Small tips for a big tour

 

Shimon Rumelt

 

1. Immunize yourself according to your destination.

 

2. Consult your physician regarding the medications that you should take. Carry a letter from your doctor specifying the medications that you possess and stating that they are for your own personal use.

 

3. Leave the medicine in its original packaging so it is clearly labeled with your name and dosage instructions.

 

4. Take more medications than needed to cover your travel period, because they may not be available overseas. Be aware that some medications purchased overseas may be packaged under a different brand name and strength from those in your own country.

 

5. Do your homework before leaving and prepare a detailed itinerary. Read about the places that you are going to visit, the climate conditions, local law, habits, and possible hazards.

 

6. Leave your itinerary with your family before leaving home.

 

7. Take out proper health and baggage insurance. Extreme sports require special insurance.

 

7. Make two photocopies of your documents, including passport, flight tickets, visas, and travelers' checks. Keep one copy with you in a separate place from the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

 

9. Let your family know where you are staying and with whom you are traveling.

 

10. Take a flashlight, spare batteries, first, second, and third aids (see below), rope, mobile phon,e and maps/GPS.

 

Health issues

 

1. Keep your medications with you in case your luggage gets lost.

 

2. When flying overseas, drink plenty of fluids (except alcohol and caffeine), while seated, stretch your feet and lower legs, and walk around the cabin at regular intervals every 2-3 hours during your flight to prevent deep vein thrombosis that may cause cerebral vascular accident (CVA), myocardial infarction, or respiratory distress.

 

3. Beware of jet lag and be prepared to rest during your journey. Avoid over-exercising, especially in hot climates.

 

4. If you are practicing scuba diving, do not take a flight for at least 24 hours after your final dive to prevent deep vein thrombosis.

 

5. Adjust your clothes to the weather. Be prepared for extreme conditions.

 

6. In hot weather, protect yourself from the sun. Use a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreens; wear sunglasses, long sleeves, light and bright color shirts, and pants.

 

7. In cold weather, wear warm clothes. Sunglasses are important to protect from snow burns.

 

8. Wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes.

 

9. Take enough water and food. For a day tour, 3-6 liters are required. Drink regularly even if you are not thirsty.

 

10. Avoid any medications that may cause you allergic reactions.

 

11. In remote areas, doxycycline (Doxyline) 100mg, one tablet a day, is effective for most gastrointestinal (diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain/discomfort) and urinary (urinary stinging) infections. If there is no improvement within 2 days, metronidazole (Flagyl) 250mg, 2 tablets (or more according physician's prescription) a day, may be added for 5-7 days. If there is still no improvement, a physician consultation is mandatory. For head and neck infections (including upper and lower respiratory tract infections), Amoxycillin and clavulinic acid (Augmentin) 875mg, twice a day for 7-10 days, is effective. Ciprofloxacin 125-250mg, twice a day for 3 days, covers resistant microorganisms. Please consult your primary physician before taking these medications.

 

12. Use insect repellent and anti-malaria drugs in malaria-endemic areas.

 

13. Follow only marked trails and watch your step.

 

14. Do not walk at night or when there is fog.

 

15. Do not lift rocks, logs, etc., because of the risk of snake, scorpio,n and spider bites.

 

16. Do not drink unsafe water (pools, lakes, rivers, wells, etc).

 

17. Where local tap water is not safe, drink bottled water and use it to brush your teeth. Always check the seal on the bottle before use. Also, avoid ice in cool drinks

 

18. It is safer to eat only well-cooked food and avoid salads.

 

19. Wash food in bottled water and peel fruits.

 

20. When climbing heights over 3,000 meters, rest for a day or two every 500 meters. When flying at heights over 3,000 meters, it may be useful to take acetazolamide 250 mg twice a day or half a tablet 3 times a day, two days before departure, the day of departure, and the following day. Consult your physician before.

 

21. Be sure that it is safe to swim and dive. Do not enter the water unless you can swim. Do not jump into pools.

 

22. If you do not know the area you are traveling in, use a well-experienced and authorized local guide or the services of a travel agency.

 

23. Safe sex requires the use of condoms to avoid AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

 

Personal safety

 

1. Always keep your passport and money in safe places. Have only small change available.

 

2. Be polite but vigilant. Do not disclose where you are heading to strangers.

 

3. Avoid highly dangerous sites/areas (deserted and unlit areas or empty streets, parking lots, and bridges).

 

4. Avoid public demonstrations and protests, crowded places such as carnivals and slums.

 

5. It is best to avoid wearing jewelry and expensive watches. Dress down to look like a local and conceal cameras.

 

6. Know where you are heading and walk purposefully.

 

7. If taking a daypack, whenever putting it down, better to slip your foot through the strap.

 

8. Do not enter a taxi or a car offering you a ride. Avoid riding an unauthorized taxi. Take a taxi or public transportation from a formal station.

 

9. Do not leave your belongings unattended or with a stranger. Never entrust your baggage to anyone.

 

10. Lock your baggage at all times and secure it to a fixture on the bus, train, or boat.

 

11. Do not take with you anything, and do not accept offers from strangers.

 

12. When leaving your hotel room, always lock your luggage. When returning, make sure that it was untouched.

 

13. If handing over luggage on public transportation, make sure to receive a receipt and that your luggage is stowed inside.

 

14. Lock the hotel room at all times and never open the door to a stranger. If in doubt, call the reception for assistance.

 

15. Verify the availability and location of the closest emergency exit in your hotel.

 

16. Select your companion and be cautious of people who approach you.

 

17. Do not give information about your itinerary to strangers.

 

18. Do not talk about politics and religious issues with strangers.

 

19. Select restaurants and bars with a tourist crowd.

 

20. Always ask ahead to see the menu in restaurants and bars and check the prices.

 

21. Never accept drinks, food, candies, chewing gum, or cigarettes from strangers because they could be drugged to incapacitate victims.

 

22. Always agree on payments in advance (in taxi, etc.).

 

23. Never change money on the street and never display a large amount of money.

 

24. Avoid possession or use of drugs.

 

25. Avoid hitchhiking.

 

26. Do not resist a rubbery.

 

27. Avoid taking photographs of airfields, military facilities, police stations, and governmental buildings. Ask permission to take photographs of people.

 

28. Talk quietly and do not draw attention.

 

Miscellaneous issues

 

1. Respect the local customs and laws. Respect other people's beliefs and religion. Dress humbly in holy places.

 

2. Keep the area clean. Take your garbage with you and dispose of it properly.

 

3. Do not disturb wild animals and do not harm the environment.

 

4. In some countries, public land transportation may be slow and unreliable. In these places, an organized tour or car hire is a better option.

 

5. A medical travel kit may contain the followings: Paracetamol for pain or fever; Antibiotics (as listed above including their prescription); Prochlorperazine or metaclopramide for nausea and vomiting; Papaverin for abdominal pain; Muscle relaxant (e.g. orphenadrine) for muscle pain; Antihistamine (e.g., Benadryl) for allergic reaction, insect bits and stings (some may cause dizziness and should not be used with alcohol consumption); Antiseptic agent (povidone iodine or chlorhexidine) for cuts and wounds; Calamine lotion or aluminum sulfate spray for irritation relief after stings or bites; Antifungal cream, bandages, thermometer, throat lozenges, decongestants, insect repellent, sunscreen, lip balm, water-purification tablets or iodine, syringes and sterile needles/veinflon (with accompanying letter from your physician). You may also take feminine hygiene products, contraceptives, and condoms.

 

The recommendations above may not be applicable to all places.

 

Have a safe trip!