Travel Tips

Preparing to go on tour can be difficult and so we’ve put together this guide to help you as you make your tour preparations.

Packing - What to bring
ü A travel alarm clock or watch
ü Suitable clothing and shoes – the type of tour will dictate what clothing you require, however you can expect to need the following :
o clothing and shoes for training/matches
o casual clothes and shoes
o evening wear
o extra layers depending on weather
ü Toiletries and cosmetics eg. Toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, soap. Its also a good idea to carry an extra towel for matches/training
ü Medicines eg. Aspirins, plasters etc.
ü Your passport/visa and an extra photocopy of each
ü Your itinerary and contact list in case you become separated from your group. (This can be downloaded from our website)
ü Camera and films
ü Glasses or contact lenses if required
ü Reading material or a walkman for journey

Foreign Exchange – it is a good idea to take some local currency with you to deal with immediate needs and purchases. Otherwise, local bureaux de changes will exchange notes for local currency.

Credit cards/ATM cards – you may be able to obtain cash from cash machines/ATMs or pay for goods with your credit card whilst you are abroad. Most big department stores and restaurants in major cities will take credit cards giving a reasonable exchange rate and if a logo for PLUS or CIRRUS appears on the back of your bank card you may be able to use the card for cash at ATMs.

Travellers Cheques – the most convenient way of getting money abroad is to take traveller’s cheques. The most widely recognised are American Express, Barclays, Thomas Cook etc. Always make a note of the cheque numbers and keep this list separate from the actual cheques in case you lose the cheques.

Keeping in touch
If you need to contact home during your tour, the most inexpensive and practical way is to use a public telephone either with a telephone credit card or by purchasing a phone card. Calling from a hotel room is usually the most expensive option as many hotels add a service charge.

Health matters
If you have any medical or physical condition that could require care, it is your responsibility to advise your group leader and your insurance company before departure.

Time Differences
For long-haul destinations there will be significant time differences between your home country and your tour destination and so you should be prepared to experience brief jet lag. However, if you rest properly before your tour and take it easy for the first day or two, the transition shouldn’t be too difficult.

Electric Current
The electrical current in your tour destination may be different from that in the UK and so it is a good idea to check in advance. For small appliances such as hairdryers/shavers socket adaptors can usually be bought relatively cheaply for use whilst abroad.