London, England

Authors from Virginia Woolf to Charles Dickens have stories rooted in this vibrant city. London itself evokes thoughts of old-world England, cobblestone streets, and a city full of charm. But perhaps one of the most famous stories from London is that of Sherlock Holmes and the intellectual Dr. Watson. Visit their famous detective agency at 221B Baker Street in London, which hosts a museum for fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detectives. In fact, VisitLondon.com lists several itineraries for Sherlock Holmes fans that include a visit to The Sherlock Holmes Pub and a murder mystery at Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes.

Vimmerby, Sweden

Sweden is home to one of the most adored red headed, freckle faced little girls in literature – Pippi Longstocking (Långstrump in Swedish). Pippi is known for her confident and tomboyish attitude, her pet horse, her best friend (who just so happens to be a monkey), wild adventures and a vivid imagination. The story of Pippi was written by Astrid Lindgren in 1945 and today you can visit Pippi at Astrid Lindgren’s World in Vimmerby, Sweden.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Eleven years after author John Kennedy Toole’s death, “A Confederacy of Dunces” was published through the efforts of fellow writer Walker Percy and Toole’s mother. His novel earned Toole a posthumous Pulitzer Prize for Fiction ^[1]. Any part of The French Quarter in New Orleans can easily be the backdrop to the colorful antics of the main character Ignatius J. Reilly. New Orleans celebrates the Pulitzer-winning novel that calls its city home with a life-sized statue of Ignatius that can be found in front of the former D.H. Holmes Department Store.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Looking for literary inspiration? Look no further than The Writers’ Museum in Edinburgh, Scotland. The museum celebrates the lives of three famous Scottish writers: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. See the printing press on which Sir Walter Scott’s Waverly Novels were first produced as well as several first edition novels and manuscripts. Whether you are a bookworm or not The Writers’ Museum has an awe inspiring collection worth exploring.

La Mancha, Spain

Follow in the valiant footsteps of Don Quixote as he travels through La Mancha, Spain defending the helpless and destroying evil. Written by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in the 17th century, Saavedra never identifies more than a few of the towns that Don Quixote’s adventures take him to, leaving readers to explore the whole of La Mancha, Spain for themselves.

Prince Edward Island, Canada

Author Lucy Maud Montgomery was inspired by her family’s home when writing the classic story “Anne of Green Gables”. You can visit the inspirational home today which has been converted to a Museum open to the public. The Anne of Green Gables Museum is run by descendents of Lucy Maud Montgomery and perfectly captures the wonder that inspired L.M. Montgomery so many years ago.

Sources:
[1]: http://www.goodreads.com

Do you ever wonder why people choose to travel solo? Click here to learn about reasons people travel solo, how much they spend while traveling and where a “party of one” is most likely to go when traveling alone.

To help avoid common travel scams, we’ve gathered a few helpful tips:

• Verify the business you are booking your trip through. A business can be verified by doing a little research online and looking for their rating through the Better Business Bureau.1

• Don’t sign on the dotted line until you read the agreement carefully. Like any important agreement, scour booking documents carefully to be certain you understand all associated fees and details of the document. • Always pay with a credit card. A good credit card company will allow you to dispute fraudulent charges, if they should occur.

• False bookings. Before traveling, confirm all arrangements including the airline, cruise line and/or hotel. Even though you have paid for the trip in full, it’s possible that your actual reservations may not appear as planned.

• Grandparent Scam: Some scammers get ahold of ID’s while a young person is on vacation and then call the person’s grandparents, pretend to be their grandchild and ask for money to help them out of a bind. Beware of this scam and always have family members pass along their travel information before leaving so you know how to contact them to very these phony calls for help are not legit.2

• Safeguard your valuables. Use the safe in your hotel room for your valuables like extra cash, passports, travel documents, and cell phones. Change the code to your safe daily and don’t write it down on paper in the hotel room.3

• Use only authorized taxis. Passengers have been robbed or kidnapped when using unauthorized taxis. Verify the taxi service used by the area you are visiting.3

1http://nwfl.bbb.org/article/avoid-getting-burned-during-spring-break-9526 2http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/spring-break-travel-scams_n_1418954.html 3http://www.travelguard.com/travel-tips/springbreak_traveltips13/

Click here to find out how Scott and his wife used Travel Guard’s concierge services to coordinate a majority of their vacation!

*Concierge services only available in select travel insurance plans.

“I wanted to explore volunteer opportunities in Hawaii at Kalani, a sustainability and wellness retreat center,” said Mora.

[Staying there] gave me the opportunity to help others, learn more about Hawaiian culture and sustainability/green practices while living in a community.”

She had been planning her trip for a few months and would be traveling alone, but that didn’t worry her. In fact, while on the trip she made many friends who became like family to her. So, during her free time she and her new friends would surf and hike in the warm, Hawaiian sun.

“I had plans to get as much surfing in as possible and I also went on a hike over flowing lava,” said Mora. We trekked to Waip’io Valley, one of the most beautiful spots I have ever been to in my life, biked and did yoga daily, as it is such a serene place to be active and reflective.”

One morning, a few days into her trip, Mora was surfing when she felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. At first, she shrugged it off, thinking that she had pulled a groin muscle. By early afternoon, after trying to tend to the pain, she was doubled over and showing signs of early shock.

“Since I couldn’t move and was hyperventilating, a few of the medically-trained staff hoisted me into a car and drove me to the medical center,” said Mora. Two of the volunteers stayed with me that night in the ER, as the hospital staff tried to assess what was going on.”

Thankfully, Mora had purchased a travel insurance plan through Travel Guard so she was covered her for medical expenses and Travel Guard routinely followed up with her while she was in the hospital.

“Travel Guard called me in the hospital to see that everything was ok and followed up with me once I was released,” said Mora. “It was reassuring to know that they were there right from the beginning and that there was communication between the hospital and them. I am a very healthy young woman and live an active lifestyle complete with daily exercise, good food and meditation; but, even then, you never know what is going to happen. It is important to insure yourself. Travel Guard provided me with very personalized service; versus some of the companies I have purchased a plan with in the past.”

This is only a brief description of the coverage(s) available. The Policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions. Insurance underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., a Pennsylvania insurance company, with its principal place of business at 175 Water Street, New York, NY 10038. It is currently authorized to transact business in all states and the District of Columbia. NAIC No. 19445. Coverage may not be available in all states. Travel assistance services provided by Travel Guard Group, Inc. (“Travel Guard”).

Follow these tips for smooth sailing into cruise season and beyond:

A watchful weather eye: An 85-degree day at the port of your destination does not necessarily mean that the weather back home will be as sunny. This time of year, severe winter weather can hamper travel. Make sure you check the weather outlook before you go and make wise decisions about your trip.

Plan for adequate time between your flight and your cruise: Whether it’s inclement weather or a delay of your own, make sure you plan enough time between when you leave home and your ship’s departure date. Perhaps arriving a day early in the city from where you will be leaving makes the most sense to prevent delays.
Carry on the necessities: Be sure to pack a carry-on bag with the necessities you don’t want to be without (change of clothes, swimsuit, essential toiletries, medications) in the event that you get on your cruise but your luggage doesn’t make it to your destination before your cruise departs.

Secure important documents: Since your cruise could be making multiple port calls, it’s important to have your passport or your photo I.D. handy. Make copies of these and all other important travel documents before you leave. Leave one set of copies with family and take a few copies with you in case you lose one of them.

Wash up: Falling ill on a vacation is never fun, especially if you are at sea. With the Center for Disease Control already noting the severity of the 2013 outbreak as one of the worst flu seasons in recent years ¹, it’s important to take precautions to keep from getting sick. One of the most basic and effective means of doing so is washing your hands on a regular basis, both on and off the ship. Hand washing is effective in helping to avoid the flu, common cold, Norovirus and other airborne bugs.

Don’t go overboard (with food, drink or sun): While you are on vacation, it’s easy to indulge. Going back for seconds and thirds is easy to do – especially on a cruise where food buffets are abundant. The same goes with alcohol, which, in addition to physical sickness, can often be involved in other accidents that could require medical attention. Too much sun can also add to your travel woes. Sometimes overindulgence leads to sluggishness and getting sick.  Be sure to wear sunscreen, a hat and stay hydrated and eat smaller portions to stay healthy.
Listen to your body: If you are feeling sick before leaving for your cruise or while you are sailing, don’t ignore your symptoms. See a doctor for the best advice and course of action for travel. While this certainly isn’t a full list of everything you can do to prepare for your cruise and stay healthy while cruising, it offers a good start. Do you have cruise travel tips you’d like to add to our list?

¹ http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/flu-outbreak-2013-expected-worst-decade-cdc-warns-article-1.1235178

Scotland, United Kingdom
Dramatically beautiful countryside, mist-filled highlands and centuries old castles make Scotland a great place to visit in 2013. Visitors can explore miles and miles of coastline and hundreds of historical sites like ancient battlefields that serve as monuments to kings from days gone by. The country is also filled with magnificent architecture travelers can see by touring one of many towering cathedrals or abbeys nestled in Scotland’s bustling cities.

Kosice, Slovakia
Kosice has been selected as the 2013 capital of culture by European Commissioner for Education. And it’s no wonder -  with a vibrant mix of old town medieval and renaissance baroque, this city’s stunning architecture is enough to captivate anyone’s mind. It’s been named the capital of culture and the city has planned 30 cultural festivals to celebrate in 2013. So what can visitors expect at these events? Anything that draws on the city’s Slovakian and Hungarian heritage including music, theatre, art and street performers.²

Sri Lanka
Since their civil war ended in 2009, Sri Lanka’s tourism has been growing by leaps and bounds. Sometimes known as the undiscovered country, this fresh, new territory is sure to add spice to any traveler’s agenda. Marvel at endless beaches and timeless ruins, while taking time to get to know the country’s friendly people. Don’t forget to check out the local eats fit for a foodie. The country also has plenty of national parks where travelers can see exotic birds, monkeys, elephants and leopards in their natural habitat.

Turkey
If your travels take you to Turkey, you could be in for a pleasant treat discovering the country’s impressive history. From larger-than-life historical figures like Julius Caesar, who “came, saw and conquered,” to St. Paul spreading his message of hope, Turkey has much for travelers to learn.³ Turkey also offers amazing diversity between its borders. Visitors can overlook the landscapes of ancient Mesopotamia in the Eastern part of the country and enjoy mountains and Aegean beaches in other parts of the country.

 Do you have an impressive travel destination you would like to nominate for a “must go to” place in 2013? Share it with us below!

¹http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/americans-abandon-new-year-resolutions-article-1.1240117

²http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/01/travel/top-destinations-2013/index.html
³http://www.lonelyplanet.com/themes/best-in-travel-2013/top-10-countries/

Get Vaccinated – According to this week’s FluView report, while activity levels vary across the country, nationally influenza activity is elevated and continues to increase across most key indicators.¹ It may seem like a no-brainer to get vaccinated, but the truth is, many people choose to forgo a yearly flu vaccine. If you get the flu vaccine at least two weeks before you travel, you may be less likely to become ill.

Start Healthy. Stay Healthy. – A few days before you are scheduled to leave on your trip, start taking immune support tablets and make sure your diet is healthy. Eating right and maintaining a healthy body are two key components to making your body less susceptible to getting sick. Get your flu vaccine before you go to reduce your risk of catching and spreading the flu.²

Don’t Touch your Face – On any given day your hands will come into contact with thousands of germs. While you’re traveling, that number can skyrocket. All it takes is your hands coming into contact with your face for those viruses to spread. Try to avoid touching your face, mouth, nose, and eyes to reduce the chances that those germs will get into your system and make you sick. Make sure you pack a small bottle of hand sanitizer in a size that’s less than 3oz so you can carry it on the plane.

Wash your hands – When you were growing up, your mom likely told you to wash your hands before every meal. Turns out mom was right. Washing your hands throughout your travels  could reduce your risk of getting sick from germs you’ve come into contact with, and help your fellow travelers by stopping the spread of those germs.

Do what you can to safeguard your health up front, and with the right precautions and a little bit of luck, you can be on your way to thoroughly enjoying your warm-weather vacation – without getting sick. Do you have additional travel tips to stay healthy while traveling? We’d love to hear from you. Comment below.

¹http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/summary.htm
²http://www.cdc.gov/Features/WinterTravel/

The Legend of La Befana – Italy
She flies over the rooftops of Rome, delivers gifts to children and receives Ricotta cheese in return – since she has hardly any teeth. In Italy, the holidays are all about La Befana, the legendary Good Witch of Christmas.¹

Legend has it that La Befana flies over the rooftops of Rome on her broom, and brings gifts to the good children and coal to the bad ones. Since pagan times she has been celebrated as the “aging Mother Nature” in ancient Roman winter festivals. Today, the best place to meet La Befana in person is in Piazza Navona, Rome’s lively square where the Christmas bazaar known locally as the Befana Market is held.

A Very Krampus Christmas – Germany
He’s making a list, and checking it twice – but it’s definitely to find the children who have been naughty – not nice. This list miser is far from the jolly guy in the red coat. His name is Krampus, and as scary as it may sound, he is a beast-like creature from old German folk tales. Legend has it that during the holiday season, Krampus seeks out and scares children who have been particularly naughty. This mythological character can be seen roaming streets in Germany during annual holiday parades, where the character is brought to life through people in costumes.

Santa Lucia Day- Scandinavia
In Scandinavia it’s all about lights and candles on the morning ofDecember 13.  Santa Lucia Day, as the day is known, ushers in the holiday season when the eldest daughter of each family dresses in white, places a crown of candles on her head and then, walking barefoot, serves breakfast to her parents.² This tradition, which is hundreds of years old, is in memory of St. Lucia, a Catholic saint, who, during her lifetime, was famous for carrying food to persecuted Christians hiding in dark underground tunnels. She wore a wreath of candles on her head to light the way as she carried her baskets of provisions.⁴

Cake is King in France
Galette des Rois, or the “Cake of Kings” is a tradition in France that dates back to the 14^th century. During the days that follow Christmas, the French line up at their local bakery to buy “Galette des Rois” – pastries of different varieties. Inside some pastries, a lucky few will find a porcelain trinket. The finder of the trinket not only wins the pastry prize, but a paper crown that adorns the pastry spread.

St. Nick’s Day
Remembering those in need is always a good rule of thumb around the holiday season, and those in England (and many other parts of the world) do just that on St. Nick’s Day. This Holiday, which is celebrated on December 6^th each year, begins with a parade through Canterbury, England followed by music, dancing, hymns and prayers.³   St. Nicholas was born during the third century in the village of Patara, Turkey. After his wealthy parents died, he was left an inheritance which he used to help those in need. Today St. Nick’s Day is celebrated around the world and is associated with gift giving and personal generosity to those less fortunate.

Whether you plan to travel the world this holiday season or enjoy international holiday traditions through the reading and sharing of these stories, we want to hear your favorite holiday tradition. Please post here.

¹ http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/today-in-travel/sweet-holiday-traditions-in-europe.html?id=9817977

² http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/christmastraditions/qt/saintluciaday.htm

³ http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/england/

⁴ http://www.livinginseason.com/spirit/who-is-santa-lucia/#hide

The Bad Date
Many of us have been there – we show up with hope, only to be disappointed. No, we’re not talking about your high school prom date. We are talking about the worst dates to travel during the holiday season, and coincidentally the worst dates are usually the weekend right before a holiday.¹ The best days to travel? Try on the holiday itself, whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years Eve. ²

Book Early, Save Money
Traveling over the holidays but not psyched about spending a ton of money on airfare? The old adage “early bird gets the worm” holds true for flight booking. It’s wise to book at least a month or more in advance of your expected departure date if you want to get the best deals. A great way to simultaneously compare airfare for the best price is to use an airfare aggregator site.

 Book Early, Save Money
Traveling over the holidays but not psyched about spending a ton of money on airfare? The old adage “early bird gets the worm” holds true for flight booking. It’s wise to book at least a month or more in advance of your expected departure date if you want to get the best deals. A great way to simultaneously compare airfare for the best price is to use an airfare aggregator site.

Go Crazy for Carry On
Looking for ways to make your travel experience go smoothly? Try packing a carry-on for each member of the family. You’ll be able to arrive at your departing gate more quickly and can avoide the hassle of waiting for your checked luggage upon your arrival. Plus, carry-on luggage often costs nothing as compared to checked luggage which can cost over $25 per bag.

Shop Online & Ship
Looking forward to airport security carefully scrutinizing and even unwrapping each gift you packed in your suitcase? We didn’t think so. Eliminate the hassle of traveling with gifts by doing holiday shopping online and have each item shipped to your final destination.

Lots to Lose in Parking Lots
What one word can describe airport parking ramps during the holidays? Mayhem. If possible, have a friend drop you off at the airport to avoid congestion and delays getting to your departure gate.

Ship Gifts Home
Gift giving is a great holiday tradition for many. But, once the merriment has passed, how do the gifts get back home? An option for some might be to pack an extra, empty suitcase. But why lug around the extra bulk (and pay for yet another piece of checked luggage)? Ship all of your gifts home to save you time and hassle.

Do you have any holiday travel tips you’d like to share to help make travel go more smoothly for others this season? Share them below!