Travel tips

Make sure you apply for vacation days which include a day’s rest after your return to cope with fatigue or jet lag if you’re flying. Furthermore ensure all your travel documents are confirmed 3-4 working days before the travel date to ensure any last minute changes can still be accommodated.

As for packing, it is essential to pack what you need with consideration for the shopping you plan to do at your holiday destination. If you’re travelling with family and kids, ensure the needs of the elders and children are itemized and packed to avoid discomfort or tantrums.

Most importantly, it is vital to inform your close relatives/ friends of your travel. Lastly, call your bank and let them know that you are travelling overseas.

When preparing for travel, it’s essential to take care of medical requirements to ensure a safe and healthy trip. Here are some key medical tips and advice for travelers:

1. Vaccinations

• Check destination-specific vaccinations: Some countries may require or recommend certain vaccinations before entry (e.g., Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A/B, Typhoid, etc.). Visit a travel health clinic well in advance to get any necessary vaccinations.

• Routine vaccinations: Ensure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines like MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), and the flu shot.

2. Health Insurance

• Travel insurance: Ensure your health insurance covers you abroad, or purchase travel insurance that includes medical coverage. Medical care in some countries may be expensive without insurance.

• Emergency medical evacuation: In case of severe illness or injury, check if your insurance includes coverage for emergency evacuation.

3. Medications

• Bring necessary medications: Carry enough prescription medication for the entire trip, along with a copy of your doctor’s prescription. It’s a good idea to have these in your carry-on luggage.

• Check for restrictions: Some countries may have strict regulations regarding certain medications (e.g., narcotics), so check if your medication is allowed in your destination country.

• Over-the-counter medications: Carry essential over-the-counter medications like pain relievers, antihistamines, and any other items you might need in case of minor illnesses.

4. Travel Health Kit

• Basic supplies: Pack a small travel health kit with essential items like band-aids, antiseptic wipes, hand sanitizer, insect repellent, sunscreen, and any personal hygiene items.

• Water purification: If traveling to regions with questionable water quality, bring water purification tablets or a portable water filter.

 

Please take note that visa requirements for certain countries may change from time to time. It is advisable that you check with your travel agent or directly with destination country’s Embassy before booking a holiday.

What sort of protection/coverage does a travel insurance covers you? Some of the coverage that you should expect is as below:

• Personal Accident
• Medical Expenses
• Loss of Luggage & Personal Effect
• Loss of Travel Documents
• Baggage Delay
• Travel Delay
• Missed Departure
• Flight Overbooked
• Hijack Inconvenience
• Travel Cancellation
• Loss of Money/ Valuables

….and other types of coverage as well.

Here are other examples that might NOT be covered in travel insurance:

• Declared or undeclared war or any act of war, invasion, act of foreign enemy, and other war terms
• Loss or destruction of goods due to radiation
• Suicide/Self harm/ or any intentional acts by the insured person that provoked homicide or assault personnel or military personnel of any country or international authority, whether full-time service or as a volunteer
• The Insured Person engaging in, practising for or taking part in training in any speed contest, any professional competition or sports, and participating in Hazardous adventure

For more information on the inclusions & exclusions of travel insurance coverage, contact your travel agent.

On your travel day, make a list of the things that you need to bring along- luggage, passport and tickets. Also, mark all your bags inside and out with your name and address – both home address and your holiday address. To be on the safe side, weigh your bags to ensure you don’t exceed the baggage requirements of the airline. Travel insurance is becoming a must, so do consider getting one because you do not have to worry if your bags are lost or if your flight has been cancelled or even if your passport and wallet is stolen. It is always best to get yourself and your family covered as mishaps do happen when travelling.

You do know that it is possible to travel with hand-luggage only, rite? Just that you will need to know the airline rules for carrying liquids, otherwise you may have to remove them at the security checkpoint! In order to handle jet lags, stay hydrated by drinking lots of plain water during the flight. Avoid tea and coffee.

Gather required documents before your flight as you are responsible to present as required, documents by the relevant authorities at all entry and exit lanes, health and other documents required by law, regulations, order, demands or requirements of the countries flown from, into or over.

Self-check-in is free, simple & quick! It will save your time at airport! Otherwise, counter check-in opens 3 hours before the scheduled time of departure and closes 1 hour before the scheduled time of departure. Note: Check-in deadlines may vary at different airports and for particular flights. Airport has long queues due to complex security checks. We suggest that you check-in early and proceed immediately to the departure gate or you may risk being left behind in security.

Pre-book your checked baggage to save money and time. Each piece/item of checked baggage has to weigh less than 30kg. Guests may not combine their checked baggage weight with other guests unless travelling in the same booking.

For, baggage drop counter, it opens 3 hours before the scheduled time of departure and closes 45 minutes before the scheduled time of departure. Guests are required to hold a boarding pass to use our baggage drop counters.

Bringing liquids are subject to the prevalent applicable local laws and regulations guests may take liquids on board in their cabin baggage with a maximum volume of 100 ml. The items must be placed in a transparent, re-sealable plastic bag.

For boarding time, guests are required to be at the boarding gate at least 20 minutes before the scheduled time of departure or you will be denied boarding.

When you are overseas/ holiday destination, do call your close relatives/ friends to let them know you have arrived safely and keep them updated of where you are if you are moving around. Make sure to always keep your luggage locked when leaving them behind in the hotel. Carry your passport with you and ensure you don’t carry excessive cash that might attract attention. If you are taking a self drive holiday, make sure you collect the car from the airport and get a GPS.

When you are abroad and if you want to try something local, make sure it is a recommendation from a trustworthy source. To make life easier, get a local map and identify the tourist info centres. Moreover for safety precautions, avoid walking alone at night or in dark areas and beware of pickpockets whose modus operandi is by distracting you. Also, if you drive, follow the local traffic rules and avoid driving at night.

Before your return flight, do confirm your flight details in case of delays or cancellations. It is best to ensure that you have all travel documents prepared and easily accessible for check in. Always plan your packing and don’t do too much last minute shopping that can’t fit your luggage. Keep track with the luggage requirements of the country you’re visiting in mind.

Do not forget to remind your close relatives/ friends of your return and make arrangements for an airport pick up. Keep track of all your valuables and make sure that they are in your hand- wallet, passport, camera, watch, jewellery.

Last but not least, make sure you are at the airport two hours (or 3-4 hours in some countries) earlier to avoid missing the flight.