Travelling with a newborn to eight-month-old

How can I keep my baby happy when travelling?

Making sure you are both feeling calm and rested is a good start. Try to make sure you and your baby get plenty of sleep before you set off.

Along with her food and drink, take a bag containing a few of your baby’s favourite toys, plus a couple of new ones. Possible playthings can include:
anything shiny
baby-proof mirrors
rattles
musical toys
soft animals
pop-ups
plastic keys
teething rings


How can I feed my baby when travelling?

Breastfeeding is very convenient when travelling as you don’t need to pack any equipment.

If you are formula-feeding, you can buy convenient travel-sized packs of ready-made formula at most chemists and supermarkets. Or you could bring an insulated flask of boiled water, portions of formula powder, and sterilised bottles and teats. Then you can make a feed whenever your baby wants one.

Sterilising bottles may take a little organising, but travel bottle sterilisers and pre-sterilised bottle liners are available in many shops.

Your baby’s milk and food is not subject to the same maximum restrictions as other liquids for aeroplane cabin baggage. You are allowed to carry enough for your baby’s journey. Find out more in our travel tips for families.

If your baby is eating solids, pop a few well-wrapped jars and sachets of baby food into your luggage. You should be able to buy food when you’re away, unless you are going somewhere really exotic. However, a few favourite flavours will help your baby settle. Lots of bibs are also essential for catching all that pureed sweet potato!

How can I keep my baby safe when travelling in the car?

Take the same careful approach to safety as you do at home. Follow these safety steps:
Get some removable window shades for your car to shield your baby’s skin and eyes from the sun.
Make sure your baby’s car seat is properly installed and that the seatbelts, if used, are correctly threaded. Your baby should travel in a rear-facing car seat installed on the back seat of your car. Never place your baby’s car seat on the front seat of a car with an activated passenger air bag.
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The Mother of All Packing Lists!

This baby packing list is based on a destination where you wouldn’t have access to many of the things we deem to be necessities. For example, when we went to Cuba, there really wasn’t much you could buy, and what you could buy was very expensive. Of course, you won’t need everything on this list, and do cross reference with the Carry On Packing List as there are repeat items.

MONEY & DOCUMENTS

• Cash /credit cards/debit/ATM cards (make sure these work where you’re visiting)
• Passports
• Drivers’ license
• Consent letter from non-traveling parent if traveling solo
• Photocopies of passport & drivers’ licence – packed separately, in case ID is lost or stolen
• Calling card & number for out-of-country calls
• Health & travel insurance documents
• Vaccination documents if needed
• Address/phone book
• Trip itinerary
• Airplane tickets, or confirmation number for e-ticket
• Hotel and/or car reservation numbers

TOILETRIES

• Toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss
• Shampoo, conditioner, hair products
• Brush & comb
• Shaving gear
• Contact lens paraphernalia
• Glasses
• Sunglasses
• Skin cream, makeup
• Nail clippers
• Tweezers
• Lip balm
• Ear plugs
• Insect repellent
• Afterbite, for insect bites
• Sun block

HEALTH CARE

• Band-aids
• Topical antibiotic ointment
• Disinfecting liquid like hydrogen peroxide or alcohol
• Cotton swabs
• Pain relief tablets
• Children’s pain/fever reliever
• Oral rehydration liquid or sachets
• Allergy medicine
• Feminine hygiene products
• Prescription medicines
• Vitamins

MISC. STUFF

• Smartphone & charger
• Camera and batteries & charger
• Camcorder or digital recorder & charger
• Tablet/Laptop and/or DVD player and DVDs and/or portable game device
• Pen & paper
• Assorted plastic bags
• Assorted plastic containers
• Flashlight & batteries
• Needle and thread
• Travel alarm clock
• Small amount of dish and/or laundry soap
• Waterproof sheet
• Beach toys
• Water wings
• Snorkel & fins
• Water goggles
• Water Shoes
• Underwater camera

CLOTHES

Hopefully you can bring enough that you don’t have to do laundry!!

• Two swimsuits
• Lots of t-shirts or other tops
• Long sleeved shirts
• Shorts
• Pants
• Sweater or jacket
• A couple of nice outfits if you are expected to ‘dress’ for dinner
• Rain gear
• Sleepwear
• Underwear
• Socks
• Several sunhats – they always get lost
• Sandals
• Good walking shoes
• Accessories
• Sarongs – can be used as swimsuit cover-up and baby carrier

SPECIFICALLY FOR BABY!

• Formula or powdered milk
• Baby food/Baby Cereal
• Eating utensils
• Bottles & Nipples
• Sippy Cups
• Extra Pacifiers
• ‘Special’ items like blanket, toys, etc.
• Crib bedding
• Changing Pad
• Diapers (how many depends on type accessible at your destination)
• Swim Diapers
• Wipes (lots)
• Diaper Cream
• Baby Toiletries
• Bath Toys
• Bibs
• Swimsuits
• More sunhats
• Approx 2 outfits per day if not planning on doing laundry
• Sweater
• Socks
• Shoes/Sandals
• Travel crib/cot
• Stroller
• Carrier
• Car Seat
  
  

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Know which items not to bring on a plane

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Know which items not to bring on a plane. This applies to safety, size, weight, and even food, as there are restrictions on all of these.

• Safety restrictions vary between countries but include obvious safety hazards (knives in your carry-on, flammable liquids in any of your luggage), not-so-obvious hazards (nail clippers or files in your carry-on), and a few seemingly inexplicable items (an unopened bottle of water on US flights – unless you purchased it after going through security).
• Weight and size restrictions depend on the airline, so check their website ahead of time for more information. Most medium duffel bags and hand luggage marketed as carry-on will be accepted into the cabin.
• Avoid bringing peanuts on planes. These can cause allergic reactions in other passengers.
• If crossing international borders, don’t bring agricultural items (fruits, vegetables, seeds), meats, or dairy products. Though you may be able to get away with it in some countries, many regulate these items to reduce the spread of nonnative species and disease.

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Separate liquids from the rest of your carry-on. Liquids should be easily accessible so that you can remove them for inspection while going through security. In the US, there are very specific liquid and gel allowances:

• You are allowed to bring a maximum of 3.4 ounces of a liquid/gel per container (not total). For example, a 2-ounce bottle of shampoo, a 2-ounce bottle of toothpaste, and a 3.4-ounce bottle of face wash would be okay.
• All individual containers of liquid must be placed together inside a resealable 1-quart bag (provided for you if necessary as you move through the security line). Before you and your luggage go through the scanners, you will have to place the bag of liquids by itself on the luggage conveyor belt so that it can be inspected if necessary.
• To circumvent the hassle of packing and storing liquids separately, bring solid toiletries (ex. solid deodorant, powder concealer, etc.). You can also put liquids in your carry-on bag.
• Liquid allowances don’t usually apply to prescription medication (provided that you have documentation with you to verify), infant formula, breast milk, or the like. Just be sure to store these separately from your other liquids and inform an agent that you have them.

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Avoid checking in luggage if possible. Many airlines pad their bank accounts by charging passengers for check-in luggage. Even if you don’t mind the extra expense, waiting for check-in luggage to be processed and redistributed after arrival can add another half hour or more to your airport experience – and occasionally, bags that don’t make the flight must be sent to you at a much later date. If you are traveling with kids, make sure each one carries the maximum amount of luggage allowed (if possible) so that, as a group, you can bring more items into the cabin. Wear your heaviest clothing (such as jeans, running shoes/tennis shoes, sweatshirt) while traveling to save on space. Consider replacing your jeans with light-weight travel pants which take less space and dry quickly.

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Consider getting a TSA-approved laptop bag. If you are flying in or through the US and your laptop is inside your bag together with other items, you will be asked to remove it before your things are X-rayed, which can slow down the line and create a mess if not properly organized. If you’re still luggage-hunting, you might want to get a bag designed to avoid this process (usually consisting of a laptop flap that folds away from the rest of the bag so that the laptop can be X-rayed by itself without technically being removed).

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Keep your most important items in your smallest bag. Most airlines allow one small and one medium piece of carry-on so that people are still able to bring things purses and diaper bags. Since you will most likely be stowing the larger of the two bags in the overhead bin, avoid putting things you will want during the flight (ex. a sweater, book, or snack) up there or you will have to stand in the aisle and dig through it mid-flight.

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Never Wear When Traveling Abroad

Traveling abroad isn't as simple as buying a ticket and hopping on a plane. Safety should be a key consideration no matter where you travel, and part of staying safe in an unfamiliar place is dressing to blend in -- or, at least, not dressing to stand out. Beyond avoiding matching T-shirts, baseball hats and white sneakers, not to mention "I Love NY" sweatshirts, keep in mind local customs and attitudes, as well as religious beliefs, when choosing your attire.

"My adventures have taken me, as a solo female traveler, through primarily Muslim countries as well as primarily Christian countries," says frequent traveler Lisa Munniksma. "I've always been modest in my appearance, but after traveling and meeting so many travelers and locals from various cultures, the importance of respecting traditions in dress has been driven home."

Before you get out your suitcase, here are 10 things to leave in your closet as you pack for your next trip abroad.

Religiously Immodest Clothing
It's wise to dress conservatively in any country holding deeply religious views, such as those in the Middle East (if you're not sure, your travel agent or guidebook can offer advice on local religious customs). Women in particular should avoid miniskirts, tank tops, bra tops, short-sleeved shirts, shorts and sometimes even capri pants. Revealing dresses and cleavage-bearing necklines are also huge no-nos. Men should avoid shorts and sleeveless tops in many Middle Eastern countries or when entering a church or other holy place.

Pants and long skirts are a safe bet, and women should carry a shawl in their bag or purse just in case. As a general rule, travelers should cover their shoulders and knees when entering any church or holy site to avoid unwanted stares or being denied entry. It's also wise to keep your feet and ankles covered. When in doubt, stick to long sleeves, and men, keep that chest hair concealed.

Sneakers and Open-Toe Shoes
In Europe, in particular, sneakers are for sporting activities only. White tennis shoes, Crocs and Birkenstocks are notably frowned upon by Spaniards and Italians. Instead, wear comfortable leather walking shoes in the city, and keep them polished and in good shape. White, lace-up tennis shoes are the calling card of American tourists (and don't even think about Velcro sneakers).

It's also wise to stick with closed-toe shoes, which can help prevent insect bites or cuts on your toes from gravelly surfaces. "It is not sanitary to wear flip-flops and other open-toe shoes when traveling to some areas because you can get infections," notes Talia Salem, a communications specialist at PlanetWildlife.


Shorts
Yes, we Americans do love our shorts, but most other cultures don't wear them for everyday walking around, no matter the season or how close they are to the Equator. Leave the khaki shorts for beaches, parks, tennis clubs and hiking trails. Our habit of dressing down to be comfortable is puzzling to most people overseas. Rarely will you see locals wearing shorts unless they're off to play soccer.

Flashy Jewelry
Never wear expensive, flashy jewelry abroad, unless you want your diamond rings, pearls and pricey watches to be tagged for someone else's collection. Since there's probably no need to impress anyone that much on your trip abroad, leave the valuables at home.

Religious Imagery, Curse Words or National Flags
Avoid clothing sporting religious or military symbols, swear words, national flags and any words or symbols written in a language you cannot translate. There's no need to unintentionally spark an emotional debate while on vacation. It's also not a bad idea to leave religious jewelry, even cross necklaces, at home. If you must, wear them under your clothes so they're not visible to anyone.

Bright Colors
Stay away from bold colors, loud patterns, plaids -- you get the picture. Stick with conservative hues like navy, blue, tan and grey. Look put together, opting for classic, well-fitting clothing. You want to blend in, not draw unwanted attention to yourself (and nothing does that better than a neon green tank top).


Inappropriate Colors
In the Western world, we may wear black to wakes and funerals, but in parts of Asia, white is the funereal color -- good to keep in mind on the off chance you may be mourning someone's passing while on holiday. Meanwhile, stay away from wearing black or blue in central Africa, the favorite colors of large, biting tsetse flies.

Jeans
If a visit to a factory, rural area or even a touristy spot where the locals wear jeans is on your agenda, then, of course, jeans are acceptable. However, jeans should fit well and be wrinkle-free. It's even better if you opt for black or dark blue jeans. Baggy, ripped, even skinny jeans are generally frowned upon outside the United States.

tourists mapBackpacks
Planning to spend the summer backpacking across Europe? Then a large backpack is practical and probably a better bet than a rollaboard suitcase for lugging onto trains and traveling between destinations. But bring a secondary bag, like a small fabric tote bag, for everyday touring around cities. Any kind of backpack, big or small, will mark you as a tourist.

Cameras
Snap a photo, then put your camera away. Nothing screams tourist like a camera permanently hanging from your neck. Not only do you stand out, but you may get targeted by thieves. Carry a good camera that you can fit into your small bag.

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Ten things to AVOID in traveling

The Amsterdam forum has seen a few shots at compiling a list of things to avoid.  Try a search for "things to avoid" and you'll find the latest threads.  This is a compilation of some of the best and/or recurring pieces of advice.

• AVOID being separated from your baggage on the train ride into town.  There isn’t much street crime in Amsterdam, but the Centraal Station and the train are where it will happen to you first.
• AVOID the obvious tourist traps, such as Madame Tussauds and the Ice Bar (this advice applies in all European capitals, by the way), also AVOID everything sited on (the western side of) the Damrak.
• AVOID combining soft drugs with hard drugs (such as alcohol), and don’t take anything you have no experience of without also taking advice.  There are fatal combinations which will result in you jumping out of a third-storey window believing you can fly.
• AVOID walking in the cycle lanes.  Amsterdammers love riding down tourists in the cycle lanes.
• AVOID renting a bike and getting its wheels stuck in the tram rails, it's a sure way to break a bone.  If you haven’t ridden a bike since you were a kid, AVOID renting a bike at all;  that’ll be much safer for everyone.
• AVOID forming a large group on red rental bikes wearing knitted hats with AMSTERDAM across the front and pompoms dangling from them and ringing the bikes' bells like idiots, unless you are Italian (in which case this is the unmissable core of the Amsterdam experience).
• AVOID trying to stay away from other tourists.  It's a fool’s errand (it just can't be done) and the tourists in any city are the people doing all the fun stuff.  Large groups of drunken British males celebrating someone’s stag night are the exception and should be avoided at all cost.
• AVOID a pointless search for “typical Dutch cuisine”.  It either doesn’t exist or it's awful.
• AVOID falling into a canal, especially in the winter.  Most deaths in the canals are men;   many of the bodies are recovered with the trouser flies open and it happens most often in the winter.
• AVOID museums devoted to sxx or drugs, unless sxx and drugs are really your thing, in which case ... welcome to Amsterdam, have a great time.

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Foods and Fluids To Avoid While Traveling Abroad

Diarrhea caused by bacteria in food is so common among travelers that they call it "Traveler's Diarrhea." To protect yourself from Traveler's diarrhea, avoid foods most likely to carry bacteria, such as:

• Unpasteurized milk, cheese, yogurt.
• Fresh fruits and uncooked vegetables, including salad, which can contain both bacteria and parasites.
• Any cooked food that has been sitting at room temperature, even for a relatively short time.
• Food sold from carts on the street, no matter how tasty it looks!
• Tap water, fruit juices and ice. Drink only bottled water to avoid exposure to bacteria.

Absolutely Avoid While Traveling Abroad

Don’t botch the slang
Flip Flops/ slippers are known as jandals! Don’t ask why. Swimming trunks are called Togs. Chicken are called chooks. Singlet tops are know as wife beaters. Cricket is a sport and not an insect. We have places named FUCK A PAPA, FUCK A TANI, spelled as Whakapapa, Whakatane. If you are chuckling right now, please re-read the sentence above!

Never disrespect the dialects, the Queen, or LOTR
Do not confuse New Zealanders with Aussies! Kiwi accent is funny, don’t point it out. The indigenous people of New Zealand are called Maoris. Do not make fun of the culture or language. Queen of England is still a big deal here! Not a good idea to make fun of her. Hobbiton is a real place. Kiwis are proud of Lord Of the Rings! Do not make fun of the franchise!

Feel free to go barefoot, but don’t swim, apparently
If you find people walking with no footwear whatsoever, don’t stare. It’s perfectly normal to go about in public places without footwear, and in some cases a shirt. You will still be served. Swimming in NZ waters is extremely tricky. Although there are no sharks, the tides and currents will kill you.

Don’t tip anyone
No one. NO ONE. Tipping is just not part of the culture. Don’t even leave small change. People will come running after you with it. Seriously.

Don’t forget to remove toilet slippers or wash your private parts.
Don’t forget to take off the special toilet slippers once you leave the toilet room. You will encounter ‘washlets’ or toilets with attachments for washing and drying your private parts everywhere. Don’t get too freaked out by them…and if you can’t figure them out, you can always use toilet paper.

Don’t get overenthusiastic about nudity
 People are pretty relaxed about nudity, and both men and women will for example change on public beaches without any attempt at covering themselves up. You are however expected to look away.

Never compare them to Sweden
Do not assume that everything in Sweden is more advanced and modern. Swedes and Norwegians may make fun of each other, but Norwegians are quite sensitive as to how we’re perceived abroad.

Make sure to give an odd number of flowers as a gift
Traditionally, an even number of flowers is given only at funerals. An odd number is given for celebrations. That’s why you can often find a man throwing out a flower when he buys a large bouquet.

NEVER wear your outdoor shoes inside the house
This is a major faux pas, particularly since Russian streets are generally very slushy and no one appreciates bringing grime onto their immaculate floor. This rule also holds in Norway, Malaysia, Japan, and many other countries.

Don’t touch the top of anyone’s head
Never touch anyone’s head or pass anything from above the head. It is considered to be the most sacred body part.

If you have to point, use your thumbs
Do not point your forefinger at things. Instead point a thumb. Pointing a forefinger at anything is considered rude.

If you’re a woman, avoid touching monks
Do not touch or give anything to a monk if you are a woman, they have to fast and do ritual cleansing.

Try not to kiss or hold hands in public
In some jurisdictions, kissing in public can get you into jail under “public obscenity.” Hugging and handshakes are still frowned upon in most parts of the country among members of opposite sex. This is not illegal and no one goes to jail for hugging/handshakes. On the other hand, among members of same sex hugging is pretty common.

Don’t touch anything with your feet
If you stomp over a book, national flag, image of a deity etc, you can get into trouble. While stomping a book is frowned upon (people will think you are an idiot), deliberately stomping an image of a god of any religion or India’s national symbols (such as the flag and the emblem) might get you arrested.

NEVER walk in the bicycle lane
 In Amsterdam pedestrians should not walk in the bicycle lane! As you know the Dutch are know for their permissiveness, drugs..prostitution..all fine… but our collectively pent-up intolerance is reserved for those unlucky visitors that dare to walk where they are not supposed to.

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Travel guide Itineraries for Los Angeles

If movies, stars and Hollywood are your first thoughts when you think of LA, you’re probably missing out on some unique experiences that the city has to offer. Swarming with tourists and wannabe starlets, LA is also home to some top-notch music, food, architecture, theme parks and museums. To do it justice, you must experience at least three different sides to this city extraordinaire. 

Day 1: More Than Movies

Start your day in LA with breakfast at the legendary Original Pantry Cafe in downtown LA before embarking on some sightseeing! Take the trolley tour to get a basic orientation of LA and take pictures of famous landmarks such as the Hollywood Sign and the Walk of Fame. Take a walking tour behind the scenes of Hollywood’s most televised locations. Alternatively drown yourself in the world of art at the Getty Museum before heading downtown to enjoy dinner at one of many cafes and restaurants reminiscent of 1930s and 40s. If you’re still up for more, be sure to take a night tour and watch the city come alive as the sun goes down.

Day 2: Hollywood, Baby!

Alright, so no trip to LA is ever complete without some movie mania and celebrity spotting. A great starting point is the rather comprehensive Grand LA Tour which includes visits to all the famous sites in the city. If you’re keen on seeing where the celebs live, work and play, try the which takes you into Sony Studios, across 40 movie star homes and into the heart of Hollywood, all in six hours. For the gruesome Hollywood trivia lovers, the Dearly Departed Tour is an amazing way to experience the tragic events that have shaped and shaken Hollywood over the decades.

Day 3: Do-Something-Different Day

Step away from the maddening crowd and discover something new about LA today. Try your hand at tandem paragliding in Malibu, take a helicopter tour or a champagne airplane tour. Spend the day in one of LA’s famous theme parks or visit the Griffith Park Observatory by night. Check out this list of things to do in LA for more ideas on having a fantastic LA experience.

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Deadly Travel Dangers You should Think Of

You can get a little sunburned, but you really can’t get a little gored or a little trampled, which is maybe why you’ve ruled out ever running with the bulls in Pamplona.

More your speed perhaps is the frisky puppy on the grounds of your hotel. He’s so cute and look, he just nipped your finger. But Frisky wasn’t rolling with a pack of wild dogs and you’re not in a country where canine rabies is prevalent, so it’s no big deal, right?

Well here’s where it gets a little scary. Unless your hotel happens to be in Antarctica, which is the only place on earth where you can’t get rabies, it can be a big deal.

“Rabies is an issue we feel strongly educating people about,” says Dr. Phyllis Kozarsky, M.D., travel health expert for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) because “inevitably it’s a fatal disease” once clinical signs develop, and according to the CDC Yellow Book, “children are considered at higher risk because of their tendencies to play with animals and to not report bites.”

Immediately cleansing a bite or potentially contaminated scratch with soap and water helps reduce the risk of rabies. And if you’re heading to rabies-endemic areas of Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, the CDC recommends a pre-exposure (before you’re bitten or scratched) rabies vaccination, which would help make a potential post-exposure shot more effective.

One wrinkle with post-exposure rabies vaccines, Kozarsky says, is that they’re not always readily available in parts of the world where they’re needed most. Maria Caceres, senior manager of assistance for travel insurance provider Seven Corners, concurs that insufficient medication can exacerbate the danger, recalling an instance in Africa where “we had to evacuate one member after being bitten by a bat because there was no rabies vaccination available.”

What’s under your skin?

You’ve heard of rabies, but what about a parasitic infection known as schistosomiasis? If you happen to swim in a freshwater lake, stream, or river in sub-Saharan Africa, Southern China, and parts of South America, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean, you may not be alone in the water. It’s possible you’ll encounter infected snails releasing larvae that can penetrate your skin and cause a rash known as “swimmer’s itch.”From there the larvae can develop into worms that will in turn produce eggs that can travel to such organs as your kidney, liver, or bladder, causing long-term damage over a period of years.

“People can become ill after six weeks after being exposed,” Kozarsky says, possibly developing a fever or respiratory, gastrointestinal, or urinary tract issues, but “most people who are infected have no symptoms at all.” If you’ve been exposed to fresh water in the indicated destinations, a blood test upon your return home would reveal signs of the infection, which could then be treated with a fairly benign drug, Kozarsky says.

Death is in the air

Demonstrations cropped up around Honduras when the military ousted President Manuel Zelaya, which Sound Traveler publisher Gregory Benchwick acknowledges “doesn't help with the danger factor” in the country, nor does the fact that Honduras is “home to the second-largest swath of rainforest in the Americas,” he says, which includes “the Mosquito Coast, a hot spot for malaria, dengue fever, and a nasty little foot fungus known locally as masamora.”

The CDC recommends anti-malarial pills if you’re exploring this region, Benchwick says, but suggests that “the best way to avoid malaria is to use a bug spray with DEET and wear long sleeves and long pants. You'll also want to bring water tablets, since bottled water is not widely available, foot powder to avoid fungus, and a hearty sense of adventure.”

Confined quarters

Like many countries, China is aggressively screening arriving passengers for H1N1, or Swine Flu, perhaps too aggressively. The U.S. Department of State recently “had to go in and talk to Chinese officials about the conditions under which people were being quarantined,” says Michelle Bernier-Toth, director of the State Department’s Office of Overseas Citizens Services. Quarantined passengers were being “put into hotels or hospitals that were inadequate,” she says, which in some cases meant unsuitable food and water and unsanitary conditions.

Bernier-Toth points to a State Department alert on China’s quarantine measuresnoting that some passengers were quarantined for up to a week if they were sitting near “another traveler with fever or flu-like symptoms...even if [those passengers showed] no symptoms themselves.”

Parents may want to brace themselves for this next part. The alert also indicates that “children have been separated from their parents during quarantine because only the parent or the child tested positive for 2009-H1N1 or exhibited symptoms. Travelers are advised that Chinese health authorities have not issued a country-wide policy on keeping family members together in quarantine.”

By the way, if you’re heading overseas it’s wise to sign up for State Department e-mail alerts and register your trip before you go so your embassy or consulate in your destination knows you’re there.

And the most dangerous creature is…you

During a multi-country visit to West Africa, VirtualTourist.com member juliogg encountered many dangers. Some were spelled out, as in Togo, where a large sign read “Danger: The hotel is not responsible for any guest who steps out to the beach.” And at times the dangers were less obvious, such as the extortion and intimidation he found at “the border crossing into Nigeria and the 44 military stops between the Nigeria border and Lagos.”

That said about the destination, juliogg says one of the biggest dangers he found on the Africa trip was tourist arrogance, especially when it came to negotiating. “Certain things you shouldn’t haggle on, and safe transportation is one of them,” he says, pointing to instances when taxi drivers named one price and his travel companion tried to cut it to less than half, haggling “so much that we ended up with the [worst] taxi there was that broke down twice,” on one occasion overheating, so that he and his friend had to wait for the driver to “grab water from a ditch to put in the radiator.”

Speaking of safety and that matter of a little sunburn, Virtual Tourist member and Sydney resident lynnehamman notes that “skin cancer rates are highest in Australia. But does everyone use protection? Come to Australia, enjoy our beaches and sunshine, but…be responsible.”

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