Hey, things happen. Influenza, broken bones, allergic reactions. It might be a little more complicated when you are abroad and away from your pediatrician, but here are some important ways to help make the times a bit easier to handle:
Get all of the necessary shots. Some need to be given a couple of weeks beforehand, in fact. So get them done early!
For best indicating, have your child wear an bracelet telling about his allergies, preexisting condition, or whatever medical condition he may have.
Before you leave, contact the State Department to get the phone numbers and addresses of the American Consulate in all of the cities you will be visiting. Or at least one in each country.
Make sure to take the telephone numbers for your credit card companies. Sometimes they are even able to help direct you for medical help when it's needed.
IAMAT (International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers) is a non-profit organization that would be of great help to you when you are looking for English-speaking doctors, hospitals, and clinics.
Your child's health insurance policy may or may not cover him when he is in another country. Take the necessary paperwork and proof of insurance with you, in case it is approved, or approved to be reimbursed. There are also temporary insurance policies available. Just make sure they cover return transportation back to the States and will guarantee bill payments.
Before you leave, make sure to pack a small first aid kit. It should include talcum powder, toothbrush and paste, cough medicine, motion sickness medicine, wet wipes, antiseptic, water purifier, gauze and tape, special foods and formulas, safety pins, sunscreen, baby aspirin, cotton swabs, flashlight, thermometer, diapers, and insect repellent. So, the list is rather extensive, but you are certainly not required to take all of them. Take what is most appropriate to the location.
Bring enough, even extra, medication with you! Also bring written prescriptions with their generic, not brand, names.
So, you see, taking these small precautions and preparations will really help your child if he or she gets sick or injured while out of the country! Now, let's book that vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Train Travel Tips for Children
For many of us, and especially for children, a vacation via train is a fascinating experience, and an adventure in itself. But how could you make sure that your child has a wonderful time during the long train trip?
The best routes for traveling children include the auto train between Virginia and Orlando, Washington, D. C., to New York, Grand Canyon to Chicago, and Sacramento to San Francisco.
Children love watching the countryside pass by. They love sleeping in an upper berth. They even enjoy dining in the dining car.
However, they will still get bored if they don't have anything with them they could do. Paper and crayons, pens and stationary, complete with stamps, envelopes, and addresses, are great items to have to help keep their creative minds flowing throughout the trip.
Older children enjoy making audio recordings or diary entries about their experiences during their exciting train trip.
Cameras are always nearly mandatory during vacations. Why not let your teenager take a camera with him to record pictures to enhance his diary entries?
Maps, train schedule tables, and books about the areas are great for kids to look through as the train travels through parts that are unfamiliar to them. Or for parts that are especially interesting to them.
Since your child won't be the only one on the train, encourage him to play with the other children and share toys and games.
If your children are old enough, let them dine alone, or with their friends, in the dining car, if they so desire. Like on a cruise ship, children can't really get lost or go too far away!
Oh, and one more reason that parents would enjoy taking their children along with them on the train? Kids age 2-15 travel at half-fare with an adult! Also, family vacation packages, complete with hotel stays, are other great alternatives to the usual family vacation!
So, when you are ready to book that exciting train vacation, or vacation package, or just want to browse at other vacation ideas, go on over to www.kingarthur.myttn.com and let's get your next vacation started!
The best routes for traveling children include the auto train between Virginia and Orlando, Washington, D. C., to New York, Grand Canyon to Chicago, and Sacramento to San Francisco.
Children love watching the countryside pass by. They love sleeping in an upper berth. They even enjoy dining in the dining car.
However, they will still get bored if they don't have anything with them they could do. Paper and crayons, pens and stationary, complete with stamps, envelopes, and addresses, are great items to have to help keep their creative minds flowing throughout the trip.
Older children enjoy making audio recordings or diary entries about their experiences during their exciting train trip.
Cameras are always nearly mandatory during vacations. Why not let your teenager take a camera with him to record pictures to enhance his diary entries?
Maps, train schedule tables, and books about the areas are great for kids to look through as the train travels through parts that are unfamiliar to them. Or for parts that are especially interesting to them.
Since your child won't be the only one on the train, encourage him to play with the other children and share toys and games.
If your children are old enough, let them dine alone, or with their friends, in the dining car, if they so desire. Like on a cruise ship, children can't really get lost or go too far away!
Oh, and one more reason that parents would enjoy taking their children along with them on the train? Kids age 2-15 travel at half-fare with an adult! Also, family vacation packages, complete with hotel stays, are other great alternatives to the usual family vacation!
So, when you are ready to book that exciting train vacation, or vacation package, or just want to browse at other vacation ideas, go on over to www.kingarthur.myttn.com and let's get your next vacation started!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Orlando Beyond Disney
Tens of thousands of people visit Orlando and other Central Florida towns every week. Most of them go to the same place, the major theme parks in the area. This makes the lines considerably longer, the hotel prices considerably higher, and with such large crowds, the temperature feels considerably higher! To avoid some of the hassle regarding the major theme parks, here are some great ideas for alternative vacation destinations which are still in the immediate Orlando area:
A-The Disney Institute
Don't let the name deceive you into thinking it will be horribly overpriced, crowded, and only about a mouse. The Disney Institute is in Lake Buena Vista, just outside Orlando. There are over 85 hands-on creative and learning programs available. Children are divided into two age groups, 7-10 and 11-15, and each group has their own age-appropriate events and classes. Sports, rock climbing, art, cooking, DJ training, and day trips to some of the theme parks are only a handful of what they have available! If your child prefer the more artistic forms, they also give him the opportunity to learn from some of the most familiar names in the industries of movies, music, literature, and science.
B-Dinner Theatres
Although a trip over to the local hamburger hut would be less expensive, the $24-$39 per person you spend at these places really make them far more enjoyable and memorable. Besides, the food really is good! Each establishment has its own theme. Arabian Nights gives you a complete Mideast experience. Capone's Dinner, King Henry's Feast, Medieval Times, and Wild Bill's West all give you personal experience from eras gone by, including no utensils at Medieval Times, which REALLY gives you a true-to-life experience of the 1500's. Finally, Murder Watch Mystery is another exciting dinner theatre event which actually involves the audience in between courses.
C-Waterworks?
Orlando finds itself in the middle of the Florida peninsula, and not on the Gulf or Atlantic coast. However, there are some very interesting and thankfully not-so-well-known cruises on nearby canals and lakes. Some even include lunch or supper! Heritage Lake Cruises puts on Dead River and Canal. Scenic Boat Tours promotes Winter Park Lake and Canal Cruise, and even the Mission Inn Marina has it's own version with La Reina on Lake Harris.
D-Animals and Museums
Finally, there are even more things you can do as a family which are specific to the Central Florida area. Sanford has the Central Florida Zoological Park with all sorts of animals around. Splendid China has amazing representations of famous Chinese Landmarks, such as The Great Wall and The Forbidden City. Kissimmee has Flying Tigers Warbird Museum, with concentrations on WWII, right at the airport! The Holocaust Memorial Museum is in Maitland, complete with library, films, and artifacts. And The Orlando Science Center is in Loch Haven Park, with hands-on displays and activities, and a planetarium!
Now that you know where else to go in Central Florida, outside of the major theme parks, and without the incredible crowds and exorbitant prices, you just have to book your next Orlando vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!
A-The Disney Institute
Don't let the name deceive you into thinking it will be horribly overpriced, crowded, and only about a mouse. The Disney Institute is in Lake Buena Vista, just outside Orlando. There are over 85 hands-on creative and learning programs available. Children are divided into two age groups, 7-10 and 11-15, and each group has their own age-appropriate events and classes. Sports, rock climbing, art, cooking, DJ training, and day trips to some of the theme parks are only a handful of what they have available! If your child prefer the more artistic forms, they also give him the opportunity to learn from some of the most familiar names in the industries of movies, music, literature, and science.
B-Dinner Theatres
Although a trip over to the local hamburger hut would be less expensive, the $24-$39 per person you spend at these places really make them far more enjoyable and memorable. Besides, the food really is good! Each establishment has its own theme. Arabian Nights gives you a complete Mideast experience. Capone's Dinner, King Henry's Feast, Medieval Times, and Wild Bill's West all give you personal experience from eras gone by, including no utensils at Medieval Times, which REALLY gives you a true-to-life experience of the 1500's. Finally, Murder Watch Mystery is another exciting dinner theatre event which actually involves the audience in between courses.
C-Waterworks?
Orlando finds itself in the middle of the Florida peninsula, and not on the Gulf or Atlantic coast. However, there are some very interesting and thankfully not-so-well-known cruises on nearby canals and lakes. Some even include lunch or supper! Heritage Lake Cruises puts on Dead River and Canal. Scenic Boat Tours promotes Winter Park Lake and Canal Cruise, and even the Mission Inn Marina has it's own version with La Reina on Lake Harris.
D-Animals and Museums
Finally, there are even more things you can do as a family which are specific to the Central Florida area. Sanford has the Central Florida Zoological Park with all sorts of animals around. Splendid China has amazing representations of famous Chinese Landmarks, such as The Great Wall and The Forbidden City. Kissimmee has Flying Tigers Warbird Museum, with concentrations on WWII, right at the airport! The Holocaust Memorial Museum is in Maitland, complete with library, films, and artifacts. And The Orlando Science Center is in Loch Haven Park, with hands-on displays and activities, and a planetarium!
Now that you know where else to go in Central Florida, outside of the major theme parks, and without the incredible crowds and exorbitant prices, you just have to book your next Orlando vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Surviving Theme Parks
Although theme parks are so exciting and invigorating for kids, they are so nerve-wracking and problematic for so many adults. Here is what you need to do when you are getting ready to bring the family down to a huge theme park:
Step 1-You can't do everything in one day, so certainly opt for at minimum a 3-day pass for the park. The hotels and resorts inside, or right next to, the parks are sometimes a little pricey. However, you can save a few dollars--sometimes upwards of 50%!--by staying at nearby, but not right at, the theme parks.
Step 2-Ask for advice from people who have been, and from your travel agent, about the least crowded times of day, week, and year. School vacations, of course, are VERY busy and should be avoided if at all possible! Often, Sunday mornings and evenings any day are the best times to visit.
Step 3-Before you go, create an itinerary or schedule. Or, at least, make a list of things you A-must do, B-want to do, C-would like to do if there is sufficient time. Use the park maps and literatures to help decide what to do, and perhaps to stay in the same area for each day.
Step 4-Arrive thirty minutes before the park gates open.
Step 5-Eat hearty breakfasts, carry snacks, and eat lunch from 11-12 or 1:30-2:30 to avoid the most people.
Step 6-Dress in layers, at least if you won't be returning to your hotel room until that evening. Avoid high-heeled shoes. There just is no place best to walk in them. And remember to take sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm, and hats with you.
Step 7-Make sure everyone knows where the lost and found area and the bathrooms are. Note what each of your children are wearing and take a picture of them with you, just in case.
Still, the most important part of surviving theme parks is to prepare ahead of time. And part of that preparation involves a stop at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!
Step 1-You can't do everything in one day, so certainly opt for at minimum a 3-day pass for the park. The hotels and resorts inside, or right next to, the parks are sometimes a little pricey. However, you can save a few dollars--sometimes upwards of 50%!--by staying at nearby, but not right at, the theme parks.
Step 2-Ask for advice from people who have been, and from your travel agent, about the least crowded times of day, week, and year. School vacations, of course, are VERY busy and should be avoided if at all possible! Often, Sunday mornings and evenings any day are the best times to visit.
Step 3-Before you go, create an itinerary or schedule. Or, at least, make a list of things you A-must do, B-want to do, C-would like to do if there is sufficient time. Use the park maps and literatures to help decide what to do, and perhaps to stay in the same area for each day.
Step 4-Arrive thirty minutes before the park gates open.
Step 5-Eat hearty breakfasts, carry snacks, and eat lunch from 11-12 or 1:30-2:30 to avoid the most people.
Step 6-Dress in layers, at least if you won't be returning to your hotel room until that evening. Avoid high-heeled shoes. There just is no place best to walk in them. And remember to take sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm, and hats with you.
Step 7-Make sure everyone knows where the lost and found area and the bathrooms are. Note what each of your children are wearing and take a picture of them with you, just in case.
Still, the most important part of surviving theme parks is to prepare ahead of time. And part of that preparation involves a stop at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Before Leaving Home With Kids
To enjoy your family vacation to the fullest extent, the kids must also have a wonderful time while on that vacation. And, technically, your vacation starts with the things that you do before you even go anywhere. Here are some very important things to remember to do before you leave home with the little ones in tow.
A-Don't bring everything everyone owns. Only one suitcase per person, and you can leave behind the pets, large hats, more than one bath accessories
B-Use your vacation to change your lifestyle and leave your troubles behind! Kids would actually love to see their parents NOT stressed out from work, and just having a wonderful time! Vacations are also times to break out of your bad habits and to start some good ones, such as exercising, healthy eating, self-improvement, and studying and learning together as a family. Also, you can even take some interesting sports lessons, like scuba diving, skiing, tennis, cooking
C-Take along some important things, but not multiples. Things such as nightlight, batteries, medicine, sunglasses, and books are commonly brought on vacation. But you must also remember some other things which often come in valuable such as paper towel, addresses and stamps and notepads and pencils/pens, games, instant coffee, bandages and iodine and calamine lotion and insect repellent, plastic bags for wet swimming trunks and dining room leftovers, and of course a security blanket or special item to keep the child happy and calm
D-Before planning, hold a family meeting. Bring out whatever information and memories which you liked and didn't like about your previous vacations. Go over the itinerary and plans and get feedback from everybody. Certainly allow the children and teenagers to have input with their own ideas and preferences
E-Don't pack only one person's clothing in each suitcase. Pack some of everybody's, just in case one of the suitcases gets lost!
F-Budget? Decide with your family, including the kids, how much of a budget each person will have, and if it will be a total lump sum, or a daily allowance. Also, you must figure out who will pay for souvenirs, gifts, and the out-of-money child
Now that you know what to do before your trip, you must know what to do before you do any of these. And that's to book your vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!
A-Don't bring everything everyone owns. Only one suitcase per person, and you can leave behind the pets, large hats, more than one bath accessories
B-Use your vacation to change your lifestyle and leave your troubles behind! Kids would actually love to see their parents NOT stressed out from work, and just having a wonderful time! Vacations are also times to break out of your bad habits and to start some good ones, such as exercising, healthy eating, self-improvement, and studying and learning together as a family. Also, you can even take some interesting sports lessons, like scuba diving, skiing, tennis, cooking
C-Take along some important things, but not multiples. Things such as nightlight, batteries, medicine, sunglasses, and books are commonly brought on vacation. But you must also remember some other things which often come in valuable such as paper towel, addresses and stamps and notepads and pencils/pens, games, instant coffee, bandages and iodine and calamine lotion and insect repellent, plastic bags for wet swimming trunks and dining room leftovers, and of course a security blanket or special item to keep the child happy and calm
D-Before planning, hold a family meeting. Bring out whatever information and memories which you liked and didn't like about your previous vacations. Go over the itinerary and plans and get feedback from everybody. Certainly allow the children and teenagers to have input with their own ideas and preferences
E-Don't pack only one person's clothing in each suitcase. Pack some of everybody's, just in case one of the suitcases gets lost!
F-Budget? Decide with your family, including the kids, how much of a budget each person will have, and if it will be a total lump sum, or a daily allowance. Also, you must figure out who will pay for souvenirs, gifts, and the out-of-money child
Now that you know what to do before your trip, you must know what to do before you do any of these. And that's to book your vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!
Monday, May 10, 2010
What Can Your Concierge Get You?
One of your best friends during your next hotel stay should be one of the most overlooked person working there. Your hotel concierge. He can arrange, find out, or obtain so many things that you probably already know about. But there are so many more things you have never actually thought about asking from your concierge.
Actually, you don't even have to be a guest at that hotel to use their concierge service. Just make sure to tell the concierge that you will tip for his help.
Here is a list, not even an exhaustive one, of what concierges can get you, or get you access to:
1-dinner parties, whether they be in the hotel itself, or on a yacht, or even in the park
2-location of a safe jogging track or course
3-secretarial services or all sorts
4-zoos, from petting zoos to national zoos
5-medical services, whether they be emergency, doctors, dentists, chiropractors...
6-bouquets and potted plants
7-lessons of any kind, from dancing to acting, and language to etiquette
8-tickets to sporting events, concerts, movies, even transportation and cruises!
9-playgrounds and children's activities
10-jewelry, antique, and art appraisals
11-dance clubs, for whatever age
12-gifts and tokens of affection and appreciation
13-jewelry and gemstones
14-packages, packaging, and delivery
15-religious services
16-video and dvd movies and recordings, as well as cameras with which you could record your personal events
17-babysitting
18-partners for games, anything from tennis to chess to bridge
19-hairdresser/barber
20-information services
21-kennels
22-kosher restaurants and food
23-other restaurants, including difficult to acquire reservations
24-soaps and scents
25-tours, from behind the scenes to around the city
26-storage services and self-hauling vehicles
27-swimming pools and dinner cruises
28-bagels
29-escorts, and probably that other kind as well
30-jacks and other automotive supplies
31-limousine service
32-off-track betting, and on-track establishments
33-translation services
34-copying and printing services
35-boat rentals and hires, with or without captain and crew
36-butler and maid service
37-makeup and massage services, in call or out call
38-unisex clothes and hairstyles
39-business cards
40-clothing, costumes, and cleaning services
41-newspapers, from local to international
42-couriers
43-notary services
44-pet services such as sitting, walking, and washing
45-photographers, whether they be formal or passport pictures
46-bedding, quilts, and blankets
So, now that you know what you can get, and even many ideas on what someone else can get for you, let's get you booked into that hotel so you can take advantage of that amazing person known as your hotel concierge! Book right now at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !
Actually, you don't even have to be a guest at that hotel to use their concierge service. Just make sure to tell the concierge that you will tip for his help.
Here is a list, not even an exhaustive one, of what concierges can get you, or get you access to:
1-dinner parties, whether they be in the hotel itself, or on a yacht, or even in the park
2-location of a safe jogging track or course
3-secretarial services or all sorts
4-zoos, from petting zoos to national zoos
5-medical services, whether they be emergency, doctors, dentists, chiropractors...
6-bouquets and potted plants
7-lessons of any kind, from dancing to acting, and language to etiquette
8-tickets to sporting events, concerts, movies, even transportation and cruises!
9-playgrounds and children's activities
10-jewelry, antique, and art appraisals
11-dance clubs, for whatever age
12-gifts and tokens of affection and appreciation
13-jewelry and gemstones
14-packages, packaging, and delivery
15-religious services
16-video and dvd movies and recordings, as well as cameras with which you could record your personal events
17-babysitting
18-partners for games, anything from tennis to chess to bridge
19-hairdresser/barber
20-information services
21-kennels
22-kosher restaurants and food
23-other restaurants, including difficult to acquire reservations
24-soaps and scents
25-tours, from behind the scenes to around the city
26-storage services and self-hauling vehicles
27-swimming pools and dinner cruises
28-bagels
29-escorts, and probably that other kind as well
30-jacks and other automotive supplies
31-limousine service
32-off-track betting, and on-track establishments
33-translation services
34-copying and printing services
35-boat rentals and hires, with or without captain and crew
36-butler and maid service
37-makeup and massage services, in call or out call
38-unisex clothes and hairstyles
39-business cards
40-clothing, costumes, and cleaning services
41-newspapers, from local to international
42-couriers
43-notary services
44-pet services such as sitting, walking, and washing
45-photographers, whether they be formal or passport pictures
46-bedding, quilts, and blankets
So, now that you know what you can get, and even many ideas on what someone else can get for you, let's get you booked into that hotel so you can take advantage of that amazing person known as your hotel concierge! Book right now at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Hotel Trivia: Men vs. Women
Here is more proof that men and women are very different. This was taken from actual hotel research, records, and surveys.
Who locked themselves out of their rooms more frequently?
Women 70%; Men 30%
Percentage of people who were in various states of undress in the corridors at one time or another?
30%
Of them, 65% were women; 35% were men.
Number of towels per guest per day, on average?
Women 4; Men 2
Items men most often left behind?
Aftershave and shoes
Item women most often left behind?
Nightgowns
And this is the one that surprised me the most. Who leaves a cleaner room, on average?
Men!
So, when you're ready to become one of these rather interesting statistics, or maybe you would prefer to be the % of ones not mentioned, you first must book your hotel and vacation stays at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!
Who locked themselves out of their rooms more frequently?
Women 70%; Men 30%
Percentage of people who were in various states of undress in the corridors at one time or another?
30%
Of them, 65% were women; 35% were men.
Number of towels per guest per day, on average?
Women 4; Men 2
Items men most often left behind?
Aftershave and shoes
Item women most often left behind?
Nightgowns
And this is the one that surprised me the most. Who leaves a cleaner room, on average?
Men!
So, when you're ready to become one of these rather interesting statistics, or maybe you would prefer to be the % of ones not mentioned, you first must book your hotel and vacation stays at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!
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