{"id":5864,"date":"2019-05-30T08:16:01","date_gmt":"2019-05-30T06:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/?p=5864"},"modified":"2019-05-30T08:16:01","modified_gmt":"2019-05-30T06:16:01","slug":"things-you-must-do-before-your-next-exotic-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/travel\/destinations\/things-you-must-do-before-your-next-exotic-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"Things You Must Do Before Your Next Exotic Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

When travelling we want to feel as comfortable as possible, but at the same time, we want to be open for an exciting adventure that will take us out of our comfort zone.\u00a0 A perfect mixture of safety, adventure and discovery.<\/p>\n

Travelling to exotic locations can be like discovering an entirely new world. If you\u2019re from the UK and usually take your holidays in France, you will experience a different architecture, language and cuisine. But at the same time, you won\u2019t exactly feel like you\u2019re exploring unknown territory, you\u2019d be staying within a certain comfort zone of what is known.<\/p>\n

If you really want to explore the world, you need to leave your office outfit behind and embark on an adventure that will expand your mind and senses. It might make you feel a bit nervous to explore unknown territory and head to exotic locations, but keep reading and find out things that will make it into a trip to remember for all the right reasons.<\/p>\n

Check what the weather is like <\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t jump to conclusions when it comes to the weather. It might seem like the destination where you\u2019re headed is perpetually sunny and perfect for wearing sandals and shorts, but you\u2019d be surprised. For example, South Africa has a stereotype of being hot all year round, but temperatures can drop to a freezing point in certain parts of the country during the winter months. Also, keep in mind that when it\u2019s winter in South Africa is summer in the northern hemisphere.<\/p>\n

Before packing, check what the weather<\/a> is like during the season of your trip. And don\u2019t base your outfits on the 10-day forecast. The weather can be quite unpredictable worldwide.<\/p>\n

Health concerns and recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Depending on the destination where you\u2019re going, you will find medical recommendations that you\u2019re advised to follow. Malaria is a common mosquito-transmitted disease commonly found in South East Asia, several parts of Africa and Central and South America. It\u2019s important that you check anti malaria medical information<\/a> before you travel.<\/p>\n

Wearing mosquito repellent can sometimes not be enough. However, there is medication you can take before your travels to increase your chance of staying healthy.<\/p>\n

Get your apps ready<\/strong><\/p>\n

The marvellous world of technology can really help us out when it comes to travelling to exotic destinations, where otherwise we\u2019d be completely lost. Make sure to download Google Translate to break the language barrier. Dropbox will help you keep your phone with free storage to take more videos and photos, make sure to upload your pics and videos constantly to have free space on your phone, and currency exchange will give you an estimate of the rate of the currency exchange, as well as helping you get an idea of how much things costs in your native currency.<\/p>\n

Stock up on basic meds<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s better to be prepared than sorry. Make sure you stock up on basic medications you might need, like anti-diarrhoea meds, pain\/fever reliever, Band-Aids, Dramamine, insect repellent and aspirin. These are the basics for common ailments and small accidents, like getting a burst blister during hiking, or an upset stomach. You don\u2019t have to take massive amounts with you, just a basic repertoire in a small medicine bag.<\/p>\n

Yes, you need travel insurance<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re hesitating on whether getting travel insurance or not, you\u2019ll feel a lot safer if you get it. Remember that travelling to exotic destinations involve exploring and engaging in situations that carry a certain risk of accidents, from hiking to kayaking and everything else that you\u2019re planning on doing.<\/p>\n

Some areas can be quite remote, which means that in case of an emergency, aerial transportation would be needed, and costs can quickly pill up creating a debt that you do want to face.<\/p>\n

Get the worries out of your mind and get travel insurance. Depending on your budget you can get a basic policy or a premium, but keep in mind that you only need it in case of an accident or medical emergency, so a basic will do.<\/p>\n

Get backup<\/strong><\/p>\n

Few things can be more nerve-racking than being stranded in a foreign land with no money or identification. Make sure that you have back up information on your credit cards and passport details. You can have a photo of them on your email on your in your Dropbox account. Whichever method you choose, make sure that in case of missing or stolen items, you have a way of reporting your bank cards and that you can identify yourself.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s always best for you to leave your passport in your hotel room and just take with you your driver\u2019s license. As well with your bank cards, don\u2019t carry them all with you, always have a spear one in case of an emergency.<\/p>\n

Carry the basics<\/strong><\/p>\n

Women, in particular, tend to carry a lot of stuff they don\u2019t need when embarking on an adventure. No, you don\u2019t need 10 different colours of foundation and 20 different lipsticks.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, men tend to under pack and forget about essentials that you should have with you.<\/p>\n

A small list of items that are better to have handy are:<\/p>\n