Tour Travel

The number of accidents on U.S. roadways that involve buses has been steadily rising in recent years. Federal transit authorities report that the number of bus accidents went from just over 9,700 in 2003 to more than 28,000 in 2007.

And whether it is a city bus, tour bus, chartered bus, road bus or school bus, any type of serious bus accident can have severe health consequences for passengers.

But perhaps the most unsettling facts related to bus accident data are the ones involving children. Consider:

Children between the ages of 11 and 14 are the most likely to be injured in a bus accident. In children under the age of 9, more than 50 percent of the injuries reported for the age group involve some form of head injury. One-fourth of all bus accident injuries to children occur when a child is getting on or off a bus. More than 23 million children ride school buses every day in the U.S., and an estimated 17,000 of those children will be injured annually. Why are bus accidents so dangerous for children?

Bus design/structure. Buses are huge and bulky vehicles, with high centers or gravity. This makes them easier to roll over than most passenger vehicles. Exiting a rolled-over or otherwise compromised bus is also not as simple because of the bus design (two exits on most buses). Also because of their size and weight, buses are more difficult to turn and maneuver in tight traffic situations.

Lack of seat belts. Most school and city buses, except for the latest and most expensive models, do not offer seatbelts for passengers. This means that in the event of a collision, children can be violently tossed against the sides, ceiling, floor and other passengers.

Lack of closed storage areas. Most buses do not have closed storage for backpacks, large packages, laptop computers and other bags passengers bring on board. So when a crash occurs, these items often shift and become airborne, and children are easy targets for these flying objects.

Lack of security/adult oversight on school buses. Roughhousing is a common factor leading to school bus driver distraction. Unsupervised school buses mean drivers make more mistakes, leading to more serious accidents.

Inadequate boarding policies or signage at bus stops. Poor policies or signage can lead to small children being struck by oncoming traffic.

There really is no better way to explore Greece and its coastal regions than by hiring a charter yacht.  Sailing holidays Greece make hopping from place to place enjoyable and very simple, and with so many different coastal areas to explore you definitely won’t get bored!  Charter yacht holidays in Greece come in two main options: bareboat or crewed.

Bareboat Yacht Holidays

If you or anyone in your group is qualified to operate a yacht, bareboat yacht holidays in Greece may be the better option for you.  This will enable you to plan your own itinerary and sail to the locations that you want to visit and stay for as long as you like.  You really will have the freedom of the Med if this is your preferred choice!

Crewed Yacht Holidays

Crewed yacht holidays in Greece are generally more expensive but nonetheless still a lot of fun!  Crewed charters generally involve hiring staff to operate the yacht and following a set itinerary.  Quite often however the skipper will know the best places to visit and can even act as a personal tour guide – this is the ideal option if none of your group knows how to operate a yacht or if you have never been to Greece before.

Brazil isn’t just one of the fastest emerging economies in the world; it’s also now one of the most visited countries. That tends to happen when a country’s economy improves. It leads to improvements in all areas, which makes it more appealing to visit. The best part about Brazil is that while it has made many advancements, it still offers a lot of history. The best way to visit Brazil is via cheap domestic flights. Once you arrive, consider the Top 5 Things to Do in Brazil.

The first place you should visit is Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. This is a famous statue of Jesus that is accessible via the Trem de Corcovado. You’re basically taking a monorail up a mountain. Once at the peak of the mountain, you can marvel at the statue of Jesus as well as the views below. Christ the Redeemer is often crowded, but it’s still well worth a visit. It’s right next to Jardim Botanico Park.

If you appreciate beautiful artwork, go to Pinacotheca of the State of Sao Paulo. You will find all forms of beautiful artwork, but mostly paintings. The building itself is impressive. It’s a historic structure with pillars and well-manicured gardens out front. Also be sure to check out the sculptures. This attraction is close to the Lingua Portoguesa Museum, the Light Park and Sao Paulo’s Market.

Sugarloaf Mountain is a must-see. It’s located in Rio de Janeiro. You drive to the top of one small mountain and then take a ski lift to the peak of an even higher mountain. From there, you enjoy incredible views of the city and sea. If you look out at the sea, you might spot some sailboats. There is also a large statue at the base of the mountain, which has a few benches surrounding it. This is a nice place to relax.

Palacio Avendia is a large palace in Curitiba, Parana. It’s nothing more than a large palace, but if you’re impressed by such grandiose structures, you will greatly appreciate it.

Beto Carrero World is an adventure theme park in Penha. Think of it as the Brazil’s version of Disney World. Here, you will find entertaining shows, a roller coaster, many other amusement park rides, animals, waterfalls, lakes and a lot of bright colors. It’s worth a visit.

Are you sold on Brazil yet? If so, cheap domestic flights can get you there for a lot less money than you think.

Cairns is a sophisticated city of 140,000 that caters to tourism. The city is encircled by tropical forests and is a springboard for trips to Kuranda and Daintree.
Cairns is accessible by flights, trains and car. Many international airlines fly into the airport, as do Australian domestic airlines. The Qeensland Railway travels to Brisbane and other cities. The Bruce Highway on the coast also connects to Brisbane.

Cairns is a sports devotee’s center with sky diving, trekking in the rainforests and mountains, Swimmers can enjoy the lagoon that is a public swimming pool with sand included. It is shallow and safe for family swim. The lagoon is a good place to swim between October and May when the stingers invade the local beaches making it unsafe to swim. While Cairns does not have beaches, travelers can take a bus to the north where there is sand and netting protecting the beaches during stinger season. Swimmers can also sun on the boardwalk near the lagoon even in the winter.

Hikers can go walking in the mountains around Cairns and enjoy the tropical rainforests around the mountain. Trekkers will find over 200 walking paths. This area has been designated a World Heritage Area. The book, Tropical Walking Tracks, delineates all the tracks around Cairns, plus those between Cooktown and Towns, and contains maps and directions.

Cairns Wildlife Dome is a stunning year-round wildlife display that is covered by a glass dome that is 20 m high. It is located on top of the Reef Hotel Casino. Inside the dome, visitors can see a duplicate of a rainforest with birds – lorikeets, parrots, and cockatoos and animals -kookaburras, koalas and frogmouths, wallabies, pythons, and crocodiles.

Cairns is also a center for scuba diving and boat sightseeing trips. Diving enthusiasts can arrange scuba diving trips and viewing the Great Barrier Reef.
Charters vary as to service and length of trips. Catamaran trips are also provided to Michaelmas Cay where travelers can reach the beach, which is a bird sanctuary on the Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns offers alternatives to diving. Skydiving is available for those who want to try tandem or single jumps. Enjoy the flight over the reef. Try ballooning s the weather is usually favorable. The trips fly inland to Atherton Tablelands. Hang Glide from Rex Point Lookout that is located half way from Cairns to Port Douglas. Ride rafts in white water ratting through the rivers in the rainforests.

Tourists can plan to take daily coach tours to many attractions around Carins. Sights include the Daintree River, Cairns Highlands, the tropical forests, Mossman Gorge, the Kuranda and Kuranda Scenic Railway, Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, , and Cape Tribulation.

Cairns hotels offer both budget and mid-priced hotels. Great accommodation can be found all year round for superb prices.