Traveling with Disabilities: Ten Top Tips 3

8. Determine whether the local transport services of the city you are
visiting are equipped with special seats for disabled persons, and
whether the vehicles are equipped with a ramp. Check to see if the
hotel you are staying at has an airport shuttle, how many elevators,
how easy the access to the hotel and your room with be, and so on.

9. If you are utilizing a service dog, check out whether the countries
you are planning to visit permit such dogs. Notify the airlines upon
making the reservation that you will have a service dog on board, and
what the extra handling and service fees might be for this.

10. The most important tip is to ensure that your insurance plan
provides coverage/compensation in the cities you are planning to
visit. You can obtain additional travel insurance at the airport,
online when you book, through the credit card company you are using to
pay for your trip, and/or or through your travel agent, if necessary.

Traveling with disabilities can be difficult, but not impossible. The
main things is to know before you go and be prepared.

Traveling with Disabilities: Ten Top Tips 2

4. Health care is another issue to check out before embarking on your
trip. It makes sense to have a discussion with your doctor regarding
medicines that might not be available in your country/city of
destination. Stock yourself adequately with them prior to departing.
Also remember to pack your medicine in your carry on. At the worst, if
you lose it, remember that you can get a three day emergency supply
from a pharmacy in the US (though you will probably have to pay more
than the co-pay).

5. Check with the airline to determine what the regulations are for
transporting medications to and from destinations. You may require a
doctor’s note for each medication. Be careful with large liquid
bottles in particular because, like baby formula, they might be
disallowed by certain airlines due to heightened security
restrictions. If you are carrying something like insulin that needs to
be refrigerated, make sure you bring it along in a cold back with the
small freezer packs. Also make sure you request a refrigerator in your
room at the hotel.

6. Always carry your medications in a clear plastic bag to take on
board. Do not store it in your luggage as on-board baggage can be lost
or stolen.

7. Carry your doctor’s prescription along with you if you are being
treated with prescription drugs. Also, have on hand the generic name
of the drug just in case you need to refill it in another country.

Traveling with Disabilities: Ten Top Tips 1

Just because you are disabled does not mean that you should not enjoy
the joys of traveling. More and more disabled people are traveling and
enjoying wonderful vacations now thanks to their needs being taken
into consideration.

A lack of mobility should not mean a life sentence stuck inside the
house. Disabled persons have their special individual requirements
depending on their degree of disability, and type. Many more tourist
destinations are adequately equipped to accommodate disabled persons.
If you plan before you go, it should make for a smooth and enjoyable
trip.

Hoverounds and other types of motorized wheelchairs, plus walkers,
strollers, canes that convert into seats, and more, are all available
now, to help take the stress and strain of travel off older people
too, not just the disabled.

If you are disabled or have limited mobility in some way, and want to
ensure that your trip be a memorable one, here are ten tips on how to
travel with disabilities.

1. Research the cities on your itinerary before traveling to ensure
that they have the resources required for disabled persons. Do not
hesitate to ask about the services provided.

2. When making airline reservations either on the phone, online, or
through a travel agent, let them know you need assistance (such as a
wheelchair) from the time you arrive at the airport to the time you
disembark at your destination. Even if you have just a mild
disability, remember that airports can be very large, with long walks
from gate to gate.
Also keep this in mind if you have to change planes on your trip.
Certain airports like Atlanta and Charlotte and the DC airports, can
be impossible to get through in anything less than 30 minutes even for
the physically able, so know before you go, plan your routes
accordingly, and make sure there will be assistance for you as well.

3. Check out the local luggage transportation facilities to and from
the airport/station. In some cases you can send your luggage and heavy
items like your power chair on ahead so it will be there waiting for
you.

The thrill of camping outdoors during winter is something that most travelers love, especially those who seek adventure. This adventure, regardless of the excitement it provides, is laden with challenges that might prove to be unsettling if one is not adequately prepared.

The fun of camping out in the winter is far more challenging than that of camping out during the summer season. Thus, there are precautions to be taken to ensure that the experience is a safe as well as memorable one.

What type of camping equipment will you need? Here is a list to assist you.

* Warm clothing. Select clothes that protect you from the harsh cold weather.

* Wear layers. It is better to have several layers of warm clothing that provide adequate air circulation. Avoid polyester-based clothes.

* Appropriate boots. The boots should be slightly larger than the ones you wear normally, since you will need to wear at least two pair of thick woolen socks in order to combat the chill.

* Leather mittens are another important item to carry along with you.

* Include a pair of gloves as well, since it is tough to carry out certain camping tasks with mittens on. Bring two pairs of each.

* Sleeping bag. Sleeping gear is your second line of defense after your tent. A tent is not designed to keep you warm. It just protects you from snow and water, and not from the harsh chilly winds you might experience. A good sleeping bag that can be zipped up is recommended while camping in winter. Ensure the sleeping bag has a ventilation system that permits your body vapor to escape, and at the same time allowing your body heat to remain within.

* Carry a plastic sheet to put on the ground. This will prevent the melting snow from soaking your sleeping bag.

* A large size thermos is also required for storing warm water

* Bring a small fuel-based oven.

* Also include these items: an LED flashlight with an additional pair of batteries, a first aid kit, toilet paper, a Swiss knife, a couple of match boxes, and a compass. Keep these small items in a waterproof zip-lock bag.

Lonely Planet Goes through the USA

Here’s a new book you might be interested in if you are thinking of
taking a vacation in the US, or would like to plan a stayvaction close
to home:

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Lonely Planet Goes through the USA State by State in this all new book

Vacationing with Your Pets: What You Should Know Before You Go 3

There are many hotels that are pet friendly, so always book your room
in these hotels to avoid any problems. Different attitudes towards
animals exist in different countries, and so you need to be aware of
them before you go. What you see as a family member might be seen as
livestock, unclean, or dinner to a local!

Also, it is recommended that you carry a first aid kit designed
especially for pets when you travel. You can buy them online, or put
one together yourself with some advice from your vet.

Pet foods are different the world over, as is water. It’s a good idea
to take your pet’s special brand of dog biscuits or food, and ensure
that you carry a sufficient amount to last the entire flight and
during your vacation, plus use bottled water only, to avoid any
water-borne illnesses.

Finally, if you are visiting a country where street dogs and cats run
free, make sure you have updated their flea and tick protection, with
Frontline, Heartgard and so on. You should be doing these monthly
anyway in the warmer months.

Travelling with your pet requires a lot of forward planning,
especially if you are planning to go overseas, but let’s face it-they
are a member of the family, and often taking them with you might be
expensive, but give you more peace of mind than boarding them or
leaving them at home with a petsitter

Vacationing with Your Pets: What You Should Know Before You Go 2
Airlines have certain rules as far as pets are concerned. Some pets
are allowed to travel inside the cabin if they are small enough, and
their bag is small enough, to fit under the seat. Otherwise, they have
to go in the climate controlled cargo hold.

In this case, they would have to be carried in special crates on
board, usually a hard sided crate with a water holder or water bottle
and one or more food dishes.

Each airline has rules and regulations about the dimensions of the
crate depending upon the pet’s size and weight. Your local pet shop
will be able to provide you with such crates. You might also wish to
consult with a livestock carrier for the best techniques for shipping
overseas. Many top dog and cat breeders use them, for example, to ship
show dogs or show cats all over the world.

The best advice I got was to put in nice soft bedding that was
familiar to the pet, and feed it the same thing before the flight, and
after the flight. I flew on British Airways with my prize dog and she
was allocated a special handler who would walk her etc before the
flight. They also suggested NOT tranquilizing the pet because if it
was a flight of more than 5 hours, the meds would wear off and then
the animal might start to panic and cause itself an injury.

So make sure you ask what sort of accommodations your pet will be
given, and most importantly, where you should go in the airport to
drop it off if it is not going in the cabin with you; sometimes you
might need to report to the cargo area of the terminal, not the
passenger terminal.

One other thing to consider is that many airlines have weather rules
regarding accepting pets for travel in the cargo area; too warm or
cold is dangerous for pets in the cargo area. This will also hold true
depending on the climate of certain countries you might plan to visit,
so check first, and always have a contingency plan in case you change
your mind, or circumstances change with the airline at the last
minute.

Also make sure you ask about all costs related to transport, including
whether or not you can provide your own crate, or have to rent or buy
one from them.

Vacationing with Your Pets: What You Should Know Before You Go 1

Pets are beloved members of a family, and no one wants to leave their
pet behind when visiting other cities or countries. Not only will you
miss them, boarding and pet care can be expensive, and there is always
the worry about emergencies while you are away. Even the best
petsitter can have trouble while you are gone, so if you are
vacationing in the USA, taking them with you is now simpler than ever
before.

With over 100 million households in the US owning pets, 66&% of the
multipet households, has become much easier to travel with pets, with
many pet friendly hotels now, like the Red Roof Inn, and pet friendly
airlines like Continental. However, there are certain things you need
to know before you go, especially if you are thinking of taking a pet
overseas.

There are some countries that do not permit animals from abroad
because they are protecting their own animals from rabies. So the
first thing you would need to do is find out if your planned
destination might be one of these. You can find out this information
by checking online, talking to your travel agent, or by enquiring
through the embassy of the country you are visiting.

There are some countries who do allow you to take a pet along with
you, but your pet needs to be immunized before they are allowed entry.
Therefore, it is a prudent course of action to have the pets
inoculated according to the requirements of the country you are
planning to visit. This will entail one or more trips to the vet plus
some sort of certification of inoculation, and will cost extra, so do
add this on to the price of the vacation, and compare it to the cost
of boarding your pet while you are away, to make the best financial
decision for you and your family.

Rabies vaccinations are the most important, and of course all dogs and
cats in the US should be regularly inoculated against it. Ensure that
your dog or cat wears a rabies tag on their collar. You should also
carry along paperwork that indicates your pet has been vaccinated, and
your dog licence. Also, there is a special tag you can place on the
pet’s collar designed for owner’s contact information. This is
critical in case your pet is lost or stolen. However, it is usually a
number to dial in the US only, so you might want to tape the number of
your accommodation to the tag while you are abroad.

Here are another 5 tips for fighting jet lag:

6. Check with your pharmacist about over-the-counter medications that
can help to fight jet lag. However, consult your physician prior to
taking such medications.

7. Upon arriving at your destination, you may want to take a nap.
However, try not to go to bed before 11 p.m. Make every attempt to
adjust to the local time in terms of meals and sleep patterns.

8. Keeping yourself awake while in-flight can actually help to
decrease jet lag if you would normally be up at that time rather than
sleeping. Get up frequently and walk up and down the aisle. You can
also do isometric exercises in your seat to help keep your blood
flowing.

9. If you need to take medications at fixed times of the day, consult
with physician about the times you should take them while in a
different time zone, to ensure a steady stream of medicine in your
blood stream. Don’t forget to also adjust yourself accordingly once
you get home.

10. Allow your body to adjust itself to the new time zone. Take it
easy when you reach the new destination, resting when you feel
fatigued, and drinking plenty of water.

Jetlag can really spoil a trip, or make your return home from vacation
an exhausting one. Hopefully these tips will help you beat jet lag.

Ten Ways to Beat Jet Lag 1

Have you ever suffered from unusual sleep patterns, especially after a
long jet trip? Our biological clock is set to respond to a certain
rhythm of darkness and daylight, and gets thrown out of gear when we
disturb the order of things. This is commonly referred to as jet lag.

When we travel to a destination that is many hours ahead or behind us,
our system becomes confused and it can take a number of days to adjust
itself to the new time zone. This problem usually occurs among
businessmen and women who have to travel frequently to overseas
locations during the course of their work. However, here are ten
suggestions that can help you to adjust to the time changes and beat
jet lag:

1. For very long trips, plan your trip in such a way so that it
includes a stop-over midway. This way, your system will have time to
adjust itself.2. Since sleep is disturbed due to the changes in your biological
clock, it is recommended that you sleep properly before the flight.
Catching up on your sleep in-flight also helps a lot.

3. The cabin of the plane is dry and you can become dehydrated. This
contributes to jet lag. Drink lots of water during the flight and
avoid alcoholic drinks as much as possible.

4. Adjusting yourself to the time zone of your destination helps. Try
to sleep and get up according to your destination point’s clock.
Eating at the appropriate time helps as well.

5. Exposing yourself to natural light is the best way to beat jet lag.
Try to spend some time outdoors when you reach your destination. This
works wonders for your biological clock. Avoid tanning too intently
for the first couple of days if you are going to a hot destination, as
it can dehydrate you, worsening your jet lag. (Also make sure to put
on plenty of sunscreen, even if you think you are just going to be
sightseeing).