Taking a vacation is supposed to be a fun and an enjoyable experience, but if you become ill on the trip, the experience will take a turn for the worse. An important precaution when traveling anywhere is to follow health safety regulations.
No matter where you travel, basic health practices should be used. Wash your hands frequently and always before leaving a restroom and before eating. Carry around wet wipes for locations that may not have a sink nearby. Use toilet seat covers or don’t sit on public toilets. Cover your mouth when you cough and nose when you sneeze. Avoid being coughed on or sneezed on by others. Basically, follow the rules your mom taught you about while growing up.
Before embarking on any trip, look into any health problems the area you are going to may be having. Bird flu is a concern in some areas and has been on the news for over a year. The virus is believed to have spread from Southeast Asia to Europe and is making its way to the Americas. Another widespread health concern is the West Nile virus, which is spread by mosquitoes and has been spreading across North America. SARS, which is an atypical form of pneumonia, has been a large problem in China. Knowing what health concerns an area has can help in preventing you from falling victim to them. 
Some prevention methods require a vaccination prior to going on the trip. For recommended vaccinations, visit the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (http://www.cdc.gov/travel). The CDC website provides a vaccination list based on your destination. The site also provides health information if you have specific medical conditions, are pregnant or are traveling with young children. 
Additionally, many areas have contaminated water problems. Make sure when you are heading to these areas that you find an acceptable water source. Some options are to bring your own bottled water or drink non-water products. 
Preparing a first aid kit for treatment of common sickness or diseases can give you an added security. Bring not only band aids and aspirin, but medicines for diarrhea and upset stomachs. Talk to your doctor about the area you will be traveling. If malaria is a common ailment, bring a preventative medicine and follow instructions recommended.
A popular proverb says, “Prevention is better than the cure.” Prevent an illness by knowing what’s out there.


For more information on traveling visit: http://www.Melloh-Travel.com 

You have lots of stuff to pack for your trip. How do you decide what stays and what goes? How are you going to fit it all in your pack and how are you going to carry it? Here are some tips to consider when packing for your backpacker trip: 

1. Buy a good backpack. Investigate the right kind of backpack for your trip and you will make your packing easier before you go and when on the road.  

2. Put your sleeping bag in first.  

3. If you are going to be camping get a tent that is lightweight and durable and pack it in the tent compartment in your backpack. 

4. Clothes – what are you going to take? Lay everything out on the bed. Now cut it down to half. If you’ve got something that’ll you’ll only wear a couple of times, leave it behind. You’re backpacking on a budget so it’s unlikely you’ll be going to any balls or ritzy restaurants. Pack your rain gear where you can reach it quickly. Make sure you have enough layers if you are going to colder areas. Don’t forget your gloves and hat. 

5. Cooking utensils should be packed where they won’t rub on your other gear and you want to make sure the hard edges don’t stick into your back. 

6. Food should be packed in outside compartments; you don’t want any crumbs getting into your other gear. Carry enough food for a day, just in case. Make sure you have at least one water bottle packed on the outside. And pack water purifying tablets if you are traveling to under-developed countries. 

7. Your mattress (if you’re taking one) should be strapped to the outside of your pack unless it’s small enough to fit on the inside. 

8. Camera! 

9. Have you got your map? What about a compass if you intend going off road on a hike? 

10. Don’t forget your matches, first aid kit, army knife, flashlight, batteries, sun screen and sunglasses. A whistle and insect repellant are good items to pack, especially if you plan on doing a lot of hiking. And toilet tissue. Just in case. 

11. Have you packed a decent pair of walking/hiking boots? These are essential because any backpacker will be doing a lot of walking. 

12. Put in a daypack. This will make day hikes and sightseeing much easier if you can have a smaller pack to use on shorter trips. 

13. Money, money belt, traveler’s checks and credit card. Along with your passport and necessary visas. Don’t take large amounts of cash and keep it safe while traveling. 

And there are other things you need to consider before you set out. Keep in mind the following: 

* Take out travel insurance. 

* Are you taking your mobile phone? If so make sure you have global roaming set up.  

* Do you need any vaccinations before you go? Make sure you check out what is needed for the places you are visiting. It’s also a good idea to get a dental check up before you leave. And if you are on any medications make sure you have enough medicine to take with you. 

* Give someone at home a copy of you itinerary and passport.  

* Check out the local laws and customs of the place you are traveling to before you get there.  

* Get to the airport in plenty of time to enable a smooth check in and time to say goodbye to your loved ones. 

Pack well and have a good trip!

For more travel information, visithttp://www.Melloh-Travel.com

More and more people are turning to Amtrak as a reliable way to travel for the holidays. After the terrorist attacks of 09/11/01, airport security has become increasingly difficult to get through. As a result, most airports have long lines and delays taking place around the holidays because they don’t want to become lax, even when it is busy. 
Traveling with children for the holidays can be stressful, especially if you are traveling with them alone. Keeping them entertained in a car for the trip is often a two person job so one can drive and one can play games or offer snacks to keep everyone in the vehicle happy for the duration of the trip.
Airplanes are very cramped and most people don’t do well with children roaming the isles or crying during the flight. For younger children, the amount of pressure that can build in their ears on an airplane is very painful. Being stuck on a runway for hours will definitely make children uncomfortable and these delays often happen around the holidays. If you have ever tried to change diapers in the small airplane bathrooms you’ll know that it isn’t an easy feat to accomplish. 
Amtrak is very family oriented, so this may be the best mode of transportation for your holiday travel. The cars are roomy and you are able to get up and walk around freely. There is plenty of scenery along the railway routes too for you to enjoy. 
If you are be going on a long trip for the holidays, Amtrak offers sleeping cars of various sizes. This is a great way for your children to have the room they need to take a nap and to play. Most of the family sleeping cars offer enough space for two adults and two children comfortably. 
You will find great holiday travel deals on Amtrak when you reserve a sleep car as well. Many times you’ll get coupons for free meals offered in the dining car. 
Make sure you make reservations for Amtrak early though. Their tickets often sell out quickly for holiday travel and they have a limited number of sleeping cars. You don’t want to be stuck without one or have to accept one that is too small for comfort because you waited too long to make your reservation.
Most train stations are very well set up and you can even leave your car there when you board the Amtrak for free. Most airports charge you by the day to leave your vehicle behind and that is an expense that quickly adds up. You can either have your family or friends pick you up at the train station for your destination or choose alternate modes of transportation. There’ll likely be rental cars at the terminal or you can take a cab. 
You can go online to find out the various destinations that Amtrak travels to. If they don’t go to your exact location, but within 100 miles, you may want to consider having someone pick you up there or to rent a car to go the rest of the way. Amtrak is affordable and much more comfortable than taking an airplane or traveling all that way in a car. 


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There is always a chance that your flight will get cancelled or delayed regardless of when you fly. However, the holidays are a very busy time for airports and you don’t want to spend Christmas there instead of with your family. Be prepared for long lines at the check in desk and security. Even though you should be at the airport two hours before your plane takes off during normal travel times, you’ll want to increase that up to three hours when you travel around the holidays.
Try to keep the amount of items you bring along to a minimum. It will make checking in your baggage easier and prevent such items from being lost or damaged. If you are traveling for Christmas and you want to send gifts, it is a good idea to mail them separately and they’ll be there when you arrive. If you do decide to pack them, don’t wrap them as they are subject to being inspected. You can wrap the gifts when you arrive at your destination.
Traveling around Thanksgiving or Christmas always comes with the risk of the weather being a problem, so make sure you are prepared. Some travelers have had their flights delayed for a couple of days due to storms coming in during these times. It’s a good idea to arrive at the airport prepared for the worst. Make sure you have plenty of activities with you for your children to stay busy with. You also want to carry snacks and drinks so you don’t have to pay the outrageous prices at the airport for these items.
If you have certain days alloted for your travel, you’ll want to make your travel arrangements early. Look for the best possible deals online and with a travel agent. If you wait until the last minute, in hopes of prices dropping, you may be disappointed because the flights could be sold out.
Many people save money on flights by taking connections or accepting a layover or two. You may want to skip this money saving tip during the holidays, just because most airports will be very busy. You don’t want to have to deal with hurrying across a busy airport terminal to find your connecting flight. If you can get a decent price on a direct flight, then make sure you do so. 
It’s very important that you have all your travel documents and a printed copy of your travel itinerary. Most airline staff will be overwhelmed with people asking for assistance during this time of the year. You don’t want to arrive and discover that you don’t have a reservation after all and that there’s not a space on the plane for you. 
If you want to avoid the crowds during holiday travel, consider taking a very early morning flight or a late evening flight. You’ll find these are often less expensive as well. While it may interrupt your normal sleep patterns, it can help to reduce the amount of stress and anxiety while you are traveling during the holidays.
For those planning to fly with children around the holidays, make sure you keep a careful eye on them. They can quickly become separated from your family in the crowd of people moving around. Strollers are a good option for small children. Make sure all the adults in the party know which flight they are taking and the airline, in case they get separated as well. 
You can have a fabulous trip to visit your family and friends over the holidays if you are prepared. Paying attention to the guidelines of the airlines is very important to ensure you have a save trip. Being on time will help to ensure that you don’t have your plans crushed because you have to catch a plane in the following days.  For more information on traveling, visit: www.Melloh-Travel.com