Pack a medical kit

Q: How should I pack a general medical kit for travel? Is there a check-list perhaps to combat common ailments and travel afflictions? I want to be prepared, but I don’t want to take too much.

A:For general vacation travel, medical specialists suggest the following over-the-counter items for your first-aid kit: a pain reliever; a decongestant; and a nasal spray for those prone to sinus pressure. Also recommended is hydrocortisone cream, antibiotic ointment, an antihistamine for allergies, an antidiarrheal, antacid tablets, motion sickness medication, a remedy for constipation. To save room, take enough for a few doses rather than entire packages. In addition, remember sunscreen, insect repellent, bandages, tweezers and a thermometer. If you plan to visit less developed locales, check with a travel-medicine specialist in advance to find out if any vaccinations are needed and about specific precautions to observe.

Cottage rentals

Q: We’re thinking of renting a vacation cottage in the British Isles, most likely in Northern Ireland. From a distance it is going to be hard to know if the property is satisfactory or substandard. Do you have any advice?

A:If the property was brought to your attention through a rental company, how was it recommended? Was it from someone you know, or from a mass-consumption guidebook, or the Internet? Almost all of the international tourist boards are represented in Canada, including Britain (905-405-1840) and Northern Ireland (416-925-6368) so ask them first if they’ve heard of the realtor. Even once you feel confident in the transaction, still ask for current photographs of the cottage and for names and phone numbers of people who have stayed there recently. By the way, a good number of the tourist boards are now equipped to recommend 'long-stay' accommodation which would go a long way to reduce your worry.

The isles of Cuba

Q: We’ve been in Cuba twice, love the island, but would now like to try a different location than Varadero. What do you know about the island called Cayo Coco?

A:Cayo Coco is part of Cuba’s north coast Camaguey Archipelago and because of its remarkable natural beauty–and the number of multi-million dollar resorts planned there–it is likely to become as popular, or more popular than Varadero. You reach Cayo Coco by crossing 17 kilometers of turquoise waters on a stone road causeway from the mainland. The main attraction is nature–and that means the colour turquoise spans the entire horizon with possibly the whitest shoreline in the Caribbean. Just a boat ride from Cayo Coco is a world-acclaimed barrier reef which promises excellent diving and snorkelling as well as kayaking, deepsea fishing, windsurfing and sailing. A good number of Canadian tour operators include Cayo Coco in their package programs so choices are plentiful and pricing is competitive.

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