Fly on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday if possible, as these days are
typically the cheapest days to fly.
Include a Saturday-night stay if possible. Usually, the lowest fare is
available only if you include a Saturday-night stay in your itinerary.
Fly on the same airline for all legs of your trip to take advantage of
any round-trip or connecting fare discounts.
Buy your tickets at least 14, preferably 21, days in advance to take
advantage of advance-purchase discounts. For travel at peak travel periods, such as
holidays, buy even earlier, as the cheaper seats tend to sell out quickly.
Consider using alternative airports. Sometimes you can lower your fare
by flying out of and into less busy airports that may be located near your first-choice
airports. For example, if your departure or destination point is San Francisco, you may be
able to save money by using the Oakland or San Jose airport.
Be flexible, if possible, with flight times. Early morning flights and
non-direct flights (those including layovers or connections) are often less expensive.
Be sure to select at least 10 or 15 for the number of flight options to
be displayed on the reservations form, especially when viewing international flights.
Before You Go Traveling Abroad--A Check List
Before you pack your bags and take off, find out all you can about the places you are
visiting. Information about various destinations can be found at travel agencies, tourist
offices, travel guides, and on the Web. The more you know about the place before visiting,
the more valuable your trip will be.
Be sure to have your travel
documents in order. You will need a passport as well as any necessary visas for the
countries you plan to visit before confirming your travel plans.
Plan your trip as much as possible
before you leave. It can be quite difficult to get reservations at the last moment in a
foreign country, especially if you do not understand the language.
Budget your expenditures. Try to
estimate your average cost per day (food, accommodation, and sightseeing). Remember to
factor in travel insurance, emergencies, and shopping as well!
Purchase travel insurance. Travel
insurance usually covers many factors like missed flights, lost baggage, and medical
emergencies. For a few extra dollars it can save you not only money, but your vacation as
well (not to mention peace of mind!)
Avoid looking like a tourist by dressing
conservatively and being inconspicuous with your camera and map. Leave your expensive
jewelry in your hotel safe, or better yet at home! An affluent appearance makes you a more
likely target for thieves.
Carry your valuables in concealed inside
pockets or in a sturdy bag with the strap across your chest. Handbags, outside pockets,
and fanny packs are all easy prey for pickpockets and thieves.
Put your name, address, and telephone
number on the inside as well as the outside of every piece of luggage. This will help in
identifying your luggage if it is lost or stolen.
Note the credit limit on your cards. In
some countries, you can get arrested for exceeding your limit. Keep a copy of the contact
numbers of your credit card companies with you. Usually the toll free numbers are not
valid outside of the country of issue.
Before You Go on an Extended Journey--A Check List
Hotel Tips & Safety Advice
If you plan to stay at a specific hotel for an extended duration,
negotiate the best rate possible with the hotel sales staff. You can usually get better
rates than regular "corporate" rates.
If you will be working in your hotel room, ask for a room away from the
hotel pool area. Otherwise, you will end up dealing with all the pool noise.
If you have a confirmed reservation and the hotel has overbooked, then you
should ask for a free long distance telephone call to notify your office or family; free
transportation to a nearby comparable hotel; and the first night at that nearby comparable
hotel. You could also ask for free upgrade certificates or free weekend vouchers.
Some basic safety measures taken in your hotel room can greatly increase
the likelihood that your next trip will be without incident. Read carefully the following
and make a note of these tips before your next trip.
Locate all the fire exits, elevators and public phones.
Always keep the door closed and locked when you're in the room.
Never open your door without first knowing who is behind the door.
Call the front desk to verify unexpected deliveries or room service or
room repairs.
Place all your valuables in the hotel safe and get a written statement
of what you store. Be sure to also confirm that the hotel's insurance will cover your
items if stolen.
Leave the television or radio on when you out of the room.
Do not place the "require maid service" sign on your door. It
may signal that you are out of the room.
If you lose or misplace your key, notify the front desk immediately.
Avoid riding alone in elevators with strangers. Ask the hotel desk for
an escort or ride when there are more people on the elevator.
Be sure that your room has a dead bolt, a chain, and a regular door
lock. Make sure you use all of them before going to sleep.
Eating Out Overseas
While water can pose health problems, one can
usually find a safe substitute. Food presents more of a problem. Certain kinds of food are
more risky than most. Foods of particular concern include salads, uncooked vegetables and
fruit, unpasteurized milk and milk products, raw meat and shellfish.
In many areas, night soil (human excretion) is used as fertilizer. The
bacteria or parasitic cysts in the feces can contaminate fruits and vegetables grown in
the fertilized soil. Consequently, you should avoid leafy and uncooked vegetables and
salads when eating out or use disinfectants like Pottassium Permanganate while cleaning.
Fruits, nuts, and vegetables can be safe if they are well cleaned and
still have their skin or shell intact. If you peel fruit yourself, it is generally safe,
provided you have clean hands.
Parasites in meat and fish can cause illness, but you can avoid this by
ordering them to be cooked very well done and served piping hot. Food that has been cooked
completely through and is still hot is generally safe.
Some fish may not be safe even when cooked because of the presence of
toxins in their flesh. Highest risk areas for unsafe fish include the islands of the West
Indies, the tropical Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Avoid eating the internal organs, where
toxins tend to collect, and also eating larger fish, which usually have higher
concentrations of toxins than the smaller fish upon which they feed.
Always avoid cold meat platters, mayonnaise and creamy desserts. These
dishes are often made with raw or semi cooked ingredients and so make ideal cultures for
germs.
Always avoid unpasteurized dairy products, including cheese and yogurt.
When in doubt, stick to canned or powdered milk.
Health Insurance for Travel
There are a large variety of insurance policies
available for travelers. Check that the plan you are considering will cover you in all
situations. Always remember to carefully read through the contract before you decide on a
particular policy.
Some policies specifically exclude certain sports and activities including
scuba diving, motorcycling, bungee jumping and even hiking. Choose your policy after
planning your activities and ask your insurance agent to verify that they are covered.
Try to choose a policy that pays doctors or hospitals directly rather than
requiring you to pay first and claim later.
If you need to make a claim later, be sure to keep all documentation.
Insurance companies are notoriously slow in paying claims that are not properly
documented.
Check if the policy covers ambulances, rescue teams, helicopters and
emergency flights home.
Be sure your policy provides for bringing the body home in the event of a
death.
Check to see whether bringing your family home in the event of your
illness or injury is covered.
Some policies cover the cost of replacing and/or bringing your car home in
the event you are unable to do so. This is a good option to keep in mind if you are
planning long road trips away from home.
