To cancel this trip due to heatwave next week? .

[Wauden]

I had booked flights to go to Scandinavia next week to stay with a friend. But I just seen the forecast over there and live some parts of the UK. the temperature could rise to 30°. I tend to suffer in the heat. We were planning trips out and about over there, day trips. I fear that I might really struggle with bus, coach travel, sightseeing and the general holiday movements in that heat.
I feel guilty for thinking about it. We were both looking forward. She returns to work after my return date.
If she came over here, the same heat problem might arise and I dont want to spend a week sitting in the shade and not exploring and she won't enjoy that.
I haven't told her yet as she is travelling elsewhere until I would arrive.Would it be awful if I went somewhere else, cooler, instead?
Any thoughts, any creative ideas?

@Leafygreens, thank you for your understanding. I do get anxious going on holida with other people and didn't want to be a burden with my health issues. We will work out a plan of action and I need to explain things more to her.

Zen, I am going, as I said before. .Regarding August being usually hot, I am aware of that point(!) However, when I booked, I had it on good authority that it would not be so hot over there. No one knew about the heat wave then.

More importantly are the forest fires in Sweden and the impact on people and wildlife. Put out water for the wildlife everyone!

Cancelling would be really unfair. Lightweight clothing, lots of iced water, a very slow pace with lots of sit downs in the shade if you need them. Avoid alcohol and junky food. Advise your friend you find the heat very hard and won't be able to be as energetic as planned.

Even in this country 30 degrees is not unusual, we have a few days every year which reach 30. The only reason anyone is talking about it this year is because its going on for such a long time which is hard when you're trying to maintain a normal life, working, commuting, looking after children etc.

We are off to Norway at the end of this week. When we booked it said average temp this time of year was 19°C. Forecast is now showing 29°C. We have had this happen before in other countries and just got around it by finding air conditioned restaurants/museums/art galleries when the heat got too much. Have travelled on tour buses abroad too (and I don't generally travel well on coaches) and they've been fine with air conditioning switched on.

We lived in Copenhagen 2 Years ago . We arrived in the summer - middle of July. Except we hadn't managed to find an apartment yet and ended up spending the first month living in a caravan!! That was hot but generally out and about it was lovely. Especially as a lot of Copenhagen can be near the water and then there is a nice breeze to cool you down. Once we actually got an apartment it was fine we bought a tower fan from the supermarket for £20 and it was Brill. Shopping centres were lovely and cool to walk around.
We only visited Sweden for a day.. It was clear blue skies until we hit the Swedish border and then it poured from the minute we got off the bus until the hour we got back on the bus (think had to buy new outfit including underwear from h and m despite wearing waterproof coats type rain ) all part of the email fun 😂

You can keep out of the heat in Copenhagen... stay along the coast in the city, a boat tour of cph is fun. Public transport is really good. The underground is air conditioned and spacious. The local trains are older so possibly not, but still pretty spacious. It’s really easy to get out of the city and into the forests wherever you are in Denmark, for a bit of shade. Find a swimming lake to cool down for the afternoon? Its lovely in Denmark and Sweden. You’ll have an amazing time.

I live somewhere hot (30 degrees first thing in the morning type hot)

Tips to stay cool:

• carry a fan (more effective than an electric handheld one IME)
• have a light weight hat to keep the sun off the top of your head, but take it off when you aren't in direct sunshine
• get an insulated bottle and carry ice cold water with you. Take sips, not gulps, at regular intervals
• take every opportunity to have a drink - you cannot drink too much
• take a muslin with you - if you do get over hot, wet it and put it around the back of your neck to help cool down
• don't plan to do too much - do something in the morning and spend the afternoon in a coffee shop or vice versa
• wear long sleeved cotton clothes rather than shorts and vest tops - it keeps the sun off you, and the fabric wicks the sweat away

@OlennasWimple, 30° first thing in the morning is sooo hot. Many thanks. I have sound an old fan to take. Cotton long sleeved tops and skirts are for me. I will try to relax and adapt.
@Kolo, that sounds great also. I might suggest we hire a car instead of our other plans.

@Smurf123, I could buy her a tower fan as a present.
@paddlingwhenIshouldbeworking, yep, I am going. So true about the commute and the office is v muggy.
@bigbluebus, have a greattime in Norway. Alcohol is expensive there so maybe buy some at the duty free .

I hugely disagree with advice here.

Talk to your friend. Be honest. See what they feel.

It's all very well going anyway so as not to spoil plans - but if you end up being sick and miserable on them (without being able to stop it), that could be quite a burden and ruin what little holiday time they have.

If they're a good friend, you should be able to talk this over at least.

@asri, thanks, that was my initial thought but unfortunately friend is travelling and not accessing internet emails. I will go, had lots of Scandi and other info now. I will go over it all when we meet. There are solutions.

I won't let her down, though

I live in Copenhagen and this summer so far has been ridiculous, people haven’t known anything like it before. The Danish news is forecasting temperatures to go over 30, but bear in mind it’s very, very dry (virtually hasn’t rained in the last two months) and there isn’t as much breeze as there normally is.

If you go, bring a handheld fan! (Not sure where you’re staying, but most homes don’t have air conditioning).

YABVU. Its' going to be 30C not 50C. And you don't want to let your friend down.

You'll be OK when you're there.

It amazes me how insensitive some people can be. This is why it can be so difficult to open up to people when you have health issues that affect how you cope with things that other people find difficult but you find almost impossible. I suffer from migraines and anxiety and am having to be very careful in the heat. My migraines are disabling (they basically stopped my life for almost a decade) and my anxiety is triggered by the kind of extended period of heat we've been having. I would find it very difficult to travel in this weather and if I did I would have to make sure the person I was travelling to see was aware of my limitations - hopefully, if they're your friend, they'll be more understanding than some may be.

The effects of heat on my anxiety/migraines are always worse when I try to hide my struggles, hence why you should try to be open. Sitting on fear and trying to act 'normal' just adds to the negative effects of whatever situation you're in. In my experience, taking on some drinks with electrolytes in can help offset the effects of dehydration (which is usually what causes secondary heat-effects). Obviously make sure those drinks are okay for you depending on your diet/health conditions, but they can help alongside water. I've also found a cap (with a peak) makes a big difference. Hope you enjoy yourself!

I completely agree nalii, it’s so rude. I have a relation with ADD - nothing worse! - and we’ve learnt that a jam-packed schedule in a new place will just lead to a breakdown. Everyone has something to manage, it’s just best to be upfront and matter of fact about it. I hope you enjoy your holiday OP. The responses you got are very odd considering the myriad of threads on MN about how difficult the heat is to manage (and how you need Special Holiday Clothes). 30 degrees is not common for Scandinavia so I’m not surprised you were taken aback! I do recommend sunglasses just like a PP said - you’re probably in the habit already but I only started wearing them regularly late in life and they make it much easier!

Sometimes life throws things at you that aren’t ideal. Many things are a million times worse than a bit of hot weather. You just need to get on with it and stop complaining.

Tell it like it is, Scotland

banivani: 30 degrees is not common for Scandinavia

I have lived in central Sweden for 20+ years and 30C is not that uncommon either. Especially in the past 10 years or so it has been pretty common for there to be some period of around 30C.

What is uncommon is for a hot spell to go on so long - it has been around a month now - yet in May we had flooding because of the amount of snow this winter.

Seriously? People in properly hot countries travel.
YABU

@nalii

so true!

(and i get awful migraines/ anxiety but I take my prescription meds with me plus backup)

OP, with respect: get a grip. I'm currently in Rome for work, it was 34° here today. People go about their business as normal, travel on (not always air-conditioned) buses, go for walks, children play in parks...

Life doesn't stop because it's warmer than usual for a few days. Don't let your friend down like that!

In June we had to go to a wedding in Texas, so we undertook a tour of the US.
All the places we visited were incredibly hot , culminating in 30+ in Texas, but we managed despite both DH hating the heat.
You just have to give it thought, starting your day early, when its cooler, taking life easy (in the shade) preferably in an air conditioned bar/restaurant around midday/early afternoon.
Op tell your friend your worries, and plan accordingly.

Go along and enjoy what you can. Friendship and holidays are great experiences. Adapt as you can and have a laugh!

I would want to cancel in your position. No point in going on holiday and being ill.

The forecast for Copenhagen next week is 23/24 degrees and showery, so this shouldn’t be an issue any more.