GlobalVillage-Travel.com

Putting you in touch with information that you can use to plan your trip and help you while you're travelling.. From where to get a Visa - To what injections do I need? - To how to find out where the next big party is...

Many of us have laughed at the hilarious stories of friends having the runs whilst on a 48-hour bus journey through India or whilst trekking in the Australian outback. Some of you may also have heard tales of a more serious nature and whilst this section is not intended to put you off the idea of visiting certain areas of the globe, it is important that you follow some simple rules that will help you avoid the horror stories.

Before leaving home:
Make sure you are healthy before departing on a long trip. By visiting your doctor, dentist and optician you could save yourself a lot of anguish later on.

Make a note of all your existing medical problems and prescription requirements and carry them with you or leave them in your security vault facility.

Don't leave your vaccinations until the last minute. Some have to be done well in advance of your departure and in a few cases you will need more than one jab.
In many countries it will be cheaper to obtain certain vaccinations from your GP rather than a travel clinic.

Make sure you have sufficient medical and health insurance. Details of our insurance. It's worth shopping around a little to get the most suitable cover for you.

Pack a complete medical kit. Don't over do it as it adds to the weight of your pack.

Once you're on your way:
Don't be alarmed if you contract the dreaded runs. Your body may well just be getting used to local foods (one of the highlights of visiting many countries). If symptoms persist for more than a couple of days you should seek medical advice.
Always carry a box of Imodium for those long journeys during difficult times.Most travellers swear by them although don't over do it!!!

While visiting many new countries (which in many cases will be less developed than your own) it is possible that either yourself or a travelling partner display symptoms that you have not come across before.Don't panic; seek good local medical advice as soon as possible.

Unless you are told otherwise (on trustworthy authority) never drink from local water supplies in developing countries. You should either; purchase bottled water (always check that the seal is intact), filter local water (and do you bit for the environment) or treat local water with cleansing chemicals.Remember that the ice in your drink will almost always be made from local water.

Try and eat carefully and maintain a balanced diet.Take vitamin and nutrient supplements if you feel it is necessary.

The following chart is intended to give you an indication of the vaccinations required for certain countries that you may be visiting. We also suggest that you contact Masta who will be able to give you up to the date requirements specifically for your trip. Please note: this information was correct at time of writing and is intended as a guideline. It is essential you check this information with your doctor before departure.

Many countries will require you to obtain a visa prior to your arrival. Other countries may require you to obtain entry permits upon arrival. We can advise you of the entry requirements for all the countries that you are likely to visit on your trip and the visa table below is offered as a guide to the red tape encountered at the most popular round the world destinations. But a word of warning: visa requirements change at very short notice which is why your travel consultant will always be happy to double check the rules for you when holding a reservation. We can also check the visa requirements for those countries not listed below.

Australian visa: An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) allows the traveller up to 3 month's stay in Australia. We can issue ETA's for you at a discounted cost of £15 per person. For further Australian visa information (i.e. working visas) we suggest visiting this site www.immi.gov.au/welcome.htm

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us at: sales@gvillage.co.uk

The following list is specific to U.K passport holders only, although in many cases it can be used as a guide to all EU passport holders. Most countries require that your passport is valid for at least 12 months beyond your intended stay. Please note: this information was correct at time of writing and is intended as a guideline. It is essential you check this information on the foreign office site before travelling- www.fco.gov.uk.

Lets be honest. Part of the attraction of a round the world trip is that while back home everyone else is coping with the January rain and sleet, you know that you will be lazing in the sun on Bondi beach or Koh Samui. So while planning your trip you will want to give some thought to the weather patterns in the places that you are visiting.

Here are a few tips:
The Number One Rule is don't get too obsessed about the weather. It's almost impossible to plan a trip that visits every country during its best time; besides different seasons offer different highlights.

For example, many travellers think that Vietnam is at its most beautiful during the wet, hot months between May and September with rich green colours and cooling afternoon showers.

Avoid trekking in Nepal between the months of May to August. It will just be you and the leeches!

Australia is large enough to guarantee that you'll always find good weather somewhere. When its chilly in Melbourne, there will be perfect sunshine in Cairns.

Altitude can make a huge difference to the climate. For example when it is the wet season in Cuzco in Peru, the beaches are packed in Lima, just 360 miles away but 3326 meters lower in altitude.

Watch out for monsoons when in the tropics, Sri Lanka has three a year!

For the adventurous amongst you it is important to hit the rivers a short while after the rainy season when the rivers are swelling and the rapids are at their most impressive.

There are times when it is simply too hot in many equatorial regions. Try and avoid these as it often means sitting in the shade for the duration of the day, restricting your activities. For example everyone in Goa heads to Manali in the north during the hottest months (April - June)

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