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!