Plan ahead before leaving home behind

Travel can be an exciting and meaningful experience or it can be a nightmare if some basic precautions are not followed, Jorge Virchez, an experienced traveller, said.

Virchez has been travelling since the age of seven, when he went to the United States from his home in Mexico.

The Laurentian University geography department professor said planning is key. It all starts with the destination, and the purpose of the trip.

If it is to escape the winter, then travel arrangements can be relatively easy thanks to scheduling at the Sudbury Airport, he said.

Planes leave Sudbury Airport Tuesday mornings around 9 a.m., en route to popular destinations such as Varadero, Cuba, Bob Johnston, chief executive officer of Sudbury Airport, said.

Virchez pointed out that travelling to most countries requires a passport, and in some cases a Visa.

“A Visa is a fee you pay to the country you want to go to, whereas, a passport proves you are a Canadian citizen.

Many countries want to issue a Visa so they can check out who you are beforehand.”

Travellers can fill out a form online at the website of the country’s embassy in Canada, and then mail your passport to the embassy or attend in person to fill it out. The form includes the hotel a traveller will stay at, with address and phone number.

That can work to your advantage if a natural disaster occurred while you were there and the authorities wanted to locate you, Virchez said.

Another consideration prior to leaving is vaccinations.

“You may need malaria shots or Yellow Fever shots if you go to places in Asia,” the professor said.

Getting the vaccination may take a month, or a sequence of shots may be required. He advised to contact the Sudbury and District Health Unit’s international office for more information.

Health insurance to cover you overseas, such as Blue Cross, is another area to look into.

“You cannot imagine how easy it is to become sick overseas,” Virchez said.

Virchez had a number of other tips for securing valuables and travelling safely. Stay tuned to Northern Life for more travel and planning tips and ask your travel agent for information on planning ahead.