Sitting between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica is a great place for a Central American vacation. It has great natural beauty with everything you could ask for, and a Costa Rica vacation can meet the needs of the naturalist, sportsman, historian and even just somebody looking for a fun time. The diversity of its geography is unbelievable, combining rainforests and jungles with volcanoes and gorgeous sandy beaches. It has both a Pacific and a Caribbean coastline and contains over five percent of the world’s species of plants and animals.

It is this biodiversity which has contributed to the fame of Costa Rica, and its popularity as a tourist attraction. It contains more a more diverse range of flora and fauna than any country in the world, possibly due to its situation in Central American. Costa Rica gets enough rain, but not too much, and enough sun without being a desert country. Its climate is a perfect blend of hot and cold, wet and dry, and it is this that has allowed such a diverse range of plants and animals to flourish.

The Costa Ricans are called Ticos, and are very hospitable. Costa Rica is a much less troubled country than either of its neighbors and a great place for a vacation if you are looking for a wide variety of things to do, including scuba diving, volcano exploring and golf. The water sports are everything you would expect of a country with a double coastline, but it is the natural attraction that really make this country such a wonderful haven for tourists.

The Arenal volcano has been active since it erupted in 1968, and there are lots of accommodation and tours. Arenal is about ninety kilometers North West of San José and is a very popular tourist attraction, though the eruption destroyed the town of Arenal and killed 87 people. It is the only active volcano in Costa Rica, though there are island chains formed from extinct volcanoes.

If you decide on Costa Rica for your vacation, you should try to fit in a visit to Arenal. The capital, however, is San José and it has some amazing nightlife. The area of El Pueblo really opens around 9 – 10 pm and stays alive till dawn. It is packed full of bars, shops and restaurants, and is also known for its art galleries. There are many similar areas, such as San Pedro close to the University, that offers a wide variety of bars and night clubs in the Calle de la Amarrgura and it is popular with the students. If you are looking for culture, San José offers the National Theater and the Melico Salazar, a theater with a decided Parisian influence that is named after the popular Costa Rican tenor. These offer a complete program of cultural activities throughout the year from opera to orchestral music. The Gold Museum provides examples of the gold artifacts of the ancient civilizations of the pre-Columbian period in Central American history, and there are many other museums in the area.

How about a round of golf? Imagine an 18 hole course set in paradise, playing a couple of rounds, finishing with a great meal, a few bets on the tables and finishing the day off at a busy nightclub. A Costa Rica vacation can offer a golfer with everything he could ask for. There are championship courses for the experienced low handicappers and golf schools for beginners and professionals. If you prefer water sports to golf, Costa Rica has the lot.

With the Atlantic on one side and the Pacific on the other there is no shortage of scuba diving, jet skiing, parasailing and every other water sport you could imagine. You can also try deep sea fishing, white water rafting and even climb a mountain. A Costa Rica vacation offers you the lot; whatever you like to do on vacation, you can do it here!

The best time to vacation in Costa Rica is the dry season, between December and April. If you decide on May to November, it is not really wet, but you will generally have rain in the evening. The water is normally fine to drink, though you will probably be best to stick to the bottled variety.

You will find it difficult to beat a Costa Rica vacation, but make sure your passport is up to date. They might not let you in if it has less than six months to go. However, once you are there, I can assure you that you will be reluctant to leave once the vacation is over.

        

Now that cruise vacations are more affordable and certainly more available, how about it? They are offering more and more in the way of facilities for groups such as families, seniors, and singles and so on, and you book a cruise practically anywhere these days.

How about an educational cruise for the kids? Have they ever seen Europe? A Mediterranean cruise will let them see some of the great cities such as Rome, Cairo and Athens. Or perhaps that’s a bit too educational for them? Then try a Disney cruise round the Caymans. They would probably prefer that at first, and then as they get a bit older a trip to the Med might seem pretty cool!

And hey – how about these Tahiti and Fiji honeymoon cruise vacations! If you are getting married soon that’s a fantastic idea, and what a wonderful wedding gift for a lucky couple! The choice of cruises for every conceivable celebration has never been so many and varied. You can book a cruise to celebrate just about any special occasion and provide a unique and memorable type of vacation for you and your loved one.

Due to the increase in popularity of this type of holiday, a cruise vacation should be booked well in advance, and, like a hotel, you should make a list of all the facilities you are looking for. If you want a casino, dancing, childcare, movies, gym, etc., write it down then check your list out against what is on offer. You can get cruise vacations offering all of these, and some specialize in gambling, gourmet dining and so on. You get what you book, so book what you want!

Senior cruises are popular with seniors looking for a vacation with no children running around yet enjoy entertainment just for them, and lots of tours that don’t involve strenuous amounts of walking or exercise. At the other end of the scale there are cruises designed just for the teens. Lots of discos, fast foods and whatever else turns them on like climbing walls and karaoke. You go too of course, and are well catered for, but don’t expect them back in the cabin by ten! If you don’t want children or teens around on your cruise vacation, try a couples trip. You can get just about any amount of pampering on these such as saunas, massages, facials, waxing, wine tasting, gorgeous food, room service, dancing, shows, cabarets – you name it, you’ve got it! There’s hundreds to choose from so you can get what you want – anywhere in the world. Visit the beautiful South Pacific islands or have a cruise to Alaska if you prefer the other end of the temperature scale.

The Caribbean or Bahamas are attractive to many, or just cruise around the Florida Keys. You can stay as near to home or go as far away as you like, and still get all that great food and entertainment that you associate with home. Or, if you prefer, you can enjoy a full range of international top class cuisine. The shore trips will give you the opportunity to try the local food and get some trinkets and souvenirs to take back home.

What you must keep in mind on a cruise vacation is that if you lose your credit card you can’t just phone Amex and pick up a replacement card at your nearest office. Keep your valuables in the safe, and only take your card when go on shore. It’s the same with cash. Traveler’s Checks are good, and the cruise ship will have local currency on board, or will arrange exchange for you. It’s easier in Europe now that most countries use the Euro.

You can book a cruise vacation at any travel agent, but some specialize in cruises and if you have one of these in your locality, they tend to have a bit more to offer in the way of advice and information than a regular agency. You should work out a budget and know exactly how much you’re prepared to spend on the booking itself, excluding spending money while actually on vacation. Remember to take any flights into account and check out flight times so that they suit your needs. It helps your budget if you can take your cruise outside normal school vacation periods when prices are generally higher.

A cruise vacation is a great way for a couple or family to get away and get some decent time together. The opportunity to do this is very rare with the pressures of modern life, and a cruise is the ideal way to get away from all that. Bon voyage!

        

Dubai, one of the United Arab Emirates, is one of the most modern cities in the world, and the fastest growing. It is expanding, not only outwards into the desert, but also into the Arabian Gulf with massive ambitious reclamation projects. There are certain aspects of Dubai that all travelers should be aware of, and other than the obvious landmarks, certain parts of Dubai that they should not miss.

The currency in Dubai is the U.A.E. dirham, or Dh for short, with around 3.6 – 3.7 Dh per American dollar, though this varies, of course, with the strength or weakness of the respective currencies. You can exchange currencies in lots of places in Dubai including hotels and some shopping malls.

The official language is, of course, Arabic, but English is spoken more widely than Arabic due to the population of Dubai being only around a third native Emiratis or Arabs from neighboring countries. French is also common and German is also spoken in hotels. The majority of the 70% non-Arab population is from Asian countries such as Pakistan, India and the Philippines. Communications are advanced, and the vast majority of hotels have internet facilities. The Dubai government recently opened an ‘Internet City’ close to Jumeirah beach, not far from the Dubai Hard Rock Café. Yes, they do have one of those!

Most natives to Dubai drink bottled water, not for health reasons, but because the water supply is from desalination plants and is not as pleasant to drink as the normal tap water you may be used to. Dubai is hot! And I mean hot! Keep your head covered and keep up a high fluid intake. Use sunblockers wherever possible and the best tip you can be given is when in Dubai, do what the Dubaians do!

Dubai is a fairly safe place as big cities go, and mugging is practically unknown. Theft is not a problem as elsewhere though you should always take basic security precautions, and keep passports and money secure. Don’t pack all your money and credit cards in the one place, more in case you lose anything that in case they get stolen. The rest depends on your reason for visiting Dubai. People visit Dubai for lots of different reasons, from work to pleasure. If you want shopping, Dubai has some of the biggest shopping malls in the world, and when completed, the Dubai Mall will be the biggest shopping mall on the planet. Dubai is rich in shops and markets, or souks, of all kinds ranging from the gold souk to the most elegant boutiques to grace any city. If you want to buy it, you should be able to get it in Dubai.

If it’s entertainment you want, Dubai has everything you could want, though there are limitations given its Muslim background. There are cinemas, cruses, discos and shows with both a western and an eastern flavor. You will not find gambling, since it is prohibited, as are the seedier types of entertainment commonly found in western cities.

Dubai is famous for its horse racing. The Dubai World Cup at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse is the world’s richest horse race, and here you will see some of the best bred Arabian thoroughbreds the world has ever seen. Only ten minutes from the city center, you can have a breakfast tour round the racecourse, taking in the jockey’s rooms, checking out the horses and stables and everything else that goes into the running of a large racecourse.

If it’s golf you want, the Emirates Golf Club is a grass course, the first in the Middle East, and there is also the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. Both are championship standard and open to visitors. The Emirates is home to the European PGA Desert Classic, though it is not a true desert course.

If you like food, most restaurants offer Lebanese and Turkish food, and there are also a number of Pakistani and Indian restaurants to complement the wide range of western style restaurants and hotels. There are plenty American burger joints and the hotels provide a wide range of bars with associated music and entertainment. If you prefer to eat on water, you can try one of the many floating restaurants on converted dhows that cruise around the Dubai Creek.

As for hotels, Dubai has the best there is. The Burj Al Arab is the world’s tallest hotel, and there are whole raft of super-hotel complexes either under construction or in the planning stage. The new Trump Hotel planned for the man-made island of Palm Jumeirah looks superb, though there is no shortage of five star hotels in Dubai.

There is also a lot of private accommodation being built, though currently the demand exceeds supply. If you intend purchasing residential property in Dubai for personal use, you will find the market less competitive later in 2007 when it is estimated that the supply of new buildings will finally exceed the number of people wanting it. However, this may change when mortgages become available.

Dubai City is growing rapidly, and no expense is being spared on providing luxurious accommodation and surroundings. It is a beautiful city to visit, and everybody should visit at least once. The best advice to take is to plan your visit before you arrive and make whatever bookings you require in the way of hotels, tours, concerts, etc. well in advance, since many tourist facilities will be impossible to visit unless you do so.

        

The Dubai creek area is great if you are looking for the real Dubai with the local markets or souks, and other aspects of Arabian life. The side streets are bustling with merchants of all kinds offering textile, fish and even gold.

At 14 kilometers long the creek is restricted to wooden ships so that its traditional nature is maintained. It splits Dubai into two parts: Deira Dubai and Bur Dubai, and is a natural inlet that cuts into the center of Dubai. It is, in fact, the reason for the existence of Dubai. Without the creek there would be no Dubai. It was traditionally used as a trading port by small to medium sized boats from countries all over the Middle east, and in particular other Gulf countries and states. India, too, was a rich source of trade, and the creek was an ideal natural and safe harbor round which the city was built.

At one time Dubai was the center of the pearl trade. It had been so for a long time, and was even visited and written about by Marco Polo in the thirteenth century. It has long been superseded by the cheaper Japanese pearl fishing industry, but laid the foundations of what Dubai is today.

A great way to see the creek, and all the landmarks that is visible from it, is to take a tour on a traditional dhow. You can relax and see the sights, and there is food and drink on board. You can also take a water taxi, or abras, to cross from one side to the other. This is a pleasant ten minute journey and well worth the small fee. The creek itself is a great way to see the real Dubai and get the real flavor of Arabian daily life.

Stop off at the wharfs on the Deira side and have a look at the wooden dhows loading and unloading, or check out the Creekside Park with its Children’s City and huge amphitheatre. There are boat rides, a train through the park and a cable car that gives you a great view of the Deira area. Stop off for a picnic or bring some food for barbecue. There are special barbecue areas in the park. The original settlement of Dubai was in Shindagah in Bur Dubai. Here you will find museums and the Dubai Heritage Village. You can get the abra over from Deira after checking out the wharfages for the equivalent of only 30 cents, and the trip is fabulous in the evening. The dhows are all lit up with lanterns and the old ruler’s court is impossible to miss when to approach the Bur Dubai side. It really is a unique and wonderful experience, far removed from the modernity of the city center and the modern hotels. No visit to Dubai is complete without a sail on a dhow and a trip across the water on an abra.

Of course Dubai Creek is more than just the dhows and the souks. Opposite the Creekside Park is the Dubai Creek Gold and Yacht Club. This has a championship standard challenging par 71 course, and visiting non-members are welcome to try to conquer it. The clubhouse is designed to look like the wind-filled sails of an Arab dhow, and is one the favorite places for businessmen in the region. It is also a local landmark.

Further downstream towards the Gulf, you will see the Grand Mosque on the Bur Dubai side, across the creek from the Dubai bus station. This boasts traditional Persian features such as a beautiful blue mosaic, stained glass and domes. It also has the highest minaret in Dubai from which the Muezzin calls the faithful to prayer. The mosque is open to Muslims only.

The creek area is also home to many of the luxury hotels that Dubai is famous for. The Dubai Hilton and Sheraton are here, and if you are looking for a mix of the old and the modern Dubai, the rough and the smooth, then book into one of these hotels. You can look over the creek area from your room if you have it facing the right way. Organize that when you book.

Nobody who visits Dubai should miss the creek area. The main drag is very modernized and expanding rapidly, but the creek area is where you see the old Dubai at work. The souks, the traders and merchants selling their gold, their fish but no longer, unfortunately, their pearls. It’s a great place to visit and make sure you get on one of these wooden dhows and take a look at Dubai from the creek. It’s a fabulous sight to see the Dubai skyline from the creek and something you will never forget.

        

The Al Fahidi Fort is one of Dubai’s most important historical monuments. It was built at various dates from 1787 to 1799 to defend Dubai against invasion and is probably the oldest of the important architectural structures in Dubai. It has an unusual construction of seashells and coral, stuck together with lime and is on two stories surrounding a central courtyard in the normal design of a fort.

It can be found in the city on the Bur Dubai side of the Creek, and is a popular tourist attraction. It was converted into a museum in 1970-71, and displays the culture of the region as it developed through the ages. Prior to its conversion it has at various times been an arsenal, a private residence and a jail. Among its exhibits are Arab dhows, traditional Arabian weapons and other military equipment.

At one time Dubai was a rich pearl fishing area, especially round the Creek, and even Marco Polo wrote about the Dubai pearl fishing industry. This died out due to competition from the Japanese pearl industry, but the museum exhibits old pearl fishing costumes that bring back to life this era of Dubai’s history.

If you are interested in history, especially of the Middle East, the Al Fahidi Fort is a charming and fascinating showcase, and also the site of the Dubai Museum, with well presented displays of traditional Arab life such as a Moslem school, a traditional souk, or market, and home life as it once was, and still is in many areas of the Middle East. There are exhibitions of pearl diving and fishing in a separate room. The depiction of an oasis is particularly good, and you can imagine the Arab traders and wandering Bedouins visiting them and settling down for the night, having refreshed themselves after a long trail with the caravan, or moving their camp from one oasis to another. There is also a display of the desert by night with displays of some of the wildlife indigenous to the area. The whole museum complex with its lifelike dioramas and multimedia shows really gives a flavor of what life was like in this part of the world, well before the discovery of oil changed traditional lifestyles for ever.

Some of the exhibits go back thousands of years, and if you are interested in archaeology as well as history, a real highlight is a complete grave taken from the Al Qusais site. Al Qusais is a suburb of Dubai, and the site of an archaeological dig where remains of a settlement 3000 – 4000 years old were discovered. Many of the finds are on display at the Al Fahidi Fort museum.

Apart from these, the Dubai Museum is not richly endowed with ancient artifacts, but more than makes up for that with its magnificent displays. The courtyard has excellent displays of wooden dhows and palm huts. If you want a few souvenirs, try the museum gift shop which is similar to museum gift shops all round the world, only it offers examples of traditional Arab craftwork.

If you have an interest in archaeology, there are three sites around Dubai city that may be interest to you. The Jumeirah archaeological site to the south of the city contains the excavations of large houses dating from the first few centuries of the Islamic era, and is the only entire settlement that has been excavated from this important period in Islamic history that has largely undamaged architecture. Artifacts from the site can be seen in the Dubai Museum.

There is also the Al Qusais site previously mentioned, that yielded finds of early weapons and other material that is again displayed at the Dubai museum, and a cemetery was also discovered with the settlement. There is a suburb to the south of Dubai called Al Sufouh that is the site of a tomb and parts of a settlement. The discovery of some pits nearby containing burned bones could indicate the practice of cremation, some containing the remains of up to fifty people indicating the possibility of mass cremation. Perhaps the result of some epidemic, or even cremation of warriors after a battle. Who knows?

All in all, Dubai is good for the archaeological or historical minded, and the Al Fahidi fort and the associated Dubai Museum give the visitor an insight into what life must have been like in this part of the world, long before oil was recognized as being of value, and even before the native way of life was changed by the influx of visitors that probably began with the Romans.

        

Zurich is said to be the banking capital of the world, but it is also a great place for a vacation if you enjoy the treasures that an old city can provide. It is a paradise for the artist and the historian, and this is the city in which James Joyce wrote his famous book, Ulysses.

No Zurich vacation can miss out the Bahnhofstrasse, the unromantic translation of which is Station Street. This is one of the most expensive shopping areas in the world. Station Street, Zurich! The street and shopping are elegant and exclusive and not to be missed, even if just for window shopping! The shopping throughout Zurich is excellent and generally not all that expensive, though hotel prices are ridiculous!

The Zurich, hotels are used to business travelers on expenses and their prices reflect that. One night in an ordinary airport hotel will cost you over $200 for an average room. At a busy time, when there are several conferences or meetings in the city, it can cost over $1000 for an ordinary room, so get your hotel pre-booked at a price you can accept before traveling.

As anywhere, the more exclusive stores are pricy, but generally the prices are on a par with New York and London. The youngsters can head of for Niederdorf which has a load of trendy clothes shops plus lots of bars and restaurants.

For art lovers, the Museum of Fine Arts, or Kuntshaus, is to them as a Santa’s grotto is to children. It holds works ranging from classical Renaissance masterpieces to the modern paintings of Picasso, Dali and Gaugin, and also holds the largest collection of Edward Munch paintings outside Scandinavia. It also possesses works by Monet, Rodin and Degas. The Swiss national museum in Zurich displays exhibits ranging in time from the Neolithic to the present day. There is a selection of Swiss timepieces, and impressive weapons including swords and crossbows, and also fine silver and gold pieces created by expert craftsmen. It also contains furniture and fine paintings and sculptures. It is a treasure trove for anyone interested in history and fine arts, and you could easily spend a day wandering around here. The artist Marc Chagall designed the five gorgeous stained glass windows of the Fraumunster Church that overlooks the Munsterhof square, a former pig market. This is indicative of the type of holiday that Zurich can offer. It is not for families with children, young or teenagers, unless they also are interested in history and art.

There are other attractions other than museums and beautiful buildings, of course. Zurich stands on the north end of Lake Zurich which extends for 25 kilometers. The water is very clear and clean and cruises are available for the full length. You can also have local cruises lasting up to two hours or so, and evening culinary and entertainment cruises with dancing to a live orchestra. Cruises on the river Limmat, that runs through Zurich, are also available.

Take my advice: these cruises are fabulous, and the dance cruises are truly wonderful. Even if you don’t like ballroom dancing, you don’t want to miss this. If you decide that it is not for you then try a cruise on the river through Zurich. You will not regret it.

Although the largest city in Switzerland, Zurich is not big, with a population of less than half a million though it extends to a million if you consider the population of the whole area around the city. It is an old city with many cobbled streets, and outdoor markets offering everything you can think of including the world famous Swiss chocolate, home made at ludicrously cheap prices.

Zurich has a diverse ethnicity and a vibrant nightlife. The bars and clubs are good, and full of life. In fact the night life tends to belie the regularity of the Swiss way of life, and equals anything you will find in any other part of the world. Zurich has more clubs per head of population than any other city in Europe. The city that gave birth to Dadaism is not all art and history.

Try the Langstrasse, or Long Street, the Red Light district of Zurich. It is unlike most such districts in that it is clean and safe, and you can walk alone, though a lone woman can expect a comment or two! Nothing serious though. Unlike such areas outside Europe, it is well regulated by the local authorities and police, and quite legal for you to make use of it if you so choose.

If you are a skier, use Zurich for a winter vacation. Get a ticket at the Hauptbahnhof and travel to Flumsberg. The runs are great for all types of skier from beginners to expert, and you get the train back in the evening. It’s very popular with Zurich residents and visitors. Once you return, you can relax on the Lake Promenade.

A Zurich vacation is for those who are fascinated by old cities and their history and provides a wealth of culture. However, the food is excellent and the bars as good as any in the world. If you enjoy wandering around art galleries and museums, but also like great shopping, good food and to let your hair down at night, then Zurich is the ideal vacation for you.

        

The Dubai Children’s City is a science and cultural center designed for children of ages from two to fifteen, and devised to allow them to explore and discover about the world around them. It is the first in the United Arab Emirates set up specifically to aid the education of children, and to help them to learn about their surroundings and culture.

Interaction and discovery in family or school groups is the major objective of Dubai children’s City, and the available programs include natural history, exploration in space, the human body, physical sciences and local and international culture. There is also a planetarium and an area for the under fives. It is a great place to take your children, and there is something of interest to all ages. Education is fun, and the information presented in a hands-on way that appeals to children.

Educational workshops are presented daily on all kinds of topics of interest and educational value to children. Education and entertainment are combined in the specially designed theatre to utilize the most modern multimedia facilities for the provision of education and information important for the development of young minds. The exhibitions and special activities are specifically fashioned to this end. They include audiovisual and slide projector exhibits and three dimensional animation and interactive displays that are in both Arabic and English.

The objective and vision of Dubai Children’s City is to receive local, national and international recognition as a pioneer in discovery and learning through a hands-on approach to education. Discovery learning is a concept that has appear throughout history, and is exemplified by Archimedes and his cry of “Eureka” when he realized that dense gold displaces less water than did the same weight of the less dense silver. This is how children remember things best: by discovering it for themselves through carefully prepared projects designed specifically for the task. The Children’s City covers a large area, though all partitions are low enough for the children to look over and check out where the rest of their group or family are, and also what else there is for them to do. These low partitions also allow parents and teachers to keep an eye on what their children are doing.

Families are well catered for with changing facilities for babies, and the levels are accessed by ramps so that the disabled, or young children in buggies, can easily visit all the available areas. Menus are suitable for all ages and high chairs are available if required. Families visiting Dubai are made welcome at the facility and it’s a great way to spend a day with your children. It not only keeps them happy on vacation, but also educates them and gives them an insight into the culture of other peoples.

The Dubai Children’s City is situated in the Creekside Park, and its gift shop is well worth a visit if you are looking for educational toys with a difference and a range of books on all subjects related to science and culture. You can relax afterwards in the café if you need a rest from all these great exhibits and fun things to do; your children may not, but you certainly will!

When you leave, why not have a look round the park. Creekside Park is Dubai’s biggest park, is designed for families, and has an 18 hole golf course! It’s a small mini course but great fun to play. There are barbecue areas and a couple of restaurants. It’s a great place just to sit and relax while the kids enjoy themselves in the play area. The park is also a botanical garden with almost three hundred different species, and if you enjoy fishing there are a number of fishing piers.

You can hire bicycles, which is a great way to travel round the park and check out the various botanic exhibits, such as the desert garden complete with the traditional irrigation system. If you prefer something a bit more leisurely, the new cable car system provides a fantastic view of the park, and also of the whole Creek and Deira area. If you are a visitor to Dubai, it should not be missed.

The amphitheatre holds around 1,200 people and has regular events and concerts. Don’t go for a family day out on a Wednesday, though, since admission is restricted to women and children on that day.

A visit to Creekside Park and the Dubai Children’s City is must for any family. The children will have a day to remember and you will likely be surprised, not only at how much your children know about modern technology, but also at what you might just learn yourself. Relax afterward with a meal in the park and a ride on the cable car. What could be better on a nice sunny afternoon?

        

It is vital in these days of international travel that you are aware of international travel health insurance requirements. Although international travel has been readily available to everybody for a number of years, there is still a belief among many people that their personal home health insurance covers them for illness abroad.

If travel insurance is offered with a vacation, most will accept it, but if not then there is a growing body that do not consider taking out a separate policy for their travel abroad. It is only when the unthinkable happens that they find out their error. The time to consider health insurance is prior to departure, not once you are there. Some domestic health insurance policies cover some health issues in foreign countries, but many do not. The vast majority do not cover everything, so once you have decided on your destination either check out your policy, or even better, pick up the phone and ask. Explain where you are going, for how long and ask what you are covered for.

Much depends on your nationality and where you are visiting. EU citizens, for example, are generally covered for most treatments within member countries, though you should get a form from your home country health service stating that you are entitled to free health care in your own country. USA citizens may or may not receive free treatment in EU countries, depending upon the agreement with the particular country you are visiting.

Senior citizens should be aware that Medicare applies to the USA only, and that they are not covered for treatment abroad. Some countries such as the UK will not charge you, but others will not commence treatment until you can prove ability to pay. It is not only whether you are covered by international travel insurance or not, but equally important is the level of that cover. How long a hospital stay does it cover? Does it cover evacuation to your own country? All treatment and drugs needed? Think of everything that can go wrong health-wise on your vacation, and then check how much of that your insurance covers you for. You can then judge whether you require extra or not. For example, you might have basic travel insurance through your credit card, and decide to top up for what that does not cover. However, you cannot do that until you know exactly what you are covered for, and by whom.

Many international health insurance policies cover you for a set number of days, after which the cost is your responsibility. It is wise to be aware of that. Another mistake that some make is to take out travel insurance, and then assume that covers them for medical emergencies. If you are paying for travel insurance then you should know exactly what you are paying for. Check the policy carefully before even purchasing it and make sure you fully understand its terms.

Some insurance policies are only travel policies, covering you for such eventualities as cancellations, lost luggage and the like. They don’t even mention health or accidents, and yet people believe themselves to be covered. This is particularly true in countries such as the UK where residents never have to pay for emergency medical treatment. Health cover tends not to be a priority since they assume that the same is true in other countries: until they get ill or have an accident!

There are as many options with travel health insurance as there are with any other insurance. If auto insurance confuses you, you can be sure that health insurance will do the same. There are lots of different types of policy to choose from, and quite frankly people tend to make it difficult for themselves. They pay using a credit card and then fail to ask the card company what insurance they are offering. They also look for cover for eventualities highly unlikely to occur due to a lack of knowledge of the country they are visiting.

First look at what cover you can get free of charge. Try the credit card company and the vacation company. They might offer you some degree of cover of you ask. Then decide what other lower cost insurance you can get. If you are flying, you can generally get cheaper flight insurance from the airport than a travel insurance company. Also check up on your life insurance or even accident insurance policy for any exclusion for foreign travel. If no exclusions are stated, then in most cases you are covered while abroad for at least the basic cover needed.

It is your personal decision as to what level of cover you need, and whether or not you think it likely that you will suffer a serious accident. You can only pay for the cover that you can afford, but you must at least be aware of what your cover is, and what it costs to increase it to a higher level to allow such services as air evacuation back to your home country, or total cover for all health treatment costs in a foreign country.

International travel health insurance is not an easy subject to understand, but if you take advice and compare what you have with what you think you should have, then at least your cover will be what you have decided to have, and you will not be unpleasantly surprised.

        

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, and you can always be sure of traditional Scots hospitality and welcome if you decide on an Edinburgh vacation. You will never be short of things to do or places to see, and the city is the perfect mix of the old and the new.

Edinburgh has many superlatives, such as the Forth Bridge, at 1.5 miles the longest cantilever bridge in the world when completed in 1890, and still second to Quebec, and also the Forth Road Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Europe in 1964. It also boasts the Scott Monument, built in honor of Sir Walter Scott, that can be ascended by means of an internal staircase to provide a fabulous panoramic view of the city from the top.

However, there is more to Edinburgh that just bridges and monuments. Whatever you enjoy doing on vacation, Edinburgh has it. Miles of beach close by, a wide variety of sports, cuisine to die for and any form of entertainment imaginable. Visit Edinburgh during one of the many festivals and you can enjoy what this breathtakingly beautiful city has to offer while also partaking in the events of your choice.

The International Festival is a celebration of a wide range of arts and cultural events, while the Edinburgh Fringe that is run concurrently provides and alternative view of the arts and comedy. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of the better known events that take place during the festival that runs throughout August.

The International Science Festival and the Edinburgh Book Festival are just two others of a number of events run right throughout the year. While on the subject of culture, Edinburgh also boasts a large number of museums and art galleries, from the Children’s Museum in the famous High Street to the Scottish National Museum close to the University, and from the Scottish Portrait Gallery in Queen Street to the National Gallery of Modern Art set in extensive park land. It is the Castle, however, for which Edinburgh is most famous, with its famed One O’clock Gun, Mons Meg and the Stone of Destiny all open to visitors. The castle overlooks the beautiful Princes Street, named after the sons of King George III after he had complained about its original name of St Giles Street, Edinburgh’s patron saint. This famous street is lined with shops on one side and the Gardens on the other, a large expanse of green land separating the New Town from the castle and the Old Town, at one time an expanse of water, the Nor’ Loch which for centuries had been the trash dump of Edinburgh.

There are other famous streets in the city other than Princes Street, one being Rose Street which is the place to go if you are feeling thirsty (or ‘drouthy’ as Scots call it!). Here you find the best in Scots hospitality, including the Rose Street Brewery that, until recently, brewed its own beer. Sadly, the brewery is now a restaurant. Rose Street is packed full of pubs and eateries of every kind imaginable.

Another famous street is referred to as ‘The Bridges’. These are two bridges running from the new to the old part of Edinburgh, although you would not know that they were bridges since the arches have been built up with tenement houses, and the lower parts of the city are now underground vaults and streets. This is where the ghosts of Edinburgh reside, and while it is now a commercial source of revenue from interested tourists, many sightings are nevertheless reported and it is brave person that will stay in the vaults overnight. Edinburgh has many famous ghosts!

If you are a keen sportsman, the city boasts two senior soccer teams, and is the home of Murrayfield, Scotland’s international rugby union stadium. However, it is golf that draws most people to Edinburgh. It is the ideal base for a golfing vacation in Scotland. There are no less than 18 golf courses in the city itself and about 12 within 10 miles of the center. Gullane, Muirfield, St. Andrews and Carnoustie are all within an hour’s drive, so you have three of Scotland’s British Open Championship courses on your doorstep plus in excess of 20 more within 20 miles.

The hospitality in Edinburgh is second to none, and you can experience traditional Scots entertainment at a wide variety of venues end events suitable for residents and visitors alike. From the unmitigated luxury of Prestonfield House Hotel to any one of the hundreds of friendly guest houses and bead and breakfast establishments, you will be make welcome in this cosmopolitan city, whatever your nationality. Edinburgh is very accessible with an international airport, easy motorway access and a direct train service from London and other major UK cities.

You will never forget your Edinburgh vacation, nor the Scots hospitality your received, and you will likely return. You will need a year before you have seen all there is to see in Edinburgh.

        

The port of Shanghai is the busiest in the world, and visiting Shanghai will provide you with a busy week or two due to the number of attractions and things to do. It is the commercial capital of China, although is a relatively young city. Don’t expect the cultural diversity of Beijing, but there is still plenty to see.

Shanghai sits on the delta of the great Yangtze River, the longest river in the largest continent in the world. More precisely, it sits on the Huang Pu River, where it flows into the Yangtze delta and due to its location, Shanghai is very flat. A one time small fishing village, the development of Shanghai started in 1842 after the first Opium War from which the British were given territories in the area.

The Japanese, French and Americans followed the British and by the period between the two World Wars it was the most important port in Asia due to the tea and silk trades; it was also the proverbial den of iniquity. In 1943 the Concession period officially ended and the port was handed over to the Communist Chinese government in 1949.

Many people do not regard Shanghai as providing great sightseeing opportunities, but as being fantastic for shopping, so let’s have a look at the shopping first. There are two main shopping streets in Shanghai, the quality Nanjing Xi Lu and Huaiai Lu that is generally very busy (Lu meaning Road). It is entirely your choice which you prefer, though both have a lot to offer and, quite frankly, there is not a great deal between them.

However, like any large city, there are loads of other shopping areas, and if you are looking for bargains outside the usual touristy areas, there is a lot more in Shanghai as there is in London, Paris or New York. I always hate the term ‘a shopping experience you will never forget’, because that reminds me of the shopping experience I once had in Seoul. I will never forget that because I paid with my credit card, had it stolen, and was also charged a 20% ‘credit card surcharge’ that was never advertised, though they claim it was. So, forget the ‘shopping experiences’. Are the shops inexpensive and do they offer a good range of Chinese products, though everything seems to be Chinese these days and shopping in Shanghai can seem just like shopping at home! However, if you like designer goods, Nanjing Xi Lu boasts Plaza 66 that is full of designer stuff. It is not different from the Bang and Olufsen you get anywhere else, and you can judge if the price is any cheaper. If you want designer brands, this is the place, but why come to China for genuine designer brands?

If you look hard enough you can find Chinese brands amongst all the European fashion and cosmetics houses, but if you get off the main drag, then you will find the real Chinese goods. Try Dongtai Lu for traditional Chinese crafts such as hand crafted jade pieces and calligraphy. You can find some really beautiful things on this street, and the prices are very reasonable. This is better than the usual Dior and Givenchy.

Apart from the shopping, you should take a visit to the Bund in the Huang Pu district. Overlooking the Huang Pu river, this is a quiet and reflective district where you can relax and admire the Oriental Pearl Tower that looks fantastic. Get a boat and look at it from the river – it is really beautiful and for a small price you can go up it in the lift.

As far as history goes in Shanghai, there is not a lot due to its origins, but the People’s Square is worth a visit. It used to be the ‘Speaker’s Corner’ of Shanghai, and the flowers are really beautiful. Shanghai Zoo is also worth a visit. If you want real Chinese food, you can get it in Shanghai, in spite of its western influence. Ask the locals or your hotel and you will be directed to one of many small restaurants serving traditional food. The restaurants can be very small with as few as four tables, but the food is worth it.

Visiting Shanghai is an experience if you know where to visit, but it can very touristy with the usual number of hawkers and others offer you one delight or the other. Stick to the main drag, and venture into the darker areas only if you are with a local you can trust. The same as any other large city in the world, really.