Triphealthy.com recommends that you take your home contact information with you when you travel. Here is a suggested list of items you should write down.

1. Personal data:

Name, address (e-mail address), phone numbers, date of birth, gender, height, weight, marital status and employment information (employer name and phone numbers).

2. Emergency contacts:

Names, relationships, addresses, and most relevant phone numbers for a primary and secondary contact.

3. Medical contacts:

Names, specialties, addresses and telephone and fax numbers of your medical providers who are informed of your medical condition (include your dentist).

4. Insurance providers:

Companies’ names, addresses, and phone and fax numbers. Include your member ID and identification group numbers. List and label all companies - travel, primary and secondary insurers.

5. Legal contacts:

Name(s) of your legal representative(s) for your current living will, medical decision power of attorney and general power of attorney; as well as contact information.
(Hopefully, these people have copies of your documents.)

Notes:

1. Carry a copy of your passport with you, instead of the real thing. Keep your legal passport in the hotel safe unless you need it.

2. Leave a copy of your itinerary with your contact person at home, as well as your medical history.

Remember: If you do this once, then you merely have to update your paper work as needed.

ML

1. Arrive at the railway station early and avoid close connections (to avoid stress).

2. Visit the bathroom (“toilet”, “loo,” “WC”) before boarding the train.

3. Have loose change in local currency for the deposit on luggage carts.

4. Arrange for assistance, if you need help, several days before departure.

5. Make reservations early for a sleeping car and buy ear plugs to muffle noise.

6. Reserve a table in the dining car and/or bring food with you. Bring bottled water.

7. Pack lightly. You can always buy personal items and gifts at the train station or local stores.

8. Dress comfortably; take a sweater and comfortable shoes.

9. Do not leave luggage unattended in the station and on the train.

10. If you leave your train car or sleep on the train, secure your bags to the luggage rack with a chain lock ( which you purchased before you departed).

11. Learn a few railroad phrases and salutations in the languages of the countries you are visiting.

Readers do you have other tips for a stress free rail trip abroad?

EF

While train travel abroad is great fun and highly recommended, it is not for everyone. Here are tips for evaluating whether going by train is best for you.

1. Review train time schedules from your departure to your destination stations. Are these times convenient for you to be comfortably on time? See if you need to connect to other trains to reach your destination. How long are the intervals between connecting segments on different trains? You do not need to be rushed and stressed. A good site for time schedules throughout Europe is www.bahn.de. A highly recommended book is Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable.

2. Ascertain the length of your trip and whether you will be on the train during sleep hours. If overnight, you may wish to reserve a sleeping car, so your body will be more relaxed. Will you need to have meals or snacks? Is there a dining car or attendants who push carts through the cars and offer food. An excellent resource on rail travel abroad is www.seat61.com.

3. Determine the accessibility of rail stations. Must you go upstairs or downstairs to reach the train tracks? Are there elevators or escalators to use, as you will be carrying your luggage? Are there porters to help you?

Most railway companies have detailed information on facilities to help passengers who need assistance. You can look online for the rail company on which you will travel, find the English button and search for disability or special needs. The Netherlands (Netherlands) and Norway (Norway) provide a few examples in Europe.

4. See whether you can pack lightly, preferably in one bag, otherwise, your luggage will be burdensome. Are there luggage carts in the rail station; and are these able to be moved to the track? If you are returning to the same station, consider using “left luggage.” In any major city railway station (in Europe, at least), there will be a “left luggage” facility, either staffed or lockers. Check the times that they are open and the charge (usually less than 5 Euros for 24 hours).

Readers, have you run into problems that could have been avoided?

EF

Make your hotel (or other lodging) room more “comfortable.” This will relieve the stress and “wear and tear” of your body after a long trip, for business or vacation, which in turn will enhance your physical and (even) psychological states.

1. We suggest that you pack something (e.g. a robe or casual wear) that is colorful and cozy. Buy a new one for your trip before you leave home. No need to bring your “well-used” resting or sleeping garment from home. Make your stay less of a “homebound” adventure.

2. Re-pack the room’s refrigerator with “fun” items bought locally. Cheeses, fruits, and favorite type snacks and beverages may fit the bill. No need to use the “expensive” contents found in a well-stocked hotel room.

3. Buy flowers locally. Use the room’s pitcher or ice bucket (remember that in some countries you won’t be using local ice or tap water anyway).

4. Bring a portable sound system. A little music may set a warm tone in the room.

5. Buy scented bath oils to refresh and sooth your body. Utilitarian soaps provided at most hotels are convenient, but a nice treat to your senses will be very welcome as you to recuperate from a long journey, or a long day of sight-seeing or business meetings.

Notes:

Perhaps these tips are limited to when you are traveling with a “special” companion. But, we think, they might be considered even with a familiar friend; AND even if you are staying alone.

Readers: Please share with us some tips about what you have done to make your hotel stay more “pleasant.”

ML

Three tips to make your air travel during long distances more comfortable:

1. Seat selection.

Try to reserve:

a) a window seat: The body, through your eyes and sense of balance, needs some reference points to judge motion. Being able to look outside the window at the horizon can help your brain gather information to stabilize your physical environment. This tip can help reduce any symptoms of motion sickness (such as a sweat, headache and nausea).

Note: The concept of looking at the horizon is also useful while aboard a ship, to lessen the effects of motion sickness.

b) an aisle seat: It is easier to walk around, even for a short while, or to go to the bathroom as needed, if you don’t have to climb over other travelers in a tight squeeze mode.

2. Help yourself avoid cold symptoms.

a) Rest before you start your trip.

b) Keep hydrated while on board. Water is a safe bet while on the airplane. Alcohol and caffeine may dehydrate you and/or keep you awake (or make you journey to the bathroom...see the above tip on reserving an aisle seat).

3. Dress casually.

Wear comfortable, non-binding clothes on a long trip, where you will be seated for a while, sometimes with a seat belt. We have already suggested that you wear support hose that apply compression to the lower legs.

Note: Readers, please log onto our articles on “Jet Lag” through our “search” box on the right hand side of our web site, for our previous tips on this topic.

Thanks to www.magellans.com, for some of the reminders above.


ML

Continued from February 15, 2010

Most rail passes must be purchased in the U.S. and are not available in Europe. There are some exceptions: Eurail passes are sold at some of Europe's major railway stations for 10-20% more than the U.S. price. If you decide that a Eurail pass is for you, you must plan ahead and obtain one before you leave home. Most passes can be purchased anywhere from six months in advance to several weeks ahead. After you buy a pass, you have six months to validate it in Europe.

The Eurail pass allows for consecutive day travel from 15 to 60 days within the Eurail Network. The Eurail Flexipass allows non-consecutive day travel in all 20 Eurail countries, while the popular Eurail Select Pass gives you the flexibility to travel to 3 - 5 adjoining Eurail countries. Remember that you will still need to make seat reservations for first class and for sleep accommodations, while abroad.

Your best bet is to book directly via RailEurope.com, as they are the only official distributor of European rail products in North America. This web site allows you to compare point-to-point rail ticket prices with the cost of the various Eurail pass costs.

Remember a rail pass allows for more flexibility, usually letting you hop on and off trains spontaneously. A rail pass protects your valuable vacation time from being wasted standing on line at ticket offices. Plus, your pass allows you the luxury of adding on side trips that you may not have originally planned, but once there, feel inspired to do.

The stress factor, associated with travel, may be lessened.

EF

Traveling between countries, while abroad, is made easy by the magic of trains. You can sit comfortably and watch wonderful scenery, while you sip wine, or a hot cup of strong coffee. You can watch your fellow passengers and listen to the many foreign languages and dialects they speak. Train travel is relaxing, fast, reliable, and reasonably priced. And there is space to walk around, and even do some exercise, to keep you healthy during hours of confined transportation.

Your destination station is in the heart of the city. Train stations abroad, especially in Europe, are busy and interesting landmarks. Large European stations have everything: banks, hairdressers, places to buy food, flowers and stamps, and places to store your luggage, and get your shoes polished.

Taking a train is unlike driving a car; you have no worries about where to park and where to get gas. Unlike plane travel, you have no concern how to get into and out of cities.

If you would like to travel within one country or to travel between two, you are best off to purchase rail passes while abroad. However, to visit three or more countries, Eurail passes (purchased before you leave home) are the best value for your money.

What is a Eurailpass?:

Eurail Passes are train tickets that allow users unlimited day travel in 20 European countries called the "Eurail Network". The Eurail Network includes:

·Austria ·Finland ·Hungary
·France ·Slovenia ·Belgium
·Ireland ·Norway ·Switzerland
·Croatia ·Germany ·Italy
·Portugal ·Sweden ·Denmark
·Greece ·Luxembourg ·Romania
·Spain ·Netherlands

These passes offer deeply discounted European rail travel, as an incentive to encourage more tourism from overseas. You will not find a better value, and purchasing individual train tickets in Europe can easily cost 2-6 times more.

Continued on February 18, 2010: Obtaining Eurail Passes

EF

Are hotel rooms healthier than your home? You may think so...after all, they get “cleaned” daily. I am not “warning” you to avoid hotel rooms...where else are you going to stay during your trip? I just want to share some thoughts about this matter.

Bed covers: While sheets and pillow cases may be changed daily (one of the pleasures of renting vacation rooms), remember that bedspreads and blankets are not!

Tip: Remove the bedspread...fold it up and put it in the closet. Avoid direct contact with the blanket while asleep.

Barware: Often, we find newly wrapped plastic glasses in our rooms. Great! But what about the glass ones…are they clean?

Tip: Be sure to wash or rinse the glass ones provided, even if they appear to have been cleaned by the maid service. Similarly, rinse out the ice buckets and coffee maker carafes before you use them.

Flooring: While carpets may be vacuumed often, they are rarely shampooed.

Tip: Think about wearing shoes or slippers while you are in your room, rather than going barefoot.

Doorknobs, TV remote, phone, and light switches: Most likely, these are not cleaned regularly.

Tip: You may consider using a disinfectant wipe when you first settle into your room. In any event, don’t forget to keep washing your hands.

Drawers: These are probably not cleaned daily.

Tip: A quick wipe of your dresser drawers, before putting in your clothes, is a useful suggestion.

ML

For those planning to visit the United Kingdom (UK) with a service animal (or for that matter, any animal), it is essential to begin planning, at least seven or eight months in advance. The UK now uses the “Pet Travel Scheme” (PETS), for entry of animals.

Pets (including guide and hearing dogs) from the US mainland can enter or re-enter the UK without quarantine provided they meet the rules of the Scheme. Animals which do not meet all the rules, must be “licensed into quarantine” for six months. They might be able to obtain early release if they can be shown to comply with the necessary PETS requirements.

The procedures

* Have your pet micro-chipped. Before any of the other procedures for PETS are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so that it can be properly identified.

* Have your pet vaccinated. After the microchip has been fitted, your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. There is no exemption to this requirement, even if your pet has a current rabies vaccination

* Arrange a blood test. After your pet has been vaccinated, it must be blood tested to make sure that the vaccine has given it a satisfactory level of protection against rabies.

* Before your pet enters the UK, it must be treated against tick and tapeworm. Your pet must be treated against ticks and tapeworms not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before it is checked in with an approved transport company for its journey into the UK.

The six month rule for entry or re-entry to the UK

Your dog or cat may not enter the UK under PETS until six calendar months have passed from the date that your veterinarian (vet) took the blood sample, with a satisfactory test result. Once your vet has issued the PETS documentation and that six month period has passed, the PETS documentation is valid for your pet to enter the UK.

Remember that your pet must enter the UK with an approved transport company on an authorized route.

This information was derived from the UK Government, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that is charged with the administration of the PETS regulations. http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets

EF

It is wise to exercise, while on a long airplane trip, to combat poor circulation, swelling and sore joints. My doctor tells me to walk the aisles every two hours. As aisles get narrower, as airlines cram in more seats, this advice is difficult to follow.

If you can’t comply with your doctor’s advice, or even if you can, here are exercises that you can do at your seat. Repeat every two hours.

1. Squeeze a tennis or rubber ball and then relax. Repeat for two minutes in each hand.

2. Extend your leg, one at a time. Repeat 10 times on each leg.

3. Keep your heels on the ground and raise your toes as high as you can and hold for 5 seconds, then relax. Repeat 10 times.

4. Place your arms on your armrests and raise your knees slowly, then lower them slowly. Repeat 5-10 times.

5. Cross your legs. Rotate the foot in a wide circle, then reverse. Repeat 5 times in each direction, with each foot.

6. Stretch your neck by keeping your chin down and tilt forward. Roll your head from one shoulder to the other. Repeat 5-10 times.

7. Do shoulder hunches, by raising your shoulders toward your ears and hold for 5 seconds. Then lower your shoulders and relax. Repeat 10 times.

8. Arch your torso gently backward and forward like a cat. Repeat 10 times.

9. Flex your butt and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 10-15 times.

We have adapted this list from an article “How to Exercise on a Plane,” http:www.ehow.com.

Readers, please share any seat exercises and like to do. Click on the “add comment” phrase at the end of this entry (you can leave the URL box blank).

EF