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Medical
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| The good news is that the quality of medical care in most major
cities has improved markedly over the last ten years. In most major
cities, there is generally one to two good quality medical facilities that
can provide most basic medical support. However, in the countryside
this is oftentimes not the case. Click here to
see our lists of the hospitals in China
Further, many of the high tech and even sometimes basic procedures
practiced in the U.S., Canada and Europe in the event of a heart attack
or other medical emergency are not as readily available in Asia. Therefore,
medically before you travel, especially to some of the lesser developed
areas of Asia, the most important thing you can do is to get medical insurance
that will pay for a medical evacuation in the unlikely event that your require
this service. Every year thousands of Americans fall sick overseas
only to find out that the local foreign hospital often requires payment
upfront for medical services and that their medical insurance will not cover
the cost of medical evacuation to the nearest western quality medical facility
specializing in dealing with the medical condition that ails them.
The time to check your medical insurance and to correct this problem is
NOW, before you travel. Get additional insurance if necessary but
ensure you have medical coverage that will protect you on your trip.
Second, make sure you review your vaccination record and get any
necessary shots. Click here to see the links to
information on required inoculation for Asian countries.
When traveling in Asia, have an adequate supply of any regular
medications you take. Also take headache medications, Band-Aids, ointment,
sunscreen, and mosquito repellent if you are traveling to the tropics.
Chances are you will have a great trip and won’t have a problem but it is
always better to be prepared so that your relatives aren’t required to try
to assist you from around the world and you don’t have to deal with a medical
emergency in a new and difficult environment.
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Passports
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The Department of State has Passport Offices in many major U.S.
cities. Passports are also available by mail. Please see the
website below for information:
Website: http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html
Passport questions can also be directed to (202) 647-0518 |
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Visas
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Many Asian countries require visas for travel to their country.
Information on visas is available from the Consular section of the country’s
Embassy. The website for the Embassy in Washington, DC is:
Website: http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/c2682.html |
Per Diem
(estimating
the cost of your trip)
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| The U.S. Department of State office of Allowances sets
U.S. government daily per diem rates for food and lodging in U.S. cities
and foreign countries. These amounts are used by major corporations
and international organizations for reimbursing their own employees.
This information can be useful in helping you know how much your trip will
cost. Click
here to see the website and the most recent report date |
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Travel Tips
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The Department of State Bureau’s of Consular Affairs
and Bureaus of Diplomatic Security offer useful travel
tips for business and other travelers. Please visit their
websites at:
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Lost Passport
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| If you lose the passport, you need to promptly report this information
to your countries nearest Embassy or Consulate. Usually the Consular
Section is the place who will receive this report. For information
on replacing a lost or stolen passport, please see the website below:
Website:http://travel.state.gov/lost_stolen.html
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Lost Wallet
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If your wallet is lost or stolen while you are overseas,
you will immediately need to report the loss to the local
authorities (your hotel Concierge can help with this) and
cancel all your credit cards.
If you have read the security tips and other
considerations of this page, you will have listed the
numbers separately and be in a better position to
quickly cancel your cards. First steps should be to call
the hotel operator and get the phone number of the local
number for American Express, Diners, Mastercard and
Visa. If the hotel cannot provide this information, please
call the U.S. Embassy Consular Section and they
should be able to help you. If your credit card company
does not have an office in the country you are visiting,
the best alternative is to call your family and have them
call the U.S. number and cancel the card. They can
also inquire how and where you can get a new card
reissued either in the country you are visiting or in a
following stop.
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Reporting a
Crime
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| If you have properly prepared for your trip and followed the
security and other travel tips given in the first steps portion of this
page, chances are you will not be a victim of a crime. In the less
likely event that you do find yourself a victim, you should report the crime
to the hotel security staff and to the U.S. Embassy Consular Section.
Both the hotel staff and the Embassy staff will endeavor to help you report
the crime to local police and get any required copy of the police report,
which may be necessary for insurance purposes. |
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Security and
other Considerations
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| The Department of State Diplomatic Security Bureau website
provides useful information on security and other recommendations for business
travelers, Click here to see their
website |
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