Take any travel insurance information you’ll need if you have to make a claim while travelling. This would include . . . → Read More: Insurance]]>

Take 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. You can also get free travel insurance quotes from AIG Travel Guard. MultiNational Underwriters sell international health insurance for as low as 70¢ a day.

Write lists of phone numbers and addresses of emergency contacts, friends you will be visiting, numbers to call if . . . → Read More: Contact Information]]>

Write lists of phone numbers and addresses of emergency contacts, friends you will be visiting, numbers to call if you lose things and need to cancel services or get replacements sent to you (your cell phone and credit cards, for example), phone numbers and addresses of embassies/consulates, and perhaps addresses of useful travel-related websites.

Similarly, for any hotels or lodging you have arranged in advance, make a note of addresses and phone numbers.

Enter all the phone numbers into your phone’s address book and maybe even email a copy to yourself. Another idea to keep it safe is to print out the list on a small piece of paper and laminate this (thus waterproofing it).

Try to get local numbers. These will be cheaper to call from within the country where you are staying, and besides, most home country toll-free numbers can not be accessed from overseas.

There are ways around this, however. One is to use the AT&T USADirect service, which gives access to a limited number of 800 numbers. Or a similar service from MCI where you can call the number listed for the country where you are currently located and ask the operator to make a collect call to the number you are trying to reach (my bank in the US uses this service, for example).

However, the best way to keep in touch while abroad is to use Skype.

I have been using this service for a few years now, calling between Europe and the States (and occasionally to France and New Zealand), a lot of the time for free, and at other times for just pennies. It is also the best way to call 800 numbers in the US from Europe (and for free).

Click on the ad above to check them out.

There are a number of ways of carrying money, or at least getting access to it, as you travel.

A vaccination certificate may be required if you have previously visited areas where specific diseases are widespread or when . . . → Read More: Vaccination Certificate]]>

A vaccination certificate may be required if you have previously visited areas where specific diseases are widespread or when visiting countries where there are increased health risks for travellers. This is usually a yellow card which is like an international certificate of vaccination or medical passport.

The Yellow Fever section of the certificate is probably the most important part. If you aren’t going to or coming from countries where Yellow Fever is endemic (areas of Africa and South America), then you may not need one. Check with your doctor (or other websites such as the WHO or CDC) about this.

If you are travelling with your dog, then you may have to get a rabies vaccination certificate.  You can get these from a licensed veterinarian and should include the registration number and a professional stamp, as well as the serial number, duration, type of vaccine used,  and the dog’s color, weight, and so on.