Planning and Preparation for Going Travelling
Avoiding Culture Shock
When you have decided on the country or countries that you want to visit, try and find out as much as you can about them. There are so many different sources of information and it pays to consult as many as possible. Talk to people who have been there, have a look on the internet, get travel brochures and guide books.
Learning about the culture of the places you visit and the religious and political beliefs of the people who live there will help you to get the most out of your travels and ensure that you don’t accidentally flout local customs or laws. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust commissioned some research a few year’s ago and one of the findings was that a very high proportion of unpleasant incidents experienced by travellers resulted from misunderstanding caused by ignorance of local cultural and political conditions.
Cultural, political and environmental knowledge can also help you to decide when you travel. For example, there are countries in the world that you might not want to visit during political elections. Religious and cultural festivals can be amazing events to witness but it is as well to be aware that they are taking place and you might also want to be prepared for any extreme weather conditions.
What to say and not say!
You don’t have to be fluent in a foreign language but knowing the basics such as how to greet people politely and how to saw yes, no, please, thank you, how much et cetera will be helpful.
In Britain, we are used to free speech and being able to criticise our politicians etc. However, there are lots of areas of the world where expressing political opinions could get you into serious trouble. A good guidebook should keep you right but it is usually best to avoid talking about tricky subjects like politics, civil rights etc.
The Essentials
Passports should be valid for at least 6 months after you plan to return from your travels and it will help if the photo still looks like you. If the photograph was taken seven or eight years ago then this could be a problem and it might be worth getting a new photo put in to avoid unnecessary hassle at customs. Lastly, check your passport isn’t too battered or damaged in any way – another cause of suspicion and delays at customs.
You also need to find out if you need visas for the country or countries you intend to visit. The Foreign Office website will tell you if you need these and it is a good idea to apply for them in plenty of time.
Travel insurance is an essential. A staggering number of us go abroad every year without it but it is not an option and it is really worthwhile making sure you get a policy that suits your needs rather than getting the cheapest one on the market.
Think carefully about what you are going to be doing on your trip. Remember if you are going to be working then you need working cover and if you think that white water rafting or bungee jumping sound attractive then check what your policy says about extreme sports!! Be especially careful to read what your policy does not cover and under what circumstances they will not pay out. It is worth remembering that most insurance companies will refuse to pay if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the incident occurs.
When booking tickets it is a good idea to get a return ticket no matter how long you intend to travel for. You can always change the date you come back but having a return ticket booked gives you extra security just in case things go wrong.
Medical Precautions
One of the best ways to avoid things going wrong is to make sure you take the necessary medical precautions. This is not something you can do at the last minute, Once you have decided where you are going find out what you need to be vaccinated against and any other health precautions you need to take.
If you are travelling within the EU, remember that you need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which entitles you to reduced-cost, sometimes free, medical treatment in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. You can apply for one of these online, by post or by phone and all the details you need are on the Department of Health’s website. If you need to have injections or get medication then go and see your GP in plenty of time. They are usually very good at advising you what health precautions you need to take and how to manage with any medication you are currently on.
By the way it is a good idea to make sure you are as healthy as possible before you go travelling. Your first days and weeks of travelling can be pretty physically demanding so try and make sure you are fairly fit. As well as thinking about any medications you regularly take it is also a good idea to have a spare pair of specs if you need them and to go to the dentist before you leave.
Money Matters
Make sure that you have enough money and some in reserve just in case you need it. You also need to decide whether you are going to take currency, travellers’ cheques or rely on a card. It’s usually best to have a combination of the three but consult guide books and other sources of information to find out what will work best where you are going. Remember that travelling with too much money in currency is obviously going to make you more of a target for thieves.
Final Preparations
Make photocopies of your passport, your travel tickets and all other important documents. Leave one set with someone you trust and take one set with you, preferably in a waterproof plastic envelope. If you are feeling a bit more hi tech you could scan these documents into your computer and keep them on file or even e-mail them to yourself at a hotmail or similar account so that you can access them easily.
You should make a note of emergency telephone numbers including the phone number and address of the British Consulate or Embassy in the country or countries you are visiting. The phone numbers to call if your credit card or travellers cheques get stolen and your insurance emergency number are also essential. Make a note of the dialling codes and telephone numbers of the friends and family in the UK. You may think that you know them off by heart but in a difficult situation or emergency your mind might well go blank.
Staying in Touch
Plan in advance how you are going to stay in touch with people at home. If you are going to be travelling around, then make sure they have a copy of your itinerary and keep them up to date with any changes in your plans. If you are travelling for a long time why not set up a website journal that you can update and where other people can post messages to you?
Try and find out how easy it will be to phone, write or e-mail people at home but don’t promise to call someone every Sunday evening at 5o’clock and then find that Sunday evening comes round and you are somewhere remote with no way of getting in touch with them until the following week.
And Finally...
Remember that planning and preparation does not stop when your plane takes off. Keep thinking ahead all the time you are travelling. Talk to travellers you meet out there and see what advice or recommendations they have to offer. Talk to local people too, they are usually far better informed than even the best guidebook especially when it comes to where is safe and where is not in their area. Try and get into the habit of thinking "What if..." and you should be ready for most things.
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