Taking off Travel blog

Forbes recently published a list of the Top 5 Hazards for Business Travelers. While some people worry about terrorism, the good news is that it’s not really likely to trouble you, says iJet research (not unless you’re the one in 12 million, that is). Instead, the business travel hazards are much more mundane. Here’s the list from Forbes, along with our solution to them.

1. Fire

Some hotels in far flung places may not have enough fire protection. In our article on Ten Tips for Hotel Safety we advise on where to stay in a hotel for the right balance of security and safety and the rest of the tips are useful too.

2. Pickpockets

You never know when thieves are going to strike, so it’s best to protect your belonging at all times, even in the air. Check out Taking Precautions against In-Flight Thieves for four tips on doing just that. While you’re at it, read our tips on how to Be Safe in the Airport Parking Lot.

3. Falls

You never know when you’re going to slip and fall – or when, as happened to me once, a piece of hotel furniture will give way under you. (No, I wasn’t that heavy; it turned out that the furniture was damaged). What you can’t predict, you can’t avoid, but you can make sure that if you fall you can get the right medical treatment. That’s Why I Always Buy Travel Insurance. More on this in Travel Insurance: Essential or Extraneous? and Do You Really Need Travel Insurance?

4. Location

If you know where violent crime takes place, then you can avoid it. The key to this is researching the country, city or accommodation that you plan to visit or stay in. Where can you find this info? Check out Nine Places to Plan Your Next Trip.

5. Diet

If you don’t want Delhi Belly or Montezuma’s Revenge, then it pays to watch what you eat. Of course, you may still want to sample local cuisine, so find out Where the Locals Eat. And you shouldn’t just look after your diet on the street either. Here are our tips on How to Eat Healthy in an Airport and How to Stick to Your Diet When You Travel.

Your Turn

What travel safety tips would you add for avoiding business travel hazards?

OK,it’s not Friday, my usual time for highlighting great posts on other blogs, but here are some interesting travel posts I’ve bookmarked and shared recently.

Why Every Location Independent Entrepreneur Should Read More - WomanSeeksWorld

This is a great post on getting out of the cubicle and living the dream, using reading as motivation. Here’s an excerpt:

I had no savings, no motivation and no real plan for the rest of my life – I felt like my destiny was sitting in an office cubicle for 8 hours a day and that scared the hell out of me. I knew I wanted more, I just couldn’t put my finger on it, so I started reading.

Reverse Culture Shock – USA Over Consumerism - SoullTravelers3

What happens when you return home after a break? Jeanne Dee discusses reverse culture shock (which I’ve experienced myself). Here’s an excerpt:

Just hearing everyone speak English everywhere is a big cultural shock as we often go years without hearing hardly any English except among ourselves. The bigness of everything..from the gigantic washer and dryer in our Santa Cruz beach rental to the several gallons huge Cosco mayonaise jar in my 83 year old mother’s refrigerator …shakes up our consciousness.

25 Fun Things to Do in England - Europe a la Carte

There’s much more to do in England than visit London. Karen Bryan highlights a wealth of English attractions that will give every visitor something interesting to experience. Here’s an excerpt:

[Windsor Castle is] the largest inhabited castle in the world, and it’s quite impressive that visitors are allowed to see so much. It also struck me that it’s located so close to other buildings in the town – not far away on a distant hill (as castles in my imagination tend to be!).

How to Fly First Class Without Paying For It - Lifehacker

Lifehacker’s always good for advice on just about anything and these travel tips are no exception. This article gives 8 great ideas for upgrading your travel experience for free, including this simple one:

One of my favorite mottos when it comes to miles and points is, “it never hurts to ask.” You’d be surprised at how empowered check-in agents and gate agents are when it comes to re-assigning passengers. I recommend being extremely friendly and appreciative.

Behold the anti-social social media strategy in travel - Tnooz

Finally, this was an interesting story about places that are making a virtue of their remoteness and using social media to do it. Writer Troy Thompson says:

I love the thought of creating empty social profiles to drive home the point that your lodge is an escape from daily life.

Me too!

The warm weather is here: are your feet ready? Whether you’re taking a walking tour through the Amazon jungles or planning on day trips to the local amusement park, proper foot care is essential. There’s not a person on the planet that doesn’t know the pain of sore feet and blisters and how they can hinder a good time. With just a bit of common sense and these tips, you’ll stay on your feet—comfortably!

1. Shoe Type

While it’s tempting to be a fashionista and buy snazzy shoes to match every outfit, the way your shoe looks isn’t as important as the type of shoe you buy. If you plan on doing a lot of walking, opt for a good, sturdy tennis shoe or an athletic sandal. These types of shoes are made for walking and will serve your feet well.

2. Fit

Along with the type of shoe you buy, the fit of the shoe is just as important. You want a shoe with a wide toe bed that will allow your toes to flatten and spread naturally as you walk. A shoe that binds your toes together, pinches or rubs will have you screaming in pain by the end of the day. Similarly, if you have high arches or flat feet, be sure to buy a shoe with the proper foot bed for your foot type. Try on the shoe you’re considering and walk around the store. The shoe shouldn’t rub your toes or your heel as you walk or you’ll pay for it on your trip.

3. Insoles

If a shoe fits in all the right places but just isn’t supporting you the way it should, insoles can often be the cure. Insoles come in all types from heel supports to arch supports to simply those that provide a bit of extra cushion. Because shoes cannot be manufactured specifically to every foot out there, insoles can often provide that bit of extra comfort that you need in an otherwise great shoe.

4. First-Aid Kit

There are some great new blister preventing bandages and blister covering bandages on the market. These bandages beat the old trick of slapping a band-aid on the back of your heel by a mile. Make sure you pack plenty of these for your trip just in case. This will save you the time of hunting down a drug store should you get a blister on your foot in the middle of nowhere. Be sure to include tweezers, toenail clippers and a topical cream in your kit as well.

5. Take Them Off

Take your shoes off any chance you get and give your feet a chance to breathe. Take your shoes off, stretch your feet, wiggle your toes and walk barefoot for a few minutes. This is practically a must-do at the end of the day to prevent aching feet in the morning. If you can coax someone into giving you a foot massage at the end of the day, even better!

Blisters, injuries and sore feet can really take the wind out of your sails. By taking proper care of your feet on your vacation you’re sure to remain comfortable and ready to go! Following these tips will help stave off any potential foot problems and keep you on your toes.

Heather Johnson contributes at HoneymoonDestinations.org, a great honeymoon research website. Discover great honeymoon ideas today!

Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Travel insurance is insuring the possibility that someone who has paid in advance for the costs of a vacation will have to forgo taking the vacation because of unforeseen events. Another possibility is that travelers will arrive at their destinations, but then an occurrence prevents them from continuing on with the rest of the trip. If these people purchased travel insurance, these would be the times when it would not be considered an extraneous expense.

But there are also times when travel insurance would not be the best purchase even though the possibility of having to cancel the trip always exists for everyone. Those times may be if there is a low probability that anything will go wrong. How does one decide?

How to Decide If Travel Insurance is Right

In order to determine if someone is going to purchase travel insurance, vacationers have two choices:

1. They have to decide if they would rather lose the cost of the trip if they have to cancel it completely or shorten it.

2. The other alternative is to go on the trip, not experience any mishaps and incur the cost of the insurance.

Whichever option travelers choose will help them decide whether or not they will purchase travel insurance.

When Travel Insurance May Be Necessary

After deciding which of the two groups they fall under in the above considerations, vacationers can ask themselves a few other questions, also. Sometimes, travel insurance will be an absolute necessity, and those times are when:

• The possibility exists that a trip will need to be cancelled because of an unexpected event at work,
• The destination travelers plan to go to is susceptible to terrorist attacks,
• Passports are lost,
• Medical evacuation becomes necessary,
• The possibility exists that the travel company will go bankrupt before the trip,
• They have the need for emergency assistance in a foreign country where they do not speak the language.

When Travel Insurance Is Unnecessary

The two options described above may lead people to believe that travel insurance will be an extraneous expense for them. But taking a further examination may lead them to conclude that travel insurance actually may not be something they have to purchase. Those instances when it may not essential are when:

• Traveling domestically,
• Traveling on frequent flier miles,
• Tourists will not be staying in a hotel,
• No one has a delicate medical condition,
• Doctor’s offices and hospitals are in abundance,
• Adventurers will, most likely, not have to cancel their trips due to their work schedules,
• Tourists have an active health insurance policy for the United States,
• Voyagers are unconcerned about whether or not their baggage arrives at the destination,
• Missing a connecting flight will not interfere with their plans,
• Tourists are not going to rent a car,
• Travelers already have a life insurance policy and are unconcerned about missing work if they are injured in an accident,
• The final destination is not known to experience disasters related to weather,
• Travelers are unconcerned about losing the money they paid for the trip.

Types of Travel Insurance

Travel insurance turns out not to be just one entity; vacationers have the choice to purchase many different kinds of travel insurance, but some types are more essential than others.

Essential Insurance:

1. Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

This insurance covers the cost of the trip and is considered to be essential when the traveler has expended several thousands of dollars. In the event that something happens to the potential travelers and they are not able to go on their trips, they will be forced to forfeit the large sums of money they have already paid.

They also have one other concern. It has been known to happen that the companies from whom tourists purchased their packages went out of business before they had the chance to take their trips. It presents another great reason to purchase trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and is also the reason not to purchase this insurance from the company where they purchased their travel packages; if the company goes away, so will the insurance.

2. Non-Refundable Insurance

Some tickets can be non-refundable. If travelers want to change their flights, they are forced to pay a fee and it can be as much as $100, if not more. If there is a large possibility that travelers will need to make a change in their travel plans, this insurance will help reduce the costs of purchasing another ticket.

Extraneous Travel Insurance:

1. Flight Insurance

This coverage pays a death benefit in the event that the plane on which the policyholder was a passenger crashes. It is not generally recommended that people purchase this type of insurance, because it is a highly expensive policy. A traveler would be able to purchase a term life insurance policy for lower premiums than they can with flight insurance.

2. Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

This insurance is on the essential list, but can also be extraneous. Some people manage to arrange to purchase airline tickets for prices under $100 round trip. These are the times when trip cancellation and interruption insurance is an extraneous purchase, because the amount of the ticket is not worth the amount that must be spent on the insurance.

The conclusion is that travel insurance will either be essential for some tourists or it will be extraneous to others. Some types of insurance, such as trip cancellation and interruption insurance can even be both essential and extraneous depending upon the circumstances. Carefully examining the risks that travelers may be taking will help them determine which group they belong in, and they can make the best decision for their particular situations.

Bethany Johnson is a freelance writer for a site that provides insurance coverage from all the top insurance companies. She loves everything that is related to personal finance and can’t stand to overpay for anything. She can be found running at the local gym if she is not busy working.

Image: xedos4 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If traveling on business is a big part of your life, why not make the experience as pleasant as possible? You’ll be looking forward to joining the million mile club once you’ve acquired these marvelous portable items.

In the Airport

• For those times when you’re not able to work in the airport lounge and you find yourself squeezed into a tiny seat at your gate, keep your cool by putting your laptop on a chill pad. Choose a lightweight, fanless version for the greatest versatility while traveling.
• Seven days, five airports, nine concourses, and… where was that terrific French bistro again? An attractive compact journal and a fine pen to go with it will help you to keep track of your favorite airport restaurants in the most stylish way. When you jot down your notes by hand, you’ll feel a connection with the adventurous travelers of bygone days.

On the Plane

• In your car, you’ve become used to the heated cushions, the lumbar support, and the perfectly adjusted headrest. If your airplane seat doesn’t measure up, bring an inflatable backrest along to customize the seat to your preferences. Shorter travelers will enjoy an extra benefit: being positioned farther forward will keep the top of the seat from pressing your head into an uncomfortable position.
• If you enjoy the feeling of a massage chair, try to imagine that the vibration of the plane was designed to increase your traveling pleasure. When you put on your noise-canceling headphones and queue up your favorite relaxing music, you’ll think you’re at the spa! For an extra boost, wear a lightly fragranced grooming product to add a touch of aromatherapy.

At Your Hotel

• Once again, you and your technology may be spending some quality time together in temporary quarters. If the lighting in your room is inadequate for the work you need to get done, plug a USB spotlight into your laptop and illuminate your workspace. This accessory is also great when you find yourself using ground transportation after dark, as well as for reading in bed.
• Finally, look the part of the sharp businessperson by using suitcase accessories to keep your personal items organized and as pristine as if you had never left home. Shoe bags, packing cubes, jewelry rolls, packable shelves, and hanging toiletry kits make it quick to settle in when you arrive and a breeze to pack up when it’s time to check out.

Heather Johnson is a writer for the leading online honeymoon planning resource. Learn all about the best honeymoon destinations today!

Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net