Travel tips

Make sure you apply for vacation days that include a day of rest after your return to cope with fatigue or jet lag if you are flying. Furthermore, ensure all your travel documents are confirmed 3-4 working days before the travel date to ensure any last minute-changes can still be accommodated.
On packing, it is essential to pack what you need with consideration for the shopping you plan to do at your holiday destination. If you
are traveling with family and kids, ensure the needs of the elders and children are itemized and packed to avoid discomfort or tantrums.
Most importantly, it is vital to inform your close relatives/ friends of your travel. It would be good to arrange for house/ pet sitting while you are away. Lastly, call your bank and let them know that you are traveling and there will be a large number of purchases with a debit or credit card.

Should you be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Some vaccines may also be required for travel. These vaccines include the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. For the latest updates on vaccinations can be obtained from your local clinic or hospital.

Please take note that visa requirements for some countries may change from time to time. It is advisable you check with your travel agent or directly with the destination country Embassy or High Commission in your country or a nearby foreign before booking a holiday.

What sort of protection/coverage does a travel insurance covers you? Some of the coverage that you should expect is as below:

• Personal Accident
• Medical Expenses
• Loss of Luggage & Personal Effect
• Loss of Travel Documents
• Baggage Delay
• Travel Delay
• Missed Departure
• Flight Overbooked
• Hijack Inconvenience
• Travel Cancellation
• Loss of Money/ Valuables

….and other types of coverage as well.

Here are other examples that might NOT be covered in travel insurance:

• Declared or undeclared war or any act of war, invasion, act of foreign enemy, and other war terms
• Loss or destruction of goods due to radiation
• Suicide/Self harm/ or any intentional acts by the insured person that provoked homicide or assault personnel or military personnel of any country or international authority, whether full-time service or as a volunteer
• The Insured Person engaging in, practising for or taking part in training in any speed contest, any professional competition or sports, and participating in Hazardous adventure

For more information on the inclusions & exclusions of travel insurance coverage, contact your travel agent.

On your travel day, make a list of the things that you need to bring along- luggage, passport, and tickets. Also, mark all your bags inside and out with your name and address – both your home address and your holiday address. To be on the safe side, weigh your bags to ensure you don’t exceed the baggage requirements of the airline. Travel insurance is becoming a must, so do consider getting one because you do not have to worry if your bags are lost or if your flight has been canceled, or even if your passport and wallet are stolen. It is always best to get yourself and your family covered as mishaps do happen when traveling.
You do know that it is possible to travel with hand-luggage only, right? Just that you will need to know the airline rules for carrying liquids, otherwise you may have to remove them at the security checkpoint! In order to handle jet lags, stay hydrated by drinking lots of plain water during the flight. Avoid tea and coffee.

Gather required documents before your flight as you are responsible for presenting the required documents by the relevant authorities at all entry and exit lanes, health, and other documents required by law, regulations, order, demands, or requirements of the countries flown from, into or over.
Self-check-in is free, simple-and-quick! It will save you time at the airport! Otherwise, counter check-in opens 3 hours before the scheduled time of departure and closes 1 hour before the scheduled time of departing. Note: Check-in deadlines may vary at different airports and for particular flights. The airport has long queues due to complex security checks. We suggest that you check-in early and proceed immediately to the departure gate, or you may risk being leftover behind in security.
Pre-book your checked baggage to save money and time. Each piece/item of checked baggage has to weigh less than 30kg. Guests may not combine their checked baggage weight with other guests unless traveling in the same booking.
For baggage drop counter opens 3 hours before the scheduled time of departure and closes 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Guests are required to hold a boarding pass to use our baggage drop counters.
Bringing liquids is subject to the preferred applicable local laws and regulations that guests may take liquids on board in their cabin baggage with a maximum volume of 100 ml. The items must be in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag.
For boarding time, the guests are to be at the boarding gate at least 20 minutes before the scheduled time of departure, or else you will be denied boarding.

• Ensure you have a reliable GPS and location maps in the car. Sometimes, you can’t rely totally on GPS and the local location maps come in handy.
• Pack enough liquids/water and snacks in the car as some stretches are long and do not have halfway stops.
• Try to reach your destination before dark as most stretches are either forests or farms where street lights are minimal in the countryside.
• Plan some games, pack short story books or sing along rhymes if you travel with kids.
• Umbrellas are great in case there are drizzles or rain.
• Always ensure your tank is full and refill before it reaches quarter tank as it is not easy to find another petrol station nearby. You never know if you have gotten on the wrong track/trail or got lost.
• Buy insurance coverage for the driver and passengers.

When you are overseas on a holiday destination, do call your close relatives or friends to let them know you have arrived safely and keep them updated on where you are if you are moving around. Make sure that you always keep your luggage locked when leaving them behind in the hotel. Carry your passport with you and ensure you do not carry excessive cash that might attract attention. If you are taking a self-drive holiday, make sure you collect the car from the airport and get a GPS.
When you are abroad and if you want to try something local, make sure it is a recommendation from a trustworthy source. To make life easier, get a local map, and identify the tourist info centers. Moreover, for safety precautions, avoid walking alone at night or in dark areas, and beware of pickpockets whose modus operandi is by distracting you. Also, if you drive, follow the local traffic rules and avoid driving at night.
Before your return flight, do confirm your flight details in case of delays or cancellations. It is best to ensure that you have all travel documents prepared and easily accessible for check-in. Always plan your packing and do not do too much last-minute shopping that cannot fit your luggage. Keep track of the luggage requirements of the country you are visiting in mind.
Do not forget to remind your close relatives/ friends of your return and make arrangements for an airport pick-up. Keep track of all your valuables to make sure that they are in your hand- wallet, passport, camera, watch, and jewelry.
Last but not least, make sure you are at the airport for two hours (or 3-4 hours in some countries) earlier to avoid missing the flight.