Traveling is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in new experiences and see beautiful sights across the world. It is an exciting activity that many people look forward to doing, with some making it a point to travel at least once a year. Despite the fun prospects presented by traveling, smokers may find it difficult since they cannot indulge in their smoking in most places.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 74 countries are protected by comprehensive national smoke-free laws. In line with this, some places like the UK are planning to tighten their anti-smoking legislation, making traveling more challenging as a smoker. Fortunately, there are a few ways to help you address these challenges and make the most out of your trip. Read on to see the list of tips we have compiled to get you started:

Understand local legislation

Before going on a trip, doing research on your intended destination is important, as this can help in building your itinerary and gaining more information on the places you must visit as a tourist. As a smoker, though, you also need to read through the local smoking laws and related regulations. Some countries are lax with smoking, so you can comfortably bring or purchase tobacco products within their municipality.

However, countries like New Zealand are working to completely ban smoking and are limiting both the use and sale of tobacco products. Furthermore, countries like Singapore, Mexico, Ireland, and Costa Rica have some of the strictest smoking laws and impose hefty fines on violators. Researching beforehand will help you avoid running into legal trouble and ensure you can enjoy your trip.

Bring cigarette alternatives

Considering that some countries have strict prohibitions on cigarettes and tobacco, you might want to think about bringing smoking alternatives. This ensures that you won’t have to quit cold turkey and suffer from withdrawals while traveling. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products are one of the most common alternatives used by smokers to satisfy their cravings in subtle, smoke-free ways.

There are many forms of NRTs available on the market, but oral ones are some of the most accessible. With many options to choose from, you might be wondering: which oral nicotine product is best for you? Nicotine gum and lozenges are great for those with an oral fixation since you just pop them into your mouth to conveniently release the nicotine content. But if you’re looking for a stronger intensity, then nicotine pouches may be for you, as they come in strengths of up to 15+ mg.

Regardless of what you choose, these products come in a variety of flavors that you can enjoy even in public spaces where smoking is banned, making them perfect for your trip.

Find smoker-friendly establishments

While cigarette alternatives are a great way to get around even the strictest smoking laws, some countries actually still allow smoking in some areas. For example, Japan has imposed national legislation that bans smoking inside public facilities (including hospitals and municipal offices) but has designated smoking areas and allows it in restaurants and bars.

Additionally, countries in Africa and the Middle East have looser regulations, where hookah lounges and shisha bars are a fixture in local culture. One of these countries is the UAE, and our post also details some of the must-visit destinations within the area and the best things to do while you’re there. This includes visiting the Al Ain heritage site, going on a desert safari, and having a gourmet meal while at Between the Bridges.

Discard waste properly

Following the previous tip, some countries like Indonesia are also smoker-friendly but put a lot of emphasis on proper waste disposal. According to EPR Indonesia, many locals are advocating to make smokers more knowledgeable on the environmental impacts of cigarette butts, which account for 766 million tons of toxic waste annually around the globe. Cigarette butts are also one of the most common pollutants found in ocean clean-up projects, which harms marine life.

With this, it’s important to follow local waste disposal laws to ensure your product is discarded properly. Alternatively, you may also opt to use NRTs instead to help curb the waste problem associated with tobacco products.