It was a beautiful spring day in April when Evelyn and her paid Travel Companion CareGiver boarded the airport shuttle going from Burbank CA to John Day OR. This would be a trip to remember. Evelyn 95 was on her way to reunite with her brother Howard 93 in Oregon.

Evelyn and Howard are the only two remaining of five brothers and sisters who grew up on a small farm in Missouri and then migrated to California and Oregon in the 1940s. It had been several years since the two had spent any time together.

The flight to Boise ID went smoothly as the Travel Companion had booked an easy connection and had arranged for a wheel chair and priority boarding for each flight segment. Her Travel Companion Pam easily handled the checked baggage and arranged for transportation from Boise airport to John Day OR, about a 3 hour ride. Once checked into a hotel in John Day, Pam and Evelyn went to the ranch to reunite with Howard.

Gary, Brian, Ron, and Donna had also come to join in the reunion. Howard and Evelyn were so excited to see each other they lost no time in catching up. Ron and Donna prepared dinner “Missouri” style setting the stage for hours of conversation about the old days.

For the next three days, Evelyn and Howard talked for hours, never seeming to run out of stories. They talked, fished in the pond (Evelyn caught the most fish for dinner), looked through scrap books, enjoyed Howard’s birthday party and just relished the time together.

Pam, Evelyn’s Travel Companion not only assisted all along the way making the trip possible, but continually made the extra effort insuring that Evelyn was well attended and cared for. Aside from the travel, Pam helped with meals, baited hooks for fishing, helped organize scrapbooks and took pictures. Pam also stayed with Evelyn in the hotel to be sure she was well taken care of and safe.

When it was time for the flight home, Evelyn and her travel companion boarded Southwest flight 405 to Oakland CA to connect to Burbank CA. The usual wheel chair and priority boarding were arranged and the boarding went well.

After about 30 minutes in the air, the pilot announced that there was a warning light in the cockpit and we were going to return to Boise to have it fixed. When it was discovered that the delay would be lengthly, the airline had everyone get off and wait for another plane. Evelyn was assisted off the plane and the situation explained to her. The Travel Companion again handled everything; explaining the situation to Evelyn, rebooking the connecting flight for Oakland, assuring priority boarding again, and handling snacks and drinks. Thankfully the flights home were uneventful and went smoothly.

We are reminded constantly how precious friends and family are to our well being. Seniors frequently let life close in on them because maintaining contact with loved ones who live far away becomes too difficult. Unfortunately, travel is one of the first things that can drop out of the life of our seniors. Travel Companions are a way for seniors to keep the lifestyle they love and maintain contact with friends and family.

Evelyn and Howard had a few wonderful days together and now have more memories to last a life time. At the last dinner in Oregon, plans were already started to have the next family reunion.

One company specializing in Travel Companions is Care-To-Go. For information on scheduling your Travel Companion visit CareToGoTravel.com

Cruising has always been a favorite vacation especially among seniors. A lot of cruise ship companies start Caribbean trips in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and San Juan, Pureto Rico. To date Miami has been the largest. Now it looks like Ft Lauderdale may take over the top rank.

Travel Companions from Care-To-Go have started trips at all three and have noted that Ft. Lauderdale is easier to access. Miami may be bigger with more flights and San Juan will start you a day further along on your trip, but Ft. Lauderdale remains our favorite. When Carnival launched their “largest ship in the world” it was staged from Ft. Lauderdale.

The following article appeared in Travel Weekly.

Also see Cruise Discounts Now at CareToGoTravel.com

Cruise Capital Miami Could Lose That Crown To Fort Lauderdale

By: Johanna Jainchill June 15, 2010

Could Miami, the indisputable "cruise capital of the world" since Ted Arison launched Carnival Cruise Lines from the port in 1972, soon find itself losing that title to a city better known for yachting and spring breakers?

Slowly but surely, Fort Lauderdale has been luring the cruise industry’s newest and largest ships to its Port Everglades, 23 miles up the coast from Miami.
Royal Caribbean International picked Port Everglades to homeport its 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, as well as its sister ship, the Allure of the Seas, which is scheduled to arrive in November.
Combined, the two ships will bring about 1.2 million cruise passengers to Fort Lauderdale annually.
Next year, Miami will lose its current largest cruise ship to Port Everglades when Royal Caribbean’s 3,600-passenger Liberty of the Seas heads north.
Royal Caribbean’s parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., also chose Fort Lauderdale’s port for Celebrity Cruises’ first two 2,850-passenger Solstice-class ships, the Solstice and the Equinox.
In the meantime, the brands of Carnival Corp. recently guaranteed Port Everglades that they would bring 25.5 million cruise passengers to and from Fort Lauderdale over the next 15 years if the port made significant improvements to its four existing cruise terminals.
Port Everglades was happy to oblige, just as it eagerly invested $75 million in building what is now the world’s largest cruise terminal, Terminal 18, to accommodate the Oasis, in exchange for guarantees that Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara Club Cruises would be tenants for at least 10 years.
All this from a port that didn’t begin hosting major cruise ships until the 1990s.
According to the Florida Ports Council, by 2013 Port Everglades and the Port of Miami will be tied at 4.3 million cruise passengers each. (Click on the chart for a view of cruise passengers at each port.)
Port Everglades, however, believes that its long-term contracts with RCCL and Carnival Corp. will enable it to surpass Miami sometime in 2012, once the Allure has been sailing at capacity for a full year.
"It’s the case of the tortoise about to beat the hare," said Stewart Chiron, CEO of Miami-based CruiseGuy.com.
Allen, who took his position in 2005, noted that the trend is clearly in his port’s direction. Between 2006 and 2010, he noted, Port Everglades captured 70% of the growth in the Caribbean cruise market out of South Florida.
Last year, Port Everglades saw its number of multiday cruise passengers increase by 200,000, and that was before the Oasis launched service. "The new ships are coming here," Allen said.
To his point, besides the Oasis-class, the two Solstice-class ships, the new Seabourn Cruises and Silversea Cruises ships and the Ruby Princess all launched service from Port Everglades.
When it arrives this month to launch Caribbean service, the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Epic will be the first new class of cruise ship since Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas to be introduced in Miami. It will be joined by the third Solstice-class ship, the Eclipse, next winter. But neither is staying year-round.
And when the Liberty of the Seas leaves Miami, Royal Caribbean might not be launching a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean from Miami for the first time in 40 years.
Miami’s port director, Bill Johnson, dismissed such concerns, saying, "Cruise capital of the world" is a "tired title," even though the slogan appears on his port’s website.
"The Port of Miami is doing quite well," he said. "We have the three major cruise lines and are doing 1 million passengers with each of them. Those are significant numbers that no other port can boast. We are the world leader and always have been."
Johnson acknowledged that Port Everglades’ getting the Oasis ships was a "game-changer" but said that Miami was still No. 1, pointing to the record-breaking 4.1 million passengers who passed through the port last year. In contrast, Port Everglades said that in 2009 it got 3.4 million cruise passengers, pre-Oasis.
"Competition is good," Johnson said. "If Port Everglades is successful, South Florida is successful. If they are able to grow, I’m able to grow."
Maybe so, but Port Everglades is clearly growing at a faster rate than Miami is.
Johnson said that cruise traffic at his port has been "steady." But it has remained steady as the industry has grown rapidly.
The cruise industry introduced 14 new ships in 2009, none of which debuted in the "cruise capital of the world."
Chiron, of CruiseGuy.com, said that Miami’s inability to capture that market share has hurt the local economy.
"Miami has continued to lose ground to Everglades over the years, with no response," he said.
It was the Oasis that seriously tipped momentum to Port Everglades. An economic impact study found that within five years, an estimated 8,012 jobs would be produced by the project, generating $356.5 million in personal income and $32.8 million in state and local taxes.
"When you have two ships with $3 billion of corporate investment, adding 6,000 passengers twice a week to the Caribbean market, you are significantly impacting the marketplace," Port Everglades’ Allen said. "When you have that kind of investment, you want to put it in a location capable of handling the vessels."
The Oasis was the first ship Royal Caribbean introduced at a port outside Miami, even though RCCL Chairman Richard Fain has famously said that he likes to look out his Miami window and see his ships docked at the port.
One reason Miami didn’t get the Oasis was space. Port Everglades offered to build a new terminal, while Miami was only able to refurbish existing terminals.
"A challenge for the Port of Miami is that it’s a landlocked port," said Mark Ittel, vice president of ports and maritime for Bermello Ajamil and Partners, a cruise terminal design firm based in Miami. The company works with both ports. "It has very little room for expansion. Port Everglades has the room now."
Royal Caribbean’s vice president of port operations, Juan Trescastro, concurred.
"At end of the day, the best financial deal for us was the Port Everglades deal," he said. "Miami would have done a fine job, but the thought of having a brand-new terminal with all the new bells and whistles was the icing on the cake."
Trescastro added that the new terminal enabled Port Everglades to introduce passenger-flow concepts that proved to be an essential part of the Oasis experience.
"Our mantra became, how could we be as innovative on the landside as we were on the shipside?" he said. "We are driving innovation and changes in the way we process our guests prior to getting on the ship."
For cruise lines, the overall balance of port capacity is a good thing.
"They need both of these ports to be successful in order for the cruise industry to thrive," Ittel said. "They want to see them both competing."
That competition means better port facilities. The financial benefit that cruise ships can bring to a port means improved facilities around the world.
"The ports have started to realize that if they have better infrastructure and do certain things, the ships will come," Trescastro said. "In the past … we were more of a nuisance than a benefit. Now, they realize the true economic benefit of the cruise industry to the destination."
Miami has learned that lesson. Only three years ago, former Carnival Cruise Lines CEO Bob Dickinson publicly called Miami a "third-world" port.
Johnson had only recently taken his post at the time, and since then the port has invested $100 million in its Carnival facilities and has spent $17 million to refurbish the terminal for the Norwegian Epic.
"All ports want bragging rights: the name of the newest ship or the size of a ship," Johnson said.
"But if you want to retain market share, you have to focus on the basics. At the Port of Miami we have a sound business model, and we are focused on service to the lines and the passengers."
This report appeared in the June 14 issue of Travel Weekly.

Cruising has always been a favorite vacation especially among seniors. A lot of cruise ship companies start Caribbean trips in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and San Juan, Pureto Rico. To date Miami has been the largest. Now it looks like Ft Lauderdale may take over the top rank.

Travel Companions from Care-To-Go have started trips at all three and have noted that Ft. Lauderdale is easier to access. Miami may be bigger with more flights and San Juan will start you a day further along on your trip, but Ft. Lauderdale remains our favorite. When Carnival launched their “largest ship in the world” it was staged from Ft. Lauderdale.

The following article appeared in Travel Weekly.

Cruise Capital Miami Could Lose That Crown To Fort Lauderdale

By: Johanna Jainchill June 15, 2010

Could Miami, the indisputable "cruise capital of the world" since Ted Arison launched Carnival Cruise Lines from the port in 1972, soon find itself losing that title to a city better known for yachting and spring breakers?

Slowly but surely, Fort Lauderdale has been luring the cruise industry’s newest and largest ships to its Port Everglades, 23 miles up the coast from Miami.
Royal Caribbean International picked Port Everglades to homeport its 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, as well as its sister ship, the Allure of the Seas, which is scheduled to arrive in November.
Combined, the two ships will bring about 1.2 million cruise passengers to Fort Lauderdale annually.
Next year, Miami will lose its current largest cruise ship to Port Everglades when Royal Caribbean’s 3,600-passenger Liberty of the Seas heads north.
Royal Caribbean’s parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., also chose Fort Lauderdale’s port for Celebrity Cruises’ first two 2,850-passenger Solstice-class ships, the Solstice and the Equinox.
In the meantime, the brands of Carnival Corp. recently guaranteed Port Everglades that they would bring 25.5 million cruise passengers to and from Fort Lauderdale over the next 15 years if the port made significant improvements to its four existing cruise terminals.
Port Everglades was happy to oblige, just as it eagerly invested $75 million in building what is now the world’s largest cruise terminal, Terminal 18, to accommodate the Oasis, in exchange for guarantees that Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara Club Cruises would be tenants for at least 10 years.
All this from a port that didn’t begin hosting major cruise ships until the 1990s.
According to the Florida Ports Council, by 2013 Port Everglades and the Port of Miami will be tied at 4.3 million cruise passengers each. (Click on the chart for a view of cruise passengers at each port.)
Port Everglades, however, believes that its long-term contracts with RCCL and Carnival Corp. will enable it to surpass Miami sometime in 2012, once the Allure has been sailing at capacity for a full year.
"It’s the case of the tortoise about to beat the hare," said Stewart Chiron, CEO of Miami-based CruiseGuy.com.
Allen, who took his position in 2005, noted that the trend is clearly in his port’s direction. Between 2006 and 2010, he noted, Port Everglades captured 70% of the growth in the Caribbean cruise market out of South Florida.
Last year, Port Everglades saw its number of multiday cruise passengers increase by 200,000, and that was before the Oasis launched service. "The new ships are coming here," Allen said.
To his point, besides the Oasis-class, the two Solstice-class ships, the new Seabourn Cruises and Silversea Cruises ships and the Ruby Princess all launched service from Port Everglades.
When it arrives this month to launch Caribbean service, the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Epic will be the first new class of cruise ship since Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas to be introduced in Miami. It will be joined by the third Solstice-class ship, the Eclipse, next winter. But neither is staying year-round.
And when the Liberty of the Seas leaves Miami, Royal Caribbean might not be launching a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean from Miami for the first time in 40 years.
Miami’s port director, Bill Johnson, dismissed such concerns, saying, "Cruise capital of the world" is a "tired title," even though the slogan appears on his port’s website.
"The Port of Miami is doing quite well," he said. "We have the three major cruise lines and are doing 1 million passengers with each of them. Those are significant numbers that no other port can boast. We are the world leader and always have been."
Johnson acknowledged that Port Everglades’ getting the Oasis ships was a "game-changer" but said that Miami was still No. 1, pointing to the record-breaking 4.1 million passengers who passed through the port last year. In contrast, Port Everglades said that in 2009 it got 3.4 million cruise passengers, pre-Oasis.
"Competition is good," Johnson said. "If Port Everglades is successful, South Florida is successful. If they are able to grow, I’m able to grow."
Maybe so, but Port Everglades is clearly growing at a faster rate than Miami is.
Johnson said that cruise traffic at his port has been "steady." But it has remained steady as the industry has grown rapidly.
The cruise industry introduced 14 new ships in 2009, none of which debuted in the "cruise capital of the world."
Chiron, of CruiseGuy.com, said that Miami’s inability to capture that market share has hurt the local economy.
"Miami has continued to lose ground to Everglades over the years, with no response," he said.
It was the Oasis that seriously tipped momentum to Port Everglades. An economic impact study found that within five years, an estimated 8,012 jobs would be produced by the project, generating $356.5 million in personal income and $32.8 million in state and local taxes.
"When you have two ships with $3 billion of corporate investment, adding 6,000 passengers twice a week to the Caribbean market, you are significantly impacting the marketplace," Port Everglades’ Allen said. "When you have that kind of investment, you want to put it in a location capable of handling the vessels."
The Oasis was the first ship Royal Caribbean introduced at a port outside Miami, even though RCCL Chairman Richard Fain has famously said that he likes to look out his Miami window and see his ships docked at the port.
One reason Miami didn’t get the Oasis was space. Port Everglades offered to build a new terminal, while Miami was only able to refurbish existing terminals.
"A challenge for the Port of Miami is that it’s a landlocked port," said Mark Ittel, vice president of ports and maritime for Bermello Ajamil and Partners, a cruise terminal design firm based in Miami. The company works with both ports. "It has very little room for expansion. Port Everglades has the room now."
Royal Caribbean’s vice president of port operations, Juan Trescastro, concurred.
"At end of the day, the best financial deal for us was the Port Everglades deal," he said. "Miami would have done a fine job, but the thought of having a brand-new terminal with all the new bells and whistles was the icing on the cake."
Trescastro added that the new terminal enabled Port Everglades to introduce passenger-flow concepts that proved to be an essential part of the Oasis experience.
"Our mantra became, how could we be as innovative on the landside as we were on the shipside?" he said. "We are driving innovation and changes in the way we process our guests prior to getting on the ship."
For cruise lines, the overall balance of port capacity is a good thing.
"They need both of these ports to be successful in order for the cruise industry to thrive," Ittel said. "They want to see them both competing."
That competition means better port facilities. The financial benefit that cruise ships can bring to a port means improved facilities around the world.
"The ports have started to realize that if they have better infrastructure and do certain things, the ships will come," Trescastro said. "In the past … we were more of a nuisance than a benefit. Now, they realize the true economic benefit of the cruise industry to the destination."
Miami has learned that lesson. Only three years ago, former Carnival Cruise Lines CEO Bob Dickinson publicly called Miami a "third-world" port.
Johnson had only recently taken his post at the time, and since then the port has invested $100 million in its Carnival facilities and has spent $17 million to refurbish the terminal for the Norwegian Epic.
"All ports want bragging rights: the name of the newest ship or the size of a ship," Johnson said.
"But if you want to retain market share, you have to focus on the basics. At the Port of Miami we have a sound business model, and we are focused on service to the lines and the passengers."
This report appeared in the June 14 issue of Travel Weekly.

Phoenix Home Care Caregiver Explains 19 Home Safety Tips For Seniors

Most accidents occur in the home and especially for our seniors.  Even though our seniors are in their own home and in familiar surroundings, they have a much higher accident rate than the rest of us. When you couple failing eyesight, poor hearing and decreased judgment and balance, the senior has a more difficult time moving around and staying safe. If you make the changes yourself or use a personal CareGiver, you may be able to avoid a major fall and injury to your parent.

What can you do to protect an elderly loved one from getting hurt?  Here are some steps to follow:

1. Keep outdoor steps and walkways in good condition and clear of debris. Be sure the hand rails are clean and in good condition.
   
2. Illuminate all stairways and hallways and provide light switches at both ends. Brighter lights are better.
   
3. Use nightlights or bedside remote controlled switches. Yeah the clapper works too.
   
4. Provide handrails in hallways and stairways.
   
5. Keep a sturdy nightstand next to the bed so glasses and other personal items are within reach.
   
6. Put felt or soft material over sharp edges and corners of furniture such as nightstands, tables and shelves.
   
7. Tack down the edges of carpets and rugs; remove throw rugs that slide or can be tripped on.
   
8. Keep pathways clear of furniture and other objects.
   
9. Provide handrails in the bathroom (especially near the toilet, at the entrance to the shower and in the shower) and use non-skid strips in the shower and bathtubs.
   
10. Use a shower seat and shower hose for those unable to stand in the shower.
    
11. Avoid using bath oils or lotions in the bathtub or shower.
    
12. Use kitchen appliances with thermostats and timers. The elderly find appliances with signal lights and buzzers easier to use.
    
13. Clearly mark the “off” position on stoves and ranges so a person with diminished eyesight can immediately tell if the element is off. Try some nail polish.
    
14. Set water heater thermostats or faucets so water does not scald the skin.
    
15. Install smoke detectors in the kitchen and throughout the rest of the house.
    
16. Keep a fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it.
    
17. Arrange frequently used kitchen items in an easy-to-reach cabinet.
    
18. Install one good lock that can be opened easily from the inside.
19. Keep loose magazines and mail off the floor, seniors tend to accumulate mail clutter.

For a complete home assessment contact Care-To-Go at 480-284-8611 and on the web at http://Care-To-Go.com Are you getting to the point where you need someone to help you shoulder the load taking care of Mom? A Home Care CareGiver will be able to assist your senior with household tasks to be sure they are safe and happy.

Cruises have always been a favorite trip for Seniors. Balmy air, tropical swaying trees, soft steel drum music,; what’s not to like. Aside from the great ambiance in the Caribbean, Bahamas or Mexico, there are several reasons to choose a cruise over other types of vacation for Seniors. First, it is a place totally geared for all the seniors needs including food, activities, housekeeping, medical services and more. It is so nice to unpack once and then watch the world pass by. Other favorite destinations for Cruises are Alaska and the Mediterranean for Greece and Italy etc.

Here is your opportunity to take that great vacation you have always wanted and be totally cared for and safe all the way. Cruise ships provide everything you need including; your room, all your food, lots of activities, a hospital and pharmacy, a concierge, lots of new people to meet or enjoy your solitude.

When you need a little extra assistance along the way, a Personal Travel Companion can escort you to be sure you are well taken care of. Now you can take that dream trip you have always wanted.

We all know that vacation tour prices including Cruises vary greatly. If you book through a travel agent, the Cruise Company, Orbits or a bulk Cruise buyer, the price varies greatly. When using a Travel Companion these prices can be easily compared and you can pick the best deal for you.

Speaking of a Travel Companion, you can now take a personal travel assistant with you to be sure that the trip goes smoothly. Your personal travel companion can travel with you all the way from your door and back again. How nice would it be to have professional assistance through the airport and flight, on the cruise and back again. One company providing Personal Travel Companions can be found at http://Care-To-Go.com

Low bookings for the cruise lines means a shipload of savings for you
Don’t let the storm-tossed economy discourage you from sailing on a cruise. With fewer people booking passage and more (and bigger) cruise ships being launched, cruising has become a buyer’s market. Here’s how to find the lowest fare at the best time.

Look for bulk buyers
Check out cruise consolidators, which buy large blocks of cabins from the cruise lines at a deep discount. Most of the deals don’t include airfare, but the savings are significant, and companies such as CruiseOne.com, CruiseBrothers.com, and Cruise.com feature dozens of discounted cruises around the world every week.

Don’t shrug off "shoulder season"
Rates are lower between peak and off-peak seasons, when fewer people are escaping winter. Try sailing to Alaska in mid-May or early September; to the Caribbean in late April or September and October; to Hawaii in late August, late November, February, or May; or to the Mediterranean in March or November. If you are interested in a long haul, check when the Cruise companies are moving ships for the season between the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, or even the south Pacific. You may get a long trip for a very low price.

Check the school calendar
Avoid any time kids are on vacation, such as spring or summer break. That’s when the supply of empty cabins is usually the lowest—and prices for them are highest. Cruises are wildly affordable right after Labor Day and during the week after Thanksgiving, for example.

Wait…Wait… Okay, now book it!
If you don’t have a specific cruise date in mind, try waiting until the last minute to book online. Almost all cruise lines quietly unload any remaining inventory as the departure date draws closer. Note: "Last minute" doesn’t mean what it used to. Post-9/11 security regulations require cruise lines to close the list of passengers as much as 96 hours before sailing.

Keep That Sail a Sale
Cruise lines don’t make a profit on your cabin, so they try to separate you from your money the second they pull up the gangplank. Here’s how to keep your budget afloat.

Factor in tipping
Some cruise lines automatically add gratuities, while others still rely on passengers to make that decision. One helpful resource is cruisetip.tpkeller.com, which calculates the suggested tip per day for each major cruise line.

Stick with the main dining room
More and more cruise ships have specialty—restaurants to give passengers options beyond the cost—included main dining room and midnight buffet. But eating at one of the ships’ designer restaurants will run you extra: on Royal Caribbean International, for example, dinner at Chops Grille is $25 per guest.

Budget for booze
Don’t expect to bring your own. Most cruise lines frown on this, and some actually employ a "liquor retention team" to seize alcohol not purchased on board (the bottles are returned at the end of the cruise). Carnival now keeps your bags on a dock for several hours where they can search them, Be careful.

Have a fantastic trip!
For assistance in planning your Cruise or any other kind of travel contact Care-To-Go at 800-818-0407 or check the web at www.CareToGoTravel.com.

Cruises have always been a favorite trip for Seniors. Balmy air, tropical swaying trees, soft steel drum music,; what’s not to like. Aside from the great ambiance in the Caribbean, Bahamas or Mexico, there are several reasons to choose a cruise over other types of vacation for Seniors. First, it is a place totally geared for all the seniors needs including food, activities, housekeeping, medical services and more. It is so nice to unpack once and then watch the world pass by. Other favorite destinations for Cruises are Alaska and the Mediterranean for Greece and Italy etc.

Here is your opportunity to take that great vacation you have always wanted and be totally cared for and safe all the way. Cruise ships provide everything you need including; your room, all your food, lots of activities, a hospital and pharmacy, a concierge, lots of new people to meet or enjoy your solitude.

When you need a little extra assistance along the way, a Personal Travel Companion can escort you to be sure you are well taken care of. Now you can take that dream trip you have always wanted.

We all know that vacation tour prices including Cruises vary greatly. If you book through a travel agent, the Cruise Company, Orbits or a bulk Cruise buyer, the price varies greatly. When using a Travel Companion these prices can be easily compared and you can pick the best deal for you.

Speaking of a Travel Companion, you can now take a personal travel assistant with you to be sure that the trip goes smoothly. Your personal travel companion can travel with you all the way from your door and back again. How nice would it be to have professional assistance through the airport and flight, on the cruise and back again. One company providing Personal Travel Companions can be found at http://Care-To-Go.com

Low bookings for the cruise lines means a shipload of savings for you
Don’t let the storm-tossed economy discourage you from sailing on a cruise. With fewer people booking passage and more (and bigger) cruise ships being launched, cruising has become a buyer’s market. Here’s how to find the lowest fare at the best time.

Look for bulk buyers
Check out cruise consolidators, which buy large blocks of cabins from the cruise lines at a deep discount. Most of the deals don’t include airfare, but the savings are significant, and companies such as CruiseOne.com, CruiseBrothers.com, and Cruise.com feature dozens of discounted cruises around the world every week.

Don’t shrug off "shoulder season"
Rates are lower between peak and off-peak seasons, when fewer people are escaping winter. Try sailing to Alaska in mid-May or early September; to the Caribbean in late April or September and October; to Hawaii in late August, late November, February, or May; or to the Mediterranean in March or November. If you are interested in a long haul, check when the Cruise companies are moving ships for the season between the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, or even the south Pacific. You may get a long trip for a very low price.

Check the school calendar
Avoid any time kids are on vacation, such as spring or summer break. That’s when the supply of empty cabins is usually the lowest—and prices for them are highest. Cruises are wildly affordable right after Labor Day and during the week after Thanksgiving, for example.

Wait…Wait… Okay, now book it!
If you don’t have a specific cruise date in mind, try waiting until the last minute to book online. Almost all cruise lines quietly unload any remaining inventory as the departure date draws closer. Note: "Last minute" doesn’t mean what it used to. Post-9/11 security regulations require cruise lines to close the list of passengers as much as 96 hours before sailing.

Keep That Sail a Sale
Cruise lines don’t make a profit on your cabin, so they try to separate you from your money the second they pull up the gangplank. Here’s how to keep your budget afloat.

Factor in tipping
Some cruise lines automatically add gratuities, while others still rely on passengers to make that decision. One helpful resource is cruisetip.tpkeller.com, which calculates the suggested tip per day for each major cruise line.

Stick with the main dining room
More and more cruise ships have specialty—restaurants to give passengers options beyond the cost—included main dining room and midnight buffet. But eating at one of the ships’ designer restaurants will run you extra: on Royal Caribbean International, for example, dinner at Chops Grille is $25 per guest.

Budget for booze
Don’t expect to bring your own. Most cruise lines frown on this, and some actually employ a "liquor retention team" to seize alcohol not purchased on board (the bottles are returned at the end of the cruise). Carnival now keeps your bags on a dock for several hours where they can search them, Be careful.

Have a fantastic trip!
For assistance in planning your Cruise or any other kind of travel contact Care-To-Go at 800-818-0407 or check the web at www.CareToGoTravel.com.

During the Latter Years, a lot of seniors spend their free time by vacationing. It can be

a way to see many of the places that couldn’t be seen because of work and family. But

not all elders are traveling alone. A significant number of elders are traveling with their

grandkids sans mom and dad with them in what has become known as "GrandTravel".

Nearly eighty per cent of elders surveyed said that they enjoyed taking their grandkids

along with them on their vacations while their parents stayed at home. The rise in

popularity of taking grand kids might be credited to many factors. The first is that the

grandparents are able to spend much more time with their grandkids instead of just

seeing them whenever their parents bring them to visit. The second is that the

children’s parents get a much-needed break in order to spend quality time together. The

last is that the grandparents can do what they do best – spoil the grandkids without the

parents there.

Kids Come First
One thing that studies about Grandtravel show is that seniors are often much more

democratic when it comes to decisions with their grand children. They include the kids

in decisions about where to go and what to do on the vacation, and will often do

whatever the grandkids want to do.

Deciding at what age a child should be allowed to go on a trip alone with grandma and

grandpa can be tough and really depends on the maturity of the child. Generally,

studies on Grandtravel have shown that 12 or 13 is the average age for a child to go.

And in cases where there are multiple grandchildren around the same age, many seniors

will opt to take one grandchild each summer so that each kid gets the right amount of

attention, and the grandparents aren’t driven completely crazy.

Where to Go
While there’s no shortage of places to take the grandchildren, some popular choices are

Disney World, Washington D.C., New York City and theme parks. Outdoor activities like

hiking, fishing, or the beach are great choices too.  Places with natural wonders also

rank high like Yellowstone, Yosemite or the Grand Canyon.

Let the Grandchildren Choose The Trip
I heard from a pilot I know that he would let the GrandKids plan their trip every year for

their birthday.  Here is an opportunity to spend months of quality time planning a one

on one trip with each Grand Child.  They can choose a trip to a place that really interests

them, making the trip very special for the GrandKids.

To maintain independence at home in the Phoenix area visit www.Care-To-Go.Com

For a Travel Companion anywhere contact WWW.CareToGoTravel.com

No one likes staying dependent upon others. Seniors don’t embrace the idea of needing others to assist him or her. Freedom and independence can be amid the qualities that a lot of elders treasure the most-and this is why a lot of elders prefer to keep living in their very own homes. Elders don’t want to give up their independent way of life; therefore, the elders are electing to give up moving to elder care centers and assisted living facilities.

Because self-reliance is so critical to the senior, many elders often cringe at the thought of accepting home care help. Elders may believe that they have been handling everything satisfactorily on their own; consequently, elder care isn’t necessary. Rather often, though, the adult children or other family members or friends of the elder could realize that some kind of home care could be essential–possibly the elder doesn’t want to admit it or doesn’t comprehend it. Because the elder’s chief aim is to hold on to her independent life style, it’s important to mention the topic of senior care gently.

It may be better to speak about in home care with the senior on neutral ground with an friend there. Meeting with the elder person at their medical doctor’s appointment for a conversation about the subject may be a good idea for some; some could find it more comfortable to take the senior to lunch with a companion of hers who is in agreement with the plan. Regardless, the focus of the talk should be about keeping the senior at ease with the home care and helping her to make decisions.

Beside what some seniors may think, elder care could truly aid the senior to retain her independence. No, possibly she won’t be completely self-reliant as they were before; on the other hand, they will no longer have to rely on calling public transportation to take her to appointments and shopping trips because their home care aide can drive her. Also, they won’t need to call for take-out food when she does not feel like cooking, because her home care caregiver can prepare a meal for her. Yet she will still maintain her independent life style while she is still living in her own home–not in a elderly facility.

It is truly better for seniors to maintain their independence when they have a hired senior care assistant. Using a caregiver makes it simpler for seniors to complete tasks. This is because the caregiver does or helps with whatever the senior can’t do, while the senior takes care of other activities. Caregivers provide support and services that are tailored specifically to the senior for whom they are giving care; so the senior has the option of choosing what the caregiver does to help her.

Lots of caregivers become friends with the seniors they assist because they spend so much time together. The hired companions really start to become almost like part of the family. The elder will no longer think about any loss of freedom or independence at all,she will simply be content to still be living in her own home, with the assistance of her home care caregiver.

For more information on Home Care in the Phoenix area visit Care-To-Go.com For a

Personal Travel Companion anywhere, contact CareToGoTravel.com

One of the most important ways to help your communication is not to ask "how are you" but also what are you feeling If you think about it, how are you is one of the most common questions we ask, but it can be a rather thoughtless one. The expected answer is OK or good. It does not lead to much discussion. When you ask, "What are you feeling?" you are digging deeper. Someone who is asked that may get the notion that you want to know how they are doing.

When you ask, what are you feeling be ready to hear anything. The person could say he thinks a great deal about death or he is worried about whatever the future has in store for the children. Or perhaps he is fearful that he won’t survive a year. Be ready to pay attention and hear the reaction he tells you. You do not have to have a response, but you have to be ready to hear the pain and anguish that the inquiry may provoke.
Communication with your loved ones must be direct and on an adult level.  The last thing an elder wants with a serious affliction is for you to be condescending or treat them like a kid. Your loved one needs straight talk constantly being empathetic and kind. Here’s a opportunity for caring support from their loved ones and their friends.
Elders with cancer every now and then need to get an opinions of those near to them on their illness, treatment, and treatment outlook. Stay open and honest, but don’t endeavor to respond to questions that you don’t know a good answer to. A senior with cancer will sense your honesty and appreciate it.

While having their illness, the elderly with cancer and serious diseases may express frustration and anger to friends and family. Remember that seniors with serious diseases pass through quite a few stages including denial, negotiation anger, and acceptance. Within the denial and anger stages, their conversation can offend families and their friends, but it can help to bear in mind that elders frequently shift their feelings onto friends and family close to him or her. Your loved ones do this since the people closest to them are safe. They know you will still be there for him or her, even if they act badly or create tension. Often, the senior is really frustrated and angry concerning the illness and the losses it brings, but that is hard to discuss. So they could take out their feelings on family, friends, or anyone else that happens to be near by at the time.

Commonly a high quality caregiver helping in the home can be a bridge for communication among family members.
More help for seniors posts can be found on Care-To-Go.com

Elder Care Retirement Choices

Retirement or elder housing alternatives can be baffling to seniors who has never approached the topic before.  The reason for the confusion is because most retirement care and elderly housing arrangements present duplicate services among the a range of categories.  A commonly accepted word for retirement living from one area may be used for different services from another.  The following terms explaining some kinds of care to assist you in determining your specific elder retirement requirements.

CareGiver and Home Care
Also is known as: Aging in Place, Home Care, In Home Personal Care, In Home Companion Care
Costs Range: $650 – $4,040

When a senior wants help and wishes to stay in their home (they all want to keep independence).  A Home Care CareGiver can be employed to assist on a part time or full time basis.  Normally a senior will need 3 days a week, then advancing to 5 or 7 days a week.  24/7 care can be arranged.  CareGivers can assist with daily activities:
?    Personal care
?    Shopping and errands
?    Meal preparation
?    Light housekeeping
?    Companionship
?    Medication reminders
?    Escort to Church, meetings and outings
?    Assist with therapies
?    Advocate for medical appointments

An extraordinary CareGiver can offer seniors the socially engaging productive lifestyle that experts say is so important to healthy aging.
Be sure to choose a high level CareGiver and Agency, don’t settle for an adult babysitter.

Click Here for the complete article listing care facilities and Home Care

Click Here for the complete article listing for a Home Care Carergiver