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Safety & Health Tips While traveling

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Crime Prevention

Crimes against travelers are crimes of opportunity. To play it safe, here are some steps to follow:

If you travel with valuables, put them in the hotel safe.
Find out what parts of town locals consider risky and avoid them.
Keep your car doors locked and suitcases out of sight.
If you see an accident, don't stop; instead call for help.
Minimize the amount of cash you carry. Replace cash with Travelers Checks, which, once signed, are refundable if lost or stolen. ATM machines are also readily available in most places.
Have a cell phone on you for emergencies - and don't forget to pack your charger!

For practical advice on protecting yourself against crime, write for a free copy of the brochure Travel Safety from the American Society of Travel Agents (1101 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22313). Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Fire Precautions

Fire is often more of a hazard when you're away from home because of the unfamiliarity of your surroundings. Here's how to protect yourself:

Take a minute to study the fire instructions posted in your room.
Keep your room key on a bedside table so you can find it in the dark. In case of fire, take the key with you when you leave.
If exit routes are blocked, you may have to return to your room.
If smoke is coming into the room, touch the door, frame, and knob. If they are cool, slowly open the door. Take a wet towel to cover your face. Go to the nearest exit according to the posted instructions. (Never use the elevator when there's a fire .) If your door is hot, do not open it, but remain in the room. Run water in the tub, soak towels, and use them to block the crack under the door.

Travel Health Insurance

Several companies now offer various health plans to cover emergency medical costs, emergency air-ambulance service, hotel and incidental expenses for those named in the insurance coverage, and outpatient treatment.

Check your insurance policy's overseas coverage.
Have all your bills itemized in legible English and be prepared to pay foreign doctors and hospital bills in cash. However, many hospitals now accept the American Express Card for payment. Enrolled American Express Card members can also rely on Express Cash.
Submit proof of payment to your company on your return.

Travel Advisories

The U.S. State Department issues periodic Consular Information Sheets about political, health, economic, and other conditions that may affect travelers. You can obtain information by calling an automated answering system at the State Department's Citizens Emergency Center at 202-647-5225.

The International Airline Passengers Association (214-404-9980) publishes a quarterly newsletter, IAPA World. The publication calls attention to dangerous travel conditions in the U.S. and overseas, and offers cautionary advice. You must obtain a membership in order to receive a subscription to this newsletter.

Staying Healthy

Here are some general suggestions to help you keep in top shape while traveling:

Do some medical research before going overseas. Find out whether the countries you are visiting require vaccinations and whether preventive measures or inoculations are mandatory or advisable.
U.S. Public Health Service recommendations, current information on vaccination certificate requirements, and other data are included in
Health Information for International Travel
You can obtain a list of vaccination recommendations by calling one
of the American Express Card hotlines.
You can get international traveler's health information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hotline by calling 404-639-1610.
Pack an extra pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses, and take along a copy of your prescription, written in metric measurements. Also take contact lens supplies, as they may not be available overseas.
Wear a bracelet or other medical identification if you have diabetes, an allergy to penicillin, or any other condition that may require emergency care.
Keep medicines in their original containers to avoid problems with customs duties. Also, leave the cotton in drug bottles to prevent pills from breaking.
The Rockport Company, in association with the American Society of Travel Agents, has produced a booklet, Destination: Good Health. A Guide to Healthy Travel Habits. For a free copy, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to ASTA, 1101 King Stree t, Alexandria, VA 22314, or call (703) 739-2782.
Have a dental checkup to lessen the need for emergency treatment while overseas.
Consider requesting a special meal when you make your airline reservation. Major carriers now offer as many as 18 alternative menus, including kosher, Hindu, vegetarian, high-protein, low-calorie, low-cholesterol, no-salt, and seafood plates.

Avoid common travelers' ailments

In some countries, it's advisable to:

Avoid raw vegetables, unpeeled fruit, meat, seafood, tap water, ice, and unpasteurized milk and dairy products.
Drink only commercially bottled and sealed beverages or water that has been boiled or treated.
Resist the temptation to buy food from street vendors.

If you need a doctor

If you become ill out of town, it can be difficult to locate a physician quickly. Here's where to turn for help:

The nearest American embassy or consulate will have a list of English-speaking doctors.
You can also become a member of the nonprofit International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT, 716-754-4883). Members receive a directory of certified English-speaking doctors and other health-care providers.
If you have purchased travel insurance, there will be a 24 hour emergency number available for you as well.

Helpful Health & Travel Advisories

CDC Travel Information News and reference material for international travel.
International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) Information about the organization plus a directory of clinics worldwide.
U.S. State Department: Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets Worldwide travel advisories from the U.S. State Department.
Travel Health Home Page A large, colorful, friendly web site with information to help you stay healthy while you travel overseas. Information by country, by disease, general info
Travel Health Online Information sources for the health concerns of travelers.

Europe Language Tips

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

There is no need to enroll in French, Italian, German and Spanish classes for your European Tour. Your Tour Manager will fill you in on how to say some of the basics (eg. hello, please, thank you) in the native tongue of each of the countries you visit. It is often not only useful, but also polite to know a few of the basics in the local language and it’s a good idea to try and remember and uses these basics.

English is a widely spoken and understood as a second or third language amongst many Western Europeans, particularly those of the younger generations.

Western European Language Basics

English	French	Spanish	Italian	German	Greek	Dutch
Good Morning	Bonjour	Buenos Dias	Buongiorno	Guten Morgen	Kalimera	Goedemorgen
Good Bye	Au revoir	Adios	Arrivederci	Auf Wiedersehen	Yasou	Tot ziens
Please	S’il vous plait	Por favor	Perfavore	Bitte	Parakalo	Alstublieft
Thank You	Merci	Gracias	Grazie	Danke Schon	Effaristo	Dank u
Yes	Oui	Si	Si	Ja	Ne	Ya
No	Non	No	No	Nein	Oki	Nee
Where is?	Ou est?	Donde ésta?	Dové	Wo ist?	Poo eeneh?	Waar is?
The toilet	Les toilettes	El lavabo	Il gabinetto	Die toilette	To oahlehtes	De toilet
The bank	La banque	Banco	Banca	Die bank	Trapeze	Bank
Post office	La poste	Correos	Ufficio postale	Die post	Takedromeo	Postkantoor
How much?	Combine?	Cunato?	Quanto?	Wieviel?	Posso?	hoeveel?
The bill	L’addition	La cuenta	Il conto	Die rechnung	To loghariazmo	rekening
Ladies	Dames	Enoras	Donne	Damen	Yinekon	Dames
Gents	Messieurs	Senores	Uomini	Herren	Anthron	Heren
Stamp	Timbre	Sello	Francobollo	Briefmarke	Grammatesimo	Stamp
One/two	Un/deux	Uno/due	Uno/due	Eins/zwei	Ena/thio	Een/twee
Three/four	Trios/quatre	Tres/cuarto	Tre/Quattro	Drei/vier	Tria/tesera	Drie/vier
Five/six	Cinq/six	Cinco/seis	Cinque/sei	Funf/sechs	Pende/eksi	Vijf/zes
Seven/eight	Sept/huit	Siete/ocho	Sette/otto	Sieben/acht	Epta/okta	Zeven/acht
Nine/ten	Neuf/dix	Nueve/diez	Nove/dieci	Neun/zehn	Enea/theka	Negen/tien
Open	Overt	Abierto	Aperto	Geoffnet	Anikton	Open
Closed	Fermé	Cerrado	Chiuso	Geschlossen	Kilson	Gesloten
Hot	Chaud	Caliente	Caldo	Heiss	Zesto	Hete
Cold	Froid	Frio	Freddo	Kalt	Krio	Koude
Water	Eau	Agua	Acqua	Wasser	Nero	Water
Tea	Thé	Té	Té	Tee	Chai	Thee
Coffee	Café	Café	Caffé	Kaffee	Kafe	Koffie
Beer	Biére	Cerveza	Birra	Bier	Bira	Bier
Wine	Vin	Vino	Vino	Wein	Krasi	Wijn
Excuse me (sorry)	Excusez-moi	Perdon	Scusi	Entschuldigung	Sygnomi	Sorry
Cheers	Santé	Salut	Saluté	Prost	Yamus	Proost

These Languages are of use in….

French – France, Southern Belgium (including Brussels) parts of Switzerland

Spanish – Spain (Spanish will be understood in most parts of Spain, however Catalan and Basque are spoken in Barcelona and the North of the country)

Italian – Italy, parts of Switzerland, Albania

German – Varying dialects throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Greek – Greece

Dutch – Dialects throughout the Netherlands and Northern Belgium

Here is our network of Europe travel destination sites:

We also have specialty European Tour Operators sites:

Tours :: The Most Common Questions about Escorted Tours

Sunday, January 10, 2010

When will I receive my tour documents ?

Clients often ask when they will get “more” information about their tour. I always tell them after final payment is made, they will receive their documents delivered to their home by UPS and not to expect anything from the tour operator in the interim. In certain cases, especially the luxury travel tours, preliminary documents are sent, as well as personal registration forms to be filled out.

What Day Does My Tour Start ?

Just thought of another confusing question among clients. Day 1 with the budget and first class tours is “always” the overnight flight to Europe, arriving on Day 2 – this means Day 2 is your first hotel night.

Day 1 with the Deluxe & Luxury Tours is the day you arrive in Europe to start your tour.

Be Flexible – it will save you money!

I would advise clients to try to be a little flexible in their planning a trip. Sometimes by simply shifting a departure date we can find special promotions that offer additional benefits. We can also look at comparable suppliers for a similar itinerary to see if there is additional value added.

Travel Showcase: Flavors of Italy

Saturday, February 05, 2011

"...discovering regional cuisines is a delightful and delicious way to understand that-as in fashion and lifestyle-high-quality and simplicity are the hallmarks of the special flavors of Italy."
Ricardo Strano, North American director of the Italian Government Tourist Board

It's no secret Italy is one of the world's most popular destinations, one that everyone seems to love for its cities full of renaissance masterpieces and romanesque cathedrals, its lush valleys gloriously green with vineyards and olive groves, majestic Etruscan, Greek and Roman ruins, picturesque fishing ports and sybaritic seaside resorts. But it's the delicious and unforgettable dining on incomparable pasta and regional wine and dishes found only in Italy, that brings many repeat visitors back to its shores.

Indeed, it's that unforgettable culinary and wine experience that entices more than a 40 percent repeat visitor number from North America, a teasing combination of memorable flavors and aroma that can't be duplicated in even the most favorite Italian restaurant back home. Which is why Ricardo Strano, North American director of the Italian Government Tourist Board. is committed to marketing Italy in 2011 with the accent on wining and dining, combined with food and wine touring that introduces special cuisines and signature vineyards of familiar and lesser-known regions. "While Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, and Amalfi are the familiar icons of Italy, the second- and fifth-time visitors look to expand their horizons with new sights and experiences." Reminding travelers that, "Near every great museum is a great restaurant."

In fact, he points out, Italy invented the "Slow Food" movement that focuses on locally grown, sustainably farmed products, giving visitors the opportunity to learn that, "discovering regional cuisines is a delightful and delicious way to understand that-as in fashion and lifestyle-high-quality and simplicity are the hallmarks of the special flavors of Italy."

Thankfully, for those travelers looking for that unforgettable culinary and wine adventure, there are abundant options for food and wine touring in Italy, including deluxe tours spiced with great restaurants, cooking classes for a half-day or a week, hiking and biking tours with routes to outdoor markets, specialty bakeries, olive mills, vineyards and wine cellars. Many experts, for example, consider the region of Emilia-Romagna to be a legendary gourmet center with such tasty towns as Bologna, Parma and Modena. Ristoranti, osterie and pizzerie are the dine-around menu when exploring Venice and vicinity, while Piedmont's wine-making traditions produce the world-renowned Barolo and Barbaresco wines.

Globus family of brands-Globus tours, Cosmos tours and Monograms -offers a host of trips to Italy, some with an accent on dining, including Umbria's Treasures where travelers will be able to sample this region's famous cuisine with its simple, yet flavorful ingredients, fresh fruits and vegetables, and high-quality olive oil, and nibble on Perugia's world-renowned chocolate delights. Or, for an emphasis on cooking classes, book with Chicago-based The International Kitchen, specialists in cooking classes and culinary vacations in 12 of Italy's 20 regions, including three different programs based in Bologna.

In 2006, all eyes were on Torino (Turin) as host city during the Winter Olympic Games, and again in 2011, this capital of the northern Piedmont region will be front and center when Italy celebrates the 150th anniversary of Italian Reunification. Celebrations and special events will take place nationwide, but Torino is the place the reunification movement was born. Today Torino is a dynamic center for industry (home to Fiat for one) and art-world-class is its Egyptian Museum & Galleria Sabauda, housing the fabulous collections of the House of Savoy. Take time out from touring for a cup of bicerin, Torino's signature blend of coffee and chocolate.

Talk to a tour specialist at Atlas Cruises & Tours about the Flavors of Italy.

Featured Tour: Insight Vacations Best of Italy

Monday, January 03, 2011

Italy...1500 miles of undiluted history of art, architecture and above all, human endeavour. A cross section of 3000 years of history, beautifully displayed, tangibly visible and also “exhausting”.

Every moment of this Insight tour is a constant reminder of human ingenuity and fallibility. An exhaustive trip to the roots of western civilisation. A trip of a lifetime.

From the primordial and indigenous tribes of the Italian Peninsula, to the nomadic tribes of Asia Minor, the exciting Greek influence, the glories of the Roman empire, the gloom of the dark ages and the Barbaric hords, the Arab and Norman invasions, the sophistication of the Swabe dynasty, the apotheosis of the Italian Renaissance, the gradual decline, the Spanish and French invasions and finally the utopic dream come true, the unity of Italy in 1861.

Italy is not only a beautiful and fascinating country, it is also a beautiful way of life. Every facet of this country is to be experienced, understood and frequently pardoned. It is sometimes confusing and yet proud, chaotic and efficient at the same time, a world-leading industrial and financial reality and yet politically a banana republic. A country of extreme contradictions. A country of sailors and poets, a country of frustrations and indifference.

Every moment of the “Best of Italy” is aimed to share with you a whirlwind experience of a country worthy of many repeat visits, a taste of (always) better things to come, never a dull moment. You leave with a lingering feeling of enrichment and an extraordinary feeling of humility. You will leave with a sense of achievement.

For all the above reasons and many more, you have to experience the truly Best of Italy.

Mr. Francis Touschek – Insight Vacations Tour Director

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