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Viewing Things to Arrange Before You Travel OverseasThings to Arrange Before You Travel Overseas
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No one expects anything to happen while on a two- or three-week vacation - but you really should prepare - just in case. This article provides some practical tips for your itinerary, legal documents, trip registrations, credit, and insurance. By Larry Westfall No one expects anything to happen while on a two- or three-week vacation - but you really should prepare - just in case. Your Itinerary As much as possible, plan to stay in larger hotels with comprehensive security. Safety experts recommend booking a room from the second to seventh floors above ground level to deter easy entrance from outside, but low enough for fire equipment to reach. Because take-off and landing are the most dangerous times of a flight, book non-stop flights when possible. When there is a choice of airport or airline, ask your travel agent about comparative safety records. Legal Documents Have your affairs at home in order. If you leave a current will, insurance documents, and power of attorney with your family or a friend, you can feel secure about traveling and will be prepared for any emergency that may arise while you are away. If you have minor children, consider making guardianship arrangements for them. Register Your Trip For US citizens, the State Department has made it very easy to register your trip regardless of what country you are visiting. They have an online form that takes about five minutes to fill out at travel.state.gov. Take a few moments to do this. Leave a copy of your passport and visa with a good friend or relative. Credit Make a note of the credit limit on each credit card that you bring. Contact your credit card company before you go and tell them the dates of your travel. Make certain not to charge over that amount on your trip. In some countries, Americans have been arrested for innocently exceeding their credit limit. Ask your credit card company how to report the loss of your card from abroad. 800 numbers may not work from abroad, but your company should have a number that you can call while you are overseas. Insurance Find out if your personal property insurance covers you for loss or theft abroad. More importantly, check on whether your health insurance covers you while out of country. Medicare and Medicaid do not provide payment for medical care outside the U.S. Even if your health insurance will reimburse you for medical care that you pay for abroad, normal health insurance does not pay for medical evacuation from a remote area or from a country where medical facilities are inadequate. Consider purchasing one of the short-term health and emergency assistance policies designed for travelers. Also, make sure that the plan you purchase includes medical evacuation in the event of an accident or serious illness. About the Author: Larry Westfall is a frequent traveler to Bangkok - Pattaya - and Phuket, and is also the owner of Thailand Accommodations. Article source: 111 Travel Directory: Triple1.com (triple one dot com) More free articles: 1st Rate Articles - 1stRateArticles.com |
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