Author Archive
Cruises – Are You Concerned You May Get Seasick On A Cruise?
December 9, 2009
There are lots of people who love to travel that would really like to take a luxury cruise vacation or holiday but are worried that they may get seasick. If they think that it could be a problem they should book a short one to three day cruise. Also, this information below may change their minds concerning seasickness on cruises.
Modern cruise ships have drastically reduced the problem of seasickness. The larger ships of today cut through the waves instead of riding on top of them. As well, new technologies like stabilizers and counterbalancing systems have greatly reduced the pitch and roll of these ships, all but neutralizing the problem of seasickness.
However, if you think you have a severe seasickness problem, you may want to book an inside cabin located on a lower deck and in the middle of the ship. This is the area of the ship where the least rocking motion is felt. If you are planning to book a trans-Atlantic cruise, it is possible that an ocean crossing may be rough at certain times.
If needed, the ship’s doctor can prescribe medication such as Benadryl, Bonine, or Dramamine tablets that will treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, the worst symptoms of motion sickness. There is another very effective, physician prescribed, anti-seasickness product called Transderm Scop. It is a small patch that is placed behind each ear. These patches can lessen the effects of, or even prevent, motion sickness.
Sea-Bands, which apply gentle pressure to the acupressure points on your wrists also work well. They have been clinically tested to help provide relief from nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness when traveling, anesthesia, chemotherapy, pregnancy, and any condition that may induce vomiting. They are available in pharmacies and drug stores as well as most travel oriented stores and don’t require a prescription. They do not cause any side effects so can be used safely, again and again, whenever you feel nauseous. They also can be purchased online at Sea-Band.com.
Health care professionals such as a physician, or pharmacist should always be consulted about drug dosages and their possible side effects. There can also be side effects caused by different drug combinations, even with over-the-counter medications.
To quickly find and book cheap flights and luxury cruises at really great discounts, whenever you want to enjoy
Holidays Or Vacations – Search For Bedbugs In Hotels Or Resorts
December 6, 2009
Most people when they travel on holidays or vacations who stay at hotels and resorts never think of it, but they may have some uninvited guests. Bed bugs definitely don’t make good hotel or resort roommates when you’re on a vacation or holiday.
Even the best luxurious five-star hotels and resorts can occasionally get an infestation of bed bugs. This is sometimes unavoidable because many hundreds, or even thousands of travelers and tourists can be staying at a hotel or resort at any given time. These little blood drinking critters can easily hitch a ride on unsuspecting travelers or hide in their luggage. Hotel and resort managers are very aware of this problem and do their best to prevent this from happening.
What do these blood loving pests look like?
Bedbugs are very tiny, flat, wingless bugs. Their size can vary from a head of a pin to about one-quarter of an inch in length when fully mature. They have an oval shape and look like small watermelon seeds. Their color can vary from a translucent yellow to a dark reddish brown. If they have just dined on a traveler’s blood they may appear dark brown or black in color.
How easy are they to find?
Most vacationers are unaware of bedbugs until they see red bite marks on their bodies and start scratching their itchy wounds. Bed bugs can be extremely difficult to find if the infestation is light. Their eggs are very tiny and about the size of grains of rice which are even harder to see. To make matters even worse they tend to be nocturnal so they are waking up and looking for a blood breakfast when most vacationers are tired and going to sleep.
When you check into your room it is advisable to roll the bed sheets, blankets and comforters all the way down to see if you can find any bed bugs. A tell tale sign that they are there are dark fecal spots or drops of dried blood on the bed linen, pillowcases, or in the seams around the mattress or box springs. You may also find what appear to be shells of bed bugs which are in fact the skins that they shed as they mature. If you find any signs of their presence, call down to the front desk and ask for another room. You may be able to get a discount on your hotel or resort room rate for the upsetting experience and inconvenience.
Bed bugs do not reflect on the cleanliness of hotels and resorts. These insects do not eat crumbs or dirt, or anything we may associate with unsanitary hotel room conditions. They only feed on blood. In terms of a vacationer’s health, current research indicates that these insects do not appear to spread disease even though they can harbor well over twenty-five different pathogens.
Not everybody gets bitten by bed bugs. Sometimes, if there are two travelers sleeping in the same bed, only one may get bitten. However, bed bugs do not discriminate. Given a chance they will gladly dine on anyone’s blood. Bed bugs are attracted to the heat of our bodies and the carbon dioxide that we exhale when we breathe. They also release chemicals to attract and find each other. These night crawlers move fast and are excellent climbers. They can quietly tag along in a traveler’s luggage or on their clothes.
What can you do to avoid these pests when traveling on your holidays?
Unfortunately, apart from checking the bed linen, mattress, box springs, bed frames, behind the bed’s headboard, any upholstered furniture, and along the baseboards in your room, that is about all you can do.
Bed bugs are a universal problem and can be found in motels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, hotels, resorts, pod hotels, hospitals, airplanes, trains, buses, cabs, cruise ships, etc. These tiny blood suckers can be located near any readily available source of blood, like tired travelers. Bed bugs can also hitch a ride home with you, turning your home sweet home into a living hell.
What can you do to get rid of bed bugs?
It is best to leave the job to a professional pest control company as these pests are very difficult to get rid of. It’s very expensive and can take time to treat an infestation of bed bugs which usually involves using steam and pesticides. This process will probably have to be repeated a number of times before the very hot steam and pesticides kill all of them. Remember that the insects must come into direct contact with the hot steam and pesticides for these tactics to be totally effective.
As far as your home is concerned, prevention is a lot easier and far less costly than the cure. In your home, you do not have to throw your mattress and box springs out. You can easily cover your mattress and box springs with zippered plastic coverings which will prevent bedbugs from hiding in the cracks and crevices of your mattress. There are also zippered plastic protectors that are just as effective for your pillows. This will prevent any possible bedbugs that are inside from getting out. At the same time it will prevent any new infestations from getting in, thus eliminating the bed as a problem. However, this is only one part of the solution. You will still need to apply steam and pesticides to any areas of the home where they could be hiding.
There is a new and exciting product that appears very promising for monitoring and eliminating bed bugs. It’s the NightWatch Bedbug Trap designed by Bio Sensory, Inc.. This small and easy to use product has a kairomone, carbon dioxide, and a heat lure that traps and efficiently kills bed bugs. Under a monitored field test their product captured and killed more than a thousand bed bugs
To quickly locate and book cheap flights and luxury cruises at really great discounts, whenever you want to
Pod Hotels – They Can Save You Money On Holidays And Vacations
December 1, 2009
Whenever you book flights and travel through airports on holidays and vacations, look around. You could just see a pod hotel. Here is the low-down on these creative airport and city accommodations.
Pod hotels are not a new evolution. These kind of hotels have been in existence for many years, but most travelers have never heard of them. They originated in Japan as “capsule hotels”, that were, and are still being used mainly by businessmen and women on stopovers. Nowadays pod hotels are becoming more and more popular with vacation travelers as well, because they are convenient and cost substantially less than regular hotels. They are found in the U.S., Britain, Europe, and Asia, usually in, or near airports.
The pod hotel concept is in its infancy in the U.S. and Europe, but it is growing by leaps and bounds as more and more holiday travelers demand this unique service. A number of entrepreneurs are building small, pod-like hotel rooms that are usually rented by the hour, or number of hours.
Most pod hotel rooms are small, but comfortable and convenient, and they can have all the amenities of a regular hotel room at a fraction of the cost. They can be a good choice for budget-conscious business travelers and vacationers.
Some pod hotels are in airports such as the ones at Yotel.com, at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.
EasyHotels.com have pod hotels in London, Zurich, Budapest, and Basal, QBICHotels.com have pod hotels located in Antwerp and Amsterdam. A New York City pod hotel is called the PickwickArms.com.
There is a new concept in pod hotels called Metronap Sleep Pods. These space age styled pods are springing up not only on the concourses of airports, but in strategic locations in office buildings. They are perfect for tourists and business travelers, as well as tired people and executives that just want to have a short nap. Even though these sleep pods are situated out in the open, they partially enclose for privacy, but are not claustrophobic. They are also equipped with noise canceling headphones. The rental cost is by the hour and is reasonably priced.
To quickly locate and book cheap flights and luxury cruises at really great discounts, whenever you want to
Avoid DVT On Airline Flights When On Vacations Or Holidays
November 30, 2009
People who take air flights when they travel on vacations and holidays could be at risk of developing a severe medical problem called DVT, or deep vein thrombosis, which can be life threatening. The following info will cover travel tips on how to prevent this problem from becoming into a serious medical condition when you travel on airline flights.
Commercial air flights tend to cause airline passengers’ blood to thicken and slow down, especially in their lower legs, which can increase the possibility of getting blood clots. The longer the flight, the greater the health risk. DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is caused by a blood clot forming in one of the legs. This is a serious medical emergency. If this dangerous blood clot breaks off, it may migrate to the lungs which can be fatal.
A common misconception is that younger, stronger, and physically fit athletes are less likely to develop deep vein thrombosis. Recent research shows that many people with a slower at rest blood flow, such as athletes, are in reality more at risk than the general population. People that have a history of swollen legs can also be at risk. Other people who are at risk are those that have, or have had, a serious health condition such as heart disease, diabetes, or cancer. Women that are pregnant, or on birth control pills or on hormone replacement therapy, tend to be more prone to deep vein thrombosis. Obesity may also be a factor.
There are two sets of symptoms that relate to deep vein thrombosis that you should be aware of. The milder set of symptoms may start to show during your flight or within the next few days. These symptoms are tenderness, redness, swelling, or cramps in one of your lower legs. Some bruising or swelling can also appear behind one of your knees. The most severe second set of symptoms generally appear two or more days after a blood clot has been formed. These symptoms can include fainting, shortness of breath, painful or rapid breathing, chest pains that can be accompanied by pain in one shoulder, coughing up blood, and fever.
What can contribute to these serious symptoms?
Deep vein thrombosis can occur in your lower legs at anytime when you are sitting in one position for a long period of time without moving. Some research shows that you are at three times the risk of developing this serious medical condition when flying. Driving and traveling by bus or train, or even sitting in your favorite easy chair can also cause it.
How can you, as an airline passenger, prevent this life-threatening condition from happening?
You can help prevent DVT from developing in your legs by increasing your circulation. If you are predisposed to any of the risks above, you may want to book an aisle seat to give you some more room to move and enable you to get up and walk around at anytime without disturbing other passengers.
Some experts suggest you wear loose clothing and avoid wearing tightly fitting slacks and elastic support stockings or socks; move and exercise your legs frequently while sitting; change your sitting position often; not sitting with you legs crossed; walk up and down the aisle every half-hour or so, and drink a sports drink such as Gatorade so you do not become dehydrated.
It is very common for deep vein thrombosis to be misdiagnosed which could be fatal. If you develop any of the above symptoms you must seek medical help immediately. Inform the doctor who is treating you that have just recently flown and you think that it could be a blood clot. If the physician doesn’t believe it is deep vein thrombosis, ask him to order an ultrasound of your leg to be sure. If you are experiencing any chest problems, insist that he or she do a simple and painless blood oxygen measurement on your finger. It only takes a couple of minutes and will prevent a serious misdiagnosis of your condition.
AirHealth is an excellent, non-profit organization that is dedicated to your health when you travel on commercial airline flights. There’s a lot of valuable up to date information and research on their website concerning deep vein thrombosis that could save your life. They also have a free wallet-sized flyer that you can print off and take with you when you fly. The flyer is available in English, French, and Spanish.
fabulous vacation, visit Travel Tips Guide for more info.