The Insurance Doctor

Category: vacation

  • 5 reasons to visit northern California

    5 reasons to visit northern California

    California vacation destinationsRecently I had the pleasure of visiting friends in the far-north reaches of California. While the southern portion of the state is well known for its beaches and metropolitan attractions, northern California holds some notable destinations for travelers who venture north. Here are five attractions I had the pleasure of visiting recently.

    1. Mount Shasta: A beautiful mountain town nestled between Redding and the Oregon border in the southern Cascade range. The town is situated at an elevation of 3,600 feet above sea level under the shadow of Mount Shasta with hiking, museums, art galleries and good cuisine.

    2. Sundial bridge: Designed by famed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and constructed in 2004, this is the only functioning sundial bridge within the United States. It’s located in the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. Spanning the Sacramento River the bridge sports a glass walkway where you can see salmon in the river beneath you. Also a great variety of walking trails and a museum. It’s a great stop if driving up to Vancouver and it’s also dog-friendly.

    3. Pluto’s caves: Discovered in 1863 by a rancher looking for stray cattle these caves are not marked nor will you find them in any travel guide. We were tipped off by a local and had an outstanding hike inside of them. Bring sturdy hiking boots, water and a spirit of adventure.

    4. Whiskeytown Lake: Stunning views and turquoise colored waters attract thousands of visitors to this lake. It’s a reservoir located west of Redding in Shasta County and is a favorite for locals. Kayaking and all motorized boating are permitted. Various levels of restaurants are available in the vicinity.

    5. In and Out Burger: My favorite burger chain. Family owned restaurants who unfortunately have stated they will not expand to the east coast. Going west? Better grab one of these fantastic burgers and a tee shirt to make your east coast friends jealous.

    Make this summer a productive one and contact Robert here today for a free financial review.

  • 7 Facts About the Forest Hills Tennis Center

    For many years the Forest Hills Tennis Center also known as the West Side Tennis Club stood dormant!  For all intents and purposes, it was rotting away waiting for the wrecking ball to put it out of it’s misery.

    1- The FHTC has history on it’s side: Built in 1923 and renovated in 2013 the FHTC has hosted legendary tennis players such as Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, Rod Laver, Chris Evert BJ-Kingand Bjorn Borg to name a few.

    2- Rock and Roll hall of fame bands have played the FHTC: Bob Dylan is coming this summer after his 51 year hiatus as well as Paul Simon.   Iconic bands to play the FHTC include; The Beatles(64’), Rolling Stones(66’)and Jimi Hendrix(67’).  Other bands who also played “back in the day” were The Cars, Asia, Wang Chung, Yes, The Talking Heads and The Doors!

    3- The US Tennis Open left Forest Hills in 1977: After the 1977 tournament the US Open left the West Side Tennis Club and moved to Flushing Meadows, also in queens. There were small tennis tournaments held there and lesser known bands into the 1990’s until the costs to maintain the building become too high and the building was shuttered for almost 20 years.

    4- It reopened in 2013: for the Mumford & Sons concert.

    5- Now the FHTC is on the upswing: There are more renovations in store and it was just announced that the “NY Empire” world tennis team will be playing in Forest Hills.

    6-The FHTC was almost converted to condos: Many people don’t know that the West Side Tennis Club membership voted down 2 separate condo proposals.

    7-Unique to the venue: Other than being walking distance from my house there’s no parking lot or street parking in the immediate area.  It can be accessed by train or bus.

  • 10 Reasons to Stay at the Bogota, Colombia BNB Inn

    10 Reasons to Stay at the Bogota, Colombia BNB Inn


    Colombia has an old stigma as a beautiful yet dangerous place to visit.  Tourism is booming as there is so much culture and depth to this country.  I strongly suggest staying at the Bogota Bed & Breakfast Inn.

    1. Location: Nestled in cozy middle class Teusaquillo near the airport, downtown and the Bogota Botanical Garden.  Downtown is 15 minutes and a $2-3 Uber ride anywhere.  Easy one-hour flight to Medellin or Cartagena.
    2. Safety and Security: 16 high-tech security cameras and a 500 lb. steel front door with remote, nice residential area.
    3. Family-owned by a wonderful couple: Rick Estrada and Beatriz (Aunt B to me) Leon.  Rick was born in Manhattan and grew up in Florida.  Ex-military (USAF) he’s also a historian and runs the best tour.  Bea, born in Cali (Colombia) and helped transform the community.  They both speak fluent English and Spanish.
    4. The Price is Right: The only true BNB in Bogota is under $100/night including breakfast, a briefing and fast free internet, business services and so much more…
    5. Food: Omg the food is so good, they make breakfast to order.  They cook traditional American, arepa with eggs and specialty dishes like Tamel.  Also, excellent pizza and burgers as well as upscale restaurants are blocks away.
    6.  Clean and neat: They won the TripAdvisor Green Leader award for eco-friendliness.  This place is spotless!
    7. Sight-seeing galore:  A plethora of options, Monserrate mountain, Nemocon salt mine (“Los 33” Antonio Banderas Chilean minor’s movie was filmed there), graffiti walking tour, gold museum and Guatevita the flooded city.
    8. People and the scene: Cosmopolitan capital Bogota is home to warm, welcoming people who appreciate a small effort to speak Spanish.  The city offers culinary, art and live music scenes that rival Buenos Aires or Mexico.
    9. The “Rick Special Tour”: I suggest taking this tour the first 2-3 days in Bogota.  Rick can customize the trip based on your interests.  An encyclopedia of knowledge, he will give you a great picture of Colombia’s history past to present.
    10. Feels like home: Unlimited library of music, I felt comfortable for 9 days wearing my PJ’s (pants only) around the house.  Where else can you text the owners on WhatsApp and get prompt answers?  Click the website above for video on each room and book the reservation!

  • 5 Reasons to Visit Sicily

    If there’s one place I love to visit it is ‘old country’, Sicily that is. If there is one destination that is ‘bucket list worthy’ it is Sicily.

    1. Taormina: Sicily’s greatest resort, Taormina was built on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea.  With great shopping and panoramic views of the sea and Mount Etna, Taormina is a must for Sicily visitors.insurance, New York City, financial services, health insurance
    2. Mount Etna: The tallest active volcano in Europe, Etna offers a variety of different hikes. I was actually on the mountain in 1994 which was the last time it erupted.
    3. Syracuse and Ortygia: Siracusa is a dramatic mix of old and new. It was once a key city in the Greek empire.  Ortygia, thousands of years old is known as the old city.  Having been bombed several times, Ortygia was rebuilt in what is called Sicilian Baroque.  These wonderful places can be seen on the same day.
    4. The Godfather tour: In Fiumefreddo  (cold river) it’s about a 30-minute drive from Taormina.  I haven’t seen it advertised, however, it’s a must for Godfather fans.  The most famous scene shot there is when Michael’s Sicilian wife Appolonia blew up in a car meant for Michael.  The property owner, Franco Platania was on the set as a kid in 1971 when Godfather 1 was filmed.
    5. Food and wine: I have had several of my best all-time dishes in Sicily including Tiramisu and rice balls.  Sicily is a must especially if you have been to Italy as many feel that it’s a different country!

  • 7 Places to take your kids this summer outside Manhattan

    Parents are always looking for fun places to take kids this summer.  Whether it’s education or to tire them out, these places will leave lasting impressions on your loved ones:

    1. New York Hall of Science: Located at 47-01 111th in Corona queens and open 7 days. Many interactive science exhibits and attractions to keep your child’s interest.
    2. Indoor Extreme Sports: Play paintball and Black Ops laser tag this place gets the adrenaline pumping. Located in Long Island city and Staten Island.  We have thrown birthday parties here and I will tell you big kids like it too, LOL!insurance, New York City, financial services
    3. Bounce U: Another great birthday place, Bounce U can be found in Brooklyn and College Point, Queens. Open 7 days and not just for parties as they have open bounce hours to wipe out the most feisty children.
    4. The Queens Zoo: Located in Corona, Queens and close to #1 the Hall of Science. The Zoo is open daily and easier to navigate and less crowded than other Borough Zoo’s although they’re all good.
    5. Kids Fun House: Located on fresh pond road in Ridgewood, Queens it’s for children up to 12 years old. There’s a socks only play area for small children while the bigger kids go thru the maze or play arcade games.  There’s also an on-site café.
    6. Museum of the Moving Image: Open wed-sun this place is really fun and was recently renovated. Took the boys last year to the “Behind the Screen” exhibit with Star Wars props etc.  Also, somewhat hidden is an old-school arcade with Ms Pacman, galaga and other games baby boomers will be familiar with.
    7. Artistic Stitch Sports Complex: Located on Cooper Ave. in Glendale, Queens and open from mon-sat. If you have older children, this place has something for everyone.  Soccer, dodgeball, wiffleball and rock climbing to name a few.

  • 10 Dirt Cheap Places to buy a Vacation Home

    This article looks at places both in the USA and around the world where you can purchase a home and live in relative luxury on a poor man’s salary.

    1. Argentina:  Argentina has been a tourist mecca for generations and is a great producer of wine.  A 1500 sq, foot home can be had for about $140,000.  The cost of living is a fraction of anywhere in the US and it has the amenities that many Americans and Europeans expect.

    2. Mexico: Americans have known for a long time how inexpensive Mexico is as many Americans relocate, vacation and get medical treatment there.  For about $700/ month you can find a nice 1-2 bedroom home near a tourist area including internet and sightseeing.life insurance, New York City, financial services

    3. Quito, Ecuador: Some great things about Quito is that it’s already an ex-pat US destination and is uses the American dollar for currency.  There are places along the coast which are similar to US places.  Also, food is so cheap that it costs less to eat all meals out in restaurants than it would cost to go to the supermarket and cook for yourself at home.

    4. Cambodia:  Cambodia is super cheap!  A full-time housekeeper costs about $120/month.  A 4 room villa with a pool costs about $600/month and about $7/day to eat all meals out in most areas.  About $20,000 will buy you a nice 3 bedroom home on 1 or more acres.

    5. Vietnam: Vietnam has become a tourist destination.  You used to have to own a business to buy property however those rules have been relaxed.  For $25,000-$50,000 you can find a nice home in or near a resort area.  Food is very cheap as is labor so you can have a cook when there.  Also, because of demand, it’s easy to rent the house out.

    6. Thailand: Thailand is a legendary tourist destination for food, nightlife and amenities.  Like Vietnam, it’s easier to buy property now.  For $30,000 you can buy a high-rise condo with amazing views.  For $60,000 you can buy a 2-3 bedroom home with a beautiful garden and pool.

    7. Bulgaria: Bulgaria is stunning from the ancient architecture to the surrounding hills and countryside.  For $1,000/month you can live in comfort and like a king for $1500/month.  The average monthly salary is about $800 and for $20,000 you can buy a very nice home.

    8. Budapest, Hungary: Hungary is one of the oldest and architecturally stunning places in the world.  A $1,000 sq. foot home with some land runs about $90,000.  The people are kind and hospitable and there are about 50,000 ex-pats living in Budapest alone.

    9. Mississippi, USA: Mississippi offers comparable prices to Budapest and Bulgaria.  A plush 3 bedroom house can be had for $80,000.  The north offers music and jazz while the south has beaches and gambling.  There is great weather year round and cultural diversity.

    10. Louisiana: Louisiana offers a combination of southern charm and Cajun flavor.  You can buy a fully renovated historic 1800’s home for under $100,000.  There is fantastic wildlife and you can hire a cook for half the price of eating out.

  • 5 Tourist Traps to Avoid

    There are so many fabulous places in the world to visit. Avoid the hype as these 5 tourists traps that are a waste of time!

    1. Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England: This mysterious site may date as far back as 3000 bc. More than 1.3 million visited in 2014. It takes hours to get there and you can longer go into thetourist-traps central ring of stones. It’s a ton of tour buses with tourists walking in circles aimlessly!
    2. Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota: Receives over 40 million visitors from around the globe each year. Expect heavy crowds and over-priced goods. Unless you are going on rides it’s a waste of time!
    3. La Boca, Buenas Aires, Argentina: It’s a brightly painted neighborhood that attracts tourists looking to take tango lessons and photograph crayola-colored houses. It’s basically 1 fake-looking street painted to get tourists to visit the over-priced coffee shops, bars and restaurants.
    4. Walk of Fame, Hollywood, California: It’s comprised of 15 blocks of Hollywood blvd and marked by commemorative stars in the sidewalk. Seedy sin city type crowds tourist-trap-linkedin-Dec42015with hookers, dirty streets and solicitors everywhere.
    5. Manneken Pis, Brussels, Belgium: Manneken Pis depicts a naked boy urinating in a fountain. For some this 17th century sculpture is a work of art. For most this is a small statue that’s a waste of time!Are you prepared for your financial journey? Avoid the traps by contacting Robert today.

  • 5 reasons to visit Sorrento

    Wedged on a ledge under the mountains and over the Mediterranean, Sorrento is long and narrow.  Sorrento is reasonably priced and can be done either as a day trip or 1-2 nights will suffice.

    1. Stunning Cliffside views: Spectacular stretch of coastline over the bay of Naples and near Capri.

      sorrento
      Shopping in Old Town Sorrento
    2. Lemons and Limoncello: Sorrento takes it to the next level serving all types of edibles with limoncello inside.  Be careful as alcohol contents range from 14-24% potent levels for sure!
    3. Old Sorrento town: Very pleasant old city where many people speak English. Streets are narrow with colorful shops and quaint trattorias.
    4. Shopping: Wide variety of shops offering everything from leather goods, homemade sandals to creative olive and lemon products.
    5. Sightseeing: Easy to walk Sorrento boasts a wealth of elegant historic architecture, Greek, Roman and Medieval buildings
  • 6 Interesting Reasons to Visit Shasta Dam

    6 Interesting Reasons to Visit Shasta Dam

    There are many interesting places to visit in the USA. Nestled in the northern Cascade mountain range sits one of the largest engineering feats of the last century: Shasta Dam.  Located in northern California, the Shasta Dam tour should be added to your travel list for the following reasons:

    1. Built in 1945, The Shasta Dam is the tallest center overflow dam in the world.

    5 General Electric turbines in the dam’s power plant are capable of producing up to 710 megawatts

    2. Part of its construction involved building the world’s largest conveyor belts (9.6 miles long) that transported gravel from what is now known as the Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding to the dam construction site. Turtle Bay features the world famous Sundial Bridge (also a must visit).

    3. Located at the north end of the Sacramento Valley, the Shasta Dam created Shasta lake for long-term water storage, flood control, and hydroelectricity.

    4. 80% of all the rain in California falls in the northern region. The Dam supplies water all the way down to the central region which has the majority of California’s agriculture.

    5. The grounds include a well-manicured open grass park area with picnic tables and it’s conducive to Frisbee games and fun for the family.

    6. The comprehensive hour tour takes you under and through the dam in addition to the inside where the turbines are located. Ask for Antoinette who will also give you a history lesson as World War 1 and the Pearl Harbor invasion delayed construction for years.

  • 10 Fun & Not So Fun Facts About Puerto Rico

    After 20+ years I just spent a week at the El San Juan and learned that it’s not what it used to be.  Here’s what I found.

    The streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico
    streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico

    1. Leave your passport home: PR is a U.S. territory hence, you can ditch your passport!  Bring a valid / current photo ID though.

    2. The drinking age is 18 and currency is U.S. dollar    :  It makes things very easy to buy what you forgot to pack.

    3. There are 5 Miss Universe winners from PR: Unfortunately, I didn’t see any of them at the beach.

    4. PR has 270 miles of beaches and is an archipelago: which means there are more islands to explore.

    5. The west coast of PR has some of the best surfing and diving in all of the Caribbean: A hidden gem for sure.

    6. PR has some of the best coffee in the world: Having been on 5 of the 7 continents I rate them in my top 5.

    7. PR is the home of the world’s largest telescope: It’s called the Arecibo Observatory.

    8. PR is almost always between 70 to 80 degrees year round: Weather is steady but no guarantee.  We were just had 2 of 7 days that were sunny.  We did find that the humidity seemed lower and less bugs than before.

    9. PR is in deep debt that is currently $72B: Old town San Juan was noticeably run down with many closed businesses and less people.  There was actually a shortage of luggage earlier this year because so many people are leaving the island.

    Zip line fun in Puerto Rico
    Zip line fun in Puerto Rico

    10. Currently, PR has no bankruptcy protection: PR is in a deep recession and there’s no guarantee that the USA will bail them out.  They are having elections in may and corruption is rampant.  The relationship between the U.S. and PR is a “tricky” one.  We shall see how it plays out.

    In summary,  PR is still a fun place to visit.  That being said if you were there years ago like us you will notice the difference and might be disappointed!