General Information Archives

Travelex Voted Best Specialty Supplier by Virtuoso

Recently at the annual Virtuoso Travel Mart convention, held August 19- 24 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, Travelex Insurance Services was presented The 2007 Best Specialty Supplier Award. This was the first year ever the 6,000 Virtuoso members were given the opportunity to vote and recognize their choice for the Best Specialty […]

Access america travel insurance

access america travel insurance Access America provides travel insurance and assistance to millions of travelers each year and is a division and service mark of World Access Service Corp. A global leader in travel insurance and emergency assistance, Access America products provide peace of mind and financial protection against the unexpected. Our agents are available […]

Study Abroad: School for Travelers

Elizabeth Ellsworth, Ph.D. Copyright 2000, RPK&A, Inc “I would really like to take a semester abroad but am unsure when to do it. Is it better to wait until my last year of school to make sure I get the most out of the academic aspects of the trip, or to go earlier to break […]

Psycholgical Effects of International Study

Mary Ann Santoro Bellini, Ph.D. In 1895, after spending time in Venice, Florence, and Rome, Sigmund Freud wrote to a colleague: “Italy has captured me with the magical delirium of its wonders…this journey is also and above all a journey into my inner world, a discovery of myself.” Those who study, live, or travel in […]

The Four Stages of Culture Shock

Mary Ann Santoro Bellini, Ph.D. When a student or other individual relocates to a foreign country, he or she inevitably faces a host of emotions and reactions ranging from awe to rejection, isolation to assimilation. These emotions comprise the four stages of culture shock. Honeymoon Period While preparing to relocate and during the first days […]

Tips for Travelers with BPH (Prostate Enlargement)

Daniel L. Watson, M.D. If you are a man over the age of 50, you might have Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). BPH refers to the enlargement of the prostate gland that typically occurs with age. Most men are familiar with the symptoms: Slow urinary stream Hesitancy when starting to urinate Frequent trips to the bathroom […]

Tips for Travelers with Kidney Stones

Daniel L. Watson, M.D. Any patient with a history of kidney stones–especially those who pass stones frequently–should visit their urologist before a significant trip. Ask for a prescription for pain medication (preferably one you’ve used successfully before), even if you are not currently having pain. Fill the prescription and carry the medication with you. It […]

Travel with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

Matthew Rusk, M.D. With careful planning, patients with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) can travel safely. Altitude One of the most important problems for travelers with congestive heart failure is altitude. In general, patients whose symptoms are poorly controlled should not travel on airplanes. All patients who have congestive heart failure should first consult their doctors […]

Understanding Healthcare in Your Host Country

Eliot C. Heher, MD Expatriates need working knowledge of the health insurance system and the hospitals in the host city and country, just as they have for their own home country and city. As an HTH Physician in Germany explains: “The health care system in the host country is absolutely mandatory to know in its […]

Questions & Answers about Mad Cow and vCJD

Eliot C. Heher, MD For an introduction to Mad Cow Disease and its human variant, vCJD, please see Mad Cow Disease: Advice for Expatriates and Travelers. How did the epidemic start? Scientists don’t know for sure but it’s believed that the use of cattle feeds containing meat and bone meal from animal carcasses, including sheep […]