Travelling is a popular leisure activity for us all, but what might be a holiday of a lifetime can turn into a nightmare if you are not properly prepared. When travelling we find ourselves in strange places, unfamiliar with our surroundings and placed at the mercy of unscrupulous tourism businesses and people.
When travelling abroad you want to relax and enjoy yourself but there are critical decisions and sometimes important considerations to be made to avoid disappointing yourself or wasting time and money while on holiday.
Below, you will find some useful general tips and several websites with information specific to your destination:
Plan before you go: spending the time with guide books and the internet before you leave will help you decide which places are really worth visiting and which are likely to disappoint you. It’s useful to be aware in advance what circumstances might cause stress or produce poor value for money.
Don’t over pack: most tourists take much more than they need, especially when visiting warm countries. Remember, you may need to lug your suitcase around and will almost certainly be bringing back a few souvenirs so you should keep some room in your suitcase to avoid an overweight charge. If you are visiting a cheap country you will always have the option to buy something you may have left behind.
Get you vaccinations in time: this is critical if you are visiting a country known for specific diseases. The locals may be somewhat immune to local strains of diseases, such as malaria, but you won’t. Sometimes you will need vaccinations several weeks in advance to be properly covered. Many developing countries have a problem with food hygiene and transmittable diseases such as HIV.
Don’t forget your travel insurance: people are often at a higher risk for accidents when in an unfamiliar environment, especially driving in a strange country. Some countries, such as the US, have astronomical medical charges and you certainly won’t be covered by your local medical plan. Ensure that your recovery isn’t compromised in a risky situation, and let travel insurance give you peace of mind regarding the security of your personal belongings.
Keep a money belt: naïve tourists are often targets for petty theft, especially if they are used to living in a far more secure society. Poorer countries are plagued by theft and the law enforcement may not be very effective. Always keep your credit cards, cash and passport with you at all times in a safe place. Money belts are good for smaller items, or a well secured bum bag for cameras and electronic devices. You should also make a habit of using the hotel’s safety deposit boxes.
Make arrangements in advance: this is the surest way to ensure you are not disappointed by booked-out venues and facilities. Most of this can be done over the internet now and it saves you the uncertainty. If you are travelling freely then it’s advisable during busy periods to secure onward tickets a few days in advance, or plan to arrive at a new destination as early as possible.
Be patient: people who work in tourist destinations exist in a holiday environment and may be less conscience of time. Try not to squeeze too much into each day, or expect immediate or efficient service. Some places may be busy, while others are typically more laid back and casual than you are used to.
Meet the locals: this is always the most rewarding way to experience a foreign country. By learning a little bit of their language and customs you are less likely to offend them or be ripped off, instead they are often quite welcoming.
Take a calculator: this will come in very handy every time you need to figure out prices according to exchange rates. It’s also useful for communicating prices at markets and shops where they may not speak English.
More resources:
Footprint Guides
This thorough resource offers all sorts of services, tips and advice to travellers across the globe.
http://www.footprintguides.com/
Free travel tips
A useful website which offers advice on all sorts of travel tasks, including packing, planning, finding rooms, hiring cars, flying and much more.
http://www.freetraveltips.com/
travel tips.org
A very professional site which covers all the most popular countries with a useful message board to ask for all share travel advice.
http://www.traveltip.org/index.php
BBC Holiday
Presented by the Beeb, this site has a handy collection of travel tips sent in by users, viewers and travellers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/holiday/tips/