Traveling to Visit Friends or Relatives
Posted by in Travel Planning on Feb 18th, 2018 | Comments Off on Traveling to Visit Friends or Relatives
Traveling to Visit Friends or Relatives
One day while visiting Texas on one of my many trips, I was having dinner with a friend of mine that own’s san antonio windshield repair and he came to the conclusion that there are risk factors that people traveling to visit friends or relatives abroad are exposed to. Some of these individuals travel to places with higher risks of some diseases and stay there longer. They also eat the local food and drink water that may not be treated. Unfortunately, some people travel to visit friends or relatives without seeking pre-travel advice or getting adequate vaccinations.
Seek Medical Advice
Before you travel to visit friends or relatives, it’s important that you seek medical advice. It’s unfortunate that many people travel to visit relatives in foreign countries without doing this. This implies that they are not aware of the health risks that they face while away from home. Others have a different perception of the risks that they face whenever they travel to visit their relatives.
It’s however imperative that you always talk to your doctor about your travel plan before you leave your home. Essentially, see your healthcare provider at least six weeks in advance. Your doctor will give you advice on how to reduce the risk of injury and sickness when you travel.
Discuss Your Immunization History with the Doctor
If you are traveling as a family, discuss the history of immunization of every family member that you will be traveling with. Let your doctor know when each family member was immunized last including children. It’s recommended that you have up-to-date routine vaccines when traveling. As such, your doctor will determine whether any family member needs vaccination before you travel.
Your travel destination will determine the necessary vaccines to have before the trip. Some older travelers and children are immune-compromised. That means they are at a higher risk of developing diseases. Therefore, your healthcare provider will provide personalized medical care to ensure their protection.
Conduct Some Research
Take time to conduct some research of your travel destination. Find out whether there is a risk of specific diseases at your location. You can ask the relatives that you are visiting about this. This will enable you to reduce the risk of contracting the diseases when you travel. Also find out about the security and political situation in your destination before you travel. This will ensure your safety during the trip.
Additionally, carry enough cash and items that you will need while away from home. And, don’t forget to buy gifts for your relatives.
…Tips for Traveling for Leisure
Posted by in Travel Planning on Nov 29th, 2019 | Comments Off on Tips for Traveling for Leisure
It is wise to take some time off busy schedules and have a leisure trip. This helps to rejuvenate and thus focus better once you get back. There are many hindrances to a successful trip which can be avoided by reading these tips.
Get Travel Insurance
Many risks can befall you while traveling. For instance, luggage could get stolen or you may fall sick and require emergency medical attention. Getting the right travel insurance will cover you from these risks.
Don’t Forget Chargers
With you will be several electronics like a laptop, a Smartphone, a camera, etc. Ensure to pack the right chargers and adapters for convenience.
Notify Your Bank
A week before leaving, inform your bank so that they can unblock your credit card to work in your destination. Otherwise, it may be flagged by anti-fraud software and leave you stranded.
Leave Behind Expensive Jewelry
It is tempting to bring your best jewelry on your trip. However, this makes you a target for pickpockets.
Automate Payments
To avoid worrying about accumulating unpaid bills back home, it’s wise to automate payments like cable, electricity, loan, and credit card. This way you will have peace of mind while away.
Back-up Important Documents
Before traveling, take pictures of all important documents and store them in cloud storage of your choice. This will make access to important details easy if the documents get lost.
Be Divergent
Do not rely on one form of payment like a credit card. You can have two credit cards and some cash. If one gets lost, then the others will be used.
Take A lot of Pictures
You might only see these places and meet these foreigners once in your lifetime. Therefore, make use of the camera and document those precious moments.
Learn Foreign Words and Phrases
Your travel experience will be better if you can interact with the local people. Taking some time to learn a few phrases will improve your travel experience by enhancing how you communicate with the locals.
Write Down the Address of Your Hotel
You might get lost in the excitement of the new place and forget the address of your hotel. This can be avoided by saving it in your cell phone.
With these tips in mind, you can now enjoy your trip.
…Life Lessons Backpacking Teaches Travelers
Posted by in Travel Planning on Jul 15th, 2019 | Comments Off on Life Lessons Backpacking Teaches Travelers
Backpacking is a rollercoaster experience that many people enjoy once in their lifetimes. It comes with hard times, ups and downs, as well as euphoric times. However, there are important life lessons travelers learn from backpacking. Here are some of them.
Being a Away from Material Things
Backpacking teaches you that the true beauty of life and travel comes from experiences. It all about the people you meet, the sights you see, and the experiences you enjoy. It’s not about the clothes you wear and the expensive gadgets you carry. Essentially, you learn to pack light and carry only what you need to enjoy your travel experience with ease.
Being Tolerant
When you go backpacking, you open up to other travelers. These are people from other parts of the world. The experience makes you appreciate different cultures, languages and customers. You focus on enjoying the moments that you spend traveling. Backpacking teaches you that normal is boring.
Fear Shouldn’t Stand in Your Way
Some people fear traveling because they don’t want to leave their comfort zone. They fear getting out or venturing into the unknown. However, the experiences that backpackers enjoy teach them to not let fear hinder them from exploring.
Self-Reliance
When you go backpacking alone, you learn to self-sufficient. Essentially, you learn to be alone but not lonely. You go to places you’ve never been to before, meet new people, and interact with them. If you meet other backpackers, you interact with them and make new friends.
Appreciating Little Things in Life
There are little things in life that you tend to take for granted. These include well cooked meals, clothes, and the gym. When you go backpacking, you realize that not all people have these privileges that you take for granted. This makes you learn to appreciate the little things that you take for granted back home.
Every backpacking experience is different. Nevertheless, there are always life lessons to learn from every trip.
…Tips for Traveling with COPD
Posted by in Travel Planning on Apr 6th, 2019 | Comments Off on Tips for Traveling with COPD
Having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) shouldn’t mean you will never travel. With careful planning and following these tips, you can travel with ease when you have COPD.
Packing Tips
No matter where you intend to travel to and how you plan to travel, you should pack enough oxygen or medication that will last the entire trip. If you will be away from your luggage at some point, for instance when having your bag checked, pack scripts in the carry-on. This will ensure that you can still access them in case they are misplaced by the airline. Ensure that your health providers’ names and contacts are easily accessible in case of an emergency.
When Flying
When carrying respiratory equipment while flying, talk to the service provider to ensure a smooth boarding process. For example, CPAP machines, nebulizers, and other devices shouldn’t be packed in the carry-on to pass via the x-ray machine. Facemasks and tubing can be carried in their cases. Nebulizer liquids should not be subjected to the 3 ounces limit. Also pre-inform the TSA about your medical issue to get all the help you need at the airport.
Use a Car if Possible
If you can travel by car, it would be easier. That’s because when traveling by car you can keep car windows closed to prevent traffic-related fumes from entering the vehicle. You can also avoid lung-agitating agents from entering the car. If you travel alongside a smoker, ask them to smoke only when you alight to avoid secondhand smoke.
Additional COPD Travel Tips
If you travel by train or go on a cruise tour, contact your booking agency in advance to find out if there is something that can be done to ease your travel. Also drink more water to keep your respiratory tract hydrated.
Follow these tips for traveling with COPD to make your travel experience better.
…How to Travel on the Cheap
Posted by in Travel Planning on Oct 15th, 2018 | Comments Off on How to Travel on the Cheap
How to Travel on the Cheap
Whether you are traveling locally, regionally or across continents, the financial impacts of the trip can be immense. However, you don’t have to spend more money to get an incredible travel experience. There are many ways you can enjoy traveling even when you have a tight budget. Here are some of the best ways to travel on the cheap.
Prioritize Your Needs
Just like most people do it in their day to day expenditures, decide on the basic things that you can’t go on a trip without. Focus on the experience that you want to enjoy and prioritize your needs based on the budget. For instance, if you are going to spend most of your time outdoors sightseeing, consider booking a hostel instead of a hotel.
Use Budget Airlines
Flight costs are among the main items that spoil the budgets of most travelers. If you must use a flight, take time to do some research on budget airlines of your destination. There are many cheap flights in most countries across the world that you can travel with at lower rates.
Make Payments with Points
If you are a frequent traveler, obtain a travel card that enables you to earn points every time you use it to travel. You can redeem these points later to make payments for different items, get flight tickets, and book accommodation at certain hotels, among other expenses. While it may take time to accumulate enough points, credit card points can help you save money on your trips.
Create a Flexible Travel Schedule
When your travel schedule is flexible, it is easier to find better deals. Many hotels and airlines have great deals for travelers during off peak seasons. Sometimes, obtaining early bird tickets can see you pay much less for the trip.
Apart from these ideas, you should also be keen to make informed decisions. Share ideas with other travelers and ask for recommendations when planning trips to avoid over spending.
…
Traveling with Kids- Health Risks to Know
Posted by in Travel Planning on Mar 8th, 2018 | Comments Off on Traveling with Kids- Health Risks to Know
Traveling with Kids- Health Risks to Know
When traveling with kids, there are health risks that you should know and avoid. It is estimated that 1.9 million American children are involved in international travels every year. And, this number keeps increasing.
Generally, children face health risks that their parents face when they travel. However, consequences tend to be more serious in children than in their parents. There are also conditions that are not easily recognizable in children, especially if the kids are not talking.
Here are some of the health risks to know about when traveling with kids:
Diarrhea
This is among the most common diseases that are experienced by traveling children. Breastfeeding is the best way to prevent diarrhea among infants when traveling. But when traveling with older children to developing countries, follow the basic water and food precautions. For instance, eat food that is served hot only and wash and peel fruits before you eat. Also drink beverages that are in sealed containers only.
Diarrhea can become a serious problem in small children and infants and cause dehydration. Therefore, give children with this condition fluid in plenty. Usually, it’s not necessary to give children medicine.
Bugs-Related Diseases
Children that travel to places that are prone to bugs-related diseases like malaria should be given drugs to prevent them. Your doctor will tell you the most appropriate medicine for your kids. Majority of these drugs taste bitter. However, it’s possible for the pharmacist to pulverize capsules and place the powder in gelatin capsule which is flavorless.
It’s important to note that malaria drugs may not be 100% effective. What’s more, insects spread other diseases like dengue, trypanosomiasis, and leishmaniasis too. Therefore, children should be protected from bug bites while traveling. Long sleeves, pants, and bug sprays can also help.
Rabies
Rabies affects traveling children when they play with strange animals. Therefore, tell your kids to stay away from animals when traveling. Additionally, tell them to let you know if they are bitten by strange animals immediately. Use water and soap to wash a bite by any animal thoroughly. Also make sure that kids receive medical attention immediately.
Accidents
When traveling with kids, you should be careful to avoid car crashes. Drowning is also a common accident among traveling kids. Make sure that kids take age appropriate seats while traveling in a car. Also supervise kids closely and make sure that they put life preservers when playing around water bodies.
Bear in mind these risks and avoid them while traveling with kids to make your trip safe and successful.
…Traveling with a Criminal History
Posted by in Travel Planning on Feb 28th, 2018 | Comments Off on Traveling with a Criminal History
Traveling with a Criminal History
The internet has limited information about traveling with a criminal history. That’s because most countries do not stop people from entering just because they have an antiquated or insignificant criminal history. What’s more, this is a non issue in most countries.
However, there is a certain level of hyper-awareness about this issue in some countries including North America. Canada and the US have measures in place to bar border crossing for people that have a criminal history. That means you will be scrutinized further if the immigration officials and relevant authorities realize that you have a criminal history.
Relevant Information
In most countries where criminal history is an issue of concern, relevant information is readily available. For instance, you will find information on traveling with a criminal history on the website of the immigration agency. Criminals are not welcomed in many countries for obvious reasons. However, the criminal history required to deny someone entry into a nation or the duration that has passed since their last conviction differs radically among countries.
For instance, even a minor conviction for a criminal offense that occurred 50 years ago can make North America deny you entry. On the other hand, there are countries that require criminal conviction to be of a violent nature to deny you entry. For some countries to deny you entry, the crime must be serious.
Common Criminal Offenses
There are common criminal offenses that most countries consider to deny individuals entry. Generally, recent and violent criminal convictions are entry issues in most countries. People in parole or probation are required to follow the strict travel policies that their probation officers have set to the letter. Leaving a country without permission from the probation officer is treated as a violation.
Tips
When traveling to a county that considers criminal history, answer all questions asked when applying for a visa truthfully. Also be honest throughout the customs process. That’s because providing false statements will cause permanent or lengthy bar to the country particularly Canada and the US. Nevertheless, a country like United Kingdom has a “spent” conviction concept. Thus, such convictions may not affect you if you meet “spent” convictions conditions.
…
