Travel

Travel Gear

What's New:



Websites

websiteSome of the following links are on other pages of this website. I have brought them all together on this page, plus a few others that I found useful when researching long-term worldwide travel.

The links are not listed in any particular order, although I try to keep them arranged in the same order as they appear on this site.

General:

How to travel overland comfortably and affordably
General Travel Hints and Tips
The Traveller’s Toolkit – Independent travel resources
Round-The-World Travel Guide – The Travel Library
Lots of very useful travel advice links
Using a cell phone overseas
Maps of the night sky

Money:

Visa worldwide [...]

(click here to continue reading ››)

Vaccinations

vaccineThe Medical pages list the various diseases and vaccinations available. This section gives information on where and when to get them, how long they last, whether you need boosters, possible side-effects, and so on.

Don’t rely on the information given below. Try to get to a specialist travel clinic, or seek advice from a qualified professional.

Some clinics will give you a free consulation, other charge a fee (usually refunded if you then have the vaccinations at the clinic).

In the UK you can get vaccinations from your GP (usually for free), or go to one of the specialist [...]

(click here to continue reading ››)

Avoiding Insect Bites

bitesMany tropical diseases, such as malaria, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis, West Nile virus, Lyme disease, are transmitted by insect bites, usually through the insect’s saliva.

No antimalarial drug is 100% effective and in the case of some diseases (for example, dengue fever) there is no protection at all, so it is best to avoid getting bitten in the first place.

Luckily, insects aren’t a problem in most countries around the world, just annoying, and in those places where they are, only some of them carry diseases.

For example, there are more than 3,000 species of mosquitoes worldwide, and [...]

(click here to continue reading ››)

Preventing Medical Problems

washinghandsCommon problems that travellers encounter, such as stomach upsets and those from insect bites, can be prevented by taking simple precautions.

These include such things as good hygiene and safe food preparation practices, drinking (and using) only treated or clean water, avoiding being bitten by various insects and worms, and getting vaccinated and taking pills to prevent diseases.

Clean water and water treatment

Everyone needs a minimum of about two and a half litres or just over half a gallon of clean water a day. In hot climates while doing things like carrying a backpack, hiking or just walking [...]

(click here to continue reading ››)

Travel Illnesses and Diseases

mosquitoThe following articles list of some common and not so common illnesses and diseases to which you may be exposed while travelling.

It is probably not complete and may not even be accurate, so again, make sure you consult a qualified professional before travelling and don’t rely too much on the information contained herein.

The list is in no particular order but commonest health hazards tend to be nearer the top.

For each there is a section listing where in the world it is usually found, what is its cause, symptoms, treatment and prevention.

Most of the diseases and illnesses [...]

(click here to continue reading ››)

Guidebooks, Maps, etc.

guidebookOptional, but can be heavy if you do decide to take them. Photocopies of useful pages (or those torn out from the book) can be taken instead and are a lot lighter. You can always buy or borrow these on the way from fellow travellers, or get city maps from tourists offices, or even look up the information in an Internet cafe.

You can also get maps on your phone these days, and this combined with a GPS (on the phone if you can get it), makes it a lot easier to get around strange places.

Some companies, [...]

(click here to continue reading ››)

Insurance

insuranceTake any travel insurance information you’ll need if you have to make a claim while travelling. This would include the company’s claims telephone number and a checklist of things you may need to provide when calling (like the plan code, travel dates, the date the insurance was purchased, and so on).

There are many providers of travel insurance. I use American Express but others include STA Travel, where you can get travel insurance from just £8, as well as BUPA Travel Cover, and [...]

(click here to continue reading ››)

You may also be interested in reading: