What's in Your First Aid Kit?

I've travelled enough to know that in my suitcase or backpack there are a series of items that I think are essential to me, and then there are items that truly are vital to having a safe and healthy trip, wherever you are in the world. Clothing, shoes and beauty products are not deal breakers, but travelling without the appropriate medical supplies, especially in a developing country, is like a police officer racing to a call without his gun. So have a look at some of the items that I never leave home without, and compare it with your own kit, you might have some holes you need to fill, and there's nothing worse than getting caught out in an emergency situation without the tools you need to preserve life.



Medical Gauze
Angled Medical Scissors
Polysporin Ointment
Arm Sling
Tensor Bandage (Large enough to wrap a knee or foot)
Fiber supplements to relieve constipation, laxatives and diarrhea medications like Immodium

Several pairs of disposable non-latex gloves
Band-Aids (Waterproof and regular)
Tweezers
Sterilized Suture Kit
Sterilized Syringe Kit
Digital Thermometer
Two Emergency Blankets
Eye Patches
Ipecac syrup
Anti-Septic Wipes
Anti-nausea Medication (Gravol)

This is certainly not an exhaustive list, and obviously, the further you travel and the more isolated you are, will probably not only dictate the contents of your First Aid Kit, but also determine how much of everything you bring. If you're travelling in a hot climate, there are obviously items that you will pack in your kit that you might not bring if you were heading to Antarctica, and vice versa.
Other than surgical instruments and over-counter-medications, there are a few other things you might want to consider, like keeping a copy of any prescriptions you might be on, in your kit, and on your person in case someone goes into your kit in search of something to help you. The other thing I always have in my kit, and in my bags, are emergency contact numbers, including my doctor's name and number back. Personally, I don't think you can ever be too prepared, so be thorough when you're putting your kit together, make lists and be organized!

3 Reasons to Enjoy Life at Sea

College is coming to a fast close with the end of April and early May upon us. Some of you will finish your last few exams, and set out to find yourself some employment for the summer. Some of you may be moving home to spend time with family and friends, and some of you may in the midst of planning a celebratory trip somewhere hot and fun! My best girlfriend and I will be jet-setting off on a Caribbean cruise at the end of this month. My girlfriend has been working hard on her online degree, and I attend a conventional university. Needless to say, it's been a long hard winter for the both of us and we're ready to let loose!

While we were researching places to go, we came up with all of the usual suspects. Mexico, Jamaica, and Cuba (we're Canadian, so getting to Cuba couldn't be easier!). We loved them all, but we were looking for something a little different, a little more exciting. The answer was simple; Let's take a cruise! My girlfriend wasn't exactly sold on the idea, but after a little convincing, she couldn't wait to leave. If all-inclusive is your thing, but you like the idea of a change of scenery every morning, you need to hit the high seas, and here's why:


1)  Fabulous Food! Don't get me wrong, some cruises are infamous for cheap and not so cheerful eats, whereas others have a spread fit for a king. As a rule of thumb, I generally stick to the more expensive Cruise Lines like Royal Caribbean or Celebrity. They regularly feature famous Executive Chefs and depending on the ship, you can have over 15 different restaurants on board to choose from.

2) Almost All-Inclusive. Much like an all-inclusive on land, many of your expenses are covered on board. Your accommodation, your meals (with the exception of Signature restaurants which will charge a small fee) and your wine at dinner will be covered in your cruise cost. Cocktails are not included, so you'll want to make room in your budget for that.

3) Fantastic Selection of Side Excursions. Because you're often in a different port every day, you have the opportunity to experience any number of amazing on-shore excursions. Whether it's trekking around the Blue Mountains in Jamaica one day, and diving in the Grand Cayman's the next, you'll never find as much variety if you're staying in one place!

Why Book an All-Inclusive?

I was a travel agent for several years, and I still get friends and family who send me text messages or emails, asking me for advice when they're planning their beach vacays. If you live in North America, when you're on the hunt for a beach holiday, you have a number of options. You could book yourself into a hotel and book your flight separately. You could book an apartment or condo, especially if you plan on staying for a long period of time. But by far, the most popular way of booking a holiday, is to book yourself an all-inclusive type holiday. What does that mean? Well, it means exactly that, everything is included. Your flight, airport transfers, accommodation and meals (and in some cases, alchohol) are bundled together for one price. Now let's have a look at why going all-inclusive might be the best option for you:

1) They offer the best value for money. If you're a student,  your vacation schedule is fairly tight, and you're not necessarily looking to stay in a hostel, this is undoubtedly the best option for you. If you're going to a school like Kaplan Online, most of your cash-ola is eaten up by tuition, books and life! All-inclusive packages virtually take care of every necessary expense. All you have to do is show up, eat and be merry!

2) Pre-paying puts you at ease! It's sooo much easier to put a budget together when you've got 90% of it taken care of. Transportation, food and housing costs make up the bulk of our budgets back home, and when you're on vacay, in most places, the case is the same. But once this is all taken care of, you can start saving up for tours, or, even better, you can just relax! 


3) The options are endless! There are thousands of all-inclusive destination options around the Caribbean and Central America. You can dance a little salsa outside a cafe in Havana, surf the waves in Costa Rica or sip margaritas in Mexico. Whether you're on vacay for a quick week, or taking your time on a two week vacation of a lifetime, going all-inclusive is definitely the way to go!

Cancun Me, Baby!

One of my dearest girlfriend's came over last night to watch a little hockey and catch up on some gossip. She's been studying like an absolute demon over the last three months and decided that after her final exams in April, she wants to take off to somewhere hot before she starts her teaching career. What with me being a freelance writer, and having the ability to travel when and where I want, we decided that we would take the trip together. After batting around a few ideas, we decided on an old favourite, Mexico.

Mexico has long been a beloved travel destination for Canadians and Americans, but recent reports of tourists being targeted at some of the West Coast resorts had me concerned. I'd like to think of myself as a adventurer, but I had absolutely no interest in coming home in pieces, so we decide that Cancun was a safer bet for a couple of seasoned women who weren't to be messed with! Let the bargain hunting begin!

If you haven't been to Cancun before, it's geography can most definitely effect your stay. Most of the resorts in Cancun are nestled along a very narrow strip of land. On one side, you will face a large lagoon called Laguna Nichupte. But if you want if you're after that tranquil view of the Caribbean Sea, you'll want to make sure you stay on the Isla Cancun. This is an important point to stress to your travel agent, if that's who you choose to book with. Location is everything!

Next up, where do you stay? There are literally hundreds of resorts and hotels to stay at, and it can be a bit of a headache to try to sort through them all. The first question I generally ask myself when I'm booking an all-inclusive property, there are a number of factors I like to consider. What's the crowd I feel comfortable with? Since my girlfriend and I are in our 30's, we're not looking to whoop it up with the under 25 crowd (no offence ladies, I had my party days too!), so we'll be researching properties that are a little more upscale. Second, call me a snob, but I won't stay anywhere that's a 3.5 or below. I'm not above budget properties, but not when I'm only away for a week, and I want excellent food, and decent cocktails, I want a little taste of luxury. Look, I've spent a year backpacking the world, but this is a different kind of trip. And lastly, I will spend several hours scouring Trip Advisor for real reviews from real people. My travel agent may do his darndest to convince me to stay at a particular property so he can up his commission, but I like to go in armed with as much information as possible. Mexico, here I come!

The 'Flight Whisperer' - Are We Going Too Far?

I am a self-admitted frequent flyer. My carbon footprint over the last couple of years has been abhorrent, I'm sure, but none-the-less, my partner and I like to take off at least two times a year. In 2009, we spent the entire year travelling, and can only begin to guess as to how many flights we took, and out of those some 40 flights, I can count on one hand how many times I've allowed myself to come face-to-face with a raging passenger in-flight. I am the first one to admit that I get road-rage, and at times, I can most certainly be described as an impatient person, but never have I lost my cool mid-air. And I've only ever treated my fellow passengers with the utmost respect. But I'm sad to say, that statistically, air passengers are becoming less and less tolerant of each other. So who's responsibility is it to keep the peace?

Virgin Airlines believes it's theirs, and has taken it upon themselves to hire a "Whispering Coach" to train their flight attendants to speak in hushed tones to promote and quiet and peaceful environment in the flight cabin. In an effort to promote their new "upper-class dream suites", all flight staff on long-haul flights, will be required to participate in an extra day of training, to learn how to speak between 20-30 decibels so as not to disturb sleeping passengers. Apparently telling the staff to use their "inside voices" isn't enough!

At first glance, the headline sounds a bit extreme. But are they onto something here? How many times have you been on a long flight and been ripped out of your sleep by some obnoxious passenger who'd decided to strike up a rousing conversation with someone next to them in the middle of the night? Or maybe you've been forced to crank the volume up in your headset because the gaggle of bimbo's two rows up have had two cocktails too many, and think that now is a perfect time to start gossiping about all the debauchery that is to ensue when they touch down. Do we really need to be privy to all the details? Yikes!

I think it's all well and fine that the cabin crew are trained to speak in soft melodic tones, but what of rowdy, obnoxious blabber-mouths who just don't want to listen? Well, perhaps it's time for a little perspective. If you have the ability to actually get on a plane, and leave your home, you are immensely privileged, never forget that. So lose the holier-than-though attitude, crank your headset to full volume and suck it up. There are 7 billion people on this planet that aren't going anywhere, so you might as well get used to it! Unless you've paid an obscene amount to fly business or first class, quit your complaining and be grateful!

A New York Love Affair

I have been having a long distance love affair for the last five years. We don't talk on the phone, or send emails, or exchange letters, but at least once a year I touch down and spend four or five days trouncing around Midtown, absolutely enthralled with everything I see, hear, smell, and touch. Yes, New York City has cast her spell on me, and I haven't been able to shake it since I first took my first taxi ride in from the airport, over the Brooklyn Bridge on a sticky summer's night in the dead of August. With the Manhattan skyline in the backdrop, I could scarcely catch my breath. Everything I had ever read and dreamed about this iconic city had come to light, and she didn't disappoint, not for a moment! I've since been back about six times over the last four years, and feel like I should share my love for this spectacular city with those who've yet to experience her splendour!

When is the best time to go? If you ask me, New York is fabulous all year round. Whether you're skating at Rockefeller Centre or picnicking in Central Park on a mild Spring afternoon, there's always something going on in the city! May, September and October are three of the best months for weather. You can still stroll down 5th Ave in a t-shirt and shorts, but you won't be in a virtual meltdown like you would in July or August. Personally, I love New York in August. The heat, though intense, it drives New Yorkers out of the city, and shops are a lot less busy. 

Where do I Stay? Being something of a New York connoisseur, I used to get this question all the time! Because the New York subway system is so efficient, Manhattan Island is easily accessible in a relatively short amount of time from any of the outer boroughs. Brooklyn has some fabulous accommodation options, but because I'm the kind of girl that likes to be in the middle of it all, I always stay in Manhattan. If you're budget conscious like myself, consider staying uptown. The closer you stay to Times Square, the more expensive it's going to be. If you're staying on 84th street or above, you'll save some money, and you can make into the centre in just 15-20 minutes! 

What can I do? The question you should be asking, is what can't I do! On or off broadway, the Theatre District is heaven for theatre buffs. With hundreds of shows that grace the epic stages, you could go to a different show every day of the year! For cheap tickets, consider buying the day of at the Times Square Visitor Centre, prices can be as much as 75% off! 

As you may or may not know, New York is a shopping Mecca! From the opulence of 5th Avenue to the cheap thrills of Canal Street in Chinatown, you can purchase a brand new spring wardrobe on your executive assistant salary and still have money left over for dinner and cocktails! 

Don't forget to purchase your 48 hour hop-on hop-off bus tour to help you navigate your way around this writing metropolis. Get above it all, and let someone else do the driving. 

Whether you're here for the weekend, or a whole week, New York city will leave you spellbound. So grab your laptop, head to your favourite coffee shop, snag yourself a cup of java and start planning your trip! 

ROADTRIP! 3 Major Survival Tips

I grew up on the West Coast of Canada, and as kids, we looked forward to spending every summer with our grandparents on their acreage in Ontario. Because our parents didn't have a lot of money, flying across the country wasn't an affordable option, so our 'ol Ford Tempo transported us back and forth for nearly a decade, and I never forgot the unspeakable freedom I felt as a young child, as we raced across the prairies, through the floodplains, past great lakes, and into the lush country side of Ontario. In the 1980's and 90's, fuel was less than half the cost it is now, so not only was it an enjoyable way to get to where you were going, it was very affordable. Unfortunately now, this is not the case. But for those of us who still love the feeling of hitting the open road, and creating our own schedule, road-tripping is the ultimate escape. So if you're itching for an adventure, here are a few things to consider before your wheels hit the pavement.

1) Prepare your wheels! The more love you give your wheels, the less likely it's going to leave you stranded. Depending on the distance you plan to travel, get a full mechanical work-up done; Oil change, wheels checked, tune-up, fluid re-fill, transmission check and anything else that your mechanic thinks you might need to consider. After she's all mechanically sound, it's time to do some housekeeping. Give your car a good scrubbing, vacuum and get rid of any junk lying around. If you're travelling with several people in the vehicle, it's important that they be allowed to enjoy a fresh and clean environment.

2) Get your kits together. My partner may disagree with me on this one, but I happen to be of the belief that you can never be too prepared. Put together a car kit. Living in Canada, we have to be prepared for all types of weather; Snow, hail storms, flash floods, hurricane winds, tornadoes, you name it, we get it! So the prospect of being trapped in near or in our car on a mid-summer's day is not impossible to imagine. It's important to ensure that you have sufficient supplies like water, blankets, warm clothes, first aid, flashlights, food, maps, whistle, a cellphone and roadside assistance membership like AAA. 

3) Accurate maps and/or a reliable GPS. I'm fairly convinced that both men and women are often lousy at asking for directions, so do yourselves a favour and plan your routes out. I do realize, however, that half the fun of being on a road trip is having the ability to go off-road through the back country and exploring a region. But, if you don't have a good grip on where you are in the first place, not only are you going to get lost, but you'll waste a precious travel day. Invest in a good GPS system, and a good set of maps and getting lost becomes not only easily remedied, but it might even be fun!