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Saturday, March 1, 2008

Drinking Water while Traveling - Play Safe and Enjoy the Game

Contaminated drinking water is the most common cause of health problems during travel. Unsafe drinking water can cause gastrointestinal distresses. Water contamination will not only increase risk of minor problems such as diarrhea but also become reason for bacterial diseases. Some common bacteria found in drinking water include E.coli, cholera and salmonella. Additionally, chemical pollutants, dust particles, debris and other contaminants can cause problems.

Water is something we consume very frequently. You should take special care to avoid any health problem because of it. If you follow the following healthy travel tips, you can avoid any health problems related to water:

1. Always drink bottled water. Bottled water will not always mean safe drinking water. While purchasing bottled water, make sure it is properly sealed and there are no leaks in it. If bottle is leaking, there is a chance that bacteria have found their way into it. Purchase only popular brands, especially in foreign countries. With big brands, you are sure that they follow all procedures to decontaminate water.

2. Older people face health problem with contamination. If bottled mineral water is not available, seniors should ask for boiled water. water when boiled for a few minutes gets almost free from chances of bacterial infection. Do not accept cold water even if the service boy says that they have boiled it. Young people can start taking local tap water in small amounts to develop antibodies.

3. In addition to bottled and boiled water, tea, coffee, canned soda and juice, beer and wine are generally safe methods to maintain your water balance without exposing you to the risk of contaminated water.

4. Kids are more prone to water contaminations. Ask the kids to brush their teeth with safe water, as brushing with contaminated water will have the same effect as drinking it outright. Never allow the kids to brush their teeth in the shower. Use bottled water for rinsing the mouth, as kids can often gulp water during rinsing.

5. You should also avoid using ice because freezing of water does not kill bacteria.

6. Use personal water treatment devices. Many products in market like steri-pen will enable you to disinfect water quickly and discreetly in any restaurant or hotel while traveling. It uses ultraviolet light to disinfect, and is portable, so you can take it anywhere.

For more information on travel guide and useful travel tips please visit http://www.ez-travel-guide.info including simple reviews on popular travel guide books.

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Best Bets For Spring Break

We all want to do something interesting but affordable with our kids for spring break. I have compiled a list of the ten most kid and adult friendly places to go.

10. Splash Lagoon indoor water park in Erie, PA. At a dreamy 84 degrees F any day of the year this is a location of guaranteed nice weather. This place is awesome with a lazy river to lounge in atop an inner tube built for two. There are three giant hot tubs, one for adults only to relax in. An enormous tipping bucket perches on a three story tree house waiting to dump a thousand gallons of water on the waiting crowd that gathers below. Monkey Shines Island is an area for little ones only with a pool and mini slides. The biggest bonus is that there are three hotels directly attached to Splash Lagoon so you can go to your hotel room and back even in the coldest weather without having to get changed. They offer packages for hotel and Water park starting at under $200 for a two day pass for four people and one night hotel stay.

9. Cuba is a good deal for families. Some all inclusive hotels offer kids to stay free programs so you only have to pay for the flight for passengers under 12 years old. Cuba can always be booked at the last minute for cheap. The food is not five stars but it'll keep you alive enough to enjoy some spectacular weather and beautiful beaches.

8. Cancun has so many hotel rooms that you can usually find something to your liking and in your price range even for spring break. Cancun hotels have some of the biggest pools anywhere including the 1/4 mile loop pool at the Oasis hotel. Beware of the tide though; danger level flags are raised on the beaches everyday to let swimmers know how the tide is. If the flags are red do not let little ones swim in the ocean as the unseen undertow can sweep you out to sea in the blink of an eye. Cancun can get a touch rowdy during spring break so ask for a room on the quieter side of the hotel. On the other hand if you are one of those creating the party ask for a room on the lively side so you don't keep young families awake with your night owl habits. Most hotels have a variety of restaurants so you are assured of getting food you like. An added bonus to traveling to Cancun is that the entire city has filtered water so not only can you drink the water but you can eat washed veggies and fruit too and add ice to your drinks.

7. Dominican Republic on the Eastern side of the island of Hispaniola, Haiti occupies the Western side of the island, is always an economical choice. March travel means getting your vacation in before the annual hurricane season. Be sure to stay on the Northern side of Dominican, Puerto Plata of Sosua area, for the best beaches. If it's culture you're after one of the oldest churches in the western hemisphere that Christopher Columbus had built is in Santo Domingo on the south side.

6. walt Disney World in Orlando, Fl seems like an obvious choice and you may wonder why I didn't rate it higher. Although I am a huge walt Disney World fan I am not so fond of the lines that come with spring break. If you can't resist then you must go to Disneyquest which never seems to be overcrowded and is an indoor theme park that will also give relief from the scorching Florida sunshine. While you are at downtown Disney you also must eat at the earl of Sandwich restaurant.

5. Kennedy Space Center in Cocoa Beach Florida where you can be educated and entertained simultaneously. You may be lucky enough to visit during a shuttle launch, an unforgettable experience. There are two IMAX theaters showing film of what the first space subdivision could look like on back to back screens. You can see the old space suits complete with the attached vacuum for bathroom use while out in space. You can try out freeze dried food such as ice cream just like the astronauts.

4. Get a hotel in your hometown by bidding on Priceline. You can probably get a nice hotel with an indoor pool for under $60 a night by bidding on Priceline. Often your breakfast will be included with the price of your stay. In any case there is no airfare to shell out for which makes your stay affordable. It's like having a resort near home.

3. Day trips from home are usually affordable. Take a trip to the zoo in the spring and see the animals hopping as you never would in the summer heat.

2. Jamaica is your new island home. The people are friendly and the water is drinkable since they have had filtered water since 1928. The language is English spoken albeit with an island lilt. The food is scrumptious at even roadside stands. There are many hotels and price ranges to choose from but you'll never be disappointed. One of the best beaches in the world in Negril can be right outside your door if you choose.

1. The number one destination of all is a cruise. Carnival is my favored cruise line because they have a wonderful children's program with age appropriate activities for those from 3 years old up to 17. From video games to dances for teens with special recipe mock tails, Carnival's Camp Carnival program will keep you kids busy so you can enjoy a little adult fun in the casino or the dance club or just relaxing on deck. Carnival has something for every member of your group. There is a spa for Mom and gym for Dad and a 2500 sq ft playroom for junior. There are only so many people that are allowed to board any one ship so the crowds are always under control.

Ann Childs is a freelance writer and travel consultant. Her specialty is caribbean travel including beach vacations and cruises. She is the editor and featured writer at Cruise and Travel Review Post your own reviews at Cruise and Travel Review Forums

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