News Release: Alert Travel Equals Smart Travel

09 Feb 2008

08-02-2008

MALDIVES - Know before you go. Those few words of advice sound simple but they empower travelers whose work or family commitments take them to destinations that pose health or safety risks. The question is, where do you find accurate information about the risks? Where do you go for information on the current political climate of a country, its disease outbreaks, labor strikes or transportation snafus?

The first place to check is your national government's own website (use the website's search tool to look for "travel advisories"). Or go directly to an Internet search engine and enter the words "travel advisory" plus "citizens of" and the name of your home country. Tanzanian can log to www.safariweb.com/tanzania/advisory.htm and American, Canadian and U.K. residents take note: the U.S. State Department (http://travel.state.gov), Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (www.voyage.gc.ca) and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk) are all updated regularly. Each site offers specific warnings on countries currently experiencing a terrorist threat, some level of civil unrest or a health crisis (Kenya because of its pre-election violence, for example, or parts of Vietnam because of avian flu). Strongly worded travel warnings may indicate that you should avoid non-essential or even all travel to a particular country or region. You'll also find very useful, A-to-Z profiles of almost every nation on the planet.

Several other websites are worth bookmaking if you're planning a trip overseas. The World Health Organization (www.who.int) updates and publishes its own travel health booklet annually. The 2007 edition of International Travel and Health can be downloaded by chapter from the WHO website and is invaluable for those who want to take preventive measures and precautions to reduce the risks of contracting an illness abroad. Separate links to outbreaks of avian flu, yellow fever, dengue and malaria around the world help identify destinations where visitors may be susceptible.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is another excellent source of information. Its comprehensive travelers' health section includes health facts for specific destinations, a global map of disease outbreaks such as ebola, don't-get-sick tips for students and seniors intending to study or travel abroad, and the latest vaccination requirements.

If your concerns are more practical (how will the latest alert affect my flight to or from a U.S. airport?), surf to the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic control system command center (www.fly.faa.gov). Click on the desired airport and you can check delays caused by weather, gate holds, cancellations, etc.

It's hard to beat the gargantuan search engine Google for up-to-date information on your destination. Try http://news.google.com when you need specific, late-breaking news about storm conditions, workers on strike, public transportation shutdowns or other events taking place at your destination that may impact your travel plans. You can also check individual airport websites for updates check your travel agency's website or contact your travel agent for assistance.

If a health or safety issue is serious enough to warrant cancelling your international flight, call us first. We can re-book your trip quickly and easily, or help you get a refund. Talk to us about trip insurance, too, to make sure that any future travel plans are protected.

UNIGLOBE Skylink Travel and Tours.
The only Agency that solve your travel problems, with a largest network in Tanzania with 8 Offices in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Mwanza.

We offer Valuable service to our customers including: Air Ticketing, Hotel accommodation, Ferry, Tours (Inbound and Outbound), Airport Transfers, Travel Insurance, Rent A- Car and many more..

Travel with us today

Discover the World and Access More

For Further Information Contact:
UNIGLOBE Skylink Travel and Tours Ltd
TDFL Building, Opp. Movenpick Royal Palm Hotel.
Tel: +255 22 2115381
Fax: +255 22 2114562
Email: info@skylinktanzania.com