Top Travel Tips For Boomers - For Anyone Actually

Many problems encountered overseas can be avoided with a bit of common sense and by taking some simple precautions.

We all have our own way of doing things, but over the next few weeks I plan to pass on a few tips and ideas that have held me in good stead over the years. So here we go…..

1. Take out travel insurance to cover hospital treatment, medical evacuation and any activities, like adventure sports, in which you plan to participate. Many years ago, I was caught out when a tooth blew up on me when traveling in Japan. Being young, invincible, I never gave insurance a second thought. So although it was a minor (but very painful) medical condition it cost me a couple of weeks travel budget! Far worse can happen and so insurance for me is now a must….especially when traveling with family.

2. Check the latest travel advice for your destination from your governments travel website. They are usually kept very up to date and may have some information that you didn’t hear about on the news.

3. At the risk of stating the obvious - obey the law of the country you’re visiting. Don’t expect to be treated any better or differently to the locals. Your in their culture so respect it and the people around you, its their home. If you have an issue with this then remind yourself how you feel when you may have seen tourists act badly in your home town.

4. Make copies of your important documentation. ie passport, insurance policy, travellers’ cheques, visas and credit card etc. If traveling alone then carry a copy in a separate place to the originals, if paired up carry a back-up for each other but again separate from the originals. Its also a good idea to leave a copy at home so you have another back-up. Along with that ensure you have the right visas for the countries you are visiting or transiting.

5. Check with your doctor for recommended vaccinations and the necessary health precautions to take. Remember also that certain medicines may not be allowed in some countries - so check.

6. Even if you don’t stay in close contact with friends and family, at least give someone a copy of your itinerary so they know where you are. This may not be so much of an issue if you are on a tour, but if back-packing the jungles of South America etc then its a good move.