International Travel Tips!

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International Travel Tips

Rain, rain and more rain.

I plan a visit to Washington DC today but the inclement weather is most uncooperative. Therefore I decided to stay at home to keep warm and write about travel tips before I go out for my necessary gym session at Olympus and a visit to my sister's for a Karaoke concert. I was also half tempted to go out for an 'after holiday shopping' as most department stores would have an 'All Clearance Sale' at this time of year.

To get things done, I'd better get down to business and start blogging.

Every time I travel, I check the weather of my destination as a habit at worldweatherserver.com, a favourite site of mine. The worldweatherserver.com is a permanent fixture in my Apple Mac PowerBook G4 Bookmarks Bar to help me decide what to pack in my blue samsonite suitcase. I have in my previous blog Snow in the Desert, Ski Dubai! (Update) dated 17th December 2005 mentioned the items I pack for my trips. I therefore suggest that you plan ahead of time the clothing you might need in your travel not forgetting your cocktail dresses and suits. Make sure you have your sleeping garments with you, a pair of shorts (is always handy regardless of the destination); a pair of trainers i.e. Adidas or Nike' for gym or a pair of your favourite comfortable shoes for everyday use whilst abroad; slippers or sandals for hotel room and beach use; underwear garments, a pullover or sweater, a versatile jacket and black shoes. Have a look at my checklist of Essentials down below.

The ESSENTIALS that goes in my Samsonite Suitcase: ( I prefer the hard-shelled suitcase as they are hard-wearing and can be used to sit on especially when waiting in queues). May I also recommend a Longchamps folding bag to pack in your suitcase? I find them quite useful especially for carrying your duty free shopping and souvenirs.

First thing first, you need to have a Valid Passport and a plane ticket, pocket money and credit cards in your carry on!

Underwear (i.e. briefs, long johns, bras & knickers) x number of days on holiday and a spare or two.

Socks (sports & formal wear) x number of day on holiday and a spare or two.

T shirts, Polo Shirts, Long-Sleeved/short-sleeved (if the destination is sunny and warm - then take light-coloured shirts otherwise according to your activities. Always pack clothes for formal wear too.

Sports shoes and formal shoes, sandals or slippers (Note that you might already be wearing the pair of shoes you want to take with you to save you lugging extra weight).

Favourite Levi's Jeans, slacks and or cords. (jeans can be very versatile as you can use them at least 3 times before they need laundry - that's my dirty little secret!).

Walking shorts, jogging pants and swim wear i.e. speedo swimming trunks and goggles. If you are going away for more than a week then don't forget your nail clippers and personal grooming kit!

In your toiletry bag for check-in:

Philips shaver or a good sharp razor, scissors and grooming kit.

Body Lotion (Aveeno); Sunscreens of at least (SPF 15) Coppertone All Day Protection and Hawaiian Tropic are my preferred brands.

Facial Moisturizers (I take my favourites; Prescriptives & Clarins) and Davidoff Cool Water eau de toilette. I have been asked a thousand times as to what after shave I wear - there you go, now you know.

In your carry on:

Again, I can't stress enough to have your valid Passport and a plane ticket, pocket money and credit cards in your carry on.

Philips Toothbrush; Colgate/Sensodyne Toothpaste, Blistex and or Carmex Lip Balm not forgetting your Oral B Dental Floss.

Vitamins and some Paracetamol or Aleve for pain relief. If you have prescriptions drugs please don't pack it in your suitcase. Have it in your carry on for easy access just in case you may need it inflight.

I must stress out that in some countries like the UAE, you must be very careful with your prescription drugs. If you have sleeping pills and or anti-depressants prescribed by your doctor please consult with the embassy before you travel as possession of such prescribed drugs are illegal and you could end up spending your holiday in jail. Please see report below for your information.

Tourist in UAE jailed over tainted urine sample

A British woman is being held in a prison in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after prescription drugs were allegedly found in her urine. Tracy Wilkinson, 44, from Balcombe, West Sussex, has been in jail since 5 March when she was arrested at Dubai airport over an error on her passport. Codeine and temazepam were then found when she provided a urine specimen. The Foreign Office said she was getting appropriate consular support but her ex-husband said she was "very down".

Four year sentence

Mother-of-two Ms Wilkinson, a sports osteopath, was on holiday in the UAE when she was arrested. She has access to a lawyer but a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said it "could not intervene in the legal process of another country". Codeine is banned by the Arab nation, and the presence of such drugs in the body is counted as possession and carries a minimum sentence of four years imprisonment.

Her former husband, Robin Wilkinson, a 50-year-old retired police officer, said he hoped she could be freed next weekend. Mr Wilkinson, from Handcross, West Sussex, said: "She appeared in court on Saturday but the case was adjourned for another week, there is so much red tape.

"Tracy is very down and is getting tired ... She's in a bad way but she'll pull through it. She's a strong lady ... I have been told that she could get four years if found guilty but I am sure she'll be released, and hopefully on Saturday."

Mr Wilkinson said he had been assured by the British Embassy everything was being done that could be and said it was a case of having to accept another country's system. The campaign group, Fair Trials Abroad, has taken up Ms Wilkinson's case, and has urged both the British and UAE governments to intervene.

Director Stephen Jacobi said: "This is clearly a case that should have been resolved weeks ago. "This poor woman has been in jail for seven weeks."

I have not heard about the outcome of this case but just as a precaution please, please just be sensible when packing your luggage making sure no one tampers it. Also travel light for your comfort.

Always adhere to local customs in order to stay out of trouble and so as not to offend locals. Make a note of this especially if you are visiting a religious country that has dress code.

I normally prefer to pack my suitcase on the day of my travel if not the day before though some of you may prefer to pack days ahead especially if you are travelling with someone or family.

The other thing to consider is your health and welfare.

If you have special dietary requirements, it is wise to pack some food for your travel. It is also wise to request a confirmation from your travel agents in writing about your dietary requirements ahead of time. Please note that some airlinies may levy an extra charge for this service. Some airlines require 24 to 48 hours before your scheduled departure for the special meals to be onboard your flight. In some cases where flights are cancelled or you have missed connections, special meals may not be onboard so travel prepared just like the Boy Scoutss It is not nice to blame the flight attendant for the omission of your special meal as resources at 37,000 ft can be quite limited!

Points to remember

Prepare your body by making sure you are rested and hydrated the day before your travel by moderating your intake of alcohol, tea and coffee.

Pre-Flight after check-in

Take a stroll around the terminal, avoid heavy meals, apply a good moisturiser to keep skin feeling fresh and making sure to wear loose, comfortable clothing.

During the Flight

Eat a light meal, drink plenty of water, remove contact lenses before going to sleep. Stretch your arms and legs every few hours. An opportune time would be when visiting the toilets.

When you land

Take a gentle stroll, then put up your feet and relax when you get to your final destination.

Upon arrival at home or hotel room, (if hotel room, I always scan and check the room and bathroom making sure there is no unwanted visitors be it man, woman or animal). I make myself chamomile tea or something hot to drink. Now, the next most crucial thing to do is to get some solid sleep for at least 3 to 4 hours making sure you set the alarm regardless of the time of day. If it's still day light then do some reading or sightseeing and have a light meal with a glass of wine making sure you go to bed the same time as you would normally at home to get in synch and acclimatise yourself to the local time. If night time, just order a room service for dinner, perhaps catch up on the news and have a little read before going to bed again. As a frequent traveller, this is how I beat jetlag and I must say I've mastered this art and when I wake up the next day - I'm normally acclimatised to the local time.

When travelling abroad, you must be vigilant at all times. Be sensible with what you wear. If unfamiliar with the place, refrain from wearing excessive jewelries and designer watches.

When going out, take a photocopy of your passport with you as a form of ID when you go out making sure you lock your passport in your hotel safe and taking with you reasonable amount of money. Also, if you have a selection of credit cards, make sure you only take one with you especially when visiting bars and clubs. Always have 'emergency money for transport' hidden away in one of your pockets and making sure not to spend it whilst in bars and clubs.

When in bar, make sure you watch your drinks in case someone tries to spike your beverage. When going back to your hotel, make sure no one follows you especially in dark alleyways when deciding for a walk. When entering your hotel room, be careful no one is behind you and always be mindful in the corridor or hallway of who is around within the vicinity.

I hope you all find the information in this blog helpful in your future travels.

May God Bless You and Protect You and May You Have a Happy, Healthy and Successful New Year!

Alan Aldana

p.s. I shall be asking some of my friends to contribute on my blog for the New Year!