See if you are entitled to 24 hour concierge services to assist you with restaurant recommendations, reservations, and even vacation-planning assistance. This assistance can give you information on your destination before you leave—information such as ATM locations, currency exchange rates, weather reports, health precautions, immunizations, and required passport visas.

Your credit card may help you rent a car, often at discount prices, and give you car insurance, permitting you to waive auto rental collision damage offers. Paying with your credit card may also provide you with travel accident insurance and lost luggage reimbursement. And, if your rental car breaks down or runs out of gas, your card may also get you a referral dispatch for towing or fuel delivery.

Medical Emergency Assistance Services:

If you become ill and must halt your trip and return home, your card can help make arrangements and assist you with getting your nonrefundable fare back.

The card’s benefit administrators can give you names of English-speaking doctors, dentists, and hospitals; or provide you with a translator. They can contact your physicians at home to speak to the local doctor. They may assign a physician to monitor your condition. They can contact your family and provide continuing liaison. Last, they can help you arrange medical payments.

Emergency transportation assistance may assist you to make all the necessary arrangements for emergency transportation home or to the nearest appropriate medical facility. This usually includes arranging to bring your traveling companion home with you. In the case of a death, the card benefit administrator can make arrangements for returning the remains of the deceased home. You will probably be responsible for many of these costs. Remember, if you have evacuation and medical assistance insurance, these costs will be covered in addition to assistance with making arrangements.

Your credit card may also provide prescription assistance to help you get prescriptions filled or replaced, subject to local laws, and can even arrange pickup and delivery service.

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27 May 2012--68th Memorial Day Service

3 PM, Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten

Officers and members of other associations, both American and Dutch, will be present. This is a time to honor our veterans. We take this occasion not only to express how grateful we are to the brave men and women who risked their lives so that we might enjoy our freedom but also to express our gratitude to their families who suffered from their loss.

The Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten is the only American military cemetery in the Netherlands and Europe's third largest cemetery for unidentified soldiers who died in WWII. America's Memorial Day has been observed there since May 1945.

U.S. soldiers abroad mark Memorial Day

The Associated Press reported that U.S. soldiers held candles to mark the Memorial Day at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan on Sunday, May 29, 2011.

After nearly a decade and more than 1,400 soldiers have been killed in combat, some U.S. troops paused for a moment Sunday to remember what brought America to Afghanistan and to honor the lives that continue to be lost.

Blackhawk helicopters churned through the night sky as a strong wind coming over Kabul's surrounding mountains blew against the flickering candles that cast an orange glow on those gathered for the ceremony at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' headquarters.

Let us pause and think about the true meaning of Memorial Day.

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The seconds were ticking toward the midnight deadline as I whipped out my iPhone, opened the app and ended a week of stomach-churning indecision. With less than a minute to spare, Rick Mease and his wife bought a safari trip for two to Kenya from LivingSocial. I have adapted his story for this entry.

The Meases had read Hemingway and idly chatted about visiting Africa someday. But for the most part, the LivingSocial offer simply popped up at the right time: We wanted a vacation; the Internet offered what seemed like a good deal. The price tag was $2,697 per person — discounted $1,800 each — and included airfare, a week of lodging, meals and tours across three Kenyan wildlife reserves.

Several weeks and 19 hours of flight time later, our green van pulled out of a resort in Nairobi and headed west. The Internet offer had attracted all sorts — nearly 275 people bought the deal — and our group of 22 was a mix of families, young couples, mothers and daughters and an 83-year-old widow. Most of the people on our safari had similarly splurged on a sense of adventure and uncertainty.

Our apprehensions dissipated on the road leading to our first night of lodging, as we came across a lion resting in the shade of a tree, a giraffe grabbing an afternoon snack and warthogs ambling across the lush savannah. What followed was a week-long scavenger hunt of fantastic animals that had previously existed only in encyclopedias, images reserved for Animal Planet or National Geographic.

LivingSocial was actually only the middle man for this trip. It was coordinated by Classic Escapes, a New York-based travel company that plotted each stop, carefully selected lodging, planned meals, hired top-notch drivers and guides. Like other travel companies, it had been nearly crippled by the recession, the offer on LivingSocial has made it possible for us not to worry about cash flow, not to worry about making ends meet.

Our safari included three different reserves; we saw more than 50 species of animals. We were all intoxicated by the “Big Five”: the lion, the elephant, the rhino, the leopard and the Cape buffalo. Our eyes couldn’t open wide enough. Our cameras were in constant use to record the zebras rolling in the dirt, baby elephants bathing in the mud, hippos butting heads in the river.
The lodging at each stop was first-rate, and we were treated to buffet meals and long evenings under the stars of the equatorial sky. Just as so often happens on a cruise trip, this is where our group bonded, swigging Tusker beer and swapping tales about how we had each stumbled onto the trip and our varying degrees of expectations.

It was also where we learned that the fine print is worth careful study when it comes to Internet deals. That’s where you find blackout dates, travel restrictions and additional costs. We weren’t the only ones who missed the notice about an additional $1,200 in taxes that awaited each couple. Those who traveled alone also faced a $600 surcharge unless they agreed to bunk with a stranger.

Thank you Rick Maese, a sports reporter for The Washington Post. This article was published in full in the April, 2012 issue of the Washington Post Travel Newsletter.

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The number of Flash sale websites is increasing rapidly, with more new companies vying for our vacation days. Unlike the major third-party booking sites, the new flash sale sites vary wildly in inventory and overall character. But they share several characteristics: Sales typically last five to seven days, and discounts can be 50 percent or more.

Flash sales are inducements to capture travel bargains. The booking sites started to show up on our computer screens about five years ago, when such companies as Jetsetter, SniqueAway, Tablet, LivingSocial Escapes and others began trotting out time-sensitive sales on lodgings and vacation packages.

Douglas Quinby, senior research director at PhoCusWright, which recently released a study of flash sale deals. “A key element is the spontaneity factor: ‘I wasn’t planning to go on this trip, but I found a good deal.” People will book a vacation based on a great price to a destination that they may never have even considered.

Travel is one of the largest segments in the e-commerce universe, yet flash sale sites currently supply only constitute a few. According to Quinby, in the U.S. market, these sites generated $71 million in sales during the fourth quarter of 2011, compared with Expedia’s $3.8 billion. “But their modest numbers belie their seismic impact on how we plan and book travel.”

The Web sites often claim discounts of 65 or 70 percent, however the reality is closer to one-half or one-third of the rate quoted by the hotel or third-party sites. The PhoCusWright study, which sampled 100 deals from Groupon, Travelzoo and LivingSocial showed that only about 10 percent of the cases were not as good as advertised.

Experts counsel restraint and research. Call the hotel and inquire about the rates. Check third-party booking sites. And squint your eyes and read the small print before pressing “purchase.” A deal loses its attractiveness when saddled with restrictions and exorbitant fees.

Yet the trend is pointing to more general flash sale sites. Quinby said that strong sales have shot Groupon and LivingSocial into the top 1 percent of U.S. travel agencies. “If the fourth quarter of 2011 is a valid barometer,” he said, “then Groupon and Living Social will be among the largest 50 or so travel agencies in the United States.”

Thanks to Andrea Sachs, author of article in Washington Post Travel newsletter.

Continued on May 24, 2012 with story of an African Safari trip booked with a Flash sale purchase.

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Stretching and Flexion Exercises

Below are exercises that can be done in your hotel or residence when you begin and/or end your day. Start with stretching and flexion exercises. These exercises increase flexibility and strength in the hip and lower back and in the abdominal and buttock muscles. Start slowly with 3 repetitions and work toward repeating each exercise 10 times.

Knee Pull. Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Bring one knee up toward your chest and clasp the knee with both hands. Hold for 10–15 seconds. Return the leg to the starting position and repeat with the other leg.

Hurdler Stretch. While standing, place a chair or bench about three feet in front of you. Put the heel of one foot on the seat of the chair or the bench. Now bend forward at the waist and move your forehead toward your knee. Hold for 10–15 seconds. Return to the starting position and repeat with the other leg.

Modified Toe-touch With Rotation. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and bend at the waist with your forehead in the direction of your right knee. Hold for 10–15 seconds. Stand up straight again and then lower your forehead toward your left knee. Hold for 10–15 seconds.

Pelvic Tilt. Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Relax your back muscles, tighten your abdominal and buttock muscles, and press your back flat against the floor. This will tilt your pelvis forward. Once you have a totally flat back, hold the position for 10–15 seconds

Abdominal Curl. Lie on your back with knees bent, feet flat on the floor, and your hands clasped lightly behind your head. Without pulling with your hands, slowly curl your shoulder blades up off the floor, leaving your back on the floor. Hold for five seconds and slowly lower your head and shoulders.

Standing Back Extension. Stand up straight with your feet hip-width apart and arms at your sides. Slowly lean your upper body back from the waist. Try to look at the ceiling. Hold for 10 seconds, then relax and straighten up.

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Below are nine exercises that you can do at your seat. Try to repeat each 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.  

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It is difficult to go abroad when family members or friends are ill or distressed, even when there are people close by to help. If you feel that a serious problem would make you want to get home immediately, then be sure that your transport tickets, and hotel and tour reservations can be rebooked or costs be refunded. This flexibility will cost you more, but you will be able to rearrange your trip on short notice. 

Register with the US State Department before you go abroad. You will be asked for your passport number, itinerary, flight number, and dates and places you will visit and stay. While this may take some time, it is worthwhile, especially if you need help while away. 

I have been told that registering with the US Embassy or Consulate is an excellent way for someone from home to reach you in an emergency. For example, a friend of mine was contacted, while on vacation, by the US Embassy in Moscow that her mother had died. The Embassy staff helped her get an airplane ticket back to the US, as soon as possible. 

A reader told me that he was happy that he had registered his recent trip to India. When terrorists struck the country while he was there, he contacted the US Embassy about safe places to be and activities to avoid while there was a crisis. A staff member asked how he could be contacted and called him back with suggestions and, then again alerted him when things were back to relativex normalcy. 

The US Embassy or Consulate is an excellent source of information. While at your destination, you should (if you did not before you left home) look up the address and phone number. You never know in advance what can happen. 

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Travelers abroad may unexpectedly find themselves in need of medical and hospital care. It certainly helps if they know which facilities are safe and provide quality care. Again, the Consular Offices in the US Embassy of each country has a list of hospitals, that provide medical staff and specialists who speak English. Be sure to take with you the address and phone numbers of the American Embassy where you will be (in case you need to call for a referral).

A more recent reference is the accreditation process and certification provided by the international affiliate of the Joint Commission, the driving force in all aspects of safe, high-quality care in the United States for the past 50 years. “Knowing that a facility is accredited is one way to know that a hospital has committed itself to patient safety and good care,” wrote Kenneth Powers, of the Joint Commission International (JCI). Mr. Powers sent us the following helpful information about the hospital accreditation process.

The Joint Commission International (JCI), a not-for-profit organization, has accredited more than 400 health care organizations in 50 countries. Formed in the mid-1990s, JCI grew out of foreign countries’ requests for assistance in improving the quality of their care. You can find a list of accredited health facilities and countries here.

JCI-accredited facilities are held to approximately 300 globally-developed health care standards that include infection control, patient safety, continuity of care, medication management and patient rights. JCI accreditation helps an organization do the right things, based on evidence and best practices. These facilities must also demonstrate ongoing improvement in patient care.

Through on-site surveys, JCI’s surveyors analyze how patients are assessed and how care is provided, and evaluate anesthesia, surgical care, medication safety, patient education and patient rights. JCI focuses on staff qualifications and education, infection control and prevention, and the overall environment for patient care. They also ensure that there are English speaking medical personnel and/or translation services. While the standards are the same across all countries, JCI accreditation is designed to accommodate specific legal, religious and cultural factors within a country.

JCI also accredits: Ambulatory care facilities, clinical laboratories, home care organizations, long term care, medical transport companies, and primary care centers. Triphealthy recommends that you go to the JCI home page and click onto the list of “accredited organizations” at your destination city and/or country.

Continued on May 10, 2012 with Fear of Health Problems at Home while Abroad.

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No one plans to have health problems when traveling abroad. But amidst having fun, you may faint, feel awful, have a fever, a cold and/or diarrhea. Do you need an ambulance, a doctor, a hospital?

Before you leave on your trip, you should compile the names, addresses, and phone numbers of health care providers and hospitals where you can get good care and deal with those who speak English. 

Finding an English-speaking doctor. 

You should do research on finding English speaking doctors before leaving home. The Consular Offices in the US Embassy of each country has a list of medical doctors, by specialties, who speak English. You can look on-line for this list and be sure to take with you the address and phone numbers of the American Embassy where you will be (in case you need to call for a referral). You can research this resource via the U.S. Department of State.

A second source for finding doctors is the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT). The organization publishes a booklet that lists contacts in each country (and major cities) that recommends qualified and English speaking doctors. You can access the directory here. You can also call your travel insurance company and ask if they can provide you with the names and numbers of doctors who speak English along your itinerary. 

Emergency services

You should carry with you a list of emergency numbers in those countries you plan to visit. Know the phone number for emergency medical assistance, as well as police and fire help. A good source can be found here. 

Hospitals with English speaking health providers will be discussed on May 7, 2012. 

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Additionally nobody wants to think about that slim chance of getting seriously injured abroad, getting in an accident or breaking a bone. But of course there’s always a chance of something like this happening, just as there’s a chance of it happening at home. However, the fear of it happening overseas is strong; where hospital conditions can vary and language barriers could make it difficult to communicate with doctors.

Check with your health insurance company to see if you are covered when you are abroad. Ask if they have preferred health providers and hospitals at your destination(s). Remember that Medicare only covers treatment provided within the US. If you have Medicare Supplemental Insurance, call that company also to see if it covers you abroad. In any event, it is wise to purchase a travel medical insurance policy, and, if you would prefer to be treated at home if you become ill, a medical evacuation policy, when you book your trip.

One way to alleviate your fears is to realize that hospitals and doctors DO exist in other parts of the world and most of them are perfectly safe. Second, bring pertinent information about your medications and health conditions (see Healthy Travel Abroad for forms to carry). Third, is to plan to visit developed countries or those fairly developed. Third, do research, before you leave home, about health problems and health providers at your destination. Some excellent resources are:

1. Your doctor or a travel clinic near you. You can access a directory of travel medicine providers from the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM).

2. The U. S. State Department provides information and warnings about particular countries, which it calls “Country Specific Information.” The Department also issues travel alerts to describe conditions that are expected to be short-term, and travel warnings that indicate a country or a city to avoid.

3. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer destination health information, vaccination requirements and recommendations, and safe food and water tips. You will find other very helpful and interesting facts from this source.

4. The World Health Organization provides information about infectious diseases and potential risks for travelers and precautions to be taken. You will find vaccination requirements, and destination health hazards.

Continued May 3, 2012 Finding Qualified and English Speaking Doctors Abroad.

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