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Research Travel > Traveler TipsTravellers are
advised to consult a
physician or travel medicine
specialist well in advance of travelling to
determine health risks. Important factors
to be considered include the individual's state
of health, current immunization status, and travel
destination, as well as the local disease situation.
Before you
leave check Health Advisories for Canadian &
US Travelers.
Check with your bank
for information on ATM services in other countries.
You can also check VISA ATMs or Mastercard ATMs for the addresses of
ATMs around the world. Leave copies of your card
numbers with a
family member in case of emergency. (Put your
credit cards on a photocopier and copy both sides
of all your cards at one time.)
Always try
to have some
local currency on hand where possible.
Petty crime occurs everywhere unfortunately,
even in wonderful exotic destinations or vibrant
cities. Take caution
on unpatrolled beaches and unpopulated areas,
especially at night. Check with local authorities or
people to determine which areas and activities are
safe. Pay
attention to your personal valuables at all times. Do
not leave your valuables unattended on the beach
or in a rental car. Check Travel Warnings
from the United States Department of State. Check Travel Reports from the
Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs.
If you don't
have a Map or Travel Guide of where you are going,
check here: Lonely Planet
Guidebooks
Protect yourself with
adequate travel insurance. Here is our
recommended insurance provider. Get quotes on
Travel Medical
Policies. New country, new culture, no coverage? Apply now for medical health
insurance.
Reconfirm all your flights
directly with the appropriate airline, 72 hours prior to
departure, at each point of departure. When
reconfirming your flights, check that any frequent
flyer numbers, special meals and seating requests
are in order. Call the airline company overseas if
you have to even if it's in another continent. It
doesn't get any simpler than using Pingo when it comes to long-distance
phone calls that will save you a bundle. Once
you're signed up, just dial the local or toll-free
access number for the country you're calling
from and follow the prompts. Retain all boarding
passes and tickets until accrual of frequent flyer
points has been confirmed on your statement. Note
all International Baggage Allowances (excluding
infants under 2 years of age) and check these with
all air carriers, international, regional and local. Make
sure you have a passport and all required visas for
entry into the countries you are visiting. Check here
for US passports.
Many tourists look for unique travel adventures.
They want to discover relatively untouched and
unspoiled lands, experience different customs,
reach new understandings of the world, see exotic
flora and fauna, or extend the limits of their physical
capabilities. These activities are exciting but they
can
sometimes be accompanied by certain hazards. In
order to minimize the chances of something going
wrong, take the time to learn about your destination
and what
you are about to do. Before you undertake a trip that
will test you mentally and physically, make sure you
know yourself. Is this what you want to do? Is this
something
you are capable of doing? See below for links to
Health & Medical information.
Print
off this page as a good checklist of things to do
before travelling. We have an amazing list of travel
resources under "Resources" that will save you
bundles of time and energy hunting around the web
looking for them; bookmark our portal page so
these resources are handy. After you've taken
these precautions you can enjoy a worry-free and
better trip.