Travel is wonderful when everything goes to plan and not so great if it doesn’t. If you haven’t travelled for a while, we recommend you prepare to ‘expect the unexpected’ by glancing over this wise advice from Australian Holiday Centre’s Sonya Mewett.
Tap into your travel agent’s wealth of knowledge
Travel agents are experts in their field and you get what you pay for. If anything goes wrong and you have booked online you will have no one to call to assist you.
Travel agents are trained and have lots of insider tips they share when you book with them. Usually they are very well travelled and have great recommendations to assist in making your holiday dreams come true.
Travel agents will often give you two copies of your itinerary so you can leave one at home with family.
Register online before you travel
Make sure you register online before you travel to make it easier to be contacted in an emergency, whether it’s a natural disaster, civil disturbance or family issue. The registration information you provide is protected by Australia’s privacy laws.
www.smarttraveller.gov.au
Cover yourself with travel insurance
Travel insurance is an essential part of your trip, whether it be domestic or international travel. If you are uninsured, you (or your family) are personally liable for covering any medical or other costs resulting from unexpected incidents or accidents. If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.
It is a common trap that people think they are covered whilst on a cruise ship in Australian waters but you are not. If you need to visit the medical centre on board, you have to pay for it if you do not have insurance – Medicare will not cover this.
Copy your documents
It’s always good to have a spare copy of your important documents. For the following documents, either scan them and email them to yourself or make two photocopies, leaving one copy with someone at home and keeping the other with you, separate from the originals.
Important documents to copy:
- Passport
- Travel insurance policy
- Itinerary and tickets
- Visas
- Travellers cheques and credit card numbers
- Driver’s licence or international driving permit
Pack smart
It is always good to pack a few days prior to travel and then reduce what you have by one third. This will ensure your bag is not too heavy and will also allow for any purchases.
Roll clothes instead of folding so that they take up less room and don’t crease as quickly. Even if you have a garment that needs an iron, most hotels will supply one. If they don’t, either hang the item in a steamy bathroom or dampen it, smooth it out and dry it with a hairdryer.
Always pack a hat, scarf and sunscreen.
Sonya Mewett is the Manager at Australian Holiday Centre, a travel agency with expertise in Australian holidays. To find out more, please contact Sonya and her team on 1300 799 342 or at www.australianholidaycentre.com.au
