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Safety Tips for Budget Travelers in Foreign Countries

December 15th, 2009 admin No comments

There are many things to keep in mind when traveling, whether you are a budget traveler or not. You obviously want to keep what money you have for your trip rather than lose it or have it stolen. You also want to keep yourself and traveling companions safe from harm. Here are some tips to follow to ensure your trip is safe and enjoyable in a foreign country.

 

1. Have a valid passport and all visas required for your trip. Make two copies of your passport. Keep one in a separate part of your travel luggage and the other leave with someone at home.

2. Be aware of any travel warnings for the country you are visiting. Find out about security and safety conditions in your destination.

3. Secure travel insurance!

4. Ensure you have been vaccinated against any infectious diseases prominent in the area you will be traveling to.

5. To make sure you can be contacted in case of an emergency, make a copy of your itinerary and leave it with someone at home.

6. Travel light and don’t pack valuables that you wouldn’t want to lose. Leave your jewelry at home but take an extra pair of glasses if you can’t live without them.

7. Remember you are a foreigner when you travel. You are a guest in their country and therefore should abide by their laws, and to a certain extent, their customs. For example, if you are a female traveling in an Islamic state, be considerate of your dress. 

8. Try not to bring too much attention to yourself when traveling. Don’t go out looking like a tourist with a flashy camera and expensive clothes. Try to blend into the scenery.

9. Travel in a group where possible and in well known areas. There will be times you want to get off the tourist track, so make sure you always have a traveling companion with you.

10. Only carry small amounts of cash on you. Your credit card and travelers checks will pay for most things.

11. Watch out for pickpockets! Wear a money belt and keep your purse/wallet in the front of your body. Report any loss or theft immediately to the local authorities.

12. Don’t leave your luggage unattended. Apart from having it stolen or items from it taken, you could also become an unsuspecting drug courier.

13. If traveling with a partner, pack half your clothes in their luggage and vice versa. This way if one of you loses your luggage, you will still have some clothes. 

14. Lock your luggage and label everything.

15. Lock your hotel room. Keep money and valuables with you, not left unattended in your room.

16. When using public transport be aware of possible theft. If you are traveling overnight, secure your luggage and sleep on top of it if possible. It is not uncommon for tourists to be drugged while on trains and buses so don’t accept gifts of food or drink from strangers on public transport. 

 

If at any time you feel unsafe, whether it is on the streets or in your accommodation, get out. Follow your instincts. Stay safe when you travel by being aware of the dangers and obeying the laws of the country you are visiting.

 

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

Stuart S. Travel / Your All World Online Travel Guru:

Sherry Hardesty has been a professional flight attendant for over 15 years. Her experience is extensive and she provides professional travel consulting and booking services at http://www.stuartstravel.com

Thailand Travel Tips

December 14th, 2009 admin No comments

Many travel destinations in Thailand are highly suitable if you are planning to have a quality vacation trip on an exotic land. Several wonderful Thai islands would definitely fit your getaway requirements as well as popular tourist attractions to satisfy your adventurous spirit. The northern part of Thailand is an excellent spot for nature trekking with its magnificent scenes of mountains and different types of animals and plants inhabiting the region. Travelers who want to have a relaxing sun bathing experience can go to a beach holiday in the shores of Phuket, Hua Hin, Koh Samui or Pattaya. You may find hotel accommodations available in the region specifically placed to cater the needs of the visitors. Thailand is complete with exciting places to visit. You may want to check out some websites on the Internet to determine which of the tourist destinations are fitting to your vacation preferences.

As the capital of the country, Bangkok thrives with famous tourist spots such as the well-preserved Buddhist temples. Almost all visitors traveling to Thailand spend some of their vacation days staying in Bangkok. Even though the air pollution and bad traffic situation in the vicinity could not be very pleasing to its tourists, the place still receives an excellent number of visitors for its spectacular shopping district as well as the famous floating markets.

Phuket is also one of the major places that tourists are aiming to go on a vacation. In fact, this largest island in Thailand has attracted many visitors to spend their summer getaway on its wide variety of beach resorts. The white sand beaches of Phuket have been some of the most sought places to go in order to experience a revitalizing beach experience. Phuket not only has great shores but also has excellent nightlife. Visitors coming to Thailand never fail to notice the liveliness of Phuket bars as wells as the entertainment provided by tourist attractions such as the Phuket Fantasea Show and Simon Cabaret Show.

Aside from Phuket, there are other alternatives for beach resorts in Thailand such as Pattaya and Samui. Pattaya is the closest beach area to central Bangkok, which makes it the most accessible summer place for Bangkok residents and visitors. Even though its beaches are not as excellent as the beaches of Samui and Phuket, visitors visit the location for its active nightlife. For tourists who want to have a great night party experience, the beer bars and other Pattaya nightlife places provide a lively environment for partygoers to try out. Moreover, Samui is another great place to find excellent beach areas. You may even want to try participating on several beach activities such as water sports and boat rides. The most popular beaches to discover in this region include Lamai Beach, Big Buddha Beach and Chaweng Beach.

Aside from the popular beaches of Thailand, you may also want to have an adventurous hike on the mountains of Chiang Mai. You may want to explore the culture of Thai tribes as well as participating in exciting events such as rafting and elephant riding. If you want to have a great time on your visit to Chiang Mai, make sure you schedule your travel with the Song Kran or Thailand’s New Year celebration.

Matthew Kepnes has been backpacking around the world for three years. He runs a popular website about long term budget travel. You can read about the things to do in thailand at his website.

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