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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 Korea.
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://emb.dsdn.net/english/frame.htm |
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
you 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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