Travel Tips

Subject: Copies of your Travel Documents. Scan your travel document details then e-mail them to yourself. You can then retrieve them if they get lost or stolen. Do the same with the relevant pages on your passport. -- Umma,  Germany

Fake Wallet: If you are heading for a city or country where there is a high risk of street robbery then you should consider having a fake wallet, fill it with credit cards which have expired and other impressive cards along with some cash, possibly low value foreign currency. 

Taking Liquids on a Plane: Here in the UK there is a limit to the quantity of liquids and gels to be taken on board an aircraft in pesonal baggage. Sometimes it is nice to travel without the delays and inconvenience of large suitcases that will need to be consigned to the aircraft hold. Muji, a High Street chain of shops sells hundred millilitre screw top containers, exactly the amount allowed, so shampoos, conditioners etc can be brought along. The store is worth a visit for other reasons; innovative Japanese designed goods can be acquired at surprisingly good prices. Many useful items are available ~ Roxy E www.muji.com

Your passport should be in a body belt or similar. I like the idea of one of your contributors; she suggested that you email scanned copies of the relevant pages so that you in the event of loss you can download them and at least prove who you are and that visas have been issued to you. -- Derek Naismith

When you are going abroad two luggage tags on your suitcase are better than one. One with your home address and the other with your destination, however if you are leaving your home empty you may reconsider the second label.-- Edmund Budkeiwicz

Know Where You Are: Always keep a Compass in your motor car, especially when travelling abroad. – Hugh Sutherland Oxford England 

If your going on vacation, be sure to install a security system that is able to monitor your home while you're away! The good thing about this is these days there is much to choose from, however one of the simplest to install is a security camera, able to be monitored remotely from anywhere in the world. For more info, see Security Systems. Also see Travel

1. - Make copies of your birth certificate, passport, and drivers license and take on the trip with you, but don't keep them in the same place as the originals. If you lose the originals, the copies can help. 

2. - Don't use the locks that came in your suitcases, a fingernail file can open them. Buy your own small padlocks and use them instead. 

3. - If you normally get an upset stomach while travelling, carry pieces of ginger with you in a plastic baggy. Chew on them and your stomach will soon be better. 

4. - Separate your IDs. Only keep one ID with you. That way, if you become the victim of a pickpocket, you'll still have your other IDs to help you out. -- WIB  

Avoid DVT:  DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis is a risk that you run on longer flights and one which can be reduced dramatically if one takes simple advice. Get up out of your seat and walk about once an hour or so. Be sure to take a couple of aspirin tablets before and during the flight. KEEP A PACKET WITH YOUR PASSPORT. That way you will not forget them. DVT is much more common than the airlines would like you to believe. -- Mertash Vesali Milton Keynes England

Warning to women visiting Greece. Some areas have a Rape problem; I survived an attempted rape, however two of my friends were not so lucky.

When out late at night stay in a groups, preferably four or more. Being sober and with your boyfriend or husband is not enough to guarantee safety, My friend and her boyfriend were attacked by a group of four young Greek men, they beat my friend's boyfriend unconscious and gang raped her, neither were drinking at the time. If one of your group is a bit tipsy, make sure that she gets back safely. 

If you are unlucky enough to be a victim you should report the attack to your embassy or consulate as soon as possible.

The local police are often reluctant to prosecute the offenders preferring to blame the victim for what they claim is consensual sex while drunk. Almost all of the offenders get away with it. -- Fiona, Sunderland

Flying.

Fear of Flying Here's a free online course to help with the fear of flying. http://www.fearofflyinghelp.com Stacey Chance   30 Nov 2002

When packing your shaving foam make sure that you have it in a place where it can do no damage should it leak. At the very least have the top on!!! -- Tim White -

Ear Popping. Avoid flying if you have cold, flu, or serious hay-fever. If you have to fly take an oral decongestant before and after landing. For babies letting them suck a bottle or dummy will help them reduce earache. Popping ears: To prevent ear popping when travelling by air suck sweets, sip drinks, swallow, chew, or yawn when problems start to occur. – Scott Edmunds.

Ear-popping. I recommend using ear plugs, put them in 30 mins before take-off and take them out after landing. A good brand is "Ear-planes" which is specifically designed for this. Dan. (Daniel Penny) 

Air-sickness: Sit above the wing where there is least turbulence – Scott Edmunds 1998.

To find ways of getting to that holiday or business destination without flying there you can find alternate transport via www.seat61.com -- Graham Peck Dallas Texas 

Insects 
Biting Insects. To make yourself less appealing to insects wear light colored clothing. - Anon. A shower immediately before you go out will also help, -- Ed

Insect Bites. To relieve an insect bite apply an ice pack or ice cube for 1- minutes. Let the skin dry, and then add an antihistamine or hydrocortisone cream. - Maryam Husseini, San Diego, CA 

Unwanted Insects: Avoid wearing yellow anywhere where there are annoying and biting insects as it attracts insects. --Scott Edmunds.

France
 On holiday in Brittany last year we were constantly caught out trying to buy bread mid-day and in the early afternoon. Stock up in the early morning or early evening -- Rouhi Peck Wimbledon

Insurance
 If you buy a package holiday don't be bullied into  buying from the agent -  odds are you'll be paying nearly double the price  you could pay online.  You aren't legally obliged to buy from them - stuff  like having to sign  disclaimers so they aren't responsible for your  misfortune are just  pressure tactics. 

Have a read of  http://www.fool.co.uk/news/Comment/2003/c030213d.htm   NIck Garner SureUK  

Another tip.  Things like 'kids travel free' are now just about a  standard practice in  online travel cover - so if you're being charged  more for the pleasure  it's likely you are being 'done'. Nick Garner  SureUK 

www.sureuk.com  Travel Insurance especially discounted for UK women.  We consistently rank  in the top 10% for price competitiveness in  www.moneysupermarket.com/insurance/  - see  for yourself on www.sureuk.com/price 

Security
 To avoid a burglary when you are away on holiday, your luggage tags should show the destination address only -- Dave Edmunds

Rambling. - Rucksacks: When camping and walking where it may be wet, line the inside of your rucksack with a bin bag, and tie it to stop the contents getting wet. – J Whittaker.

Matches can be waterproofed by dipping the heads in candle wax. A box of matches can last twice as long by slicing each match lengthways in half. – Anon.

Cold Weather
Walkers and climbers, wear a warm hat, as 30% of the heat is lost through the head. – Scott Edmunds.

In a really cold environment use mittens rather than gloves. Frozen fingers can be identified and remedial measures taken before frostbite sets in -- Jimmie Stewart Dunfermline Scotland

Cold weather survival. Someone who had been on a course led by an SAS soldier told me that they stressed that you should pack your rucksack so that there is easy access to the materials for making a hot drink. Hypothermia can be avoided by a cup of tea -- Des Vine 

Tummy Bugs
If stricken with tummy bugs, starve yourself preferably for two days – resume eating non-protein foods such as fruit or chips. When the problem has finally gone a suitable protein source to start eating again is chicken. Consult your Doctor on your return from holiday. -- Uncle Ben, Jan, 78

If suffering from heavy vomiting due to food poisoning/tummy bug/etc. fizzy drinks such as Coke and Pepsi help to re-hydrate and relieve the discomfort from vomiting -- Afrooz Kaviani, Iran, Jul 96. 

Holiday
When in a new city for something different visit the courthouse – Graham Peck Wimbledon UK

Dentists
 When overseas be firm about avoiding amalgam fillings. I was pressurised into having them and it cost me a fortune to get them out when I returned to the USA -- Graham Doble Colton CA

Subject: Neat site. Here is a site for your Heath and/or Travel Links -- www.flat-d.com  The device is for eliminating the odor from gas, farts or flatulence. It really works, I have one. The device is used for people who care about the odor of their gas. I used it for travelling with my family, we were confined in the car and hotel rooms. I was not embarrassed by my gas odor. The device is used for health reasons also, view their success stories. Just thought you might like to link to them. I love your site. Frank  Frank Morosky   18 Dec 2002 

Shoe and Clothes sizes
If you need to convert between American, British and European clothes and shoe sizes use our clothes conversion chart

Travel Links:

http://.www.lonelyplanet.com	This is by far the most useful site we have found for travellers and backpackers.
http://www.1000tips4trips.com	A site that resembles ours but travel tips only
http://www.afn.org/~afn11300/	Betty's Travel Kiosk. Lots of good stuff here
http://www.connectedtraveller.com	A brilliantly visual site
http://www.worldlanguage.com	Help with translations
http://www.thetropicalwinds.com	Be the envy of everyone else on a windy beach

Links for UK travellers :

« read previous | home | search | shop | submit | about | read next »