Top Travel Tips
Vacation types are a very personal choice, which is affected by a range of factors such as personality type, age, general health and financial means. Different people look for different types of holidays and this is completely understandable.
We are focusing this area however on those of you who have the urge to explore the globe in a more adventurous fashion, those of you who wish to steer away from the popular package holiday type, which often keeps you based in the same area for the entirety of your trip. Do you wish to delve deeper into a country, visit more than one area within it, avoid tourist traps and get off the beaten track? Do you dream of doing this, but lack the confidence and have little idea where to start?
We are here to share with you our top travel tips, in order to help you make this dream a reality!
One of the major factors influencing people to stick in their comfort zone when it comes to travel is their worry about the risks involved with travelling independently from a tour operator. Who will they rely on to finalise their itinerary? Who will they turn to for advice or when things possibly go wrong?
Holding up our hands, yes we agree that certain parts of the globe are incredibly difficult for wanderlusting folk to visit, without going through a reputable tour operator. There are however many countries that are perfectly doable on your own, which are safe to travel and are actually very reasonably priced to make for a cheap get away. All you need to do is take the leap of faith away from the tour guide companies, familiarise yourself with our top travel tips, and the world’s your oyster!
Study The Embassy
Study your home country’s embassy within your destination. For example, whenever we travel we look at ‘UK embassy in Malaysia,’ ‘UK Embassy in India’ etc. This will present to you all the critical information you need to gauge whether or not a country is safe for tourists, giving specific area information, possible health risks, for example, diseases that may be of threat, entry requirements, for example visas, entry/exit fees and much more.
Register With The Embassy
Register with your embassy. If there’s a problem in the country you are visiting, this will make it much easier for your government to contact you and get you to safety.
G.P. Appointment
Book an appointment with your G.P. They will inform you what vaccines and inoculations you may need to both meet the entry requirements of your destined country and to also keep yourself protected. They may wish to refer you to a tropical disease doctor to provide you with further information on your destination.
Research Your Destination
Research your destination in as much depth as feasibly possible, using reputable travel books for example ‘The Lonely Planet,’ or The Rough Guide,’ as well as professional online sources. Take note of the year-round climate patterns (as a country may differ from your home country’s climate). Find specific locations you wish to visit and plan your route wisely, referring to a map, making sure to travel in a logical order that will save the least amount of time on the move.
Emergency Contacts
Collate an emergency contact list to take with you including your home country’s embassy contact number, next of kin contact numbers and contact numbers along with addresses of nearest hospitals in the places you are visiting.
Travel Insurance
Make sure you purchase the correct type of travel insurance, not just the cheapest available option.
Travel First Aid Kit
click here to read our recommended list
Bank
Inform your bank at least a month in advance of where and when you are going. They will otherwise suspect your card may have been stolen and stop it from working abroad, or the cash machine you are using may swallow your card for protection purposes against fraud.
Currency
Convert currency prior to departing if possible, not the whole amount of money you plan to use for the entire trip, however; have enough for the first few days, at least until you can find a bank to exchange some more in situ. Note, that some currencies need to be ordered in advance, so give your exchange point at least two week’s notice.
Conversion Rate
Get your head around the monetary conversion rate for your destination. If this is something you are likely to forget, make the effort to create or print offline a small currency conversion chart which you can refer back to when checking the price of goods on your trip.
Mobile Phones
Inform your phone company where and when you are travelling, making sure your network will allow you to use your phone abroad.
Documentation Copies
Take with you a few photocopies of your passport, in case it gets stolen. Also, leave behind a copy with a trusted relative or friend.
Photo ID
Take with you 4 spare passport-size photos, which may be needed to complete a visa on arrival in some countries.
Travel Itinerary
Let your family know your full travel plans, with an itinerary if possible of which country, area and accommodation you plan to stay in (with dates attached). We understand that a lot of backpacking trips tend to open themselves up to booking accommodation on arrival and paying as you go, per night, which is something we have done a lot of in the past. If this is the case, aim to inform your family of the name of the accommodation where you have chosen to stay.