This is from an Travel FAQ Series I did for my friend Rani of Cheema's NYC a few years ago. Reposted here (and updated semi-regularly) just for you.
Travel Insurance – Do I Really Need It? Where can I get It?
Personally, I never go travelling without some sort of insurance coverage. I know many people who have travelled without coverage (either because they couldn’t afford it, were travelling for too long or, because they didn’t want to spend the money) and have been perfectly fine. I also know people who have ended up in hospitals in foreign countries while not covered, and who have had to spend (or raise) a fortune in order to get treatment or be flown somewhere their problems could be addressed. While I am ridiculously clumsy and accident prone and the knowledge that I’ll be looked after medically and/or financially should anything go wrong is comforting, those aren’t necessarily my only reasons for always having coverage. I figure that, if something were to happen to me, it’s not fair to my family to allow them to bear the burden of the stress or money required to get me help if I’m down for the count and don’t have coverage. It is worth it to note, however, that I am Canadian and, therefore, used to being covered at home. I imagine that the attitude might be somewhat different for Americans who might find their treatments to be cheaper abroad ;).
Also, bear in mind that most travel insurance packages don’t only cover medical problems, but lost, broken or stolen items, as well as trip cancelation or emergency flights home. Many might also cover part of the expenses of pre-trip jabs/vaccinations, but you’ll have to check your individual plan.
If you are booking your trip through a tour company, they will likely offer you the option of insurance. Likewise, some travel credit cards and airlines offer partial or total coverage for trips paid for/booked with them. If you already have personal health insurance, double check if your company/policy includes travel insurance or offers it as a temporary add-on.
The cost of travel insurance depends on where you live/work, where you are going and what other coverage you have. I suggest you shop around a little online and see what you find. A good policy should cover you for: the countries you are travelling to; any activities you plan on doing; injury and sudden illness; on-call twenty-four hour help in emergencies; lost, damaged or stolen items (including electronics and documents); cancellations; delayed luggage; legal expenses; emergency evacuation and/or repatriation (return of your body to your country should you pass on).
Once you’ve chosen your policy, make sure you know what it does and doesn’t cover. You don’t want to get stuck paying for something you expected to be covered. Often, if you decide to do an activity (say a scuba diving course, motorbike rental or bungee jumping) that isn’t covered by your travel insurance, you can purchase coverage for that activity with whoever is running it.
If you are American, an excellent option is WorldNomads. They are also the only option if you are already travelling and need insurance for a portion/the rest of your trip.
Other great options if you are North American and have not yet left your home province/state are travelguard
For Canadians who have not yet set off, the cheapest and best options are from TuGo. They’ve always been wonderful and easy to work with and also offer very affordable specialty riders for outdoors-y people who tend to do activities (like rock climbing, mountaineering, snowmobiling, mountain biking, etc.) that are not usually covered by your standard travel insurance. Another great affordable option for Canadians is Goose Insurance (works best via their app). The only downside with them being that they do not offer any special riders for more extreme travellers.
Wandering Alone – is it Safe?
Er… well, as safe as wondering alone anywhere is. Basic rule, if the place seems sketchy, is not a nice area, there don’t seem to be many normal people about and/or it’s late at night, walking alone is probably not the best idea. If it’s not a situation where you would walk alone back home, don’t expect it to be one where you would while travelling. That having been said, when I’m walking alone, I’m often far more aware of my surroundings and any possible threats than when I’m fooling around with friends.
If you do happen to find yourself walking alone and the situation seems sketch, there are a few things you can do:
1) Look confident – people are much less likely to mug/attack someone they think will fight them off. That said, I did once frighten off a potential mugger in Paris by bursting into tears and sobbing hysterically in French that I had no money and couldn’t find an ATM. I was also fifteen and I’m pretty sure he thought I was cracked.
2) Be aware of what’s going on around you, who is around, any potential escape routes and what you could use as a possible weapon if the need arose.
3) Head toward populated and well lit areas.
4) Have a phone handy, but don’t look distracted by it. And don’t flash it around if it’s a nice one, that makes you a target.
5) DON’T pull out a map unless you are surrounded by others in a touristy area. Otherwise, it makes you stand out.
6) Find a safe place with others around (a hostel, a store, a station with security – this is also helpful when someone is following you).
7) Hop in a cab – but make sure you negotiate the price first and that the driver sees you take note of the licence plate and his cabbie registration. I even have female friends who will call another friend (or pretend to) and tell them both numbers, making sure the cabbie hears.
Doing a little research or asking locals before you go out can also help you avoid some problems altogether as they can tell you which areas are safe and which are not the most savory.
What do you do if your Wallet is Stolen?
First off, you should call all of your credit card companies/the bank and notify them immediately so you don’t have to pay if the thieves charge something to your card. Depending on where you are and whether or not you have insurance, you may also need to contact the police to fill out a report (which you will need a copy of/receipt for to submit to the insurance company).
If you have no money left, your embassy/consulate will be your best friend at this point. They will often try to help you out/get you on your feet – although depending on where you are from, this may only mean giving you some food and contacting your family for you. Once you’ve contacted your family, the easiest thing to do if you have no cards is to get them to wire you some money via Western Union (note that you will need some form of ID or help from embassy staff if you have none). Just as with my passport, I always have digital and paper copies of any identification documents to fall back on (although sometimes this isn’t enough). The fees are a bit expensive, but it may be necessary to tide you over while you wait for new cards (if you have no address while you are travelling, you can get the bank/card company to send the cards to your country’s embassy/consulate closest to wherever you are or will be when they arrive, so long as you notify that embassy/consulate first). You should also check your insurance policy, some might have an explanation of what to do and cover you if you need emergency funds. You can also talk to whoever you are staying with and see what they advise.
In general, I try to carry as little as possible in my wallet while travelling in order to limit the effects of having it stolen. This bring us to the next point:
IMPORTANT! Always have an Extra Card and Some Emergency Cash
Possibly the single most important thing I can impart – an something which has saved my neck on several occasions – is always having an extra card and some emergency cash (usually in USD or Euro since they are easily convertible everywhere) with me while I travel that is NOT in my wallet. This is so that, if my wallet/purse are stolen. I can continue to enjoy my trip without too much of a hassle (though you still have to call the bank/company for the cards that were stolen and may still need to fill out a police report).
I usually keep the extra cash and card separate from one another in my luggage. Sometimes I spread the money out in various different places or even have more than one emergency card. If that doesn’t feel secure, I lock them away with my passport in the locker/safe/at the front desk.
Is There Anything Else you Always Carry?
I may have mentioned before that I’m clumsy? Yeah… I seem to loose buttons and rip clothes a lot, so I always carry a needle and several colours of thread (also some small emergency buttons).
Other things I always carry with me:
- A Swiss Army Knife (useful for so many reasons)
- A Flashlight/Headtorch (Good for camping, power outages and reading at night in dorms)
- Dental Floss and My Toothbrush (I should think this one is obvious ;) ).
Getting Sick While Abroad – What do I do?
This really depends on where you are. In some places such as Europe and parts of Asia, health care is so ridiculously cheap that you shouldn’t hesitate to go see a doctor or head to the hospital. My mother got a chest infection in Greece and got a checkup, chest x-ray and antibiotics for about 19 USD total. I once broke my nose in England and paid absolutely nothing to have it checked out (I’d already re-set it myself).
In many countries, antibiotics and things that are normally prescribed in North America can simply be bought off the shelves of the local pharmacy or drug store. If you know what’s wrong with you and can easily communicate or find someone you trust to translate the problem or medicine name to the pharmacist, you may also be able to resolve the issue that way. Whatever I do, I always get the pharmacist to write out the drug name (preferably in English, if not, I do it phonetically) so that I can cross check info online to make sure I understand what I am taking and what side-effects it might have (also to make sure that it’s the correct thing).
If you have insurance, check with them before you do anything so that you know what you need to do in order to be reimbursed by your policy (but don't bother making claims for things that don't cost too much as it will limit your ability to extend the policy/get a refund on unused dates later if you want to). Depending on how serious your illness/injury is, you may also want to notify your embassy (that’s only if it’s super serious).
Do you Eat the Food and Drink the Water?
Yes, usually. My answer for this really varies depending on where I am. Always be sure to check whether the water is potable (drinkable) wherever you are going and, if not, what you need to do to make it so. In some places, simply boiling the water is enough. In others, you’ll need to use water purification tablets, filtration systems or a UV wand. In the most extreme cases (or if you are too lazy/don’t enjoy the taste of boiled/purified/tap water) buy water bottles. If you are doing the last option, always make sure the seals are unbroken and on properly. In a number of places – particularly in China – there have been reports of people refilling water bottles with unpurified tap water for re-sale. To reduce my environmental foot print. I often buy big bottles to leave at the hostel and have a reusable bottle or buy a small bottle or two that I carry with me and that I refill from my big bottles when I get back.
Food-wise, I’m usually pretty careful in the sense that I make sure that I know the potential dangers and react accordingly. I've never had a problem eating un-peeled (and sometimes unwashed) fruit and vegetables anywhere I've travelled in Asia. By contrast, I once got ridiculously sick in Peru when I stopped peeling my fruit after a few months of living there. In retrospect, I think I would have been fine if I hadn’t been lazy and made sure my fruit was dry before I ate it (the bug I caught can only live in water droplets). Basically, the most important thing is to be aware. Check what you can and can’t do in the country you're visiting and, if it seems sketch, don’t eat/drink it.
Interestingly, I’ve found that the same number of people (more actually) tend to get sick living in fancy hotels and eating only at expensive restaurants as do those staying in hostels and eating in local holes-in-the-wall or snapping up food from the markets.
A Note on Vaccinations
Before I go anywhere, I always check that my basic vaccinations are up to date and that I’ve had the jabs for any inoculations that I might need wherever I am going. Although they can be expensive, they are worth it. You really don't want to get sick while travelling. Additionally, depending on your policy, your insurance company may not cover you if you get a disease that would have been preventable by vaccination. Check with a travel health provider/your country’s travel health registry online. If you are going to a malarial zone, look into getting malaria tablets and which type may be best for you. For all of these things, check well ahead of time as some treatments/vaccinations might need to happen well in advance.
Depending on where you are going, how long you will be there and the order of the places you are travelling to, you might also want to check the costs and reliability of getting vaccinated elsewhere if the timing allows for it. Vaccinations tend to be a lot cheaper in Asia and Europe than they are in North America. They are also often much, much cheaper (or free!) in countries located next to endemic zones.
And, last, but not least:
But you’re a Girl! How can you Possibly Feel Safe Travelling on Your Own?!
This is probably the question I get asked the most – and, honestly, it’s the one I have the hardest time answering. I guess I just figure that I feel just as safe travelling on my own as a girl as I do walking around my own city. Am I aware of the dangers? Yes. Very much so. And I take what I consider to be adequate precautions against them (see sections on insurance (that’s for everyone, not just girls) and walking alone (also good for everyone)). I try not to do anything too stupid, but I also try to prevent unnecessary fears from getting in the way of me living my life. I try to be aware of any issues and/or cultural norms in the region I am visiting, making sure that I am dressed and acting properly for the area in order to limit potential problems. I find that this also usually allows me to better interact with the local people and to just have a fuller experience in general.
Ally's Tips for Keeping You and Your Belongings Safe while you Travel
People often ask me if I feel safe when I travel –
particularly when they discover that I often travel alone as a girl (though
what else I could possibly travel as, I’m not entirely sure!). Given that, I figured I’d better address some
common health, safety and security issues that people ask me about.
Travel Insurance – Do I Really Need It? Where can I get It?
Personally, I never go travelling without some sort of insurance coverage. I know many people who have travelled without coverage (either because they couldn’t afford it, were travelling for too long or, because they didn’t want to spend the money) and have been perfectly fine. I also know people who have ended up in hospitals in foreign countries while not covered, and who have had to spend (or raise) a fortune in order to get treatment or be flown somewhere their problems could be addressed. While I am ridiculously clumsy and accident prone and the knowledge that I’ll be looked after medically and/or financially should anything go wrong is comforting, those aren’t necessarily my only reasons for always having coverage. I figure that, if something were to happen to me, it’s not fair to my family to allow them to bear the burden of the stress or money required to get me help if I’m down for the count and don’t have coverage. It is worth it to note, however, that I am Canadian and, therefore, used to being covered at home. I imagine that the attitude might be somewhat different for Americans who might find their treatments to be cheaper abroad ;).
Also, bear in mind that most travel insurance packages don’t only cover medical problems, but lost, broken or stolen items, as well as trip cancelation or emergency flights home. Many might also cover part of the expenses of pre-trip jabs/vaccinations, but you’ll have to check your individual plan.
If you are booking your trip through a tour company, they will likely offer you the option of insurance. Likewise, some travel credit cards and airlines offer partial or total coverage for trips paid for/booked with them. If you already have personal health insurance, double check if your company/policy includes travel insurance or offers it as a temporary add-on.
The cost of travel insurance depends on where you live/work, where you are going and what other coverage you have. I suggest you shop around a little online and see what you find. A good policy should cover you for: the countries you are travelling to; any activities you plan on doing; injury and sudden illness; on-call twenty-four hour help in emergencies; lost, damaged or stolen items (including electronics and documents); cancellations; delayed luggage; legal expenses; emergency evacuation and/or repatriation (return of your body to your country should you pass on).
Once you’ve chosen your policy, make sure you know what it does and doesn’t cover. You don’t want to get stuck paying for something you expected to be covered. Often, if you decide to do an activity (say a scuba diving course, motorbike rental or bungee jumping) that isn’t covered by your travel insurance, you can purchase coverage for that activity with whoever is running it.
If you are American, an excellent option is WorldNomads. They are also the only option if you are already travelling and need insurance for a portion/the rest of your trip.
Other great options if you are North American and have not yet left your home province/state are travelguard
For Canadians who have not yet set off, the cheapest and best options are from TuGo. They’ve always been wonderful and easy to work with and also offer very affordable specialty riders for outdoors-y people who tend to do activities (like rock climbing, mountaineering, snowmobiling, mountain biking, etc.) that are not usually covered by your standard travel insurance. Another great affordable option for Canadians is Goose Insurance (works best via their app). The only downside with them being that they do not offer any special riders for more extreme travellers.
Wandering Alone – is it Safe?
Er… well, as safe as wondering alone anywhere is. Basic rule, if the place seems sketchy, is not a nice area, there don’t seem to be many normal people about and/or it’s late at night, walking alone is probably not the best idea. If it’s not a situation where you would walk alone back home, don’t expect it to be one where you would while travelling. That having been said, when I’m walking alone, I’m often far more aware of my surroundings and any possible threats than when I’m fooling around with friends.
If you do happen to find yourself walking alone and the situation seems sketch, there are a few things you can do:
1) Look confident – people are much less likely to mug/attack someone they think will fight them off. That said, I did once frighten off a potential mugger in Paris by bursting into tears and sobbing hysterically in French that I had no money and couldn’t find an ATM. I was also fifteen and I’m pretty sure he thought I was cracked.
2) Be aware of what’s going on around you, who is around, any potential escape routes and what you could use as a possible weapon if the need arose.
3) Head toward populated and well lit areas.
4) Have a phone handy, but don’t look distracted by it. And don’t flash it around if it’s a nice one, that makes you a target.
5) DON’T pull out a map unless you are surrounded by others in a touristy area. Otherwise, it makes you stand out.
6) Find a safe place with others around (a hostel, a store, a station with security – this is also helpful when someone is following you).
7) Hop in a cab – but make sure you negotiate the price first and that the driver sees you take note of the licence plate and his cabbie registration. I even have female friends who will call another friend (or pretend to) and tell them both numbers, making sure the cabbie hears.
Doing a little research or asking locals before you go out can also help you avoid some problems altogether as they can tell you which areas are safe and which are not the most savory.
Pick Pocketing and Purse Snatching
By far the greatest danger you will face to your belongings while travelling (particularly in tourist-heavy Europe) is pick pocketing. All I can say about this is always be on your guard and aware of yourself, your stuff and the people around you when in crowds (especially on public transport or in markets/bazaars). My step-dad had his wallet stolen from his jacket pocket while on the subway in Spain. I had a friend have her bag stolen from under her chair in Rome. Another had her bag snatched from her bike basket in Greece. If you are depositing your bag somewhere (however briefly), make sure it’s secure. I always loop my bag handles around one of my limbs or bits of the chair or table if I am sitting. If I’m on a bike, I tie it into the basket. Finally, beware of people distracting you/getting you to open your bag for any reason. By far one of the most devious thieves I encountered was an American-sounding man in Russia who kept asking me questions that had me reaching into my purse (for my phrasebook, my camera, my phone), distracting me with conversation and eventually managing to reach into my now open and unsecured bag to snatch my wallet before we cheerily parted ways.
By far the greatest danger you will face to your belongings while travelling (particularly in tourist-heavy Europe) is pick pocketing. All I can say about this is always be on your guard and aware of yourself, your stuff and the people around you when in crowds (especially on public transport or in markets/bazaars). My step-dad had his wallet stolen from his jacket pocket while on the subway in Spain. I had a friend have her bag stolen from under her chair in Rome. Another had her bag snatched from her bike basket in Greece. If you are depositing your bag somewhere (however briefly), make sure it’s secure. I always loop my bag handles around one of my limbs or bits of the chair or table if I am sitting. If I’m on a bike, I tie it into the basket. Finally, beware of people distracting you/getting you to open your bag for any reason. By far one of the most devious thieves I encountered was an American-sounding man in Russia who kept asking me questions that had me reaching into my purse (for my phrasebook, my camera, my phone), distracting me with conversation and eventually managing to reach into my now open and unsecured bag to snatch my wallet before we cheerily parted ways.
Where do you Keep your Valuables when
you Travel?
I don’t. And by that I mean: I don't travel with valuables. Basically, I try to travel with as few valuables as possible, thereby limiting people’s temptation to take them and my devastation if they get lost. If I do have to have my computer or another valuable on me, I usually leave it in my hostel/hotel/room locker (I always carry a locker lock on me in the event that I’ll need one). If that’s not possible, I often just leave it buried in my suitcase.
Do you Lock your Suitcase?
Honestly? No. I figure an unlocked suitcase looks less tempting because people will figure you have nothing of value in it. That said, there have been occasions where I didn’t have access to a locker/safe room and would have loved to be able to lock my bag.
Where do you Keep your Passport?
It depends. I don’t really like having it on me unless it’s absolutely necessary for something (I’m pretty clumsy/forgetful). If I do have to have it on me, I keep it in a secure place and am super aware of where it is. Usually, I just carry a copy on me and have another copy of it saved on my phone and in my email in case something goes wrong.
The rest of the time, I either leave it in my locker/safe at my hostel/hotel or, if there is no other option and they are amenable, with the front desk (just try not to forget it there!). If I’m couchsurfing or staying with a family/friends, I usually just leave it buried somewhere innocuously in my backpack. Ultimately though, it’s up to you where you feel safest having it.
Have you Ever Lost your Passport? What do you do if that Happens?
Fortunately, I’ve never lost my passport and, (knock on wood) I hope I never do. First things first, you should always have a photocopy of the photo page of your passport with you. I usually have a paper copy, a copy saved on my phone and one in my email.
First off, don’t panic. The first thing you should do when you lose your passport is contact the local embassy/consulate for your home country. They will tell you what you need to do/where you need to go in order to get a new/temporary passport. Hopefully you won’t be needing to cross any borders too soon and there will be enough time to sort things out. That said, they can usually sort you out fairly quickly. This is also one of the cases in which having insurance comes in handy, as it should cover any costs incurred by delayed travel plans.
I don’t. And by that I mean: I don't travel with valuables. Basically, I try to travel with as few valuables as possible, thereby limiting people’s temptation to take them and my devastation if they get lost. If I do have to have my computer or another valuable on me, I usually leave it in my hostel/hotel/room locker (I always carry a locker lock on me in the event that I’ll need one). If that’s not possible, I often just leave it buried in my suitcase.
Do you Lock your Suitcase?
Honestly? No. I figure an unlocked suitcase looks less tempting because people will figure you have nothing of value in it. That said, there have been occasions where I didn’t have access to a locker/safe room and would have loved to be able to lock my bag.
Where do you Keep your Passport?
It depends. I don’t really like having it on me unless it’s absolutely necessary for something (I’m pretty clumsy/forgetful). If I do have to have it on me, I keep it in a secure place and am super aware of where it is. Usually, I just carry a copy on me and have another copy of it saved on my phone and in my email in case something goes wrong.
The rest of the time, I either leave it in my locker/safe at my hostel/hotel or, if there is no other option and they are amenable, with the front desk (just try not to forget it there!). If I’m couchsurfing or staying with a family/friends, I usually just leave it buried somewhere innocuously in my backpack. Ultimately though, it’s up to you where you feel safest having it.
Have you Ever Lost your Passport? What do you do if that Happens?
Fortunately, I’ve never lost my passport and, (knock on wood) I hope I never do. First things first, you should always have a photocopy of the photo page of your passport with you. I usually have a paper copy, a copy saved on my phone and one in my email.
First off, don’t panic. The first thing you should do when you lose your passport is contact the local embassy/consulate for your home country. They will tell you what you need to do/where you need to go in order to get a new/temporary passport. Hopefully you won’t be needing to cross any borders too soon and there will be enough time to sort things out. That said, they can usually sort you out fairly quickly. This is also one of the cases in which having insurance comes in handy, as it should cover any costs incurred by delayed travel plans.
What do you do if your Wallet is Stolen?
First off, you should call all of your credit card companies/the bank and notify them immediately so you don’t have to pay if the thieves charge something to your card. Depending on where you are and whether or not you have insurance, you may also need to contact the police to fill out a report (which you will need a copy of/receipt for to submit to the insurance company).
If you have no money left, your embassy/consulate will be your best friend at this point. They will often try to help you out/get you on your feet – although depending on where you are from, this may only mean giving you some food and contacting your family for you. Once you’ve contacted your family, the easiest thing to do if you have no cards is to get them to wire you some money via Western Union (note that you will need some form of ID or help from embassy staff if you have none). Just as with my passport, I always have digital and paper copies of any identification documents to fall back on (although sometimes this isn’t enough). The fees are a bit expensive, but it may be necessary to tide you over while you wait for new cards (if you have no address while you are travelling, you can get the bank/card company to send the cards to your country’s embassy/consulate closest to wherever you are or will be when they arrive, so long as you notify that embassy/consulate first). You should also check your insurance policy, some might have an explanation of what to do and cover you if you need emergency funds. You can also talk to whoever you are staying with and see what they advise.
In general, I try to carry as little as possible in my wallet while travelling in order to limit the effects of having it stolen. This bring us to the next point:
IMPORTANT! Always have an Extra Card and Some Emergency Cash
Possibly the single most important thing I can impart – an something which has saved my neck on several occasions – is always having an extra card and some emergency cash (usually in USD or Euro since they are easily convertible everywhere) with me while I travel that is NOT in my wallet. This is so that, if my wallet/purse are stolen. I can continue to enjoy my trip without too much of a hassle (though you still have to call the bank/company for the cards that were stolen and may still need to fill out a police report).
I usually keep the extra cash and card separate from one another in my luggage. Sometimes I spread the money out in various different places or even have more than one emergency card. If that doesn’t feel secure, I lock them away with my passport in the locker/safe/at the front desk.
General Health:
Do you carry a First Aid Kit? What
Meds do you carry with you? How much
First Aid do you know?
For the average person (in no particular order):
- Bandaids (plasters)
- Alcohol pads/disinfectant swabs
- Basic NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti inflammatories like ibu-profen (Advil) and acetaminophen/paracetamol (Tylenol)
- Tweezers
- Hand sanitizer
- Immodium (only for use emergencies when you absolutely have to be in public – otherwise, let those -toxins escape! You’ll feel better for it afterward, I promise)
-Rehydration salts (for helping the body re-absorb water once all of those toxins referred to above do come out)
- Water purification tablets (depends where I’m going)
- Pro-biotics (for when your stomach doesn’t like something or after a course of antibiotics)
- Benadryl (for allergic reactions)/hay fever meds
- Generic antibiotics (if I can get my hands on them)
- Any prescription meds I’m on (the amount I need for the trip plus one week’s worth, kept safely somewhere else in my luggage)
I tend to do crazy stuff like climb mountains without a harness, hike and camp for several days on end and go on sea kayaking trips solo. I’m also a certified Wilderness First Responder and, as I may have mentioned, somewhat clumsy. Because of this, my first aid kit is usually a little more comprehensive. I usually also carry a tensor bandage, a lot more rehydration salts (for exertional hyponatremia – i.e. when you need electrolytes after intense exercise in high heat and/or humidity), a Sam Splint (in case I break something while in the backwoods), antibiotics, a minimum of three triangular bandages (for slings and other things), hockey tape, gauze pads and povidone-iodine solution (for wound disinfection).
For the average person (in no particular order):
- Bandaids (plasters)
- Alcohol pads/disinfectant swabs
- Basic NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti inflammatories like ibu-profen (Advil) and acetaminophen/paracetamol (Tylenol)
- Tweezers
- Hand sanitizer
- Immodium (only for use emergencies when you absolutely have to be in public – otherwise, let those -toxins escape! You’ll feel better for it afterward, I promise)
-Rehydration salts (for helping the body re-absorb water once all of those toxins referred to above do come out)
- Water purification tablets (depends where I’m going)
- Pro-biotics (for when your stomach doesn’t like something or after a course of antibiotics)
- Benadryl (for allergic reactions)/hay fever meds
- Generic antibiotics (if I can get my hands on them)
- Any prescription meds I’m on (the amount I need for the trip plus one week’s worth, kept safely somewhere else in my luggage)
I tend to do crazy stuff like climb mountains without a harness, hike and camp for several days on end and go on sea kayaking trips solo. I’m also a certified Wilderness First Responder and, as I may have mentioned, somewhat clumsy. Because of this, my first aid kit is usually a little more comprehensive. I usually also carry a tensor bandage, a lot more rehydration salts (for exertional hyponatremia – i.e. when you need electrolytes after intense exercise in high heat and/or humidity), a Sam Splint (in case I break something while in the backwoods), antibiotics, a minimum of three triangular bandages (for slings and other things), hockey tape, gauze pads and povidone-iodine solution (for wound disinfection).
Is There Anything Else you Always Carry?
I may have mentioned before that I’m clumsy? Yeah… I seem to loose buttons and rip clothes a lot, so I always carry a needle and several colours of thread (also some small emergency buttons).
Other things I always carry with me:
- A Swiss Army Knife (useful for so many reasons)
- A Flashlight/Headtorch (Good for camping, power outages and reading at night in dorms)
- Dental Floss and My Toothbrush (I should think this one is obvious ;) ).
Getting Sick While Abroad – What do I do?
This really depends on where you are. In some places such as Europe and parts of Asia, health care is so ridiculously cheap that you shouldn’t hesitate to go see a doctor or head to the hospital. My mother got a chest infection in Greece and got a checkup, chest x-ray and antibiotics for about 19 USD total. I once broke my nose in England and paid absolutely nothing to have it checked out (I’d already re-set it myself).
In many countries, antibiotics and things that are normally prescribed in North America can simply be bought off the shelves of the local pharmacy or drug store. If you know what’s wrong with you and can easily communicate or find someone you trust to translate the problem or medicine name to the pharmacist, you may also be able to resolve the issue that way. Whatever I do, I always get the pharmacist to write out the drug name (preferably in English, if not, I do it phonetically) so that I can cross check info online to make sure I understand what I am taking and what side-effects it might have (also to make sure that it’s the correct thing).
If you have insurance, check with them before you do anything so that you know what you need to do in order to be reimbursed by your policy (but don't bother making claims for things that don't cost too much as it will limit your ability to extend the policy/get a refund on unused dates later if you want to). Depending on how serious your illness/injury is, you may also want to notify your embassy (that’s only if it’s super serious).
Do you Eat the Food and Drink the Water?
Yes, usually. My answer for this really varies depending on where I am. Always be sure to check whether the water is potable (drinkable) wherever you are going and, if not, what you need to do to make it so. In some places, simply boiling the water is enough. In others, you’ll need to use water purification tablets, filtration systems or a UV wand. In the most extreme cases (or if you are too lazy/don’t enjoy the taste of boiled/purified/tap water) buy water bottles. If you are doing the last option, always make sure the seals are unbroken and on properly. In a number of places – particularly in China – there have been reports of people refilling water bottles with unpurified tap water for re-sale. To reduce my environmental foot print. I often buy big bottles to leave at the hostel and have a reusable bottle or buy a small bottle or two that I carry with me and that I refill from my big bottles when I get back.
Food-wise, I’m usually pretty careful in the sense that I make sure that I know the potential dangers and react accordingly. I've never had a problem eating un-peeled (and sometimes unwashed) fruit and vegetables anywhere I've travelled in Asia. By contrast, I once got ridiculously sick in Peru when I stopped peeling my fruit after a few months of living there. In retrospect, I think I would have been fine if I hadn’t been lazy and made sure my fruit was dry before I ate it (the bug I caught can only live in water droplets). Basically, the most important thing is to be aware. Check what you can and can’t do in the country you're visiting and, if it seems sketch, don’t eat/drink it.
Interestingly, I’ve found that the same number of people (more actually) tend to get sick living in fancy hotels and eating only at expensive restaurants as do those staying in hostels and eating in local holes-in-the-wall or snapping up food from the markets.
A Note on Vaccinations
Before I go anywhere, I always check that my basic vaccinations are up to date and that I’ve had the jabs for any inoculations that I might need wherever I am going. Although they can be expensive, they are worth it. You really don't want to get sick while travelling. Additionally, depending on your policy, your insurance company may not cover you if you get a disease that would have been preventable by vaccination. Check with a travel health provider/your country’s travel health registry online. If you are going to a malarial zone, look into getting malaria tablets and which type may be best for you. For all of these things, check well ahead of time as some treatments/vaccinations might need to happen well in advance.
Depending on where you are going, how long you will be there and the order of the places you are travelling to, you might also want to check the costs and reliability of getting vaccinated elsewhere if the timing allows for it. Vaccinations tend to be a lot cheaper in Asia and Europe than they are in North America. They are also often much, much cheaper (or free!) in countries located next to endemic zones.
And, last, but not least:
But you’re a Girl! How can you Possibly Feel Safe Travelling on Your Own?!
This is probably the question I get asked the most – and, honestly, it’s the one I have the hardest time answering. I guess I just figure that I feel just as safe travelling on my own as a girl as I do walking around my own city. Am I aware of the dangers? Yes. Very much so. And I take what I consider to be adequate precautions against them (see sections on insurance (that’s for everyone, not just girls) and walking alone (also good for everyone)). I try not to do anything too stupid, but I also try to prevent unnecessary fears from getting in the way of me living my life. I try to be aware of any issues and/or cultural norms in the region I am visiting, making sure that I am dressed and acting properly for the area in order to limit potential problems. I find that this also usually allows me to better interact with the local people and to just have a fuller experience in general.
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