Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 7/17/84; site piggy.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!piggy!kqb From: kqb@piggy.UUCP (Kevin Q. Brown) Newsgroups: net.travel Subject: round-the-world travel (long message) Message-ID: <382@piggy.UUCP> Date: Thu, 19-Sep-85 19:40:16 EDT Article-I.D.: piggy.382 Posted: Thu Sep 19 19:40:16 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 20-Sep-85 06:15:56 EDT Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Holmdel, NJ Lines: 233 *** <<<>>> <<<>>> <<<>>> <<<>>> <<<>>> *** Round-the-World Travel Information (LONG MESSAGE) ------------------------------------------------- I want to thank the people who have sent to me useful/interesting tips about the countries that I will be visiting on my Oct. to mid-Feb. round-the-world trip. Rather than summarize the selection of tips that I have received on the individual countries, I will wait until I come back to give country-specific reports. I have listed below several tips (and a couple of questions) on how to handle money, health, visas, round-the-world air tickets, U.S. Customs, etc. that I have had to learn while preparing for this trip. Much of this information could apply to about any overseas trip, but is most important for a round-the-world trip because a round-the-world trip (1) takes a long time, and (2) involves travel to many countries, which gives it a lot of extra complexity. - Kevin Q. Brown PS: If any of my information is incorrect or otherwise seriously deficient, please let me know. (Note: Several phone numbers/addresses will be useful only for people in the NJ/NY area.) MONEY ----- How to carry only a small amount of money on you: Traveller's checks are, of course, safer than cash, but carrying several thousand dollars of traveller's checks seems excessive to me. I know of two mechanisms that help out: (1) credit cards. The main problem with American Express and most VISA, MASTERCHARGE, etc. cards is that you still have a monthly bill to pay, which may be hard to do while you are halfway across the world. If you can get a credit card that draws directly from a money market fund (such as the Dean Witter Reynolds Active Assets Account VISA card) then you don't have to make a large advance payment to your credit card company to cover the monthly bills. Another option is to give someone power of attorney to write checks against your checking account and take care of your bills while you are away. (2) Cash personal checks at American Express offices. For each 21 day period you can cash at most a total of $1000. (over one or more transactions) with your (U.S.A. bank) personal checks. This is limited to at most $200. cash and remainder in traveller's checks. (At any particular office, the cash availability may be less than $200.) If you have an American Express card, call (800) 528-4800 to order (free-of-charge) the worldwide directory of American Express travel service offices. (Note: The WorldWide directory does NOT tell which offices will cash personal checks, which sell traveller's checks, etc. For that information you need to call American Express information and ask for the specific offices in each city what services they provide.) How to protect your money (and valuables) from theft: In some countries people will try to steal from your luggage (in your hotel room), but won't be so obvious as to rip open your luggage. To protect from this, use combination locks on the zippers of your luggage. Money belts, money pouches, etc. are fairly widely available, but I know of only one place to get a money vest: Travel Safvest, Box 576, Cranbury, NJ 08512, (609) 655-4777, $23.15, four pocket, machine-washable money vest. fabric: light-weight polyester & cotton, off-white, zipper, velcro on pockets. Because a round-the-world trip can take a long time, checks received while gone may be too old to be honored when you return. Have contingency plans. If someone will not accept one form of payment, have another available. RECEIVING MAIL -------------- Receiving mail: I know of three options: American Express, Poste Restante, and (in Egypt) the U.S. Consulate. (I'm planning on using American Express.) Many, though not all, American Express travel offices can be used as mail drops. (Call American Express information (800) 528-4800 for the information on the services provided by the offices that you will use.) They will hold letters for 30 days and then return to sender. Also, American Express accepts only letters. For packages ("care packages") use Poste Restante. Forwarding mail: American Express will not automatically forward mail from one office to wherever you go next. Some offices will, for a fee, forward your mail. HEALTH ------ Insurance: The best bet is probably continuing your company's medical/dental insurance. Otherwise, send for a free newsletter from the Health Care Abroad division of International Underwriters, Inc., 7653 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043 It costs $3.00/day and covers medical and dental. Vaccinations (information and/or shots) - useful organizations: - Find what your company can offer for vaccinations. (I could have saved $.) - Medical Dispensary at Newark Airport, a federal agency, (201) 961-2525. At Building 5 (North Terminal past People Express and the Sunoco Station). They give cholera, typhoid, yellow fever, gamma globulin shots, etc. and an oral polio booster (but nothing for malaria or meningitis). They also give an International Certificate of Vaccination card that certifies your vaccinations. Cash Only. No appointment necessary. Open 9 AM - 4 PM Mon. - Fri. and 9 - 11 AM Sat. (Weekdays may be busy.) - Field Medical Office at JFK Airport, (718) 656-5344. At the cargo section 150th and South Cargo Rd. No appointment necessary. Open 8 AM - 10 PM seven days a week. They accept cash, American Express, or MasterCard. (They do not accept VISA or personal checks.) Vaccinations available include the Squibb meningitis vaccine MenoMune. - Center for Disease Control in Atlanta (404) 329-3311, (malaria branch) (404) 452-4046, (meningitis branch) (404) 329-3687 - World Wide Health Forecast (800) 368-3531 - You can order an International Certificate of Vaccination from: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 Include a $2.00 check for document S/N-017-001-00440-5. Malaria is a widespread, but preventable, disease. No shots are given, but pills can be taken for protection. Aralen (500 mg chloroquine phosphate) is most common. (Take once a week, starting a week before entering the endemic region through six weeks after leaving.) Amodiaquine (made in Europe) protects against some chloroquine-resistant strains of malaria. Fansidar (500 mg sulfadioxine, 25 mg pyrimethamime) can be used (in an emergency) against chloroquine-resistant strains of malaria, but it can cause bad allergic side-effects in some people. (Check with your doctor.) All these anti-malaria drugs require a prescription. Reports on Food, Sanitation, Climate, and List of English-Speaking Doctors For the best sanitary reports on water, milk, and food for more than 1400 cities call IAMAT (The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers), 736 Center Street, Lewiston, New York 14092 (716) 754-4883 IAMAT also offers World Climate Charts, Immunization Charts, and a list of English-speaking doctors. Dietary Supplements & Devices Zinc gluconate lozenges - help cure rhinovirus infections (colds) Compact, electric immersion coil to boil water (with adapter plug for different electrical systems) ($10., Brookstone in Short Hills Mall, NJ) ROUND-THE-WORLD AIR FARE ------------------------ Round-the-World passes: As of a few months ago, most round-the-world fares were good for 6 months and cost about $2100.00 when bought in the U.S. ($1300.00 in London). TWA has three options: Singapore, Japan, and Quantas airlines Pan Am has six options: Cathay Pacific, KLM, Singapore, Swiss Air, Saudi, and Thai International. NorthWest Orient has 13 options: Air India, Air France, British Caledonian, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesian, Gulf Air, KLM, Kuwait Airways, Malaysian, Pakistan, South African Airways, Sabena Belgian Airlines, and Thai Airways. Warning: The fliers that airlines distribute describing their round-the-world passes list many possible destinations. Unfortunately, because of the many routing restrictions, these passes will take you to only a few of these listed destinations without extra charge. These routing restrictions are not well computerized; the travel or airline agent cannot simply tell the computer to find the cheapest route through destinations A, B, ..., Z. Even cheaper round-the-world air travel: A few cities outside the U.S.A. have "bucket shops" with incredible bargains in airfare. The greatest discounts are obtained in Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, and Athens (Greece). Also try Penang (Malaysia), London (England), and Singapore for cheap fares. Advantages / Disadvantages of Open vs. Reserved Round-the-World Passes: My travel agent recommended an open ticket. It, of course, allows you to change your sheduling on-the-fly, while making you set up your reservations at each stop. A reserved ticket allows you to make hotel, etc. reservations far in advance, but it has two disadvantages because: (1) if you miss a flight (no show), the computer may unreserve all your subsequent flights, and (2) you can change your schedule just once for free and must pay $25. for each subsequent change. Westbound vs. Eastbound: When travelling west you have two advantages: (1) a flight departing in the morning arrives during daytime rather than at night, and (2) you get to sleep later when you arrive. Buy Tickets with a Credit Card As mentioned a short while ago on net.travel, tickets bought with a credit card cannot be cashed; they only be refunded to your credit card or used. Also, if you buy with American Express, you automatically get life/baggage insurance. BOOKS/NEWSLETTERS ----------------- How to Beat the High Cost of Travel, by Tom Brosnahan, 1984, Frommer. (Highly recommended.) AYH International Handbooks I and II: American Youth Hostels, 1332 "I" Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005 (202) 783-6161 VISA/PASSPORT/PERMIT/DOCUMENTS ------------------------------ Visas - Get a travel agent to get them for you. (It saves a lot of hassles.) - Visa expiration "gotcha". If you get all your visas before starting a long trip, some may expire before you get to use them. (Nepal - 3 months.) - Get many extra passport photos for visas, permits, etc. (Black-and-white is cheaper and, in some cases, preferred because it photocopies better.) - Your passport should have lots of extra pages for visas. (If you run out of pages they won't let you in the country.) To add pages to my passport I mailed the passport, with a letter of explanation (and return address) to: Philadelphia Passport Agency, Federal Building, 600 Arch St., Room 4426, Philadelphia, PA 19106, Attn: Suspense Phone: (215) 597-7480. No fee required. It took about two weeks. Note: Any U.S. Consulate can add pages to your passport. International Drivers License Available from AAA for $5.00 and is processed on-the-spot. (Membership in AAA is not required.) You need a valid U.S. driver's license and two passport photos. It is good for one year, starting at any given date between the date you get it and six months later. An International Drivers License can be useful not only when renting a car but also as an alternate source of identification, such as when renting a bicycle. (It is better to leave your International Driver's license with the bicycle rental outfit than your passport.) Other Cards / Documents International Student Identity Card American Youth Hostel (AYH) Card (You don't have to be a youth for this.) International Certificate of Vaccination (see Health) LANGUAGES --------- A round-the-world trip involves too many countries to learn all the languages well. What is the bare minimum proficiency needed? Learn how to count in the language and how to handle the money? U.S. CUSTOMS ------------ Order the "Travel Pack", including the booklet "Know Before You Go" and a booklet on GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) information, from: Department of the Treasury, U.S. Customs Service, Room 6316, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20229 (202) 566-2475 You can ship, free of duty and tax, an item worth no more than $50.00 (where shipped), provided the person receiving it does not receive more than $50.00 of items in any day. The package must be marked "UNSOLICITED GIFT" and indicate the contents and fair retail value. You may bring $400. (of dutiable goods) into the U.S. duty free. The next $1000.00 is taxed at a flat 10% rate. The GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) lists a complicated set of exceptions. Bring receipts of foreign-made items bought in the U.S. that you are taking with you (so that you don't get charged duty on them when you return to the U.S.). TAKING CARE OF HOME ------------------- This may be the hardest part: job - leave of absence Home/apt - rent/mortgage, or moving & storage, insurance Car - insurance, storage, registration, inspection Mail (change-of-address notifications), newspapers, utilities, pets, plants. Get an extension for 1985 income tax filing? Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com