Travel Tips
Travel Tips - In this page I would like to advice, remind and inform you some of the tips when you're travelling. These advices and tips are not just for a Costa Rica vacations, but in general. You can take these advices and use these tips for any countries you’re travelling.
This information I have gathered are not something new or never heard before, but it’s just a reminder to all of my visitors when planning to travel because it’s very easy to forget little things which can make a big difference. For your peace of mind remember to take out Travel Insurance well in advance of travelling. The policy will cover you for any medical expenses that you incur should you be involved in an accident or become ill and require hospitalisation. In some cases medical costs can be astronomic and without sufficient insurance cover you could end up in serious trouble. Apart from medical expenses the policy you take out should also cover things like; legal expenses, cancellation & curtailment, loss of money, baggage & passport, repatriation and personal liability. Make sure you are covered for any activity that you intend to undertake so that you and your equipment are covered while participating, e.g. scuba diving, skiing etc. It is very important for you to enjoy yourself when travelling, whether it is for business or pleasure and you must not be constantly worrying about what you should or shouldn’t be doing. Travel Tips... Most people in most countries that you will meet on your vacation abroad will be honest, friendly and hospitable. But it is an unfortunate fact of life that not everyone you may meet will be as such. It is highly advisable to leave copies of your important documents such as: passport, driving license, tickets, visas, medical documents, prescriptions and so on with a good friend just in case you need a back-up sent to you in an emergency. Also, leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency. Familiarise yourself with any local laws and customs of the countries to which you are travelling and abide by them. Know the laws about exchanging money and deal only with authorised agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques. Remember, while you are in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. Travel Tips... Don’t leave your luggage unattended in public areas especially in airports and never accept packages from strangers. Put identifying markings on the suitcases you check through such as bold coloured tape in a recognisable design. You could also put tape over the closure to prevent tampering by baggage handlers. Don't put all your valuables in luggage you check; e.g. jewellery, watches, cameras. Remove old airline destination tags. Don't use your home address on you luggage tags. You don't need to let anyone know the location of your empty house is. Put your business card in your luggage tag. For an extra measure of security, attach another business card inside in case your bag gets lost. Travel Tips... Make sure you have a signed, valid passport (and any visas, if required). Most countries require you to have a full 10 year passport. Before you make your journey, make sure you fill in the emergency contact information page of your passport. Make two copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. You should leave one copy at home with relatives or friends and carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport. Travel Tips... For you to avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewellery. Dress conservatively and try to blend in with the rest. Don't draw attention to yourself, avoid wearing flashy jewellery and don't display large amounts of cash. Do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards. You should carry only enough cash to make it through the day and leave the rest in the hotels safe. If you haven't left your valuables at home, leave them in your hotels safe. Do not carry your passport around; leave it in the safe in your hotel. Keep a photocopy with you that will suffice if local law states that you need to. Travel Tips... You should avoid travelling alone. Always be aware of what is going on around you. Try to look as if you know where you are going, this may not be so easy if this is the first ever time in that country, but even still look confident as if you know. Stick to the main roads and avoid taking shortcuts down narrow alleys and / or poorly lit streets. Carrying maps around looking perplexed, and stopping to look at monuments or buildings, obviously shows that you are from out of town, and may attract the wrong type of attention. Don’t pull large amounts of cash out of your pocket. This will catch attention, no matter what country you are in. It sounds so silly, but it is amazing how many people pull out a mound of cash to buy some small item. Try to plan and think about where you are going that day and carry sufficient cash or travellers cheques for that and any unforeseen extras, plus a credit card. That should cover all you need and will limit any losses if anything did happen. Using travellers cheques, will always be helpful, as will using a credit card for any purchases made so that you can take advantage of the additional insurance offered. Make a list of your credit card and traveller’s cheques company phone numbers in case you have to cancel them in the event of loss or theft. Travel Tips... Approach any special deals with caution, especially if you have to go off the beaten path to get them. If it sounds too good to be true, it is - it's as simple as that. Never accept gifts or packages from unknown parties to carry out of the country and deliver or mail to someone they know. Beware of well-dressed people who happen to be around, happen to speak your language fluently and happen to come up to you and start chatting. Gangs exist that are fronted by some very credible people who win your confidence and then take you to see their friend or a relative where you can buy lots of different things at low, low prices. Don't be tempted - you will get ripped off. Do not accept drinks from anybody that you have just met, especially if in dubious surroundings or do not know, they could be laced with any type of concoction. Under any circumstances don’t get involved with or take drugs. Some counties have severe penalties for drug misuse including the death penalty. You could get to stay a long time in that at the government's expense if you are caught even with a very small amount. Travel Tips... Wherever you travel it is always worthwhile making a note of where your local embassy is. Your embassy is your connection to your home country while on holiday and they are there to assist you if you lose your passport or are in trouble. You will normally find your embassy in the capital city of a country, though other major cities might have consulates or consulate offices. Please read the links below for more travel tips and advices. Return from Travel Tips to Home Page
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