Holiday Systems International

Americans used to take time off and kick-back during the summer months. Not so much any more. In unfavorable economic times, many men and women are as well afraid to leave the workplace for a few weeks or even just several days. Those who already feel apprehensive about their employment security don’t desire to take in any unnecessary chances. Specifically when many corporations undergo downsizing or restructuring, employees are really hesitant to leave work behind. For some, it really is far more stressful to become absent inside the office than to stay put. More Holiday Systems International clients plan on taking a vacation.

Today, the U.S. stands out as the only industrialized region that doesn't have labor laws that include minimum leave. The European Union, for example, requires that all workers consume a minimum of four weeks’ vacation time every year. Many member states exceed that mandate. These kinds of numbers are unfathomable for most Americans. Popular HSI vacation destinations.

Expedia.com, a travel reservation company, conducted a survey that compared the vacation habits of citizens around the world. Based on this research, 34 percent of People in the USA don’t take the full vacation time they earn every year. By contrast, only 22 percent of French and 24 percent of German workers don’t use up their allotted time. Only the Japanese vacation a smaller amount than we do – just 8 percent consume off every day they’re owed.

That doesn’t mean that workers right here would not like far more paid time off than they own from their work – if they get any at all. Survey right after survey has shown that Individuals are dying for getting a lot more high quality time for themselves and their families, even if it would mean a cut in pay. Experience the Holiday Systems International difference.

Still, “sacrificing your vacation won’t necessarily save your job,” said Joe Robinson, author of “Work to Live: The Guide to Getting a Life,” who is also an advocate for a federal paid-leave law. “I talked to a woman who worked at a company for 25 years and had five or six weeks of paid leave. She only used three, four or five days a year – and she got laid off like everyone else. This does not insulate you from layoffs. It does leave you wondering why you gave up your life,” said Robinson.

Even those who dare to venture off as soon as inside don’t often know how to separate themselves entirely from their work place. Many workers discover it unthinkable to leave their laptops and smart phones permanently switched off during vacations.

Today, several organizations realize far better the significance of the health-promoting work environment and establish their policies accordingly. But usually it's simpler to generate structural changes than to overcome the habits of individuals.

Source: SeattlePI

Read additional travel news for your vacation. Connect with Holiday Systems International on Facebook, Twitter, and on LinkedIn profile or LinkedIn company profile pages. For insights on HSI vacations, read a Holiday Systems International travel blog, written by Robert Smith.

Find out additional about Holiday Systems International by reading the company overviewor viewing some client testimonials.

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A trip to the tropics may be a one-way ticket to turning your mind to mush

If your neurosurgeon announces that he has just returned from two weeks in Cancun, you may want to postpone that craniotomy. Holidays, it seems - particularly to sweltering destinations - can impair mental functioning. Perhaps not so much that, post-Ayia Napa, Stephen Hawking would want to switch to editing a lads' mag, but sufficient, nonetheless, to prove a hindrance to researching the Big Bang.

The problems begin when you book your holiday online, particularly if this entails a lengthy email exchange. According to a 2005 study by psychologist Glenn Wilson, visiting professor at Gresham College, London, email "bombardment" can reduce IQ by up to 10 points - more than double the effect of smoking a lot of cannabis.

Prof Wilson has labelled the condition "infomania". Concentration is impaired as sufferers' minds remain fixed in an almost permanent state of readiness to react to incoming messages, as opposed to focusing on tasks in hand. Even on a good day, the human brain finds it hard to cope with juggling multiple tasks simultaneously, so the email overload further reduces its effectiveness.

Then you actually have to get to your holiday resort. The stress of modern travel - worries over airport strikes, volcanic ash or whether you're in the right queue for priority boarding - can increase levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. This risks damaging cells in part of the brain called the hippocampus, which in turn adversely affects short-term memory and concentration.

Add a restorative drink while airborne and, depending on the beverage, you could drop another 10 to 20 IQ points, according to Alcohol Concern.

And you haven't even checked into your hotel yet. It is at this point that phrenic Armageddon really kicks in. Research by Prof Siegfried Lehrl of the University of Erlangen in Germany, a specialist in mental performance, suggests that sunbathing and relaxation cause one's frontal lobes to literally shrivel. Barbados or Benidorm, it doesn't matter.

Prof Lehrl says that inactivity reduces oxygen to the brain, which causes the dendrites and axons (parts of the nerve cells involved in sending electrical impulses) to degrade. Add dehydration caused by excess heat, alcohol, or both, and brain cell volume may decrease by up to 15 per cent.

"Fourteen days of complete rest can be enough to bring your IQ down by 20 points - more than the difference between a bright and an average student," says Prof Lehrl. "Vocabulary shrinks, and we even detect personality changes."

For men, this loss of intelligence may well be exacerbated by the vision of the opposite sex in bikinis. A 2008 study for The Journal of Con-sumer Research concluded that merely looking at women in beach garb "instigates generalised impatience in intertemporal choice". In layman's terms, men's judgment and self-critical faculties are compromised, and, in worst-case scenarios, they will propose to (or proposition) the first girl who winks at them.

At this point, you might be tempted to down a cold beer at the poolside bar. Don't! Researchers at Bristol University discovered that drinking anything overly cold reduces brain power by as much as 10 IQ points, as energy and blood are diverted from the brain to the stomach, to balance the drop in temperature.

So how can you negate the nightmare effects of your dream vacation? According to Prof Lehrl, you should exercise your brain on holiday for at least 10 minutes a day by playing an intellectually stimulating game (chess or Scrabble, for instance), mitigate inactivity with regular long walks, rehydrate constantly - and chew lots of gum. Gum? "The part of the brainstem that keeps us alert is constantly stimulated by chewing, as a result of which the attention level rises, as does flow of blood to the brain."

If you lack the willpower to follow the professor's advice, the good news is that, unless you did propose to the first girl who winked at you (and she accepted), the consequences of a vacation are temporary. Four days later, your IQ usually returns to normal.

So next time you see raucous holidaymakers necking beers and mooning passers-by, try not to be too judgmental: they are probably email-overloaded nuclear safety engineers who have neglected to chew gum. Hopefully, they will leave a sensible interval between returning to work and installing their reactor's control rods.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/im-with-stupid-how-holidays-make-you-dumber-20110817-1ixuh.html#ixzz1VISH83ZJ

Considering a vacation with Holiday Systems International? Aside from having a wide range of destinations, HSI is by great customer service and reviews.


8. Fun in the sun
7. Winter getaways
6. Beautiful & exotic locations
5. Rest & relaxation
4. Sailing adventures
3. Breathtaking views
2. Spending time with family and friends
1. 5-star HSI resorts

For more information, read our company overview and customer testimonials. Contact HSI today.

Rioting and looting in London has continued over the past few days, and is expected to continue for a fourth night. CNN has reported that the rioting is taking place in several areas of London and other major British cities, such as Birmingham in central England, Bristol in the southwest and Liverpool in northwest England. Although not all areas of London have been affected by these riots, many travelers are re-considering their London vacation plans to top Holiday Systems International destinations. Police say the subsequent riots in other parts of London and the UK are copycat events conducted by opportunists and criminals.

If you're already vacationing in London, you may notice that, apart from the directly affected areas, life in London and other cities continues as normal. Public transportation and tourist attractions are still running as normal, though some sporting events like the England versus Netherlands football match have been postponed. HSI clients still considering a vacation in London should be aware of the riot locations and avoid those areas. Consider other wonderful Holiday Systems International resorts and vacation destinations such as Vancouver.

What else should a London-bound traveler expect? Where can tourists find information about these riots? Visit London has updated their website with information about London transport and visitor centers with contact information for all of your questions.


Source: CNN Q&A | Lonely Planet

Even the most health-conscious vacationers don't stick to their diet while on a vacation. That's what a recent poll of over 1,000 American travelers by the travel website TripAdvisor showed: 52 percent of Americans exercise on their vacations, but 81 percent confess they are more likely to overindulge on food while away on a trip or taking part in Holiday Systems International innovative vacation ownership.

Although it's not a bad thing to take a week off from work (and workouts), anxiety gets the best of most vacationers as they either get off of their daily routine or they feel like they are overindulging. A good way to fight this anxiety is to stay active during your vacation--swimming, hiking, rock-climbing, and  participating in seasonal playing sports such as skiing or beach volleyball can keep you active while you still have a good time on your getaway. HSI clients often save money on gas by staying at a hotel closer to the city's hot-spots, then biking or walking to daily activities. Many Holiday Systems International travel destinations are places with beaches, snow and sun for you to enjoy staying active while you vacation. You can also opt for a hotel with a gym, so you can burn off any "anxiety" you might be feeling. Another tip is to make sure you pack comfortable walking shoes so that you can turn simple tasks like walking through the airport or window shopping into a small workout. And, of course, try to eat healthy 80 percent of the time, and leave 20 percent to indulge in a few delicious meals and treats.

As a Holiday Systems International client, you don't have to be strict on your diet. Allowing yourself to relax is part of the joy of taking a vacation. Read HSI customer comments or view HSI featured destinations for more information about picking the perfect place for your next getaway.

Source: Reuters

One of the best amenities of a vacation destination is not only the the pools, spas and luxurious rooms, but also the spectacular views. Some travel agents say that a room with a great view is one of the features most requested among Holiday Systems International clients when booking a getaway vacation.

One of the best experiences of a vacation is opening the blinds in the morning to a breathtaking view of mountains, water, countryside, or historic buildings and cities. Just a few of the many resorts with amazing views:

1. Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
Get an amazing view of St. Lucia's famous Piton Mountains and the Caribbean Sea at this resort.

2. Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Canada
Experience this magical corner of Banff National Park, and you may feel like explorer Thomas Wilson, who exclaimed, "I never in all my explorations saw such a matchless scene,'' when he first glimpsed the lake in 1882. Also, explore the beauty and excitement of Vancouver with HSI.

3. Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania
This luxury lodge sits perched on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest caldera -- formed when a giant volcano exploded and collapsed about 3 million years ago.


4. The Springs Resort & Spa, Costa Rica
For a bit of a thrill with your beautiful view, why not stay near a volcano?

5. Hotel Villa Ducale, Sicily
This boutique hotel features just 11 double rooms and six suites, but there is nothing small about the sweeping views. Another popular destination among HSI clients is the beautiful Italy.

6. The Cambrian Hotel, Switzerland
Expect endless mountain views from this picturesque location in the village of Adelboden in the Swiss Alps.

7. Hayman Island Resort, AustraliaThis five-star resort is on a private island within the Great Barrier Reef. Get more beautiful water views in Myrtle Beach or in Maui, Hawaii with Holiday Systems International.

Source: CNN Travel

More Americans plan on taking a vacation in 2011, according to travel insurance company Mondial Assistance USA. A survey conducted found that 51 percent of Americans are confident they will take a vacation this year for at least a week. This majority comes for the first time in three years.

This high percentage also comes despite of the current economic crisis, shining more light on the fact that Americans need vacations. Taking a vacation with HSI can help to relax and refresh, and also makes employees more productive when they return to work. Consider a vacation in beautiful Maui, Hawaii. Or try spending some time in Myrtle Beach. View HSI's list of popular travel destinations.

Read more about 2011 vacations with Holiday Systems International through customer testimonials and discover the HSI difference.



Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/morning_call/2011/08/more-americans-plan-on-taking-a.html

Try limiting your travel plans to U.S. locations to cut costs, while spending more in the domestic market.

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