Money, Health and Safety - some questions answered....
How much money should I budget for when travelling?
How long is a piece of string?! It’s a tricky question, as every traveler
has different requirements, travel plans and standards of living. There are, however,
a few general tips that usually stand strong with the vast majority of round the
world travellers.
• Beware of ‘false economies’ – it is easy to get carried
away trying to do everything for the lowest possible cost, only to find that you
pay out more in ‘extras’ further down the line. A good example of this
would be joining a budget tour only to find that you have to pay for all meals,
the guide’s meals and some additional accommodation.
• We always recommend pre-booking a first couple of nights accommodation, especially
when arriving at a new destination late at night.
• Bear in mind additional costs you may incur by purchasing an unsuitable round
the world ticket. We offer some great deals but if you end up having to spend days
on a bus or paying for additional flights when abroad you may end up regretting
not paying a little more upfront. Speak to you consultant for advice on this.
• Asia and the Indian subcontinent offer fantastic round the world stops if
you have a tight travelling budget. Living is cheap and you will find the budget
traveler is very well catered for.
• Overland tours and safaris are often the only way to access the ‘must-see’
destinations in places such as East Africa. Don’t always presume that you
can do it cheaper independently.
A budget
We are going to stick our necks out and offer some ballpark figures for a few suggested
travelling budgets, to help give you a guideline:
Gap Year Traveler - Fresh out of school and on a tight budget –
away to travel rather than socialise every night, happy to stay in budget hostels,
take the cheapest class of bus or train and eats at the budget restaurants.
- South East Asia and the Indian subcontinent - £15 - £20 per day.
- South and Central America, Africa, Australasia, Middle East - £15-£20
per day.
- North America, Europe, South Pacific - £20 + per day.
Career/Senior Gapper – Looking to travel and to live a little.
You like to shop for souvenirs for the home, eat at some nice restaurants now and
again, travel on a better standard of bus and stay in mid range accommodation.
- South East Asia and the Indian subcontinent - £20 per day.
- South and Central America, Africa,Australasia, Middle East - £25-£30
per day.
- North America, Europe, South Pacific - £35 + per day.
How to carry your travel money whilst away
In recent years things have changed for the better and it is far easier to carry
your travel money safely. Why?
• Firstly, ATM's (holes in the wall or bank machines) are far more widely available
and if you have the correct type of card – this usually means Visa, Maestro,
Cirrus (you should check with you bank if you are unsure), you can obtain your cash
in installments by using them. Guidebooks are usually a great source to find out
where you can find the nearest bank machine.
• Getting money transferred is cheaper and easier now than ever before. This
saves you carrying large sums of money in cash and travellers cheques.
• You can pay by Visa, MasterCard and various other credit cards in many more
outlets than a few years ago. Budget travellers should not expect to be able to
pay by card at many hostels, cafes etc but you will be able to withdraw money with
your card in the larger towns and cities.
There are lots of ATM's in the Third World, at least in cities, and in many places
people would never expect to find them. But sometimes the only ATM around isn't
connected to your bank, the power is out, the phone connection is down, or the ATM
is out of cash because of a local holiday you've never heard of.
When they work, ATM's are the best way to get money while you are traveling. Leaving
your money in a bank because it earns interest until you withdraw it. Almost everywhere,
ATM's dispense cash in the local currency, so you don't have to deal with exchanging
one currency for another. But don’t count on finding ATM’s *everywhere*,
or you might get stuck someplace with no cash and no access to your money. Just
in case, have some money readily available.
Credit Cards
Save your credit cards for expensive purchases. For smaller expenses, get cash from
ATM's, and if the local ATM withdrawal limits allow, take out enough cash supply
to last several days.
Fees are the down side to using ATM’s and credit cards. Check with the company
that issues your cards, before you leave home, so you know what to expect and can
bring the cards with the lowest fees.
Credit Card and ATM fees
Typical fees include charges for each cash withdrawal or purchase outside your home
country or in foreign currency, plus a percentage surcharge over the wholesale exchange
rate. For example, you might be charged £5 for each withdrawal by the foreign
bank whose ATM you use, and your withdrawal might be converted at an exchange rate
2% worse than the wholesale rate. That works out to a total of £7 on a £100
transaction. So its better to do as few transactions as possible is a good rule
of thumb - also don't stress about it too much - ATMs are still the safest way of
getting money. Stuart, a Director here, once met a guy in Cambodia who carried all
his cash in his moneybelt - he got robbed - and that is expensive.
Travellers Cheques
Traveler’s cheques have largely been replaced by ATM cards, and with good
reason. In most of the world, you have to go to a bank (sometimes only certain banks)
to cash traveler’s cheques. However, we recommend you carry a few travelers’checks
in your money belt in case there are no available ATM's, there is a problem withdrawing
from them, or their fees are excessive.
Some tips from the round the world team
• Always carry a few dollars in cash - it’s a great way of ensuring there
is a roof over your head and a meal in your stomach if all other options have failed
you - it happens now and again!
• Money belts are an essential item. Some choose to use them on an everyday
basis whilst others wear them only on long journeys and when carrying larger sums
of cash from the banks.
• Never pull out large bundles of cash in public, it attracts unwanted attention
and will probably drive the price of any sale up. It’s always advisable to
keep a small amount of change in the main part of your wallet or money belt with
any larger sums hidden.
• In some countries you will get an enormous number of notes in local currency
when you change just a small amount of your home currency. Bear this in mind as
you will have to carry it with you.
• Most hostels, hotels and beach huts have safes, often situated behind the
reception desk. Take advantage of the opportunity to safely store any of your valuables
that you will not need during your stay but be sure to collect your items when you
leave…it could be a very long journey back.
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Travel Health
Travel health is a major priority when planning your Round the World flight. Researching
your travel destination beforehand is essential to find out the vaccination requirements
as well as health advice regarding safe drinking, food, STDs, insect borne diseases
and other travel related health issues.
Before setting off on your gap year travels, it's worth spending some time getting
fit by walking, running, swimming and any number of different sports. Although travelling
will make you fit and walking for long distances will seem quite normal after some
time, exercising and eating healthily before you go will help prepare you for the
journey ahead.
Also ensure that you leave plenty of time to obtain all the necessary vaccinations
before setting off on your travels. This could be a few months in advance in some
cases. Travel health issues will vary from country to country but some of the things
to look out for include:
Too much sun
Heat stroke, sunburn, skin cancer and a variety of ill effects can all result from
too much sun exposure. Babies, children and fair skinned people are at greater risk
especially in tropical areas. The general advice here is to use a good sunscreen,
drink lots of water, avoid over exertion, avoid alcohol, wear a hat, stay out of
the mid day sun and minimise time spent on tanning.
Water and food
There are a large number of diseases which can be contracted from infected water
and food including Escherichia coli, dysentery, giardiasis and hepatitis A. Less
common diseases for travellers include typhoid and cholera. The general rule here
is to drink bottled water (where the top has not been tampered with) and to use
bottled water for brushing teeth. Water can also be treated by boiling, chemical
disinfection through a tincture of iodine and through the use of portable water
filters. With regards to food poisoning, travellers must be cautious when travelling
in areas of poor hygiene and sanitation. Milk products, salads, uncooked or undercooked
vegetables and meat must be avoided. Fruit which can be peeled and piping hot food
is generally safe.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhoea and AIDS are commonly contracted through casual
sex. Symptoms vary but early treatment is often essential to avoid long term complications.
Prevention is through abstinence, using water based lubricants and through the use
of latex condoms. Condoms can vary in quality and if in doubt, always try to purchase
well known brands or buy them from home before travel.
If you have any concerns regarding a condition you may have or a travel health issue,
consult your doctor before going and also ensure that you take out a good travel
insurance policy.
Vaccination Chart
One vaccination does not automatically offer protection against a disease for life.
Many vaccines need to be routinely boosted to offer continued protection. The following
chart gives some idea of how often boosters should be administered according to
the UK Guidelines. This chart is offered as a guideline (it is not definitive!)
and should be used together with specialist advice from your travel health advisor
or GP. Before travel you should ensure you have had all of your childhood routine
vaccinations. Take advice from your GP about whether you really need Yellow Fever
and Rabies inoculations depending on the areas you are going to. The following is
a very general list of jabs most people would take on most general RTWs - but please
make sure you see a qualified medical professional before you go.
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Diphtheria/Tetanus
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Following initial course of five doses boost every 10 years for adults and adolescents
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Given as a Tetanus/Diphtheria combination for travel to risk areas
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Hepatitis A
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First injection gives protection for one year. Booster at 6-18 months gives protection
for 10 years - some vaccines can be boosted up to three years after first dose
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Protection occurs 10-14 days after the primary dose.
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Japanese B Encephalitis
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Following primary course boost after 2 years
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Meningitis A&C
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After initial vaccination boost every 3-5 years
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Travel to Mecca - certificate of injection valid after 10 days.
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Polio (oral)
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After initial course - boost every 10 years
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Tetanus/Diphtheria
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Following initial course of five doses boost every 10 years for adults and adolescents
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Given as a Tetanus/Diphtheria combination for travel to risk areas
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Typhoid (injection)
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After initial vaccination boost every 3 years
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Partial protection occurs 10-14 days following first injection
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Typhoid (oral)
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Following 3 capsule course protection lasts for 1-3 years
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Protection against typhoid following a 3 capsule course is 70% after 7-10 days after
initial course
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Yellow Fever
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After initial vaccination boost after 10 years
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Certificate valid 10 days after vaccination
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Malaria
This is transmitted by the female mosquito usually during the period from dusk to
dawn. Malaria can kill and early symptoms include chills, fever, body aches and
sweating. For the prevention of malaria, travellers are advised to:
- wear light coloured long sleeve tops and trousers
- take the appropriate malaria prophylaxis before, during and after the period of
travel.
- apply insect repellent. Both DEET based products and natural insect repellents
such as those based on oil of eucalyptus and citronella are available.
- Use a mosquito net or stay in a room with mosquito netting on the windows.
General Safety Tips
Many of these tips are based on common sense and may help you deal with people,
situations or events in a new country or location:
• Spend some time researching your destination to find problem areas.
• Avoid walking alone after dark in an unknown environment or an area which
is deemed to be unsafe at night.
• Avoid wearing expensive jewellery, clothes and other valuable items.
• Note down contact numbers for embassies, health clinics or hospitals and
any other organisation which may be of assistance to you in the event of an emergency.
• Learn and respect local customs. This may help you to avoid causing offence
and deal with any unnecessary situations that may arise.
• Do not accept or agree to carry any parcels or objects from strangers or
casual acquaintances.
• Keep a record and photocopies of all important documents and contact numbers
in a separate place away from the originals. Leave copies with friends and relations
in case of emergencies and email them to yourself as well.
• Be cautious at ATMs or cash machines. If you any doubts, find another machine
or return later.
• Alcohol related problems are numerous for travellers who drink to excess
or are unable to remain clear headed after a few drinks. Drinking responsibly and
in moderation can add to the enjoyment of travelling. Avoid drinking on an empty
stomach and if possible, drink some water to counter the effects of alcohol and
dehydration. Never drink and drive.
• For many travellers and especially women, keep an eye on your drinks to avoid
them being spiked and ask a friend to do the same when you have to visit the toilets.
Great hostels and hotels
