July 11, 2011 (Miami, FL) – Corporate health and concierge doctor network EliteHealth has expanded its services to Argentina, Brazil and Chile.  By offering concierge medical services like 24-7 online access, priority appointments, thorough diagnostic testing and preventive care, EliteHealth provides safety and peace-of-mind for clients traveling or living abroad.

EliteHealth has official locations in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Sao Paolo, Brazil.  A Chilean international insurance provider has recently selected EliteHealth to provide medical services for its members, solidifying their position as a leading provider of concierge medical care in South America.

EliteHealth’s concierge and corporate medical services surpass ordinary healthcare providers by offering 24-7 worldwide access to the most qualified specialists in their fields, both in-person and online.  The myEliteHealth Patient Portal offers users a way to track and store medical records online, securely message their doctor, request appointments or prescription refills, and know that they always have a way to get in touch with their healthcare provider should an emergency arise.

EliteHealth patients are also assigned a personal Health Care Advocate to help manage all aspects of their healthcare experience, including finding doctors and hospitals while traveling or working abroad.  Members can alert their Health Care Advocate of their travel plans in advance so that their advocate can find medical centers along their route, and patients requiring medical assistance need only phone EliteHealth to find a suitable hospital and discuss emergency evacuation.  EliteHealth membership includes the services of AirMed International, an “air ambulance” service that transports patients to medical centers closer to home in the event of a medical emergency.  AirMed planes are staffed with emergency medical personnel, and their services incur no additional fees.

EliteHealth’s concierge plans heavily emphasize preventive medicine and screenings in addition to rapid service and international access.  And beyond personal and family concierge plans, EliteHealth’s executive health and corporate health programs offer corporations a way to keep their staff healthy and secure.  For more information on EliteHealth’s concierge services, doctors, and locations, visit http://www.elitehealth.com.

About EliteHealth
EliteHealth is an international network of concierge medical providers offering worldwide access to top physicians and emergency response care.  Offering concierge plans for the entire family as well as executives and corporations, their myEliteHealth patient portal offers 24-7 access for members.

Looking to inject a little excitement into your summer?  Costa Rica surf camp can offer more than your average surfing lessons.

The flavor-of-the-week viral video being passed around the surfing community doesn’t feature a crazy surfing move or a star athlete.  The video, shot in Florida’s New Smyrna Beach, features a decent-sized shark jumping over a surfer.

An Orlando Sentinal cameraman reportedly shot the video by accident while filming footage for a story about surfing.  Sharks are a common sight at New Smyrna Beach during this time of the year, and they are known to jump – sometimes a few feet – over the surface of the water.  The inlet is populated by a small breed of shark called the “spinner shark” that preys on fish and are not known for being harmful to humans.

The video shows a camera pan of a heavily-populated wave, and a few seconds in a four-foot shark can be seen jumping over a surfer on his board.  The surfer continues to ride his wave, and it appears that the people on either side of him did not even notice.

For an amazing vacation and a chance to be jumped over by sea life, Beach Travellers offers surfing adventures to Latin America, Thailand, and Bali.  Their sejours thailande are available in English or in French, and travelers are guaranteed a one-of-a-kind trip and an experience like nothing else.  For more information, visit http://www.beachtravellers.com.

Could it be that Magdalena’s Party is serving up the best brunch in Palermo, and for that matter Buenos Aires? Well a food critic seems to think so. Check out the recent post here: http://pickupthefork.com/2011/05/13/adios-resaca-hello-maple-syrup-magdalenas-party-brunch/

Its all about resacas, maple syrup, hot sauce and omelettes – mexican style.

Learn more about Magdalena’s Party at their facebook page.

Avec le chauffage dans le tapis et les imaginations figées sur des scènes de plages tropicales sublimes, la vaste majorité du temps l’image préconçue que les gens se font du surf implique un ou plusieurs des éléments suivants: homme adonis, peau bronzée, moitié audacieux moitié fou, tout à fait fascinant, et véritable dieu des eaux. Maître des mers impétueuses, genre.

Et les déesses des vagues? Ces aventurières intrépides? D’où sortent-elles? Si on jette un coup d’oeil sur les gagnantes des championnats de surf mondiaux féminins, c’est certainement les Américaines et les Australiennes qui dominent les plus hauts niveaux compétitifs. Toutefois, il y a des amantes du surf de tous les niveaux et des des quatre coins du monde, et de plus en plus à chaque jour, tel que témoigné par l’immense croissance de ce sport nautique dans les dernières années.

Si c’est depuis les années 1700 que le surf est observé en Polynésie par les grands voyageurs européens, et que les femmes y ont toujours fait partie intégrale, ce n’est que lors des années 50 qu’une planche plus petite, légère et facilement manoeuvrable pour les femmes a vu le jour. Armées d’un nouvel outil adapté à leur réalité physique, les femmes transforment le monde du surf et réclament une juste reconnaissance de leur maîtrise et grande contribution à l’avancement du sport.

Qu’elles veulent un jour s’unir au monde compétitif du surf, ou tout simplement s’initier à un sport fantastique, jamais n’a-t-il été aussi facile et accessible pour les femmes (et les hommes) d’en faire, et jamais n’y a-t-il eu un meilleur moment de s’y lancer. Pour en savoir plus sur les sejours Thailande et sejours de surf au Costa Rica, le groupe de voyage canadien Beach Travellers vous offre des voyages en Thailande, au Costa Rica, au Brésil, Bali, et encore plus. Faites un petit tour au www.beachtravellers.com pour de plus amples renseignements.

Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Eastern Asia.  With a huge variety of things to do and see over the country as well as a rich culture and history, sightseeing and backpacking in Thailand has become one of the top excursions for young people interetsed in foreign travel.

Here are some of the most popular things to do and see on sejours thailande:

• The Bridge over the River Kwai.  Brought to fame by a 1957 movie of the same name, the bridge has a historical connection to WWII.  Over 15,000 Allied prisoners were forced to perform back-breaking labor here as prisoners of war and died in captivity.  Today the bridge represents their memory and serves as an important historical marker for the country.
• Beaches of Phuket.  Phuket is one of the most beautiful and important islands in the country.  The beach runs along tropical rainforests and is studded with waterfalls, resorts, and spas.  Whether you’re a beach bum or not, this is one attraction not to be missed.
• Duty-free shopping.  Centralized in Phuket, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the airports, these shops provide a range of luxury and everyday items at great prices.
• Nightlife.  Bangkok, the capital city, hosts a range of restaurants, bars, clubs, parties, cocktail lounges, and more.  Many places are open all night, and there’s never a dull moment at night in Bangkok.

For sejours thailande and sejours du surf au costa rica (en francais or in English), Canadian tour group Beach Travellers offers trips to Thailand, Costa Rica, Bali, Brazil, and more.  Visit them online at www.beachtravellers.com for more information.

The youth of North America have spent the past few months wrapped scarves and buried in snow, waiting for the ice to melt and the chance to leave the house without digging out their cars.  With the end of winter nowhere in sight, it’s time to start making plans to enjoy summer.

Starting this February, Canadian travel company Beach Travellers will be offering one of its Facebook fans a free summer 2011 trip to Bali, Brazil, Costa Rica, or Thailand with their online “Hunt for the Golden Ticket” contest.  The winner will receive a pair of sunglasses from Spy, clothing from skating line DC, and a free trip to the Beach Travellers’ destination of their choice.

Eager travelers can enter by “liking” Beach Travellers on Facebook, filling out a brief entry form, and giving an amazing answer to the question, “what’s most important to you while traveling?”  They’ll then be entered in a draw, from which ten finalists will be selected.  After sending in a photo and a write-up of why they should win, the public will vote on their favorite finalist and the winner will spend the summer du surf au costa rica, on the beach in Brazil, on exotic sejours thailande or exploring a whole new culture in Bali.  “We’re trying to see who our audience is,” says Costa Rica guide Mitch Martin.  The Beach Travellers team hopes that the contest will help them learn more about their followers.

So which trip is the best choice?  According to Mitch, Brazil is his hands-down winner.  “I’m a surfer, so there has to be good surfing,” he says, citing the food and the language as other top motivation.  “Plus, my best friend is the guide…I think it would be cool.  I’ve always wanted to go to the Amazon.”  Beach Travellers, which has just released a new Costa Rica surf camp video on their blog, offers amazing guide jobs for people with expertise in travel and an adventurous soul – and as a guide, Mitch loves showing people Costa Rica and “seeing the looks on people’s faces when they learn how to surf.”

Contest entries will be accepted until early April, with the winner’s dream trip kicking off in the summer.  And Mitch’s answer to the official contest question of “what’s most important to you while traveling?”  Short and immediate.  “Surfing.  And food.  And cheap beer.”

Vancouver’s HUSH magazine stays on top of the city’s high-energy culture and lifestyle – and they’re continuing the tradition with a special feature on Canadian tour group Beach Travellers.  Founded by two friends with a mutual love of surfing and adventure travel, the company has built a reputation for life-changing vacations with guides who really know their way around.

Founders TJ Hermiston and Graeme Barker founded Beach Travellers after an epic trip through Southeast Asia.  Reflecting on what they had learned and what they’d do differently, they wondered what would happen if they could bring the same feeling of excitement and adventure to others – and with a team of experienced guides leading trips with constantly changing itineraries, their careers were born.

Beach Travellers currently organizes trips to surf au costa rica, sejours thailande, Brazil, Bali, and El Salvador.  Varying in length from one week to 36 days, the trips are guided by experienced and like minded adventurers who know all about the region – and can help you get the most out of your trip.  Enjoy surfing in Central America, rock climbing, hang gliding, and experience a new culture that you may have never known existed.  Parles-tu francais? Beach Travellers’ bilingual guides can give tours in French or in English, plus help travelers get around in their countries.

Perhaps one of the best features of a Beach Travellers vacation is the security of paying up front and knowing that your trip is going to be fantastic – as TJ and Graeme themselves admit, they wish they had the opportunity to take one of their own vacations and not worry about a thing.  Making the decision to open up your life to new experiences is what helps someone grow as a person, and taking an amazing vacation makes it even sweeter.

Check out the video here, and visit Beach Travellers online for more information and upcoming trip dates!

The surfing world is abuzz with the recent death of surfing champion Andy Irons.  One of the most famous professional surfers in history, Irons was a three-time world surfing champion and had built both a brand and an empire around his name.  He was found dead in his hotel room in Dallas, Texas on November 2, 2010.  He left behind a wife and a newborn son.

Irons had been en route to seek medical treatment for a battle with dengue fever, a tropical disease contracted from insect bites that can be fatal if untreated.  However, police discovered the drug methadone hidden in a Zolpidem bottle on the bedside table in his hotel room – indicating that his death may have been caused by something less innocent.

Irons’ widow’s reaction to the situation makes things look even guiltier.  In December, she arranged for a court injunction to be issued blocking the release of Irons’ autopsy results to the media until May of 2011, stating that the results would destroy the brand associated with his name that currently supports her and her son financially.

At this point, it’s almost undeniable that – even if they didn’t cause his death – Irons was using a substance of mass reputation destruction.  But his fans have until May to relish in his good name, and a lifetime to miss him for his accomplishments.  The surfing community has suffered a great loss, whether Irons was a drug user or not.

Interested in joining the surf community – or just learning how while traveling?  Canadian tour group Beach Travellers offers tours de surf au costa rica – not to mention sejours thailande and trips to Bali – with an experienced guide and a group of fun-loving, like minded youth.  Trips are year-round and a great way to escape the cold (or spend the summer).  Visit Beach Travellers online for more information.

My work tends to take me to interesting places.

That actually might be an exaggeration.  I’m not a tour guide or a pilot or an elephant tamer.  But the growing trend of doing business online – combined with the lax deadlines and freelance nature of my job – means that I can work from any place and in almost any time zone.  Living out of the country has been a great way to travel while making my living doing what I love.

I’ve just gotten back from two months in Costa Rica and I’m home for the holidays a bit reluctantly.  I was living in a small town in the west called Santa Teresa-Mal País known for amazing surf, a great environment for travelers, and great hotels.  I’m not normally one to enjoy anything other than skyscrapers and screaming car horns, but the feel of living here was something so tranquil yet so interesting that even I could enjoy it.

My companions and I chose to rent a room at the Fuego Lodge was clean, beautifully decorated, close to the beach, and – even if I hadn’t gone in the off-season – totally affordable.  The common space and pool were relaxing without being boring, the staff was fun to talk to and knowledgeable about the area, and having a maid clean our rooms daily was almost worth it in itself.  With the tropical weather and year-round surfing, there needn’t even be an off-season – and at times it was just us and the lodge’s employees, building a certain convivencia based on a mutual need to surf in the morning, work all day, lay around the pool, and spend the evening feeling truly alive.

As far as a great environment for working, traveling, or a family vacation rental Costa Rica could not have dropped a better hotel into our laps.  Working abroad is exciting by nature, but my stay at Fuego in Santa Teresa has been one of the most memorable two months of my life.

Surfing is a prime activity along coastal areas with waves and sand – but few know the complex and colorful history of this favorite summer pastime.  Though many think of avid surfers as “beach bums” with poor English and alternative ambitions, historical surfers considered their hobby religious expression and a form of art.

The origins of surfing are not completely known, but can be traced back to Polynesian peoples and existed before the first Europeans arrived to the Pacific islands.  Surfing was first described by a crew member of the HMS Endeavour in 1779, who noted that locals wooden boards made from long trees on the waves.  The upper classes were afforded the best surfboards – and took control of the best parts of the beach.

Ancient Hawaiian culture was also richly involved in surfing.  Considered an art form, surfers would begin their surf by praying for protection and visiting a preist if necessary to provide them a strong wave and protection from the ocean.  Surfers also placed fish as offering to the gods in the holes left by the trunks of trees that they dug up to fashion their surfboards.

Surfing spread by means of word-of-mouth and modern transportation to Australia and North America, and around the early 1900′s it began to grow in popularity in Hawaii and surfing was revived as a sport.  Today, interested French- and English-speaking young surfers can surf au costa rica with Canadian tour group Beach Travellers.  Enjoy all the best surf spots Costa Rica has to offer with the fun and security of a guide as well as a group of like-minded individuals.  Beach Travellers also organizes trips to Bali, Brazil, and sejours thailande.  Visit them online for more information.