Top Travel Tips

General Tips

• Try to keep your wallet and valuables safely secured in a handbag or in one of your hand luggage.
• Change some money into the local currency before you depart.
• Keep a small amount of this local currency, easily accessible in a pocket or something, and away from the majority of your well earned money. You will need sufficient for the ride into town, a tip (perhaps) and a little for unforeseen needs like toll ways or a bottle of water.
• Don’t draw attention to yourself, avoid wearing flashy jewelry and don’t display large amounts of cash. Carry only enough cash to make it through the day and leave the rest in the hotel’s safe.
• Do not carry your passport around; leave it in the safe in your hotel. A photocopy will suffice if local law states that you need to.
• If you have not been able to find anything out about the airport that you are visiting then ask one of the airline staff, or the government tourism booth (if they have one at the airport) for some assistance, or tips on the best way of travelling.
• Avoid traveling alone.
• Be careful about sharing your traveling plans with strangers.
• Stick to the main roads and avoid taking shortcuts down narrow alleys and/or poorly lit streets.
• Always be aware of what is going on around you.
• Only use taxis, tours and other transportation services with official markings. Only select transportation from official pickup points at transportation hubs
• Never accept gifts or packages from unknown parties.
• Don’t accept items from locals to carry out of the country and deliver or mail to someone they know.
• Know the laws about exchanging money. Only use official exchange facilities since this is another area that can get you into trouble fast.
  

Travelling with Children

• If your child is traveling alone, you should write all the numbers that would be helpful for the child on a note, or in a little date book for when she/he arrives at the final destination.
• Always keep a recent photo of your child in your wallet - in case you loose them in a crowed area, and need help in locating them.
• When travelling with children, write down the name, address and telephone number of the place you are staying at on a piece of paper, and "I'm lost, please call my parents" or something of the sort, and make sure your child carries it in his/her pocket/wallet. Tell the child that whenever he or she gets lost, he/she should hand the piece of paper to someone that can help them. Children don't remember hotel or street names, while a piece of paper makes sure they get it right.
• Buy hand sanitizer - it works without water and is perfect for cleaning sticky hands when you can't find a restroom.
• Use baby wipes not only for wiping hands, face, etc., but also for getting out stains on clothing.
• Pack some finger foods, like fruit, pretzels and cereal for your children to enjoy during the flight. These items might help them adjust to in-cabin pressure changes. For younger children, try using bottles, "sippy cups" or pacifiers to help ease inner ear pressure. For older children, chewing gum can serve the same purpose.

In the Hotel

• If the hotel has a safe in the room, use it and keep all your valuables in there.
• Never leave valuables in soft/material bags with pockets even if they are locked. This avoids any potential of somebody simply splitting a seam to a pocket with a knife and removing select contents.
  

Health Tips

• If you have any food allergies, learn the names of those foods in the languages used in the countries you’ll be visiting. This way you’ll be better equipped to stay on the lookout for them.
• Find out what types of diseases are common to the area you’ll be visiting and take actions to prevent your exposure to those diseases.
• Find out what types of vaccinations you will need to enter the country, there may also be medications you’ll need to take before, during and even after your trip. Get your vaccinations early in case you have a reaction and need some recovery time.
• Be careful what you eat and drink.
• Stick with bottled or boiled water and carbonated soft drinks.
• Remember that the ice in your drink turns into water, so order them without ice.
• Wipe off the tops of cans before you drink from them, or better yet, bring some straws to use for drinking.
• Avoid raw foods, as they can also be a good way to get sick.