29 replies to this topic

[Latitude Adjustment]

TonyinAsia...great tips!

I'll add a few more that have worked for me.

1. Instead of a divebag use a regular suitcase. Doesn't scream 'Steal Me' as much.

Not if you are headed for a liveaboard, storage space is limited on a boat and you would be better off with a folding duffle bag but again no logos.

[Parrotman]

I use a regular suitcase as well. Not only does it attract less attention but I can get a lot of stuff in it. Never really had much of a problem fitting it in some corner on a liveaboard.

One of the things that I have learned that makes the journey through airports easier is how I dress. For dive travel I where shorts, a hawaiian shirt and sandles. Sometimes tennis shoes. No belts, no jewlery other than my watch and wedding ring.
There are two advantages to this. It is easier to get through security because you not having to take off a bunch of stuff to get through the checkpoints and the second is the perception of the security people, especially in 3rd world airports. They never give me a second look. I have seen elderly women get more attention at customs than I usually get.

[WreckWench]

TonyinAsia...great tips!

I'll add a few more that have worked for me.

1. Instead of a divebag use a regular suitcase. Doesn't scream 'Steal Me' as much.

Not if you are headed for a liveaboard, storage space is limited on a boat and you would be better off with a folding duffle bag but again no logos.

Well my divebag suitcase fits inside my regular suitcase. Been doing lots of liveaboards...and they are pretty generous with the underbed space!

However the duffle bag does work better!

[secretsea18]

TonyinAsia...great tips!

I'll add a few more that have worked for me.

1. Instead of a divebag use a regular suitcase. Doesn't scream 'Steal Me' as much.

Not if you are headed for a liveaboard, storage space is limited on a boat and you would be better off with a folding duffle bag but again no logos.

Well my divebag suitcase fits inside my regular suitcase. Been doing lots of liveaboards...and they are pretty generous with the underbed space!

However the duffle bag does work better!

It all depends on the liveaboard!

If you are going on the Shearwater (which runs pretty good trips for sharks!), you had better pack in a plastic bag ... cause there is NO space to put anything in the cabins (and I overstate the situation when I say "cabin") But the shark diving IS good!

[randini]

Another tip: if you're going to be staying someplace for more than a few weeks, stop by the embassy and have them register your presence and leave them a fotocopy of your passport and itinerary. That way if something local does happen (e.g. some natural disaster or potential military activities) then they will know how to get a hold of you and if you get robbed, they already have copies of your documents.

[DandyDon]

Very good thread, good ideas & suggestions. I am very hyphenated about such, but always looking for new ideas as well as those I forgot...

Yeah, I copy all important papers, put a copy in my roll-on since the orginals are in my backpack, send copies to my daughter and brother. I actually put my hotel name, city, and dates on a luggage tag to assist in late deliver if needed. Learned that one from Windjammer.

A new one I recently learned, called your bank to let them knwo where you're going, so they won't cancel your credit card if you use it outside of the US. This is happening more and more. I even had one turned off in Florida, but that was easy to fix. Calling to reactivate outside of US could be challening, as well as paying for dinner if the card is declined.

...many standard health and hospitalization policies do not cover you when travelling outside the United States.

Yep, the #1 reason for me to take trip insurance on trips out of the US. DAN's Travel Assist might get me back to Houston if needed for a heart attack or stroke - and I have knowm people in their 20s with these, but I need the local hospital to believe they'll get paid for rendering top care before evacuation. Otherwise, the death report could say "We did all we reasonably could."

There are other reasons for spending $50 to insure a $1,000 trip. If the airline loses your bags on an International trip, they're only liable for $9.07 per pound - about $453.50 max per bag for most. Trip ins helps here, too - and I don't really want to file a claim on my homeowners, hope they pay without exclusions, and hope they don't look at this as a reason to drop me.

Or what if the van driver, ferry bag handler, or hotel porter misplaces your bags? Returning from my first SD trip to Coz, we got to the airport, and when we unloaded out bags - we had two bags from a traveler who'd just arrived at the hotel that day that the porter had loaded along with ours. Poor fellow had traveled half a day to get to Coz, got his bags to the hotel, checked in and went to his room with his roll-on, left the big bags with the porter - and next he would be told: "We do not know where your bags are Senor? Are you sure you brought them to us? Do you have a receipt?" He would be out of luck. I didn't trust the van driver with the task - altho it could have been ok. I took his bags into the airport, to his arrival airline, and got them to promise to handle it - then called him at the hotel myself. What's the chances of someone finding my bags someplace, tho - and being that deligent? Who knows, but for the tiny premium of Trip Ins, I'm covered for all these

When traveling with dive gear, I think it's best not to advertise what's inside - no dive stickers, no dive flags, no gear logos, etc.

Nah! Used dive gear has little street value. If a thief is going to go after luggage, he's going to look for nice, regular bags more likely to have nice things that are easy to sale. Beat up looking bags are fine, but if it looks like dive gear - thieves will be less interested.

I do carry my regs, masks, computers, and as much other as possible in my roll-on - just bought a new one closer to the maximym size allowed, but cameras go in my backpack with my laptop and meds. On many smaller planes the roll-ons are gate checked, and I have seen cameras broken that way, even gate-checked bags lost when someone grabs the wrong one. Also carry my Travelers' Checks and envelope of small bills in my backpack, which never leave my person.

I have noticed a lot of people trying colored ribbons to their bags, so I have started using two contrasting colors tied together on several spots on each bag, as well as my backpack - so if i have to file a lost bag claim, I can say "Ribbons like these." One lady in Houston waiting for her bags saw my red & yellow ribbons and said "Oh my son is a Marine, too"

Edited by DandyDon, 25 February 2007 - 06:28 PM.

[BlueSail]

Check the CDC site on Traveler's Health:

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/destinat.htm

It will provide updated information on suggested vaccinations.

[domino22]

Very good advise has been given here. I have some things to add. I use to go to Bogota' every three months and always used a ankle wallet and the watch stayed in my front pocket when in public. I also had a specific amount of local currency in a rubber band to give if high jacked on the street. Always call for a taxi when in Bogota' and give a name and have a bellhop or waiter approach the taxi first to check them out. My sister has all my credit card info and the 800 number and my passwords to call from the USA in case of theft. It is hard to do that if you are in a remote or third world place. Plus just think about local phone service??? If any. And I always bring plenty of cash ATM's and Banks are fickle.

[ScubaGypsy]

Out of curiosity, is it necessary to get an international drivers license if one is renting a car? I have trips to Puerto Rico (obviously should not be an issue), Italy and Crete this year and am wondering if a US license is sufficient.

[ddierolf]

Out of curiosity, is it necessary to get an international drivers license if one is renting a car? I have trips to Puerto Rico (obviously should not be an issue), Italy and Crete this year and am wondering if a US license is sufficient.

If you belong to AAA, they can tell you and the cost is only $15 Here is a link.

http://www.aaa.com/v...o...&clb_id=195

[BoomhowerSpeaks]

One more important thing, if you're traveling from country to country, especially by train like alot of people do in Europe make sure you get an exit and entry stamp. I traveled by train from the Czech Republic to Poland and they came around to stamp the passports while I was asleep. I never got the exit or entry stamp and never even thought about it. In my passport photo I hadn't shaved or had a haircut for four months so I might resemble Osama a bit too which was no help. When I was flying out of Poland for Northern Ireland the customs lady looked at my passport, then stared at me, then pushed some button that summoned four burly men with submachine guns. After being detained for a few hours I was put on a plane with a very blunt I hope you enjoyed Poland we would prefer if you don't sneak into our country ever again.

Just a thought...

[scubaski]

All great suggestions. Always use a safe deposit box if offered by hotel. If the hairs on the back of your neck raise where ever you are in US, Euro or Latin city- beach ( or for that matter underwater) SOMETHING is Wrong, get out of there quickly. Seek the light. Use a Detroit money roll, that's a $20 bill folder over about 15 singles thats held by a money clip or rubber band. If any one demands your money. NEVER EVER hand it to them, toss it low and behind there feet. As the thug is reaching down and behind themselves, RUN the other way into light and crowds.
Ss

[seafox]

Good suugestions.
I keep a copy of my passport at home and also keep a copy in one of the suitcases.

Cornel

Edited by seafox, 02 April 2007 - 08:51 AM.

[Geek]

Out of curiosity, is it necessary to get an international drivers license if one is renting a car? I have trips to Puerto Rico (obviously should not be an issue), Italy and Crete this year and am wondering if a US license is sufficient.

This will depend on the country. Note that an International Drivers license is only supposed to be recognized for about 30 days. For more than that you are supposed to obtain a license in the country you are visiting. However, here in the US we won't issue domestic license to a non-resident, so any visitor to the US for longer than 30 days cannot legally drive even if they are in the country legally.

Since many countries base their policies on what we are doing, e.g. if we require a visa of their citizens, they require one os us when visiting their country, you can expect to run into some real hassles over driving.

[weescot]

A lot of great advice. here is my 2 cents worth, partly based on being left with nothing but the clothes on my back one trip to the Far East (as the Royal Austalian Navy lost everything during a disasterous boat transfer):

In additon to hard copies (on your person and elsewhere), keep electronic/scanned/soft copies of the following in your hotmail/webmail account: passport, credit card emergency numbers, insurance policy and emergency numbers, loagent/airline contact details, any relevant medical information (for replacement medication)

If you wear contacts, keep solutions etc in your personal hand held luggage. Also glasses - keep them on you/in hand held luggage.

In your hand held luggage, emergency toiletres bag containing pocket size soap, deoderant, tooth brush, toothpaste and disposable underwear. razors for boys etc although check with airport SY??

Eye shades and ear plugs help you sleep enywhere - I prefer Bucky eyeshades. Good shut out and they have a little pocket for your earplugs

Cough sweets - not just for you - but for the poor sod keeping you awake on that overnight flight.

Ladies, carry a pashmina everywhere. Exceedingly versitile.

Ladies, the safest place for money is your bra (underneath). Boys, inside your socks. This advice came from a "very good source" and is not a joke. I have tried it - an uncomfortable but reassuring experience.

Much debate about visible luggage tags. I don't use them, but I travel to some ropey countries. As long as you have your details in your luggage.

If you can, ahead of your trip get some basic words written in the local launguage on a card, especially the hotel/address for the airport taxi driver.

Bon voyage.