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Although many people suffer from diabetes it does not stop many to travel around the world and behave just like another any other regular traveler, in most cases these trip end in the most normal and regular way, but in some cases things get a little complicated while the diabetic is on the road, there are a few things to know and consider when traveling. Diabetes should not stop you from traveling but careful planning is required in order to assure a safe and enjoyable trip.

You should always plan everything in advance, what is basically true to all passengers is also true for the diabetic passenger, and even more so if there is any mental pressure on the person that is traveling, make sure you have everything ready well in time, and save yourself the worries and anxiety.

Give yourself at least 2 to 3 months of planning. This will enable you to accomplish everything you need in your trip.

If your trip requires arrangement with a travel agent, inquire on the special package for diabetic. Itineraries should be different and meals should conform to the need of a diabetic.

When packing, do not place your diabetes supplies and medications in one bag. Have them separated in case your bag is stolen or lost. Insulin will lose its strength if stored in a very cold or hot place such as the globe compartment of the car. Un-pressurized environment will also give the same effect.

If you travel by plane, have your medications and diabetes supply especially your insulin in your carry-on luggage. Have them with you all the time. Insulin should not be exposed in x-ray. Security scanners on the other hand will not destroy your blood glucose meter.

Check your blood sugar level regularly.

Take note of your medication schedules especially if you are crossing time zones. If you want to rest during the flight, inform a flight attendant to wake you up for your medication.

Holiday vacation on a cruise can mean buffet meals. Control your cravings and only eat the amount prescribe on you. Physical activity such as swimming, exercising, and strolling the deck can compensate on your food intake.

If you are traveling by car, make sure that you keep a good eye on your blood sugar level before you leave and every 4 hours during the trip.

Make frequent stops to exercise your legs and improve your blood circulation. .

If you are on a backpacking trip, make sure that your diet is followed. Keep off from food that is not suitable to your condition. Make sure that you do not go beyond your limits in drinking and eating.

Celia Namart
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/travel-tips-for-people-with-diabetes-83788.html

Technorati Tags: Blood Glucose Meter, Blood Sugar Level, Buffet Meals, Carry On Luggage, Cravings, Crossing Time Zones, Diabetes Medications, Diabetes Supplies, Diabetes Supply, Flight Attendant, Holiday Vacation, Hot Place, Insulin, Itineraries, Medication Schedules, Security Scanners, Travel Agent, Travel Tips, Worries, X Ray Security

It’s common for many travellers to suffer post-travel regret. Whether it’s because of lost or stolen belongings, being taken for a ride, getting lost, or just suffering a poor travel experience.  No one wants their memories of a long anticipated trip to be peppered with bad experiences, and fortunately there are some incredibly simple things you can do to lessen the chances of it happening.  

1.       Prepare before you go.
Obviously the more prepared you are for your trip; the less likely you are to suffer frustration when you arrive.  A good start here is ensuring you have most of your plans pre-booked, particularly your accommodation. Usually when you arrive you’ll be exhausted, and often it will be in the evening, so as a minimum it’s a good idea to have your first night or two in each city booked. And check the city tourist websites prior to booking to see if there are local events being held at the time of your travel, as this can affect availability & price. Otherwise you can still bargain-hunt when pre-booking, by using a price-comparison site, or last minute engines. 
Here are a few other items you shouldn’t leave home without.  
- At least one power adapter for the country you’re visiting. 
-Local guidebooks are invaluable for determining places to see, times & days of sight openings, places to eat, and the basic & words phrases you’ll need in that language to get by. If it’s a heavy guidebook, you may find removing the language pages & jotting other day trip details down is a good option. You can then carry them separately in your bag, which is a much lighter option to the whole book.  
-Printed directions for the hotels you’re staying at. Google maps are perfect for this whether on foot or by vehicle. 
-At least 2 ATM cards. Preferably 2 per person if you’re travelling with a mate. This way if one is rejected in certain countries, or worse gobbled up by a machine, you have a back-up. It’s usually worthwhile to take a credit card, but there are some cautions here. See more on this below. 

2.       Pack light - Pack right 
One of the major frustrations when travelling can be either having too much luggage or the wrong kind.  The all-time most important tip any regular traveller will give you is to pack light. Inevitably at some point even with planned travel, you will need to pull or carry your luggage. If there are two of you, this makes it somewhat easier. But remember there’s a good chance you’ll pick up a few souvenirs or other items while you’re there, so starting with a lot of luggage, will only make it more difficult later. Layer clothing is the best kind to take, with a good mix of easy wear t-shirts & singlets. Check expected temperatures before you go, but inevitably you’ll almost always need at least one warmer jacket. Choose one that is warm, but not too bulky.  If you are travelling with a mate or spouse, combining your luggage into one medium or large case can be a great decision. If you find you’re picking up items on your travels, and running out of room, it’s usually extremely easy to pick up a cheap knock-off bag on wheels that will see you out til you get home. Starting out with just one main piece of luggage, makes sharing the load with a companion easier. This is also a much safer option, see more on this below. 

3.       Get the right travel gear
If you are travelling through a westernised country and are likely to be in built up areas, luggage on wheels is almost always the best option. It’s easier to pull luggage than carry it, and it’s more secure against serious thieves.  
However for rural, remote areas or under-developed countries, a backpack is definitely best.  It’s not only more practical if you’re getting around on foot more or transporting via boat or bus, it’s also a lower security risk in many of these places. You don’t want to draw attention to expensive-looking baggage, which could imply you have expensive contents. If you take a back-pack, make sure it’s sturdy, and can be kept secure. Don’t keep items of value in any external pockets. 
The other major key to having fuss-free daily adventures is to make sure you have the right carry-bag. A long-strapped sling bag is best. Small backpacks of any description are a shining beacon to thieves, where your belongings are easily reached conveniently behind your back. You should have a bag you can cross over your shoulder. Ensuring it has a comfortable, strong strap. This bag will do a lot of walking with you, and hold most of your valuable items, so getting it right is a high priority. A zipped bag is mandatory, one which allows no gaps for sneaky hands. If it has a flap, ensure the zip under it is always fully closed, and the zip opening facing to your front. In this way, your valuables are carried at the front of your body, and near impossible to access by another person.
If you are travelling as a male & female, a satchel which is more uni-sex is ideal, because you can share carrying the load.

4.       Be travel wise 
By following the above suggestions on luggage, you should hopefully have a limited amount of it which is always a far more secure way to travel. If you stop at anytime to make arrangements, always stay with your luggage, and if possible always keep a hand on it. Un-attended luggage is the No.1 kind to go missing in high traffic areas, such as train & bus stations. For this reason when travelling on trains over longer periods, you should keep your luggage close to you, or at least where you can see it. Ideally, get a compartment where you are guaranteed to have it with you. 
Where possible you should carry your passports with you at all times. Even many hotel safe’s, unless it’s a reputable hotel, are not very secure. So aim to take things of value with you throughout the day. You should keep your valuables at the bottom of your carry bag, and in an internal zip compartment if you have one.  
In many parts of the world credit card fraud is still rampant. Whilst you’ll usually want to take a credit card with you, try to use it sparingly to lessen the chances of the number falling into the wrong hands. It’s a good idea to try and pay for transportation, dining etc with cash withdrawn from an ATM. Do your best not to let your credit card leave your sight. 
In certain countries, over-charging tourists is common, so be cautious. For hotels, take all paperwork detailing the room type with you, to help ensure you get what you’ve paid for.  Scams can also occur in cafe’s, particularly with getting wine inferior to that which you’ve paid for.  If in doubt query it before you consume it.  If you are blatantly overcharged, stand your ground. And try to give close to exact money, so there’s no opportunity for them to conveniently keep the change. 
In most under-developed countries, you can expect scams around every corner. From travel agencies, to people approaching you on the street. When you arrive, read the hotel information or speak to them about what dangers there may be in that area. Guidebooks will usually indicate which tour agencies don’t offer products as displayed, so peruse these before spending your money.

5.       Be travel safe
In many cities all over the world, you can find yourself a target for those who prey on un-wary travellers. Be sensible, do your best not to look like a tourist. Pulling out maps in the middle of the street is a clear sign you’re a tourist, and an easy target. So try where possible to find a convenient spot to do this discretely, or make your plans over lunch. Waist bags worn outside your clothing are to thieves like a red-flag to a bull. There are far better ways of keeping your money close. If you’re not carrying a bag, choose a belt that goes under your clothes. 
When walking from place to place, try to stick close to others, and avoid dark streets at night & quite alleys in the day. There’s usually another way you can go that’s populated, or catch transport. 
Being street smart is fairly common sense. Stay aware, and cautious..and you’ll likely ward off any potential incidents. This doesn’t mean you have to be paranoid, but just remember you’re away from home, and as a tourist you’re at risk. 

If you keep these few basic rules you should find you enjoy fairly fuss-free travel. Inevitably there will always be things that go wrong, and can’t be avoided. But don’t let them spoil your dream trip. Prepare well, be travel wise, and you’re very likely to have an adventure full of wonderful memories.

Rachel Barlow
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/5-top-tips-to-frustrationfree-travel-700282.html

Technorati Tags: Amp, Atm Cards, Belongings, City Tourist, Day Trip, First Night, Free Travel, Frustration, Google, Google Maps, Guidebooks, Local Events, Mate, Phrases, Post Travel, Power Adapter, Price Comparison, Travel Experience, Travellers, Trip Details

When planning to take a flight, there are a number of important things one should do before boarding the plane. Whether it is for personal or business reasons, making sure you have made the appropriate preparations is a key component of having a pleasant flight experience. Below are a few pre-flight airline travel tips to help you prepare for your flight.

Pack Smart: Don’t put all of your essential items in one luggage bag. Divide the essentials between your luggage bags. If you do this and a luggage piece is lost, you will not lose all of your important belongings. Mark your luggage bags with something that will make it easy to identify. This will help prevent someone else from taking your luggage by mistake. When it comes to traveling with cash in another country, carry only the required amount of local currency that you need when you are in the foreign country. Make sure that you will be able to use your bank debit card in another country. As well, make sure you have the appropriate traveler’s checks that can be used in the country.

Make Copies of Essentials Documents: With any important document that you are taking with you on your trip, make sure you have made copies of those documents and they are stored in a safe place on your trip and in a safe place at home.

Flight Confirmation: It is important to call and reconfirm your booking about 24-72 hours in advance of the scheduled flight. Check with news sources such as local television to make sure there have not been any issues that will cause a flight disruption or cancellation. You can also check the airline online to see if there have been any changes with your flight.

Identification and Passports: Passengers over the age of 16 must show government-issued photo identification for domestic air travel such as a driver’s license or health card. For those under the age of 16, non-government issued identification such as a student ID card or birth certificate is recommended. When traveling internationally, every passenger, including their children, must provide a valid passport.

Visas: It is essential that you check the visa requirements for the countries you are visiting. The Consular Affairs website has a list of countries that you need a visa to travel to. Check the International Travel Reports to make sure there are no security, safety, and health issues with the county you are going to visit.

Insurance: When traveling to another country or even state or province, it is important that you are protected. Check with your Credit Card Company, home insurance policy, and auto club insurance to see if you have adequate coverage for medical emergencies, lost or stolen luggage…etc. Consider purchasing travel insurance. Make sure you know exactly what your coverage entails.

Immunizations: It is important to make sure you have the appropriate vaccinations for the health risks associated with the country you are traveling. In some countries, immunization is a requirement for entering that country. Anti-malarial medications may have to be started weeks in advance of the flight.

Prepare for Airport Security: Make sure you know what you can take on the flight and what is prohibited. Passengers are allowed to bring liquids, gels and aerosols through security screening as long as the items are packaged in containers with a capacity of 100ml / 100 grams or less, and that the containers fit in one sealable clear plastic bag.

Before you embark on your next flight, it is important to make the necessary preparations so that your trip will be relaxing and enjoyable.

Adriana N

Technorati Tags: Airline Travel Tips, Bank Debit Card, Belongings, Birth Certificate, Business Reasons, Flight Airline, Flight Check, Flight Confirmation, Flight Disruption, Flight Experience, Flight Pack, Government Issued Photo Identification, Health Card, Home Flight, Important Things, Luggage Bags, Passports, Safe Place, Student Id Card, Travel Planning

Almost everybody has a dream of someday traveling to New York State. Whether it is the sights of the Big Apple or the beauty of the Adirondack Mountains and outdoor activities around the Finger Lakes.

Unfortunately, dreams of an outstanding New York travel deal are frequently turned into nightmares when potential visitors are handed opening prices on trips to NY.

However, the smart consumer should not despair OR pay the excessive prices initially offered. With the internet and numerous travel agencies in the market for your business, finding a quality New York travel deal with specifics such as airline tickets and hotel stays can be pretty simple.

Keep in mind that traveling to NY can still be very expensive with all of the “extras” involved. But if you do a bit of fact finding and take the advice of this article, finding an excellent travel deal to NY may be easier than you think.

Being that we are in the Age of Information, with answers to our needs at our fingertips, one of the most powerful resources that you have to learn about a noteworthy New York travel deal is the internet. There are abundant websites offering savings for frugal, self-motivated travelers.

Here are a few tricks to finding online deals for your subsequent jaunt to NY:

1. Make sure that you check around previous to making any payment toward your trip. Do not purchase the first airline ticket you see offered online and do not book the first accommodation you identify just because you think it seems like a good New York travel deal. Always check no less than three (3) sources for every aspect of your vacation.

Start with the large travel websites; they usually produce the most valid comparison starting points for prices. Then go to some of the smaller websites (believe me they are hard to miss). After you get a feel for what is out there, then you could even go straight to the website of the airline or lodging you may have seen as a good option for from the previous fact-finding. Often times going directly to the supplier can provide you with the greatest New York travel deal.

2. It is often wise to start the research for your vacation several months in advance. It is a good idea to check the prices for your airfare if booked now for your desired departure date and also check the last minute flights to your destination at the same time. If you ascertain that waiting until the last minute to book your plane could be a worthwhile New York travel deal, then you may want to reflect upon that as a part of your trip plans. You will need to be sure to be flexible in case you cannot get on the flight that you had originally wanted.

3. When considering your lodging options, you should look into hostels in addition to the usual hotels, etc. These are low-budget accommodations that are a delightful combination of a Bed & Breakfast and a dorm and provide uncomplicated travelers with an amazing New York travel deal. There are no less than 40 separate hostels scattered around the metropolitan area of the Big Apple and quoted prices start as low as $15 USD per night!

4. When you get to your destination in NY, speak with some of the locals. Most of the time there will be a friendly face available at your hotel, hostel, etc. Find out from them the greatest places to go for a nice dinner or if there are any locally sponsored events or games that you can attend. The locals normally know all of the best quaint restaurants with considerable atmosphere that will not empty your pocketbook on a single meal and some of the most interesting activities to be present at.

Visiting New York State can be very satisfying. One of the greatest ways to derive pleasure from your vacation is to know that you have found at least one New York travel deal that has helped to stretch your budgeted trip money. This way you will have more of that allocated cash to do what you really want to do, which is: experience New York.

Steve Gray
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/tips-for-finding-an-amazing-new-york-travel-deal-139395.html

Technorati Tags: Adirondack Mountains, Age Of Information, Airline Ticket, Airline Tickets, Fact Finding, Finger Lakes, Fingertips, Hotel Stays, Jaunt, Large Travel, New York State, New York Travel, Nightmares, Powerful Resources, Smart Consumer, Specifics, Travel Agencies, Travel Deal, Travel Websites, Valid Comparison

RIDDLE! What is it?

They spend thousands encouraging us to buy it.

We are advised never to go on holiday without it.

But when we want to buy it, they don’t want to sell it to us.

Read on ………..

So after much deliberation we have chosen the holiday destination, sorted out the flights, and already we are picturing ourselves languishing on warm sands with the inviting blue sea stretching before us, and we just have the minor formality of the holiday travel insurance and then all the arrangements will be complete. Did I say MINOR? Well, yes, holiday insurance was once just a minor formality, but now for retired folk or senior citizens it has become a MAJOR, MAJOR problem. (In fact, when talking to friends it appears that holiday insurance has replaced house prices as the after dinner discussion). The problem is not just about how health affects the cost of insurance but it’s about how age affects the cost of insurance. Isn’t it amazing how an insurance company can take your annual holiday insurance payments for years, you have never made a claim, and suddenly because you have just passed a certain birthday you are too risky to consider. Your medical history may be fine, in fact you may be fitter than the 30 year old couch potato on the end of the telephone, but that doesn’t count - the only thing that counts is the date on your birth certificate. And when you do find an insurance company who will cover you, you find that the premium costs more than the holiday.

However, one thing is certain, WE MUST HAVE HOLIDAY TRAVEL INSURANCE (you realize how essential it is when you consider that an air ambulance from the USA will set you back approx £35,000), and another important point is to be honest when declaring your medical history, because Insurance Companies are not charities and will possibly look into your medical history hoping to find some information (however slight you may have considered it at the time it was recorded) to avoid paying for example that air ambulance cost from the USA.

A timely reminder that the E111 was discontinued on 31 December 05 and was replaced by the EHIC (the European Health Insurance Card), which you can obtain from the Post Office or www.dh.gov.uk. It is useful to take this, but it is definitely not a substitute for personal holiday insurance.

And whilst on the subject of European holidays; a couple of years back we met a group of Spanish pensioners having a great time on the Costa del Sol. We found out why it was such a joyous occasion, it came courtesy of the Spanish Government - the Government treats senior citizens to a week’s free holiday. On reflection, it could possibly work out cheaper for the National Health if our senior citizens were sent to warmer climes during the winter when bronchitis and respiratory problems abound. Mr Brown, it’s food for thought. After all, he informs us that in 2008 we shall be receiving free bus travel throughout the country, so perhaps we can but dream that the boundaries be extended somewhat. However, there is still the problem of the necessary holiday travel insurance.

A recent survey found that 9 out of 10 annual travel policies impose an upper age limit. It is slightly easier to obtain single trip policies: but this can work out expensive is you plan to take more than a couple of holidays a year. Here are a few worth contacting, but do shop around as prices vary enormously -

All Clear of Brentwood - www.allcleartravel.co.uk

Citybond - www.citybond.co.uk

Churchill - www.churchill.com)

Age Concern ) will insure the over 80s

Help the Aged ) will insure the over 80s

Saga ) will insure the over 80s

Norwich & Peterborough - www.npbs.co.uk

Flexicover - www.flexicover.co.uk

Visit Mabels…Maintaining Bygone Times, containing numerous articles thoughtfully researched mainly for the older person. You may access these articles by visiting http://www.mabels.org.uk/ - You will learn about the best tips to improve your health, fitness, finances, & helpful organisations to make the most out of life.

Jo Godden
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/travel-insurance-tips-advice-resources-for-seniors-222504.html

Technorati Tags: Air Ambulance, Annual Holiday Insurance, Birth Certificate, Blue Sea, Charities, Couch Potato, Deliberation, Formality, Holiday Destination, Holiday Travel Insurance, House Prices, Important Point, Insurance Companies, Insurance Company, Insurance Payments, Insurance Tips, Medical History, Riddle, Senior Citizens, Warm Sands