http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/tags/travel-safety Travel Writers Exchange Forum Home » Tag: travel safety - Recent Posts en-US Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:21:56 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/search.php http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/laws-of-other-countries#post-652 Fri, 01 May 2009 07:24:26 +0000 Trisha Miller 652@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>EXCELLENT point Tom! Another country's cultural norms are just as important as their laws.......it's never a good idea to offend others by ignoring their customs. As writers we must remind travelers to pay close attention to this as well. </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/laws-of-other-countries#post-651 Fri, 01 May 2009 01:42:52 +0000 Tomrok 651@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Leading on from Trisha's point, it would help to remember that the citizens of another country have their own culture and rules, as you do yours. They've become immersed in their way of life, as you have. There isn't any right or wrong here, but you're on their turf, so do well to respect that they do things their own way, even if it seems incredibly different and strange. Hope this helps &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/my-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/laws-of-other-countries#post-650 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:17:19 +0000 Trisha Miller 650@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>It's also a really good idea to make sure you check both the <a href="http://www.state.gov/travel/">US Department of State's website</a> as well as the official embassy and tourism sites for the country you want to visit. Do a lot of online research, and try to find blogs written by others who have recently visited the same country - ask them what they saw while they were there - and find blogs written by people who live in the country you are planning to go to. They will be able to educate you before you pack your bags.</p> <p>It's definitely smart to know ahead of time what laws you should be aware of......many people aren't aware that when you travel to another country, your rights as a US Citizen do not apply. While the US Embassy may try to help you, there is only so much they can do if you've broken a law, and in some countries you may not even be entitled to legal counsel or representation. Ignorance of the laws is never an acceptable excuse, so be sure you know before you go! </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/laws-of-other-countries#post-648 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:46:54 +0000 Amandah Blackwell 648@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Check out National Geographic's special "<a href="http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/locked-up-abroad/all/Overview">Locked Up Abroad</a>." I just found about this program. I think you can watch it online.</p> <p>As far as laws go, I just discovered that you need a license to ride a bike in Israel. Who knew? </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/laws-of-other-countries#post-647 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:44:01 +0000 Richard 647@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Do you know any peculiar laws for countries? </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/travel-health-and-safety#post-645 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:22:20 +0000 Carter 645@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Spring Break was a blast! Good thing we all came back before the Swine Flu started going around...Bummer... </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/travel-health-and-safety#post-644 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:21:09 +0000 BillieJean 644@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Yeah, it's best to wash your hands and all of that stuff. If you're worried about catching anything, just stay at home...It would be good for the local economy. </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/travel-health-and-safety#post-643 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:22:29 +0000 DuchessOfWriting 643@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Good points...Maybe being a "shock travel writing journalist" could be a good travel niche market...You never know...It's one way to get attention and drive traffic to your site &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/my-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/travel-health-and-safety#post-642 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:55:56 +0000 Trisha Miller 642@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Hi Angela</p> <p>It's true that the best defense is a strong immune system, which you work at building by taking care of yourself over the course of your life, not just the week before you go somewhere, and vitamins work best when you take them every day of your life, not just when you travel. </p> <p>All that being said, so much depends upon where you are traveling to.....and just being smart (and aware) about your environment. You can catch a "bug" anywhere, even at home. So if there is really and truly a serious health threat somewhere (and if there were the US State Department would issue an alert about it), then don't go there. If you want to go to a country where the sanitation is not up to our standards, as Rebecca said, be sure your shots are up to date, and take precautions about limiting contact with anything or anyone who might spread disease. Or don't go.</p> <p>What is going on right now with this coverage of the Swine Flu makes for an interesting case stuy......so far there's been a limted outbreak of it in Mexico City, which is the second most populated city in the world at somewhere around 25 million residents (NOT and I'll repeat that NOT all across Mexico, which is a large country, and so far none in the tourist capitals of Cancun, Cozumel, or Los Cabos) and a few isolated cases in the US that may or may NOT be related. But the media is going on a feeding frenzy over it and behaving like ratings-hungry "shock" journalist by over-hyping a story that is coming close to creating tourism panic. Swine Flu, in many cases, is mild and nearly impossible to tell from any other flu without testing, and many people never even visit a doctor when they have a flu, they just stay in bed and tough it out. So how can we even have accurate reporting of cases when that happens? Is it possible that we've had limited outbreaks here in the US without all the hype? Absolutely. And air travel can bring a virus FROM anywhere TO anywhere, so you could still catch something even if you never leave home.</p> <p>Personally I think the US news and media outlets are trying to scare people into staying home and spending their money locally instead of abroad.......but I digress.....</p> <p>My point is that staying safe and healthy is more a matter of lifestyle than what you do when you travel - be as smart when you're traveling as you are when you walk out your front door. </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/travel-health-and-safety#post-641 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:58:40 +0000 Amandah Blackwell 641@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Here are some precautions...</p> <p>1) maintain a healthy diet<br /> 2) get plenty of exercise<br /> 3) drink bottled water (try to recycle the bottles)<br /> 4) wash your hands<br /> 5) carry hand wipes / hand sanitizer<br /> 6) you may want to carry a mask with you (depending on your destination)<br /> 7) carry "mixable" packets to mix in with your water, i.e., Airborne, Special K, etc...<br /> &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/my-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_cool.gif&quot; title=&quot;8)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; if you're concerned about an area, do not travel there<br /> 9) make sure you're up-to-date on your shots -- you may have to get shots if you're<br /> traveling to Africa, Asia, etc...</p> <p>Hoped this helped... </p>