**Insurance Companies - The Ones That Passed First Round

Travel Guard

(Vanessa II) Endsleigh

(Vanessa's)  Trailfinders

Global Care

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BootsNAll

Travel Insurance Now

Access America

**Check with each of them about restricted countries.

**Possibly skip trip cancellation?

Things to Find Out About Each Country

• do any of them require an AIDs test certificate before entering?


• what is the amount required in your bank account per month of stay?


• how much are the airport departure taxes and can they be paid in $US?


• are there any currency exchange requirements ie: when you get there, do you have to immediately get/prove that you have a certain amount of local currency?

Suggested To-Do Timeline

4 to 6 months before

• make basic decisions about destination, length of trip



• brainstorm housing options



• consider job options



• cut expenses, save all money



• start language study
\

3 months before

• apply for credit cards, before leaving job



• apply for passport, request extra pages for extended travel



• get full medical exam



• get remaining immunizations



• get dental work done



• purchase camera



• research plane fares, watch for sales

2 months before

• make car arrangements



• research health / travel insurance



• purchase backpack



• start assembling clothing & supplies



• make dietary adjustments



• start sorting & packing house



• update address book



• submit resignation



• recruit a 'home secretary'

one month before

• pack, store or sell everything



• cancel subscriptions



• buy travel insurance



• buy airplane tickets



• organize vertical file for home secretary



• organize bank account & finances



• decide on how to get money while travelling



• make or update will



• pack gear, test weight



• apply for required visas



• cancel unneeded services



• buy / collect small gifts



• make final arrangements for first country

final countdown

• store /sell/ lend car



• buy film



• buy traveller's cheques



• transfer docs to home secretary



• forward mail to home secretary

Security Items

• travellers cheques numbers in an email account
• emergency phone numbers (email & extra photocopy)
• internal money belt (see items for inclusion below)
• insurance information (copy & online)
• leave a friend w/ (see items to leave below)
• have zippered pockets sewn inside jackets
• add velcro to open pockets- leaving a finger width so they can be opened but not 'picked'

Items for money belt inclusion

• keep money for the day in a little front pocket wallet
• passport
• immunization record
• tickets
• credit card
• prescriptions (eyes as well)
• extra cash

Items to leave with a friend

• blank signed cheques
• investment info, access to investments
• copies of ALL the following
  will
  travel and health insurance
  drivers licence
  birth cert
  SIN
  tickets
  visas
  passport
  immunization record
  credit card
  prescriptions / doctor's letter / contact info for doctor
  traveller's cheques
  property information
  emergency contacts

Pack

• Visa sized photos


• One guidebook for the first country


• sandals


• hygiene items


• small gift items


• earplugs/eyeshade


• knife (Leatherman)


• flashlight


• padlock (combination)


• a roll or 2 of TP


• small compass

First Aid Portion

• sunscreen



• DEET



• Canestan / Monistat



• moleskin



• prescriptions and a letter (plus copies)



• prescription and a letter if you want to take some needles (for use by clinics in countries where they may not have clean/sterilised needles and you need an injection)



• charcoal tabs



• take B1 daily for mosquito deterrant (how much?)



• opthalmic antibiotic cream - can also be used for eye infections