beaprince

Portugal

One of the best choices for a backpacker in Europe, Portugal is in every aspect charming and captivating like the more glamorous and expensive Spain and Italy. Each and every good thing in Portugal is free. Many of the finest tourist attractions in Porto are free of charge and Lisbon has a remarkable diversity of hostels for a budget traveler. Moreover, for the most part of what Portugal’s feature is concealed in simple sight. Its old world, laid back elegance, the romance of the hill-side retreat Sintra, the jazz-filled streets of the upper city in Lisbon. This place is exotic yet warm, overwhelming yet homely. Westhill Consulting Travel and Tours

Indonesia

You can overlook that you are on a shoestring budget in the very inexpensive and diverse Indonesia. Visualize a country that is made of 17,000 islands, all of which have various topographies and natural wonders. Indonesia is by far more than resting on the unspoiled beaches of Bali or the city of Jakarta.

This country is a small amazement in itself as it is the surfer’s paradise and a gypsy’s haven. Even though transportation can sometimes get difficult, the food and sleep selections will more than offset the discomfort.

Argentina

Argentina is moving to improvement each second but it’s pretty landscape and poetic beauty captivates tourists. The country is famous for nature enthusiasts; it is hard not to be overwhelmed by the impressive Iguazu falls, fantastic rainforests and some of the uppermost peaks in the world that adorn Argentinian landscapes.

There’s so much to be thankful for here you should go far beyond your comfort zone. Appreciate the juiciest steaks and ruby-red wines, and then tango the night away in this South American wonderland.

Nepal

The largest souvenir to take back from Nepal is the remembrance of smiling, friendly faces. Nepal is a banquet not just for the eyes, but warning, also for the wallet.

Nepal has views that will stay in the mind forever with the colossal Himalayas as a backdrop and the peace of mind that most other countries lack.

A fantasy destination for enthusiastic trekkers, Nepal does not dissatisfy nature fanatics. You will be glad to have hopped on to that shaky flight because of the hospitality of its people.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cathy-chester/how-my-trips-to-israel-an_b_5100604.html

My experience with world travel began when I was 14 years old, spending six weeks in Israel with a group of students from my Hebrew High School. Together we learned about the rich history and culture in a place we read about from the time we began to read.

We traveled all around the country -- Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Kiryat Shmona, and many other cities and villages in between. A medic and a soldier accompanied us as we hiked through the Golan Heights, and we laughed while floating in the salt water of The Dead Sea.

It was a magical trip and we required little sleep. We were young, curious and full of energy.

Fast-forward sixteen years later when, in 1990, my husband and I traveled to Italy. We decided to visit that beautiful country before starting a family, and thought it best to book our trip with a tour.

Being older, and now having an autoimmune disease, the amount of energy I had was nowhere near the same as it was in 1974.

Ordinarily we'd travel on our own, but decided a tour would be helpful with handling our luggage, booking top choices of accommodations, and taking care of transportation to and from our destinations.

When you have a disability, careful planning is necessary.

Booking our trip with a tour was wise. We chose to explore each city apart from the group, meeting up with them at a few of the four-star restaurants included in our tour package.

We also enjoyed not having to worry about lugging our luggage around Italy.

Traveling can be tiring when you're disabled. Over the years I've put together a few rules that make traveling easier and less stressful.

Take time to rest. When you are away, you feel as if you want to do it all and see it all. Taking a nap is the last thing you want to do. Do it anyway. Napping will refresh and restart your energy levels. It will go a long way toward keeping you healthy while you're away.

Hydrate. It's important to drink a lot of water, preferably bottled water. One time I visited Acapulco with a group of friends and I was the only person not to get sick. Insisting on drinking bottled water was the reason I believe I escaped being ill.

Cranberry Juice. I drink cranberry juice, or take cranberry capsules, to prevent urinary tract infections. I learned my lesson after spending a few days in the hospital after returning from one vacation with a serious UTI. Drinking one glass of this juice helps to prevent UTI's.

Accessibility. If possible, use a travel agent familiar with vacations that are accessible. If you don't know of an agency, ask one of the nonprofit health organizations for recommendations, or search travel on websites such as TripAdvisor or AAA.

Flying. Airlines must provide accommodations for people with disabilities. If someone requires a seeing-eye dog or other service animal, airlines are required to allow them to travel with you. (Check for quarantine or import regulations on return.)

Personal. I use a cross-body bag to keep my hands free to allow for better balance while walking. I purchase sneakers that are light, flexible and provide good support. When purchasing shoes or sneakers for travel, try them on in a store and walk on both the floor and the carpet to check for support and comfort.

Cruising. Cruises are a great way to travel if you are disabled. Getting around the ship is easy, and accessible transportation for ground tours is readily available. Check with each cruise line about accessibility before booking. There are some cruises that cater to people with special needs.

Bon voyage!

More Info:

http://www.gogobot.com/westhill-consulting-travel-an-singapore-attraction

http://qna.mortgagenewsdaily.com/questions/go-and-travel-to-jakarta-westhill-consulting-travel-and-tours

6 tips to get you through your application

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/03/six-tips-for-the-last-month-of-2014-health-insurance-open-enrollment/index.htm

Today starts the one-month countdown to the end of the first-ever annual Open Enrollment period under the new health care law. If you don’t have insurance, you have until March 31 to sign up. If you miss that deadline, the next time you’ll be able to purchase health insurance is next fall’s Open Enrollment period, for coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2015.

I’ve been getting questions about health insurance enrollment for months now that have given me a pretty clear picture of where people get confused or go astray. Here's what to do if you fall into any of these six top “no idea what to do now” categories.

1. 1.       I don’t even know where to start. We created our free interactive tool, HealthLawHelper.org, just for you. Answer a series of simple (and anonymous) questions and you’ll find out whether you may qualify for financial help or for a government program such as CHIP or Medicaid, and, most important, find out where to go and what to do next.

1. 2.       I don’t understand how the health tax credit works. This is a special type of tax credit that you can use right away, if you want, to reduce the cost of your health insurance premium. It’s based on income and household size and will be calculated automatically when you file your application for coverage. Using it can be a little confusing though, which is why we have another interactive tool, HealthTaxCreditTool.org, to help you figure it out.

1. 3.       I’m confused about what counts as income. Under the new system, applying for health coverage is akin to preparing your income tax return, which makes sense because tax credits and other financial help are based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income. What’s that? Our annotated Form 1040 will help you sort it out. And HealthCare.gov, the much-maligned but now functional federal marketplace site, also has helpful information.

1. 4.       I don’t know how many people are in my household. Financial help depends on your “household” size but can become confusing because it’s not just a matter of counting up people who live under one roof. It all has to do, again, with income tax filing status. Basically, everyone who goes in a single tax return is a household, even if, in some cases, they aren’t living together. On the other hand, your roommate or unmarried partner are separate households. Here’s a helpful primer from HealthCare.gov.

1. 5.       I’ve been trying to get insurance through my online state Health Insurance Marketplace but my application is hopelessly messed up. One approach is to clear your browser’s cache and start over with a new account. But if you’ve already tried that and gotten nowhere, it’s time to call in an actual human being to help. You can start with the call center listed on your marketplace website, but frustrated consumers have told me they’re frequently backlogged or not equipped to deal with thorny questions. If the call center can’t help, turn to one of the thousands of trained, noncommercial helpers who can supply personalized assistance free—and who at this point, five months into Open Enrollment, have a lot of experience with problem applications. Go to LocalHelp/Healthcare.gov, enter your location, and you’ll see a list of such helpers near you. Best to call ahead for an appointment.

1. 6.       I have no idea which plan to choose. This is a good problem to have, because it means you’ve successfully made your way through the hard parts of the application. There’s more to picking a good plan than just knowing the premium.

Got a question for our health insurance expert? References here:

http://www.westhillinsuranceconsulting.com/

http://www.westhillinsuranceconsulting.com/blog/