Travel shots - carry your immunization card at all times with your passport- some countries require verification of shots and health insurance to enter through customs.
Learn what other goverments recommend for the country you will be visiting
The World Health Organization is another resource
List of medicines- it's important to carry several copies of a list of your prescribed medicines, if you need to visit a pharmacy or doctor they will be more clear what should be prescribed to you. Also, let your travel partner know where this list is, in case you are too sick or injured to do it yourself.
Per our govermental agencies, Iamat.org, and The Mayo Clinic
Always carry your prescriptions in the original pharmacy issued bottle. You don't want to be accused of transporting drugs.
Another tip for you, as you are waiting to board the plane, pull what you will need in meds for the duration of your flight +6 hours and put them in your pack. Many airlines, especially overseas have very little space for carryon luggage. Yours might be taken from you and put underneath, if this is the case and you experience a delay with take off ~ you will not have access to your meds if you are on specific time interval to take them.
My personal experience regarding carrying prescription medicine
Bringing your own medicines and first aid-
We have had several instances where it was best to have over the counter medicines from the United States that we are familiar with using.
In Milan, Italy John developed severe allergies to a pollen from a tree not found where we live. He was miserable, and we didn't think to pack Claritin as allergies were not an issue for either of us. The pharmacy recommended a medicine that I googled when we returned to the hotel. It was not FDA approved, and compared to other OTC medicines I was familiar with the side of effects with the Italian medicine were quite scary. Needless to say, he suffered until we reached the Ligurian Coast and the reaction disappeared at that time.
While onboard the Pacific Princess, 2 days from any land on rough seas I cut my big toe very badly. Instead of stitches, I was super glued back together, and the Australian doctor onboard would NOT provide neosporin because he felt it was highly overrated, and I quote.."only doctors in the States believe in that". Unfortunately, I couldn't open the dressing to apply it myself! Needless to say, when I arrived in Hawaii, I went to a doctor in my medical plan who was ticked about that and proceeded to goop me up in Neosporin while changing my dressing.
See gory picture...
Speak with your doctor and find out if they are comfortable prescribing "just in case" medicine for you. Our doctor always writes us a prescription for cough medicine (the good stuff) and Cipro. With instructions on specific scenarios that would indicate we should use it.
This is what we have in our medical kit-
Neosporin, bandages for blisters and cuts, benedryl cream, tylenol, motrin, claritin, cold medicine, cold eze/zicam, ace bandage, aloe vera gel, thermometer, tums, imodium and nappy cream.
Remember to keep all OTC medicines and vitamins in original packaging
The Twisting Tummy-
Imodium saves the day, but what if this continues? We've had that experience to the point that we became afraid to eat anything...Have your travel partner visit the local grocery store and pickup breadsticks, applesauce, bananas and babyfood. Depending on the country you are in baguettes or biscotti work great! If you are in Hawaii, even McDonalds has been known to carry plain white rice! Apply nappy cream liberally!
Karen's Severe Food Poisoning Experience while in Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria
If self treatment won't work, this is an excellent resource for English speaking doctors worldwide.
Iamat.org-International Association for Medical Assistance
Learn CPR and basic first aid,
find a class near you through the American Heart Association
or the American Red Cross
Allergies and Chronic Health Conditions
They can be a minor inconvenience or a matter of life and death which is only heightened
when you travel abroad. Being able to communicate this in the native tongue of the location you are in, can be daunting. I suggest you check out Select Wisely, to see if they can assist you with language translation cards for a wide range of allergies and chronic health conditions!
Traveling in Hot and/or Humid Temperatures
I really recommend the neck cooling wrap. This product has been a lifesaver to us!
They have become very difficult to locate, even Magellan's stopped carrying them.
HOWEVER........
I found a GREAT family run business located in ALASKA and the bandanas are made in the USA! They have the best selection and prices I've ever seen and with every order they donate to Breast Cancer Research!
Please check them out..Polar Breeze Bandanas
Also, the Dollar Store, Target, and Walgreens carry cheap minature fans that are light weight, but really cool you down! *added in 2009
International Smoking Laws *added in 2009
I decided to repost my blog entry from last year on May 23, 2008 in place, it can be quite shocking to visit another country and see the non-smoking section in an airport with 4 seats and the smoking section with 300 seats. This is a quick silent reminder to yourself…. If you wanted a destination to be like home, that’s where you and your passport should remain. Croatia is such a country, it was sad to see young children with a cigarette dangling from their mouths. We constantly smelled like an ashtray. While speaking with our driver Gianni, I said to him, I noticed that many people smoke, but you don’t. He said to me, my father died from cancer from smoking. I said to him, me too. Instantly, we knew what each other had experienced. A sad commonality a half a world away from each other. Both of our fathers died in their 50’s around the same time. Today this blog is in honor of my wonderful father, who started smoking at 16. May 23, 1935-June 8th, 1992
Coming from California, where we have some of the strictest smoking bans
When no one, anywhere in the world thought this was such a bad thing.
Thank goodness that has begun to change, see the link above!
Harry Lewis
** Safety **
We have chosen to register our trips in case of natural disasters, unexpected coups, or if we are way overdue with our check in at an arranged time. It gives you the option to choose how your personal information will be released. You can decide to include family, friends or media. We figure if we're off the radar, we want our picture plastered all over CNN, FoxNews, etc. Throughout the Travel.State.Gov you will find tips about safely travelling abroad and what to do before and during your trip.
List of U.S Embassies Worldwide -
Lose your passport? need safe refuge?
Personal Information
Scan in passport, immunizations, your itinerary, credit card numbers with the phone number for lost or stolen cards, and email some or all information to yourself. Invest in a passport cover. If you are married, but have different last names, carry a copy of marriage certificate.
Many countries frown on unmarried couples traveling together.
All Travelers documented
Last year in Croatia, John purchased our ferry tickets while I stayed with the luggage.
I could see, he was filling out a form, but our passports weren't being requested by the ticket agent. It wasn't until much later that I asked, what did you have to fill out? He said the agent asked if were married, he said yes and she said just put the FAMILY name down and how many adults.
Here's the problem with this totally innocent oversight.....
John and I don't share the same last name, I kept my maiden name on legal documentation. However, socially we do and he wrote his last name down without realizing the real reason behind the request. If the ferry sank, my body was not documented to be on the ferry. The US Goverment would see that only 1 person with John's last name entered the country of Croatia . I can only imagine the red tape that my mom would have had to deal with during a time of grief.
Wear your purse or pack strap across your chest-
Countless women still don't do that. Some light, but sturdy and yet fashionable packs can be found by Baggalini, Le Sportsac and LL Bean.
Wear a money belt!
Sadly, we watched a 50~ish woman mugged in Barrio Gothic in Barcelona..She had on a unzipped purse on her shoulder, (not across her chest). It happened so fast, that no one even had time to react. She fell hit her head, scrapped up her body...I was concerned about her injuries, but she just kept repeating ~ he got all my money!
Unfortunately, she set herself up to be a target.
Being a Target:
We all have common sense, but for many travelers it seems to take a vacation when they do!
So here's a couple of things that will make you say...
DUH!
and yet, I've actually seen them!
~If you are going to walk around carrying a guidebook, put a book cover on it.
~If someone doesn't understand English, don't raise your voice and repeat your comment over and over. If someone did that to you, it wouldn't help you to suddenly understand Swahili!
~Don't discuss politics or religion.
Most citizens of the world know more about our goverments foreign policy and how it impacts them than the average U.S. Citizen.
~Don't wear jewelry that makes a statement. A simple wedding band works just fine. I have watched women walk off a cruise ship dripping in jewels in a 3rd world nation. I want to say, that diamond pendant around your neck is just begging to be yanked off.
The response might be..well, it's just a CZ...nevertheless, the chances of a mugger carrying a loop and willing to take the time to give it a GIA rating before he attacks is slim!
Learn to see the scams or at least the warning signs
Rick Steves has listed quite a few for the European region
Fodor's writes about sketchy schemes
Emergency Communication
A cell phone
I wanted share with you what we decided to do and why
After the last couple of months in 2008 (see exit strategy below) we decided that we would begin traveling with a cell phone.
It would only be used if there was an Emergency of Epic Proportions!
We checked out many options ~ Telestial, Mobal, an unlocked GSM with sim cards. It was really important to me that we did not have any prepaid minutes that could expire while we were in a crisis situation. We decided on using Sprint International.
They have an international phone for 79 USD. You're able to retain your regular cell phone number, text messaging works and all you do is turn the phone on once you are overseas. Yes, the per minute rate is high, but we won't be using it for chatty conversations. If the phone is in use, that means our budget has become a non-issue.
I know everyone has their own reasons and use patterns regarding an international cell phone. I would suggest utilizing Google, as there are MANY websites, articles, blogs and message boards that will give you excellent recommendations for your particular cell phone needs!
Exit Strategy
In the last few months.....the Bangkok airport was closed because of protestors, riots in Athens, Greece, invasion in Georgia (the country) and the horrific attack in Mumbai.
The world is scary and before you leave it's not a bad idea to ponder.....
What would be my exit strategy?
