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Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED."
Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Always carry a photocopy of your passport when traveling.
When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number.
Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a P.O. Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a P.O. Box, use your work address.
Should you lose your credit cards, cancel them immediately. However, the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
Most importantly, call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
Here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:
1) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
4) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
Don't Be a Flashy Tourist
Leave your fancy clothes and expensive watches and jewelry on board or better still, at home. Carry your money and one credit care in a fanny pack or in a hidden money pouch rather than a purse. Keep a wallet in a shirt pocket or inside jacket pocket, not your hip pocket. The safest pouch is the holster kind that fits inside under your arm. Or wear a money belt. Don't flash your cash. Never leave your belongings out of your sight.
Be Alert for tricks, such as a group of children suddenly surrounding you, some one dropping coins, pigeon droppings suddenly appearing on your clothes, somebody bumping into you or giving you a welcome hug- they can all be distractions setting you up for a money-snatch.
Sunburn
Sensitive to the sun? Some people are helped by taking a capsule of PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) before exposure. Beta-carotene and yellow and green vegetables high in beta-carotene can be helpful. On the other hand, lime juice, parsley, celery, oral diabetes drugs and some tranquilizers and antibiotics, artificial sweeteners can increase sensitivity to the sun. If you forgot to apply sunblock and become sunburned and don't have an after-sunburn spray with you, apply cold wet towels, cucumber slices, vinegar, cold tea, vitamin E, or jelly from an aloe plant. To lessen pain, sprinkle baby powder on sheets to reduce friction. Drink plenty of fluids to counteract dehydration.
Eating Ashore
Drink only bottled water and avoid salads, uncooked foods and foods that have likely been prepared or have been uncovered a long time. East only fruit you can peel. Wash your hands frequently or use disposable towelettes. Be careful about swimming in streams, rivers or lakes. Some nasty diseases or parasites may be in even the cleanest looking fresh water.
Seasickness
If the sea gets rough and you start feeling seasick, go to the deck for fresh air and keep your eyes on the horizon. Don't read or write postcards or do anything that focuses your attention downward. Eat ginger, (in any form), and crackers. Taking vitamin B6 is effective. Acupressure wrist bands that press against the nei kuan pressure point at the wrist as well as aromatherapy oil applied to the temples can be helpful. You may want to get a prescription from your doctor for a Transderm patch to wear behind your ear, but if you don't get queasy reading in a moving car, you probably won't get motion sickness at sea.
Jet Lag
Jet lag occurs when you travel quickly across several time zones. Young people have a harder time flying from west to east and older people have a harder time going from east to west. Before you leave home, pretend the time is that of the time zone of your destination. On the plane drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, don't smoke or drink alcohol or much caffeine, of which make it harder to adjust. When you arrive at your destination, if it sis daylight, go outside even if your are tired, take a walk for exercise and get some sunshine. This helps to set your body clock to the new schedule. Vitamin B12 taken daily for two weeks before the trip may enhance the response to light and ease the change. Melatonin has also been found helpful.
Cancellation Insurance
Usually there is a fee if you cancel, even if you have a medical reason. Cancellation insurance is not inexpensive, but can give peace of mind. It's expensive for what it covers, but it will give you your money back if you break a leg or come down with the measles the day before the cruise. Be sure you are protected against both cruise line failure (a.k.a. Supplier Collapse Clause), and your own need to cancel.
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AIR TRAVEL ADVICE
What Not To Wear Through Airport Security
If you set off the alarm, you will be required to undergo additional screening, including a hand-wanding and a pat-down inspection that includes the torso.
You should remove metal items at the security checkpoint and place them in the bins provided. The bins will be sent through the X-ray machine. You can save time, however, by not wearing metal items or by placing such items in your carry-on baggage before you get in line.
TSA Shoe Screening Policy
Footwear that screeners will encourage you to remove because they are likely to require additional screening:
Boots, Platform shoes (including platform flip-flops), Footwear with a thick sole or heel (including athletic shoes) , Footwear containing metal (including many dress shoes)
TIP: Since a thorough screening includes x-ray inspection of footwear, wearing footwear that is easily removable helps to speed you through the screening process.
TIP: Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry, or other accessories that contain metal when traveling:
~ Jewelry (pins, necklaces, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyard or bolo tie)
~ Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
~ Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
~ Belt buckles
~ Under-wire brassieres
Hidden items such as body piercings may result in a pat-down inspection. You may ask to remove your body piercing in private as an alternative to the pat-down search.
TIP: Avoid placing metal items in your pockets.
~ Keys, loose change, mobile phones, pagers, and personal data assistants.
TIP: Instead, place jewelry and other metal items in your carry-on baggage until you clear security.
TIP: Pack all your coats and jackets in your baggage when possible.
All coats and jackets must go through the X-ray machine for inspection. If you choose to wear an outer coat or jacket to the checkpoint, you will need to either place it in your carry-on or put it in the bin that is provided for you.
Health Tips for Traveling
The stress and excitement of travel can make you more likely to get sick, but if you follow a few simple tips, you are more likely to stay healthy throughout your trip. The good news is that as a teenager, your immune system is as strong as an adult's, but lack of sleep and a poor diet can make it easier for you to become sick.
The first thing you should do if you are heading overseas is to find out what kinds of vaccinations you will need in advance because different countries have different requirements. You can contact your nearest Travel Clinic or UNIGLOBE Executive Travel for a list of necessary vaccinations. You'll want to allow plenty of time for this step in case you need to get vaccines that require more than one dose.
Common Travel Troubles.
Three of the most common health problems that you may experience when traveling are jet lag, altitude sickness and diarrhea. When you fly across time zones, the differing amounts of light can change your internal body clock, resulting in a condition known as jet lag. Jet lag may cause upset stomach, insomnia and tiredness.
There are some things you can do to combat jet lag, for example, if you are traveling from west to east, you should stay out of the sun until the day after your arrival. If you are flying from east to west, go for a brisk walk as soon as possible after you arrive.
Altitude sickness is caused by dry air, a decrease in oxygen, and low barometric pressure when you travel to a higher altitude than you are used to. As a result, you may have problems such as headaches, dehydration and shortness of breath.
The best prevention for altitude sickness is to gradually increase your altitude every day to get used to it. It that is not possible, a drug known as "acetazolamide" can help you relieve and even prevent symptoms of altitude sickness. If you think that you might get altitude sickness, talk with you doctor before you leave home.
Traveler's diarrhea, known as "Turista Diarrhea" can be a serious problem, often occurs when a foreign type of bacteria enters your digestive tract, usually when you eat contaminated food or water. The best way to prevent "Turista Diarrhea" is to be very careful of the food you eat and the water you drink on the road.
Any foods that have been boiled are generally safe, as well as fruits and vegetables that have to be peeled before eating. Avoid eating uncooked or undercooked meat or meat that is not cooked just prior to serving. Stay away from foods that require a lot of handling before serving.
One of your favorite foods at home is on the safe list on the road - pizza! Pizza dough, sauce and cheese are foods that are less likely to spoil than others, and the high heat of a pizza oven tends to kill any harmful bacteria in the food.
Water supplies in many developing countries are not treated in the same way as water supplies in developed countries; various bacteria, viruses and parasites are commonly found in water. Many experts suggest you drink only bottled water when traveling. If you need to use tap water, you should boil it first or purify it with an iodine tablet. Even if you are brushing your teeth, rinsing contact lenses, drinking a small glass of water to wash down pills, or adding ice to your drink, first take precautions to ensure the water is safe.
You Can Take It With You
When you are packing, you'll want to include any medications and other medical supplies you use on a daily basis because they may be hard to find in another country if you run out. Even if you can find them, there is a good change the formulations will be stronger or weaker than the ones you are used to. These may include any prescriptions you already take, such as inhalers, allergy medication and insulin, as well as contact lens cleaners and vitamins.
Packing an over-the-counter pain medication and diarrhea medication, as well as allergy medication (even if you don't take it at home) is also a good idea. People sometimes unexpectedly develop allergic reactions to the pollens and other allergens found in a new environment. Those with asthma or other allergies can unexpectedly react to these new substances.
Write it all down
It is a good idea to always carry a written copy of your medical history with you.
Having such important information available in one place can help health care workers make appropriate decisions and you will not have to worry about forgetting important information at a time when you are likely to be upset and not thinking clearly.
Basic Safety
It's easy to let your guard down when you travel. After all, you are more relaxed and there are so many new sights to focus on. In addition to paying attention to your personal safety (avoiding secluded places and not walking alone after dark), you will need to reset your thinking when it comes to traffic safety too. The rules of the road are not the same overseas as they are at home. Pedestrians do not always have the right of way overseas, either.
Advice for Traveling Alone
Knowing what to expect and thinking about the challenges solo air travel throws at you ahead of time can make it an easy and efficient experience.
Avoid checking a bag. This is true of any air travel really, but I find it's much easier to be a self-contained entity when alone, leaving as little responsibility to the airline as possible. There's nobody to search for the right baggage claim with you or to help you talk to the agent if a bag gets lost. By keeping everything with you, there's less chance of error.
Along those same lines, don't be afraid to gate check a bag (usually signified by yellow tags put on the bag as you board). This works differently from normal bag checking, as any gate checked bag is only given to the airline as you board the plane, and is retrieved right as you exit the plane. The bag never actually goes through the whole luggage system - that invariably ends misplacing things.
The biggest advantage of traveling alone is usually the ability to get an exit row seat. If the airline you are flying with allows online check-in (usually available 24 hours before departing time) exit row seats can usually be obtained there. If not, make sure to ask at the gate, as most of the time there will be the odd one exit row seat that nobody has taken because they want to sit with their traveling companions. They get company, you get leg room.
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