Coffee, Tea or Milk-Bone…?

Posted on August 20, 2010
Filed Under Travel, Website Tips | Comments Off

Having a hard time finding something to do with the pooch while you are on vacation? Well never fear, the Dogtravel Company is here. Now you can take the pup on vacation with you via the assistance of the world’s first travel club for dog lovers.

And, guess what? Fido can sit right next to you while you travel. Yep, your pup will even get his or her own seat.  There is even a special safety harness provided to keep them safe and secure while traveling on Dogtravel Flights or Trains.

How can this be? How does it work? Well, you would be better off letting the folks at the Dogtravel Company explain that to you. If you are interested you can check them out at www.dogtravelcompany.net.

Unfortunately for me I do not think that they could help me out with my terrier-piranha mix. Boudreaux is just really not a people puppy. Although, he would be the perfect solution for the kid kicking the back of my seat…

The World Wide Will

MedjetAssist -Take Trips, Not Chances

Things You Should Know

Posted on August 2, 2010
Filed Under Andrew Harper, Guest Contributors, Travel, Travel Products, Website Tips | Comments Off

things you should know

Andrew Harper, the most credible resource for unbiased travel intelligence, now has a new travel blog aptly named, Things You Should Know. This latest travel resource from Andrew Harper is packed full of stunning photographs and great information ranging from travel destinations to travel service providers. There is no doubt that Things You Should Know will quickly become the next staple source of travel information for savvy travelers everywhere.

Are You On Board?

Posted on July 25, 2010
Filed Under Health, Medjet, Safety, Travel, Travel Products, Videos | Comments Off

Are you on board with what to do if a medical emergency interrupts your next trip? If you are a Medjet member then the answer is yes. As a Medjet member there are various ways you can utilize your member benefits including medical evacuation to the hospital of your choice. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with this first installment of Medjet’s Safety On Board video series.

World Wide Will Galapagos Adventure – Day Four, Santa Cruz

Posted on May 26, 2010
Filed Under Destinations, World Wide Will Adventures | Comments Off

4302940190_a4cb9e3081_b

There is nothing quite like starting off your morning with a swim. Particularly if what you are swimming in are the warm equatorial waters of the Pacific ocean. You really do have to pinch yourself every now and then on this trip.

After a hearty breakfast we put on our wetsuits and headed out in the pangas to a spot of calm water just off Santa Cruz Island. This was our second snorkeling adventure and it was obvious that everyone was more comfortable in the water at least until we spotted the sharks. OK, so they told us we would see sharks and they told us that they would not hurt us.  However, it was still a bizarre experience to look down and see these ancient underwater predators cruising beneath you. Lots of them actually. But you know, I would give anything in the world for the experience.

The sharks were beautiful creatures. They moved gracefully through the water close to the bottom. After I got over the initial shock and slight fear I started to swim down towards them so that I could get better pictures. They paid me no mind one way or the other. And interestingly enough, most of the fishes did not seem to be bothered at all by their presence. I say most because there were about five of a blue and yellow variety that suspiciously became my new best friends. I was thrilled at first but when it became apparent to me that I was now Operation Human Shield I quickly shooed them away. I was not about to get in between anybody’s breakfast.

After our morning snorkel we dried off and rested our salty limbs on the back deck of the Evolution as we headed closer to Santa Cruz. Giant outcrops of long expired volcanoes dotted the sea behind us as we watched an impromptu display of stingrays arching out of the blue waters, soaring briefly in the air and then crashing back into the ocean. Another amazing site and it was not even lunch yet.

Once everyone was on board we headed onto the island. We were greeted by the usual entourage of marine iguanas. Their black bodies blended into the dark lava rocks of the shoreline as they watched us disembark from our boats. Once we were on land we headed up the dock to a bus that was waiting for us. We drove to the Charles Darwin Research Station for a tour of its world famous tortoise breeding program. At the center we got to see Lonesome George, the last surviving member of the Pinta Island subspecies and we learned about the vital work being done to study and preserve Galapagos wildlife.

After leaving the center we headed up into the forested highlands of the island to look for wild giant tortoises. We stopped for lunch at a great local spot and had BBQ and fresh fruit then headed into the open grass areas behind the restaurant in search of the gentle giants that graze these parts. We saw so many tortoises that I stopped counting. These creatures were amazingly massive with some estimated to weigh 500 pounds or more. Despite a few grunts they were not at all bothered by our presence and were very obliging when it came to pictures.

While in the highlands we also explored the forest and walked around a pair of craters named Los Gemelos. We saw vermillion flycatchers and we even got to explore an underground lava tube. The misty forest was quite a departure from the usual scenery. The diversity of the island’s terrain and wildlife was amazing and exposed us to a side of the Galapagos that I never imagine existed.

We left the highlands and headed back to the village of Puerto Ayora for some free time to walk around and get a sense of what life for the human inhabitants of the Galapagos is like. After some shopping and an ice cream bar or three we got back on the pangas and headed to our floating home away from home. It was a wonderful day filled with sharks, scientists, dragons and giants. Yep, you really do have to pinch yourself every now and then on this trip.

But Why?

Posted on May 25, 2010
Filed Under General, Medjet, Safety, Travel | 2 Comments

tsa-quart-bag

By John Gobbels, Medjet VP/COO

Have you ever wondered why you have to take your laptop out of your bag, or why you can only bring 3 ounces of liquid on board your flight? I’ve often wondered about these questions as well so I decided to try and find some answers to these and other “WHY” questions.

Why 3 Ounces or less?

Liquids still pose a threat to aviation security. TSA and their partners have conducted extensive explosives testing since August 2006 and determined that these items, in limited quantities, are safe to bring aboard an aircraft. The TSA determined that the maximum amount of liquid a person can carry is 3.4 ounces without causing damage to the aircraft.

Why do I have to remove my laptop from my bag?

The TSA screens laptops to see if the electronics have been tampered with. Transportation Security Officers know what the inside of a computer should look like, and they can recognize irregularities. This is why they need an unobstructed view as the item moves through the X-ray machine.

Why do I have to place my shoes on the x-ray belt?

In May of 2009, the TSA began advising passengers going through security screening to place their shoes on the X-ray belt as opposed to placing them in a bin. It is TSA’s intent to de-clutter bins and provide Transportation Security Officers with the clearest image possible and provide a better look at all items going through the X-ray.

By placing their shoes directly on the belt, passengers can assist officers expediting them through screening. This simple task cuts time by reducing the number of items re-run (presumably from cluttered bins) through the X-ray, therefore reducing the time it takes for additional screening. This simple step will streamline passage through checkpoints and passengers benefit from a quicker experience.

Why Secure Flight?

The TSA must ensure known or suspected terrorists are unable to obtain a boarding pass. To mitigate this risk, the TSA is implementing its Secure Flight program – a behind-the-scenes watch list matching process that vets passengers against government watch lists before a boarding pass is ever issued.

Hopefully this helped answer some of the “WHY” questions you might have as it relates to the screening process. Remember to travel smart, travel safe and always travel with your Medjet card….

http://www.tsa.gov

keep looking »