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Posts Tagged ‘Abroad’

Are you going to travel abroad? Then you must know that a good travel experience revolves around safety and precaution. Do not leave home without carrying these safety tips with you. This way, you can assure of a fun and at the same time, safe journey to your destination.

Do not act like a tourist

Tourists always stand out in the crowd simply because they do not belong. Before you head to your destination, find out what the locals wear and how they act so you can blend accordingly. Avoid taking out your map and holding it in broad daylight. It is not a good idea to stare in awe at the attractions or look as if you are lost and confused. Moreover, keep your camera inside your messenger’s bag instead of hanging it around your neck. Be discreet so you do not attract criminals who are always on the lookout for unsuspecting tourists.

Study and plan your trip properly

Read up about the country or city of your destination.

Do not only learn about the popular tourist attractions but also be in the know when it comes to customs, traditions, tourist traps, warnings, off-the-beaten-path spots, and language. Learning important phrases of the native language can come in handy during emergencies. Extensive knowledge about the place contributes to your safety.

Avoid shady hotels

Go for reputable hotels that are located closely to tourist attractions. This is important not only for your convenience but also to ensure that the hotel is located in a safe neighborhood or vicinity. See to it that before booking with a hotel, you read plenty of online reviews about it so you know what you are getting yourself into.

Buy travel insurance

Travel insurance can protect you from a wide array of unfortunate scenarios including medical emergencies, accidents, lost baggage, and delayed trips or cancelled flights.

There are many types of travel insurance coverage such as general travel insurance, visitors health insurance, travel insurance for senior citizens, and family holiday travel insurance, among many others. See to it that you purchase a policy that is appropriate for the kind of trip that you will be having. For example, if you are not planning on staying long in your destination, a short-term health insurance makes sense.

Get vaccinated  Read more...

Explore the wild and untouched beauty of Zimbabwe, go rafting on the Andes or explore the Thai forest on elephant back. There are endless places and ways to combine vacation with adventure.

An adventure vacation enables you to test your physical limits while also exploring the natural beauty of the great outdoors. More Americans are opting for abroad vacations that enable them to interact with the culture and environment of the country.

An adventure vacation requires you to prepare for the physical demands of the trip as well as potential emergencies that may require medical attention or even an air ambulance flight back to the US. We’ve compiled a brief list of health related tips that covers a few essentials from research to medical escort services.

Research your destination. You should find out what health and safety precautions to take. What is the political climate? Are there environmental dangers? What is the best season for your adventure vacation? Off seasons are great for pricing deals but may not be the best time for an adventure trip. For example planning a rafting trip when the waters are dangerously high.

Assess the physical demands. Don’t overestimate your physical abilities. If your trip will require 5 miles of daily walking in tough terrain you need to make sure that you’re up to the challenge. An adventure trip is not the time to begin a fitness program. If traveling with an adventure outfitter, discuss your normal fitness routine to ensure that you are in shape for the trip. Online travel forums can be an excellent resource for information from those that have “been there and done that.”

Be prepared for medical emergencies. You could experience chest pain while sitting at your desk. Imagine having that chest pain occur when you are in a foreign country. If you experience a serious illness or injury while traveling, it’s likely you will want to come home for treatment. No one wants to be hospitalized far from friends and family. An air ambulance service can transport you from a foreign hospital to a hospital in your home country. As you prepare for your trip, keep the number to a medical air transportation services with your other emergency numbers. One such number would be 800-863-0312 or 941-536-2002. If something goes wrong, you can call their 24 hour number and arrange a medflight back home.  Read more...

Finding a car rental abroad is not a problem. Major tourist destinations have a wide selection of car rental companies that you can choose from. A more crucial question is, whether or not you are allowed to drive in the place of your destination.

If you are contemplating on driving abroad, it is worthwhile to find out the driving requirements in your place of destination. This shouldn\’t be a problem as this information is readily available online or in your travel guide book. Check if you can drive with just your home country’s driver’s license.

Most countries allow this for a limited period, usually 30 – 90 days from arrival. Some countries, however, require that you secure an International Driving Permit before you are qualified to drive in their jurisdiction. This permit may be obtained from your home country or country of destination.

Be familiar with the traffic rules and road conditions of the place where you are going. You want a smooth ride to your destination and you definitely do not want to be flagged down by a police officer for a traffic violation. When driving on the opposite side of the road, go easy on the gas pedal for a few days. Get used to the experience first before you fully trust your feet to step hard on it.

Prior to your arrival in the place of destination, make sure that you already have conducted a research on the available car rental services. You should have made inquiries already as to the price, type of car and their applicable rental rules and regulations. This will ensure that you will get the type of car you require under reasonable terms. If you have not done so, just approach one of the representatives of car rental companies at the airport – just be prepared to pay the extra price.

Most, if not all, car rental companies provide free insurance coverage. Make sure to go over the policy before you drive the car. If you don\’t think the policy is good enough, take out another insurance policy that will give the kind of protection that will make you feel comfortable enough to drive.

Make sure to get the car rental company’s contact number so that you can easily call them if the need arises. In the event you figured in an accident, got stuck in a ditch or faced with an engine trouble, call the company immediately and request for rescue.

All travelers must have a contingency plan ready in case of a medical emergency while traveling abroad. Illnesses and injuries can occur without warning. Therefore, you must be ever ready to deal with it when and if it happens.

It is cliche, but I\’ll say it anyway: better to be safe than sorry. Do not opt for long distance travel if you are not in perfect condition. Go for a physical medical examination, a few weeks before the planned trip. You want to ensure that there is no virus or bacteria brewing a war against the immune system. If undetected, you could end up spending their vacation nursing a disease in a crowded hotel or hospital room.

Ensure you have a comprehensive health insurance policy. Your insurance should cover medical emergencies, hospitalization, medical procedures and evacuation or transport. You may have to pay more for health insurance that provides good coverage while abroad. Just remember that the financial support of this policy that may result in the case of an emergency is worth every penny you paid for it.

Brush up on how to call emergency numbers in your destination. If you can not trust yourself to memorize a string of numbers, be sure to save them in the phone book or on a piece of paper so you can easily access them. If you have a pre-existing medical condition that can lead to an emergency situation, it is recommended that you always carry a mobile phone with roaming activate. You will be immediately able to seek medical help if needed.

It is important to carry relevant medical information about yourself. Your blood type, known allergies and pre-existing medical conditions and medications are essential for physicians to determine the appropriate medical procedure to follow.

If your medical emergency involves serious surgery, make sure the local medical institution is able to provide a quality operation service. Call your doctor at home and discuss the matter with him or her. If you do not need to have the operation performed immediately explore the possibility of getting transported to a better equipped center for the procedure.

If you want to be transported back home, you can hire international health care providers for medical evacuation or medical assistance. This usually involves air ambulance flights in a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft. They are not cheap, so make sure that medical assistance is included in your insurance coverage.

Any veteran traveler has an interesting story to tell about toilet adventures. Mine involves a strange vessel that took me almost an hour for the formulation of strategies in various uncomfortable positions until I finally solved the mystery.

Fortunately, strange toilets are rare. What many travelers are familiar with though is the difficulty of finding a bathroom abroad.

Learning how to find a bathroom is an indispensable international travel tip that must be learned by anybody who aspires to travel. You can only hold your bladder for so long and no doubt we need to pay attention to the sound of your stomach if it is acting up. I will share with you some of the travel tips and tricks I\’ve learned in the search for a toilet quickly and safely.

First, you never go wrong with learning the local term for the toilet. You should know that the ability of others to point you in the right direction is directly proportional to the ability to convey the right question. So arm yourself with the local word for toilet and practice saying it.

Make sure you pronounce it correctly if you do not want to end up chasing after the wrong place. If the word is too difficult to pronounce, ask a local to write it down on a sheet of paper for you. You won\’t have problems to find somebody, and just put a questioning look on your face and you\’ve got it covered.

If you are in a mall, finding a toilet should not be a problem. There are plenty of toilets in a shopping center and are usually at the end of each corner. Look for the WC sign and just follow the arrows. If you can not find any, you can always approach the concierge to ask for the right directions.

If you feel the need for the bathroom while walking along a city street, find the nearest restaurant. Most countries require restaurants to have at least one toilet to service their customers. The larger the restaurant, the greater the probability of a bathroom inside.

For small towns, bars or restaurants are your best bet. Public buildings and bus or train stations are also usually equipped with restrooms. So if you are anywhere near one, you\’re in luck.