Vacations To Cabo San Lucas

1/ Motor Cruiser or Yacht This is your first decision below is a list of questions you need to answer to help you make the right one

Do I prefer adventure or comfort?

Do I look forward to the journey or the destination?

Marty, marty where’s the party or I’ve had enough I’d like to go to sleep

Do I prefer a camping or a resort?

If you preferred the latter alternative to the former for all the questions above you definitely should charter a motor cruiser and not a yacht. If the latter applies a yacht is for you. If you’re a combination of both it will probably depend on how long the charter and how long it takes you to go from “this is different” to “get me out of here”.

2/What will the make up of the crew The crew is another big concern. Family, and close friends that you have lived with in previous constricted environments and still walked out friends are a safe choice. No mater what vessel you charter none are as big as your home and they get smaller on bad weather days if you get a few, especially the sail boats.

3/What Style Boat

The most spacious you can pay for

The latest model you can spend the money on

The finest that you can spend the money on

Built with facilities and services suited to the particular needs of bareboat charter

To Skipper or not to Skipper Most charter company can offer you a skipper for part or all of your charter, it is a substantial extra cost but well worth it for some. Most people who charter a yacht have someone in there group who has some sail experience, which I would recommend. As for a motor cruiser, if you can drive a car you can steer a boat. Most groups I have dealt with have already worked out who the skipper will be, sometimes he/she has been self appointed. In any case the skipper should

Have good eyesight

Be attentive to other vessels on the water

Be sober while in control of the vessel

Be not easily panicked by an unfamiliar situations and able to take their time

North, south, east or west where ever you are on the globe there are plenty of great places to charter a bareboat.From Greece to The Virgin Island and every where in between, my preference is a group of islands of the Great Barrier called The Whitsunday, it has everything you could ask for the novice or experienced bareboated. If I am on the water for a few days I prefer cruising to sailing these days especially if I have company. What ever your preference I am sure you will have a great time if you give this type of holiday a try. See you out there.

Rolling vineyards, friendly locals and a history that has spanned two millennia, it’s easy to see why Italy is regarded as one of Europe’s best-loved car hire touring destinations. Renting a car in Italy makes sense. Car hire in Italy takes you to places that public transport simply can’t reach. Jaw-dropping scenery and tiny tucked away villages await your discovery. The city of Bologna is an excellent place to start your voyage of discovery through Italy. Located in northern Italy in the Po Valley, Bologna is a city of quiet beauty that is probably most famous for introducing the world to its mouth-watering Spaghetti Bolognese.

Bologna Airport Mini Guide:

Bologna Airport, also known as Guglielmo Marconi Airport is located approximately 6km northwest of Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The airport is a base for a number of international carriers such as British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia, as well as budget carriers like Ryanair and MyAir.

Things To See/Do in Bologna:

Bologna has got to be one of Italy’s most under-rated cities. The city exudes its own unique charm that is thoroughly different to anywhere else you’ll visit in the country. A wander through the history stained arcades is a great way to get a feel for the city. Along the way you’ll pass fascinating landmarks such as the World War II commemorative display on piazza del Nettuno, the central meeting square of Piazza Maggiore and the ornate Neptune Fountain. Bologna is one of Italy’s most progressive city and boasts the country’s oldest university, as well as the wonderfully absorbing Museo Civico Archelogico museum. One of the simplest pleasures in Bologna is a stroll through the archways of via dell’ Archiginnasio. Here colourful, fragrant food stores abound, it’s definitely worth spending some time here sampling the local goods, after all food is what makes Bologna tick.

Eating Out in Bologna:

Given Bologna’s love affair with butter and cream, it’s easy to trace the origins of the city’s ‘La Grassa’ (the fat) nickname. Visitors to Bologna are spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out. Some of the world’s favourite Italian dishes were born in Bologna and are definitely worth sampling while in town. Familiar menu staples include lasagne, tortelloni in brodo (stuffed pasta parcels in stock) and tagliatelle al’ ragú.

Day Trips/Events in Bologna:

Bologna’s location makes it the ideal starting point for a range of exciting excursions. For a really scenic Bologna car hire journey be sure to tour the picturesque Emilia Romagna region, where Parma is just one of the tasty littl towns you’ll stumble across. Alternatively, it’s worth taking a journey across the rolling Appenine Hills to south. Here the spa town of Poretta Terme is the place to go for some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Nowhere is the Italy’s famous Dolce Vite philosophy epitomised as much as in Bologna. The city certainly has an events calendar to match its zest for life. Annual highlights include March to October’s Bolognafestival and December’s flashy Motor Show, when the latest models of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati are unveiled.

Fiona writes for Argus Car Hire and Car Hire Italy

Let’s face it; a root canal is no fun whether you have it here in the UK or in a clinic in a sunny country abroad. What are the options if treatment isn’t available on the NHS or the wait is too long? Medical Tourism is a term that basically means combining a holiday with a surgical procedure. Sounds ideal, doesn’t it? If you need pain-relieving surgery or cosmetic maintenance work why not combine it with a holiday in a nice location?

Thousands of British people have been spending millions jetting off abroad for a quick nip-and-tuck, nose job, hip or knee replacement or dental work - among other procedures. Many choose to follow up the treatment with rehabilitation at a spa. Other treatments commonly sought abroad include heart surgery, hernia repairs, orthopaedic procedures, cataract removal, hair transplants, infertility treatments and chemotherapy

The reason for the success of this new industry is no mystery. Waiting times for operations under the National Health Service, or the unavailability of some treatments under the NHS, leave no choice for many but to suffer or pay up. Ongoing private health insurance in the U.K. is simply not affordable for the average person.

Those seeking surgery abroad have a very wide choice of countries to choose from, and they are increasing all the time. They range from Latvia to India and even South Africa (combine surgery with a safari!). India, in particular, has risen to meet the demand for quality care and is popular among the British. For low-cost dental treatment many choose Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Spain or Thailand

This new booming industry has spawned the growth of medical tourism companies which specialize in putting together complete packages for patients. They take care of all the details - which may otherwise be too daunting for most people to tackle alone. The packages vary but will usually include flights, transfers, hotels, meals, surgical procedures and post-operative care at the closest resort area, if required.

Older people are the ones most likely to search abroad for treatment for serious or life-threatening conditions. Another sector of society travelling abroad for treatments are the baby-boomers and young professionals with spare cash to burn. Going abroad for procedures like liposuction, breast augmentation, face lifts and Botox treatments offers a degree of privacy. If they return to work looking younger and rejuvenated after their ‘holiday’ no one need know the real reason!

It all sounds very tempting, so what’s the catch? There are downsides to all this, of course. Many fear travelling so far from home and away from the support of family and friends. Some fear they will be exposed to tropical diseases like Malaria or even a nasty case of Delhi belly. What if something should go wrong or there are post-operative complications? It would be daunting, expensive and probably impossible to fight for compensation in a foreign court. Then there’s the problem of obtaining travel insurance…

For many people though, the risks are far outweighed by the desperate need for an alternative to years of living in pain while they wait for NHS treatment. It’s a good idea to shop around first and find out whether having the procedure done at a private clinic in the U.K. is feasible rather than risk travelling so far from home. However, in most cases the costs abroad are significantly lower - due, in part, to the cheaper labour and the lower cost of malpractice insurance.

Before taking the plunge, be aware that travel insurance policies do not normally cover claims for those who travel abroad for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment. Most policies will contain a general exclusion to this effect, and the entire policy could be invalidated - meaning that even claims for lost luggage would be denied! The same applies to the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

As far as insurers are concerned, those seeking medical treatment abroad pose a significant risk as they are obviously already ill, or have a medical problem. If a patient is determined to pursue treatment abroad, we would advise that anyone travelling with that person should obtain their own separate travel insurance policy. Although travel insurers should always ask about pre-existing conditions, they may not specifically ask whether treatment is being sought abroad. It could, therefore, be incorrectly presumed by the customer that they would be covered even though they have not volunteered the real reason for the trip. Travellers should also be wary of travel insurance policies offered from abroad as they may not provide adequate cover, and there would be no access to consumer protection in the event of a problem!

Anyone considering medical or dental treatment abroad should do plenty of research first. There is a wealth of information to be found online, as well as forums where patients can share their experiences and leave comments and reviews. At the time of writing, travel insurers have not jumped to fill the gap in this potentially lucrative market, but maybe that will change in the future. It might be worth leaving a note for the tooth fairy and see what happens.

Jean Andrews is a freelance writer living in the UK. She regularly contributes articles for TIA Ltd who have lots of information about travel insurance cover.