Taking a well-earned break and travelling overseas can be an exciting time, but it can also be stressful if something goes wrong.
If you are about to travel, make the most of your time away by taking a few precautions so you arrive home safe and sound.
Before you leave
It is a good idea to understand your destination and read up on where you’re going. This will make your travel experience more enjoyable
and will help you understand the society, beliefs and natural environment if they differ from those in your region. If you don’t speak
the language, learning a few basic phrases is also a good idea. Make sure you check on security and related developments at your
destination by reading country-specific travel advisories available from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
website (smartraveller.gov.au).
It’s also vital to know where to get help if you’re in trouble. Ensure you have the contact details of the local Australian embassy,
high commission or consulate in the country in which you’re travelling. For longer stays in a country, or where the security situation
is volatile, register your details at the local Australian embassy, high commission or consulate. This will assist Australian
Government representatives to help you in the event of a crisis.
It’s always important to take care of your health while travelling. Make sure you have had the appropriate vaccinations for the countries
you intend to visit (and that they are still current). Remember to keep all medication and associated prescriptions you require in your
hand luggage and ensure that you have adequate supplies for your trip. If you lose any luggage, advise the relevant authority straight
away. You will be required to obtain a police report within 24 hours of the loss to submit with supporting receipts, photos and so on.
Written confirmation of the event should be obtained from airlines, or other transport providers if luggage has gone missing while in
their care.
While it’s important to take precautions when you travel, it is also important to purchase adequate travel insurance. This will avoid
much of the hassle, frustration and potential financial hardship that a travel crisis can cause.
Saropa for Travellers
A common practice for travellers is to take copies of travel documents, licenses and credit cards with them when travelling. Keeping
receipts from purchases made while overseas can also help if they are stolen while on vacation. Rather than carry copied of travel
documents with you, why not use Saropa. Saropa offers 24 hour access to important travel documents with secure access from anywhere
in the world.
Most travel insurance includes access to a 24-hour worldwide emergency assistance hotline. Depending on your specific policy, all you
need to do is make one reverse charge phone call from anywhere in the world and you’ll receive support from multilingual staff, who
are experts in dealing with travel problems and emergencies. Advice and support with problems ranging from lost or stolen luggage to
full-scale medical emergencies are only a phone call away.
A few tips to help you prepare for your trip
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Scan and upload all your travel documents, including your airline tickets, passports, hotel vouchers,
traveller’s cheques, credit card numbers and your travel insurance policy into your Saropa account
before you leave home. Enter any assistance contact numbers into the emergency contact pages. Keep
one copy with you at all times. Carry additional copies of your passport photo with you.
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Get the necessary visas for the country or countries you are visiting but be aware that a visa does not
guarantee entry.
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Leave a travel itinerary with friends or relatives that are not traveling with you. It’s also a good
idea to keep in touch with them while you are away.
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Check that your level of travel insurance cover is adequate for your travelling destination and covers
hospital treatment, medical evacuation and the kind of activities you plan to take. Overseas medical
costs are expensive and Medicare and private health insurance will not cover you outside of the
country. (It is important that you advise your insurer of all pre-existing medical conditions,
including those that you no longer receive treatment for but require regular check-ups.)
Real Value for Money
Don’t gamble with your precious possessions, most general insurance providers offers a range of home and
contents insurance products at competitive rates - sometimes these products are underwritten by a 3rd Party.