The Travellers Warehouse

Sometimes one wants a vacation but needs to figure out where to go an a trip. Here are several points to consider when deciding where to travel.

1. How Long Can You Travel For? Often you have so much time for vacation and you want to get the most out of it. If you only have a three day weekend, you will most likely want to go somewhere that takes less than 5 hours of travel. While this is only a rule of thumb, consider that you want to have time to enjoy the place you are going as well as have enough time to really get your money’s worth. If you spend too much time actually getting there and back, your 3 day weekend ends up being a 1 day weekend. If you find you want to go somewhere further, consider extending your holiday if possible.

2. What Activities Do You Like Doing? Whether you are going to a golf resort or a beach in the tropics, you want your trip to have all the activities you desire. Taking the time to list what you are hoping for in advance may help your vacation be that much more enjoyable. By doing this, you can research possibilities in advance. Sandals Beaches and Resorts have all the activities any traveler could desire.Save 50% off Sandals Luxury Resorts, Click Here!

3. What Is Your Budget? Vacations can be expensive or inexpensive, depending on your planning and desires. However, when you know how much you want to spend, you can often make your decisions easier.

4. What is Your Preferred Weather Though you can not control the weather, knowing what normal conditions are helps. Additionally, you may choose a different destination if you find that the weather is too hot or too cold during the time period you want to travel.

5. What Do You Like to See Do you want a get away in the country or in a big city? Do you like to explore beaches, historical sites, mountain hikes or museums? Depending on what you want to see will further narrow your destinations. Alternatively, if you want some of everything, you may want to consider a tour or cruise.

6. Do You want to Visit Friends or Family? If you are going to visit family or friends, your destination will often be determined by their location unless you plan to do a multi-stop trip. One way around this can be doing a trip together. THis can be exciting but takes additional coordination.

7. Night Time Activities? Many people think of daytime activities and then are disappointed when their idea of nightlife and their destinations nightlife availability differ. Be sure that where you are going has the activities you desire.

8. Peak or Off-Peak? Off-Peak seasons are often much cheaper and less crowded - but sometimes you will find that many estbalishments are closed. Do your homework first so you don’t go to a beach town to find everything closed when you get there.

9. Events, Festivals, Shows, Exhibits Whether you are traveling to see the Superbowl or a movie festival, timing is everything. Know that during the even itself housing is often in short supply, so booking early is key. If you are staying extra time, you can stay in a different hotel to get a totally different feel of the city and the surrounding area if desired.

10. Stuff for the Kids, Adults, Seniors and Pets Of course when traveling, make sure there are activities for everyone in your group. If you are taking your pet, trip planning is essential. Often hotels will have activities for children, be certain to ask in advance.

Technorati Tags: where to go an a trip, deciding where to travel, trip planning

In 2005 I went to Australia and back with intermediate stops in Hawaii. It was a wonderful trip with 6 days in Hawaii and several days in the Brisbane area of Australia. The fireworks really started when I got back and had to call my heart specialist to schedule an appointment I just casually mentioned that I had just come home from Australia. There was immediate alarm on the other end of the line. “Come in right away,” she said. I answered, “I am very busy here at work. Can’t I come in tomorrow?” “No, she commanded, “come in right now!” So, I cleaned up my desk and headed down to the clinic to be examined for blood clots. The condition my cardiologist was concerned about is known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), and all travelers need to be educated about it. The condition can cause a heart attack or a stroke.

I remember the days when airline passengers could get up and move about the cabin. Not anymore! 911 changed all that. Today only one passenger at a time can be outside the lavatory, and other than that they are relegated to their seats during the entire flight. Being able to move around a bit is certainly a more healthy way to do things. Since the airline passengers of today must remain in their seats for an entire trip it is a good idea to bend over and massage the legs once in a while. There are exercises one can do sitting down. Whenever I get up to go to the bathroom I take a few extra minutes and do stretch exercises. This may assist in better blood circulation.

What a lot of people do not know is that Deep Vein Thrombosis can occur on a short flight as well as a very long one. If someone has any kind of questionable heart condition they need to be careful. Experts say that individuals who are at greater risk are older people and those who are overweight. Other factors that figure in the DVT equation may be smoking, recent surgery, trauma to the legs, varicose veins, pregnancy, and a history of cancer. Genetic dispositions could also play a significant role. If a person has any of these conditions they should check with their doctors prior to taking a long trip. The doctor will probably subscribe medication to take along. They might also suggest taking along special compression stockings. If the condition is serious enough affected travelers should talk with their physicians even if the trip is short one. Another thing people need to know about DVD is that cabin air pressure changes can contribute to the condition.

What are some things a traveler can do to keep from having a DVT episode? The High Compression Socks have already been suggested. However, there are some other things that a traveler can do to help themselves. One is to simply drink a lot of water and limiting alcohol intake. I always carry one or two bottles on the plane with me. I also arrive at the airport early so I can walk around a lot before boarding the plane.

Deep Vein Thrombosis can also be found among those who travel by train or automobile. At least on a train a person can get up and move around. Travel by car allows an individual to make periodic exercise stops when appropriate. The traveler has a little more freedom.

The condition may not occur on the trip itself, but could show up a few days later. If a person is at risk they should check in with their doctor upon returning home. My doctor was right!

Following are some conditions that might contribute to DVT. Most of the time passengers are fine, but this is good information to have in stashed in your travel portfolio.

• Travel for more than 3 hours in the four weeks before and after surgery
• A personal or family history of DVT
• Active cancer or cancer treatment
• Recent surgery or leg surgery
• Existing clotting abnormality
• Obesity (BMI of above 30)
• Chronic or acute medical illnesses
• Hormones or the oral contraceptive pill
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Varicose veins
• Pregnancy or 2 months post-partum
• Existing Cardiac problems or a history of cardiac problems or stroke
• Dehydration
• Severe infection
• Aged over 60

Technorati Tags: blood clots, Deep Vein Thrombosis

Traveling across various time zones can wreak havoc with your vacation if you don’t take a few minutes and study up on how to handle jet lag. Jet lag is a relatively new term because flight across time zones didn’t become a reality until the 20^th Century. Going from New York to London on a ship a passenger had some place they could stretch out and rest. Ocean travel has its’ own set of issues but the phenomenon known as “jet lag” is not one of them, although there may still be some change in the body clock.

Dry atmospheres in airline cabins can cause dehydration. Altitude and pressure changes at each landing and takeoff also upset body systems, and although airliner cabins are pressurized, these changes can cause jet lag. So, drink a lot of liquid to counter the effects.

Frankly, I have my own way of working with jet lag. It may not work for everyone but might be helpful for some. First of all, I learned to take a leaf out of the books of other travelers, and did my best to be rested before starting the trip. Jet lag really becomes a problem when I travel coast to coast or overseas. If a trip takes me to Europe or Asia I try to plan an intermediate stop and take a few days to rest up before tackling the rest of the trip. However, that is not always possible especially for business travelers or if someone is short on funds.

Over the years I have traveled a lot to Europe for business and religious reasons. I do try to sleep on the planes, dressing as comfortable as possible. Instead of any sleep medications I take along something like some sort of tea or homeopathic remedy that encourages sleep and relaxation. It is best not to take any over the counter sleep aids or medications to use just prior to the flight. A passenger needs to be aware enough to handle an emergency. A mild relaxing tea is going to allow that. Save the stronger items for use at your destination. When I arrive at my hotel the first thing I do is lie down and take a nap. It doesn’t have to be very long. Mine is about two hours. Then I proceed through the rest of the day. Try to make flight arrangements so that you arrive during the day instead of late at night. It’s safer and there is more time to begin adjusting to the time change. The next day I try to get right out and make an attempt to fit into the flow of the new time zone. Sometimes, it is a bit of a push, but by the time you arrive back at the hotel you are ready to sleep. This is where other types of sleeping aids can come in handy. It normally takes me about two days to really adapt to the new time frame.

Here are some other tips from experts who have studied jet lag.

1. Sleep on the plane, and do use earplugs to shut out noise and eyeshades to shut out light. Pack a good neck pillow that can be folded up.

2. Take along some good warm socks or knitted slippers. Feet and legs tend to swell on a flight. Keeping your feet warm will help.

3. Dress warmly. I usually wear a pullover shirt with long sleeves over my blouse.

4. Avoid alcohol to keep from being dehydrated.

5. I do not put sugar in my decaffeinated coffee on a flight because it can cause dehydration. Also, limit your intake of salt or just don’t use it.

6. Try to get some exercise if you can on a flight. It will actually help with the jet lag problem and help you adjust to a new climate. There are special exercises you can do while sitting. On a long flight it is a good policy to find some way to exercise because Deep Vein Thrombosis can set in. This is a condition which has been tagged “Economy Class Syndrome” by some travel writers. The condition normally doesn’t affect most people, but a lot of airlines do warn passengers about it in their literature.

Technorati Tags: sleep on the planes, jet lag, Sleep on the plane

I never leave on a trip these days without taking my Airborne along especially if I fly through the friendly skies. During the last few years each time I flew I would come home with a cold or just not feel very well. There are those who would chalk it up to jet lag or some other travel phenomenon. Airborne was developed by school teacher Virginia Knight-McDowell when she no longer wanted to fall victim to second grade germs. Some may find that it doesn’t work that well for them, but it does for me. Another thing that always goes with me is a light, non-habit forming sleep aid. Equate is the one I use. I found it at Wal-Mart. Sleeping in a strange bed is always hard and it does seem to help. Of course, anyone needs to read the labels and make sure there is nothing in the formula that might have an adverse reaction. What works for one person is not always right for someone else, and a doctor might need to be consulted.

There are other things a traveler can take along with them like Chamomile tea bags. I also look for smaller sample products when going on a trip. The nice thing about that is that you can leave them behind if you run short of room in the luggage, and it leaves more space to place small gifts for friends and family back home.Traveling is supposed to be fun and trouble free. Getting a cold and a fever really puts a snag into an otherwise pleasurable trip. Sometimes, it can’t be helped—like the time my friends and I took turns getting infected with a nasty form of flu found only in Caracas. Certain countries in South America, Mexico, some areas in Asia and Africa need special attention. Before traveling to these places check with the U.S. State Department for latest updates on health and political conditions. They always have up-to-date advisories.

Some years back I went to Ghana and one advisory warned that buying food in some supermarkets could be risky. They suggested that if food needed to be bought that it be purchased from a street vendor because it was likely to be fresher. But, even then one does need to be cautious.I have always been pretty careful about food consumption when traveling to other countries. It is also a good idea to check and see if the country has its’ own water treatment plants. A good rule of thumb is to stay away from fruits and vegetables that grow along or under the ground. In some places contaminated water is used to irrigate the fields. Something like watermelon or cantaloupe is probably alright because the fruit comes encased in a thick skin. At best, make sure that items like carrots and beets are cooked almost to death.

Once in Bogota I ate beets which looked like they were cooked, and in fact, they were marinated. This was one time I really got sick. It pays to know someone who lives in the area when something like that happens. There is no better source than a local resident who deals with these types of issues all the time. My friend took me back to my room and sprinted down the street to the local market and came back with several large South American papayas. Papaya in those areas can be eaten safely because it has a thick covering. It should, however, be eaten right away. My friend surprised me by bringing all the seeds in a bowl and told me to chew them up. This did actually help along with some supplements another friend gave me. I was lucky. If someone gets a really bad case of food poisoning, especially if it is a child or an older person, they should go to a doctor. Following are some other tips that will most likely help to keep a globetrotter healthy. Other tips may appear throughout this website.

• Wash the hands. Yes, it is simple but effective.
• Drink a lot of water. These days bottled water can be purchased almost anywhere.
• Antiseptic wipes are a good, cheap investment.
• Bed sheets are more likely to be cleaner than blankets in a hotel room. Travel experts suggest that the sheets should closest to your face.
• An N95 mask is carried by some travelers. I never use one myself, but it could come in handy if someone is just recovering from a cold and does not want to pick up other maladies from fellow plane passengers.

Check out these websites for more information.

• www.cdc.gov/travel
• http://www.healthytraveler.com/

So travel healthy — practice these travel health tips and really enjoy your trip!

Technorati Tags: travel healthy, travel health tips