Europe Travel 101 -

Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the First Time  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors Europe Travel 101 - Before you take that first trip to Europe Here's a suggested timeline for things an independent traveler needs to do before heading off to that European destination. Thinking about taking an independent trip to Europe? Below you'll find topics to consider before you take off. The recommended time before departure that you should be taking action is found in the colored bar on the left. In the gray box on the right you'll find links leading to more detailed information on any of the topics. Like most planning guides, this is a tool meant to simply remind you what you need to do when to make the standard vacation go as smoothly as possible. Although the list may seem daunting to you, you'll find that many of the tasks are optional. Unless otherwise noted, most of the planning tasks can be done earlier than recommended. A shorter, unannotated list with resources can be found here . A printable checklist can be found here . Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute What You Need to Do Resources 6 months before you go - Choose Your Destination! Now (or even sooner) is the time to choose your general destination. There are lots of resources on the right to help you. Remember that while Europe is quite compact compared to the US, the travel times between countries may be longer than you think. Once you've chosen your primary destination, you'll be able to go on to the next things on the list. Language Let's say you've chosen France as your destination and you'd really like to get to know the country and its people. Well, now is the time to start thinking of learning a bit of the language. A single beginner's course in spoken French at your local community college will teach you the basics cheaply enough. We also have extensive resources for learning European languages here on the About network. Please, at least think about learning the "politeness" words--natives will thank you for trying and will likely be more receptive to your questions. See Languages for the Tourist on the right to find out how easy it is. Renting a House or Apartment Now is the time to think about reserving that perfect apartment for the week (or month). You can wait until later to do this, but the best go fast. Living in the country you're visiting gets you into the swing of daily life: you'll be able to go to the open air markets and cook the food you buy, you won't have to think about maids (unless you want to) or checking in, and things can be as secure as you make them. Guidebooks Once you've figured out where you'd like to spend most of your time, it may be time to pick out a guidebook. You can purchase guidebooks that cover all of Western Europe, just a single country, or even a province or region like Tuscany. Choosing a Destination: Travel Planning Europe Planning Map Clickable Europe map with links to Country maps and Travel Essentials. How I Travel Europe Europe and Fading Traditions: Go Soon! Weather -Climate - When to Go Language: Languages for the Tourist Rentals Unusual Lodging Lodging Links Guidebooks Top European Guidebooks 3-4 months before you go - Start Checking Airfares You can start checking sooner--although we've found searching 3-4 months before your flight is a pretty good bet; the airlines are starting to discount in order to reward early bookers and yet there's still time to wait if prices aren't to your liking. The airline computers are constantly revising the pricing based on the latest demand, so the cheapest prices might turn up anytime--but you might not want to wait that long. Use the Finding Bargain Airfares link if you're unfamiliar with the bargain hunting process. Apply for a Passport if you don't already have one If you don't have a passport, this is the time to start thinking of applying. While the literature says it takes 6 weeks to procure a US passport, you don't want to leave it to the last possible moment--it's a vacation killer if something goes wrong. And despite what you may have heard or read in the past, a separate passport is required for each and every family member traveling with you. First-time applicants 13 years of age and over must appear in person at a U.S. passport office, a designated courthouse or the Post Office. You'll need a birth certificate or proof of citizenship, a photo identification, two recent 2" x 2" photos of your face, and a bundle of money. You'll find the latest requirements and downloadable application form by clicking Passport Links there on the right. (You don't need a health certificate in Western Europe and you won't need to worry about a visa as long as you're staying fewer than 90 days and aren't going to Turkey.) Shoes and Walking Now is a good time to pick up some walking shoes and start getting them broken in. You'll walk a lot in Europe, even if you have a car; much of the city centers in Europe are pedestrian only zones. Be prepared. Airfares Finding Bargain Airfares Passports Passport Links Where to go to apply, a downloadable application form, and how to make it as easy as possible. 6 weeks to 2 months before you go - Reserve Lodging - Hotel If you haven't already reserved the hotels you've seen on the web and fallen in love with, now is the time to do so. But do you need to reserve in every city you're planning to visit? Here's what I do: I reserve a hotel for my arrival and departure days as well as any long-term apartment rentals I've selected. The rest I leave to chance. You may feel uncomfortable with this arrangement, but, with a few exceptions, it's worked just fine for me. When traveling by train, I prefer to arrive at my destination early, take a hotel by the train station and just drop my bags there and explore the city on foot. You can read the whole strategy in my Footloose Travel article. Car or Train? If you haven't already chosen, now would be a good time to select your primary mode of transportation. Select Train or Car? from the links on the right if you just can't seem to decide which is best for what you want to see. Rail Pass Do you need one? Here are some tips: Trains in the south-Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece--are pretty cheap. If you're going to one or several of these places you might find that a pass isn't necessary. Just go to the station and buy a ticket. EurRail passes offer great savings if you plan right. For a saver pass you'll need to plan to take several long trips so that you can spend the travel days mostly on the train. Save money by going overnight; you'll save on hotel costs and make maximum use of your pass. Check the types of passes available carefully, to use them to an advantage, you may have to juggle some travel plans. Car Rental or Leasing and an International Driver's License Leasing a car is sometimes better than renting, especially if you're staying in Europe for more than 17 days. Leasing gets you a brand new car without rental company stickers on it and the pricing includes everything you need. When you turn it in at the end of your trip a lucky European will get to purchase that almost-new car for much less than a completely new one (This comes about because taxes on a new car are much higher than the taxes on even a slightly used one, so both parties benefit from this arrangement). If you've chosen driving as your primary mode of transport in Europe, you should get an International Driver's License . Available at Auto Clubs, they're just a translation of your License into European languages. Sometimes police won't demand them, accepting your original license instead. But still, it doesn't hurt to get one, and they're pretty cheap. A couple of passport-sized pictures are required. Even though you can usually just walk into your auto club and come out with an International Driver's License, I recommend not putting this off: the paperwork needed is often "out of stock." Lodging Accommodation Links You can also find lodging in specific countries or cities by going to a specific destination page. Footloose Travel Striking a balance between travel freedom and overplanning. Hotel Star Ratings Do you know what they mean? How I Travel in Europe Just in case you want to know. Transportation within Europe Rent or Lease? Train or Car? Driving in Europe Links Transportation Links European Train Travel Links 1 Month before you go - Travel Insurance Now is the time to think about insurance. If your health insurance doesn't cover you overseas, or your homeowners insurance doesn't cover loss of material goods, then there are some temporary plans that might set your mind at ease. Check our Insurance Links for more. Luggage How's your luggage? Is it easy to carry? Got more than a foot and a half of duct tape holding it together? If you want to be mobile, maybe you want to see if you can fit everything into a carry-on. It's not all that hard to do in the summer when you probably won't be needing heavy clothes. Rick Steves recommends walking around with all the stuff you think you'll need, then discarding half of it. I like the method I learned in Boy Scouts. Separate everything into three piles: stuff you absolutely need and use often, stuff you'll use occasionally, and stuff you probably won't use at all. Then eliminate the last two piles. Remember: Europe isn't lacking material goods. If you need a heavy sweater because it's unusually cold in August, chances are you won't be more then 50 feet from someone who'll sell you a great one. Don't forget, laundries are pretty easy to find (but usually expensive) and laundromats are are starting to show up in most popular tourist areas. Besides, if you rent a house or apartment it may include a clothes washer and possibly a dryer (but more probably a clothesline). Cameras If you've bought one for this trip, learn how to use it. If you need one, now is the time to purchase--don't put it off until the last minute and then end up standing in front of the Louvre all befuddled because you can't figure the danged thing out. Film If you're going to use film (how so very 90's!) you might consider purchasing one of those lead-lined bags to take it in. These reduce (but don't eliminate) the radiation from airport x-ray machines and thus the chance of film fogging. What I do to bypass this possibility is to buy and process my film in Europe. Sure, guidebooks say film and processing is more expensive overseas (but not much these days), but I look at it this way: are you gonna worry about fogging or are you willing to spend a buck and a half more per roll for peace of mind out of the thousands you're gonna spend on your vacation in total. Seems like false economy to me. Plus I get to show my pictures around to other travelers while I'm in Europe. Cell Phones If you need to be in constant touch with the office or someone special, you can rent cell phones that work throughout Europe. Often your car rental company can handle this, or you can check our Cell Phone Rental links for companies that'll rent phones for the short term. Email It's time to think about how you're going to handle your email in Europe, if that's important to you. If you have several accounts you want to check, you'll need to set up an online system for getting all your email. I use webbox , but other options are explained in the article Staying Connected . Money Yeah, it's time to get the long green together. I take some traveler's checks as a back-up, but mostly use the plentiful ATM machines in Europe to get cash. You need to have a 4-digit pin number to use many European ATMs. Watch one thing though: plan to have enough money to last through weekends--some people are reporting that certain banks in Europe don't update the customer's daily limit on Saturdays and Sundays and so if you've maxed out your daily allowance on Friday, you might find that you can't get more until Monday. You might also think about getting some Euros (or local currency for countries that don't use Euros) for the first day or two, if only to get used to them and assure yourself that you'll be able to afford a coffee in the airport. How much Money? Well, that varies, of course. A couple like Martha and I can get by on on $150 a day in most Mediterranean countries, although it's becoming a stretch these days. That'll get you a two or three star hotel with breakfast and two other meals taken in a restaurant with wine, plus entrance fees to museums and such. It's an average over the whole period of vacation--some days you'll get soaked, some days you'll find bargains. Students and the young-at-heart set willing to stay in hostels and eat street food or make their own grub in the Hostel kitchen will be able to do it for much less, of course. Keeping your money and documents secure You'll need a way to keep your passport and important items away from thieves. While Europe is still safer from violent crimes than the US, high tourist volumes in major cities tend to attract the slash and run crowd. Use a money belt or pouch that goes inside your clothing like seasoned travelers do. Keep your passport and important documents together in it. Don't wear a fanny pack with the pack turned around to actually ride on your fanny. It looks stupid and is a magnet for thieves. Women should avoid big purses with shoulder straps as those straps can be cut easily and the purse removed by a well-trained thief in seconds. Whatever can be said about European petty thieves and pickpockets one thing stands out when you talk to people who've been hit: they're good at what they do. Find recommended security stuff and other indispensable items under Travel Accessories . Voltage and Plugs European voltage is twice that of the wimpy American 110. The wall plugs are different as well. If you plan on using electrical appliances you may need to purchase adapters and power converters now. Check out my article European Electricity and the Connected Tourist for the skinny on what you'll need to make your stuff work in Europe. Me? I don't carry much more than the battery charger I bought in Italy to recharge my digital camera's batteries. Maps You should be far enough along in your travel planning to think about what maps you'll need.If you're in a car and like to get off the main highways, you'll need to purchase good maps. We use Michelin country and regional maps when we drive, purchasing the regional maps for areas we're staying in for a week or longer. You can get European driving maps from your auto club, but they're often not detailed enough to get you to the back roads. Keeping in Touch If you're the postcard-writing type, you'll need to have a means of keeping all those addresses where you can find them. Before the era of PDAs and email, I made sheets of labels for everyone who'd want a postcard so I could just slap one on and be done with it. Now I email friends and keep all their addresses on my Palm Pilot. Check for Travel Dangers The US government doesn't just meddle in overseas affairs, it also alerts travelers to dangers and uprisings in other countries. You might want to check conditions now and right before you leave. Travel Insurance Insurance Links Luggage Top Carry-On Luggage Packing Tips Cameras Before you buy a digital camera for travel Top Compact Digital Cameras for Travel Top Semi-pro Cameras for Travel Olympus D40 Review Oneof the best compact digitals I've come across. Cell Phone Rentals Cell Phone Rental Companies Purchase a Cell Phone Email Staying Connected Cybercafe Links Staying Connected Links Money/Currency Money Matters ATM Finder Travel Accessories Top Travel Accessories Clip-on Security Wallet (review) Voltage and Plugs European Electricity and the Connected Tourist Maps Michelin Maps (compare prices) It's easier to buy the maps over the web--distribution to many stores seems spotty at best, and many times they're unsorted, making finding what you want a miserable experience. Keeping in Touch The Travel Writer's Toolkit Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Last minute - Oops, Forgot the Passport. Help! Well, you can get one expedited, especially if you already have tickets. See our Passport Expediting Company links for more. Make Copies Now is the time to think about keeping back-ups of your travel documents. Make at least two photocopies of your itinerary, your passport information page (the one with your picture and passport number) and copies of your credit cards showing the cc numbers. Give one copy to your mother, or someone else you trust and can get a hold of any time of day or night. Keep a copy of your passport and credit card info with you but in a different place than the original items. Final Check The basic stuff you need to carry are these: Passport, tickets, car rental agreements, hotel reservation receipts, credit cards, medications (and prescriptions, if required), addresses/password information and an open mind with a sense of wonder. Check them twice. Then go have fun in Europe. Passport Problems Passport Expediting Companies Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Advertisement Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. 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Spain Travel

Segovia Spain - Travel Planner for Segovia  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Spain and Portugal > Spain > Regions of Spain > Castilla y Leon > Segovia Spain - Travel Planner for Segovia Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors click for more images Map of Spain showing Segovia James Martin Stay up to date! click for more images Map of Spain showing Segovia James Martin Email to a friend Print this page Segovia and Spain Essentials Segovia Pictures Segovia Links Spain Map and Travel Resources Segovia on the Web Segovia's Roman Aqueduct The Cathedral of Segovia The Alcazar of Segovia More of This Article on Segovia Spain Part II - Getting to Segovia, plus food and hotels Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors Segovia Travel Planner From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Segovia Spain, an interesting day trip from Madrid Part 1: Tons of interesting architecture make Segovia a must-see city on the Spanish tourist's itinerary Visit a 2000 year old Roman aqueduct, a fairytale castle, a 14th century cathedral and more in this Spanish city 90 km north of Madrid. A compact town of fewer than 60,000 people, Segovia's charm lies in its setting, its variety of architecture, and its people. It's two hours by scenic train, an hour and a half by bus from Madrid. Segovia Sights: The Aqueduct Start your tour of Segovia at the Plaza of the Aqueduct. You'll end up near here if you take either the bus or train. You won't miss this tourist favorite, probably built around the latter half of the first century by Trajan, it's near 30 feet high at its highest point and passes smack through the center of town. It's still in use as a secondary water supply for Segovia and is one of the best-preserved Roman building projects anywhere. Find more about the Aqueduct and its history here . Also, check out our Photo Show including the Aqueduct The Alcazar of Segovia Thought to have been built in the late eleventh at the confluence of Segovia's two rivers Eresma and Clamores, this fairytale castle was severely damaged by fire in 1862 but was restored later, and perhaps embellished a bit. (Disney was thought to have copied it, but then he's been thought to have copied many castles in Europe.) This site was probably a fortress from at least Roman times; excavations have revealed granite blocks like the Romans used for the aqueduct in the Alcazar region. It's still a great place to see and see the countryside from. The museum inside will tell you something about life in the era. The Cathedral The first Cathedral in Segovia was out near the Alcazar. Bad choice if you want your cathedral to be safe from the ravages of war. The new one is in the Plaza Major, and dates from 1525, when Architect Juan Gil de Ontañon, responsible also for the Cathedral at Salamanca, started work on it. Ontañon couldn't finish in his lifetime, and the work was carried on by several men until its completion in 1615. Next page > Getting to Segovia, Plus Food and Hotels > Page 1, 2 .        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There

France Travel and Vacation

July France Travel and Vacation Planner  You are here: About > Travel > France for Visitors > Things to Do in France > France Monthly Calendar > July France Travel and Vacation Planner Travel Go France Essentials New Year's Eve in Paris and France Worst of France 2005 Paris Travel Guide Top French Ski Resorts Best New Year's Eve Champagne Articles & Resources Destinations Trip Planning Transportation Interests & Situations Money, Safety & Issues Things to Do in France Where to Stay in France Staying Connected Blogs Picture Galleries Culture, Language & People Fun, Freebies & Quizes Relocating to France Nudism, Sex & Gay Travel D-Day & Historic Travel Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Sites Selling French Products Before You Buy the Gift of Travel Gifts for the France Fanatic Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the France for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search France for Visitors Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading France in June Tour de France 2005 Bastille Day Related Blogs Dispatches from France Blog Paris Blog French Word-a-Day Blog La Coquette Blog Chroniques dune Fraise Nice Blog Rsidence Les Marronniers Provence Blog L'Oiseau Blog Chocolate and Zucchini Blog Forty Days in Paris Blog Most Popular "Naked City" Christmas in Paris Photo Tour Paris Sex District Top Paris Attractions Christmas in France What's Hot New Year's Eve in France Paris Gay Pride Parade Host A France-Themed Party Nice, France Photo Gallery Camping in France Related Topics Europe for Visitors French Language French Cuisine Honeymoons / Romantic Getaways Wine France Travel in July From Kelby Carr , Your Guide to France for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Tour de France and Bastille Day are Biggest Events > July is a popular vacation month in France. Beach destinations are bustling, and outdoor markets are bursting with activity and produce. There are almost endless events and festivals. The Tour de France storms through the country. Bastille Day revelry is everywhere. Depending on your destination, the weather can be a bit too balmy. Combine that with the crowds, and it can feel stifling. Either way, you'll find plenty to do during July in France. Weather The weather is usually quite nice in June, although it can get a bit too extreme and, in Paris, it can even be windy, cold and rainy. There are major variations in climate depending on where you are in France, but here are some major cities: Paris : Average temperature is 24 degrees celsius/75 degrees farenheit. Average rainfall is 57 millimeters, or 2.2 inches. Nice : Average temperature is 23 degrees celsius/73 degrees farenheit. Average rainfall is 16 millimeters, or 0.6 inches. Bordeaux : Average temperature is 20 degrees celsius, 68 degrees farenheit. Average rainfall is 52 millimeters, or 2 inches. Strasbourg : Average temperature is 19 degrees celsius, or 66 degrees farenheit. Average rainfall is 75 millimeters, or 3 inches. What to pack It can be challenging to pack for France, particularly if you will visit multiple cities. For the most part, this is a mild time of year. Be prepared for either hot days or cool nights, however. Your packing list should include: Sun screen Light clothes Flip flops Good walking shoes A bathing suit Get more ideas with my Packing Tips . Why to go in July Tour de France and Bastille Day. Enough said! The weather is warm All museums and attractions are open, usually with extended summertime hours France is vibrant and lively Why not to visit France in July The crowds! This is one of France's peak tourist months Airfare and lodging is expensive There can be some really hot days Events and festivals Tour de France Bastille Day Bar-le-Duc Renaissance Festival Bagpipes of Europe Festival in Autun International Festival of Baroque Music in Beaune Estivales, Perpignan's Summer Festival Avignon Festival * find out more about Avignon Cannes International Golf Festival * find out more about Cannes Carcassonne Festival * find out more about Carcassonne Children's International Folk Festival in Saint-Maixent l´Ecole Francofolies in La Rochelle        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot New Year's Eve in France Paris Gay Pride Parade Host A France-Themed Party Nice, France Photo Gallery Camping in France

Travel insurance Holidaying abroad,

BBC - Crime Prevention On Holiday - Travel Insurance Home TV Radio Talk Where I Live A-Z Index 28 December 2005 Accessibility help Text only BBC Homepage Home Crimewatch Crime Fighters Case Closed Crime Prevention You & Your Family Your Home Your Car On Holiday The Law Support for You A to Z of Drugs Newsletter Contact Us Like this page? Send it to a friend! Travel insurance Holidaying abroad, or even in the UK, without basic travel insurance is unwise. But travel insurance doesn't have to break the bank. Many travel operators insist that you have cover before they'll sell you a holiday. They are entitled to do this, but they cannot demand you buy a policy from them, provided the cover you have is comparable. Apart from covering items that may be stolen while you're on holiday, including small amounts of cash, travel insurance offers many other important benefits. Policies usually include cover for medical expenses - useful if you fall ill or if you're unfortunate enough to be attacked and injured. You must disclose any pre-existing medical conditions. Travel policies also tend to include some basic "personal accident" cover, paying a set amount in the event of loss of sight, limbs or injury resulting in permanent disability or death. Another important element is "cancellation cover". If you have to cancel your holiday because of injury, illness or a disaster at home such as a fire, this will pay for any holiday expense you cannot recover. You need to check carefully what is covered and what isn't. Make sure your policy is valid for the whole journey and includes comprehensive medical and repatriation cover. Always take a photocopy of your policy, along with a note of any 24-hour emergency numbers. Like all insurance policies there are restrictions. Limits to the amounts that will be paid under different parts of the cover usually apply and you won't be covered for dangerous activities, such as abseiling or scuba diving. Also, a claim could be turned down if you don't look after your belongings properly. For example, if someone steals your things off the beach while you're taking a dip in the sea, the insurance company might decide that you have not taken "reasonable care" and refuse to pay up. Insurance companies are also growing increasingly concerned about fraud, especially with travel insurance. If you claim for anything that has been stolen they'll probably want evidence that you actually owned the item in the first place. Keep photos at home of personal belongings that you've taken with you. Some insurers even ask for receipts! Check to see if you already have cover under your home insurance for personal belongings while travelling abroad or away from home in the UK. It might not mean that you will get a lower premium (try asking though), but it's worth knowing as the cover under your home contents may be better or may have a lower excess. If you have travel and household cover you cannot claim twice! Insurers will normally split the cost of a claim between them. Don't forget the benefits of using your credit card to buy things abroad. Most include automatic insurance cover on items bought with your card for a short period of time, including things you buy overseas. Check with your card company. Finally, if you and/or your family travel often, ask your insurance company about an annual policy. You pay a premium each year and are then covered for all holidays in that period without needing to take out individual policies - although you may be limited to a certain number of trips. Useful Links BBC Watchdog A guide to travel insurance, making sure you get the right policy. printer friendly version The BBC's Crime site (the "Site") is provided for your general information only. The information contained on the Site should not be treated as a substitute for obtaining professional medical or legal advice. All info correct as of 12/02/03. In this section > Accommodation > Backpacking > Before you go > British Consul > Card theft > Car crime > Currency > Customs > Driving abroad > Hire cars > Insurance > Local culture > Local laws > Luggage > Passport > Personal safety > Timeshares > Top five tips Fun and games > Psychology quiz > Chain Gang > Prison Breakout BBC Holiday Try out the Destination Finder About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy

South America Travellers ,

South America @ Travel Notes -- Online Travel Guides -- Latin American Countries& The Caribbean Car Hire Cruises Flights Hotels Tours Vacations About Travel Notes™ Destinations Budget Travel Feedback Search Travel Forums Travel Writers Africa Asia Caribbean Europe Middle East North America South America Oceania Countries in Latin America Anguilla Antigua Argentina Aruba Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda Bolivia Brazil BVI Cayman Islands Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dom. 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Georgia Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Food Travel Fiction Health Kids Bios Humor Mags Software Gifts Tech Business Other Your Ad Here Travel Notes Mailing List News Headlines World News Directory of newspapers and news sources from around the world. Hotel City Search : Travel Notes ™ guides you around every country in Latin America and The Caribbean . Map of Latin America -- 1800-Countries.com Free Maps for Personal Webpages Mismapping of America Map of South America (North) Map of South America (South) Visiting Central America By Air Grupo Taca : Alliance of the main airlines in Central America: Aviateca (GU), Lacsa (LR), Nica (6Y) and Taca (TA). No other airline offers more direct service to Central America from more cities in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America. Spanish America Learning Spanish : This free online tutorial includes written and oral exercises in some 50 separate topics. If you're travelling in Latin America, you'll be glad you studied a little Spanish. Native Indians Indians.org : Native Indian culture and literature. Columbus Columbus Navigation : Briefly examines the History, Navigation, and Landfall of Christopher Columbus in what he thought was the Indies. It was Amerigo Vespucci who realised that they had discovered a continent. An excellent links pages takes you further on the trail of discovery. Eco Tourism in Latin America El Planeta Platica : The Eco travels website, with archives of Ron Mader's ecotourism newsletter. Volcanoes in Latin America : Volcano World should be a bookmark in any classroom. This site erupts with information. South America Travellers South American Handbook : This is one book you shouldn't travel to South America without. As it's not just aimed at budget travellers, it beats the pants off Lonely Planet's South America on a Shoestring . If you're visiting many countries in South America this is the guide for you. Luke's South American Diary : Luke's anecdotes of day-to-day life while bringing up a small child abroad was written while living in Venezuela and Colombia during 1994-9. The collective pages form a kind of travelogue of Luke's travels in Venezuela , Colombia , Ecuador , Peru , Bolivia , Argentina and Chile . Around Latin America LANIC -- Maps of Latin America : Links to various websites hosting maps of Latin America. South America Tours Kon-Tiki Tours : Full-service travel agency in New York, offering a variety of customisable South America tour packages. Southern Explorations : Small group tours and cruises to the Galapagos Islands, Peru, Costa Rica, Patagonia in Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and the Amazon Rainforest. Latin America Travel Forum : From Anguilla to Venezuela, sailing in the Caribbean to trekking in the Andes, Latin America is a world of wonderful contrasts. Join us in the travel forums if you have a question about Latin America or would like to share your experiences about travelling or living in Latin America and The Caribbean. The Internet TravelNotes.org Footprint South America Flight Tickets : Save money on Round The World flight tickets. Travel News : Get the inside scoop with the latest travel features and tips. Past Articles . Airlines & Airports : This travel article points you to airlines and the three letter airport codes with links to their websites. Currency Converter : How much is your money worth abroad. Cyber Cafes : The Internet Caf Guide. Travel Guides : Travel guides are a Godsend and a tremendous amount of research has gone into them; but which one is best for you? 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