied.

Playing games, doing activities on your smartphone, or even reading a book can help alleviate your stress and anxiety before and during your flight. Rely on these activities as much as possible.

3. Develop a ritual.

Some people like to board the plane, stow their carry-on bag, sit down, and read through the safety packet. It seems to provide them comfort in doing so. Figure out your own routine. Even though you’re not superstitious, it can provide comfort once you are boarded on the plane.

4. Think about the tropical destination.

When you focus on where you’re traveling to, it can help you set your mind at ease that this is just a short detour to reach your ultimate destination.

If you’re heading to Mombasa, Kenya for a vacation and it’s your first time going there, you could be incredibly excited. If you’re not used to traveling or going away from home on vacation, if this is your first time flying, you could fall into a common trap of overspending before you even reach Mombasa.

You’re going to see plenty of gift shops in the airports. If you’re spending an hour or more at the airport on a layover, you could feel restless and anxious. You may be hungry and find a restaurant or other facility where you can get some food.

You may even find an open bar where you can have a few drinks while waiting for your next flight to board.

Many people spend far more than they anticipate when traveling because of these things. This is especially true for relatively new travelers who don’t have many miles behind them.

Set a budget for how much you are willing and able to spend on your travels getting to Mombasa. It’s a good idea to be realistic about this. You’re going to need to eat. You can certainly bring along some food on your own, but you may be limited on what you can take based on certain security measures within your country.

You might want to limit your food budget to $20 or less for the entire trip.

What about gift shops?

When you arrive in Mombasa or you’re at another city, you will see plenty of gift shops throughout the airport. Most of these gift shops have little trinkets and mementos for the country and city you are currently in. Even if you aren’t stepping out of the airport, you could be tempted to purchase one of those little trinkets just because you were there.

Resist that urge. If you limit yourself to not spending any money in any gift shop along the way, you’ll have more to spend when you reach Mombasa.

If you have money left over on the trip home, then you can certainly consider picking up some of those mementos along the way. The last thing anyone wants to do is reach their destination, this tropical paradise, and run out of money before their vacation is over. That would only add stress to what should be an incredibly enjoyable time.

Depending on where you’re traveling from, heading to Mombasa could mean a significant time difference for you. If you’re traveling from the United States, Canada, or anywhere in North or South America, you’re in for a significant time difference. If you’re traveling from somewhere in Europe, Africa, or another region that is relatively close to Kenya, the time difference may not be as significant.

Depending on the actual time difference in Mombasa compared to where you live, it can affect the first day or two of your trip.

Below are a few ideas that can help reduce the impact of the time difference for you and anyone else traveling with you on this trip of a lifetime.

1. Begin changing the clocks in your home several days before your set to leave.

By adjusting the clock a few hours, you could gradually get yourself more acclimated to the actual time zone you’re going to be enjoying your vacation in. You can start as early as two or three weeks before your scheduled trip and adjust it by one hour every few days. You’ll have to keep in mind that your work schedule is not going to change, but your sleeping pattern will.

2. Sleep on the plane ride there.

Some people have extreme difficulty falling asleep on a plane. If you’re one of those people, you may need to rely on a sleep aid, noise canceling headphones, and other strategies including sleep masks to help you get some sleep while you’re on the plane.

3. Stay awake once you arrive in Mombasa.

Even though you may be completely exhausted after your trip, if it’s the earlier part of the day in Mombasa, resist the temptation to grab a couple hours of sleep in your hotel room. You want to get the most out of your trip so put off sleep until it is night in Mombasa.

By relying on these tips and strategies, you should be able to become quickly acclimated to the time difference in Mombasa and that can make a world of difference for your overall enjoyment of this vacation.

Traveling alone can sometimes be unsettling for some. For others it’s a great opportunity to visit all of the places you may want without having to be concerned with other people. For any traveler who is single and heading to Mombasa, if this is something new to them (meaning they haven’t traveled by themselves before) there may be a number of questions they might have.

Here are a few tips that can help singles travel safely and get the most enjoyment out of their trip to Mombasa, Kenya.

Bring along some personal entertainment.

With smartphones, tablets, and other computer devices today, most people have entertainment at their fingertips. Whether you’re reading an e-book, playing games on your phone, or doing anything else, these are great ways to pass the time when waiting to board a plane, waiting for a connection, or even during the flight itself, once the captain allows people to take out their electronic devices.

You never know when flights will be delayed or you have other problems facing your travel.

Stay safe.

Make sure at least a few people know when and where you’re going to be when traveling. If they don’t hear from you or something happens, it’s good to know people will be looking for you.

You also want to protect your money. Don’t keep all of your cash in a major wad in your pocket. Spread it out between your carry-on bag, different pockets, and even other places so that you don’t end up strapped for cash because you lost everything.

Be cautious with who you meet.

You’ll likely meet a lot of interesting people on your trip, but you should always use caution whenever sharing personal information, accepting a ride from somebody you don’t know, or even taking somebody up on an invitation to go out or visit their personal home.

Never scuba dive alone.

In Mombasa, scuba diving is incredibly popular. Even if you have certification and your own equipment and only have to rent a tank and maybe a few other items when you’re in Mombasa, don’t ever dive alone. Just because you are traveling alone doesn’t mean you have to put yourself at risk by diving alone. Most scuba shops in the area can team you up with other avid divers that match your skill level.

Using these tips you should be able to enjoy your trip to Mombasa, even when you’re traveling alone.

Whenever traveling to another country, you may be exposed to a dramatically different culture. Culture essentially refers to habits, customs, and other facets of living that the native individuals of that country or region consider normal. For example, an American traveling to Indonesia may be shocked at the way people get around in traffic. Often tuk-tuks and mopeds are used to zip in and out of congested traffic, which is not something Americans generally do, for the most part.

When considering a vacation in Mombasa, or if the company you work for is having a business conference in this Kenyan city, culture shock may be something to consider, especially if you know nothing about this part of the world. Culture shock is essentially the reaction someone might have when exposed to a completely different environment.

What type of environment should you expect in Mombasa?

The best description for Mombasa, Kenya is a tropical climate. That means very warm temperatures, bright sunlight, powerful heat from the sun, and white, sandy beaches with crystal blue clear waters.

That might sound like a wonderful, luxurious getaway, but what about the other culture? What about the people? What about the various things to do in this great city?

There is Fort Jesus, the Mombasa Tusks, Old Town, galleries, shopping, and even safaris that anyone can take part in. On those safaris you can see giraffes, monkeys, and many other amazing wildlife creatures right there in the open. It’s much different than many Western cultures are accustomed to.

As for the people, you would be hard-pressed to find friendlier, more outgoing, and welcoming people anywhere in the world. That alone can be a culture shock for some people who are used to cutthroat, every person for themselves style cultures that have become commonplace throughout Western civilization.

If your Mombasa trip is fast approaching, don’t worry about culture shock in a negative aspect. Instead, look forward to it because you’re about to be exposed to some of the most amazing sites, beautiful weather, and accommodating people you’ll find anywhere in the world.

Whenever you head away from home for vacation, especially if you’re visiting a place you never been to before, you could potentially miss out on many of the incredible sites and experiences the first time around.

If you have booked your vacation for Mombasa, and if you’re staying in one of the incredible hotels throughout the city or along the white, sandy beaches, you’re likely going to spend a good portion of your time relaxing on the beach, snorkeling in the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean, or even going scuba diving.

There are plenty of other places they should consider visiting to make your vacation one you will always remember. Below are some very credible destinations to keep in mind when you touch down in Mombasa.

Nyali Theater. This theater has a bowling alley, Italian restaurant, and a casino and plays some of the latest and best Hollywood and Bollywood releases. You can get some incredible food while you’re there and enjoy a little bit of taste of home for a couple of hours.

Colobus Trust nature walks. This is a conservation group that volunteers at Diani Beach. You can take advantage of some of the incredible natural sites that surround this incredible city by hooking up with this group. Learn about the local ecology, challenges they face, and much more. You’ll appreciate this part of the world even more after one of these walks.

Kinanzi Funzi Dhow Safaris. These safaris take place every single day and are approximately one hour south of Mombasa along Tanzania Road. Buses can take you there from just about all beach hotels. You will visit Funzi Island via an Arab sailing ship known as a Dhow. You can explore Ramisi River mangroves by canoe, look at the crocodiles, and spot an abundance of birdlife up close and personal. If you spend the day there, you’ll want to check out Robinson Crusoe Island for some seafood barbecue.