I came across a fascinating account of a trip to North Korea this week online. An American Tourist in North Korea, 2007 gives a great deal of information about how North Korea wishes to be portrayed by those who visit, and the country has easily earned itself a spot on my “Places I Never Want To Visit” list. While the site is a bit lacking in pictures, the information presented is amazing. It’s very rare that American tourists are ever let into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and when they are, the list of rules and regulations to follow is long. I don’t ever wish to visit a place where I could be arrested for folding a newspaper across a photo of Kim Jong-il, but reading about it was simply amazing.

Read the site, and be thankful to be living wherever you call home. Things could be much worse.

What was that I just said about a low key trip to the mountains in January?

Scratch that. A whole new vacation just came up out of thin air - one that involves NO children, and rescheduling our mountain plans for a later date. And, Jim and I will get to break in our new passports! I’m keeping mum until everything is booked and set, which I plan to do today.

If you’re spending thousands of dollars on your dream vacation, it makes sense to spend a few extra dollars on insurance to protect you, especially if you’re traveling outside of your home country. What would happen to you if you injured yourself on that trek through the rain forest in Belize? What would happen if you feel ill in Prague? Do you think the local doctors are covered under your regular insurance? I don’t think Blue Cross Blue Shield has that far of a reach!

I’ve seen people get sick on trips and end up paying BIG bucks for medical care they received. There was the guy on our cruise who had heart issues while snorkling, and the family member who fell ill in Panama. Getting sick in another country equals big bills for you - can you imagine the bills if your insurance company only covered 50% of your claim…or nothing at all?

Travel medical insurance can cost you as little as $1 a day, and the cost is well worth the coverage you’ll get. Maybe nothing will happen on your trip…but peace of mind is worth the money. For a FREE Quote, click here, and let your next trip only cost you the cash for airfare, hotel, and food - not a hospital bed.

When you return home from a trip, are you the kind who gets everything cleaned and put away neatly? Or do the remnants of your vacation live on…in your bedroom and bathroom? I’m the latter, and it’s been a few weeks since my trip to Las Vegas, but I still haven’t put everything away! My travel cosmetics case is still out on the bathroom counter, and I’ve got a bag of S.W.A.G from the blog expo I attended in the corner of my bedroom. I’m not sure why I’m keeping it…do I really need my name tag and the bracelet I wore to get into the private party I attended?

I think not.