All it takes is a bit of planning, eating carefully while you're away, and recognising the early warning signs of possible health-care disasters. A little knowledge of basic precautions - and a little luck - can ensure that you experience little more hardship than jetlag, upset stomach, too many duty-free drinks, blisters...

There are a large variety of insurance policies available for travellers. Check that the plan you are considering will cover you in all situations. Always remember to carefully read through the contract before you decide on a particular policy. Some policies specifically exclude certain sports and activities including scuba diving, motorcycling, bungee jumping and even hiking. Choose your policy after planning your activities and ask your insurance agent to verify that they are covered.

Try to choose a policy that pays doctors or hospitals directly rather than requiring you to pay first and claim later. If you need to make a claim later, be sure to keep all documentation. Insurance companies are notoriously slow in paying claims that are not properly documented. Check if the policy covers ambulances, rescue teams, helicopters and emergency flights home. Be sure your policy provides for bringing the body home in the event of a death. Check to see whether bringing your family home in the event of your illness or injury is covered. Some policies cover the cost of replacing and/or bringing your car home in the event you are unable to do so. This is a good option to keep in mind if you are planning long road trips away from home.

Don't take anything you would feel terrible about losing! I.e., jewellery, watches, laptops, etc. If you can't replace it, leave it at home.

Always be certain of the price before you request a service (laundry, tour guide) or order something in a restaurant. Be certain that taximeters work (or establish a fixed price before getting in). Small repair items - safety pins, duct tape, dental floss (strong thread), thin twine - don't take up much space and can come in handy. If you are renting a car, make sure you know about insurance regulations for driving in the country. And before you leave, check with your credit card company to see what is covered by using their card to pay for the rental. Also, try and find out local customs for driving, as this could avoid having an accident (e.g. right-of-way is not the same in all places).

As a general rule, it takes a day for your body to adjust to each time zone crossed. Jet lag is often more common and more dramatic in your eastbound travel (e.g., from Tokyo to San Francisco than from San Francisco to Tokyo). If at all possible, on transcontinental or transoceanic flights, don't plan on conducting major excursions the day you arrive. Instead, use the day to get your circadian rhythms back in sync. Avoiding alcohol, regulating your diet, getting plenty of sleep and exposure to sunlight are effective methods to deal with jet lag.

Probably the most obvious tip : learn as much as you have time for about the place you're going before you leave. If you know some basic history, some basic phrases in the local language, and some basic current events/politics about your destination, you will be able to spend your time enjoying yourself rather than cramming and overloading on info while you're there.

Make photocopies of your important documents (first page of passport, visas, personal ID, CC's) in case the originals are stolen. Keep one copy in each bag you carry but try not to overtly indicate what the numbers represent. Make sure your passport does not expire within 6 months of your date of travel. A large majority of countries insist that your passport is valid for at least that time period, and some of them even insist on it being good for a year. Make a copy, in case you lose it while on vacation (or it gets stolen), so you can send the copy to your Embassy.

Departure Tax : Find out before you depart whether there is a departure tax, and how much it is. Some countries do charge a small fee, and will not let you board your flight without first paying it.

It is recommended to get an international driver's license before you leave your country. Moreover, many of the car rental services also insist on it.

We have an industry partner whom we work with closely : Avis with special offers for Minotel guests, for business and pleasure.

Always carry a small kit with some basic medical supplies and first aid equipment in your hand luggage. Your kit should include :
· Disinfectant or Antiseptic cream/lotion
· Gauze
· Cotton swabs
· Adhesive bandages
· Tape
· Soap (preferably anti bacterial)
· Isopropyl Alcohol (small bottle)
· Thermometer
· Tweezers / Scissors
· Sturdy plastic bag

If travelling with children be sure to also include :
· Children's strength aspirin, pain reliever, cold and allergy medicine
· Oral rehydration tablets for children

Remember to carry a small supply of general medications. Medicines for cold and allergies, painkillers, anti-diarrhoea tablets, and motion sickness tablets are useful items to have while travelling.

Remember that it is always better to carry a small supply of medicine with you than assume the country you are travelling to have your required medicines available. Many over the counter remedies are considered prescription drugs in other countries, or are just not available.

To use your electrical appliances in foreign countries, you need to know two things: the type of electric current used in the country and what type of adapter will fit your plug to its socket.

Adapters and Converters

An adapter allows you to plug an appliance designed for one type of outlet into another. There are many different types of plugs in use. A typical travel adapter kit usually contains about five adapters that can handle most outlets. Adapters can offer this type of versatility by bypassing the ground/earth wire. Although this tends not to be an issue for short-term activities like running a portable computer and recharging batteries, you should get an adapter that allows you to use the ground/earth wire for long-term uses and for appliances that require ground/earthling. An adapter will not change the electric voltage. It will help you get plugged into another type of outlet. If your appliance does not handle different voltages, you will need a voltage converter. Converters allow you to change line voltage from one amount to another. Small electronics can operate with a 50-watt converter. Heating appliances, including coffee makers and hair dryers need a 1600-watt converter. You may want to purchase combination converters for both types. In you are planning a prolonged trip, you might want to buy electrical appliances there or take battery operated appliances. You should be able to purchase both adapters and converters at local electronics or travel speciality stores.

· Be sure to have your travel documents in order. You will need a passport as well as any necessary visas for the countries you plan to visit before confirming your travel plans.
· Carry your valuables in concealed inside pockets or in a sturdy bag with the strap across your chest. Handbags, outside pockets, and fanny packs are all easy prey for pickpockets and thieves.
· Put your name, address, and telephone number on the inside as well as the outside of every piece of luggage. This will help in identifying your luggage if it is lost or stolen.
· Note the credit limit on your cards. In some countries, you can get arrested for exceeding your limit. Keep a copy of the contact numbers of your credit card companies with you. Usually the toll free numbers are not valid outside of the country of issue.
· Make sure you have enough money to cover emergencies. Always include extra money in your budget for unforeseen circumstances.
· Always take traveller's checks. It is safer to have traveller's checks instead of large amounts of cash. Be sure not to countersign until the time of use.
· Keep a separate record of the numbers of your traveller's checks. Always leave a copy of your check numbers with a person you trust in case all your records are lost or stolen.
· Keep Traveller's checks (& perhaps an extra credit card) in your main bag. That way, if you're money belt is stolen, at least you'll have enough funds to get by until you can have money wired or get new traveller's checks.
· If you're arriving in a country at off-hours, you might want to exchange for some local currency before you leave. This could be extremely useful for a taxi ride to your hotel.