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Thread: Got any tips for first time overseas travellers?

  1. #31
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    9th February 2003 - 14:34
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    The cheapest place you'll get travel insurance is here: http://www.statetravel.co.nz/ Same product as mike henry travel insurance (both underwritten by IAG) but it's about half the price.

  2. #32
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    Quote Originally Posted by MisterD View Post
    All of which I agree with, but the one thing our folks are tough on is the whole bio-security thing. If in doubt with your interesting native wooden artifact, declare it
    the easiest thing is just to declare everything... unless its a boggie board baqg full hash...

  3. #33
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    Quote Originally Posted by MrMelon View Post
    The cheapest place you'll get travel insurance is here: http://www.statetravel.co.nz/ Same product as mike henry travel insurance (both underwritten by IAG) but it's about half the price.
    state is owned by IAG anyway

  4. #34
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    Quote Originally Posted by NighthawkNZ View Post
    the easiest thing is just to declare everything... unless its a boggie board baqg full hash...
    Hash isn't too much of a problem, but a bag full of bananas? Then it'd be rubber glove time alright.
    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Lobster View Post
    Only a homo puts an engine back together WITHOUT making it go faster.

  5. #35
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    Regarding insect repellant.

    Buy it in the country you are going to.

    NZ repellant doesnt work in the Sierra's in California. Trust me on this.

    I spent 2 months at a summer camp up in the Sierra's with repellant that didnt work. Had about 60 bites in less than a week. It was all good though. Their mosquito bites are like our sandfly bites.

  6. #36
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spuds1234 View Post
    Regarding insect repellant.

    Buy it in the country you are going to.

    NZ repellant doesnt work in the Sierra's in California. Trust me on this.

    I spent 2 months at a summer camp up in the Sierra's with repellant that didnt work. Had about 60 bites in less than a week. It was all good though. Their mosquito bites are like our sandfly bites.
    I f you take repellant you need to get something that is either 80-100% DEET. Be careful when applying it though - it is known to melt plastic watch straps
    "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing" - Socrates

    "All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind" - Aristotle

  7. #37
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    Quote Originally Posted by RantyDave View Post
    (IMHO) there are few things more miserable than sitting in a hotel room with a pile of flyers trying to work out what you're going to do/see.
    Now that's a surprise. It's one of the discovery things we enjoy most of all. Just must be that we have different ways of approaching the travelling thing. But then I'm one of those people who doesn't mind arriving with no accommodation booked

  8. #38
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    Toilet paper. Some countries don't use it, but should be OK where you're going. Dunno about Samoa but when we went to Cook Islands we had a lizard family in our hutt. On walls and roof... just watching. Quite cute but I think thats why the bed curtain thingy. Just be prepared cos some are squeamish re lizards, and my mate was put on edge by them - kept screaming, about hourly. One good experience was going to the ?CSIT church as they have this singing routine that is quite something, so try to go there if you can. Otherwise just go with the flow I'd say. Mmmm pawpaws.

  9. #39
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    Quote Originally Posted by MisterD View Post
    Hash isn't too much of a problem, but a bag full of bananas? Then it'd be rubber glove time alright.
    point taken...

  10. #40
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    Quote Originally Posted by Grub View Post
    Now that's a surprise. It's one of the discovery things we enjoy most of all. Just must be that we have different ways of approaching the travelling thing. But then I'm one of those people who doesn't mind arriving with no accommodation booked
    Whats funny is that I MUST have at least half the accomodation booked for a trip .. so our balance is not quite there ... I have had to relinquish and get used to Grubs adventure style, while he lets me have a little more control over some parts of our travels.

  11. #41
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    Not sure if its been said.

    Get Travel insurance and make sure you have vaccinations up to date
    To every man upon this earth
    Death cometh sooner or late
    And how can a man die better
    Than facing fearful odds
    For the ashes of his fathers
    And the temples of his Gods

  12. #42
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    Tip 1.Yep avoid the chicken.
    Tip 2.Don't mentoin KB'r during the interogation.

  13. #43
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    17th July 2006 - 14:32
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    General hygeine rule anyway...ALWAYS wash your hands before eating anything. Our tummies aren't used to the same bacterias that the locals are. I always have a small bottle of alcohol based hand sanitiser stuff as well.

    Make sure you have TROPICAL STRENGTH insect repellant for the islands...Aerogard (in a royal blue roll in bottle) is now trop strength. The standard stuff doesn't work very well against island bitters!

    As someone said in an earlier post...don't overbook activities...you don't go to an island paradise to rush around non-stop! I would just book the things I was sure to want to do. Island life is pretty cruisy!

    If your luggage (suitcases) aren't particularly distinctive, add a coloured baggage strap, coloured tape around the handle, piece of ribbon or something tied to it. Will make it much easier to locate your own suitcase. ALWAYS lock your suitcases and don't use the locks that come with them if cheap and nasty looking. Make sure you have name tags on the outside, and on the inside of all your bags (including hand luggage). Never leave bags unattended.

    Make sure you understand the duty free allowances (you can always ask at one of the stores on the way out).

    If taking food/medicine with you, understand what you can and can't take/bring back. You are supposed to declare all food and medicines, even when they are allowed. (Often the "red" customs aisle is quicker anyway!). For some prescription medicines you may need a copy of the prescription from the doctor (the surgery, or pharmacy, should be able to give you a print out), especially if you are bringing a fair quantity, as you may need to prove how much you need. Don't bring way more than you need as the excess can be confiscated.

    Some touristy stuff from the islands can't be bought back into NZ - such as shells/coral, animal products, untreated wood products etc etc. Suggest you take a squiz here:
    http://newzealandnow.info/nz/topic/customs (easier to understand)

    Illegal copies of DVD's etc not advised!

    Have attached a checklist from AirNZ.

    Have a relaxing and fun time!!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails travel checklist.pdf  
    Some days you are the bug , some days you are the windshield

  14. #44
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    Quote Originally Posted by candor View Post
    . Dunno about Samoa but when we went to Cook Islands we had a lizard family in our hutt. On walls and roof... just watching..
    Probably the standard island Gecko. Light coloured, small ones are almost transparent. Cute little critters, they will toodle around your walls and ceiling eating mozzies and other insects - most useful chaps and quite harmless (unless you're a bug!) They make a sort of clicking noise and you often hear them before you see them.

    .
    Quote Originally Posted by candor View Post
    Mmmm pawpaws
    mmm...agreed
    Experience......something you get just after you needed it

  15. #45
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    Hey thanks so much guys. This has been a mine of information and I'll follow some of this up in a day or so when I've had time to digest it all.

    Richard
    Grow older but never grow up

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