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Travel Guide:
The anti-idiots' guide to life abroad...
Student travel insurance.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
When traveling abroad, insurance is not to be taken lightly. Ingle International provides student/group travel insurance with daily rates starting from $1.10. More information about Ingle International may be found at www.ingleinternational.com or by calling 1.888.386.8888.Always check your policy for any exclusions such as trips to countries with travel advisories or dangerous activities. This could impact reimbursement of medical emergencies encountered when engaged in physical activity such as scuba diving or motorcycling. It is a good idea to carry the name and contact information of your home health care provider with you in case of an emergency.
Vaccinations.
The Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA, provides the following list of the vaccinations you will need to have if you travel to these popular locations:Eastern
Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG), Hepatitis B, Rabies, Typhoid, Malaria, Tetanus-diptheria booster, Measles booster, Polio.
Western
Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG), Hepatitis B.
For travellers to Panama or travellers coming to Latin America from tropical South America or Sub-Saharan Africa
Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG), Hepatitis B, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus-diptheria booster, Measles booster, Malaria, Yellow Fever.
Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and surrounding islands
Rabies, Tetanus-diptheria booster, Measles booster, Polio, Malaria for travellers to Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
East, West, Central
Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG), Hepatitis B, Meningococcal, Yellow Fever, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus-diptheria booster, Measles booster, Polio.
North, South
Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG), Hepatitis B, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus-diptheria booster, Measles booster, Polio.Travel arrangements.
Some students may prefer to employ the assistance of professionals in arranging their travels. A company such a Pacesetter Travel can help a student to arrange everything from backpacker airfare to a fully escorted tour. Pacesetter Travels deals directly with all major airlines, hotel and tour operators to provide competitive prices.Visas and passports.
Visa and passport applications should be completed several months in advance of your expected departure date. Foreign affairs Canada suggests that you find out what the process is for a multiple entry visa is if you plan on travelling while working overseas, as leaving and re-entering on a single visa is not allowed. To find out more about passport details visit the Foreign Affairs Canada website. GO Abroad magazine also recommends that students photocopy the first page of their passport, and suggests that there should be at least one other family member with a valid passport in case of emergency.Phoning home.
When away from home it's important to maintain regular contact with friends and family, both to avoid homesickness and ensure your own safety. Before you leave Canada, it is suggested that you call your local phone company for the most current information on country listings, rates, and access numbers. For additional information, visit the Canada Direct website.Safety and personal well-being.
DO:Ensure that yourself and your family members know all details of travel arrangements, including transport to be used, activities, and accommodation details. Bring a credit card/cell phone that can be used overseas if necessary. Pack your luggage yourself. Make sure it is locked and never leave it unattended. Keep an eye on children's backpacks, toys and stuffed animals. Drugs can be slipped inside without your knowledge. Choose your travelling companions carefully. If they turn out to be selling or carrying illegal drugs you could be charged by association. Ask local authorities, travel agents, or host staff which areas are unsafe. Always carry a map with you. DON'T:
Carry parcels, gifts, or luggage for other people across borders, or through customs under any circumstance. Cross a border with a hitchhiker or as a hitchhiker. If your new friend has illegal substances in their possession, you could be found guilty by association. Separate beforehand and meet on the other side. Use drugs. Period. You can then be sure that you won't be joining the significant number of Canadians currently serving drug related sentences abroad. What to do if you are arrested.
You should make it clear to arresting authorities that you want to immediately notify Canadian Consular staff that you have been arrested. Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, authorities are required to inform you of your right to talk to and make arrangements with a consular representative. They are not required to notify the Canadian consular or diplomatic office that you are in custody of have been arrested unless you specifically ask them to do so.The services that Canada's consular staff can provide in the event a Canadian is arrested vary from case to case and country to country. Consular staff can:
Notify your family or friends of your situation at your request. Provide information about the country's legal and correctional systems. Provide a list of lawyers who have expertise in your particular type of case. Try to ensure that treatment by courts and prison conditions are equal to the standards applied to nationals of that country. They cannot get you out of jail, post bail, pay fines, or provide legal assistance, choose or recommend a lawyer. ¤ Meredith, Melanie Hammond, and Kim Webster (from York University's Excalibur, reprinted with permission)
[ Some cool options, banking know-how, and more. Part I of our guide. ]