Ultimate Vacation Spots

posted by Travel Cat on Apr 26

This story is creeping more and more into the news - so here is the current information I have.

Back in March 2009, several people had flu-like symptoms in Mexico City, but as they were the first ones, and no doubt treated at different surgeries or hospitals - there was no immediate reason to suspect anything.

However, after several people actually died and the post-mortem results were forwarded on to a different establishment - the connection could be seen.  No doubt, symptoms of these patients were linked after the cause of death was noticed to be similar.

All the while more cases were coming in, so those in the medical profession became aware of this illness and these symptoms.  However, there were several cases occurring in the US in both California and more recently New York, that of course were not seen to be connected as the news of the Mexican deaths was still only country-wide.

It took several weeks before the hugeness of this illness was seen to be international, and therefore has hit the news.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) are being quoted as saying that it may already be too late to stop the spread of this ‘flu’ virus as it is already widespread - however due to the low numbers of reported deaths in the past month from Mexico, there was no reason to spread to word earlier.

Tourists In Mexico:
Several countries are checking incoming travellers from the region - and one is even thinking of quarantining people who are returning from Mexico as there are confirmed cases outside of the capital. 

Of course Cancun is a huge tourist resort in Mexico (on the other side of the country though) but could be seeing lower visitor numbers from foreign travellers as a result.

At the moment, no countries are advising their nationals not to visit Mexico, but obviously they are advising great caution for the capital city itself.  However, the Mexican government have closed many public areas and museums, cancelled events and shows as well as closing schools and colleges to help limit the spread so it might not be the best time to visit!

News From Today:
2 cases have today been confirmed in Kansas bringing the total US cases to 11 with a further 10 confirmed from students in New Zealand who were returning from Mexico City.

Obviously there are many other sites offering information about this outbreak - but it is best to visit your countries official government health website or WHO’s updates, rather than rely on information from other sources.

1) Flu travels from human to human contact.
2) Avoid visiting people or being close to people showing flu-like signs or a fever.
3) Wash your hands properly and regularly before eating or handling food.
4) Avoid touching your face, eyes and mouth unless your hands are clean too.

If you become ill with flu-like symptoms, avoid public places and work - preferably stay at home.  Contact your doctor by phone if you are concerned about your health and dispose of all tissues and cloths used for your coughs and sneezes.

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posted by Travel Cat on Apr 22

Gap Years For Grown Ups! Planning: Part 2

Thanks for joining me again for the second part of this article with advice on things to consider when planning your gap vacation.

This time around, we are looking at how to make sure you can afford the trip in the first place - allowing you time to raise funds and organise your accounts!

Your Bills - Obviously, while you are away there will be things you have to pay for - boo!!
Even if you are not leaving a property, there are still running costs to bear in mind - for example, your life insurance, pensions, your car tax, your monthly bank charges and/or credit card payments, magazine subscriptions and membership payments. 

If you have a property, there are many many more including mortgage installments, home insurance, fees for services, maintenance, storage fees, health policies, pet sitters & pet insurance and the list just goes on!

Get your previous 6 months or a years bank statements and start to make a list of everything you have paid.  Find out which ones are annual, which are monthly , which are variable, and most importantly - those you do not actually need anymore!  The number of people that have direct debits or subscriptions that they are not using - but sometimes still paying for!  Filter these out immediately to make your life a lot easier in the future!

Ideally, you would make sure that you can access you bank account, credit cards and memberships online so that you can sort anything out while you are away.  It also saves post being sent to your home when you arn’t there - a sure way of advertising the fact you are not home!

Also, check your last energy and water bills for estimates - and get the correct figures in - you may find you are in credit!  However, finding out that you owe them money isn’t great now - but it would be better than finding out you owe then money just before you are planning to leave!  Ouch - that could eat into your holiday fund!
 
With all the payments left that you will have to pay while you are away - how much are they going to cost you a month?  You need to know this to have enough funds in your account to pay them when they are due.  Find your monthly total and multiply that by the number of months you plan to be away, then add one more (just in case).  How much is it?  How will you find that money before you even pay for your holiday?

Could you put any of those on ‘hold’ while you travel?  Can you defer any payments - or break them into installments without incurring a fee?

Your Income - Will you be receiving any income while you travel?
Some volunteering positions pay a small living allowance, some positions offer a local salary, others pay acceptable wages, and others pay you absolutely nothing!  They usually all offer ‘free’ accommodation and meals in return for your efforts though, so once you have paid their ‘fee’ and your flights (although better positions may cover these for you) - there is nothing else owing.

So, if you have all your bills back home sorted, you can get on with enjoying yourself - any money is a bonus!  However, if you still need funds to get by, then there are plenty of options.

If you need to earn money to send home, then you need to make sure that it will cover everything - but more importantly - how you are going to get it home or into your bank account!  There are many ways to do this, but you need to find out the most cost effective way for the country you are in.  Exchange fees can absorb a lot of your earnings, and exchanging smaller amounts will no doubt cost you more.  And how will you keep you money safe abroad?  Will you need a bank account of some sort or will you get paid into your home account?

If you have all the money you need at home before you leave - are you making the most of it?  Rather than leave all the money in a standard bank account that you can access in your destination - why not put it into a high interest account or some bonds or shares that you can easily access - and transfer online (or have a relative do it for you). 

In the UK, Premium bonds are among one account that can pay out well on a monthly basis, so why leave the bulk in there - earning money - then transfer your required amount across to your active account every month or as needed and make some extra income for yourself!!

And Finally:
Don’t worry if the costs seem very high or very confusing at first.  There are thousands of people just like you who plan these types of vacations every week!  You can find stories all over the Internet and travel magazines about the success stories and the experiences people have.

Don’t fall at the first hurdle - keep at it. 

Plan well and it will all work out perfectly - but I can’t guarantee that the trip will go as planned - but then, that’s half the fun!

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posted by Travel Cat on Apr 16

Gap Years For Grown Ups! Planning: Part 1

It’s not just young people these days that are entitled to take a year off between college and University/Work - it’s all the rage for ‘Grown Ups’ too!!!

No longer is is a year, and no longer is it just a ‘gap’ - times are changing and people are starting to look at life in a whole new way.  Whether you are a 30-year-old receptionist, or a 56-year-old dentist - the world is your oyster!

I know that cliche sounds a bit cheesy, but it really is.  You can just take time off to relax, find a new skill, travel in your own country, travel across new continents, volunteer for any number of tasks in any number of countries for any number of weeks/months or years even. 

You can get a ‘job’ abroad with either your existing skills or you can find new ones.  You can jump up the career ladder by taking advantage of your skills in a growing market or just adding to your CV with your new found adventurous side! 

You can of course, jump off the career ladder and change your 9-5 for something far more flexible and enjoyable - for example travel writing in South America or private English tuition in Japan.

There is, unfortunately, a serious side to the travelling, and this needs to be researched as much as the trip itself, and this quick guide hopes to do just that, covering preparation and decision making basics.

First Things First:
You need to start by deciding why you want to do this as it will affect everything else you plan.

What I mean by this is that if you are deciding to just have some fun on a short trip (less than a month) then you don’t need to pay so much attention to your job or career, your home and family etc - it will be more like planning an exciting holiday!

However, if you are serious in looking to change careers or give up work, then you will be looking for a longer break and/or training.  This is where considerations for your property, car, pets, children, insurance and finances all come into play.

Deciding where you want to travel to is not so much of a worry at this point.  In reality, long-term placements usually try to put you where your skills are needed, not necessarily where you were thinking of heading to.  Of course, you do have a say in your destination - but it is secondary to making the most of your skills and what you can offer the project you select.

Boring Things:
When planning a longer than average trip (a month or more),you need to think about bills, wages, bank accounts, insurance and rent or mortgage payments.  This isn’t fun - but is essential if you are going to enjoy your experience.

These are all just technicalities that you will find you way around to get your trip on the move, so don’t be put off by the whole size of it all.  Each part is just a tiny step - and the rewards are excellent!

Your Job - Are you planning to come back to your original position on your return? 
Companies are starting to see that many people now want longer-than-average time off from their jobs to ‘do something new’ or ‘try something different’.  So they are offering!

It isn’t uncommon these days for you to take sabbatical leave or unpaid leave from your job without losing your place in the firm.  Check your employers take on these and it could make your job a whole lot easier!

If they are a smaller firm or do not offer such luxuries, then you may need to negotiate something.  If you are a key role in the business then they may have to negotiate rather than train up someone else from scratch to take the role - and anyway, what harm will it be to have someone else learn those key skills for their personal development while you are away. 

You can try to make them see that you are coming back and want to bring your news skills back with you for their advantage.  Make yourself worth employing.

If you have no intention of wanting your job back - as the experience of travel for you is more important - make sure you still leave on a good note.  You may be surprised that some firms will willingly accept you back after your travels in a similar or lesser role just because you already know the role and can settle back in. 

It will also give you the opportunity to negotiate new hours as well.  A friend of mine - who after returning from 18 months travel - made a deal with her previous boss to only work 4 days a week instead of the original 5.  She still works the same hours, but has more time to herself.  Her trip made her priorities change and gave her more confidence to ask!

However - sometimes it is out of their hands.  With the recent economic situation, another friend returning from a year of travel found his employers were currently laying off staff - so he is seeking to start up his own business now with his new found passion for all things new!

Planning: Part 2
Join me next time, for further tips on planning that ultimate gap vacation…… 

posted by Travel Cat on Apr 10

This Latest Carnival of Traveling With Kids, has a real corker to begin with!

Many new mom’s and dad’s have this exact issue with their new babies and toddlers - but don’t recognise it.  So read up on Emma’s little article: Family vacation can be fun or a disappointment - the choice is yours. and see what a difference a change of priorities can have on your vacations and your life in general!

Next, we have a short introductory article encouraging you to read on - with several links to a very detailed and personal story of their fantastic DisneyLand trip.  It also includes some great photos: so Modern Parent presents Our 2009 Walt Disney World Vacation

A little advice next from Concerning Kids, who offer a short tip-filled article on  Tips For Parents Of Picky Eaters | Concerning Kids to help those vacation meal times a bit more easy to handle.  There’s nothing worse than spending a fortune on unfamiliar foods when abroad if they will just be wasted!  And it also offers parents tips on what they do infront of their kids that can make things worse!

To finish today, is a real cute story from Todd Fernandez about safety when outdoors.  Whether at home in the woods or away at a theme park - or just on the beach having fun - never forget your kids safety.  Read The Last Zebra for a great piece of advice!

Stay well, and keep traveling!

Travel Cat 

posted by Travel Cat on Apr 1

Fed up up lounging on the beach - and want a vacation with a difference?

CrewSeekers is an international sailing company that pieces together yacht owners and willing crew to sail the worlds oceans, either for pleasure or for racing and many other nautical challenges!

And you don’t need to be an expert to join in - you can apply even if you have never set foot on a boat before - as long as you are willing to contribute and get ’stuck in’.

Who Are They?
Established in 1990, they say they ‘offer a first class personal service to the sailing world’.  Basically, they allowed an easy-access membership site where people looking for yachting experience or challenges could find all the boats out there needing crew - and pick the one they wanted.

They now offer day sailing, offshore cruising, competitive racing, yacht deliveries and even professional staffing services - where captains and deck hands alike can get paid jobs.

Crewseekers have members in 50 countries worldwide, so there is something for everyone to find.

How does it work?
Basically, yacht owners or staff looking for crew will post their position on the website with details regarding experience, costs, salaries along with start and finish ports and general route being used.

People looking for jobs or experience (or just the holiday of a lifetime across the ocean) can have a look at all the vacancies.  You can search for the type of trip you want and where you are looking to cruise as well as filtering out all those positions above or below your skill level.

Current examples include:

X37 Solent Cruising/Racing - Weekend racing in the south of England - experienced crew only please.
Malaysia - Do you fancy being on a luxury 44ft yacht sailing around Malaysia - 30 somethings plus please……
Caribbean to Europe - Competent crew needed to sail from Bermuda to Azores then on to Europe.
Grenada to Australia - Looking for laid back crew for leisurely pacific crossing in 48ft yacht.

How Do I Join?
It is worth browsing the opportunities first, as membership is quite pricey if you aren’t really serious, or a planning a trip for more than a year away as many are short notice.

For 6 months access to the full details for each trip it will cost you £60 (or equivalent) for single membership or £75 for a couple.  Savings can be made for 12 month membership at only £85 single and £100 for a couple.

And, there is no limit to the number of opportunities you take advantage of during membership - it just depends on how far you are willing to go!!
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