Tips and Advices for Safe Travelling (A Compilation)

Hey!! My travel month is now on its way!!! I am very happy, and my heart jumps in anticipation.

This coming October 27- November 4, Fred, Ferdie and myself will be traveling... SIngapore, Malaysia, Hongkong and Macau!! Its going to be a 4-country, adventurous and frugal trip... i cant wait any longer.

I am also traveling to Tagbilaran this end of August, plus I think another in mid-October... Travel Factor offers travels almost anytime i want so, I am still deciding. 

Geez... 3rd and 4th quarter indeed is my travel season :) 

So here it is, my compiled Travel and Tips sourced from various websites and blogs... I am going to update this every so often; catered with my own tips plus that of my friends... yey!!!

I. Seven Tips for a Safe Travel   (www.skyscanner.net)

Once the irresistible idea of travel has taken hold, the temptation to book flights, throw a towel, a pair of shorts and some undies into a backpack and make for the airport, can be all too strong.

But travelling unprepared can mean your trip can goes from travel utopia to holiday hell. So please, before splashing out on sun cream, read Skyscanner’s top tips for staying safe on your travels.

1. Keep your cards safe

We all think it will never happen to us but sadly, credit card fraud can happen when you’re abroad.  So, keep all your receipts as you travel, check your account online (or over the phone) periodically to ensure everything adds up. Be especially vigilant when paying in a foreign currency; check those exchange rates and be sure that an extra zero has not been added to your bill.

When paying, try to avoid handing over your card and instead, insist all transactions are done in front of you.  If you lose your card or suspect any foul play, call your credit card company immediately. One of the best things about paying by card is that you should be insured for any losses if anything does go wrong.

2. Stash your cash

Pickpocketing is common in many cities and these skilled thieves have a whole range of techniques to part you from your possessions. But your undies could be the answer to keeping your valuables safe. There are hundreds of money belts on the market, and some people even go as far as sewing secret pockets into their undergarments or jackets to stow away spare cash in case of emergency.

3. Dress like a local

A handy tip for women, learning the local dress code as soon as you arrive and buying appropriate clothing if necessary can save a lot of potential harassment in countries like India for example.  In Islamic countries, wearing a headscarf is often for your own protection as well as a sign of respect for local culture and customs, so read up and come prepared.

4. First Aid – kit yourself out

The last thing you want on holiday is for that minor cut that came from trying to open a bottle of beer on a Thai beach at 3am, to turn septic and result in the amputation of youe digits. Therefore, it’s advisable to carry a small first aid kit with plasters, mosquito repellent and diarrhoea medication in your pack. They’re tiny and light and will help you avoid numerous unpleasant situations;  we recommend a Gelert  – a compact little piece of kit which has all you need to patch yourself up on the road. Another top tip is to always carry a small torch, just in case you should find yourself in a dingy alley in deepest darkest Delhi. We recommend the Maglite Solitaire which is so small it clips to your key ring.

5. Papers and passports

Before you go anywhere, make sure someone knows where you’re going and has a copy of your itinerary. It is also a good idea to leave copies of your passport and any visas with a reliable family member or friend in case yours are lost, stolen or simply ignored in the unlikely event of a military coup. An even better idea is to scan your details and email copies to yourself so that you can print them out en-route should you need to. Keep embassy contact details handy too.

6. Use local knowledge

The most valuable knowledge you can get when aboard will always come from local. When arriving in a new place, try and seek out someone who you can trust. This might be a tour guide, your rep, or a local bar owner. Their advice can really be a lifesaver and help you avoid any unnecessarily dangerous situations (as well as inform you of the best places to eat, drink and be merry!).

7. Family travel? Bring photos of your children

If you are a family convoy of travellers and have some children in tow, ensure you have some recent photos of each of them in case they wander off. Imagine this happening on a packed, bustling street and you will begin to see that these photos could be vital for recovering your lost loved ones.

II. How to Stay Healthy on a Holiday (www.skyscanner.net)

Nutritional therapist Amelia Freer explains how to stick to a healthy diet and lifestyle on your summer holiday.

1. Holidays are great for your health. Most people work hard and experience a lot of stress, so it’s important not to try to do too much on holiday. Sleep as much as you can - get to bed early, lie in and take naps to help your adrenal glands recover and encourage relaxation.

2. Travelling can put a strain on your health and diet. Try to avoid processed and junk food at airports and on the flight. These will give you an immediate sugar rush, followed quickly by an energy slump - when you’ll want to have another sugary snack.

3. Plan what you’ll eat on the journey. Take a piece of fruit and a handful of nuts and seeds for snacks. I like Bounce Balls and Nakd bars, both are natural with no added sugar. I usually pack a salad in a Tubberware box to eat on the flight.

4. Drink plenty of water, especially when flying. All that air-conditioning and the thin air in the sky really dehydrates your body.

5. When on holiday, eat a big healthy breakfast, such as fruit and natural yoghurt followed by eggs or smoked salmon on wholewheat toast. Eat a good lunch plus snacks in the morning and afternoon and try to have a light dinner with no starchy carbohydates (pasta, potatoes or rice).

 6. Take advantage of local and seasonal food. If you’re staying by the sea, eat lots of fresh grilled fish. Oily fish - including sardines, fresh tuna, salmon and mackerel - is particularly good as it’s rich in Omega 3, which keeps your skin hydrated and encourages healthy digestion as well as weight loss.

7. If you do plan a boozy night out, eat plenty of protein first and try to alternate glasses of alcohol with water. A couple of glasses of red wine is the best option. Cava has been found to be good for blood sugar management - it releases its sugar slowly into the body. Cocktails are the worst due to all the sweet mixers and sugar in them.

8. Try to eat a variety of different coloured fruits and vegetables – oranges, red peppers, green courgettes, yellow sweet corn - to get a wide range of antioxidants.

9. Lying in the sun feels great but you only need 10 minutes of unprotected sunshine to get your daily dose of vitamin D. After that you should use sunblock. As we get older, the collagen in our skin breaks down more rapidly, leading to lines, wrinkles and discolouring.

10. To prevent the breaking down of collagen, eat lots of purple fruits, such as fresh blackberries, blueberries and black grapes. One study showed that eating tomatoes reduces your risk of turning red in the sun so have a glass of tomato juice - though it’s much safer to use sunblock!

Amelia Freer is a member of the British Association of Nutritional Therapists and works for the Healthy Holiday Company which offers spa holidays and yoga holidays across Europe.

III. TRAVEL LIGHT: How to Pack with Hand Luggage

As airlines squeeze us for every last penny with many now charging for checking-in bags – it’s never been more important to pack light. But boarding with hand luggage only isn’t just the territory of businessmen or day trippers; it’s quite possible to pack for a week or more with nothing more than one carry-on-sized bag. Sam from Skyscanner shows you how. 

A beach-bum friend of mine used to head off on his travels with nothing more than three pairs of boxers, a toothbrush and his passport stuffed into a Tesco carrier bag; whilst this is probably taking the ‘travel light’ philosophy a little too far, for many of us, the hand-luggage-only way of travel is perfectly possible and has several advantages.

Why travel light? The pros of taking hand luggage onlyTravel Cheaper – at the moment, airlines don’t charge for hand luggage (though who knows what the future may bring!), but with the cost of checking in baggage as much £40 per return flight, careful packing can save you a packet.Travel Faster – if you check-in online, there’s no need to stand in lengthy check-in queues – just head straight through to security. Plus, there’s no need to wait for your bags to be spat out on the carousel at the other end, just get off the plane and walk straight out of the airport.Travel Easier – one bag means less luggage to lug around and less chance of your luggage getting lost, damaged or stolen in transit.


Choosing the right hand luggage bag

Many travelers now favour hard-sided, wheeled cases, but Doug Dyment, godfather of travelling with hand luggage only and creator of OneBag.com, recommends you leave the armored wheelie-trailer behind and instead opt for a square cornered, soft-sided bag, that is obviously within the carry-on bag size limits.

This is because a soft case is more forgiving when it comes to stuffing it into an overhead locker or under the seat, and is also lighter. 

Hand luggage regulations vary from airline to airline – for example BA’s are: “one bag no bigger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (22ins x 18ins x 10ins), including the handle, pockets and wheels” whereas Ryanair states that: “it should weigh no more than 10kg and not exceed the maximum dimensions of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm (21ins x 16ins x 8ins).

Some airlines are stricter than others; Ryanair are far more likely to scrutinise your hand luggage than BA, so don’t get caught out with a bag that is too big, which you’ll then have to pay to check-in. Appearance is also important; if you struggle up to check-in with a bag that is dislocating your shoulder, you’re far more likely to have your hand-luggage given the once over, than if you stroll up with nothing but your Tesco carrier bag.

The Personal Packing list: if it’s not on, it’s not in

Most travellers pack far more items than they actually need. The extra pair of shoes, the hairdryer and the surplus jacket are all things that bulk up your bag and could probably be left at home. Just think back to your last trip; did you honestly use every single item you packed? I know I didn’t. Enter the personal packing list. This is a list of essential items, the sum total of which will all fit into one carry-on bag. The goal here is to create a single packing list that will cover you for a standard trip.

What’s in Sam’s Bag?

If I am going to travel with hand luggage only - here is a list of essential items that I can fit into my carry-on bag. I normally use my Da Kine backpack, which has lots of useful pockets as well as side and top entry, or for shorter trips, my super-slim Drop backpack is ideal. 

Absolute Essentials

•    Passport
•    Driver's license
•    Health insurance information (important phone numbers to call)
•    Plane tickets or print outs of boarding cards
•    Bank cards (debit and credit) + some cash
•    Details of accommodation, car hire, onward travel etc

Clothing
•    Hooded top – hood can be used to block out light and aid sleep
•    Dressy jacket – normally worn on plane
•    2-4+ t-shirts
•    2-4 jumpers/long sleeve t-shirts
•    1 pair jeans
•    1 pair lightweight trousers with removable legs – double as shorts
•    Swim shorts/swimsuit – for beach or hot tub
•    Light-weight Kag-in-a-bag – for when the weather turns nasty
•    3+ pairs socks
•    3+ pairs undergarments
•    Sun hat – if visiting sunny climate
•    1 pair walking shoes/boots – normally worn on plane
•    Flip-flops or sandals – if visiting hot climate
•    1 pair dressy shoes – if night out on town is likely
•    Belt – worn on plane

Accessories
•    Water bottle
•    Digital camera + charger
•    Mobile phone + charger + headphones – (doubles as alarm clock, personal MP3 player and radio)
•    Mini Maglite torch
•    Nail clippers
•    Sunglasses and case
•    Earplugs
•    Small first aid kit – normally only taken on activity trips
•    Pen and small notepad – details of flights and other vital information is recorded here
•    Maps, guidebooks, phrase books
•    Reading material – normally at least one paperback book
•    Universal travel adaptor – if travelling abroad

Toiletries and Medication
•    Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
•    One razor + small bottle of shaving oil/cream
•    Small bottle of shampoo, bar of soap and hair wax
•    Moisturizer
•    Factor 25 Sunscreen
•    Lip balm
•    Deodorant
•    Diarrhea treatment (e.g. Diaoralyte + Imodium)
•    Contraceptive and/or prophylactic supplies
•    Vitamin C tablets + necessary medication (small bottle of echinacea tincture – medicine of the Gods! Helps prevent colds and flu)
Note: current airport regulations state that any liquids or gels (perfume, shampoo, drinking water etc) must be no more than 100ml per bottle and must be packed in a clear, resealable bag. Be aware that these restrictions are subject to change, so always check the Department for Transport Airport Security page for the latest updates. 

A more comprehensive packing list can be seen here OneBag.com/checklist.html – although a few of the items listed cannot be included in hand luggage (for example: scissors) and I think I would struggle to fit everything listed into my bag.

The Art of Packing: Folding, Rolling and Bundle Wrapping Backpackers swear by rolling, business travellers tend to fold, and some people even go as far as inserting tissue paper in between layers, but Doug Dyment of OneBag.com says that bundle wrapping is the most compact method of packing and also the method which most reduces the problems of wrinkling. The bundle method uses a ‘core object’, such as a folder or organiser, around which other items are wrapped The downsides to this method are that it takes a little longer and that it’s harder to delve into your bag a grab a single item without unpacking the entire bundle, but it does allow you to maximise your bag space and minimise creases.   Finally, try to wear your bulkier items of clothing on the plane, and use your pockets as additional storage space.Pack Light for Happier Travels! So, why not take the one bag challenge for your next trip? Remember that most things can be bought at your destination if forgotten, so as long as you have your passport, wallet and the clothes on your back, the chances are, everything will be ok.