Whatever the reason, if you’re travelling abroad, you’re bound to have a lot of fun, especially if you’re visiting a different country for the first time. However, there are a few risks involved, not least if you become injured or ill while staying in the country you’re visiting. If you need immediate medical attention in a country where you don’t speak the native language, then it can be hard to get the care needed to prevent your health from deteriorating, and there may be a number of different laws which make getting help more difficult.

This is where taking out a travel insurance policy will come in useful. It may be costly, especially if you travel a lot, but it can cover you in the event of an injury, to some extent. It also means that you have a safety net if something goes wrong during your trip, but if your insurance is insufficient to cover you if, say, you have to leave your job as the result of an accident abroad, what can you do? You could go to legal experts like personal injury claims, who can help you get compensation if you can prove you weren’t at fault for your injury.

By making a no win no fee compensation claim, you could get the money needed to cover lost working hours, medical bills and even have a little extra for emergencies. It might seem like a last resort, but it’s important to know what to do if the worst happens while you’re miles away from home. Knowing you can do this, even with different laws and red tape to contend with, means that you can enjoy your stay abroad without worrying about what to do if you get injured.

This post is brought to you by first4lawyers accident abroad specialists

Before digging deeper into this subject it is very essential for us to actually know or understand what exactly culture shock is? In simple and straightforward words culture shock is an individual’s personal feelings, or experiences which he, or she may face while moving from one place to another place or country. This bewilderment may result in experiencing some unfamiliar socio-cultural norms or behaviors. It often becomes very difficult for you to dealing with culture shock while traveling to another country or place. There aren’t any proven techniques to completely prevent or eliminate this problem.

What are major indicators of culture shock?

Physical and emotional indicators of culture shock are pretty easy to spot .Lethargic and indifferent feelings to the beauty around you..Drastic increase or decrease in appetite -or even comforteating. Excessive feelings of sadness. Homesickness. Intense feelings of loneliness (even though you are surrounded by many people). Showing signs of dissatisfaction in general. Fear of host country. Irritability. Showing bad temper without any obvious or apparent reasons. Feelings of selflessness and insecurity. Constantly thinking and idealizing home country. Showing no signs of good sense of humor (assuming you had one in the first place 😛 .
It certainly is a harsh reality that dealing with culture shock while traveling to a new country isn’t an easy task to cope with. Now we will discuss how you can cope with this psychological and social condition effectively.

How to cope with culture shock

Try to understand and slowly absorb the new culture. This will help you minimize the problems associated with culture shock.Think positive. This means you have to tell yourself that your feelings towards relocation or disorientation are natural. These feelings will also help you cope with this problem in an effective and efficient manner. To overcome your stress or depression due to loneliness better try to find some friends to get you acclimatized with the host country. Keep reminding yourself that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and that you should be seeing this in a positive light and not a negative one! One thing to consider is the possibility that the country you have chosen just does not ‘speak’ to you. If you’re in Europe, take comfort in the knowledge that you are only a flight away to a new country with sites such as expedia.co.uk

You can also minimize the bad effects of culture shock by finding a nice and calm place to spend your leisurely time.Isolation is not the solution to your problem so try to indulge yourself in some good and new relationships and activities with the people of new country.Try to learn new things from new culture and its people.Take new things in a good way and as an experience for life.Read books and watch documentaries to understand the social and cultural differences between you and the people of host country.

Setting out on a world tour on your own is terribly exciting, but also an adventure in self-reliance and smart choices. Whether you’re travels lead you to an Istanbul cheap hotel or a remote rainforest village, there are some basic guidelines you should keep in mind to make your journey there and back again safe and fun.

Packing

When traveling alone you don’t want to ever take along more than you can comfortably handle on your own in case you get stranded with no resources but your own two feet. Ideally, you can pack mix-and-match outfits in easy-to-wash fabrics appropriate for the weather conditions you’ll be facing. Make sure each piece of luggage contains a fresh change of clothes and basic toiletries so if you do lose a bag along the way you’re not missing any crucial items. Also don’t use luggage tags that blatantly display your name and address to avoid becoming an unwitting a victim of stalkers or identity thieves.

Photo By: heartcaves

Booking Reservations

As a solo traveler, your options can be limited, especially on group tours where the best perks go to the biggest parties. Be wary of companies offering single supplement deals, they often wind up costing lone travelers more than other passengers’ pay. Check out tour companies that specialize in solo travel arrangements or services that pair up roommates for accommodations. If you have a flexible schedule, you can often land great deals on last-minute reservations where a single traveler is more likely to get freshly canceled upscale accommodations.

Storytelling

Although you might be traveling alone, you don’t have to let everyone know and risk being targeted by unwanted advances by unsavory characters. If you feel it necessary, mention that you about to meet up with friends or relatives. You can also clear your personal space by acting a bit “off” and making those around you feel more comfortable someplace else. Traveling solo also affords you the awesome opportunity to re-invent yourself as you’d like to those meeting you for the first time.

Back Ups

Before you leave on your solo journey, plan back up strategies with friends and relatives at home in case you encounter difficulties. Invest in travel insurance and leave them a copy of your itinerary and records of any medical conditions so they have the resources to help you in an emergency. Also leave copies of your identification and credit card information in a sealed envelope with someone you trust so they can be mailed to you in the event of theft.

Dining Alone

Eating out by yourself isn’t so bad, especially if you arm yourself with a good book and a pleasant smile. Take the opportunity to chat with the wait staff, often they are a rich source of local information and will point you to adventures ideal for a single traveler. Also look for establishments that have cozy booths that provide a bit of privacy or outdoor dining areas where you’ll feel comfortable cracking a book or just watching the world go by.

Photo By: tango_28

Set Your Pace

The best thing about traveling alone is that you have more control over where you go, how long you stay and when you leave. Admittedly, if you sign up for a group tour you have to meet their schedule, but your down time is your own so take advantage of the opportunities to do what you want, whether it’s shopping, exploring or just swinging in a hammock with your hat pulled down.

To learn about great deals on accommodation around the world, check with Hostelbookers.com, the hotel booking website for comfortable yet budget hotels.

Before leaving

Enquire with the country of your destination about the entry requirements around two months prior to the trip in order to create sufficient time to have the necessary documentation arranged. For instance, South Africa usually expects you to have two blank and unstamped pages in your passport. It may take up to around two months to get your passport while a minimum of two months to successfully process a visa. Plan your travel clothing with security factors in mind. Avoid wearing heavy metallic items, jewelry and belt buckles. It is advisable to wear comfortable, form-fitting clothing and slip on shoes without laces. Pack your eyeglasses, change, keys, cell phones and jacket in your carryon bag before leaving home. Arrange for your tickets to be purchased, your flight seat selected online and your boarding-passes printed before you arrive at the airport. Make sure that you arrive early enough for the flight.

Carry on items
You should only pack items that you will need on-board on the carryon bags. Pack other items on the checked bag to ensure that the carryon bag is as small as possible. In case you are bringing your entire luggage on-board, place your liquids in 3oz containers and pack them in a clear quart size zip-lock bag. Confirm travel fees and baggage information from your airline. Make sure you have carried maps, electronics, foreign currency, traveller’s checks, medication, travel documents and other valuables. Some of the on board necessities include contact lenses, extra glasses, tissues, wet wipes, reading materials, small toothpaste tube, tooth brush and an empty water bottle (it can be filled at the airport’s water-fountain before boarding). Personal items like snacks, gums, mints and moisturizing are also good. Include a jacket, pair of clean slipper socks or sweater for in flight comfort.

Checked luggage items
It is advisable to pack light things and in layers for your own convenience. Select a color palette of two complimentary-colors to mix and match your outfits. Include undergarments, jackets, sweaters, evening wear, walking shoes, rain gear, outwear, tops, skirts, sleepwear and pants. If the country you are travelling to is warm, carry sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, flip-flops, a cover up and two bathing suits. Include toiletry items like razors, shaving cream, soap, conditioner and shampoo. To make your load lighter, purchase these items from the hotel. Check in advance whether your hotel has a hairdryer in the room. Don’t forget currency converters, pack of chargers, electric razors, curling irons and hair straighteners.

Paper-work
Carry the relevant documentation for travel such as visa, passport, ticket, luggage claim and photo identification tags. Include your itinerary in your carryon bag. Other essential documents include proof of travel insurance such as a Good2Go travel checklist, land transportation reservations as well as hotel information and confirmation number. Place rental car information in an external pocket for easy retrieval.

When you are about to venture on your travels for the very first time without the comfort of your family then it is entirely normal to have some doubts. It is a big step, and a leap into the unknown. There are often a number of different fears that people tend to have. For instance, you could have invested in a high-quality security system during Safemart’s 10th anniversary celebration, but you will still probably worry about the sanctity of your home and whether or not that sanctity will be violated while you’re gone. With that being said, it is purely how you deal with these problems that is the main thing but some more of the most common worries are listed below to let you see that it is indeed normal to have them and you are not alone.

Is it normal to have a doubt about having everything?

One of the major ones is that you do indeed have everything you will need for your trip and this does go beyond just worrying about your tickets and passport. This fear of forgetting something links back in with the worry about stepping into the unknown as you have no idea of knowing what the weather will be like, if you will get ill at some point, and so many other things that this leads to people trying to take everything they can. The key here is to think clearly and do not pack at the last minute. Oh and do make a list and tick things off as they go in your case.

What happens if I get into trouble?

You will find that unless you are in the middle of nowhere you should be in relative touching distance of some official link to your country. This is either through consulates or embassies and they will be able to give you some help and advice. Do carry out some research on the country you are going to and see what happens with calling the police. People worry about things going wrong in a strange place as they are unsure as to how they will deal with it but as long as you are sensible this situation will not even arise.

I’m going to miss my family and friends. How will I cope?

It’s perfectly normal to miss your friends and family when you travel – this is just a thing you have to learn to accept. Once you are out of your comfort zone, you will receive a shock to your system. Some days you will experience life-changing moments and see beautiful landmarks and you’ll painfully wish that your peers and loved ones are there to share it with you – that’s when the beauty of making international calls comes in.

When you’re feeling homesick, suck it in and remember you are experiencing a once in a lifetime experience. Alternatively, invest in some international phone cards and get reconnected with those back home. Bragging also helps 😛

I worry about taking ill!

This is a major worry that people have, but it is one that is very easily solved, but all you need to do is have the correct travel insurance. This will make sure you get the right treatment at the best place so all you need to do is ensure you get it from a reputable company and watch for your own personal hygiene when travelling as well as the hygiene of others and you should be fine.

Those are just three of the main fears and doubts people have but there are others such as, what happens if I need to get home early, for example, but as long as you do not panic then most doubts can be rationalized. It actually is perfectly normal to have those doubts prior to going on a trip and a large percentage of people are feeling the very same thing as you. As long as you think everything through correctly, and take your time whilst doing so, then the fears and worries may still be exist but shall at least be more at the back of your mind and cause you less problems as a result.

Once kids arrive, most couples are forced to change their expectations of the ‘perfect holiday’ and accept that trekking through the Amazon or partying for seven days in Ibiza is no longer an option. Fortunately for everyone, family holidays need not be boring and there are loads of great family friendly holidays you can look forward to during the parenting years. Ideas for family holidays All-inclusive family-friendly beach resort holidays are the popular choice for parents of babies and small children.

You can make friends with like-minded families and enjoy features such as separate mealtimes for kids and children’s entertainment day and night. If this sounds like the ideal holiday type for your family, there are plenty of family oriented resorts in Europe and beyond—just find one to suit your budget and enjoy a relaxing week in the sun while your kids are kept fully occupied from morning to night. Theme park holidays are a fun option for families with older kids and teenagers and staying on-site at a theme park is full of advantages, not least the fact that it gives you preferential access to the rides.

All kids love theme parks and some of the best UK theme parks have on-site hotels so you can extend the fun for several days. For those with more cash to splash, there are also plenty of big name theme park resorts in foreign locations—a trip to Disney World probably being top of most children’s wish list. Camping is a popular budget holiday for families and millions of families pack a tent and go camping every year. But if the thought of sleeping in a soggy tent for a week appals you, you can also opt for 5* facilities at a European campsite complete with proper beds, cooking equipment, and a nice pool.

Activity holidays may also appeal to families with older children. Choose from horse riding to cycling or sailing holidays on the continent and combine family time with some physical activity. Or alternatively, book a break at a resort that offers kids clubs with a wide range of fun activities. You can relax by the pool while your kids learn a new sport or practice their arts and crafts. And if you have a bit more money to spend on your annual family holiday, how about taking the kids on safari?

Most kids only ever see wild animals on the Discovery Channel so seeing them in the flesh is a fabulous experience, especially for budding naturalists. African safaris combine fascinating wildlife with oodles of relaxation and kids are just as welcome as adults—you can even opt for a few days in the bush followed by a week in a beach resort for the ultimate family holiday. Whatever your situation, there is a holiday type out there that will suit all members of the family! If you’re interested in planning a safari trip, want to explore the outback, see the sights of Egypt or simply find a luxurious beach resort that’s family friendly, then speak to The Ultimate Travel Company who can help you plan the perfect family getaway! Visit http://www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk/holiday-types/family for more details.

If you are a first time traveler, it is a good idea to make your accommodation reservations at least a week before you travel.  This not only offers you peace of mind, but also helps keep your bank balance in good shape, as many companies offer cheaper prices the further in advance you book.  In this golden age of technology, you can easily find a hostel or a house for rent by searching online.  The internet offers a wide range of sites through which you can compare the quality and prices of different hostels and hotels in order to find one which best fits your needs.

To ensure maximum safety and comfort, travelers are advised to double check the place details using comparison websites. Reading reviews is one of the best ways to help you judge the quality of a hotel or hostel- although you should keep in mind that not everyone has the same taste, so what one guest rated as a poor hotel may be your idea of heaven!

Reading reviews could be what stops a lover of high temperatures booking in to an ice hotel!

There are several factors to consider before booking accommodation at a hostel and a hotel. Choosing the best online merchant services plays a great role in getting good accommodation place. Some online services won’t take any fee even for their booking options. Travelers just have to enter the name of city and their budget. Top motel merchant services will then provide you with a perfect place to suit your budget. You can also book an accommodation option abroad via phone.

Before committing to a short term accommodation option abroad, people are advised to make sure the price includes everything that you expect it to!  Make sure that any taxes are included, and that you are clear as to which facilities you will have to pay extra for (such as use of a gym or sauna). Nothing spoils a holiday faster than being slapped in the face with an unexpected bill!

Bills are never a pleasant surprise- especially on holiday!

Those who are searching for a cheaper deals can choose to go for a hostel instead of a hotel. If you need more privacy, private rooms are available in most hostels. Most first time travellers, especially young people, choose to stay in hostel dorms, because these tend to be great places to meet people from all over the globe.
If you wish to save money by cutting out the need to pay a middle man, it is recommended to contact the hotel or hostel directly rather than through another website. However,  you must remember that any mon

ey you save by directly contacting them can be outweighed by the bill you will accrue by phoning them from a different country!  Alternatively, seek out the plethora of top motel merchant services available to you for your own comfort.

How to choose your destination? Is there a way to choose just the right destination? There is! How? Let’s count the ways.

KNOW YOURSELF

In order to decide how to choose your destination, you must know yourself. There’s a saying “to thine own self be true.” Knowing what makes you happy — lying on a beach soaking in the sun or walking around exploring exotic places — will enable you to choose just the right destination. What else?

TIME

Are you planning a day or weekend trip? Are you planning a week or more-than-a-week trip? Before you choose your destination, you have to know how much time you will spend away. Why is this important?Depending upon how much time you have will determine how far away you can travel.

Day trips enable you to learn more about the place you live in. By traveling to areas close to your own neighborhood, you will discover unknown food places and browse interesting-looking stores filled with all kinds of treasures. It’s amazing how different neighboring places can be!

Weekend trips allow you to travel short distances from home. These trips enable you to visit neighboring cities or states. Here you can explore how your life could be lived in a place closer to where you currently live, but far enough away to be a real change. Or, you have no intention of moving; you simply want to investigate what’s there or perhaps just rejuvenate yourself.

Ah, week-long, or more than week-long, trips are the best. Why? Now you have enough time to relax and unwind. But, how to choose your destination when you have this much time? That’s the question. Let’s continue counting the ways.

LAND OR WATER?

Any trip can involve land or water. It can also involve land and water! Seriously, though, most of the time your choice involves more of one and less of the other. Like the water? Visit a nearby beach (day trip) or a distance beach (weekend trip). A cruise is just the right destination for a week-long, or more than a week-long, trip. There are also one day and two-day cruises.

Land destinations can include traveling within North or South America as well as in Europe, Asia and Australia. In fact, you can combine your trip with a cruise that visits different places where you can leave your ship in order to explore new places and then return to your ship after a day exploring. Now that’s the best of both worlds!

MONEY

Ah, cash! In order to choose your designation, you not only need to know how much time you have, and if you want to spend that time on land or on water, or on both, but you also need to take into account how much money you have to spend. Money is a necessary evil! Without money, you won’t be able to travel anywhere. You usually can find cheap flights which helps.

And, alas, the amount of money you have to spend will be the most important factor in deciding how to choose your destination. If there’s not much money, take heart. Those day trips can be quite affordable and fun. Even weekend trips, can be an answer to your limited finances. Besides, you can always save your money for that week-long or more than week-long trip and treat yourself to a stay in a beautiful Wimdu bed and breakfast for your next holiday.

So, know yourself, decide on how much time and money you have. Think of a land or sea adventure — or a land and sea adventure! – and make your choice.

Traditionally, overland travel had been more affordable
but much more time consuming compared to airline travel. At a time associated with higher gasoline costs, improved airport terminal protection and reduced plane ticket price this assumption has been tossed out of the window!

Every approach to journey provides its benefits and drawbacks, as well as your greatest choice depends on which is actually most significant for you.
Cost
To find out whether overland travel or airline travel is actually more affordable; think about the complete cost of every journey. For instance, a budget web site might promote plane tickets before tax or other surcharges which can dramatically increase the amount you will actually be charged.

Overland prices are often complicated to estimate, due to varying fuel prices and the additional costs of providing your own food.
Comfort and ease
Planes in economy classes are not generally regarded as very comfortable.  Nevertheless, you are able snooze, and to stretch your legs every do often.  Overland travel in a car does not allow you the same luxury, unless you alternate drivers and factor in time to stop for short strolls.
Time
In terms of actual travel time, air travel is significantly quicker than overland travel.  However, when you take into account the amount of time involved in getting to the airport and clearing security, it may actually be quicker to complete shorter journeys by road.
Possible Difficulties
Bad weather can affect your travel arrangements whether you chose air travel or overland travel. The one bonus that air travel has here is that you will often be able to claim compensation if your flight is delayed for a significant period of time.  If you chose overland travel, however you are generally expected to be responsible for your own time-keeping so this is not possible.

The final decision between air and land travel can only be made by you as an individual.  I only hope that this list was useful in helping you to remember which factors to take in to account.  I wish you well on your travels, whichever mode of transport you decide on!

Congratulations for planning your first world tour! The tour is going to be rocking with new places to visit and new experiences to gather. It is going to take a long time to get back to your place and you don’t want to actually spoil the trip in between and come back in between. Why I am saying this? There are lots of cases reported where people had to cut short their trip in between due to some reasons.

The major reason is severe health problem which may not be possible to treat in the visiting place or the cost was so high that the person needed to come back. If you don’t want this to happen to you, just go for a health check up before starting your journey.
Health check up gives you assurance that you can enjoy your trip the best way possible. If you are diagnosed with any disease it can be treated and if it is found that your body is not fit enough for the travel, you can postpone the journey and save a lot of time and money.

Why You Should Have a Health Check Before You Travel?

1. There are some diseases which are specific to some areas of the world such as measles, rubella, polio and many others. If you visit those places without proper immunization you may catch them soon. There are other diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, plague and many more diseases which can attack any time. Proper immunization from the medical center may help you against them. You will safe wherever you go. You can ask your travel guide or the agency for the immunizations that you need to travel to the location you have planned. You need to do that early because some of the vaccinations take time to take action.

2. You would be able to balance things properly if you have good knowledge about your health condition. For example if you have high cholesterol then you can restrict yourself on oily foods and foods rich in cholesterol. This would let you enjoy the trip thoroughly without worries about the outcome of the change in routine. In case you don’t know that your cholesterol level is high and you take oily foods then the condition may become worse.

3. If you go through a check up before planning a trip it is possible to postpone it in case of any emergency illness. For example in many cases it is seen that people had stone in their gallbladder and the trip was cancelled at the last moment because of this. It is possible to plan a trip without any worry if you know you are completely fit.

4. You also need to know if you are travelling to places where malaria or any such disease is common. You can carry medicines in your luggage to fight with any possible effect.

5. Health check also makes you get the prescription for certain drugs which may not be available in the travelling country over the counter. You can always purchase them and carry the medicines with you so that you don’t suffer in an unknown place.

Travelling is fun and you don’t want your health to bother you while you are having fun with family and friends. Take precautions before it’s late and save a lot of money and time. Health Check before you travel can help you do that.