World Traveler

Good morning guys! Sorry the posts have been quite light the past four days. Labor Day weekend was jam-packed for us.

More importantly, I’m happy to announce we’re taking part in Blog Action Day. On October 15th, 2007, thousands of blog around the web are coordinating to tackle the issue of the environment. Bloggers can participate on Blog Action Day in one of two ways: publish a post which relates to an issue of their own choice pertaining to the environment OR commit to donating their day’s advertising earnings to an environment charity of their choice. I’m not sure which route this site is going to take, but either way, it’s a pretty neat thing. Participating blogs aren’t being asked to have a specific agenda, and the coordinators aren’t pushing one particular viewpoint. So, regardless of where you stand on the many environmental debates currently raging, Blog Action Day is a fun way to put new ideas and information out there for everyone to see.

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Eyewitness Travel’s new hardcover book “Where to Go When: The Best Destinations All Year Round” ($40.00) is being billed by DK Publishing as the best and brightest new travel guide out there. The book is meant to answer all those tricky questions adventure travelers have while planning trips–Where’s the best place for hiking abroad if I can only travel in October? Where should I go in Canada during the summer months if I want mild temperatures? Where can I find a great beach in November? “Where to Go When” details the best time to travel to destinations around the world, along with the best things to see and do while you’re there. Included in the rather large 336 page volume are the following:

Search for any vacation, whether luxurious and romantic or an affordable family getaway.

Offers advice on weather, transportation, accommodations and eating for each destination.

Written by authors with expert knowledge of the countries and activities.

Arranged month by month, so destinations can be easily searched by time of year.

Superb photography captures the very essence of each destination.

Introduction written by travel expert, Jospeh Rosendo, host of Travelscope on PBS.

Thirty destinations are covered each month, with 11 of those covered in-depth. The book is available for purchase starting in September.

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Right now, thanks to new rules that took effect earlier this year requiring passports for travel to Mexico, the Caribbean and Canada, there is a massive backlog in passport processing. This means that even if you pay the expedition fee to get your passport sooner, you could still be waiting quite a while to get your passport. Now, however, the U.S. government is providing new rules to help ease passport problems during the summer travel season. The Salt Lake Tribune reports:

The passport backlog prompted the federal government to change its policy Friday. Now, U.S. citizens who have applied for but not yet received passports can temporarily enter and depart from the U.S. by air with government-issued photo identification and proof from the State Department that they have applied for a passport. This policy will expire on Sept. 30; at that time, passports will be required.

However, many travel agents are recommending that you pay the passport expedition fee. There could be any number of delays and problems associated with presenting your paperwork, and getting approved without a passport.

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As the summer travel season approaches, it is time to think about the health precautions you may need to take as you head out on vacation. Learning to treat some of the common illnesses and injuries that can occur on regular vacations is important. And it will help you enjoy your vacation so much more.

One of the things that many people do not think of is a jellyfish sting. Snorkelers rarely consider the jellyfish sting when they go to look at vibrant sea life. However, while most jellyfish sting situations are merely annoying, some can be painful, and others can be downright miserable (and in rare cases life threatening).

Here are the basics of how to treat a jellyfish sting:

• Use vinegar to flush the affected area
• Rinse the area off with salt water (not fresh water — this can increase the symptoms)
• Use hydrocortisone cream to reduce the swelling and itching

If you feel a sting, make sure to treat the area, even if there are no signs of swelling, redness or itchiness. Sometimes, a jellyfish sting can take hours to show up. You can get a jump on the problem if you move immediately.

Try to avoid waters infested with jellyfish, and consider wearing a wetsuit and gloves. This can help you avoid getting a jellyfish sting in the first place.

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