Tandy’s Tips for travelling
Tandy Sinclair is a seasoned traveler from South Africa to many destinations abroad from Australia to Italy. She’s compiled some tips that many of us don’t think to consider.
Tips for Successful Travel
Well, you have decided you want to go on an overseas trip! It is so exciting, and daunting all at the same time. These tips might be obvious to the seasoned traveller, but to those travelling for the first time, I hope that you find something useful in them.
I do not profess to be a ‘professional traveller’. I have however travelled far and wide and if at all possible at least once a year.
The obvious – decide where you want to go. Once you have chosen the country of your destination, read up about the customs and culture of the country. Even if you are going to use a travel agent, they will not tell you the small details. For instance:
- I was in Dubai during Ramadan – eating and drinking is forbidden by everyone during the hours of Ramadan, in any public place.
- In rural France, everything closes at lunch time, except for the big chain stores, and in larger cities, the restaurants.
After you have decided where you are going, you need to decide when. If your leave is flexible, check the weather conditions for when you travel. It is not fun to be a visitor in hurricane season, or the depth of winter.
Booking tickets
Now, time to book your tickets. The internet is not always the cheapest option, and if you need connecting flights it may be a bit daunting. I always use the internet, but my sister uses a travel agent. Remember, however that if you need connecting flights and you do not use one carrier but choose to do the segments yourself you will have a serious problem if you miss a connecting flight. If you book with one carrier, all the way through, then the carrier will take responsibility if one of your flights is delayed or cancelled.
Travel Insurance
If you book and pay for your tickets with your credit card you will automatically get travel insurance. If you use air miles to get a ticket you might not be covered by travel insurance. Once your ticket is booked, contact the company that covers your travel insurance and get the documents you need from them. If you are going to need a Visa then you will need an Embassy letter from the insurance company.
Visa requirements
Download the forms you need for the Visa and see what supporting documentation you need to go with the application. Keep all the documents in the correct order to make it easy for the person who grants your Visa. Each country has different requirements but you will need to have certain documents:
- A letter from your company stating you have leave and you are returning to work
- A copy of your itinerary
- Confirmed accommodation booking or a letter from the person you are visiting inviting you to stay with the dates and motivation
- Air tickets booked
- Proof that you have the necessary funds available
- Recent ID photographs
- Your passport must be valid for a period of at least 6 months after your return date
Booking a hotel in a country you do not know can seem quite a task. Do not go for the cheapest option. Make sure you know the area in which the hotel is – you would not like to be in the middle of Brixton in London! Three stars is a good indication. As a guideline you would need to look at spending €80 per night in Europe for bed and breakfast for 2 people.
Car Hire or Public Transport
If you are not going to hire a car make sure public transport is within comfortable walking distance of your hotel. Also, in some cities you may not be allowed to take your suitcases on public transport. Suitcases need to be easy to walk with. I personally recommend the Microlite range from Cellini. We travel a lot, so the expense has been well worth it. If you are not planning on doing much travelling get something that is an equivalent.
Luggage considerations
In economy class, you are allowed only 23kg per person check in luggage. This is to allow for the weight of the suitcase, so the heavier it is empty, the less you can pack. Each piece of luggage is allowed to be a maximum of 32kg for health and safety reasons. This is for all classes. If you fly economy class you may only have one piece of check in luggage per person. Invest in lots of Ziploc bags for all your liquids. It is not fun to arrive somewhere to discover your shampoo has leaked all over your clothes.
Your hand luggage can only weigh 7kg and I would suggest you get something that can slip over the handle of your check in luggage to make it easy for when you have to walk places. In economy class you may take one piece of hand luggage per person, including your handbag. I pack a pillow for the plane as well as a change of underwear. At least this way if our suitcases do get lost, we can feel like humans when we go shopping.
Medication considerations
If you are on any medication take it with you on the plane – even if you don’t need it during the flight. Also ensure that you have a letter from your doctor, or a script for all the medications you have with you. In Australia and Singapore they are extremely sticky about this.
On flight forms
You may have to complete forms on the plane before you land as to where you are staying. Take a pen with you on the flight, and have the details copied down, as you cannot turn on your cell phone to get phone numbers etc. In Australia you cannot turn on your phone until you have cleared customs.
Securing your luggage
As soon as you take your suitcase off the conveyer, check that all locks are still on and that it has not been tampered with. I use cable ties for the locks I am keeping closed the entire trip – bright pink for me. Get coloured ones from any hardware store – but not black or white, as these are the colours the airlines use. If your suitcase has been tampered with, call a customs official straight away. I have had this happen to me in Australia and the customs officials were more than willing to take charge of the situation. If your suitcase has been damaged, report it to the airline immediately, making a note of what is missing. Remember, things can be added to your case as easily as they can be taken out!
Travel money
The best form of currency to use when overseas is your credit card. However, you will need cash for certain transactions. Get your currency before you leave and make sure you have some easy to get to at the airport. We work on €100 a day for all our expenses.
At the airport you should be able to get good visitors information. If you are making use of public transport try and get a pass for the amount of days you are in the city. We have permanent cards for London transport, and have made use of week long passes in all other cities. This gives you access to all transport for one flat fee.
Eating with the locals
Try to not eat at places where the menu’s are also in Chinese – this means they are tourist places. If in Italy and you find a menu only in Italian, you can be assured this is where the locals eat. The food is usually much better, and the waiters are professionals, so they will help you, even if you don’t speak the language. We have had some of our best meals in restaurants where the staff spoke very little to no English what so ever.
Market Shopping and duty free
The same goes for market shopping – shop where the locals shop and you are guaranteed to get the best produce, and pay the best prices. However, if it is perfume you are looking for; get it at duty free on the way out of the country, unless you find an amazing special at a perfume shop. You can check the prices at duty free in South Africa for a guideline as to what you should be paying.
Alcohol is not always cheaper overseas. We take with our maximum quota of wine and usually bring back some local product. Remember to pack it in bubble wrap and in a Ziploc bag – and place the wine in the middle of your suitcase – with clothes above and below.
Tandy’s Tips
Tandy Sinclair is an alternative health and wellness consultant, Reiki practitioner and an avid supporter of organic health and beauty products.
Ask Tandy: Feel free to submit questions to editor@secrets2success.co.za