General Travel Tips

The following is intended as general information and some recommendations may not be appropriate for all situations. It is strongly recommended that you contact the proper department within your organization for specific policies, procedures, and/or advice.

Prior to Departure:

Ensure that your home is protected while you are away.

Do some basic research regarding the local customs and culture of the countries you are planning on visiting. This can either be done through the Internet or the purchase of readily available travel books/guides.

Check your Foreign Ministry’s (or equivalent) website to see if there are any current travel warnings pertaining to locations you plan to visit.

Keep a list of your credit card numbers and give a copy to a trusted friend or colleague at home. This is useful in the extreme case that your credit cards have been lost or stolen and you do not have access to cash.

Keep a list of important telephone numbers with you and do not solely rely on your cell phone for this function. Cell phones are one of the easiest things to have stolen during a trip.

Provide your itinerary and hotel information to a trusted friend or colleague.

Rent a GSM phone for your trip. Such phones allow you to make/receive calls by accessing the local cellular system. Furthermore, the phone gives you a standard number through which others may reach you.

Make sure you research the current exchange rate for the local currency. This will allow you to look for the best deals and avoid being overcharged when exchanging money.

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