Keep all your possessions in a safe place. Never leave valuables behind in a hotel
(unless locked in a hotel safe) or in a bus seat (they should be stored by the
driver in the locked luggage compartment under the bus). Personal belongings should always be kept
within sight.
The bulk of your money, credit cards, and passport should
be worn in a waistband or neck travel pouch under your clothes. Only put a small amount of spending money in
your pocketbook for daily expenses.
Popular areas attract pickpockets, so keep your money and cell phone
safe.
Know all important contact numbers. Travel with the contact information of each
hotel in your possession. At each hotel,
pick up a hotel card containing its name, address, and phone number. If in the event you get lost, hop in a cab
and hand the card to the taxi driver to return you to your hotel.
Carry a copy of the EF emergency calling instructions
card with you at all times. It provides
instructions on how to dial emergency numbers in the countries you are visiting
(equivalent to local 911 numbers). In
the UK (Scotland and Northern Ireland), that number is 999. In Ireland, that number is 999 or 112.
The card also provides an emergency number to reach an EF
representative in the U.S. 24/7. For
travelers in Europe, that number is 001-617-619-2913. It is a good idea to program that number into
the phone you will use while traveling.
For those at home who have an emergency and need to reach you through EF,
that number is 1-800-637-8222.
Hotel Safety
Each person in a hotel room may not have an individual
room key. It is a good idea to leave
that key at the reception desk when not in the room or leaving the hotel. Hotel rooms should remain locked when inside
the room and when you leave the room.
European hotels may have different construction standards
than U.S. hotels based on location or age of the building. Be sure to read the fire safety instructions
in the room and know where the nearest fire exits are located.
Traffic Safety
Be aware that drivers in Scotland and Ireland drive on
the left-hand side of the road. That
means that, even though you are accustomed to looking both ways before crossing
traffic, you must be even more diligent to watch for cars driving in the
opposite direction. Pay special
attention at intersections, use pedestrian crosswalks whenever possible, and always
wear seat belts on tour buses if available.
Also people tend to follow the person in front when
walking in a group. Even if the person
in front of you is crossing the street, don’t assume traffic is still clear
when it is your turn to cross. Be
pro-active and pay attention.
Historical note: Why do they drive
on the left-hand side of the road? According
to travel guru Rick Steves, it was originally so you could drive
defensively—with your “sword hand” on the inside to protect you from oncoming
traffic.
Health and Medical Safety
If you are covered by the EF All-Inclusive Coverage Plan, be
aware of its policies. The Global Travel Protection Benefits Guide details are
available here. Just a note:
The All-Inclusive Coverage Plan does not cover activities that are not
sanctioned by EF.
You may also be covered by your own personal health
insurance. Be aware of its coverage when
traveling in foreign countries. All
policies are not alike. Medicare does not typically
cover medical expenses outside the U.S. and its territories.
Make sure your group leader is aware of any medical needs
you might have, such as dietary restrictions, food allergies, carrying an Epi
Pen, medical issues, etc. EF can accommodate
special dietary needs on tour, but cannot make special meal requests with the
airlines. Contact your group leader so
that we can notify the airline directly a few days before the flight.
Prescriptions should be filled, up-to-date, and in the
original packaging. ALL medications
should be in your carry-on bag with copies of the prescription paperwork. In
case of loss, prescriptions can be filled more quickly and efficiently. Ask your physician or pharmacist for generic equivalent
names for medications.
To avoid carrying so many full-size prescription bottles,
ask your pharmacist for labels only for your prescriptions and place the labels
on zip-lock bags with your medicines inside.
This will take up much less space in your carry on bag.
Carry with you more than just the allotted medication for
the days of the trip. You never know
when there will be plane delays due to unforeseen circumstances.
If you wear glasses, carry an extra pair.
In addition, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and
avoid alcohol or caffeine.
If you suffer from motion sickness, you might try these
suggestions. Try not to travel on an
empty stomach and avoid eating anything greasy or fatty. Snack every couple of hours.
Some remedies include pressure point wrist bands, a prescription
behind the ear patch, and over-the-counter Dramamine or Bonine, both which could make you sleepy (and
that could be a good thing on a long flight!)
To help prevent ears from popping on flights earplugs are
recommended, and chewing gum may also help.
Some may suffer from swollen feet on long flights because
of lack of blood circulation in the feet and legs. Wearing compression socks and loose-fitting
clothes may help. Also take short walks
every couple of hours up and down the aisles.
In between, try ankle exercises by flexing ankles and
knees while seated, regularly shift your position, and avoid crossing your legs
as it cuts off circulation. Massage your
feet if possible, and prop your feet on the bar in front of your seat, as this
is better than no elevation at all.
Flying Safely
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and airlines
prohibit certain items on flights for the safety of its passengers. Some items are allowed in checked bags and
not carry-on bags. For a complete list
of prohibited items, refer to the FAA web site.
Passengers are allowed to bring one small bag of liquids,
aerosols, gels, creams, or pastes in your carry-on bag provided they follow the
3-1-1 rule—no
more than 3.4 ounces in each container, in a 1-quart clear zippered bag, and no
more than 1 bag per person.
Be prepared to have this bag readily available to place
in the inspection bin outside your carry-on bag to speed up inspection.
Common Sense and Safety
Keep a low profile.
As proud as we all are to be Americans, terrorism is a reality. And although our destinations are relatively
safe, there is no need in causing undue attention to our group and marking us
as targets.
Avoid wearing clothing that displays the American flag or
other prominent American slogans, do not walk through crowds singing the
national anthem, and do not publicly ridicule any other cultural groups.
As in any crowded tourist attraction, be mindful of
pickpockets. Backpacks or day bags
should be worn across the chest to make it harder to grab and run. Nothing of value should be stored in outer
pockets.
Smoking is not allowed on buses, during meals, in hotel
rooms, or any other shared enclosed space.
Drinking alcoholic beverages is not allowed on the bus. Public intoxication is prohibited.
Payment for damage done to hotel rooms or to buses is
your responsibility. If you notice any
damage upon arrival at a hotel, you should notify the Tour Director
immediately. Any other incidental personal
expenses incurred at hotels is payable the evening before departure at each
hotel.
Luggage and Safety
Never leave your luggage or any other personal item
unattended in an airport, hotel reception area, the bus, a restaurant, or a
tourist attraction. Do NOT agree to
watch or carry any item for someone you do not know; and do NOT ask a stranger
to watch your bags.
All our luggage will be identified with matching
ribbon. You will be given 2 strips of
ribbon, one for your checked bag and one for your carry-on bag. Knot-tie them to a handle so they cannot be
easily removed and so they can be readily recognized by all members of our
group.
Make sure all checked and carry-on luggage has an outside
luggage tag with your name and phone number.
Avoid
putting your home address on the outside label. If it is misplaced they can reach you by phone
and arrange a pickup or delivery. If
possible, use a tag with a flap to cover information from casual eyes.
Place
a second tag inside your luggage that is visible when you open the bag in
case the external tag is lost and you can be contacted if the bag is misplaced.
Document Safekeeping
Keep your passport on your person, preferably in a
concealed pouch under your clothes, at all times. Be sure to sign your passport before use and
have at least three blank pages. Each morning on the bus before we leave the hotel, everyone will show their passports.
Avoid flashing large amounts of money in public. Keep that in the concealed pouch also and
only have on you what you might need for the day.
Make two copies of your travel documents in case of
emergency and in case they are lost or stolen.
Leave one copy with a friend or relative at home. Carry the other copy with you and separate
from the originals. You can also email
them to yourself for easy access. Items to copy:
*Passport ID page
*Hotel information
*Airline ticket information
*Driver’s license (for additional ID purposes, if needed)
*Credit cards/ATM cards brought on the trip (notify banks
and credit card companies prior to departure with dates to expect international
charges)
Use the same precaution abroad using ATM machines as you
would in the U.S. Safeguard your PIN
information. Avoid temporary looking
machines. Be aware of others around you
and try to use a machine while members of our group are surrounding you and not
strangers.
Be mindful of scams at ATM machines. Do not be distracted by scammers who wait for
you to enter your PIN then distract you by offering you a free newspaper or
urging you to look at money on the ground.
They will take your money and leave.
If you are distracted, cancel the transaction immediately.
On-Tour Guidance
Our group will have the services of a full-time Tour
Director who is responsible for the logistics of the tour and ensure a smooth
travel experience. He will meet us at
the airport and remain with us for the duration of the tour.
He is professionally trained and will coordinate bus
transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, site-seeing, and any special
excursions we opt to participate in. He
will be available to the group 24/7 and is trained to handle any emergencies.
