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Published
September 2, 2010
The border near Tijuana
Mexico and in particular areas such as Cancun, Tijuana and Acapulco have long been very popular destinations with visitors from the UK and the USA. In recent years however the seemingly unending reports of violent crime and disorder have put off visitors. Hotel bookings in Tijuana, close to the border with California have fallen off catastrophically. Naturally the fall in demand has led to some great deals being available – but would it be foolish to take them up?
Frightening news continues to come out of Mexico. Bizarrely, the latest seems to have be of a possibly supernatural nature. The deaths of 300 goats have been blamed on the vampiric chupacabra. Chupacabra means ‘goat-sucker’ – and it is a legendary beast supposedly connected with the deaths of livestock. Threats to tourists however are far more prosaic, and much easier to verify.
Primarily it is Americans who have been spooked by the extreme levels of gang violence, and a look at the the US State Department’s page of travel advice certainly reveals a lot to be wary of. The threat from gang violence to foreigners is downplayed, though it is pointed out that attacks have occurred in areas frequented by tourists. The list of other danger to be aware of though is truly terrifying. Reading through it you would assume that as a visitor you are pretty much guaranteed to be robbed, raped, and imprisoned after having a confession extracted by torture by corrupt officials.
The advice from the British Foreign Office is a little more reassuring, pointing out that “most visits to Mexico are trouble free”. Non essential travel to Ciudad Juarez (close to the US border) is warned against though, as this area has been the focus of much of the violence of late. Both the US and UK governments official advice have many tips for saying safe – which, if they don’t scare you off entirely, should keep you as safe as you would be anywhere if you stick to tourist areas.
By
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Published
September 1, 2010
Traveling by air carries with it many (unfortunately often necessary) indignities. From intrusive searches to lost baggage and delays it is very easy for flying to become a bit of an ordeal. It is ridiculous that it should be his way. Traveling by air is a luxury, and luxuries should be enjoyed. You are waiting all year for your holiday to come around, why not make the most of every minute of it?
Your holiday experience starts when you get to the airport. Do you think of hard seats and heavy bags and sky high prices? In Journeyfish.com article How To Sleep In An Airport we looked at the rough side of airport life, the weary financially challenged passenger just trying to survive in a hostile uncaring environment. Yeah, you can approach the whole airport experience with that mindset, thousands do, but there is another way.
Modern airports are like shopping centers. Like shopping centers with one important difference: the price. Aside from the duty free the same shops and bar and restaurant chains you can find all over are there, with a hefty markup. Escape from all of this by getting yourself into a lounge and you will never look back.
Many of the more expensive tickets include lounge access in the price, but you don’t necessarily need to be traveling first class, or even with a particular airline to get in. By paying a small fee you can enjoy a much more relaxing atmosphere, and when you include things like complementary food, drinks, and Internet access it can pretty soon pay for itself.
Of course some airport lounges take things to a whole different level. For instance Etihad passengers waiting in Abu Dhabi whether it is for flights to London, or flights to Bangkok can really soak up the luxury. The ‘Diamond First Class Lounge’ at Abu Dhabi international airport includes a fully featured spa, offering treatments including scalp massage, foot detox and facial renewal. In addition to this there is of course fine dining, a Champagne bar and a cigar lounge boasting the finest Cuban and American smokes to enjoy with your vintage cognac!
By
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Published
August 31, 2010
The dangers of over exposure to harmful Ultra Violet radiation from sunbathing have been well publicized. Premature aging of the skin and melanoma are no joke, but could it be that some of the products being marketed to protect us are causing more harm than good?
Rumors and hearsay about the possible negative consequences of sunscreen use abound. Although this sounds like prime urban legend material there may actually be something to it. Firstly there is the fact that sun protection creams can only provide limited protection. Feeling that you are protected can lead you to take greater risks with sun exposure. If you have applied cream and think that you will not burn then you are much more likely to stay in the sun than if you know that covering up and getting into the shade is your only option. Similarly if you always apply high factor sun protection your skin will never be able to develop its own natural defenses against UV light, meaning that you will always be at a greater risk of burning if you encounter sunshine whilst unprotected.
There is another and potentially more disturbing aspect to sun-screen health concerns. These centre around the ingredients that are used. For instance there is oxybenzone. This chemical is found in several commercially available high factor sun creams. Although still approved by the US FDA oxybenzone is known to be a hormone disruptor and it is suspected that it may also have carcinogenic (cancer causing) effects. A wide variety of chemicals are used to make sunscreen, these range from those that provide the protection to those to ensure that the cream is absorbed by the skin or is waterproof. In addition to these sun products often contain either skin lightening or fake tan products – important to remember if you buy sun cream while you are away on holiday, many countries have next to no regulation regarding what substances can be used in these products.
The only way to be safe with either the sun or with sun protection products is to exercise caution and moderation. A bit of sunshine is essential for health, too much can kill you. The best thing to do is to make sure that you plan to be able to cover up after a period of exposure, for instance put some thought into the long dresses and other clothing that will work on the beach and ensure that you can retreat to the shade when you have had enough. Also build your tan gradually and naturally by reducing the potency of the creams that you use across your holiday. The number one most important thing to remember though is that under absolutely no circumstances should you ever let you or your family burn.
