Travel really does broaden the mind but, without the necessary preparation, it can also be fraught with hazards. By following a few principles of world travel advice, it is possible to broaden the mind without compromising health, safety or sanity. With information so widely available on the Internet, it is easy to do the necessary homework.
Your first port of call online should be the website of American State Department travel office, where you can even download a useful app for your smart phone. Called Smart Traveler, it contains information about the location of the American embassy, medical facilities, traffic safety and information about local crimes.
Both the app and the website will have information about the relationship between your destination and the United States. You should be aware of any threats to United States citizens or details of any civil unrest. You may decide to make alterations to where you stay or even decide not to go altogether.
Before leaving the country, you will need a valid passport. Always check the date that your current passport expires and make sure it is updated well in advance of your departure. This is one area where American bureaucracy shines, so it should not present too much of a headache. Make sure also that it is valid for at least six months after your planned return. As efficient as embassy staff are, you do not want to discover at the airport that your passport has expired.
For some countries, especially in the tropics, there are requirements for vaccinations before you go. You may need to be immunized against diseases like hepatitis, yellow fever, tetanus, smallpox or others. The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control websites will have the information you need. Malaria is also a problem, but there is no vaccination for this at this time. You will therefore need to consider taking medication, wearing long clothing to protect you from mosquito bites, use insect repellent or mosquito nets.
Don't even think about leaving the country without travel insurance. You should get at least a million dollars' worth of medical insurance. Becoming ill or being injured in a foreign country can get expensive, especially if you have to be repatriated by ambulance. There may also be ongoing expenses after you return home, depending on the nature of the illness or injury. Other items covered on a travel policy include loss of luggage or money and costs due to travel delays. Most policies will have exclusions for riots, acts of war or acts of God (hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes).
Another major pain in the neck faced by international travelers is being held up at Customs because they tried to bring something into the country that was not allowed. Make sure you know exactly what you can and not bring across the border. This especially applies to foodstuffs. Ignorance is no excuse, nor is trying to convince the officials that your auntie's favorite chocolates are not food. Many such items are allowable, but you do need to declare them. Know also what you may and not bring onto the plane. Some things, like duty-free alcohol, is allowable in the cargo luggage but not in the belongings you take onto the aircraft.
Provided you learn from the necessary world travel advice, you will have a good time. Know what vaccines you need, what the atmosphere is like and what you can take into the country or on the plane.
Your first port of call online should be the website of American State Department travel office, where you can even download a useful app for your smart phone. Called Smart Traveler, it contains information about the location of the American embassy, medical facilities, traffic safety and information about local crimes.
Both the app and the website will have information about the relationship between your destination and the United States. You should be aware of any threats to United States citizens or details of any civil unrest. You may decide to make alterations to where you stay or even decide not to go altogether.
Before leaving the country, you will need a valid passport. Always check the date that your current passport expires and make sure it is updated well in advance of your departure. This is one area where American bureaucracy shines, so it should not present too much of a headache. Make sure also that it is valid for at least six months after your planned return. As efficient as embassy staff are, you do not want to discover at the airport that your passport has expired.
For some countries, especially in the tropics, there are requirements for vaccinations before you go. You may need to be immunized against diseases like hepatitis, yellow fever, tetanus, smallpox or others. The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control websites will have the information you need. Malaria is also a problem, but there is no vaccination for this at this time. You will therefore need to consider taking medication, wearing long clothing to protect you from mosquito bites, use insect repellent or mosquito nets.
Don't even think about leaving the country without travel insurance. You should get at least a million dollars' worth of medical insurance. Becoming ill or being injured in a foreign country can get expensive, especially if you have to be repatriated by ambulance. There may also be ongoing expenses after you return home, depending on the nature of the illness or injury. Other items covered on a travel policy include loss of luggage or money and costs due to travel delays. Most policies will have exclusions for riots, acts of war or acts of God (hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes).
Another major pain in the neck faced by international travelers is being held up at Customs because they tried to bring something into the country that was not allowed. Make sure you know exactly what you can and not bring across the border. This especially applies to foodstuffs. Ignorance is no excuse, nor is trying to convince the officials that your auntie's favorite chocolates are not food. Many such items are allowable, but you do need to declare them. Know also what you may and not bring onto the plane. Some things, like duty-free alcohol, is allowable in the cargo luggage but not in the belongings you take onto the aircraft.
Provided you learn from the necessary world travel advice, you will have a good time. Know what vaccines you need, what the atmosphere is like and what you can take into the country or on the plane.
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Check out the World Dispatches blog for excellent world travel advice, today. You can also get more information about budget-friendly hotel deals at world-dispatches.com right now.
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