Travel basics

There are many things you have to take into consideration before and when you travel somewhere. eHalal Travel Guide presents travel basics and is geared towards people with comparatively little travel experience — this is not to say that experienced voyagers could not find it useful as well. More thorough information is available in the linked travel topic Travel Guides and in the destinations|destination eHalal Guide's.

Prepare

See also: Concerns, Manners, laws, food, Transportation, traffic, sleep, lodging, Metric and Imperial equivalents, standards, talk

If going someplace where a different currency is used, familiarize yourself with the exchange rate and what certain things usually cost. You don't want to fall out of the airport exhausted after a seven hour red eye flight and wonder whether 100 Nicaraguan Cordoba for a coke is getting overcharged (it is) or two Euros for a / Halal Döner is a bargain (it is).

Don't buy souvenirs at the first place available, in particular if they are touted as "real antiquities". Most likely you'll be paying high prices for affordable copies or forgeries. Also a "special price" "discount" often means that you are being tricked. At the other end of the spectrum, if you've actually (whether you know it or not) purchased "real antiquities" you may face problems when bringing them out of the nation. If you are interested in doing such purchases, do so only with established businesses and inquire if you need a permit from the government to export said artifacts from the nation.

Some countries have a strong culture of bargaining. Read up on this beforehand, as the initial price may be several times the normal price.

Stay safe and healthy

Cuzco, Peru - panoramio - Cuzco, one of the highlights of Peru. But beware of sunburn and altitude sickness.

See also: Stay healthy, Stay safe

Traffic accidents, sunburn and food poisoning may be risks in countries that are otherwise safe. Remember that medical help may not be as easily available as at home and often entails much more bureaucracy.

Unfortunately major tourist destinations often attract conmen and agents who cheat money out of gullible tourists. Read up on common scams and have a clue of where you're going and what things really (roughly) should cost.

Embassies and consulates often don't have any obligations helping you getting home if you've run out of money, lost your tickets or such. At the end of the day, expect you to be yourself entirely responsible for your actions. Even if the embassy would arrange you a trip home and they are still going to bill you afterwards.

Travelling with children

[[travelling with children|Travelling with kids raises a whole set of new issues. Check out our article for some helpful tips. It may be helpful to involve them in some of the planning in age-appropriate ways. If the children gripe a lot about something, you might be able to remind them that this or that is what they wanted after all.

Local Customs in Travel basics

As a traveller, you're a guest, and thus ought to respect the local residents and their manners and laws. Even if you're at the most touristy resort and you've paid for your stay it doesn't mean that you'd have the right to do anything you please.

Avoid awkward situations and don't use words and expressions if you're unsure of their meaning or the appropriate situation to use them.

Remember that what's legal at home may be illegal abroad as well as the other way around. You may be sentenced in your home country for having committed a crime, even if it's legal in the nation the deed has taken place.

Return

See also: Returning home

When shopping, remember that you may not be allowed to bring some things home, such as Animal ethics|certain threatened animals and products thereof, antics, drugs that may be legal abroad, and pirated goods. Likewise, your country may restrict import of unprocessed food products from abroad. More often than not there is also a limit on the worth of the goods you are bringing in as well as separate restrictions on alcoholic beverages and tobacco. If you travel by plane, remember that liquids are not allowed in the hand luggage. Pack them in the checked luggage instead, and if you will be transiting somewhere where you need to exit the airside, forget about any purchases of liquids (beverages, perfumes etc.) from the tax free shops at your first airport.

As many currencies have coins that are worth nontrivial amounts (e.g. €2, CHF5, CAD2) you should know that coins cannot be exchanged and either spend them before you leave, donate them at your point of departure (airports often have special charity boxes for that purpose) or take them home as a souvenir (if and where legal; some countries ban export of their own currency or set laughably low limits for said export).

If you've used your credit or debit card during your travels, compare your receipts with your bank statement to make sure there have been no unauthorized charges.