Green Travel Tips

Why not try to preserve and protect the environment while you're on vacation? It's not so hard and you'll be happy you did. You don't necessarily have to sleep in a tent and sacrifice your "comfort" if that's not your kind of thing. You just need to make an effort to preserve and protect the environment of the place you're visiting -- and it's easier than you might think.

Here are some tips for helping to preserve our environment:

• Book flights with minimal or no connections. Save time as well as avoiding contributing to carbon emissions that are mostly emitted from airplanes during take-off and landing.
  
  
• If driving, consider your car. If your car uses a lot of gas, consider renting a hybrid car or one that is more fuel efficient than your own. If there is a train that's going to your destination, consider that as well.
  
  
• Be respectful while using walking trails, exploring national parks, and never walk or stand on the reef while snorkeling or scuba diving. The reefs are living organisms and are in danger of being destroyed by tourists who are inconsiderate of that fact. When snorkeling, do not touch the coral or stir up sediment, as these actions can damage the reef's fragile ecosystem.
  
  
• Many hotels and resorts have been committed to conserving natural resources: water, energy, as well as significantly reducing the amount of waste produced. Consider using your towels and linens more than once. And don't forget to recycle your trash!
  
  
• Local shops often feature local artisans, which makes for a truly unique shopping and souvenir experience. You can find wonderful souvenirs as well as support the small businesses in the area. Do not, however, buy souvenirs or other products made from endangered animals or plants -- in most cases you can't get them through Customs anyway.
  
  
• Conserve on vacation as you would at home: avoid running the water while brushing your teeth, shut off the lights when you leave, turn up the thermostat to reduce air conditioning when you're away, and recycle cans, glass and plastics on property.
  
  
• Treat the locals with respect. Learn a few words in the native language, be open to cultural differences, and read up on the area before your trip so you're sensitive to issues of dress and behavior.
  
  
• Volunteer to help clean up and preserve the local environment. There are various organizations you can get in touch with to enhance your vacation experience with some volunteerism.

If you would like more information or would like to book a volunteer vacation, please call me at 732-747-8187.

New York City Vacation Specials

Sunday, May 24, the City of New York is closing Broadway to traffic in Times Square. So come and enjoy what NYC has to offer!

Package description:

• Deluxe Queen room
• Includes free admission to the Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty Express Cruise
• Includes free admission to the American Museum of Natural History, Top of the Rock Observation Deck or the Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Includes VIP Invitation to the CBS Early show
• Includes shopping and parking discounts
• Includes shopping and parking discounts

From $392 per person double for 3-nights.

Rates are subject to availability and change.

Valid for hotel stays June 1 through June 30, 2009

Call 732-747-8187 for more information

CDC’s Travel Health Warning has now been downgraded to a Travel H

Effective this afternoon, the CDC’s Travel Health Warning recommending against non-essential travel to Mexico, in effect since April 27, 2009, has now been downgraded to a Travel Health Precaution for Mexico. CDC RecommendationsAt this time, CDC has removed its recommendation that U.S. travelers avoid travel to Mexico.

CDC continues to recommend that travelers visiting Mexico take steps to protect themselves from getting novel H1N1 flu. CDC also recommends that travelers at high risk for complications from any form of influenza discuss with their physicians the risks and benefits of travel in the context of their planned itinerary. Current SituationCDC has been monitoring the ongoing outbreak of novel H1N1 flu in Mexico and, with the assistance of the Mexican authorities, has obtained a more complete picture of the outbreak.

There is evidence that the Mexican outbreak is slowing down in many cities though not all. In addition, the United States and other countries are now seeing increasing numbers of cases not associated with travel to Mexico. Finally, the risk of severe disease from novel H1N1 virus infection now appears to be less than originally thought. For more info: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/content/travel-health-precaution/novel-h1n1-flu-mexico.aspx

Swine Flu Common Sense Tips from iTravelInsured

Common Sense and Travel Insurance, Weapons Against the H1N1 Virus (“Swine Flu”) and Other Illnesses

1. Wash your hands frequently and avoid handshakes and other physical contact with strangers and animals.

2. Take full bottles of prescription and over-the-counter medications when you travel. What happens when you are fumbling in the dark and half of your medicine goes down the drain?

3. Keep your medicines with you at all times. Do not check them in your luggage and do not leave them out in the open in your hotel room.

4. Take paper prescription orders with you. Drugs are commonly stolen and if you need to replace them, you will need a prescription. Be aware that not all American drugs are readily available outside the country. You may be able to purchase some prescription drugs over the counter in some nations.

5. If you need to purchase drugs outside the United States, they may not be the same quality — there is no FDA in Jamaica.

6. If you wear glasses, bring a copy of your prescription. Again, the quality might not be as good as home, but you won’t be blindly stumbling through the rest of your vacation.

7. If you fall ill, check with the hotel staff first. Most hotels have an English-speaking doctor on call for sick guests. This is a good first step and he can determine if more care may be warranted.

8. Check out Traveler Resources to see current warnings and recommended vaccinations for different countries. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is a great resource as is your personal physician.

9. Make sure your travel insurance company has English speaking contacts (iTravelInsured® does). If you are not critically injured, you want to be describing your problem in English to someone who understands.

10. Stay away from small clinics and doctors’ offices in an unfamiliar area. In many countries, almost anyone can hang a shingle that reads “doctor.” If you need emergency care, go to as large a hospital as possible - generally they have some standard operating procedures.

11. If you are hospitalized, get a private room and monitor your medications and treatments. If possible keep a written record of it (or have a traveling companion do so) so that you can show it to your physician back at home. If possible, obtain the hospital records. This will also help with any insurance claims.

12. If you have to ask if you can drink the local water — don’t. Remember, ice in your drink is probably made with the local water.

13. If you have travel insurance, call the Emergency Travel Assistance number as soon as possible to report your medical problem. They are available to assist you 24/7, including arranging an air ambulance or a medical repatriation if necessary.