When you are planning a holiday or extended trip, you should consider the stage of pregnancy that you will be at when you go. The second trimester is the best time to travel as the major risk of miscarriage has passed and you will not be feeling as uncomfortable as you may in the third trimester. Many airlines also restrict travel after you are 26 or 27 weeks pregnant and either may not allow you to fly or may require a note from your doctor. This is extra important to check if you will be away for some time as you do not want to be stranded in a foreign country and not allowed to fly home!

Travel insurance during pregnancy will protect you if you need to cancel your trip because of a pregnancy complication or you need medical care in a foreign country which can be expensive. You should check the policy wording carefully as many travel insurance pregnancy cover will only apply up to a certain number of weeks of your pregnancy. You should always inform your insurance provider you are pregnant before buying any insurance to make sure that you are fully covered.

Different policies may also cover you for different aspects of your pregnancy. You will find that travel insurance in pregnancy varies a lot. Some policies will cover you for complications requiring medical treatment only and will not cover the cost if you go into labor early. This should be considered carefully as if you go into labor prematurely while abroad you and your baby are likely to need a lengthy hospital stay which can be very expensive. Some policies will only cover ‘normal’ pregnancy and premature labor is not covered by this.

Everyone needs travel insurance. Pregnant women however are considered high risk to the insurance companies as they are more likely to need medical care. This can make travel insurance while pregnant more expensive than normal policies. Even if you are not covered for pregnancy related conditions by your policy, you should still make sure to have insurance to cover lost baggage and lost or stolen money, passport, cameras and so on.

Keep a look out for specialist travel insurance when pregnant. Good policies will protect you up to the full term of your pregnancy, as long as the airline agrees to carry you; cover your full birth expenses if you should go into premature labor; and preferably cover the baby if it happens to be born while you are away from home. You can usually choose from single trip or annual insurance cover just as with normal policies. However be aware that if you do go into labor while you are away, your trip is likely to be longer than planned and the extra time may not be covered by your single trip policy. Do yourself a favor and make sure you have good quality travel insurance. Pregnancy is a great time for a holiday and you don’t want it to be ruined with huge hospital bills!

Where you decide to visit is really up to you. Instead of returning to your old familiar haunts, try reading some travel books beforehand, and visiting some different places.

If you have never been to Ireland, try starting in Dublin and then driving around the isle and departing from Shannon airport.Staying at Bed and Breakfast inns along the way is enjoyable, and provides a glimpse of the culture.

If you are searching for furniture, England has wonderful antiques.

In Germany why not bypass Munich and go to Regensburg instead. Equally as Bavarian, this town is relaxed and pleasant without so many tourists.

When visiting Switzerland, check out Interlaken. Located between two lakes, it is a spa town with some of the best fondue you will ever eat.

Wherever you decide to go, you will be switching United States dollars into the currency of the area. This can be problematic for a couple of reasons. The first is that you can get all befuddled not knowing what the money is worth and how much you might really be spending on an item. The other is that just the act of exchanging money can cost you.

Here are some times for exchanging currency:

- Don’t exchange lots of money before you leave home. This can be some of the most expensive money you get.

- Following the same logic, the rate of exchange at your arrival airport may not be your best either.

- Before leaving home, see if your bank has a partner bank abroad. This could serve to save you fees.

- Watch out for transaction charges if you are using your credit card.

Another piece of advice to pull all of this together, is to spend your money as wisely overseas as you would at home. Just because it’s a different color, and just because you’re on vacation, and just because your mind wants to think it’s play money, is no reason to go crazy wild on a spending spree.

Be smart about your money whereever you are.

A log cabin makes an ideal choice of winter holiday accommodation because they are warm, cosy and all well-equipped enough to keep even the most bored teenager amused. Under floor heating throughout the entire cabin will ensure that there are no cold spots where you can catch a chill. Some cabins even come with log burners and this sort of luxury log cabins make an ideal romantic break

In the spring when the weather is variable a log cabin holidays is again one of the best type that you can have. With the days slowly growing longer you will be able to appreciate the truly magnificent views that some of these log cabins have to offer. Log cabins in the Lake District have particularly fantastic views as many of them are located at the water’s edge.

If hot tubs and barbecues are more your thing then choosing to stay in a luxury log cabin in the summer months can be a fantastic decision. The hot tubs are usually on the decking and will take full advantage of the splendid views to be had. The barbecues are conveniently located within easy reach of the kitchen so you will be able to take full advantage of the decking area and eat you meals out on it until late in the evening during these warmer summer months.

With the autumn months being quite similar to the spring months but perhaps a little bit warmer a log cabin can be a magnificent place to appreciate the golden leaves that cover the trees. Like taking a holiday in the winter you will find that the log cabin warm and well equipped so that you can deal with the variable weather that you will undoubtedly encounter.

1. Bring along a small flashlight. All of a sudden, the city you are in might face severe weather and you might have to cope with power outages. By having a flashlight with you at all times, you won’t be suddenly in an unfamiliar surrounding. At night, you can (and should) keep the flashlight next to your bed.

2. Do you take and prescription medication or any over-the-counter pills? If so, be sure that you have enough meds for your entire trip, as well as a written message from your physician justifying the medicine you are carrying. For longer periods away from home (and, therefore, the need to a bigger amount of medication), watch out not to carry too many meds at once. They are called “drugs,” after all. Certain prescription medicines might be forbidden according to your destination, so check that out too.

3. Leave all the valuables you can at home. Forget about gold chains, fancy watches, jewelry, brand luggage or anything that yells “money” or “status.” The only thing worse than that is the Hawaiian shirt with a big camera hanging on your neck – acting like this in a developing country is almost like asking to be mugged. If you have ever seen those people with huge backpacking backpacks attached to their backs, try to follow their example: less is more.

4. By all means, avoid extra headaches and travel with only one or two credit cards. Carry them, as well as important documents and the bulk of your currency, in travel money belts to avoid major problems with pickpockets.

These were my four tips to help your trip be safer. I hope you have fun traveling!

You guys can plan on going to the beach. When summer is near you know it is time to hit the beach. It is the perfect place to go for a swim, learn to surf, or to lounge and sun bathe all day long. The family can have endless games of soccer, volleyball, or football. The beach is also a good place to bring you dog. The Zoo is also another great option for children. I personally love going to the zoo to also see the giraffes and monkeys. If you and your family haven’t been to the zoo this year I would highly recommend adding this to your list of fun and inexpensive things to do. If the beach or the zoo has already been done on the last several months, then you should plan a hiking trip. Hiking never gets old, and you can make it a learning experience as well. Hiking, no matter where you live or what country you are in, you can almost always find good hiking trails.

If you can’t find it within your budget to plan family vacations every year, there are always creative ways to still go on vacations with your family even if you stay in your own country, state, or even your own city. You and your family could also start a travel blog so that it can make it a more interactive experience, and it will stir the excitement much like if you were going somewhere exotic.

Starbucks in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

If you’re yet to set out on your travels and you’ve been freelancing for a while or even if you’re just an avid blog reader who likes the idea of making a bit of extra money online, chances are you already have a fast, reliable internet connection with generous or unlimited bandwidth. Cheap fast broadband internet access is something many of us have come to take for granted so once you’re on the road you’ll want to quickly find the cheapest, easiest way to stay connected so that you can keep working and making money.

So in this article I’m going to go through some of the main methods of staying connected while you’re travelling, how to find a good place to work from and keep your productivity up and touch on some security precautions you should keep in mind.

Temporary connectivity – types of Internet access for backpackers and travellers

1. Wifi in your guesthouse or hostel – This is probably the cheapest and most convient option for travellers. A lot of hostels now offer free wifi access as part of your room rate so you can get straight to work without even leaving your room. Sometimes there may be a fee for this service which can range from a cheap daily rate to an expensive hourly rate, so check this before you check in. You can search on hostelworld.com for accommodation that provides wifi and if there is an applicable fee. One downside of this type of access is that if you’re staying in a dorm room you’re unlikely to be able to concentrate on your work with people coming and going all the time. If you’re staying in a private room this is much better but again, check the description and reviews on hostelworld as sometimes wifi will only be available in common areas in which case you’ll want to make sure you can find a comfy quiet corner to get some work done.
2. Wifi cafes – If you’re not lucky enough to have free wifi in your accommodation you can usually find a handful of cafes and restaurants that will offer you this as long as you buy a drink. The availbilty of free wifi can vary from place to place (for example Bangkok has hardly any free wifi and you’ll be expected to pay for an internet pass on top of your cappucino) so do your research before you go if you’re planning to stay in a particular place for a while. The Lonely Planet Country Guides are usually pretty good at listing cafes with wifi access. Again you’ll want to try and find a quiet corner where you can get some work done without too many distractions. Be aware of outstaying your welcome too – you’re likely to get a few glares if you just order a coffee at 9am and stay there the rest of the day. Be considerate and try to work in quiet hours (ie not lunchtime – you’re taking up a seat that could be used for a paying customer) and rotate between a few cafes from day to day if you have this option.
3. 3G or CDMA Internet access – connect with a mobile phone SIM. If wifi is expensive or unavailable where you are, or you simply want more flexibility in where you can work, you may be able to get connected with a 3G or CDMA modem and a mobile phone sim. Availability and coverage do vary widely so do your research before you go and test out your connection in different places, as signal strength varies a lot within a small area. If you can’t pick up a 3G connection then you may be able to access the internet via 2G although this is likely to be too slow to do any serious work. I use 3g internet access with Telkomsel here in Bali and I’ve found it to be fast and fairly reliable, although a bit on the pricey side. You’ll need a special modem to use with your sim card (you can sometimes use your mobile phone as a modem although this tends to be slower). I’ve been using a Sierra Wireless modem which I’ve not had problems with, however it does tend to overheat if the signal strength is low so keep an eye on this. Some mobile phone companies will give you a free modem if you sign up for a contract but you probably won’t want to do this unless you’re planning to stay in one place for a significant length of time (see below).

Remember if you’re using a shared internet connection there’s always a chance that your data may be compromised. Run a firewall on your computer and make sure your anti-virus software is up to date. If you’re doing anything particularly sensitive like online banking, you may want to wait until you have a more secure connection rather than using the free wifi in the cafe down the road. There are various tools available to keep your data safe while you’re on the road. Do a google search for ‘internet cafe safety’ to get started.

Long-term connectivity – types of Internet access for expats and location independent professionals

1. Your own ADSL or cable broadband connection – If you’re staying in one place for long enough you may be able to get a short or medium term contract with a local broadband internet provider. There’s usually a setup charge involved with this and it may not be available where you are so check if this is important to you before you commit to long-term accommodation. However if you can get it this is probably the most convenient and cost-effective way of staying connected.
2. Prepaid Wifi hotspots – These have become very common in recent years and if you can’t pick up any free wifi where you’re staying, it may be the next best option if you’re within the coverage area. The premise is that you sign up for an account and then whenever you’re in range of one of the ‘hotspots’ you can sign in and use the wifi connection. Easiest way to see if you’re in range of one of these is just to have a look through the available wifi networks on your laptop – if any of these are prepaid hotspots it will come up with details of how to sign up whenever you try to use your web browser.
3. 3G or CDMA internet access with a mobile phone sim – As above, but if you’re staying in one country for a while (say 6 months or longer) you’ll probably be able to sign up for a contract which will give you cheaper internet access rates than ‘pay as you go’ sims and you may be able to get a free modem bundled too. Make sure to check your signal strength and connection speed before you sign up for anything!
4. Dial-up access. When all else fails there’s always good old dial-up but remember you’ll need a phoneline for this! Many companies these days offer a ‘free’ service so you only pay for the price of the phone call but remember this can add up quickly!

Photo by Immu

If you’re travelling on a budget it is inevitable that at some point in your travels you will have to share a bedroom with one to several strangers, in a variety of levels of comfort. This will be nothing new to the regular budget traveller, however if you’re preparing for your first round the world trip more used to package holidays in standard hotels and have little to no experience of sharing your sleeping quarters with strangers, it may come as somewhat of a shock.

I have stayed in my fair share of hostel dorms and in the most part it is a positive experience. You definitely have more opportunities to meet people when you’re sharing a room with them; you can get travel hints and tips, exchange travel stories, swap books and borrow other items. And of course the price can’t be beat (except in various parts of the world where it is perfectly possible to get a private room with bathroom for less than £1 a night).

There have of course been some unpleasant experiences:

• The room I stayed in Boston with the loudest snoring woman ever. I got no sleep for 2 nights.
• The hostel in New York that put me in a room with a woman who smelled so badly of rotten meat that it woke me up in the middle of the night.
• The hostel somewhere in British Columbia (Victoria I think) where I ended up in a dorm of about 30 beds, sleeping above a crazy woman who spouted a non-sensical monologue all night.
• The room I stayed in Reykavik where 17 year old girls would wake me up at 4am on their way back from clubbing and I’d then be woken again a couple of hours later by someone rustling plastic bags for half an hour.

Bad experiences are of course the exception, rather than the rule and I’d definitely recommend dorm rooms as a cheap and sociable option for solo travellers. There are a few tips I can pass along however that may help you avoid having a bad night and swearing off hostels for good.

1. Take earplugs or listen to your mp3 player if you prefer. It’s inevitable that someone will snore, people will come back drunk in the middle of the night and people will get up early and make a lot of noise packing. Block at noise as much as you can to get some decent sleep.
2. Be considerate. If you’re mindful of other people then they are more likely to do the same for you. This includes packing your bag the night before you leave if you have an early start, or dragging things out in the corridor so you don’t disturb sleeping dorm mates (see no. 1)
3. Be friendly. Say hello, ask where your bunk mates have travelled from and where they’re going to, take the time to find out a bit about them. It’s very easy to make friends in shared accommodation but you have to put in the effort.
4. Don’t leave valuables in the dorm, unless they’re locked away in a suitably secure locker. Don’t advertise the fact that you have a laptop or any other expensive gadgets. However friendly everyone may be, remember that they’re still strangers.
5. Check if the hostel you’re staying in has mixed or single sex dorms and request the type of room you’d prefer. If you’re a female solo traveller you may prefer to stay in an all-girls dorm (although i have never had any problems with mixed dorms). If you’re travelling with a boyfriend/girlfriend or friend of the opposite sex, you’ll probably want to stay in the same room if possible, so check this before you book.
6. Before you book a hostel, check reviews on sites like hostelworld.com. You can’t tell from a website if a hostel is any good or not and it’s a good idea to get some honest opinions before you commit. Message boards like the Lonely Planet thorntree forum are also good for recommendations.

There are many other possible ways to make your dorm room experience a more comfortable one, however half the fun of hostelling is figuring them out for yourself! I wish you happy and snore-free dorm rooms… and if you do end up sharing a room with a sociopath or a serial-snorer, at least you’ll have some stories to tell when you get home!