Below, we’re outlining how to easily and affordably stay in touch with loved ones back home, how to stay healthy on the road, and how to make sure you haven’t wasted precious suitcase space with electronics that won’t work while you’re away.
How to call home while travelling
Staying in touch can be hard while travelling, and with the internet and all of the apps available so prominent, this can be the easiest way to communicate and get in touch with home.
International roaming rates can range from slightly more to horrifically expensive, so if you will be in a country for any significant amount of time, it is advisable to get a sim card – even if only to use the data component of it.
INTERNATIONAL CALLING CARDS – Another way to stay in touch is getting an international calling card. These usually work out to be considerably cheaper than paying the standard for a hotel room rate, international roaming, or even international calls from your local sim card.
CALLING FROM THE INTERNET – If you’ve got access to the internet, through either your sim card or wifi, calling for free using different apps is available, or topping up your Skype or Viber accounts with some credit means that you can call regular phone numbers without the receiver needing an internet connection. it works kind of like an international calling card – except you are calling through the internet, and from your phone/tablet.
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| The international emergency number, from any mobile phone worldwide, is 112. It will even work if the phone is locked, has no sim card, or has no reception from your provider – it will access the network if it gets reception from any provider. |
FREE MESSAGING/CALLS – For free messaging and calls, if you are using Apple products (Mac, iPhone, iPad), you will be able to use iMessage and FaceTime, which will use wifi/internet data as opposed to SMS credits or phone call credits. For both Apple and Android, the most popular messaging apps are WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, and WeChat. Once you download these apps, they will scan your phonebook and let you know who in your contacts has the same app – then you can start messaging/calling for free. NOTE: Some of these apps have a nominal one-off cost associated with them.
WeChat: http://www.wechat.com
WhatsApp: http://www.whatsapp.com
Viber: http://www.viber.com
TRAVEL SIM CARD – If you are going to be needing to stay in contact while away, these can be a great option. While often having a higher upfront cost associated with them, they often allow you to receive free calls while you’re in certain countries and then charge you as required for outgoing calls.
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| Free wifi is common these days – try and find some at local fast food restaurants like McDonalds or Burger King. Other places with free wifi are usually libraries, cafes, hotels, some restaurants, and even some cities’ public transport systems have free wifi. |
How to stay healthy on the road
Being sick is never fun – let alone while you’re on holiday. A few simple preparations can make a huge difference.
Firstly, before you go, you want to research your destination and ask your doctor to make sure you have all the right immunisations. Some countries require you to have them before entering, so it is best to know this well in advance, as some immunisations will require you to visit a doctor multiple times. Any other health recommendations, your doctor will be able to advise you on.
If you take prescription medicines, you will want to pack these into your hand luggage and your everyday pack (or pocket), and a spare in your main luggage, and even another spare in a travel partners bag. Also take a script, just in case you need to get it filled while overseas.
As well as the serious stuff, there are a few things that will come in handy; painkillers (paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin), band-aids, and Imodium. It’s not that you can’t get these overseas, it’s just that when you need them, the last thing you’ll want to do is go shopping to find them. Have them from the start and you’ll be well positioned.
Contraceptives are also highly recommended if you’re that way inclined. Again, be prepared – nobody wants to do an emergency run in the heat of the moment.
Some other useful items to pack into your “go everywhere” kit are a small pack of tissues, sunscreen, and lip balm. Tissues are not just for blowing your nose – they are also for places that may not provide toilet paper, and sunscreen and lip balm, because being burnt and having chapped lips is no fun for anybody.
How to master technology abroad
When talking about tech and travel, the list is potentially endless… tablets, GoPros, phones, cameras, laptops, chargers, battery packs… etc. We have tried to compile the most useful pieces of tech that will assist in your travels!
If you’re travelling for a while, and unsure where the next charger is going to be, you can’t go wrong with a basic Nokia phone. Ditch the smartphone in favour of a battery that will last you days, and if you lose it or it gets stolen, it’s not such a big deal due to the low price.
Of course, you’ll miss out on the key features you might want while travelling, like a camera, internet access, and your favourite apps. For this reason, we recommend a power bank, for those times when a charger or outlet is too far away. Or if you want to charge and have multiple power points, GadgetGuy.com.au did a great review on this powerboard/travel adapter/USB plug combo here: http://www.gadgetguy.com.au/product/belkin-travel-surge-protector/
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| If you dont want to fork out the money for a specialist item like that, you will only ever need one travel adapter if you take a small powerboard. One adapter + one powerboard = 4 power outlets. |
If your device allows it, spare batteries are a must. If you are willing to take a risk, cheap spare batteries can be bought online, but make sure to choose them carefully. Keep in mind some of the cheaper options may not work, and could even do damage to your device.
While you’re away you’ll want to take photos – and lots of them! A second memory card is always recommended. You can never have too many photos!
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| Drink water. PLENTY of water. It is amazing how much walking and how dehydrated you become while traveling. What is even more amazing is how good you feel when properly hydrated. |
Keeping updated
When you go travelling, backpacking, on a tour, or on a holiday, it is important to let the right people know. Of course, you’ll probably want to blast your plans out across social media, but there’s a more serious side to this. This includes letting your friends/family know your travel plans, where you’ll be staying, how to best contact you, and even advising different organisations of your plans.
You should check with your government for the latest travel advice, and, if it’s an option, even register your details and trip plans with them. This means while you are abroad they can get in contact with yourself or a loved one should something happen to you, or if something arises in the area where you are travelling.
On a more day-to-day level, you’ll want to let your bank know you are going abroad, as well as your phone company. This should allow you to use your credit/debit cards overseas, and allow you to use international roaming if you decide to.
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| Fast food restaurants, some stations, hotels, and libraries often have available outlets. Take your charger with you, and find yourself a nice corner to sit in while you charge your device. |
Expect the best, prepare for the worst
While travelling overseas, you can expect to have an incredible time! With this said, it is important to remember that just because you’re on holiday, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared, so here is some of our best general advice.
In case you lose your luggage/get robbed/become lost, we recommend always having $100 (or the equivalent in the local currency) stashed away in your shoe somewhere. This way, even if you lose everything else, you will still be able to get a bed, some food, and internet access, so that you can regroup and get in contact with the people you need to.
If you have a spare credit/debit card, it can be a good idea to hide it in your suitcase/backpack in case your hand luggage gets stolen. Again, having a backup can play a crucial role.
Emailing yourself copies of your passport, all your credit cards, travel visas you might have, your drivers licence, health/travel insurance cards, serial numbers of your electronics, and important phone numbers will make life a lot easier should any of these go missing. Make sure you have copies of both the front and backs of your documents, as often the backs have emergency contact numbers on them.
List of Australian Embassies and Consulates
http://dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-locations/missions/Pages/our-embassies-and-consulates-overseas.aspx
List of Canadian Embassies and Consulates
http://travel.gc.ca/assistance/embassies-consulates
List of American Embassies and Consulates
http://www.usembassy.gov/
List of New Zealand Embassies, High Commissions, and Representatives
http://www.nzembassy.com/
List of British Embassies, Consulates, and High Commissions
https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations
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| Credit card providers will have a free local number for the majority of the world. Find the local number of your destination in the links below! Mastercard – http://www.mastercard.com.au/emergency-services.html Visa – http://www.visa.com.au/personal/assistance/lostyourcard.shtml American Express – https://www.americanexpress.com/au/content/assistance.html Discover Cards – https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/help-center/faqs/lost-stolen.html |