Travel Tips

A travel kit for your trip

Recently I travelled to Southeast Asia on a holiday. Trip took more than 16 hours and by the time I got there, I was suffering from hemorrhoid. It took some effort on our part to find a pharmacy to buy some relief. I was thinking, if I packed some basic medications in addition to my prescriptions, I would have save some time. Here are my suggestions based on my recent experience.

Talk to your physician about your travel. If you are travelling to a destination known for mosquitos, your physician may give you malaria shot before you leave. Also check with your physician to see whether some over the counter medications counteract with your other prescribed medications. You need to pack some antidiarrheal medicine, a decongestant, something for motion sickness and melatonin to help you recover faster from your jet lag, and some pain killers.

Make sure you carry a small first aid kit. Pre-packaged kits are available at any drug store. Your kit should include bandages, disposable gloves, and gauze. Also to carry with this kit are your nail clippers, tweezers and a small travelling flashlight. You can’t carry some of these items in your hand luggage.

How to keep kids healthy during a winter vacation

Children are vulnerable to colds, flues and all other winter related illnesses. It can get worse when you are on vacation and have to travel by plane or train and from eating different types of foods. A sick child can ruin a vacation. Take preventive measures to ensure your child stays healthy and enjoys the vacation.

Get necessary vaccines
If you are travelling abroad visit the doctor and have the necessary vaccines to protect against possible illnesses.

Eat healthy

Make sure they eat a balanced diet and not load them with junk food and fizzy drinks, as this will reduce their immunity. Gradually introduce them to foods they are not used to.

Wear proper clothing

It is absolutely essential to make sure the child is properly covered to face the harsh cold weather. Do not allow them outside without putting on a jacket, scarf, hat and proper footwear.

Do not disrupt sleep pattern

The normal sleep pattern should be adhered to as much as possible to ensure that they get plenty of rest to ensure their immune system stays strong.

Maintain a comfortable temperature in the room and have him properly protected with blankets and warm pajamas.

Packing tips for a road trip

Planning and packing for a road trip is part of the fun of the trip. Having all the necessities packed will ensure that you have a smooth and comfortable trip. Here are some packing tips to help you.

Make a list

Start listing out the things you will need a week before you leave. Take in to account the destination and plan what you will need. If you are going to the mountains make sure to take warm clothing and if you are going camping you will need more planning. List out essential items such as medication and tick off each item as you pack.

Pack for emergencies

Make sure you have the tool box and a flashlight in the car in the event of a car break down, check on the condition of the spare tire. Pack  a first aid box which is well stocked.

Be prepared for weather changes. Have extra, suitable clothes for adverse weather, pack in rain coats and umbrellas.

Packing food

Carry enough snacks for the trip, especially if you are travelling with children. Take sandwiches, easy to eat fruits such as apples, bananas and berries. Take plenty of water and fluids to keep you hydrated during the long trip.

A compact carry on for traveling

Guest post written by Brent Crowder

The past few times that I’ve travelled, I’ve actually been made to check my rolling carry on suitcase. It really does fit into the overhead compartments on planes, but I guess there’s just something about it that makes it look like it’s too big for that and I’m trying to sneak it past airport security.

So I guess that it’s time I just accept that and buy a new bag for that because in the long run I think I’d save money by doing that instead of paying fees to check it. With that thinking, I went online to see if I could find something about bags that look especially small even though they still have tons of room and when I was doing that I happened across some http://www.satelliteinternetbroadband.com/. They piqued my curiosity, so I read about them and decided to sign up for one of them for my home internet service.

After I did that I did find some good recommendations for a compact carry on and decided to just order it and have it shipped to my house. I guess the shape of it is a little slimmer, but it does hold the same amount as my last one.

How to Pack for your Cruise

If this is the first time you are going on a cruise, you may think that packing for it is much like packing for any other trip. But this is not entirely true, so here are a few tips that may help you to be better prepared for any event that you encounter.

· Pack lightly but not too lightly. Avoid buying things while on the cruise; whatever items you buy on the cruise will be sold at high prices because of the premiums attached to them.

· Cruise’s have a couple of different modes – formal, casual or even both. Knowing this is important because a formal cruise indicates that you need to dress up in formal clothes for certain events (like Dinner) that you will encounter during the days of the cruise. However, the definition of “formal” on cruise is more like wearing a decent suit or a nice cocktail dress, so it does not represent too much of a hassle. If you wish to avoid formal events you can always request for alternative dinner times or even have it delivered to your room.

· Pack lightweight, combinable and easy to maintain clothes (e.g. Jeans). This will allow you to have fewer items in your baggage and still let you have many different looks.

· Do your laundry using the self-service facilities available while you are on board. This is another thing that will let you enjoy the cruise with fewer items to lug around. Following the previous tip will be especially useful in this instance.

· Find out about the conditions that you will encounter during the cruise. If you don’t ned the heavy winter clothing, don’t pack it.

· You should also find out if the cruise has any restrictions on certain items being brought aboard (e.g. Alcohol).

Things to Do and See in New Orleans

New Orleans is the biggest city in Louisiana, and is also one of the most visited cities of the state. New Orleans is well known to tourists for having great food and music, muggy and hot weather, and for its unique history and culture. After the devastation left by the Hurricane Katrina last 2005, New Orleans still remains one of the top tourist hot-spots of all time.

Some of the sights that you cannot miss when visiting New Orleans include their historic architecture, which showcases the Victorian mansions as well as their city-wide structures, and a hint of French and Spanish architectures as well. You can also visit the historic cemeteries of the city, which are located mostly uptown. You can also go to the Superdome located in New Orleans’ CBD. There is also the Audubon Zoo located uptown, where you and your family can enjoy looking at wild animals. In the butterfly park of the zoo, you get to see the majestic Mississippi River. This river can also be seen when you are on the French Quarter.

To lift up your spirits, you can also go to the city’s prided church, the St. Louis Cathedral.Aside from visiting historical places in New Orleans, you can also do some memorable activities in the city like having street car rides, going to riverboat cruises, river ferries (for budget conscious tourists), walking and bicycling tours, casino gambling (if you are feeling lucky), antique shopping, learning from cooking classes, carriages rides, and finally, celebrate the Mardi Gras.

Places to See in Tokyo, Japan

Every time people hear about Tokyo, Japan, there is one thing that first comes into their minds – a very modern city with a very high cost of living. But contrary to the thinking of many, Tokyo is one of the most affordable cities you will ever find in the world. There are a lot of bars, restaurants and cafes which serve food as cheap as buying drinks. Aside from that, most of its attractions are free, and you can stroll freely to see the beauty of the city. At first glance, you can see the main city filled with thousands of people walking on the streets, a traffic jam in almost every road, and the hundreds of skyscrapers with colorful lights at night.

But if you walk further to the suburbs of the city, you will find Tokyo’s hidden treasure – the wooden houses, the temples and shrines which are all but sights which preserve the beauty of Tokyo. The first thing that should be on your list when visiting Tokyo is the Tokyo Tower in Shiba-Koen. This magnificent building, erected in 1958 is higher that the Eiffel Tower. On the top of the building which boasts of its 164 floodlights which are incandescent white during summer and orange during winter, are stations where you can take a glimpse of the whole of Tokyo, as well as the Mount Fuji. Aside from that, you can also enjoy different places inside the tower once you visit the Trick Art Gallery, the Mysterious Walking Zone and the Tokyo Tower Wax Museum.

Cruising in Alaska

Alaska’s reputation as a tourist destination has grown tremendously over the past few years. This is mainly thanks to the increase in cruise lines offering packages to tourists. Another reason is that the cruise line offer differing types of vessels to their passengers. So, depending on how much you want to spend, you can choose from low key ships to mega cruisers.

The main thing you have to keep in mind about an Alaskan cruise is that it is seasonal. The season begins in May and ends in September. This is the period when the waterways are not frozen, thereby enabling ships to freely navigate the area. The season peaks in June, July and August as the temperature reaches up to 80 degrees in the daytime making the weather quite pleasant. Nighttime temperatures will drop but not to the freezing levels of winter.

There are two main routes that are taken by the cruise lines – The Inside Passage and the Gulf of Alaska. Although both cruises take very different routes, they do intersect at some stops. Keep in mind that the Gulf cruise is a one way journey ending in Vancouver or Anchorage, depending on where you boarded the ship.

If you plan to take one of these cruises, do not pack very think clothing. Since temperatures do not hit subzero levels during the season, you would only be lugging around heavy luggage. Multiple amounts of thin layer clothing is the way to go, as you can add or subtract layers as you wish.

Avoiding Scams while Traveling

Scams are part and parcel of world travel. Whether you are visiting a third world country or standing in the heart of New York City, you are vulnerable to scams. Here are a few that you should be aware of:

1. A stranger asks for fuel money – Usually this is accompanied with a sob story of a funeral, family emergency, etc. If you do feel compelled to help this person, tell them that you will go with them to a gas station and you will find that they disappear very quickly.

2. Free gift – Someone asks you a very simple favor (i.e. directions) and return they put a bracelet on your arm or something similar. You don’t want it but you can’t take it off your arm either, so feel compelled to give that person some money. A variation of this is where someone “finds” a “valuable” watch or bracelet in front of you and tries to sell it to you.

3. Diversion – You get a flat tire and a good Samaritan pulls up to help you. Keep an eye out, his friend might be emptying your luggage. This works in reverse as well, where you are flagged down by someone who needs help. Another diversionary tactic is where someone helps to clean bird poo from your shirt. You wallet might disappear at this point.

4. Overcharge – Taxis are notorious for taking advantage of unsuspecting travellers. If they are on the meter, they will deliberately take longer routes. If they are without a meter they will name atrocious rates.

For more travel tips we also recommend Cheap Hotels Blog. They offer hotel reviews and travel tips.

Trekking about in Cape Town

Going for a trek is always an invigorating experience and it allows you to take in the surroundings at your pace. Trekking or hiking in the Cape Town region can be an unforgettable experience due to its beauty and wildlife. But before you decide to rove the countryside you should take some precautions to stay safe.

1. Dehydration is a killer. Remember to take plenty of water with you.

2. Treks have a way of stretching out, so you may lose track of time. Take some energy bars or snacks that will keep you going.

3. Strong, thick boots are essential as you are walking in snake and scorpion country. Thick socks are also advisable accessories.

4. Although shorts might be tempting at times, trousers are more advisable in this location.

5. A waterproof jacket to keep you nice and dry in case of sudden showers.

6. Carry a torch with you if you leave in the afternoon. Nightfall can be sudden and can leave you disoriented.

7. Carrying a first aid kit is never a bad thing. If you don’t know how to use any of the medicines that are contained within it, consult a doctor on
their use.

8. Wear a hat and sunblock. Prolonged unprotected exposure to the sun can cause problems, so it is better to have some protection.

9. Get a route map that will initially help you plan out where you are going and will guide you during your hike. This can be purchased locally or even downloaded from the internet.

10. Finally, make sure you cellphone is charged, has credit and has numbers of the local emergency services saved in the phonebook.

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