It’s almost time to take a break away from the wintry weather and embark on sping break travel where the temperatures are warm, the beaches are beautiful and your time is your own.
Thank goodness! Spring break travel offers a great escape from your routine and a chance to have some fun. People head to Florida, the Caribbean, California and other warm-weather spots. It beats shoveling snow another week and wearing layers of clothes.
When making spring break plans, it’s important
to keep some common-sense tips in mind. They include the following.
Choose the Right Spot
College students leaving town for spring break
have different travel needs than those booking a family vacation. Make sure to
check out the places you are considering through online forums and websites.
Find the one that suits what you are looking for – only you know what kind of
spring break you need.
Travel Advisories
If you plan to leave the country, then the U.S. Department of State website is a must. The federal government offers updated information on potential dangers in traveling to different countries. The countries are ranked by levels, with Level 1 meaning “exercise normal precautions” (this includes most countries) and Level 4 meaning “do not travel” (Afghanistan). A color-coded map on the site gives you a chance to quickly see if a country is safe to visit.
Travel Budget
You need one. Then, you need to stick to one. A budget works best if you set it before you pick a spot to visit for spring break. That way, you won’t set your sights on going somewhere that you cannot afford. Once the budget is set, look for places to visit that fit within your budget. Don’t forget to include airfare, car rentals, hotels, food and souvenirs. You don’t want to blow your spring break travel budget for the entire year on spring break. You will regret it come summer.
Look For Spring Break Travel Deals
Once you have your budget and destination in place, look for deals. The travel and leisure industry is very competitive and they know all the spring break places people want to visit. Many hotels will offer great deals to beat out the competition. Look for deals early and you can save a lot of cash on your trip.
Make A Plan for Emergencies
Many people do not take the time to plan for
what happens if you get hurt on vacation. You’ll want to have the right kind of insurance for your trip.
You also want to have emergency numbers for where you are going and pack all
medications and supplies you need. It’s also a smart move to have contract
information for non-emergency medical transport in case you need help getting
back home. Experts in NEMT can bring you back safely even if you are in a
foreign country.
Pack What You Need
This applies to families especially. Don’t wait
to buy sunglasses, flip flops and t-shirts when you arrive at your spring break
spot. Instead, buy what you can before you leave and pack it for the flight.
You will save a lot of money by not waiting. That said, don’t pack more than
you need. Spring break is one of those times when you want to travel light.
Keeping these tips in mind
can make your spring break trip that much better. Plan early, save money and
take steps to make sure you and your family are safe. That way, you can spend
more time doing what you are supposed to do on spring break – have fun!
The generation that gave us “flower power” as
teenagers is now entering their golden years. While healthier than those who
came before, Baby Boomers still need plans in place to manage potential
problems with personal finances, medical transport, insurance and what happens when
they are gone.
Baby Boomers are the generation born between 1946
and 1964. With 76 million people, they represent about 29% of the country’s
population.
The generation is so big they have tilted the United States population older. The U.S. Census Bureau reports 15% of all Americans were over 65 in 2015. That number is expected to reach 25% by 2060.
Baby Boomer Tips
Baby Boomers should keep the following in mind when
planning for the worst. Smart plans can help them avoid the worst results when
life throws them a hard curve ball. The following four areas rank among the
most frequent causes for concern.
Personal Finances
Baby Boomers enjoy great medical care. Many live
healthy lifestyles. That’s why they are expected to outlive previous
generations. That’s the great news! But that also means they will need their
money to last longer.
About 10,000 Baby Boomers retire every day. Saving early is the best way to feather the retirement nest. If that is not an option, some seniors become consultants or work part-time. Another good move is to own a home in a low-cost area, rather than renting in a major city. Many Baby Boomers also benefit by downsizing their lifestyle as seniors. Less really is more.
Medical Transport
Older Baby Boomers may need transport for medical procedures or operations. Others enjoy traveling with medical experts on long vacations for security and support. Choosing a reliable and trusted non-emergency medical transport company (NEMT) is a smart move. Experienced NEMT nurses handle all medical needs while flying on a commercial airline. They also can book all travel plans.
Insuring Against
Disaster
Car accidents. Health issues. Natural disasters. All cause personal injury and financial headaches. Baby Boomers should have insurance in place that supports them if these events occur. That means health, home and automobile insurance. Experts project senior couples face $275,000 in health care costs alone. They need to take steps to prevent bad events from becoming huge financial setbacks.
What Happens When
You’re Gone?
As they enter their senior years, Baby Boomers should take time to write a will. They also should consider life insurance that helps loved ones continue once they are gone. Another smart step is to choose someone to make decisions if you become disabled and cannot make them on your own. These are weighty issues. But responsible Baby Boomers take them on. It not only helps them lead better lives but supports their loved ones. Those are two good reasons to plan for the worst.
Moving loved ones or choosing to relocate your parents is never an easy task. There are ways to make it go more smoothly, including good communication, making a detailed plan, choosing what type of living arrangement best suits them and hiring professional help.
Nothing will make the process perfect. While the tips below will help, it’s perhaps most important to remember why you are doing this in the first place: out of love and caring. That can help you maintain a positive attitude, which will benefit you and your loved ones more than anything else.
As much as you do not want to talk to aging parents and loved ones about the need to relocate, they want to talk about it even less. However, situations reach the point where they no longer can live on their own or in their current house (usually a large one they’ve been in for years).
An important point to keep in mind in starting these difficult conversations is to have them while your parents are still independent enough to adapt to new situations and make new friends. One mistake is waiting too long when they no longer can make these changes easily or at all.
Choosing Where To Relocate Parents
Senior relocation can mean many different things. It’s important to have conversations about what would work best for them – and possibly you. It can include moving them to a home closer to where you live. It also can mean moving them into a care facility, also possibly near where you live. In some cases, it might mean moving in with someone else (including you). The important issue is to decide what is best early on and stick with it.
This includes not only the living arrangement decision mentioned above but also every detail of the move itself. The earlier you start the plan to relocate your parents, the better. Putting it off does not help. Plan on when you will handle issues such as cleaning out the home of things that can be thrown out or given away and packing what will be taken, Take a “room by room” attitude. The sooner you start and get everyone involved, the better.
Hiring Professional Relocation Services
In many cases, it can be best to hire professional movers who can help relocate your parent’s belongings. It also is beneficial to look into charities that will come and get many of the items you wish to throw away.
This also applies to transporting your parents. Senior Relocation Services offered by Flying Angels can handle all the arrangements for traveling with elderly parents and loved ones, ensuring they have the smoothest and safest trip possible to their new destination. That includes both arranging transportation with airlines and providing an experienced nurse to travel with them during their flight.
These ideas can help with making the relocation of loved ones and parents go more smoothly. Keep them in mind as you enter this difficult period. And don’t forget the positive attitude and end goal – getting them to a place where they will have a happier, healthier life.
