Got any tips for first time overseas travellers?

[Oakie]

Mrs Oakie and I are off to Samoa for 9 days in just under 5 weeks. It's our first time overseas (unless our trip to Auckland a few years ago counts?)
Anyone have any tips for us first timers about international travel? Anything that stops either of us being thrown in jail, becoming violently ill, getting ripped off or just generally having a bad time would be most welcome. If anyone has any suggestions about how to make a good time even better, that would also be welcome. (Oakie wonders how long it takes before someone mentions the 'Mile High Club'). Oh, and suggestions about the best way to do the 'Duty Free' thing would be especially welcome.

[onearmedbandit]

All I know is when I came through customs last I had a lot more then the allowed amount, they knew it too but didn't care. In fact everytime I come through customs I've been over the allowed limit. If you're not an arsehole they have little interest in pulling you up. Don't even joke with the word 'bomb', apparently to them it's not a joke. Regarding baggage weight, they are generally pretty casual about this too, once again if you're not an arsehole. 2 or 3 kgs over isn't going to stop you going anywhere or face more fees, but you wouldn't want to push it. And no matter what airline I've flown with the food is always crap, so take your own. Mind you I'm a fussy eater.

[johnnyflash]

Having covered over 30 countries so far we the basic rules are all you need, dont let your CreditCard out of your sight always make sure it stays where u can see it, saves em making multiple transactions, Hang on to any carbon copies).. Preload your card with cash if u can, (then u dont pay fees for cash advances) and dont need to carry heaps of cash. Drink bottled water, Be careful about foods you ant used to,nothing worse than beind sick on holiday.. buy your Duty free at dutyfree NZ before u leave, (NZ is as cheap as anywhere else) collect it on way back in to NZ.. Dont overbook .. dont plan too many things while u are there, a little spare time to bum around and explore the NON TOURISTY parts will be most interesting.. Above all... enjoy and chill out..

[onearmedbandit]

Depends on the exchange rate, just got back from Japan and duty free over there was a lot cheaper then here.

[Grub]

1) Get travel insurance. Before signing up for it, read the small print and ask questions about what you are NOT covered for. The main issues are around what happens if the airline
- goes bust
- breaks down
- looses your luggage
- Lands you in Fiji instead of Samoa and says the plane will take 4 days to fix
- etc etc (you get the drift)

2) NEVER give anyone your passport. If they ask to see it, show it and hold onto it at the same time. Don't leave it in your room - ever. The digital room safes might be ok ... as long as someone dodgy doesn't have the master codes (for when you forget the combo)

3) NEVER give anyone your credit card and allow them to take it out of your sight. They can steal all your details plus your pin number as quick as it takes to swipe the card under the counter. Once upon a time you used to be able to give a waiter your card while you finished your coffee - not any more.

4) Now this one always gets me into trouble at hotel reception. NEVER let them take an impression of your credit card without an amount in it. This will be a tense encounter because that's what the staff have been told they have to do. It is so they can charge anything they like to your credit card without you agreeing to it.

Sure they're trying to protect themselves from you doing a runner. In your case, the accomm is probably pre-paid, so all they are risk from is your meal and extra costs. So estimate what that will be and give them a slip WITH A DOLLAR AMOUNT FILLED IN and sign it ... on the understanding that if you don't spend that much, they will refund the remainder on departure, while you stand right there checking out.

Your Grub knows about stuff like this, http://www.corpevents.co.nz/

[merv]

Yeah order your duty free over the internet before you leave and pick it up on the way in with these guys http://www.dutyfreestores.co.nz/Frequent%20Buyer%20Club and save 20%. Also if you've got an AA card you'll get points.

Bottles of spirits, Customs lets you have 3 bottles as long as you declare, as its above the free allowance of 1 bottle. That is about all I buy as it is cheap and because everything else isn't that cheap.

[Grub]

That is about all I buy as it is cheap and because everything else isn't that cheap.

Exactly. Booze and fags are cheap, everything else you can probably get cheaper in town.

[Chisanga]

Respect the country you are visiting and the people that live there. You probably have more cash in your wallet than a great deal of the population earns in a month. If you wear a security pouch don't wear it on the outside of your clothes or access it in public. And try to get off the beaten track - that is where all the magical experiences happen.

[MacD]

4) Now this one always gets me into trouble at hotel reception. NEVER let them take an impression of your credit card without an amount in it. This will be a tense encounter because that's what the staff have been told they have to do. It is so they can charge anything they like to your credit card without you agreeing to it.

Another idea is to carry a second bog-standard credit card with a low limit. Use this any potentially dodgy situations such as imprints at hotels, car-rental places etc. They're also useful for internet purchases.

Take copies of your tickets and passports and keep them separate from your actual documents, but keep both sets secure.

[Steam]

Get a Lonely Planet guidebook for samoa out from the library and take it with you. Since you're going for nine days you don't even need to buy your own copy! I found it very useful because if I'd had my guidebook, it said on page 37; "don't believe the taxi drivers when they say the meter is broken. This is so they can charge you eight times the going rate."
That actually happened to me. Doh! I bought a guidebook the first week I was there and was embarrassed at all the scams the locals had pulled on me that were actually listed in the guidebook under "Local Scams and Ripoffs"

[Curious_AJ]

i say lonely planet guides are really useful too...

and also, make sure you have insect repellant... getting bitten is not good...as i did when going to fiji and vanuatu...

try not to overstress yourself about aeroplanes etc... that only makes the holidays worse.. and also, check you dont bring too many things if you think you may buy lots, usually stuff is pretty cheap around that way, so you can easily stock up on more clothing...

remember the sun block and after sun alovera gel.. that ALWAYS helps.. and its darn bad to get burnt red when you're on a fabulous holiday! not to mention melanoma! (spell?) ..

but what you should really do, is take time to relax and do your own thing.. make sure you have time to talk to some of the locals, i did it in vietnam and it was the most magical experience i have ever had abroad, ever... the locals make te holiday.. take time to learn their culture and ask questions about them, they usually love to talk and inform tourists about things...

HAVE FUN!

[Chisanga]

Get a Lonely Planet guidebook for samoa out from the library and take it with you.

When I was travelling through Africa the Lonely Planet was refered to as "The Book of Lies" However, it is better than not having anything at all

[Curious_AJ]

Africa has a lot of things that are commonly misconcieved about it... I (as a South African... not really "African" but close lol) .. have found that people read things in guides, that are TOTAL BS.. however, what i read in the lonely planet guide i have to vietnam was really accurate, and really good for some aeroplane reading before i go there..

[Chisanga]

Actually I had it from quite a reliable source that for about 8 years the person writing the Eastern and Southern LP Guides had never left Nairobi

I always found it better to talk to other travellers and locals and see what they had enjoyed, recommended etc.

[What?]

• Take Diastop or Imodium tablets with you.
• Don't eat chicken.
• Don't drink tap or stream water.
• Take a photocopy of your passport (makes things slightly easier should the real thing go awol)
• Don't eat chicken.