TRAVEL ADVICE

Safe Travel Tips
AIDS and Travel
Bicycling
Protecting Your Valuables
Cash
Be Smart!
Getting to Know Foreign Laws
Terrorism
Embassy Aid Abroad
Emergencies Overseas
Rail Passes
Traveling by air within Europe
Tipping


Safe Travel Tips

We encourage students to travel while participating on this programme. Ignorance of potential risks or disregarding common sense practices can, however, mar an otherwise pleasant experience. You are urged to familiarize yourself with the following tips to ensure yourself a safe, happy trip.

A number of these suggestions have been re-printed from the American State Department’s on-going travel advisory, alerting American citizens to crime world-wide. Check out their website.

AIDS and Travel

The information on AIDS was reproduced with permission from material made available to the Council on International Educational Exchange/Council Travel by Juan Carlos Garcia and Alejandro M. Martinez, Ph.D., Stanford University and UM-TC Global Campus.

Travelers should be especially aware of the AIDS virus for a number of reasons. Some countries require HIV antibody tests for foreigners (this is especially true for students studying abroad or those planning an extended stay). Many countries do not have the resources to adequately screen the blood used in transfusions, and syringes may not be sterile. Living or travelling abroad may pose a greater risk for those who test positive for the HIV virus, due to limited medical facilities in much of the world.

To reduce the risk of HIV infection from needles, travelers should avoid intravenous drug use or needle sharing. Unsterilized medical injections are also a possible source of infection. Patients should make sure that needles and syringes come from a sterilized package, or are sterilized in boiling water for 20 minutes or chemical disinfection for 30 minutes. Patients under medical care who require frequent injections, such as diabetics, should carry a sufficient supply of needles and syringes and a doctor's authorization for their use. Tattooing, ear-piercing, and acupuncture can also transmit infection if the instruments are not sterilized properly.

To avoid the risk of infection through sexual contact, abstinence is the only absolutely safe method. For those who are sexually active, the use of a condom will reduce the risk. Since condoms are not as available in many countries as they are in the U.S., travellers (both men and women) should bring them. Condoms should be stored properly and used from start to finish of sexual activity. Strictly avoid sexual contact with prostitutes.

Many naive Americans hope for that once-in-a-lifetime European romance. You should be aware that in any type of relationship -- heterosexual/bisexual/homosexual -- you could (if not careful and responsible) end up with a sexually transmitted disease, AIDS, or a pregnancy. This is not meant as a scare tactic, but for you to realize it can and has happened to others. Don't come home with anything you can't get rid of.

We have been deluged with mountains of statistics and speculation to the point where warnings often become confusing rhetoric. Just remember: a person acquires the AIDS virus, he/she does not catch it. With proper precautions, you can protect yourself.

Bicycling

Over the last few years student participants have been injured in bicycle-related accidents resulting in hospital stays. Initially our participants must contend with adjusting to traffic driving on the opposite side of the road. They also discover in Britain that automobile traffic travels faster, the road and driving lanes are narrower than in the U.S.A., and fewer controlled intersections exist. British bicycling laws do differ from American laws, and those interested in bicycling are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the laws of the road to establish a safe, pleasant British bicycling experience. Bicyclists are strongly encouraged to wear a helmet.

Protecting Your Valuables

Important Documents

NEVER PUT YOUR INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTS SUCH AS A PASSPORT OR YOUR IMPORTANT MEDICATIONS IN BAGGAGE THAT YOU WILL NOT BE CARRYING WITH YOU. Always put them in a safe place, preferably in a "safe sack," or carry on luggage. Report the theft or loss of your passport to the U.S. Consulate at once.

Photocopy all important documents, including credit cards, and keep these apart from the real ones in case of loss. This may save you days of hassle. Leave a copy of your credit card numbers with your parents too.

You can get a lost or stolen passport replaced quickly if you provide U.S. Consulate officials with the following:

Keep all this information separate from the passport itself. Have several extra passport photos of yourself for emergencies.

Cash

Avoid having large amounts of cash on your person. Rather carry traveler's checks from a reliable firm that will replace them quickly if lost or stolen. Report the loss immediately.

Don't keep cash and credentials in the same place (wallet).

Carry your billfold on your person, preferably in a front pants or skirt pocket. Pickpockets go for handbags, breast pockets, and back pockets first. Consider wrapping your wallet in rubber bands to make it more difficult to pick. There are commercially manufactured wallets that have rough surfaces on the outside that make them much more difficult to pick. They are worth the money. If you carry a handbag, keep your money and passport elsewhere.

Use a money belt or money bag (safe sack) that slips over your head and under a shirt or blouse. They are very difficult to pick.

If a checkbook is lost and returned to you, see if any checks are missing. Don't just look at the top check.

Credit Cards

Switching your valid credit card for a similar but out of date one is a popular way to separate travelers from their "plastic".

After a purchase, check to see that the card returned is indeed yours. Check the name and expiration date.

Always keep your copy of the charge receipt, so if there is ever a question you have an original receipt.

Carry your cash and credit cards separately.

Note the card company's international phone number in a convenient place in case of card loss or theft.

Please understand that we do not like to be pessimistic, but there are hundreds of dishonest people everywhere you travel, including the United States. We want this year to be the finest in your life and not be marred by the loss of your valuables or your money. A little care is the best way to prevent a major problem.

Be Smart!

When having a wonderful time in a new environment it's easy to let one’s guard down. Use common sense:

Keep a low profile. Leave valuables and expensive jewelry at home. Talk quietly.

Avoid dangerous areas. Don't use short-cuts or walk down narrow alleys or poorly lit streets.
Never travel alone after dark. Always let someone know where you are going, and what time you expect to return, especially at night.

For safety reasons, avoid arriving in a large city after 9:00 p.m. if you don't have accommodations.

Learn a few important phrases in the local language so you can signal for fire, the police, the doctor, or the nearest bathroom.

Be careful of persons wanting to make your acquaintance very quickly, as they may have an ulterior motive.

Americans are easy targets. We dress differently from the rest of Europeans, we speak loudly in groups, we carry backpacks, wear tennis shoes, and the American accent is unmistakable. Some people you run into might see all Americans as being rich and an occasion might arise where someone may want to become friends with you in order to obtain in one form or another your money or your passport. Use common sense and be cautious.

Getting to Know Foreign Laws

Visiting in a foreign country exposes you to different customs and different laws. For example, some countries are particularly sensitive about photographs. It's best to refrain from taking pictures of police, military installations and personnel, or industrial structures unless you know for certain that it will not offend anyone, or break any laws. Check around to see what is considered appropriate clothing. What's acceptable in the United States may be offensive elsewhere.

On the average, 2,700 Americans are arrested abroad each year. About one-third are held on drug charges.

DO NOT GET INVOLVED WITH ILLEGAL DRUGS. The consequences are serious. If arrested, you will be subject to local, not U.S. laws.

Many countries do not provide a jury trial or accept bail, which means you may endure lengthy pretrial detention.

Prison conditions overseas can be harsh. Some lack minimal comforts, such as beds, toilets, and wash basins. Diets are often inadequate. Payment for food and amenities may be expected. Inhumane treatment and extortion are possible.

Terrorism

Although terroristic attacks are rare, they do occur occasionally. Before going on trips, check with the Programme Director for any travel advisories from the U.S. Embassy. Keep in mind the following tips during your travels:

Do:

Don’t:

Embassy Aid Abroad

The American embassies around the world are staffed by United States citizens and foreign nationals whose numerous functions include helping American travelers in the following areas:

Legal Advice:
If your passport is lost or stolen, notify local authorities and the American embassy at once. After an investigation determining identification, the embassy will issue you a three-month temporary passport. You can also register deeds and births at American embassies abroad.

If you are arrested and/or detained abroad, a consular official is allowed to visit you, inform you of your legal rights, and provide you with a list of reliable local attorneys and physicians. At your request and expense, he/she can notify family or friends of your plight. If regular mail channels are not satisfactory, he/she can forward personal letters to and from arrested citizens. The consular official can arrange supplementary purchases of food and clothing using your funds, schedule appointments with doctors and dentists, and obtain permission for visits from friends and family. However, government funds can not be used to pay for supplementary purchases or legal and medical fees. If you are broke as well as detained, the official can contact your family, a local benevolent organization, or those in the United States to request emergency funds. Finally, a consular official tries to insure equal treatment under national laws during all phases of the legal proceedings against you.

Health Problems:
In case of illness or accident, embassy people can make sure you are in an approved hospital, check on fairness in billing procedures, and explain your payment options. For smaller problems, the embassies provide lists of English speaking doctors and dentists in various areas.

Insolvency:
Officially prohibited from furnishing cash or loan money, embassy personnel can suggest possible sources of financial assistance. They will also cable someone back home and deduct the cost of the cable when your cash arrives. Unofficial reports claim that some embassies will give you subsistence level spending money while you are waiting, but do not count on this. If you are stranded or broke, notify the nearest American embassy. Depending upon the ability of your family to get you out of trouble and the current status of State Department funds, you may receive a repatriation loan.

Monetary Transactions:
If you get burned by a dishonest merchant, the embassy can act as a liaison between you and the local equivalent of the Better Business Bureau.

In the Arab Republic of Egypt, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tunisia, American embassies will exchange your dollars for local currency at a better rate than banks or exchange houses offer. In these countries, we have accumulated more currency than we can export; Public Law 480 permits the exchange rate favorable to tourists.

Cultural Contacts:
Embassies may honor individual requests from businesses or educational institutions for personal introductions to local society. Individual travelers can receive information on universities, local binational centers, and private citizens interested in cross-cultural experiences.

While visiting in another country, if you have problems or concerns, visit the American Embassy to register. Let them know where you are staying, the areas you plan to visit, and when you will be returning to your destination.

THE ABOVE INFORMATION WAS COMPILED BY THE LEARNING ABROAD CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55455, AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

Emergencies Overseas

A 24-hour emergency State Department phone service is now available to Americans travelling abroad who meet with illness or other emergencies. The State Department reports that the emergency numbers will be published in local telephone directories abroad and on airport posters. In addition, written instructions on how to obtain emergency assistance will be posted at the entrances of embassies and consulates.

Rail Passes

A Eurailpass is a ticket giving you unlimited use of all national railways in 17 European countries (Western Europe, including all of Germany, Ireland, Greece, and Hungary, but not Great Britain). They are open-dated (you must start using your pass within six months of issue date). Many students use these for travel over the winter break. Eurailpasses can only be purchased in the United States. Either purchase it before you leave the U.S. or have someone purchase it for you and mail it to you in England.

Rail passes for individual countries as well as Eurail can be purchased at almost any American travel agency including the Learning Abroad Center on the Twin Cities campus. Most past participants would not recommend that you purchase a BritRail pass.

Most students find that the cost of a Eurail pass is less expensive than if individual rail tickets were purchased for the same travel route. Ask your travel agent to compare by checking the point-to-point train prices for the individual countries.

Two Web sites you might find helpful are: Euro Railways http://www.eurorailways.com/ and Europrail International http://www.europrail.net/

After residing six months in the United Kingdom, students are eligible to purchase the low-cost Interail pass in the U.K. This pass is used for train travel in Europe and is less expensive than the Eurail pass. Purchase an Interail at a British travel agency.

Participants 23 and younger may wish to consider picking up a Young Person's Railcard. The card is valid for a full year and costs approximately £16. The card gives you one-third off all train travel in Britain. Purchase it through the ticket office of any BritRail or ScotRail station; it can be used as soon and as often as you wish. Information available to the programme office has indicated that the cost of the pass can pay for itself after one or two trips.

Traveling by air within Europe

In the past couple of years, a number of low-cost airline carriers (EasyJet, RyanAir, etc.) have arisen in Europe, permitting air travel between countries that is often cheaper and faster than the train. The Internet is a great place to check for these low-cost fares. The Travel Office in the Birmingham University Guild of Students (BUGS) on the main Edgebaston Campus also is a good place to find out about airfares.

Tipping

Service is often included in your hotel, restaurant or bar bill but, if it isn't, a tip of 10-15% is customary. A higher tip for exceptional service is at your own discretion. The only other times a tip is expected is for a taxi ride (10%), a bell boy (£1 per bag) or at a beauty salon.

Theater, cinema, petrol (gas) station and bar staff do not expect one.