How to take good photographs on your tour.

Many times people found that the picks they have captured during the trip are not well enough and then they start blaming the camera. But actually for some good photographs some skill is required. Once you mastered the technique you can capture some beautiful snaps even with an average camera. Now the question arises how to take good photographs ? here are are some tricks to get good snaps.
Focus: Many times I have noticed that the subject is out of focus and blur. This may happen because of improper adjustments. While taking photographs make sure that the focus is on the subject. If you own a digital camera half press the button, you will get a rectangle on the screen then adjust your subject into the rectangle and press the shutter so that the subject will appear clear.
Background: Select a proper background. The background must be in contrast with your subject. If you are taking a family pick then make sure that the faces are in focus and the background is out of focus.
Lightning: It is the most important factor. If the light is more your photos appear more bright and if it is less they appear dark. Try to keep your subject in proper brightness. If you don’t know how to do it then use the auto mode in your camera and the camera does the rest of the things.
Flash: When to use flash and when not is also an important decision in photography. If you are running in low light then use the flash so that your subject appears clear. Don’t use flash if there is enough light already. Or you can simply on the feature of auto flash.
Take Series of shots: Instead of taking one single pick, take a series of picks so that you will have choices for selecting best pick and scraping the rest ones. Almost all cameras in markets have this feature. Often peoples use this feature to take a series of stills of children
Have patience: Don’t be in hurry in clicking the shutter. Have some patience and observe each object in the photograph before you click.
Zoom: Zoom only if it is necessary. A pick without zoom is much clearer than the photo with a zoom.
Adjust yourself: Before you take the photograph just have a look from different angles and then click from the best.
Look around: When you are on a tour capture those photographs which can give a brief summary of your whole tour. In the sense that after going over your album, your friends, family or colleagues will have a complete overview of your tour. For this capture the photos of each and every place that you visit.

How to take good photos on a trip.

Many times people found that the picks they have captured during the trip are not well enough and then they start blaming the camera. But actually for some good photographs some skill is required. Once you mastered the technique you can capture some beautiful snaps even with an average camera. Now the question arises how to take good photographs ? here are are some tricks to get good snaps.

Focus: Many times I have noticed that the subject is out of focus and blur. This may happen because of improper adjustments. While taking photographs make sure that the focus is on the subject. If you own a digital camera half press the button, you will get a rectangle on the screen then adjust your subject into the rectangle and press the shutter so that the subject will appear clear.

Background:  Select a proper background. The background must be in contrast with your subject. If you are taking a family pick then make sure that the faces are in focus and the background is out of focus.

Lightning:  It is the most important factor. If the light is more your photos appear more bright and if it is less they appear dark. Try to keep your subject in proper brightness. If you don’t know how to do it then use the auto mode in your camera and the camera does the rest of the things.

Flash: When to use flash and when not is also an important decision in photography. If you are running in low light then use the flash so that your subject appears clear. Don’t use flash if there is enough light already. Or you can simply on the feature of auto flash.

Photo With Flash

Photo Without flash

Take Series of shots: Instead of taking one single pick, take a series of picks so that you will have choices for selecting best pick and scraping the rest ones. Almost all cameras in markets have this feature. Often peoples use this feature to take a series of stills of children
Have patience: Don’t be in hurry in clicking the shutter. Have some patience and observe each object in the photograph before you click.

Zoom: Zoom only if it is necessary. A pick without zoom is much clearer than the photo with a zoom.

Adjust yourself: Before you take the photograph just have a look from different angles and then click from the best.

  
Look around: When you are on a tour capture those photographs which can give a brief summary of your whole tour. In the sense that after going over your album, your friends, family or colleagues will have a complete overview of your tour. For this capture the photos of each and every place that you visit.

Travel and tour tips for China

China is a large country at a size of 9,596,960 sq km. China was only partially open to the world from 1980 onwards and has been a communist country for many decades. Although there is much progress in the travel industry and infrastructure of China, there remain areas that need to be improved before it can match the level that most tourist would require.

However, much of the fun remain that it is different from the rest of the world. China will be the host nation for the Olympics in Year 2008. Travel facilities and infrastructure will be improving quickly as we approach Year 2008.

China is rich in culture and history. Visit the Great Wall of China in Beijing, sip Chinese tea in Xiamen, dance with ethnic tribes in Yunnan, check out 19th Century European buildings in Qingdao - there are just so much to do and see in China!

Below are some travel tips to make your travel in China easier:

• Entry Visa : China require entry visa from most countries. Apply at the Chinese consulate or through your travel agent before travelling to China.

• Climate Extremely diverse :  tropical in south to subarctic in north. Be prepared with the right seasonal clothing.

• Foreign Exchange : The unit of currency is known as Renmembi(RMB) or Yuan. Get some Chinese Yuan in your local country before travelling. When in China, exchange foreign currency for local currency in the banks or at the hotel. Banks tend to give slightly better rates than hotels. Take note that some banks close for a noon siesta between 12-2pm.

• Payment facilities: Most better class hotels and shopping centres take Credit Card or Travellers cheques. Smaller hotels and shops take cash only. Once out of the bigger cities, credit card and ATM cards tend to be almost impossible to utilize. Cash is still king in Chinese business and trade.

• Counterfeit notes are common in China. Check carefully before accepting change, especially if it consists mostly 100RMB notes. You can feel a texture difference where counterfeit notes is concerned.

• Understanding of English : Most civil servants, custom officials, police, hotel staff and men in the street do not speak English or at best a smattering of English.

• Most signboards and notices will carry both English and Chinese. However, be aware that some translations can be so notorious that one can hardly understand what was it's original Chinese intention.

• Do not expect hotels or shops to understand English. Only the very big hotels will have staff that will understand English.

• Most young people can understand basic English if you speak slowly.

• Social Security : China is generally a safe country. However, hang on tight to your wallet especially in crowded, popular tourist sites in tourist cities such as Beijing and Xian.

• These tourist cities also has a lot of touts in the streets touting tourist from currency exchange to jewelleries to female companionships. Avoid at all cost!

• Domestic Travel : Bus, train, ferries and domestic flights are quite well developed. Avoid the crowd at the stations and book your tickets through the hotel tour desk or the nearest tour agent. Prices are likely to be competitive and tickets will be delivered to your hotel room. Again, avoid ticket touts who approach you in the streets.

• Local buses are cheap (US$0.10 or YS$0.20) and you may want to try out. Taxis are convenient and are available at all hours. Starting fares differ from each city and may be as cheap as US$0.70 in Weihai and US$1.50 in Shenzhen.

• Avoid travel in China during peak holiday seasons or book tickets well ahead.

• Local Hotels: There is a good choice of hotels in China ranging from one star to the most luxurious 6 stars. Most of the time, the rooms are safe and clean and in my opinion, cheap does not mean bad.There are many websites selling China hotel rooms on the internet. You can also check out the travel counters which are available in most train, bus stations as well as airport.Book ahead if travelling in peak seasons.

• Peak Tourist Seasons: Chinese New Year( Date varies but generally late January or early February), May Day( First two weeks of May), China National Day(Middle two weeks of October).

• Avoid travelling during these period. Book rooms and travel modes way early if need to travel. Believe me, the crowds during these period of time will be scary. What do you expect when the entire Chinese nation of 8 billion people are on holiday as well!

• Chinese Food Local food is absolutely fabulous. Try as much Chinese food as your wallet or stomach can afford. Restaurants are available everywhere and open to late hours. Most restaurants will have a menu that include photographs of the various dishes. Better yet, simply point at the food that your next door table is having, especially if it looks delicious! However, avoid street side stalls and drinking directly from the taps if you have delicate stomach.

• Telecommunications: Mobile phone coverage in China is good in most locations. Global auto-roaming within China is not a problem.

• Internet : There are cyber-cafes everywhere in China, especially in tourist areas. Most are patronised by young people playing online games but you still can check your Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail. Access may be a bit slow for international websites.You will need to show your passport as China has tight regulations at Internet Cyber Cafes.

• Toilet facilities: One of the worst experience many has with China is the atrocious toilet facilities. Things has improved very much but it may still be a good idea to empty your stomach or bladder at every opportunity in a hotel, restaurant or departmental store. Public toilets and toilets in small shops can be a nose hazard!

Useful China travel tips :

• Try to get a English speaking tour guide at every opportunity you can. China has a rich and wonderful history and culture and without a guide, somehow, the flavour and significance of most tour sites can be lost.

• Sneaky tip: Hang around a group that has a English speaking guide if you cannot afford one!

• Always ask for a receipt from a taxi driver so that you can complain if you have been cheated or for tracing purposes if you happen to leave your camera behind in the taxi.

• Try to take the namecard for each hotel that you are staying at as these cards will have a Chinese address and the map of your hotel location. This is useful if you need to seek assistance to find your way back as the English version or pronounciation of a hotel or a street name may be quite different from the Chinese version.

• After a tiring day, check out Chinese foot reflexology or Chinese TuiNa (Chinese massage). Wonderful for the body after a hard day and very cheap to boot. Simply look out for shop signs that shows two feet! They are everywhere.

• Make friends with the Chinese whenever you can. They love to meet foreigners and will make good tour guides. Just buy a small present as a small token of appreciation.

Costa Rica Travel Packages

    Located in southern Central America, Costa Rica is surrounded by three different bodies of water including the Panama Canal on the southeast, the Pacific Ocean on the southwest and west and the Caribbean Ocean on the east. Because of Costa Rica's close proximity to several bodies of water, the country is an ideal stopping point for various cruise ships carrying throngs of adventurous vacationers. Depending on the area of Costa Rica you are in, the climate can differ dramatically. There are cool wet mountain ranges, rain forests, dry tropical forests, cloud forests, the very dry Pacific coast and the damp Caribbean coast. Because of Costa Rica's diverse climate, the country is home to 850 species of birds, 205 species of mammals, 9,000 species of flowering plants, 1,200 species of orchids and 376 species of reptiles and amphibians. For a country that only measures 51,060 square kilometers, this is a wide variety of natural wildlife.

   Costa Rica strives to maintain the land's natural beauty and wildlife by designating one sixth of the country to national parks and wildlife refuges. Costa Rica is also home to several active volcanoes. Arenal erupts daily every fifteen minutes or so. The locals welcome foreigners with open arms making Costa Rica one of the most desirable vacation and retirement spots in the world. It is for these and other reasons that a Costa Rica vacation cruise should be booked today. The memories will last a lifetime.

   An Abundance of Outdoor Recreation: Costa Rica is big on water related activities. Wave riders travel from all over the world to test out their expertise in Costa Rica's waters. Both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts offer up some notorious surfing. On the Atlantic Coast, Puerto Viejo's Salsa Brava gets some great breaks during the winter months although this area is often crowded. On the Pacific side, Playa Hermosa is the most consistent place to catch some waves. If these areas are flat, no need to worry, snorkeling and kayaking are always an option. Wind surfers have nothing but praise for Lake Arenal. It is considered one of the world's best wind surfing spots and on good days you can cruise over 25 miles across the lake. There might not be anything more romantic when you're on vacation with the one you love than enjoying a horseback ride. Whether its on the beach or through a National Park, the experience is sure to be memorable. Other popular outdoor activities to be enjoyed while in Costa Rica include hiking, mountain biking, deep sea fishing, bungee jumping, sailing, bird watching and ballooning. More adventurous activities include repelling down through the center of waterfalls, canopy tours through the tropical trees and white water rafting.

A Mecca for Nature Lovers: Nature lovers should take advantage of Costa Rica's numerous National Parks and refuges. Crocovado is both a rain forest and black sand beach. The Tabacon Hot Springs is nature's equivalent to the Jacuzzi. Unwind near cascading waterfalls in the various pools and hot springs. A trip to the Monteverde Cloud Forest will almost guarantee a sighting of Costa Rica's most famous bird, the Quetzal. The Rain Forest Aerial Tram is located out of San Jose, the country's capital, and offers a guided canopy tour of the rain forest. Manuel Antonio Park is teeming with monkeys and other wildlife. The Tortuguera is Costa Rica's most famous protected nesting area. If you are not a fan of outdoor activities, don't worry, there is plenty else to do and see. The National Museum traces Costa Rica's colorful history and culture. 

The museum was founded in 1887 and is located in San Jose. Patrons of the arts should try and catch one of the numerous performance put on at the National Theater. The National Theater offers classical music and opera performances in addition to others. Sarchi is located outside of San Jose and is a great place to visit and admire the country's handicraft.

All You Need to Know About Travel Humidors

When humidors where first created by Zino Davidoff in the early 20th century, they were large cellar humidors which certainly made for restricted travel. One now had the ability to strive for the perfect cigar, but only from home. Most people would agree that the feasibility of traveling with a large room did not exist, and still does not, even today. A dilemma arose as to how to preserve a moist cigar while traveling.

Early models of travel humidors were patterned after air-tight cases in which the cigar aficionado placed cigars already maintained in a cellar humidor. This worked well except that when one opened the travel humidor, since the maintained humidity existed as a result of already moist cigars, each time the humidor was opened, humidity would escape and the ambient humidity of the room replaced the humidity that had been inside the travel humidor.

Today humidors can be found that are battery-powered or can be plugged into any available AC outlet or a combination of both. While these types of humidors are more functional than ostentatious, they can be made of any materials in varying shapes and designs, suited to please the taste of even the most discriminating smoker.

Most travel humidors are made of extremely durable plastic, designed to withstand the rigors of being moved about and for its lightweight portability.

Travel humidors now meant that a society that is becoming increasingly more mobile as a result of the prevalence of automobiles and air is no longer demanded to choose between having a perfect cigar and being tied to home or having to leave behind one’s favorite pastime to travel.

Travel humidors are also an inexpensive addition with many functional travel humidors costing less than $30. The internet is an excellent way to research the different styles and brands while also finding the least expensive style that will meet ones requirements. Humidors provides detailed information on cigar humidors, travel humidors, and humidor plans. Humidors is the sister site of Cigars Web.

Japanese Overseas Travel Insurance

If you are an expatriate planning on long-term residence in Japan you can, after a one-year stay, become a part of Japan's national health program. Until that time, however, you're going to need Japanese overseas travel insurance.

Some of the Japanese overseas travel insurance options include not only trip or annual medical emergency coverage for travel but also disability insurance, personal liability coverage and term life insurance. Japanese overseas travel insurance's medical coverage with some plans offers full (100 percent) reimbursement for prescription medicine, medical care for diagnostic purposes, hospital stay and even surgery. You'll also be covered in case of terrorism and an evacuation to your home residence in the event of medical or terrorist emergency.

One firm whose Japanese overseas travel plan we perused offered coverage for those over 80 years old, difficult to find. The minimum coverage time period for this plan is one week (seven days) with a one-year maximum, although it can be renewed for a total of three consecutive years of coverage. Coverage varies according to your age. You must be at least two weeks old for any coverage. If you are under 70 years of age you can choose coverage limits that range from $50,000 to $1 million. Folks between 70 and 79 are excluded from coverage that exceeds $50,000, while those 80 or older can only be covered to a maximum of $10,000.

Let's look at a couple of quotes to see the variation in cost for age, children, number of travelers, and participation in sports. We'll also look at the cost for non-U.S. citizens. The first quote is for a single U.S. resident 18-29 years of age traveling along for one year and not wanting the rider for sports coverage. A $1 million ceiling for Japanese overseas travel insurance coverage, with a $250 deductible, is $576. Reducing the ceiling doesn't seem like nearly as good a deal - the premium is $504, although increasing the deductible to $1000 reduces the cost to $403.20. That same Japanese overseas travel insurance coverage for non-U.S. citizens is several hundred dollars more.

For a couple both 30-39 years old with two children traveling with them, Japanese overseas travel insurance does not come cheap. Assuming U.S. residence and a $500,000 ceiling with $500 deductible the hefty price tag for this coverage is $1814.40. While this may seem excessive, consider the cost of medical coverage for one or more of you, or for emergency evacuation. You'll probably come to the conclusion that Japanese overseas travel insurance is inexpensive as compared to the alternative.

Traveling to Europe with your Digital Camera?

The Vacation Season is fast approaching and naturally you will be taking your digital camera along for the journey. After all your vacations are far and few between and it is nice to look back on those memories as you slave away at your job. However, when you travel with a digital camera, it is a completely different experience from that of traveling with a film camera. This is a lesson that far too many travellers seem to be learning the hard way, especially if you’re travelling to Europe. After a couples years of relying solely on digital for taking photos when I travel, there are things you should consider before you head off on your next trip. 

  Charging Batteries is one of the biggest stumbling blocks you'll face when you travel. Outlets can be scarce in hotels. On a recent trip to Europe, only one of the five modern hotels I stayed in had more than one outlet available for use when charging up electronics. Charging your battery can be more of a hassle if you're traveling by train: If you take an overnight train in Europe, they don't have power adapters at the seats (certain trains do, but it's not something you can count on). I suggest bringing at least two rechargeable batteries, three if you plan to travel with overnight trains, or don't think you'll be able to charge every night. If your camera uses regular AA batteries, consider yourself lucky-you'll find those everywhere. Scope out the situation in your room when you check in: You should get at least one usable outlet, but don't count on more than that.

Bring your plugs. Some digital cameras typically come with a power brick that can handle international voltages, so you won't need a voltage adapter. However, you will need a power plug adapter to convert a US outlet plug to the local plug. Most of Europe is on the same outlet now-but not all countries accept the general "Europe" plug. Be sure to research what you'll need to jack in, and try to buy it before you leave (try CompUSA, Radio Shack, Rand McNally, or your local luggage store). If you don't have a chance to get what you need Stateside, don't fret: You should have no trouble finding an outlet converter overseas.

How do I offload my images? For fellow travelers using digicams, this was the number one problem I have heard repeatedly. Many comments from folks traveling for a week or more are: "I'm taking more pictures than I expected to." "I'm not shooting at the best resolution, because I need the room on my memory card." "I'm only halfway through my trip, and I have only 50 shots left." When you travel, odds are you'll take more pictures than you expect to also. A 1 GB card is very useful, and should suffice for low-usage shooters. But for those of us, who can go through a gigabyte or more in a day, not a week? Whether it's because your a high-volume shooter, shooting in RAW format, or a combination of the two. What I discovered is many who had digital SLRs, that had 5 megapixel or more reported they were traveling with a laptop to off load their images. None of these folks were traveling on business, so they didn't need to bring a laptop along. The sad fact is, for now, a laptop remains the most efficient and usable means of off loading images. Epson and Nikon have dedicated handheld units with a hard drive, card reader, and LCD display for copying over and viewing your images. But neither has a full-blown keyboard. If you're first buying a laptop, and intend to travel with it, I suggest going for the smallest one you can. Fujitsu, Panasonic, Sharp, and Sony all have models under four pounds. A laptop provides several additional advantages. For one thing, you can see your pictures on a big screen-to view how you're doing, and if you see any problems you want to correct with your exposure, for example, or if your pictures are being affected by dirt. For another thing, you can properly label your folders, so you know which pictures were taken where. Most newer laptops have integrated memory card readers, but otherwise, you can buy a small external card reader. For the wire-free approach, use a PC Card slot adapter for your memory card; and invest in a 32-bit Cardbus adapter (Delkin and Lexar Media offer these), for speedier transfers. Nothing's worse than coming back to the hotel after a long day of sightseeing, and needing to stay awake another 40 minutes just to off -load two 1 GB cards, at about 20 minutes a pop.

If you bring a laptop, I also suggest investing in a portable hard drive. A portable hard drive can serve multiple purposes: It can be a means of backing up your photos on the go; a means of giving you a way to take your photos with you if you have to leave your laptop unattended; and a means of expansion, if you somehow manage to fill up your laptop's built-in hard disk. If you don't want to bring a laptop, and already have an Apple iPod, Belkin sells an attachment for using your iPod with memory cards; or, consider the pricey units from Nikon and Epson. And if you're in a bind, remember you can always buy memory overseas. I was surprised that when I went to Europe, the prices were high, but not so outrageously so that I wouldn't buy another card if I were in a bind. Cards were more readily available, too, than they were when I last traveled through Europe three years ago. Look at it this way: Even if you overpay on the card, you can still reuse it-which beats overpaying for a single use 35mm film cartridge when you were in a bind in years' past. 

Be prepared for problems. Things happen when you travel and I've had more things go awry carrying my digital SLR than I have had with my 35mm over the years. Lens paper is always useful to have on hand, but if you have a digital SLR, another supply is absolutely critical: An air blower bulb, to blast out the dust and dirt that will inevitably get trapped inside your camera. I never had problems with my 35mm SLR, but with my digital SLR, I constantly find dirt gets trapped inside, when I change lenses. And there's nothing worse than having a splotch marring your otherwise awesome shots. Finally, remember the philosophy of redundancy. Whether your battery dies and you have no way to charge it, or you run out of space on your memory card(s), and don't want to buy another at a higher-than-usual price, I suggest packing a second camera if you can. A digital point and shoot is a good option but I usually carry a point and shoot 35mm to use if I run into any problems just so I won’t lose any precious pictures.

How To Keep Fit While Traveling Even On A Romantic Getaway

Norm:

Could you tell us something about yourself Jim and what provoked you into writing about the very best hotel and fitness venue combinations?

Jim:

Through the years, I traveled quite a bit for work and pleasure. In addition to finding places to stay that matched my budget and amenity preferences, I always tried to identify hotels that offered good fitness options. However, time and time again, I would show up at the hotel and discover that the “state of the art” fitness center was a closet-sized room with old or broken equipment. Or, the “lap” pool was a short oval without lane lines. Or, the “running routes” consisted of a map provided by the concierge that directed guests to jog around the streets of the hotel 10 times. It boggled my mind how these hotels could make such blatant misrepresentations. So, I decided to write the first cross-country guide that objectively recommends the BEST places to stay for those who enjoy healthy living and staying fit.

Norm:

Do you believe that if couples are looking for an ideal romantic getaway they should also take into account the fitness facilities, and if so, why?

Jim:

I believe everyone should take into consideration the quality of the fitness facilities—including couples on a romantic getaway. Exercise not only helps boost your immunity system, lower stress, and improve your sleeping habits; it also helps your sex life. Studies have shown that healthy people have better sex and tend to be happier. And, I believe it’s important to emphasize that when I say “exercise,” I’m not talking about an hour of hard-core running or lifting weights at the gym—20 minutes of brisk walking can do the trick.

Norm:

If you had to name 5 ideal romantic getaway hospitality properties that combine a unique romantic ambience with great fitness facilities, which ones would you choose and why?

Jim:
· San Francisco is one of my favorite romantic cities---the bridge, the fog, the rain, the restaurants, and the cultural offerings create a perfect stage for a wonderfully romantic trip. Any of the SFO hotels in my book would be great fitness/romance combinations, but the Hotel Rex is the best deal for the money. A small, intimate hotel property just steps from Union Square and China Town, Rex also provides guests with a discounted pass to a fantastic (but small) health club down the street, Club One.

· If money is no object, The Miraval Spa and Resort in Tucson is a marvelous getaway for couples looking to stay fit and be pampered. All meals are included as well as any type of exercise option you can imagine---horseback riding, lap swimming, rock climbing, etc.
· For those looking to add a little more “party” to their trip, Miami’s South Beach hotels are filled with romance. The Shore Club, Delano, Ritz and National are all in the book, bestowing lots of love and liveliness to their guests.
· Colorado Springs’ Broadmoor Hotel is a breathtaking resort beset by serene lakes and mountain landscape. Broadmoor’s Fitness Center and Spa is well-equipped with modern machines and a regulation lap pool. And, the nearby trails create fantastic jogging and mountain biking opportunities.
· New York City can never be left off the romance list. Several properties make exceptional romantic destinations, but Le Parker Meridien, across the street from Central Park, tops my list. It’s NYC, so expect small yet cozy hotel rooms. The Scandinavian flavor, tremendous views, and extensive on-site health club make it one of the best.


Norm:

Why should couples be concerned about fitness activities when they are away on a romantic getaway or on their honeymoon?

Jim:

Exercising for only 20-30 minutes each day will allow you to start the day healthy and help you make better choices throughout the rest of the day. Then, enjoying small indulgences like your favorite piece of pie or a few cocktails or sitting around by the pool for six hours will not seem like a big deal. Don’t forget about that improved sex too!



Norm:

How can we determine the quantity, quality, and brand of exercise equipment at recommended hotels if we never have been there?

Jim:

Buy The Athletic-Minded Traveler (laughs). In addition to providing a comprehensive written review covering everything you want to know (room appearance, room service, free breakfast buffets, sheet thread-count, etc.) about each property, we also specifically detail in chart form the quantity of exercise machines, their condition, the brands, weight/strength options, pool dimensions, running routes, etc. But, if you’re going to a city that’s not covered in the book, the best you can do is call up the concierge and ask him/her your specific questions. Sometimes it even helps to confirm with the maintenance workers.



Norm:

Very often when we vacation we seem to return home fully relaxed, however very much out of shape. How do we avoid this?

Jim:

Make exercise part of your daily routine, just like showering or brushing your teeth. When you think about it, 20 minutes is not that much time at all. Especially while on a vacation, when you don’t have to worry about going to work and all of the other hassles at home.

Norm:

There is always a temptation to overeat when we are on vacation. How can we fight off this temptation while at the same time still enjoy ourselves?

Jim:

Like I was saying before, exercise will allow you to not fret so much over what you’re eating and drinking. You may end up taking in more calories, but being active and exercising should help to burn those off fairly easily.


Norm:

Are there any food we should avoid when we are on vacation and if so, why?

Jim:

Vacation is supposed to be a break from all that troubles and worries you, right? When I go away, I like to eat the local food and experience the local customs without concerns about how many calories are in my dinner, etc. Knowing that I performed my daily workout reassures me that anything I take in will be worked off either that same day or the next. So, no, don’t worry about avoiding certain foods---just make sure to get in a daily sweat.



Norm:

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Jim:

Only that I’ve been really touched by the large number of people who have written us saying that they are so happy we wrote this book because they too were constantly frustrated by the travel industry’s ignorance about fitness preferences. Letters and emails have come from hard-core athletes as well as recreational exercisers who just like to put in 20 minutes on a good elliptical machine or bike. Our goal all along was simply to provide a reliable resource that would help people enjoy a healthy lifestyle while on the road. So far, it seems that we’ve succeeded.

Visit www.socalpress.com to view a sample chapter and find more information about The Athletic-Minded™ Traveler, a first-of-its-kind travel resource for those who enjoy a healthy lifestyle and working out while on the road.

How To Be Safe While Traveling

The most dangerous time in your life, when you are most likely to be attacked is when you are travelling in an unfamiliar area. Tourists are the favorite prey of the goblins of the world for the following reasons:

• They are easy to spot. Tourists make the mistake of not blending in, wearing clothes that stand out. Shorts in a climate where everyone else is wearing pants. Brand-new clothes with bright colors. A camera around the neck, and a generally lost look on the face.
  

• They're not armed. It is illegal to carry most weapons on common carriers such as airliners. Goblins know this and purposefully go after the tourist.
  

• Tourists make the mistake of flaunting wealth. They wear expensive jewelry, and carry large amounts of cash.
  

• False sense of confidence. When people travel from developed countries such as Japan, the United States or England to third world countries they incorrectly assume the country they are visiting has the same overall safety as the developed country. Those tourists are often unpleasantly surprised at how dangerous the country is that they are visiting.
  

• Tourists are assumed to be rich. People in most third world countries do not have the money to travel. So they think that anyone who can travel must be rich. They often resent that supposed wealth, and are willing to take drastic action to take it from tourists.
  

So, what is the answer? Never travel to new areas? No, that would be an awful way to live your life. Travel is fun and exciting, and no matter what the possible threats are, you shouldn't let a few dirt-bags ruin your fun.

• The key is to avoid trouble by not standing out as a lost, vulnerable tourist.
  

• Learn about the area you will be traveling to. The more familiar you are with the new area, the more confident you will be as you stroll down the street. Use the Internet to get maps of the area, and information on the sights you want to visit. Find out as much as you can about the culture of the people you will be visiting. Your primary goal is to blend in.
  

• Find out what people usually wear in the area you will be visiting.
  

• Hopefully you will already have similar clothes. It is best not to wear brand new clothes.
  

• Go with a group if possible. There is strength in numbers for tourists.
  

• Being with a group is especially important if it is your first time to the new country. A tour group is a great way to go because the tour guide will only take you to areas that are "safe" for tourists. Do not venture out on your own, unless you know for certain the area you are going to visit is relatively safe. Stay in the neighborhoods that are set up for tourists.
  

• Consider arming yourself with weapons that can be carried on common carriers. A good solid three foot walking stick is an example. A goblin would think twice before trying anything with you carrying such a weapon.
  

• Don't carry cash. Use credit cards, or travelers checks. If they are stolen, you can get them replaced. If you normally carry your wallet in your back pocket, change it to your front pocket. Pickpockets have a very hard time getting your wallet from the front. Carry a little extra cash in your sock or shoe, just in case you need some emergency money.
  

• Don't tempt fate. Even if you think you are in a very safe area, do not leave valuables out in plain sight. Some desperate people might attempt to kill you in order to get your valuables.
  

• Whenever you travel you must continually be in a heightened state of awareness. If you slip out of that aware state, you could find yourself in serious danger.

• Dont hesistate to call the police if required. Always keep the emergency number with you.
  

By using the aforementioned concepts you should be able to have a safe, enjoyable trip with little chance of being attacked.

Insuring Your UK Travel Adventure

For your UK holiday adventure travel insurance may be required. Whether you purchase standard travel insurance for your UK trip or whether adventure travel insurance is a must depends on what you're going to be doing. Some insurers even offer UK adventure travel insurance specific to your activity. You can, for instance, purchase UK backpacking travel insurance, or snowboarding UK adventure travel insurance. You can purchase travel insurance for your UK skiing, or a policy that covers winter sports in general.

Let's see what's available in the way of adventure travel insurance for snowboarding and skiing in the UK. You can purchase coverage for the UK, Channel Islands and Northern Ireland, either as an annual adventure travel insurance policy, or any number of days fewer than 365. You can receive an online quote and purchase immediately on the Internet if you are younger than 65. While UK adventure travel insurance is available to seniors it requires a conversation with a live insurance representative to complete.

You can purchase two levels of adventure travel coverage for your stay in the UK, depending on your needs and your budget. The premium for a one-week trip for 2 adults would run between $8.35 and $10.92. At this price your UK adventure travel insurance would cover lost or stolen luggage or money as well. You can also upgrade your coverage to include all your winter sports equipment, and reimbursement in case of evacuation or injury as a result of an avalanche. You can opt to include golf related injury or equipment loss, as well as business equipment coverage. The latter would reimburse, for example, if your laptop or cell phone were lost, stolen or destroyed.

Were you to make the determination that you are going to make many trips, adventure travel or otherwise, in the UK, you might be wise to choose an annual travel insurance policy. The standard annual UK adventure travel insurance policy protects you against multiple occurrences. With the annual coverage you would be protected during multiple trips throughout the year, although only for up to 45 consecutive days of each trip. Your winter sports UK adventure travel coverage would be for a maximum of 17 days during the year. Your coverage would include twenty-four hour medical care as well.

You can purchase additional UK adventure travel insurance coverage that would include luggage recovery and replacement, replacement of golf equipment and recovery from golf injury, as well as business equipment replacement.