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

This is particularly important for people traveling to remote or far-flung destinations. Vaccinations are crucial to protect you from certain kinds of illnesses that you may catch during your trip. A trip to the doctor before your vacation should be in order.

Secure your belongings

Always secure your belongings, especially your valuables during your vacation. Keep your travel documents like passport and visa with you wherever you go. It would be best not to bring any jewelry during the trip. As for cash, it would be a smart idea to rely on traveler’s check instead of cash and credit cards.

Keep it safe while you are on vacation with these simple tips to keep in mind.

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 the fine print on your health insurance policy. You may have coverage limitations when traveling outside the U.S. In addition, your policy may exclude coverage for injuries related to adventure sports. If your policy is not clear or you have questions, contact your insurance carrier before you leave home for clarification. You can also ask your company to respond in writing as to how they would handle an injury if it occurred.

The tips above will help you prepare in advance for potential emergencies. While we all hope to travel without incident, it’s nice to know that if you do get hurt, a medical transport plane is only a call away!

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.

When moving around the region, do not forget to arm yourself with a good road map and/or a GPS. It will help you navigate the roads easily and it is also valuable in finding the local attractions and must-see sites.

If you were a careful driver at home, be even more careful when driving abroad. Safety driving rules in your home country also applies in foreign countries. This means no picking up hitchhikers when you are alone and always make sure to lock all your doors during and after driving.

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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.

You can also hire a doctor accompanying you to return home. They are medical professionals, usually registered nurses or paramedics, accompanying a sick or injured person home. They ensure that all travel arrangements are complete for the trip. They also monitor the patient\’s condition and administer the necessary drugs and other medical procedures during the trip.

Finally, if you are a member of international medical organizations such as International SOS and the International Association for Medical Assistance for Travelers, take advantage of their services to help take the measures and recommendations for you in the event of an emergency.

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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.

Note that if you\’re not in a decent hotel or in commercial premises, tissue paper may not be anywhere to be found. To avoid undesirable circumstances involving the absence of tissue paper, be sure to always carry a decent roll with you.

Finally, if you can avoid the hassle of finding a toilet in unpopulated places, do so. Be sure to take advantage of the convenience of hotel room facilities. Make a habit of going to the bathroom before going out to reduce the likelihood of needing to go while out and about.

Also avoid spicy foods or exotic cuisines if you still have something planned to do after dinner. Prevention is the key my friends. But if I can not help it, now you know where to go to narrow down your search for that elusive toilet.

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The American Kite Surfing Association (AKSA) is making international insurance coverage easy to secure with instant confirmations online and via email. AKSA members can receive this important coverage by visiting: http://www.eglobalhealth.com/aksa.html

The four programs being offered to AKSA members include:

• The Atlas Series: Short-term health insurance for individuals traveling outside their Home Country.
Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Atlas plan is ideal. Packages are available from a minimum of 5 days up to a maximum of one year. At no additional cost, the Atlas Series adds coverage for Emergency Medical Evacuation, Acts of Terrorism and Complications of Pregnancy.
http://www.eglobalhealth.com/aksaatlas.html
• The Atlas Group Series: Short-term international health insurance for 5 or more traveling abroad.
The Atlas Group series is tailored for groups of 5 or more US and non-US Citizens traveling outside their Home Country for 5 days up to one year. The perfect plan for vacation groups, missionaries, students and business executives featuring Emergency Medical Evacuation, coverage for Acts of Terrorism and Home Country Medical Coverage.
http://www.eglobalhealth.com/aksaatlas-group.html
• The Atlas Professional: International health coverage for frequent travelers of business or pleasure, taking multiple trips throughout the year.
The Atlas Professional is available to the frequent leisure or business traveler and their families who require a 12 month comprehensive medical policy with coverage for multiple trips of 30 days duration or less. If one maintains medical coverage in their home country, the Atlas Professional is designed to take the risk out of international multi-trip business or leisure travel.
http://www.eglobalhealth.com/aksaatlas-pro.html
• MultiNational Accident Plan (MAP): The first comprehensive personal accident plan for international travelers.
MAP features high limit Accidental Death and Dismemberment and high limit Permanent and Total Disability insurance – including coverage for most acts of War and Terrorism. This plan may be purchased alone or as a supplement to any other product and is available for any country in the world. No underwriting is required!
http://www.eglobalhealth.com/aksaaccident-insurance-plan.html
These insurance plans are offered as a service to our AKSA members. All plans are underwritten by Lloyd’s of London which provides accident and health insurance to over 1,000,000 people in 100 countries. Lloyd’s currently enjoys an A rating from Standard and Poors and is highly qualified to protect AKSA members on their next international trip.
MultiNational Underwriters (MNU) is the exclusive administrator for all the insurance plans offered mentioned above.
American Kite Surfing Association is the leading organization for kite surfers in North America. The purpose of the enterprise is to bring heightened awareness to this fast-growing, dynamic, and fun sport. www.kite-surfingusa.com.

Cathi Long
Executive VP
American Kite Surfing Association
Info@kite-surfingusa.com
727-772-1202

With over seventy 5 star hotels, and more being built, Dubai is proving to be one of the hottest tourist attractions in the world.  Tourism is an important ingredient of Dubai’s existence and the government has a strategy that is aimed toward encouraging the flow of cash from around the world into this, one of the seven emirates.  Dubai is well known as a shoppers paradise and the well heeled shopper can expect to find bargains and a wide assortment of shops, stores, and shopping malls to draw them in.

Huge numbers of shoppers and tourists come to Dubai from vast distances, drawn to the variety and cultural niceties offered.  Whether it’s the old style of shops which include the challenge of striking a bargain in the souk (Arabic for place or market) districts that attract shoppers, or the sleek, modern shopping malls, shoppers will find that Dubai is tailor maid for their bargain hunting pleasure.

Tourism is Big Business in Dubai

Unlike the rest of the United Arab Emirates, who rely on natural gas and petroleum for the bulk of their revenue, Dubai enjoys a hefty percentage of their revenue coming from tourist dollars, financial services, and real estate.  There is a tremendous building boom currently going on in this highly populated emirate.  The most populated of the seven emirates, Dubai has an alluring atmosphere everywhere you go.  Shoppers love the tremendous values to be found.  They come from Africa, Eastern Europe, also far eastern countries such as India, China, and Sri Lanka.  Many of the shops, boutiques, department stores, and supermarkets rely on fixed pricing for their mode of operation, there are many outlet shops and malls that cater to shoppers who love to haggle and strike a good hard bargain.  Clothing, electronics, sporting goods, cars, and even jewelry can all be found beneath on roof.

Don’t Miss out on the Shopping Festival

January of each year is the time of the Dubai Shopping festival and it lasts all month long.  This is the time for the entire emirate to become one huge, eclectic shopping mall.  In addition to the shopping delights, music, art shows, and folk dances offer much in entertainment value for tourists and locals as well.

How to Get to Dubai

There are direct flights to Dubai from most capital or major cities and over one hundred twenty airlines transport passengers in and out of the Dubai International Airport daily, taking them to over two hundred sixty destination points.  This is unarguably one of the most busy airports in the world.

Travelers will be required to have a visit Visa before entering Dubai, although many can merely obtain an entry permit stamp that is good for a ninety day period.  These regulations are not as stiff as may seem at first because having a visa and then validation from a hotel or tourist company can be all it takes to get the visit visa for at least a thirty day period. 

As a footnote, when traveling to Dubai, make sure not to have anything that might be mistaken for drugs of any sort because they are extremely strict in that regard.