Royal Caribbean International is ramping up promotion with a two-day "Wow Sale," which executives describe as the biggest and best sale of the year. The sale applies for new individual bookings with required deposits made on any Royal Caribbean cruise that sails after January 1, 2011. Clients could receive an on-board credit of up to $200 per stateroom and a 50 percent reduced deposit.
Be quick to tell your clients, though! The short sale begins at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29 and ends through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 30; hours are based on "local time" in the agency's time zone.
For a three- to-five-night cruise, clients will receive a $50 per stateroom on-board credit, and only a $50 per person deposit is required. For a six- to-nine-night cruise, clients receive a $100 per stateroom on-board credit, and a $125 per person deposit is required. And for longer cruises of 10 nights or more, the on-board credit is $200 per stateroom, and the deposit is $225 per person. The reduced deposits also apply for third and fourth guests in the cabin.
The Wow Sale is also applicable to cruisetours and clients can receive additional savings if booking ChoiceAir on select European sailings. The offer may be combined with Future Cruise Credit (FCC) and Letter of Credit (LOC) benefits, but it's not combinable with Crown & Anchor Society savings benefits. In addition, the Wow Sale does not apply to group bookings, nor to any existing reservations.
Free travel agent school. Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own on line travel agency.
http://www.homebasedtravelagents.org/
Learn How to Become A Travel Agent... Open your own Home Based Travel Agency
Wednesday
Monday
How To Make a Big Bang with a Small Budget
You can make your limited marketing dollars work like a million bucks.
With just a few simple and well thought out strategies, any travel agency can make a big impact with a small marketing budget, according to Mark McMullen, CTC, executive vice president of The Integer Group, a marketing consultant company.
McMullen outlined several practical marketing tips during an educational session at the American Society of Travel Agents’ THETRADESHOW in Orlando last week:
• Think small when it comes to print ads: Few agencies have the marketing dollars to take out a full-page ad in a daily newspaper, but that doesn’t mean you should eliminate print advertising from your marketing plan; there are many available alternatives.
Church and synagogue bulletins and newsletters generally offer advertising space to interested local businesses, at a great price. These print vehicles are particularly effective for advertising group cruises or themed tours that would be of interest to the congregants.
Newsletters from organizations, neighborhood subdivisions and alumni groups also provide low-cost options for print advertising. And like all newspapers today, weekly newspapers are hurting for money. Weekly newspapers are another relatively low-cost vehicle you can use to communicate with potential clients, particularly if you are targeting an older demographic.
• Market what you do best: Promoting your expertise differentiates you from the pack and can result in free advertising.
Agents should notify their local newspapers, radio stations and public TV stations whenever they complete an educational course on a destination or travel specialization. The newspaper may decide to run an article on your area of expertise, and the radio or TV station may feature you as a guest. Even if you don’t get immediate publicity, these media outlets will know they can rely on you as a specialized source in the future. If you do appear as a guest on a radio or TV show, make sure to get a recording of your appearance and put it up on your Web site.
• Get help from your partners: Preferred suppliers want travel sellers to actively market and sell their product, and they all offer various types of support to help agents do just that. From co-op dollars to collateral material and idea generation, using what suppliers offer will help agents come up with creative marketing ideas and defray costs.
McMullen suggests that travel sellers sit down with a select number of supplier partners and ask for their assistance with marketing plan development. Supplier’s business development managers (BDMs) are experts in marketing; you can leverage their expertise to generate effective marketing strategies for your agency. Remember, most companies have to pay for marketing consultations with experts, but travel agents can get the same level of support for free from their supplier partners.
Creating and printing post cards, flyers and shells is expensive. Why do it yourself when most suppliers offer downloadable — and often customizable — marketing materials. Ask your suppliers for help with the mailing costs as well, and invite them to attend any local events you sponsor.
• Pick up the phone: Although it’s the most basic form of marketing and communication, it’s a well known fact within the industry that most travel sellers do not like to pick up the phone to make outbound calls. According to McMullen, just 30 minutes a day of calling lapsed customers can bring in lots of bookings. Making cold calls to local businesses, organizations, universities and schools to ask if your agency can be of service to them can also result in new business.
• Keep communicating: No matter what marketing vehicle or vehicles you decide to use in your program, make sure they are reaching clients (lapsed, current and potential) on a consistent and regular basis. McMullen recommends travel agents should be communicating with every client in some form or another every four to six weeks.
Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own online travel agency, Free travel agent school.
http://www.homebasedtravelagents.org/
With just a few simple and well thought out strategies, any travel agency can make a big impact with a small marketing budget, according to Mark McMullen, CTC, executive vice president of The Integer Group, a marketing consultant company.
McMullen outlined several practical marketing tips during an educational session at the American Society of Travel Agents’ THETRADESHOW in Orlando last week:
• Think small when it comes to print ads: Few agencies have the marketing dollars to take out a full-page ad in a daily newspaper, but that doesn’t mean you should eliminate print advertising from your marketing plan; there are many available alternatives.
Church and synagogue bulletins and newsletters generally offer advertising space to interested local businesses, at a great price. These print vehicles are particularly effective for advertising group cruises or themed tours that would be of interest to the congregants.
Newsletters from organizations, neighborhood subdivisions and alumni groups also provide low-cost options for print advertising. And like all newspapers today, weekly newspapers are hurting for money. Weekly newspapers are another relatively low-cost vehicle you can use to communicate with potential clients, particularly if you are targeting an older demographic.
• Market what you do best: Promoting your expertise differentiates you from the pack and can result in free advertising.
Agents should notify their local newspapers, radio stations and public TV stations whenever they complete an educational course on a destination or travel specialization. The newspaper may decide to run an article on your area of expertise, and the radio or TV station may feature you as a guest. Even if you don’t get immediate publicity, these media outlets will know they can rely on you as a specialized source in the future. If you do appear as a guest on a radio or TV show, make sure to get a recording of your appearance and put it up on your Web site.
• Get help from your partners: Preferred suppliers want travel sellers to actively market and sell their product, and they all offer various types of support to help agents do just that. From co-op dollars to collateral material and idea generation, using what suppliers offer will help agents come up with creative marketing ideas and defray costs.
McMullen suggests that travel sellers sit down with a select number of supplier partners and ask for their assistance with marketing plan development. Supplier’s business development managers (BDMs) are experts in marketing; you can leverage their expertise to generate effective marketing strategies for your agency. Remember, most companies have to pay for marketing consultations with experts, but travel agents can get the same level of support for free from their supplier partners.
Creating and printing post cards, flyers and shells is expensive. Why do it yourself when most suppliers offer downloadable — and often customizable — marketing materials. Ask your suppliers for help with the mailing costs as well, and invite them to attend any local events you sponsor.
• Pick up the phone: Although it’s the most basic form of marketing and communication, it’s a well known fact within the industry that most travel sellers do not like to pick up the phone to make outbound calls. According to McMullen, just 30 minutes a day of calling lapsed customers can bring in lots of bookings. Making cold calls to local businesses, organizations, universities and schools to ask if your agency can be of service to them can also result in new business.
• Keep communicating: No matter what marketing vehicle or vehicles you decide to use in your program, make sure they are reaching clients (lapsed, current and potential) on a consistent and regular basis. McMullen recommends travel agents should be communicating with every client in some form or another every four to six weeks.
Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own online travel agency, Free travel agent school.
http://www.homebasedtravelagents.org/
Wednesday
Monday
Facebook BEATS Google
Facebook became the most visited site in the U.S. for the first time in its short but meteoric history. Because of this milestones and Facebook’s growing base of more than 500 million active users, it may be time to take another look at how your business is utilizing the social network.
Facebook Pages
If your business doesn’t have a presence on the site yet, drop everything you’re doing and go set up a Facebook Page. If you already have a Facebook Page for your business, perhaps you could be getting a little more out of it. Some of the basic rules of thumb include the following:
• Set goals for your Facebook page and monitor your progress
• Make your page interesting and informative, and update it as often as you can
• Promote your Facebook page on your business website and elsewhere; add a Find us on Facebook button wherever you can
• Reward your Facebook Fans with discounts and special promotions
• Create a Facebook user group that will be of interest/useful to your audience
• Join other Facebook user groups that pertain to your industry or niche
• Take advantage of Facebook’s tools; track your success with Facebook analytics
Facebook Places
Facebook unveiled its location-based check-in service last month with the announcement of Places, an enormous word-of-mouth marketing opportunity for businesses and brands. Businesses can add a Facebook Place to their Facebook Page, or the two can be combined. The result of either option is getting your company’s address, map, phone number and other data in front of Facebook’s massive user network and giving them a way to share the information with friends.
Facebook Places is also built directly into the advertising platform, and registered businesses can target their ads with very specific information such as location. Ads can be bought on a pay-per-click basis, and more information is below.
Facebook Ads
Facebook will generate about half of the projected $1.68 billion spent on U.S. advertising on social networks this year, and some companies are said to be spending about $20,000 per day advertising on the site. If you are yet doing so for your own business, it might be worth investigating. Below are some tips to help you get started:
• Be as specific as possible with your keywords and demographic selections
• Use compelling images, titles and copy in your ads
• Make your ads as interactive and engaging as you can
• Frequently update and refresh the images and copy for better results
• Be vigilant about testing your ads and monitoring the results
• Bid high to get your ads approved faster by Facebook
• Start with CPC ads if you have a very small budget, otherwise CPM is the better bet
• Use Facebook Ads Manager, which can be downloaded and installed on Firefox
Whether it is through a paid advertising campaign or some basic social media marketing, using Facebook’s incredible platform to help grow your business should by now be a strategy used in some capacity by every Web professional.
Facebook Pages
If your business doesn’t have a presence on the site yet, drop everything you’re doing and go set up a Facebook Page. If you already have a Facebook Page for your business, perhaps you could be getting a little more out of it. Some of the basic rules of thumb include the following:
• Set goals for your Facebook page and monitor your progress
• Make your page interesting and informative, and update it as often as you can
• Promote your Facebook page on your business website and elsewhere; add a Find us on Facebook button wherever you can
• Reward your Facebook Fans with discounts and special promotions
• Create a Facebook user group that will be of interest/useful to your audience
• Join other Facebook user groups that pertain to your industry or niche
• Take advantage of Facebook’s tools; track your success with Facebook analytics
Facebook Places
Facebook unveiled its location-based check-in service last month with the announcement of Places, an enormous word-of-mouth marketing opportunity for businesses and brands. Businesses can add a Facebook Place to their Facebook Page, or the two can be combined. The result of either option is getting your company’s address, map, phone number and other data in front of Facebook’s massive user network and giving them a way to share the information with friends.
Facebook Places is also built directly into the advertising platform, and registered businesses can target their ads with very specific information such as location. Ads can be bought on a pay-per-click basis, and more information is below.
Facebook Ads
Facebook will generate about half of the projected $1.68 billion spent on U.S. advertising on social networks this year, and some companies are said to be spending about $20,000 per day advertising on the site. If you are yet doing so for your own business, it might be worth investigating. Below are some tips to help you get started:
• Be as specific as possible with your keywords and demographic selections
• Use compelling images, titles and copy in your ads
• Make your ads as interactive and engaging as you can
• Frequently update and refresh the images and copy for better results
• Be vigilant about testing your ads and monitoring the results
• Bid high to get your ads approved faster by Facebook
• Start with CPC ads if you have a very small budget, otherwise CPM is the better bet
• Use Facebook Ads Manager, which can be downloaded and installed on Firefox
Whether it is through a paid advertising campaign or some basic social media marketing, using Facebook’s incredible platform to help grow your business should by now be a strategy used in some capacity by every Web professional.
Friday
Sandals Gives-Back Fundraiser Program!
Travel Agents …………. Another great opportunity for you to get bookings and help your favorite cause!
This can be done with a school, association, charity, animal rescue or non-profit organization
Introducing the Sandals Gives-Back Fundraiser Program!
This is a creative fundraising campaign where everyone can get involved and fundraising dollars can add up quickly and easily. The more vacation packages that are booked, the more money that is raised towards your fundraising goals!
Fundraising for a cause is easy! Here’s how it works……………..
1). Identify an organization that you would like to partner with to raise funds.
2). Contact me or your local Sandals Business Development Manager and get an agreement letter, which will outline the rules and the restrictions of the program.
3). Over a four month period (October 1, 2010 – January 31, 2011) you and the organization can promote this fundraising program. We have Brochures, Ad Slicks and Marketing Material to help you get the word out!
4). Any 5-Night bookings that you receive for a Sandals or Beaches Resort, Royal Plantation Collection or Grand Pineapple Beach Resort during this 4 month time period (their travel can be done until January 31, 2012), you will give back $100.00 from your commission as a donation towards their cause.
5). If you host a fundraiser event over the four month period, such as a Caribbean Night, booth or display table, bake sale, silent auction, etc., Sandals Resorts will add additional donation of $150.00 for every vacation package that is booked to a Sandals or Beaches Resort within 14 days of the event! Your efforts can raise up to $250.00 for each vacation package that is booked by January 31, 2011
6). On a monthly basis, you will need to provide the organization with a report of how many bookings have been sold
through this promotion and funds will be issued to them for those bookings that have traveled.
Brochures and Marketing material can be found on our travel agent portal at www.sandals.com/tas
Additional information can be found at http://www.sandals.com/tas/fundraiser.cfm
Joy Fogarty
Training and Business Development Associate
Phone: 803-649-6568
Email: jfogarty@uvi.sandals.com
Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own online travel agency. Free travel agent school for home-based travel agents at http://www.HomeBasedTravelAgents.org
This can be done with a school, association, charity, animal rescue or non-profit organization
Introducing the Sandals Gives-Back Fundraiser Program!
This is a creative fundraising campaign where everyone can get involved and fundraising dollars can add up quickly and easily. The more vacation packages that are booked, the more money that is raised towards your fundraising goals!
Fundraising for a cause is easy! Here’s how it works……………..
1). Identify an organization that you would like to partner with to raise funds.
2). Contact me or your local Sandals Business Development Manager and get an agreement letter, which will outline the rules and the restrictions of the program.
3). Over a four month period (October 1, 2010 – January 31, 2011) you and the organization can promote this fundraising program. We have Brochures, Ad Slicks and Marketing Material to help you get the word out!
4). Any 5-Night bookings that you receive for a Sandals or Beaches Resort, Royal Plantation Collection or Grand Pineapple Beach Resort during this 4 month time period (their travel can be done until January 31, 2012), you will give back $100.00 from your commission as a donation towards their cause.
5). If you host a fundraiser event over the four month period, such as a Caribbean Night, booth or display table, bake sale, silent auction, etc., Sandals Resorts will add additional donation of $150.00 for every vacation package that is booked to a Sandals or Beaches Resort within 14 days of the event! Your efforts can raise up to $250.00 for each vacation package that is booked by January 31, 2011
6). On a monthly basis, you will need to provide the organization with a report of how many bookings have been sold
through this promotion and funds will be issued to them for those bookings that have traveled.
Brochures and Marketing material can be found on our travel agent portal at www.sandals.com/tas
Additional information can be found at http://www.sandals.com/tas/fundraiser.cfm
Joy Fogarty
Training and Business Development Associate
Phone: 803-649-6568
Email: jfogarty@uvi.sandals.com
Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own online travel agency. Free travel agent school for home-based travel agents at http://www.HomeBasedTravelAgents.org
Thursday
Trip Insurance Training
We’ve produced a variety of training, reference, sales, and marketing materials:
Plan Comparison Sheet – use this chart as a quick reference for the entire Worldwide Trip Protector line.
Training Video - almost like having your sales manager onsite! The informative introduction about the Worldwide Trip Protector updates takes only 5 minutes, and you can also share the 40 minutes of detailed video training with every sales agent in your office.
Brochures, Spec Sheets, and Fax Applications (digital format) – access full plan brochures, two-page spec sheets, and fax applications.
Sales and Marketing Materials – order print versions of brochures, two-page spec sheets, and the product comparison guide, and access additional materials on group plans, airline ticket coverage, and commission protection for you.
As you review these materials, you’ll see that the competitive pricing and optimized benefits now make Worldwide Trip Protector an even more important value-add to the professional service that you provide to all your travel clients.
As another important update, you can now process your Worldwide Trip Protector and Worldwide Trip Protector Gold applications up to maximum policy limits ― $100,000 per person and $250,000 per application ― without calling for prior approval.
We are excited to launch our enhanced Worldwide Trip Protector plans, we look forward to our continued work together with you in providing your clients excellent travel insurance coverage, superior customer service, and a fun, safe, and secure travel experience, and we thank you for your ongoing partnership with Travel Insured International.
Learn how to becom a travel agent and open your own travel agency. Free Travel School.http://HomeBasedTravelAgents.org
Fiji's Virtual Trade Show
Bula and welcome to Tourism Fiji's second Virtual Trade Show event.
This year's show is already bigger and better than our first endeavour. So far we have 18 properties, cruises and wholesalers and the list is growing. We will feature marketing and selling workshops for key niche markets.
The 2-day event will be live on the 4th and 5th of October from 9am - 1pm PST. Thereafter, it will be available "On-Demand" 24/7 for 90-days until 05 January 2011. At the completion of this year's event (on 05 Jan) there will be a sales survey of all registrants. Air tickets to Fiji will be the incentive prize.
Be sure and mark the dates and don't miss this worthwhile event.
http://events.unisfair.com/index.jsp?eid=653&seid=30
This year's show is already bigger and better than our first endeavour. So far we have 18 properties, cruises and wholesalers and the list is growing. We will feature marketing and selling workshops for key niche markets.
The 2-day event will be live on the 4th and 5th of October from 9am - 1pm PST. Thereafter, it will be available "On-Demand" 24/7 for 90-days until 05 January 2011. At the completion of this year's event (on 05 Jan) there will be a sales survey of all registrants. Air tickets to Fiji will be the incentive prize.
Be sure and mark the dates and don't miss this worthwhile event.
http://events.unisfair.com/index.jsp?eid=653&seid=30
Tuesday
Sandals FAM
Home-Based Travel Agents …..
It’s time that we finally meet! Join me in Jamaica for the 1st Annual Home-Based Agent Conference Fam!
We will spend 2 nights in Ocho Rios and 1 night in Montego Bay. There will be a half day workshop, which is one of the requirements necessary to become a Certified Sandals Specialist. We will also have travel agent portal training and resort tours included in this Fam.
The Invitation is attached. All RSVP’s must be completed in it’s entirety and sent directly to me at either
Jfogarty@uvi.sandals.com
East Coast Gateways - $348.00pp / West Coast Gateways $380.00pp
Note: Agent’s have the option of getting their own air and joining this Fam Land only at no cost.
It’s time that we finally meet! Join me in Jamaica for the 1st Annual Home-Based Agent Conference Fam!
We will spend 2 nights in Ocho Rios and 1 night in Montego Bay. There will be a half day workshop, which is one of the requirements necessary to become a Certified Sandals Specialist. We will also have travel agent portal training and resort tours included in this Fam.
The Invitation is attached. All RSVP’s must be completed in it’s entirety and sent directly to me at either
Jfogarty@uvi.sandals.com
East Coast Gateways - $348.00pp / West Coast Gateways $380.00pp
Note: Agent’s have the option of getting their own air and joining this Fam Land only at no cost.
Special Travel Agent Rates to Mexico
Velas Resorts wishes to thank home-based travel agents for their valued loyalty by offering special agent rates throughout their resorts at top Mexico beach destinations, Riviera Nayarit, Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Maya.Through 2011, travel agents can enjoy special rates at Casa Velas, an adults-only boutique hotel and ocean club located on the Marina Vallarta Golf Course; Velas Vallarta, a family-friendly suite resort and convention center located on the Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta; Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, the only family-friendly all-inclusive in North America to receive the AAA Five Diamond and Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Velas Resorts’ latest luxury, all-inclusive resort.
The Velas Resorts’ all-inclusive rates include suite accommodations, a la carte gourmet meals at a choice of specialty restaurants; premium branded beverages; 24-hour, in-suite service; a fitness center; a Kids’ Club; evening entertainment; activities for adults and children; taxes and gratuities, and more.
Minimum night and other restrictions apply depending on the resort. Rates per adult per night start at $145 at Velas Vallarta; $140 at Casa Velas; $175 at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit; and $275 for a Master Suite, $375 for a Ambassador Suite and $525 for a Grand Class Suite at Grand Velas Riviera Maya. Children are additional. There are four-night and two-suite maximums per reservation.
Visit http://www.velasresorts.com/.
Learn how to become a travel agent. Free travel agent school. http://HomeBasedTravelAgents.org
Jet Blue Air Sale
NEW YORK CITY--SEPTEMBER 7, 2010-- This morning, as part of a three-day sale, JetBlue cut nationwide and Caribbean fares from New York City as well as extended fall travel dates through mid-December.
Each-way sample fares from New York City (JFK):
- Washington, D.C. ... $39
- Portland, Maine ... $54
- Charlotte ... $64
- Tampa ... $79
- Chicago ... $89
- Nassau, Bahamas ... $99
- Montego Bay, Jamaica ... $119
These nonstop fares are valid Sept. 14 - Dec. 15.
Thanksgiving and Columbus Day holidays are blacked out.
Other routes from LaGuardia and Newark airports are included in this sale, which ends 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday, Sept. 9.
JetBlue flights feature leather seating, unlimited snacks and 36 channels of free DirecTV. Plus, the first checked bag is free on all JetBlue flights.
Each-way sample fares from New York City (JFK):
- Washington, D.C. ... $39
- Portland, Maine ... $54
- Charlotte ... $64
- Tampa ... $79
- Chicago ... $89
- Nassau, Bahamas ... $99
- Montego Bay, Jamaica ... $119
These nonstop fares are valid Sept. 14 - Dec. 15.
Thanksgiving and Columbus Day holidays are blacked out.
Other routes from LaGuardia and Newark airports are included in this sale, which ends 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday, Sept. 9.
JetBlue flights feature leather seating, unlimited snacks and 36 channels of free DirecTV. Plus, the first checked bag is free on all JetBlue flights.
Monday
Tips To Stay Healthy While on Vacation
1. When planning your trip, it’s never too early to learn about the potential health risks you could encounter at your destination(s). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has an area on their website devoted to traveler’s health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has a country by country assessment of their member countries health situation, including data on disease outbreaks and crises.
The US State Department has country specific information which includes health, medical facilities and medical insurance information.
2. Regardless of where you’re traveling, you may need to obtain vaccinations to prevent you from contracting a variety of diseases while away, and conform to government regulations. Check the CDC website. The Public Health Agency of Canada also has an excellent travel health website.
Speak with your physician about vaccinations.
Many vaccinations don’t become immediately effective, and some aren’t readily available, such as the yellow fever vaccinations, so don’t wait until the last minute to get them. If your physician can’t provide the immunizations, or direct you to a clinic, if you’re in the US, use the CDC clinic page.
Make sure you know the vaccination requirements for each country you’re visiting. Even if you’ve only visited a country for a day or two, another country you’re visiting might have a vaccination requirement for visitors to the prior country.
3. Make sure you have health insurance coverage when you travel. Outside your home country, your health insurance may not provide coverage. For example, US Medicare and Medicaid provide no health coverage whatsoever, outside the US.
You need to purchase supplemental health insurance to cover you while traveling.
When choosing travel health insurance, try to purchase coverage which includes medical evacuation costs. Medevac transportation can be very expensive.
4. Make sure you have an adequate supply of every medication you take regularly or may need while traveling, including if your stay must be extended for an emergency.
Prescription medications should be in their original container and clearly labeled. According to the medication, travelers should check with their country’s embassy in the country they are visiting to make sure any required medications are not considered to be illegal narcotics.
Pack your medications in your carry-on luggage to ensure your continued access to it, in case of emergency, or lost or delayed luggage.
5. If you take prescription medication regularly or have a preexisting medical condition, have available a complete medical history describing your medical condition(s) and any medications, including the generic names of prescribed drugs. Have available the names and contact information for your physician(s).
I’m a member of the Medic Alert Foundation, a nonprofit emergency medical information service. They have a copy of all my medical information and can provide them to medical professionals, worldwide, 24×7.
6. Take appropriate medications with you to handle health emergencies. Talk with your physician about your trip and what medications you should take with you.
Diarrhea and seriously upset stomachs are the most common travel related illnesses. Dehydration from diarrhea is especially serious for the traveler. I definitely take medication with me to combat these illnesses.
7. Take a travel first aid kit. The American Red Cross has an excellent description of what should be included in your first aid kit.
8. In the Rime of the Ancient Mariner there is a line, “Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink.” In many developing countries that’s absolutely true for travelers, unless we’re talking about “bottled water.” Even in Europe, I drink “bottled water” as tap water, while generally safe, it's different than the water I’m used to.
In developing countries avoid drinking or even brushing your teeth with tap water. Drink and use bottled water. Make sure you check that the cap is securely sealed when you buy it. In restaurants, diplomatically ask your server to open the bottle in front of you to make sure they aren’t refilling the bottles.
Do not take ice in your drinks, unless you are certain it’s frozen “bottled water.”
If you can’t buy bottled water, sterilize it by boiling or dropping in purification tablets or iodine, or use a SteriPen, which is what I take on every trip. Don’t bother with water filters. I don’t know of any, which filter out viruses like Hepatitis A and E.
9. Avoid ice cream, raw seafood, food kept warm, unpasteurized dairy products, salads and other uncooked food, unless you can peel or shell it yourself. Rampant diarrhea often comes from unhygienic food.
Eat in busy local restaurants. The fast turnover helps keep fresh food safe where refrigeration may be questionable. It may also mean the food there is good, inexpensive or perhaps both.
10. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), where a blood clot forms in one of the veins deep inside the leg, which can come loose and travel to the heart or brain, affects from 3-5% of air travelers, according to studies. That’s as many as dozen or so passengers on a wide-bodied jet. Overweight, elderly (over 65), smokers, and pregnant passengers are more susceptible to DVT than other passengers.
If you fall into one of these categories, speak to your physician about preventing DVT when you fly
by Ned Levi
The World Health Organization (WHO) has a country by country assessment of their member countries health situation, including data on disease outbreaks and crises.
The US State Department has country specific information which includes health, medical facilities and medical insurance information.
2. Regardless of where you’re traveling, you may need to obtain vaccinations to prevent you from contracting a variety of diseases while away, and conform to government regulations. Check the CDC website. The Public Health Agency of Canada also has an excellent travel health website.
Speak with your physician about vaccinations.
Many vaccinations don’t become immediately effective, and some aren’t readily available, such as the yellow fever vaccinations, so don’t wait until the last minute to get them. If your physician can’t provide the immunizations, or direct you to a clinic, if you’re in the US, use the CDC clinic page.
Make sure you know the vaccination requirements for each country you’re visiting. Even if you’ve only visited a country for a day or two, another country you’re visiting might have a vaccination requirement for visitors to the prior country.
3. Make sure you have health insurance coverage when you travel. Outside your home country, your health insurance may not provide coverage. For example, US Medicare and Medicaid provide no health coverage whatsoever, outside the US.
You need to purchase supplemental health insurance to cover you while traveling.
When choosing travel health insurance, try to purchase coverage which includes medical evacuation costs. Medevac transportation can be very expensive.
4. Make sure you have an adequate supply of every medication you take regularly or may need while traveling, including if your stay must be extended for an emergency.
Prescription medications should be in their original container and clearly labeled. According to the medication, travelers should check with their country’s embassy in the country they are visiting to make sure any required medications are not considered to be illegal narcotics.
Pack your medications in your carry-on luggage to ensure your continued access to it, in case of emergency, or lost or delayed luggage.
5. If you take prescription medication regularly or have a preexisting medical condition, have available a complete medical history describing your medical condition(s) and any medications, including the generic names of prescribed drugs. Have available the names and contact information for your physician(s).
I’m a member of the Medic Alert Foundation, a nonprofit emergency medical information service. They have a copy of all my medical information and can provide them to medical professionals, worldwide, 24×7.
6. Take appropriate medications with you to handle health emergencies. Talk with your physician about your trip and what medications you should take with you.
Diarrhea and seriously upset stomachs are the most common travel related illnesses. Dehydration from diarrhea is especially serious for the traveler. I definitely take medication with me to combat these illnesses.
7. Take a travel first aid kit. The American Red Cross has an excellent description of what should be included in your first aid kit.
8. In the Rime of the Ancient Mariner there is a line, “Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink.” In many developing countries that’s absolutely true for travelers, unless we’re talking about “bottled water.” Even in Europe, I drink “bottled water” as tap water, while generally safe, it's different than the water I’m used to.
In developing countries avoid drinking or even brushing your teeth with tap water. Drink and use bottled water. Make sure you check that the cap is securely sealed when you buy it. In restaurants, diplomatically ask your server to open the bottle in front of you to make sure they aren’t refilling the bottles.
Do not take ice in your drinks, unless you are certain it’s frozen “bottled water.”
If you can’t buy bottled water, sterilize it by boiling or dropping in purification tablets or iodine, or use a SteriPen, which is what I take on every trip. Don’t bother with water filters. I don’t know of any, which filter out viruses like Hepatitis A and E.
9. Avoid ice cream, raw seafood, food kept warm, unpasteurized dairy products, salads and other uncooked food, unless you can peel or shell it yourself. Rampant diarrhea often comes from unhygienic food.
Eat in busy local restaurants. The fast turnover helps keep fresh food safe where refrigeration may be questionable. It may also mean the food there is good, inexpensive or perhaps both.
10. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), where a blood clot forms in one of the veins deep inside the leg, which can come loose and travel to the heart or brain, affects from 3-5% of air travelers, according to studies. That’s as many as dozen or so passengers on a wide-bodied jet. Overweight, elderly (over 65), smokers, and pregnant passengers are more susceptible to DVT than other passengers.
If you fall into one of these categories, speak to your physician about preventing DVT when you fly
by Ned Levi
Wednesday
Ireland CONNECTiON
Ireland CONNECTiON will feature information on Ireland's Wonderful West and more.
Listen to this live panel discussion featuring executives from some of the destination’s leading
suppliers. Pose questions and be part of the discussion!
Hear from: Tourism Ireland, CIE Tours, Sceptre Tours, Tenon Tours, B&B Ireland,
Specialized Travel Services, Ireland's Blue Book and Celtic Tours.
As a special incentive, you'll be entered into a Grand Prize drawing for an 8-night Discover Ireland vacation!
So please join us. Click on the link below and register now. http://www.tawirelandconnection3.com/
FREE Travel School. Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own online travel agency.
http://www.homebasedtravelagents.org/
Listen to this live panel discussion featuring executives from some of the destination’s leading
suppliers. Pose questions and be part of the discussion!
Hear from: Tourism Ireland, CIE Tours, Sceptre Tours, Tenon Tours, B&B Ireland,
Specialized Travel Services, Ireland's Blue Book and Celtic Tours.
As a special incentive, you'll be entered into a Grand Prize drawing for an 8-night Discover Ireland vacation!
So please join us. Click on the link below and register now. http://www.tawirelandconnection3.com/
FREE Travel School. Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own online travel agency.
http://www.homebasedtravelagents.org/
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