Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Maps, directions and vital information
You won't need anything too elaborate: the maps in guidebooks are usually pretty good. A
good pocket diary can be very useful - one that gives international dialling codes, time dif-
ferences, local currency details, bank opening hours, public holidays and other information.
Take a list with you of essential information like directions to voluntary work postings, key
addresses, medical information, credit card numbers (try to disguise these in case everything
gets stolen), passport details (and a photocopy of the main and visa pages), emergency con-
tact numbers in case of loss of travellers' cheques and insurance and flight details - and
leave a copy with someone at home.
Another way of keeping safe copies of your vital documents (even if everything you have is
lost or stolen) is to scan them before you leave and email them as attachments to your email
address. However, it is well known that you shouldn't send sensitive information via email
and it's not clear whether that advice also applies to attachments, given that they're all stored
on a remote server, so you might prefer one of the many online secure data storage options,
such as
www.omneport.com
.
Or you could even put it all on a memory stick, which has the advantage of being small and
easy to conceal and carry.
Those of you with a smartphone or an MP3 player on to which you can download apps will
be able to input a mass of information and effectively 'carry' maps, timetables, hostel find-
ers, information lists, and photographs of your valuable documents with you in one small,
slim device. An app well worth looking in to is 'CityMaps2Go' as it offers an 'offline' map
service. It downloads the map to your phone, so you don't have to worry about having a data
connection to keep the map up to date, according to your latest position.
The FCO offers travel advice through social media updates and email alerts. You can sub-
scribe to the alerts at
www.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
, selecting the country you are trav-
elling to. Updates will also be issued via the FCO Twitter account @fcotravel and on their
Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/fcotravel
.
Where to buy your kit
Some overseas voluntary organisations arrange for their students to have discounts at specif-
ic shops, like the YHA. The best advice on equipment usually comes from specialist shops,
although they may not be the cheapest: these include YHA shops, Blacks, Millets and Camp-
ing and Outdoors Centres.
Rucksacks
