Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
41
travel insurance
(see chapter 12, p . 317).
In most cases, ho wever, y our existing
health plan will pr ovide all the co verage
you need, and Los Angeles has two of the
best hospitals in the nation: Cedar S inai
and UCLA medical centers. In fact, people
travel to L.A.
because
they're sick. Also, be
sure to carr y y our identification car d in
your wallet.
If y ou suffer fr om a chr onic illness,
consult your doctor before your departure.
Pack
prescription medications
in y our
carry-on luggage, and carr y them in their
original containers, with pharmacy
labels—otherwise they won 't make it
through airpor t security . Visitors fr om
outside the U.S. should carr y generic
names of pr escription dr ugs. F or U.S.
travelers, most r eliable healthcar e plans
provide coverage if you get sick away from
home. Foreign visitors may have to pay all
medical costs upfr ont and be r eimbursed
later.
We list additional
emergency numbers
in the “Fast Facts: Los Angeles” section of
the chapter 12 (p. 317).
6
SAFETY
STAYING SAFE
For a big city, Los Angeles is relatively safe,
and r equires only that y ou use common
sense (for example, don 't leav e y our ne w
video camera on the seat of y our par ked
car). H owever, in neighborhoods such as
East L.A. and D owntown (at night espe-
cially), it's a good idea to pay attention to
yourself and your surroundings.
Avoid carr ying v aluables with y ou on
the str eet, and don 't display expensiv e
cameras or electronic equipment. Hold on
to y our pocketbook, and place y our bill-
fold in an inside pocket. I n theaters, r es-
taurants, and other public places, keep
your possessions in sight.
Remember also that hotels ar e open to
the public, and in a large hotel, security
may not be able to scr een everyone enter-
ing. Always lock y our r oom door—don't
assume that inside y
agencies offer the option of r enting a cell-
phone for the duration of y our car rental;
check with the rental agent when you pick
up the car.) Try to arrive and depart during
daylight hours.
Recently, more crime has inv olved cars
and drivers. If you drive off a highway into
a doubtful neighborhood, leave the area as
quickly as possible. I f y ou hav e an acci-
dent, even on the highway, stay in your car
with the doors locked until y ou assess the
situation or until the police arriv e. I f
you're bumped fr om behind on the str eet
or are inv olved in a minor accident with
no injuries, and the situation appears to be
suspicious, motion to the other driv er to
follow y ou. Never get out of y our car in
such situations. Go directly to the near est
police precinct, well-lit ser vice station, or
24-hour store.
Always try to par k in w ell-lit and w ell-
traveled areas. Never leave any packages or
valuables in sight. I f someone attempts to
rob you or steal your car, don't try to resist
the thief or carjacker . Report the incident
to the police depar tment immediately b y
calling
&
911.
This is a fr ee call, ev en
from pay phones.
3
our hotel y ou ar e
automatically safe.
Driving safety
is impor tant, too . Ask
your r ental agency about personal safety ,
and ask for a traveler-safety brochure when
you pick up y our car . Ask for written
directions to y our destination or a map
with the r oute clearly mar ked. (M any
