Travel Safety | Somewhere Luxurious

46.9 Million Americans Will Hit the Highways for Thanksgiving Travel

Claudine Williams — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 18:56:06 +0000

AAA reported on November 17, 2015 that this year more than 46.9 million Americans will take trips during this Thanksgiving holiday season. That’s a slight increase over the 46.6 million people who traveled 50 miles or more last year during the Thanksgiving travel weekend. The 46.9 million figure also reflects the largest number of travelers who have taken trips during the Thanksgiving holidays since 2007. Travel between the period on the Wednesday before the Thanksgiving holiday and the Sunday after the holiday was counted by AAA as the Thanksgiving travel period.

Traffic Photo by Epsos.de

The bulk of Americans will drive to their destinations. AAA states that low gas prices sparks American’s desire to travel the highways. Other travelers will hit the airports, take trains, cruises, and buses.

Gas prices are expected to be the lowest that they’ve been since 2008, but airfares are reduced, too. Plane tickets average about $169 round-trip for domestic travel, a 10 percent drop, according to the AAA report.

For the 42 million people who are planning to fuel up and take a road trip this Thanksgiving holiday, here are some tips on how to get vehicle maintenance at a fair price. Don’t forget to get your vehicle checked out before your trip.

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Read This Before You Go Parasailing

Claudine Williams — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 14:05:44 +0000

Although the White-Miskell Act, a law named after two young women who were killed while parasailing, was signed into law during the summer of 2014, the law has some holes. The White-Miskell Act was enacted to provide some regulation to companies that provide parasailing services to customers.

Parasailing by keith allison

The White-Miskell Act does mandate that companies that offer parasailing services have liability insurance and have a weather radio on board the boat used for the services. The companies that operate these services cannot offer parasailing when it’s too windy, foggy, or rainy.

The use of a weather radio is vital to this business, because high wind could cause the line that connects the parasailer to the boat to suddenly break.

Before you go parasailing during your vacation, understand that the law, however, does not force parasailing companies to maintain equipment or inspect it. Parasailers are lifted up about about 200 feet in the air. According to Debbie Chalik, an attorney for a parasailing accident victim, since 1982, 72 people have died in parasailing accidents and 1,600 people have been injured.

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7 Safest Countries for Solo Travelers

Claudine Williams — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 19:42:04 +0000

Safety is one of the major concerns that people have when they travel. Being a victim of a crime can ruin any trip, and you’ll surely feel more comfortable and be more willing to explore new places when you feel safer. Although no place is 100% safe, here are some of the safest countries that should be on your bucket list.

1. Iceland

One of the safest countries in the word, Iceland Jokulsarlon by Moyan Brenn, CC

Iceland is incredibly safe and is usually on lists for the safest countries in the world. The international homicide rate never went beyond 1.0 in Iceland between 1995 and 2010 per 100,000 people, according to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime’s 2011 study on homicide. However, the rate in the United States was between 4.6 and 8.3 per 100,000 as reported to the UNO by the National Police. Just to give you an idea of how the perceived safety is in Iceland, people leave their young children outside in Iceland without fear of danger from crime or predators.

2. Singapore

Singapore’s Robertson Walk by William Cho

Singapore is considered to be one of the cleanest countries in the world, and it is also a relatively safe place to visit. Compared to laws in the U.S., Singapore’s laws are strict. A drug trafficking charge for 500 or more grams of cannabis (marijuana) in Singapore is penalized with death. In the U.S., jail time and/or fines are typical penalties for distribution of 500 grams or more of marijuana.

3. New Zealand

New Zealand Rotorua by Tom Hall

New Zealand is considered to be one of the safest countries to visit. Bask in the sun on the beaches. Shop, experience live entertainment, or go sight-seeing in Auckland or visit Matamata where the Hobbit Trilogy and Lord of the Rings were filmed.

4. Canada

Canada Downtown Vancouver Sunset by Magnus Larsson

Canada’s low divisional lines between wealthy and poor helps make it one of the safer countries to visit. Vancouver is an optimal spot for visits to the mountains and the beach.

5. Norway

Trondheim in Norway By Soren Schaper

Although Norway is deemed safer than the U.S., there are some petty crimes, like pick-pocketing in some of the metro areas. The 2014 Norway Crime and Safety Report tells tourists that they should be aware of pickpocket crimes in places where tourist hang out, like hotel lobbies and transit areas in Oslo.

6. Finland

Helinsiki Finland by Jumilla

Finland is one of the safest places for travelers in the world. Helinsiki is an archipelago, a group of islands, with a small town feel. Helinsiki is also the capital of Finland. Tourists should also visit Suomenlinna, an UNESCO World Heritage site, and the island can be reached from Helinsiki in 15 minutes by ferry.

7. Japan

Kyoto Japan by Joe deSousa

Travelers to Kyoto will find that this city is relatively safer than others. This city is steeped in tradition, yet it still has a modern flair. Expect to see geishas, temples and hip clubs, yet the city is safe enough to for the solo traveler to feel comfortable.

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The Ultimate Travel Packing List for Domestic and International Travel

Claudine Williams — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 21:32:09 +0000

One of the most hectic aspects of traveling is packing for the trip. It’s nerve racking to make sure that you have everything that you need for your trip, but you can do it. You can travel without forgetting anything that you need. You need just one thing, a good packing list. This packing list is tailored to the ladies, maybe because we need more stuff. You just need to decide how much you need of each item. So here it is:

Clothes

Jeans

Tops to coordinate with pants and skirts

Dress pants

Dresses/fancy and casual

Pack a little back dress just in case you need it.

Shorts

Undergarments/ pack undergarments appropriate for everything that you plan to wear. For example, you might need strapless bras, or bras with invisible straps for tank tops, spaghetti straps or strapless dresses or tops. Bring undergarments that will not be seen under your dresses, pants, shorts, jeans, and other bottoms, too.

Shoes

Running shoes

Heels

Sandals

Flats

Boots/Snow Boots

Shower shoes

Beachwear

Beach flip flops

Swimsuit/Bikini

Wrap

Workout wear

Sleepwear

Slippers

Gown

Lingerie

Pyjamas

Cooler Weather Wear

Hats

Gloves

Winter Scarves

Jackets/Sweaters

Coats

Warm Socks

Thermal Underwear

A good packing list is essential for organized travel. Photo by Rob Faulkner

Accessories

Earrings

Necklaces

Bracelets

Rings

Scarves (including a scarf for your hair)

Purses/bags (including a beach bag)

Sunglasses/Contact Lenses/Glasses (don’t forget your content lens fluid and the lens case)

Hose

Socks

Tampons, panty liners, feminine pads

Beauty Necessities

Curlers

Hair ties, hair pins, gel, hair spray, and other accessories

Hair color touch-up

Comb

Brush

Cosmetics

Foundation, powder, cover-up

Cosmetic Brushes

Blush

Lipstick

Mascara

Falsies

Eye shadows

Eye liners

Cosmetic Remover

Lotion

Body oil

Sunblock

Facial cleanser

Moisturizer

Acne Cream

Personal Hygiene

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Mouthwash

Dental Floss

Deodorant

Razor

Shaving Gel/Shaving Cream

Tweezers

Hand Sanitizer

Wet Cloths

Body Wash

Bubble Bath

Body sponge, wash cloth, shower mittens

Shampoo

Conditioner

First Aid and Medical

Bandages

Insect Repellent

Headache Medication

Motion Sickness Medication

Multivitamins

Other

Technology

Laptop Computer

Laptop Cords/Connections

Cell Phone

Storage Devices

Charger

Ebook Reader

Music Player

Packing List for the Airplane

Tickets

Passport with Visas

Address of Destination (for paperwork on the plane)

Personal blanket

Eye shades

Pillow

Comfortable Slippers

Snacks

Chewing Gum/Mints

Regulations for Carry-on Bags on International Flights

Don’t forget to adhere to rules related to items in your carry-on bag when using this packing list. Liquids must be in containers that are no larger than three ounces and you should be able to put all of those small containers in one plastic one quart baggie.

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Attack on Tourists in Rio Raises Safety Concerns

Claudine Williams — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 03:45:50 +0000

Rio by Priscilla JP

The attack on a couple of tourists in Rio recently has travelers and travel professional alike, wondering if law enforcement officials can handle the throngs of guests who are expected to visit Rio for the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, reported CBC. It is true that a single incident should not dissuade people from travelling, but fear is a powerful thing, and people no doubt would want to avoid areas that could pose a risk to their personal safety. The couple caught a van in a popular and relatively safe area in Rio, and instead of taking the two to their destination, a club area, they attacked them.

The woman in her 20s was raped repeatedly by three men, and her boyfriend was handcuffed and beaten. The rapists went on a spending spree with the couple’s credit cards, and when the money ran out from the cards they had with them, the criminals forced them to get another card.

The terror inflicted on this couple, although horrific, has occurred over and over again in the United States. Americans have heard tales of horrible crimes against innocent tourists, visiting the states. In a way, some people have become desensitized to these tragedies. So, it is unlikely that this incident will keep people from visiting Rio during these events. They might think twice about riding private transportation, and from the description of these vans, that might be a good choice. If anything, this crime and the media attention that it has garnered will probably prompt law enforcement officials to further step up crime prevention efforts.

Photo by Priscilla JP

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