Travel

TRAVEL - ADVENTURES AND EXPEDITIONS ABROAD

Volunteering Breaks

BTCV organise and support volunteers doing conservation work, both in this country and abroad on residential breaks and non-residential days. 

Accommodation and food is supplied in the cost (you have to pay the cost).

There are other organisations such as VSO, who run youth programmes for people up to 25, providing opportunities to get involved in overseas development work.

The World Youth Awards and Youth for Development programme are run by VSO, and give opportunities for 18 -25 years olds to work alongside another young person in the developing world.

Contact these organisations on:
BTCV Tel: 01302 388 883
www.btcv.org

VSO Tel: 020 8780 7500
www.vso.org.uk

Raleigh International
Tel: 020 7183 1270
www.raleighinternational.org

International Exchanges

International exchanges are often arranged by different groups and sometimes stay in a residential centre or hostel with the host group. 

Contact the youth service to see if there are any exchange visits planned

COMPLAINTS

If you feel that you have reason to complain, make the first complaint to the holiday representative, thay may have a complaints form to fill in or you may have to write a letter there and then.

Take photo's of the problem and get statements from other holidaymakers supporting your complaint.

When you get home, send copies (keep the originals) to the company, make your complaint and ask for compensation.

Only accept what you think is fair and if you are not satisfied, contact the trade association that the company belongs to, e.g. ABTA who may be able to help.

The other alternative (if the company is not a member of a trade association) is to go to the small claims Court for compensation.

The Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help you to deal with this, or you could try a free solicitors appointment for advice.

TRAVELLING WISELY

General Travel Advice

If you need any medication, make sure to take it with you.

If you have any extra needs, such as, access, facilities, or diet, make sure that you be catered for before you go.

Get travel insurance, make sure you are covered for cancellation, belongings, illness or injury and for any activities that you are doing.

If you are doing anything that the insurance company considers to be dangerous (it might not be dangerous to you!) you might not be covered.

Check very carefully and make sure that you know what to do if you need to claim e.g. inform the local police etc..

Make sure that you have enough money to get back if you are travelling independently.

Let someone know where you are going and make any arrangements for contact.

If you are buying a package holiday, shop around and read the small print in the brochure.

Make sure you book throught a company that is a member of ABTA, AITO, or ATOL for more protection if anything goes wrong.

If you have a credit card, it could be useful in an emergency.  Be careful with it, consider using a hotel safe for this and other valuables.

Contact the countries tourist office - you can get the number from

ANTOR UK (Association of National Tourist Offices)

Personal Safety

Think about your personal safety when you are out and about; try to be aware of your surroundings and don't take short cuts through dark alleys etc.

Try to use busier, well lit streets if possible and walk facing oncoming traffic.

If you feel you are being followed, several times to check.

If you are, go into a busy building, a shop or pub, office or similar and call the police.

Don't go into a phone box in case you get trapped inside.

Get a personal alarm, if you can (DIY stores often have them or ask the Crime prevention officerfor advice), make sure its the sort that will keep sounding even if you drop it.

If you go out make sure you can get home and don't accept lifts from strangers.

If you need a taxi, try to book one from a reputable firm and always sit behind the driver.

If you go home with someone you meet or after a date it can be safer to go back to your own home where friends and family are close by.

At home always ask to see identification if a worker calls.

KEep your doors locked, keep the key near by but out of view from windows so you can quickly get out in case of fire.

These tips are very basic but if you need more information click here

Hitch Hiking

Hitch hiking is not reccommended for obvious reasons, mainly because you are in a vehicle with a complete stranger, who has control of where they take you.

If you are going to hitch hike try not to do it alone.  Female especially should always be in pairs.

Ask the driver where they are going to, don't say where you are going first.

If you get a funny feeling about somebody, don't get in!!

If you get a bad vibe once you are in, listen to your own instincts and get out!

Use your judgement how to do it.  You could say you are desperate for the loo and ask to stop at a garage or service station and when you get out don't get back in.

Tell them you've changed your mind (then they don't wait), and then go into the station or anywhere where there are people.

Try to make sure that you plan journeys so that you never have to hitch hike, keep money in reserve or try to get a lift from someone you know and trust. 

Money

The Euro is now the legal tender in 12 countries of the European Union, known as the Euro Area.  These countries are Austria, Belguim, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Itlay, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

The UK, Denmark and Sweden, who are also members of the European Union, have not changed their currencies.

Euro's are largely accepted in some large shops in the UK.

If you are going outside this area, ask at the post office, bank or travel agent about the different currencies you might need, and find out if they will charge you commission for exchanging your money. 

Travellers' Cheques

If you don't want to carry a lot of cash around, you may want to buy travellers' cheques.

These have to be ordered either from banks, building societies, larger post offices, travel agents and even on the internet.

To exchange them for cash, got to a bank, or money exchange bureau.

Some hotels will cash them too.  Wherever you are, check out the exchange rate and also commission charged.

If you are going to a remote place, sterling travellers cheques may be difficult to exchange so UD Dollar cheques might be better, check with your travel agent before you go.

Emergencies

the first thing to do if things go wrong is to contact family and friends at home to see if they can help.

If you are stuck in a real emergency situation and need help, contact the British Consulate in that country.  There are lots of things that the British Consulate cannot do.  They cannot get you out of prison, intervene in Court cases, get you better treatment than is gven to local people, investigate crimes, get you somewhere to live, a job or work permit.  They cannot pay your bills or travel costs (except in special circumstances) or do work usually done by travel agents, airlines, banks or motoring organisations.

It is a good idea to take details of British Embassies Abroad in case of serious emergency.

VISAS FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

Passports

If you are going abroad, don't forget your passport!!

IF you are applying for a passport you can get an application form from the Post Office, Passport Office or Parish Halls.

Give yourself plenty of time to fill it in and check it very carefully.

You will need two passport size photos. verified as a true likeness and other documents.

At the moment an standard adult (over 16 ) passport costs £77.50 and £49 for children. 

For more details contact the passport office on 448000 or go to gov.je

Visas and Work permits

You will need a visa to visit some countries, which will allow you to visit for a certain period of time, and may restrict your right to work there.

You may need a separate work permit if you intend to do any work, find out before you go by talking to your travel agent, o by contacting the National Tourist Office of the country you are visiting.

You can get the numbers from the Association of National Touris Offices, ANTOR UK

Working Abroad

Do you want to see other countries, get some work experience, earn your keep or earn some cash?

You will need to decide where you are going, for how long and if you will need a visa or a work permit.

Follow the link for more information about working or moving abroad.

There are lots of varied working and volunteering opportunities out there.. Follow the links below to have a look at some of the experiences they are offering.

The Original Volunteers

Cross Cultural Solutions

I-toI Volunteer Travel

Global Vision International

Real Gap

Xtreme Gap Year

Paid Work Abroad

There are lots of other sites you can check out if you type what you're looking for into google!