What Are Your Tips For People Traveling Overseas?

[RedRobin]

Store the Emergency Number(s) for the Country You're Traveling in in Your Phone

Make a habit of googling the numbers and saving them in your phone every time you land, even if you're only going to be in the country for a few hours. You never know what's going to happen. It's better to be safe than sorry!

Most of Europe - 112

UK and Hong Kong - 999

North America, Barbados, Canada and Bahamas - 911

New Zealand - 111

Australia - 000

Japan – 110 for police, 119 for ambulance and fire service

Brazil – 190 for police, 192 for ambulance, 193 for fire

China – 110 for police, 120 for ambulance, 119 for fire

Get A Power Plug Convertor

Find out ahead of time if you need a power point convertor for any of the countries you're traveling to and try to stash away a spare if you have the space!

Learn Common Phrases of the Local Language

A simple “Please,” “Thank you,” and “I’m sorry” in the local language goes a long way. Also try to learn common foods and items you do and don't need/like or that you're allergic to.

Always Buy Travel Insurance

A medical emergency can wipe out your savings (or even put you in debt) so it's better to be safe then sorry.

Stash Extra Cash

Cash is king around the world. To cover your ass in an emergency, make sure to stash some in a few different places. I recommend at least a couple hundred dollars worth. If you lose your wallet, your card stops working or your bag gets stolen you’ll be glad you did.

If you want you can also keep a notebook with exchange rates of common amounts (e.g. for $1, $2, $3, $5, $10 and $20) so it's easier for you to understand and work out how much you're spending.

Make Photocopies of Important Documents

Usually if you have a copy of your passport (or whatever document you need; if it's something like a birth certificate you'll need photo ID too so it's good to have a copy of a licence too) and extra passport photos you will usually still be allowed to travel.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

Here a few small tips, especially if you're in an under-developed country: For the guys, put your wallet in your front pocket. For girls, wear your cute li'l back pack in front. Both, don't lay your cell phone on the table in public or restaurant.

[RedRobin]

Good point, it's probably a good idea in most countries

[DeeDeeDeVour]

@RedRobin: Thank you for the MHO selection. :)

[DizzySB]

Not only underdeveloped countries, you'd do the same in England, America and France. Someone stole my bag in England and it's not an under developed county.

[SnowHearth]

Internal secret zipper travel pockets to carry IDs and extra/reserve money (and sometimes cards)

[RedRobin]

Oh, that's cool

[Razal]

Good take
Also its better to get advice from locals in moving around etc

[RedRobin]

Good point, especially if you've never been there before and/or don't have any friends/family in the area. And I guess if you don't know anyone there try to buddy up with another tourist so it's a bit safer for you.

[Razal]

Thanks for MHO ;)
and i agree to your point of buddying up. First starting point is to ask the hotel staff about local area, what's good and bad and which areas timing etc are safe for tourists etc.

[Halucinator]

nice tips
I knew half of it though😜

[RedRobin]

Thanks

[Halucinator]

nah! I loved this one

[ThreeSheetsToTheWind]

Re: Taking extra cash, you could also do this. Research good credit cards for travelling abroad and apply for the best one you can get according to your needs. Don't keep it in your wallet, keep it safely tucked away inside your luggage so that if you lose your wallet/debit card you have an emergency backup card to fall back on.

If you decide to go out exploring, ask your hotel for a business card so that you have a printed copy of the address in case you get lost. I learnt that the hard way lol.

Take a spare phone in case your main one gets lost, stolen or damaged. Even if it's just an ultra-basic handset so that you have some means of contact in an emergency. Also if you are going to be staying in the same country for a little while, it may be worth picking up a local SIM card so as to avoid expensive roaming charges.

Print out your booking confirmations for all your flights, accommodation and any activities booked. You never know when you might need a paper copy.

[RedRobin]

Great tips

[admles]

Good tips there. I've traveled a lot myself, and those are some very important ones. I also encourage you to have a scan of your documents and passport that you can access online anywhere, just in case.

Research local customs and regulations. NEVER assume that just because something is okay in your country, it's okay in other countries.

Check out tipping customs, especially if you're from a non-tipping country like I am (Australia). While I'm against the concept of tipping, it's not my place to violate local customers, so I always make sure to read up on such when travelling.

Go where the locals eat. Most places that offer "authentic" experiences etc are usually over-priced tourist traps. The concierge desk at your hotel is a great place to ask for local recommendations.

Make sure to have prescriptions and doctor's letters for ALL medication you have with you. Some places have very, very strict rules on what can be brought into their country.

[RedRobin]

Those are very good tips too

[Anonymous]

-Don't help strangers carry/hold anything at the airport.

-Don't eat anything you're not sure of.

-Get google translate or some sort of translator if you're going to a country where you don't speak the language.

-Get a SIM card asap (at least that's what I do)

-Wear a pair of comfy shoes just in case you might have to walk around.

[RedRobin]

Oh, that's good, and ask locals or a shop owner what the cheapest SIM card for calling/texting overseas is

[LisaLisa89]

If you are going to have a note of emergency numbers it's a good idea if they're correct. The emergency number in most of Europe is 112, not 119.

[RedRobin]

Thanks, I'll change that now

[Kilapan]

Good advices, I would add drinking bottled water to avoid getting sick to stomach

[admles]

Very good point!

[RedRobin]

Yes, good point

[CaptainSmartass]

Good idea. Foreign hospitals are dodgy and they're not run by the NHS. Be ill at home, not abroad...

[Anonymous]

"Make Photocopies of Important Documents" and keep a second copy of all your documents in the cloud, in case you lose the original and the physical copies.

And make friends with the locals! They're the best people to tell you all about the nice places in the city to visit and which are merely turist traps.

[ThisDudeHere]

Wear clothes in Germany. I heard that you can't be nude there.

[RedRobin]

I thought Germany was where all the nudeists were at

[CaptainSmartass]

In Germany, remember these phrases:

Ich nicht bin mit MI5/FBI
Ich habe eine Diplomatische Reisepass

[Unknownooo]

Before going do a little bit of your own research about weather, things considered offensive... you know just to be careful. And carry all the necessary stuff.

[RedRobin]

Yeah, that's good advice

[Unknownooo]

I am glad that, you consider it. 😊

[RedRobin]

I'm not actually going away, this is mostly just to help other people

[Unknownooo]

It doesn't matter, as long as it helps anyone. 😁

[Pink1996]

Great tips thanks! I'll remember these next time I travel

[Paris13]

For me Here, dear, And from Experience, For I even Lived over in Egypt for Awhile... Stay Safe all the While. xx

[Paris13]

Good One, hun. xx

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Why is a plug convertor a need to bring? You can buy one at a local store.

[RedRobin]

Well, you don't really need to take one with you

[Waffles731]

always be unfailing polite,
make sure you know the laws of a country
and don't drink excessively

[fredrick89]

Don't post a corpse in social media

[RedRobin]

Haha, yes, that's a very good tip

[fredrick89]

I have 71 tips, but I would just tell you 2 of them, 2nd is before going back home, make sure you have home

[CaptainSmartass]

Be careful when crossing the road. Foreigners drive on the wrong side of the road. Also, crossing the road is illegal in some countries.

Simples...

[realistincanada]

Don’t drink tap water or eat off street vendors