The dangerous mistakes you're making before a holiday including what shoes NEVER to wear on a flight – from a travel pro
Pollyann Giffin, 40, says 'juice jacking', a sneaky form of hacking, could ruin more than just your holiday.
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Pollyann Giffin has shared her top travel tips
Credit: Jam Press
4
The expert has over two-decades of travel experience
Credit: Jam Press
The scam sees hackers use public USB ports to access your phone, swipe your data or infect it with malware and you'd never know until it's too late.
Pollyann, who's racked up over two decades of travel experience, shared her top travel tips with her 14,000 Instagram followers and the clip has already notched up more than 37,000 views.
She said: 'I used to be a very anxious traveller and love to be prepared.
'I research a lot and I've also learned a lot through personal experiences- good and bad.
read more on holidays
'As a teacher I love to help people learn and be prepared for their own travels.
'If they can learn from my mistakes and not have to make them themselves, great!'
Here are Pollyann's top tips.
DO NOT USE PUBLIC CHARGING PORTS
She said: 'It's called juice jacking - a sneaky way hackers can access your data through public USB charging stations.
Most read in Fabulous
'Once connected, they can install malware or steal personal info without you even knowing.'
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU EAT AND DRINK
Pollyann said: 'Avoid carbonated drinks mid-flight - lower cabin pressure makes gas expand, leading to bloating and discomfort.
'I'm jumping with joy' say Dublin Airport passengers as another new food spot 'officially lands' in Terminal One
'Also avoid gassy veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts before your flight.
'These fibre-rich foods ferment in your gut and produce gas, which expands even more at high altitudes thanks to cabin pressure.
'The result? Bloating, discomfort, and a not-so-fun flight.
'Opt for easy-to-digest snacks like bananas, white rice, or yogurt before boarding to keep your tummy happy and your flight comfortable.'
APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR
The expert said: 'Don't wear sandals on the plane.
'And closed shoes protect your feet from germs, dropped items, and spills - plus, they're safer in emergencies.'
BE COURTEOUS OF OTHER PEOPLE
Pollyann warned: 'Be aware of your surroundings.
'Whether it be in the airport or in a new city, be aware of your volume, body and others who are trying to navigate in the same space.'
DO NOT OVERPACK
She said: 'Don't overpack your
'If you can't lift it into the overhead bin yourself, it's too heavy - a bag that's too heavy puts you and others at risk and flight attendants are not required to help.'
Holiday packing tips
Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday.
1. Write a list
Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase.
Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack.
2. Involve your kids
Jemma said: 'My girls are getting older, they're 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say 'this is what you need' and they follow the list.
'And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them 'you can have whatever you want in there as long as it's not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that's their 'home away from home' items.'
3. Try a hack or two
She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you've just got to pick the right one for your trip.
"Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you're trying to get a lot of items into your case, it's a space saver.
'Packing cubes are great - for example, I'm going on holiday with my three kids and we're all using the same suitcase for our clothes.
"These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked.
"I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we've arrived."
4. Decant beauty products
Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller.
Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive.
5. Get organised before you come home
Jemma said: 'When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes.
'Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person.
"Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don't leave it."
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT
Finally the expert dropped her most crucial tip: 'Put the phone away sometimes.
'You don't need to document every moment - being present is what makes a trip special.
'Do at least one thing off the beaten path.
'Skip some Instagram suggested spots and find something that feels like your discovery.'
With summer travel in full swing, Pollyann's tips are a handy reminder to stay smart and prepared and to fly safe this season.
4
The expert shared her tips with fans on social media
Credit: Jam Press
4
Pollyann loved to be prepared to help her anxiety - now she helps others do the same
Credit: Jam Press
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The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
The dangerous mistakes you're making before a holiday including what shoes NEVER to wear on a flight – from a travel pro
A TRAVEL whizz has warned holidaymakers to steer clear of airport charging stations and it's not just to avoid a dodgy socket. Pollyann Giffin, 40, says 'juice jacking', a sneaky form of hacking, could ruin more than just your holiday. 4 Pollyann Giffin has shared her top travel tips Credit: Jam Press 4 The expert has over two-decades of travel experience Credit: Jam Press The scam sees hackers use public USB ports to access your phone, swipe your data or infect it with malware and you'd never know until it's too late. Pollyann, who's racked up over two decades of travel experience, shared her top travel tips with her 14,000 Instagram followers and the clip has already notched up more than 37,000 views. She said: 'I used to be a very anxious traveller and love to be prepared. 'I research a lot and I've also learned a lot through personal experiences- good and bad. read more on holidays 'As a teacher I love to help people learn and be prepared for their own travels. 'If they can learn from my mistakes and not have to make them themselves, great!' Here are Pollyann's top tips. DO NOT USE PUBLIC CHARGING PORTS She said: 'It's called juice jacking - a sneaky way hackers can access your data through public USB charging stations. Most read in Fabulous 'Once connected, they can install malware or steal personal info without you even knowing.' BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU EAT AND DRINK Pollyann said: 'Avoid carbonated drinks mid-flight - lower cabin pressure makes gas expand, leading to bloating and discomfort. 'I'm jumping with joy' say Dublin Airport passengers as another new food spot 'officially lands' in Terminal One 'Also avoid gassy veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts before your flight. 'These fibre-rich foods ferment in your gut and produce gas, which expands even more at high altitudes thanks to cabin pressure. 'The result? Bloating, discomfort, and a not-so-fun flight. 'Opt for easy-to-digest snacks like bananas, white rice, or yogurt before boarding to keep your tummy happy and your flight comfortable.' APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR The expert said: 'Don't wear sandals on the plane. 'And closed shoes protect your feet from germs, dropped items, and spills - plus, they're safer in emergencies.' BE COURTEOUS OF OTHER PEOPLE Pollyann warned: 'Be aware of your surroundings. 'Whether it be in the airport or in a new city, be aware of your volume, body and others who are trying to navigate in the same space.' DO NOT OVERPACK She said: 'Don't overpack your 'If you can't lift it into the overhead bin yourself, it's too heavy - a bag that's too heavy puts you and others at risk and flight attendants are not required to help.' Holiday packing tips Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday. 1. Write a list Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase. Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack. 2. Involve your kids Jemma said: 'My girls are getting older, they're 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say 'this is what you need' and they follow the list. 'And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them 'you can have whatever you want in there as long as it's not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that's their 'home away from home' items.' 3. Try a hack or two She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you've just got to pick the right one for your trip. "Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you're trying to get a lot of items into your case, it's a space saver. 'Packing cubes are great - for example, I'm going on holiday with my three kids and we're all using the same suitcase for our clothes. "These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked. "I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we've arrived." 4. Decant beauty products Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller. Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive. 5. Get organised before you come home Jemma said: 'When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes. 'Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person. "Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don't leave it." ENJOY EVERY MOMENT Finally the expert dropped her most crucial tip: 'Put the phone away sometimes. 'You don't need to document every moment - being present is what makes a trip special. 'Do at least one thing off the beaten path. 'Skip some Instagram suggested spots and find something that feels like your discovery.' With summer travel in full swing, Pollyann's tips are a handy reminder to stay smart and prepared and to fly safe this season. 4 The expert shared her tips with fans on social media Credit: Jam Press 4 Pollyann loved to be prepared to help her anxiety - now she helps others do the same Credit: Jam Press
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I ditched UK for ‘Europe's Maldives' with fab beaches & £1 beer…childcare's FREE & bills cost less than KFC Family Feast
IT'S known as the 'Maldives of Europe' thanks to its stunning white sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters. Add to that an insanely cheap cost of living that's a jaw-dropping 61 per cent lower than the UK, and it was a no-brainer for Alice Taylor when she decided to move there in 2017. 15 Alice Taylor moved to Albania eight years ago and far prefers it to the UK Credit: Instagram/aliceinalbania 15 There are stunning beaches and mountainous hikes half an hour away Credit: Instagram/aliceinalbania 15 The beaches have been likened to the Maldives Credit: Getty The 38-year-old, who's originally from Cornwall, has set up home in Tirana, the capital of A staggering 11.7million people visited last year alone - a 15 per cent rise from 2023, and nearly double the number who holidayed there five years ago. While the ex-Eastern Bloc state remains one of the cheaper European resorts to visit, with beer as cheap as £1 and a glass of wine £1.50, Alice says she saves thousands by living there. Her monthly electricity bill is as little as £21 - less than the cost of a KFC Family Feast - childcare is basically free and eating out is cheaper than cooking at home. But the biggest thing for Alice - aside from the beautiful beaches and picturesque mountain hikes on her doorstep - is the lack of crime. Alice, a 'I walk home late in the evening alone and feel safe, leave my house unlocked and leave my bag on a table outside a cafe on a coffee table and know it will still be there when I return. 'It's not like London where you have to be careful getting your phone or wallet out while walking on the street. It's a completely different culture. 'My husband will stop outside a local shop, leave the car unlocked with the engine running and go inside to do whatever he has to do and come back. 'You couldn't do that in London, you'd be arrested for stopping in the middle of the street and your car wouldn't be there when you came back! Up-and-coming holiday hotspot has £2 beers, £30 hotels & is 3 hours from UK 'There is crime and corruption but it's limited to criminal gangs. If you're not involved in that world you won't have any issues at all.' Alice fell in love with the country during a three-and-a-half-day trip back in 2017 - which had to be extended after she contracted an ear infection. While there she got chatting to a group of Albanians at a coffee shop - and a few shots raki (a 40 per cent proof local spirit) later, she felt like one of the locals. 'They didn't speak a word of English and their only idea of a blonde British woman was Princess Diana, but we had a lovely time," she recalls. 'I was drunk when I left and when I tried to change my plane ticket, I accidentally booked it for three weeks later instead of a few days later, so I decided to make the most of it. I walk home late in the evening alone and feel safe, leave my house unlocked and leave my bag on a table outside a cafe on a coffee table and know it will still be there when I return Alice Taylor 'I found it really interesting, beautiful. The people were really friendly and I felt safe, I wasn't being cat-called on the street or harassed and there was no sense of unease.' Alice made friends, attended parties and went on several hikes. By the time she left Albania, she had already booked her return ticket - and 10 days later she moved there for good from Malta, where she'd lived for a decade after graduating from university. 'I didn't feel at home in the UK so I went to Malta, where I felt I was always an expat and a foreigner," she says. "But then I came to Albania and it clicked, I felt I fitted in here." Meals out under a tenner 15 Alice says she's never felt safer than in Albania and walks around alone at any time of the day or night Credit: Instagram/aliceinalbania 15 Alice has enjoyed banquet sized meals for two for just £8 Credit: instagram/aliceinalbania 15 She says beer starts from £1 and wine is £1.25 Credit: Instagram/aliceinalbania Alice is not alone. A growing number of people are seeing the benefits to Albania, which according to The site, based on crowdsourced data, found it to be 61 per cent cheaper than the UK. Eating out is half the price, rent a quarter and utility bills a third. The country is becoming so popular that US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner are building a $1.4billion luxury resort there, while flight traffic has increased 114 per cent since 2019. 'The cost of living - although rising - is still cheap," says Alice. 'I went out for lunch with my husband the other day - we had six large meatballs, two large salads, two portions of grilled potatoes, bread, dips and drinks, and it came to €10 (£8.40). I went out for lunch with my husband the other day - we had six large meatballs, two large salads, two portions of grilled potatoes, bread, dips and drinks, and it came to €10 (£8.40) Alice Taylor "It's definitely cheaper going out than entertaining at home. A cappuccino here is €1.20 (£1), and an espresso is 70 cents (60p), so it's really cheap. "A beer is anything from €1.20 (£1) upwards and a glass of wine can be €1.50 (£1.25). 'Brits are cottoning onto this. I just hope it doesn't become stag party central. Albanians drink but they don't get drunk, they don't pee in the street or beat each other up, it's a different culture. 'People will drink one raki in the morning and maybe one at lunchtime. If they had a British mentality, oh my God, they would be s**tfaced by lunchtime and pass out.' Alice also notes that everything in Tirana takes less than an hour to walk to, and local bus tickets are 40 cents (34p) - or for three euros (£2.50) you can travel 35 miles away. Cut-price housing Rent is considerably cheaper, too. Alice used to pay €350 (£295) per month for a spacious apartment with two double bedrooms 'in the fanciest part of town' when she initially moved. Eight years on that same pad would cost around €800 (£670) but Alice says there are other places costing €500 (£420) per month - by comparison, two-bed flats in London tend to cost upwards of £2,200. Alice bought a 67sqm two-bedroom, one bathroom ground floor apartment with an open plan living room-diner and 70sqm of land outside for €100,000 (£84,000). That's a quarter of the price of a two-bed flat in London, which ranges between £400,000 and £1million, and a third of what you would fork out on average in the UK, with prices between £270,000 and £700,000. Her monthly bills can be as little as €25 (£21) for electricity, compared to £73.41 in the UK; water is €20 (£16) compared to £37, and internet is €15 (£12) compared to £32. That brings her monthly bills to around £52, compared to £160-plus back home - around a third of the cost. The World's 50 Best Beaches The World's Best Beaches consulted more than 750 judges including travel journalists, influencers, and beach ambassadors to rank the beaches. Lucky Bay, Australia Source D'Argent, Seychelles Hidden, Philippines Whitehaven, Australia One Foot, Cook Islands Trunk, US Virgin Islands Honopu, Hawaii Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland Navagio Beach, Greece Balandra, Mexico Cala Goloritze, Italy Pipe Creek, Bahamas Pink, Indonesia Grace, Turks & Caicos Gardner, Ecuador Mcway, California Turquoise, Australia Le Morne, Mauritius Sancho, Brazil Seven Mile, Cayman Islands Lanikai, Hawaii Maya, Thailand Moro, Spain Kelingking, Indonesia Meads, Anguilla Flamenco, Puerto Rico Arena, Dominican Republic Little Hellfire, Australia Lazio, Seychelles Vaeroy, Norway Horseshoe, Bermuda Myrtos, Greece Hidden, Mexico Grand Anse, Grenada Xpu Ha, Mexico San Josef, Canada Matira, French Polynesia Capriccioli, Italy Pasjaca, Croatia Boulders, South Africa Salines, Martinique Champagne, Vanuatu Marinha, Portugal Balos, Greece Achmelvich, Scotland Kaputas, Turkey Radhangar, India Varadero, Cuba Piha, New Zealand Pink Sand, Bahamas Free childcare One of the biggest perks for Alice, who has a five-year-old daughter, is the minimal cost of childcare. For full-time hours parents pay a minimal fee, and for half-days it's entirely free from birth. Alice pays just €30 (£25) per month to send her daughter to kindergarten five days a week, from 7am until 5pm, and that includes two meals. The cost of having a child under two at nursery full-time in the UK is £238.95 a week on average including government funding, going down to £225.70 for over twos, according to Coram - but can be significantly more depending on where you live. While it's much cheaper, she concedes the classrooms are 'a bit overcrowded' compared to those in the UK and it's 'not the best in the world' but the quality of care is high. They love children, stranger danger isn't a thing. People stop you on the street to say, 'She's such a sweet girl, here's two euros.' It's such a lovely place to raise a child Alice Taylor She also relishes being able to bring up her daughter in a safe environment and insists locals are extremely accommodating towards families. 'In the UK you're told, 'Don't talk to or take sweets from strangers,' but here, family is really important and older people love nothing more than to give them sweets," Alice says. 'They love children, stranger danger isn't a thing. People stop you on the street to say, 'She's such a sweet girl, here's two euros.' It's such a lovely place to raise a child. 'Your child could be jumping up and down on a table in a restaurant, smashing glasses, and they would still say, 'Don't worry, leave her, she's fine.' "In the UK, they would be like, 'Get your dirty rotten child out of here!'' 15 Albania has beaches that have been compared to Thailand Credit: Instagram/aliceinalbania 15 They enjoy fresh produce from local farmers Credit: Instagram/aliceinalbania 15 Alice has written three books due to being so inspired by Albania Credit: Instagram/aliceinalbania Top healthcare Alice also praised the healthcare system in Albania, where it's free for citizens or €50 (£42) per year for foreign residents - and it's not plagued by lengthy waiting lists like in the UK. 'My husband had a few heart issues related to stress and on the same day, he had three checks including an echo cardiogram,' she tells us. 'My daughter had pneumonia and was treated in the equivalent of A&E within 20 minutes. "If I wake up tomorrow and don't feel well, I walk to my GP clinic and queue, and I will be seen the same day. "There's no, 'Are you dead yet? Call when you can't breathe?' like there is in the UK, they get the ball rolling quickly. If I wake up tomorrow and don't feel well, I walk to my GP clinic and queue, and I will be seen the same day Alice Taylor 'The only problem is when it comes to serious or rare diseases and transplants, which they don't have the facilities or equipment to treat, but work is being done to change that. 'To get around this I take out a €700-a-year (£590) healthcare policy that covers my daughter and I, and means we can be treated in Italy or Turkey if they can't do anything here.' Many Brits are attracted to Albania for its affordable dental care - including teeth whitening, which costs €100 (£75) for two sessions, and check-ups with cleaning for €10 (£7.50). That same treatment would cost between £350 and £1,000 in the UK, and check-ups cost £89 with an additional £98 fee to see a hygienist, according to 'You don't need an appointment or have to wait six months like in the UK,' Alice says. 15 'Everywhere is extremely walkable,' Alice tells us Credit: Instagram/aliceinalbania 15 Albania has been labelled 'Europe's Maldives' Credit: Instagram/aliceinalbania 15 Alice is a journalist and TV presenter in Albania Credit: instagram/aliceinalbania 15 One of three books Alice has written Credit: instagram/aliceinalbania 15 She has 31,400 followers on Instagram - in part due to her stunning Albania photos Credit: Instagram/aliceinalbania 15 She tells us it's cheaper to eat out than to cook Credit: instagram/aliceinalbania Alice has been so inspired by her new life that she's penned three books - poetry collection Tales From North Albania, travel book Having lived there for eight years now, Alice is 'fluent enough' to work as a TV presenter and says locals are thrilled by any attempts to speak the language. 'There's no animosity or 'you need to speak my language', people are very helpful and can't do enough to help you like using Google translate, pictures or hand gestures,' she says. Alice admits she is 'privileged' because being from the UK allows her to work for international companies, which not all Albanians would be able to benefit from. It is a developing country, but as a British person I prefer Albania Alice Taylor 'I've made it sound like the promised land, but of course there are problems," she adds. "Local salaries are difficult here, it's difficult for LGTBQ+ people and there is corruption. 'It's still developing; the country is 34 years old since the fall of communism. It is a developing country, but as a British person I prefer Albania. 'When it comes to the weather, the food, the culture, access to nature and diversity of it, and the environment I can raise my daughter in, it's far better than the UK. "You feel safe and the country is stunning - whether you want fancy beach resorts, mountain hikes or skiing, it has everything." You can follow
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Simone Biles poses with NFL star husband Jonathan Owens on vacation after time apart following Riley Gaines bust-up
SIMONE Biles left her fans amazed in a stunning set of pictures from her vacation. Biles, 28, took a break with her NFL star husband 3 Simone Biles amazed her fans with her vacation pictures on Instagram Credit: INSTAGRAM @simonebiles 3 Biles was joined by her husband Jonathan Owens Credit: INSTAGRAM @simonebiles The gymnastics hero looked sensational as she posed in a bikini. "Baddie in Belize," Biles wrote on Instagram along with her set of photos. The 28-year-old wore a black and brown Fendi string and clutched at a cocktail. She also wore a thick gold chain and fashionable black glasses. One of the pictures saw a cameo from Owens, who was dressed in summer gear. The NFL player, 29, is enjoying the last days of summer before he gets down to work. Owens will soon have to report to Chicago Bears training camp ahead of the 2025 season. And he's getting some last-minute time in with his wife in the sunshine. Most read in Olympics "You so fine baby," Owens commented on Biles' Instagram post. And fans also flooded the comment section with their own messages of love. Simone Biles forgets wedding anniversary on Met Gala carpet "You look unreal," one said. "Baddie in Belize," another commented. While a third said, "Belize babe." Biles and Owens often have to spend time apart as they juggle their respective busy schedules. The gymnast has previously said she had to sacrifice a lot for her relationship. 3 The gymnast wore a black and brown bikini as she held onto a cocktail Credit: INSTAGRAM @simonebiles Biles hadn't posted on Instagram since June 17 before the vacation pictures. She recently deactivated her X account after a feud with Riley Gaines. The pair clashed over trans women competing in female sports. Read more on the Irish Sun Both women accused the other of being a bully. Biles apologized for her "personal" remarks towards the former college swimmer and activist.
