- Make sure
you have a signed, valid passport (and visas, if required). Also, before
you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport!
- Make 2 copies
of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement
if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends
or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your
passport.
- Leave a
copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can
be contacted in case of an emergency.
- Do not leave
your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from
strangers.
- To avoid
being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive
jewellery and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary
credit cards.
- In order
to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorised agents when
you exchange money or purchase art or antiques
- If you get
into trouble, contact the
nearest British Embassy
- Check out
the links for current news
and information on the country you are visiting
- How to beat
jet lag. Anytime you fly across several different time zones, you disrupt
the body's circadian rhythms. Here are four ways to control it:
- Avoid
alcohol during your flight. Alcohol, a depressant, can aggravate lethargy
and fatigue, two classic symptoms of jet lag. It can also cause restlessness,
which can disturb your sleep or keep you from sleeping altogether.
And because it acts as a diuretic, alcohol can leave you feeling dehydrated
- Limit
your consumption of caffeine. Like alcohol, caffeine is a diuretic
that can leave you feeling dehydrated and out of sorts. Too much caffeine
can also cause nervousness, anxiety, tremors and insomnia
- Drink
plenty of water. Recent studies have shown that even slight dehydration
can cause listlessness and fatigue and can even make you more prone
to mental errors - symptoms similar to those of jet lag.
- Adapt
to local time as quickly as possible. If you arrive at your destination
the morning after an all-night flight, for example, have no more than
a brief 90-minute nap, then stay awake until it's time for bed. Schedule
non-stressful activities and eat light, refreshing meals on your arrival
day.
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