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Traveling Abroad

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Top 5 Hotels in the US

For some travelers, their entire vacation plan is based around where they will be staying. Many people look for the best hotel or resort they can in an effort to make their vacation the best and most memorable. The United States of America offers a wide array of vacation hot spots around the country. A good hotel is easy to find in the U.S., but some people do not want to settle for good. They want the best.

1. Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa, located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming is, without question, one of the best. Guests at the Rusty Parrot are treated to a rustic themed vacation, complete with wildlife safaris. In the fall, visitors can take part in the elk bugling, wolves and grizzlies safari offered by the lodge. The safari explores the grounds of nearby Yellowstone National Park and its animal inhabitants. In the spring, a wolves and grizzlies safari is offered in the same area. If roughing it on safari is not your thing, feel free to remain at the lodge and enjoy their fine dining room and wide variety of offered activities, including golf, white water rafting, and horseback riding. Guests are also encouraged to book their appointment at the lodges acclaimed Body Sage Spa.

2. Deep in the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee lays one of the best hotels in the nation. Blackberry Farm is 4,200 acres of relaxation. Enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery of the Great Smokey Mountains right from your hotel room. The resort offers the Farmhouse Spa, where guests can relax while enjoying spa amenities such as hydrotherapy and massage. Guests are encouraged to head out to nearby Clinch River and partake in fly fishing. The resort prides itself on offering guests the best fly fishing east of the Rocky Mountains. The resort also offers a host of other activities such as horseback riding, hiking, canoeing and carriage rides. Guests are transported around resort grounds in Lexus vehicles and the resort offers Camp Blackberry, a full child care program parents are encouraged to take advantage of.

3. The Point Resort in Saranac Lake, New York has been called one of the most enchanting lakefront getaways in the country. Guests have a choice of selecting a room in one of four buildings the Main Lodge, the Eagles Nest, the Guest House and the Boat House. The resorts acclaimed dining room offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner to guests according to dietary restrictions of guests staying at the resort. During spare time, guests enjoy a number of activities at the resort. During the summer months Sarnac Lake is put to good use at the resort. Water skiing, swimming, sunset cruises, and fishing are all offered to guests. Guests opting to remain on land can take part in activities such as hiking, volleyball, badminton, and horseback riding. In the winter the resort urges guests to leave resort grounds and visit Whiteface Mountain in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains to enjoy skiing. Ice skating on Lake Sarnac is also an option and ice fishing is also a popular pastime on the frozen lake.

4. If you are looking for a posh resort where you will be treated like a star, look no further than The Peninsula in Beverly Hills, California. Set amidst the swanky mansions of Beverly Hills and against the backdrop of the skyline of Los Angeles, The Peninsula is the best choice for those who want a chic, modern vacation. Guests can venture off the resorts grounds to visit the city of Los Angeles, tour Beverly Hills or visit the renowned Rodeo Drive for some shopping. The resort offers a number of restaurants and bars, including the Roof Garden, a rooftop patio surrounded by a beautiful array of flowers and plants and adjacent to the pool and spa. The spa offers a number of treatments such as Swedish massage, Reflexology, Shiatsu, and variety of body scrubs.

5. North of Beverly Hills, travelers will find a completely different view of California. Located in central California, the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California is about 330 miles north of Los Angeles. Located on the cliffs overlooking the California coastline, the Post Ranch Inn is the perfect getaway. The inn is set up like a lodge, creating a fun, relaxing atmosphere for guests. The Post Ranch Inn is home to a full spa which offers treatments such as massage, facials, and specialized therapy. Guests can also enjoy the fitness room and pool. Yoga, guided nature walks, and star gazing are some of the activities that set this resort apart from others.

Tips To Enjoy A Memorable Holiday Abroad!

When you plan an international trip with your family it will be easier to get sick when you are in a new environment. Your body should get adjusted to the new food, water and air. The stress and excitement of travel could make you more likely to get sick. Here are a few healthy tips for you to make your trip more enjoyable.

The first thing you need is to find out what kinds of vaccinations needed in the country you plan to visit and other requirements.

There are three most common health problems one will face during such travel. They are:

Jet lag
Altitude sickness
Diarrhoea

To overcome jet lag, if you are travelling from west to east you must stay out of the sun until the day after your arrival. If you travel from east to west, you go for a brisk walk sooner you arrive at the place of your visit.

Dry air, decrease in oxygen and low barometric pressure due to altitude are the reasons for the altitude sickness. By gradually increasing the altitude this problem can be solved or a drug known as acetazolamide can give a relief from this sickness.

Traveller’s diarrhoea – turista occurs when foreign type bacteria enters the digestive tract when contaminated food or water is taken. By taking proper care in the food you eat and the water you drink this can be avoided.

Water supplies in many developing countries are not treated, so it is better you drink only bottled water.

You must carry inhalers, allergy medicines, insulin as well as contact lens cleaners and vitamins. It is always better to carry your medical history with you while on travel with the following information:

Name, address and phone number of the contact person in case of emergency
Blood group
Immunization reports
Doctor’s name, address and telephone number
Name and address of your health insurance carrier including your policy number
A list of current medications you are taking, if any

With the above precautions, you will surely have a memorable holiday abroad and share with us on your return.

Tips For Travelling By Car With Young Children

A holiday abroad should always be fun, but when you travel with young children and need to rent a car from the airport to your holiday destination, you should take a few moments to read the following tips to make the trip fun andcomfortable. Remember that if the children enjoy the journey you will normally have a great time yourself.

PLAN YOUR TRIP
If children get car-sick easily, it is best to give them something to eat or drink and to wait a while before getting into the car. Take advantage of the time you have to wait for your luggage or at the car hire counter in the airport to avoid unnecessary delays.

Get a detailed roadmap at home or check the internet for the latest information on the journey from the airport to your destination. Work out how often you would need a break and plan plenty of stops when driving for a long time. Its necessary to stop minimum 20 minutes every two hours, trying to go non-stop only leads to accidents. Check the corresponding motorway exits for convenient stops where your children can get out of the car and run around a while.

Try to stop at playgrounds where they can play safely. Take some time to relax and stretch your legs yourself. Your journey will take a bit longer but it will be a relaxed start of your holiday.

ENTERTAINMENT
All kids love to play so make sure to have their favourite toys, dolls or teddy bears ready in your hand luggage. Make sure to pack at least one familiar object like a favourite toy or a special blanket for every child.

Music is also a great way to keep your children occupied in the car. All modern rental cars come with radio nowadays, but the suppliers do not normally guarantee if it is equipped with CD or tape deck. Do not take the change and make sure to pack your childrens favourite music both on CD and on tape.

Books with multi-colour images or colouring books with pencils are also a great alternative. If you do not suffer from car sickness yourself reading a story for the children is also a good way to keep them occupied for a while and help the time pass more quickly.

If you can afford it consider a portable DVD player. A portable DVD player is worthwhile the money, it will keep your children busy for hours in the car but at the airports as well. It also comes very handy at your holiday destination during the hot siesta hours or on a rainy day.

Tips for People Travelling to Greece

Greece can satisfy even the most demanding of its visitors. It has beautiful scenery and great man made establishments, it has sea but also mountains, it has archaeological sites and night clubs as well, it has crowded areas but it also has nice and quite places. The best of all is that all these are not far away from each other. I don’t think its an overstatement to say that Greece is a traveler’s paradise.

Where can you find such places.

If you want to find fancy restaurants and Hotels and all the comforts a man can get those are the services every known place has and they are actually difficult to miss. Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Corfu, Crete, Athens, Thessaloniki, Samos are among the most visited destinations in Greece. If you need luxurious accommodations, fancy restaurants, loud music, packed cafes, lots of visitors you can find them here.

Places that are not crowded but still have lot to offer are more difficult to find. There are less services and less money to be gained from visitors and therefore are not heavily promoted. If you are looking for those places don’t ask at your local travel agent. Don’t arrange a Cruise hoping to find them. The are usually very close to the crowded centers but not much is mentioned of them.

Lots of smaller islands that are not heavily advertised, and island satellites to famous ones usually fall under this category and would be ideal places for people that want to explore the alternative Greece. For the sake of the discussion I am going to mention Gaudos, Paxoi, Fournoi, Sifnos, Ikaria, Chios but this is not extensive by any means. These places are usually recommended from people that have already gone there. If you have not had such recommendations then I would advise you to prepare your trip to the most favorable location leaving some room in your schedule for visiting places that the locals will undoubtedly suggest. An inquiry to a local Greek travel agent or a Greek Habitant might reveal some hidden treasures around the area. Keeping in mind the pros and cons presented right after, one can easily recognize such places.

With quiet destinations you avoid the mass tourism and the noise and you enjoy more the nature and the hospitality of people simple and not caught up at the great rush of our times. Nature is purer and the food is fresher and atmosphere is unspoiled and healthier. The prices are cheaper too. One great disadvantage is that such places don’t have many means of transportation to and from them and not to many comforts should be expected when looking for accommodation. Some of them don’t even have air connectivity with mainland Greece. They might have boat or bus connection 3-7 times a week from the near by Town.

Travel off high season

Greeks usually take their summer vacation around the 15th of August that is the biggest festivity in the Orthodox Christian world, commemorating the Assumption of Theotokos (Mary the mother of Jesus). Around these days everything gets very busy with boats running full and extra flights being added and all types of accommodation running at full capacity. These period makes for some very tiresome vacation and I would definitely avoid it if I had the choice. Planning either before or after August is probably the smartest thing one can do when traveling to Greece. You do avoid the headaches and prices are a whole lot different.

Almost all destinations in Greece are connected through Athens, so this gives an opportunity to the traveler to explore the Athenian lifestyle and Acropolis if heshe so chooses. Some alternative routes include Italy which has daily direct boat connections to the Ionian islands and Turkey which has daily boat connectivity to the nearby islands of the Aegean.

Arranging your car rental before hand

Small places usually luck the public transportation of the big and famous cities. Buses usually run not very frequently and planning your excursions around them usually is not an easy chore. The more crowded places will probably have cars booked fully for the high season times. So if you are planning on using a car arranging it ahead of time is always good choice.

Alternative accommodations for rent

If you are not interested in the standard services of a hotel (food, everyday cleaningtowelssheets pools and restaurants) you can rent villas or homes at cheaper prices. Usually the such places provide a high level of service compared to what you pay for them. Plenty of non Hotel accommodations are spread at all possible places and the go by the names of “studios” “apartments” “homes” “rooms to let” “homes”. Some times its even possible to rent such places a monthly rental fee, provided you will stay for at least 1 12 months there.

The Travelling Itch

I have a passion for travel that has never been fulfilled. My childhood years were spent fantasizing about exotic cultures and faraway places: visiting the pyramids of Egypt, flying over the Nazca lines in the southern Peruvian desert, wandering mysterious cobbled streets in the rustic towns of Italythese fantasies were always in my mind and formed the background for my college studies in Anthropology. Someday, I thought, I will see the world

One child, one mortgage, two car payments and several revolving credit balances later I have yet to see more of our planet than the western half of the continental US (with a few forays into the wilds of Vancouver, British Columbia). Though the shores of the west coast are indisputably beautiful and my move to Idaho has introduced me to a different landscape of rugged yet pristine terrain, my thirst to roam remains unquenched. So when I recently landed on an opportunity that enabled me to indulge my travel yen – for life – with a membership offering steeply discounted trips around the globe, I seized it. This is what I found:

The Coastal Travel membership is good for a lifetime with just one purchase and a small annual renewal fee. There are two options to join: Domestic and International. I chose the International option, which includes all of the discounts and packages offered in the Domestic package as well. Included in the membership are a vast variety of discounted trips offering complimentary lodging to destinations from the islands of Barbados to those of Greece, and from Paris, France to Bangkok, Thailand. Also offered are 20 discount cards for dining, entertainment, roadside assistance, complimentary long distance calls, golf, camping and a long list of hotels and resorts, including domestic and international condominium rentals at greatly reduced prices. As a bonus, I found 5 complimentary cruises included in my purchase.

Though my first two scheduled trips are within the States (the discounts also apply exceptionally well to my normal business travel), I will finally see the Eastern half of my country for the first time and will be visiting Boston, Massachusetts and Orlando Florida for less than 13 the cost I would pay without my membership. But after my return, I will be planning my first trip overseas.

I am having a hard time deciding between Tahiti and Australia

The Grand Canyon: 10 Things to Know Before You Go

The Grand Canyon is located in northwest Arizona and arguably the worlds most popular and natural tourist attraction. The massive Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and at its deepest point, is more than a mile from rim to river. Most of the Canyon lies within the Grand Canyon National Park and is managed by the National Park Service. It incorporates three geographically separated areas: the South Rim, the North Rim and the inner Canyon. As you plan your vacation to the Grand Canyon, be prepared for everything.

1. You must decide how you will get there. Will you drive across country as a family road trip or will you fly to save time and money? Taking in mind the rising gas prices across the nation, and decide which one will benefit you more, both physically and economically?

2. Self vs. Travel Agent. How much time do you have to properly research and plan a vacation? You must decide if you should find a travel agency to help plan out your vacation to the great wonders of the Grand Canyon. Travel agencies can save you both time and money, because planning the best vacations is what they do for a living.

3. Child friendly environments. Depending on the ages of your children, you need to know that your destination is suitable for children. With babies, find out if the hotel or resort where you will be staying offers cribs or childcare during your visit. Is a Grand Canyon vacation the right choice for your children?

4. Pets care. Many people enjoy taking their pets along with them on vacation. If you do, make sure your hotel or resort allows pets on the premises. Also be sure some of your destinations are pet friendly too so you arent leaving your pet locked up in a room all day while you are out having the time of your life. If you decide not to bring your pet, find a pet sitting service or boarding facilities with a good reputation. Most animal hospitals offer boarding, but if yours does not, then ask your veterinarian for a referral to a reputable pet care provider.

5. Protect your home. A visit to the Grand Canyon averages four to seven days. Those are days that you will be away from your home. Talk with your neighbors and ask them if they can keep an eye on your house while you are gone, or ask a family member or friend to check in on your house every now and then. You want to prevent your home from being targeted by burglars.

6. Pack appropriate clothing, such as: a bandanna or a hat (for sun and weather protection), cut off pants for hiking, gloves, jacket, pants (heavy duty), rain coat or poncho, shoes (suitable for hiking), socks (cotton or wool for hiking), sweat shirt or sweater.
7. First Aid Precautions. Accidents happen, when they do, you can be prepared by keeping a personal first aid kit at hand. What you should take with you to meet an emergency situation depends on your family, where you are going and how long you will be staying. The minimum items to be considered would be: Antiseptic, Ace bandage, Band-aids, Burn ointment, Chap stick, First aid tape, Foot blister pads/powder, Gauze compresses, salt tablets, sharp knife and sun tan lotion.

8.Miscellaneous items. Compass, maps, water, ear plugs, eye wash, fire starter, blanket, flashlight (with new batteries), waterproof matches, paper/pencil, sewing kit, antibacterial soap, sun glasses, toilet paper, moist wipes.

9. Sun screen. SPF 15 or higher. Protect yourself and your family from sun burns.

10. Toiletries. Laundry bag, mirror, sleep wear, sanitary supplies, shaving articles, soap, tooth brush, tooth paste, wash cloth.

Never carry all of your credit cards with you or a large amount of cash. This can lead to excessive spending, theft or simply losing it. When traveling, your best bet would be travel checks or a travelers debit card, that will replace funds if lost or stolen. Losing all your money or having your funds stolen can end a great vacation in a heart beat. You should prepare yourself for anything, even if it requires over packing, and dont forget to have a safe trip.

Teaching Abroad: A guide to the basics

Teaching English as foreign language (or second language) is an excellent option for visiting new parts of the world. Because English is commonly used for diplomacy, higher education, business and technology, English teachers and classes are in high demand around the worldwide.

Knowing how to teach English also provides you with an excellent skill to be used in volunteering. There are opportunities around the world where people would benefit from knowing English, yet they do not have the funds to enroll in classes, or perhaps they dont have access to any classes at all.

If teaching English isnt for you, international schools require native English speakers to teach other subjects as well, such as mathematics, science, history, and the arts.

What is TEFL, ESL, EFL, etc.?
There are lots of different abbreviations and acronyms to refer to teaching English. Here is a quick simplifier

ELT: English Language Teaching or English Language Training
EFL: English as a Foreign Language
ESL: English as a Second Language
ESOL: English for Speakers of Other Languages
EAL: English as an Additional Language
TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TESL: Teaching English as a Second Language
TEAL: Teaching English as an Additional Language
TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

All of the above abbreviations are used for essentially the same thing, however, you may notice that generally ESL is used for non-native speakers learning English in an English speaking country, and EFL is for non-native-speaks learning English in a non-English speaking environment, such as their own country. Moreover, Americans tend to use ESL more, and British teachers tend to use EFL. EAL is an attempt to bridge the gap between the two. Oftentimes people learn English not as their second language, but as their third, fourth or more. Also, EAL avoids using the word foreign, which is considered by the more politically correct to have an unpleasant inference.

Do I need a certificate to teach English?
There are many opportunities around the world to teach English without a certificate. However, certification does help, especially if there is an application process involved and positions are competitive.

Do I need to speak a foreign language to teach people English?
Theoretically, to teach English you should only need to speak one language. However, if you are teaching in a foreign country, there is no doubt that some knowledge of that countrys culture and language can make your job much easier, and probably allow you to make your lessons more relevant and interesting for your students. If your students are of mixed international backgrounds, then knowing one or two foreign languages may not be of assistance to the entirety of the group.

There is some benefit to your teaching if you do in fact know a foreign language or have learnt one. By having first hand experience of being a student, you are able to have a more complete perspective of the studentteacher relationship and the trials and tribulations of those you teach. Moreover, learning another language provides you with valuable insight about grammar, such as verb conjugations and tenses, which come naturally to a native speaker. Many other languages use similar grammatical formats as English, and by learning a foreign language you might be able to examine your native language more carefully.

Do I need to speak English as my native language to teach English?
You certainly dont have to speak English as your native tongue; however you must have excellent fluency and writing skills to start a training course for certification. Oftentimes non-native speakers make the best teachers, however. If youve been through it yourself then you are able to relate to what your students will be dealing with.

How long will it take to become certified?
Certification is a pretty quick process, usually taking four weeks or considerably less. You can take the course full time, part time, or through distance learning. There are options to suit whichever method or time frame you prefer.

Secure yourself before you make a next trip abroad

While traveling abroad, most of us incorporate the best advice about trip planning and take utmost care to travel safely. The most serious problem a traveler can face is the possibility of having a health problem. And if you are traveling oversees, then it becomes really important to secure your trip to deal with unforeseen medical issues in a foreign country. While other kinds of insurances secure you financially, medical insurance secures you physically. International travel insurance goes a long way in ensuring that you get the right medical facilities while you are away from home. Medical Insurance plans are designed to cover the cost of medical procedures but, these insurance plans may not provide you compensation for the major medical expenses. Therefore, you should carefully select a plan that caters to your travel needs.

There are different types of medical insurance plans in the market today. You can consider travel medical insurance that provides protection against all health related problems that might occur while you are traveling outside your own country. Another option would be to buy a plan depending on the type of traveler you are which includes student travel medical insurance, travel accident insurance and even backpackers travel insurance. Moreover, there are international medical insurance plans that offer coverage for short term and long term travelers.

Make sure that the health and accident cover plan that you choose also covers all doctor’s consultation fees, bill payments, and the hospitalization charges as well. When selecting an international travel Insurance plan pay attention to all the minute details in the insurance form. Keep a track of all important numbers and addresses to be contacted while you need to make a claim. In case you need an emergency medical treatment, make all the expenses listed in the itemized bill so you can make a claim back home. Many international travel insurance companies offer insurance plans at much lower prices, as the cost of health care is much lower in other countries as compared to US or Canada.

There are several options to find insurance at cheap rates. Some medical insurance do not cover the pre-existing illness. You can ask your insurance agent to exclude the cost of pre-existing illness, this will lower the insurance costs. Moreover, you can now compare insurance policies and shop online for the best deals for every budget. If you are traveling in a group, it is always easier to find cheap prices for group insurance. Some international medical plans do not provide coverage against dangerous activities and outdoor sports such as skiing, mountain climbing, and skydiving. Decide whether you need insurance for such activities before traveling and choose plan accordingly, as most companies will not allow you to add-on the adventure sport coverage to your policy once you reach your destination.

Buying international travel insurance prevents you from any unforeseen situation that you might face while traveling abroad. Make sure you get your health insurance as early as possible as many plans have a waiting period, after the premium has been paid.

Record Numbers Are Travelling To Egypt

Ever wondered what its like at the centre of an Egyptian pyramid? Those who have been on holiday to Egypt may have powerful memories of this, along with the hubbub of the Egyptian marketplace, inquisitive locals sucking on shisha pipes, chaotic mingling of people and traffic, hieroglyphics, the ethereal mask of Tutankhamun and tourist guides proffering camel rides and souvenirs at Giza. Steeped in ancient history, Egypt is an explosion of vibrant colour and mystical intrigue. Travel to Egypt and youll remember it for the rest of your life!

Tourism in Egypt

Where else could you sit on a camel and gaze up at the imposing Great Sphinx through a hazy desert sunset? Egypt is so crammed with drama and energy that its no wonder the number of holidays to Egypt has reached record levels. According to news agency Mena, 9.7 million went to Egypt on holiday in 2006-7, an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year. Hospitality for those travelling in Egypt is clearly thriving and there is a good choice of hotels in the tourist areas of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Alexandria, as well as the tourist resorts of Hurghada and Sharm-el Sheikh.

When to go

Due to its proximity to the equator, Egypts climate is hot and dry and winters are mild. In the summer, daytime temperatures often exceed 45C. Whilst many of the historic sites may be empty during mid-summer, the searing heat limits sightseeing for most to mornings and evenings. As a result of this, and the equally alarming prospect of being hounded by swarms of summer mosquitoes, the most popular time to travel to Egypt is mid-October to May, when it is not too uncomfortably hot to explore the countrys many visitor sites.

Holidays in Egypt

A holiday in Egypt has so much to offer and cheap Egyptian holidays can be found on certain websites. Visitors to Egypt can entertain themselves with such unique experiences as a cruise down the Nile, a Saharan wildlife safari or a tour of Egypts bustling capital, Cairo. Egypt is well connected by trains but many tourists discover finding their own way around such a large country a daunting prospect and, as a result, package tours of Egypt are increasingly popular.

Shopping in Egypt

Shopping in Egypt is an opportunity not to be missed. Locally made goods are abundant and, for the proficient haggler, can be obtained at very good prices. Egyptian cotton is renowned for its purity and luxuriant scarves, hand-made carpets, perfume concentrates, authentic papyrus and pharaonic objects can all be found at local bazaars. The Khan-al-Khalili bazaar in Cairo, a shopping area since 1382, is particularly popular among those on holiday in Egypt due to its extensive range of goods and central location.

The Pyramids

Any tour of Egypt would be incomplete without a visit to the iconic Pyramids of Giza, the Great Pyramid being one of the Seven Wonders of the World, as well as having been the worlds tallest structure for over 3,800 years. Ever since these massive funerary homes were constructed for Egypts great Pharaohs of 2700-2200 BC they have been a source of fascination for travellers. While the structures may look impressive today, at the time they were built the pyramids were capped with gold and covered with polished white limestone.

As for what its like at the centre, in case you were wondering, theres a tomb, its swelteringly hot, there are dozens of tourists exhausted from struggling, bent-double, through the tiny corridors, and there may just be a lurking opportunist gathering payment.

Quick Tips for Traveling Abroad

Here are some quick tips to make your travel easier and safer:

Register so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Register your travel plans with the State Department through a free online service. This will help them contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization.

Sign your passport, and fill in the emergency information: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.

Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

Check your overseas medical insurance coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation. If it does not, consider supplemental insurance.

Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. The State Department web site has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit.

Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.

Contact your embassy in the event of an emergency: Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the U.S. are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the State Departments Bureau of Consular Affairs may be reached for assistance with emergencies at 1-888-407-4747, if calling from the U.S. or Canada, or 202-501-4444, if calling from overseas.

Make a few minor preparations before you travel overseas and it will make your trip a lot smoother and give you peace of mind. Remember, you cannot plan once the emergency happens; you need to do your planning ahead of time.

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