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| INSURANCE |
| Before
leaving, check out your insurance coverage. |
- Does your health insurance policy cover you
out of the country? To what degree?
- If you'll be driving a car, does your auto
insurance cover you beyond your national boundaries?
- Is theft or loss of your personal property
covered by your homeowner's insurance?
- Will you need a separate travel policy?
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Many credit cards offer automatic
travel accident insurance. Be aware, however,
that in order to activate the coverage for loved
ones traveling with you, you may need to charge
each ticket individually or on your spouse's
or children's cards.
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DOCUMENTATION |
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Some governments require
international health certificates, signed
and stamped by your physician.
-
If you're bringing any
medication with you, an official-looking letter
from your doctor can help ease customs inspections.
-
An international driver's
license can also be very useful; sometimes
it's obligatory. Carry spare passport photos
to use for visas along the way.
-
Protect all documents--including
currency and tickets-by sealing them in a
ziplock-style plastic bag. Make photocopies
of all important documents and carry them
separately.
-
A photocopy of your birth
certificate can expedite the replacement of
a lost or stolen passport
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PACKING |
-
You should be able to carry your
bag (singular) at least half a mile, so keep it
light.
-
A good rule for packing is, "if
in doubt, don't take it."
-
Don't bring expensive items such
as valuable watches and accessories-only items that
can be easily replaced.
-
Don't pack military-look clothing
(you don't want to be mistaken for a guerrilla).
-
If you're going to the tropics,
cotton is the fabric of choice, especially for undergarments.
Not only is it cool, you can boil it to kill any
fungal infections.
- Pack a towel. It can be a shawl or blanket when
you're cold; rolled up it's a decent pillow. (You
can also use it to dry off!)
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SECURITY |
-
Thieves look for money belts,
but a neck pouch worn under your clothing often
goes unnoticed.
-
Use it to carry your passport,
tickets, visa photos, international driver's license,
credit cards, local currency and a few traveler's
checks.
-
Stow the remaining documents,
traveler's checks and their numbers in the bottom
of your bag. Then tuck a $20 bill in one sock and
the equivalent in local currency in the other, just
for emergencies
- Bring along a water purifier or filter. And if you
have doubts about the water, order your drinks without
ice!
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Things
to Carry on Your Person |
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A
passport, for all travel outside the U.S. and
identification purposes |
|
Wallet. |
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Driver's License.
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Insurance
cards for both your medical and automobile insurance. |
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Credit cards.
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Travelers
checks. |
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Coupons. |
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Airline, Cruise
or Train tickets. |
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Itinerary
with confirmation numbers and addresses and
phone numbers of where you'll be staying. |
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Travel brochures
and maps. |
|
Lots of crisp
one-dollar bills for all those tipping opportunities.
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Insurance
cards for both your medical and automobile insurance. |
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A small amount
of local currency for immediate use to hold
you over until you can make it to a currency
exchange, if you're planning foreign travel.
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You may need to purchase converters
or adapters in order to use your electrical appliances
in another country. Don’t be caught off guard;
check ahead of time so you can bring them with you.
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Learn
a few key phrases and words in the language of the country
to which you’re travelling. Here are some suggestions:
Label your entire luggage and even try to carry an extra
set of labels with you. Carry an extra set of lock and
keys, just in case. It's not a good idea to travel with
too much cash. Travellers' cheques are best. |
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