Travel America » Valuables

Travel in Safety in South Africa

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:20:48 +0000

Welcome to South Africa.

We want your visit to South Africa to be special and filled with great memories; and we hope that you will visit again and again.

The Republic of South Africa lies at the southern end of the vast African continent, flanked by the Indian Ocean on the east and the Atlantic on the west. It is bordered by Namibia to the north-west, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the north, and by Mozambique to the north-east. South Africa’s area is one eighth the size of the United States and more than 5 times larger than Great Britain.

The various population groups of South Africa have combined to create a society of diverse historical and cultural backgrounds, which has often been described as a fascinating ethnic mosaic. Our country has a lot to offer. From wide-open spaces to a variety of modern cities. From wildlife to tribal life.

We access the situation as follows:

* Stay clear of the center of major cities at night and should you wish to go somewhere, please get the accommodation to get a taxi.

* Do not tour the Wild Coast of Transkei on your own.

* Talk to the local people before venturing into those unknown areas on your own.

* There is a great deal of goodwill to foreigner visitors.

The following hints to make your stay enjoyable and safe.

There are a few basic precautions you should take to ensure that your stay is as pleasant and safe as possible.

You could reduce the possibility of becoming a victim of crime.

Taking the following precautions:

At The Hotel:

* Never leave your luggage unattended.

* Hand the keys in at the desk whenever you depart the hotel.

* Carry a certified copy of your passport and travel documents with you at all times.

* Keep your room locked.

* Check who it is before opening the door in the hotel.

* Store all valuables in the hotel’s safety deposit box, including cash, jewellery and cameras.

* Be observant when entering parking or unlit areas.

In The Street:

* Carry your camera in a shoulder bag.

* It’s definitely not advisable to carry large amounts of money around.

* Whenever possible, do not walk alone.

* Explore our country in groups and stay in well-lit, busy streets.

* At night, steer clear of dark, isolated areas.

* A police or traffic officer will gladly direct you if you get lost.

* If you want to call a taxi, your hotel can recommend a good reliable service.

* When walking in the street be observant and guard against snatchers, pick-pockets.

* Carry your bag close to your body.

* Keep your change in your wallet, and credit cards and notes in an inside pocket.

In The Car:

* Keep the car doors locked at all times and wind the windows up.

* Plan your route in advance, and be sure of sufficient fuel.

* Make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical order.

* Use maps, and when in doubt as to the safety of specific areas, or which route to take, ask the police.

* Do not leave packages or personal items on the seats of the car.

* Park in well-lit areas at night.

* Never pick up any hitchhiker.

General:

* Keep a list of emergency numbers close at hand in case of an emergency.

* Be alert at all times.

* When using an elevator, always make sure that you are at ease with fellow users before entering.

* Avoid displays of expensive jewellery.

* Do not show large amounts of money.

* Should you possess a firearm, hand it in at your bank for safe keeping, unless you plan on carrying it on your person the whole time.

If you see any suspect activity, or experience an emergency please call the South African police emergency number: 10111

By: Gerald Crawford

Entering America’s Territory

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:22:39 +0000

America is a very popular country. It is also one of the most powerful. It offers a diverse culture that most foreigners would want to experience firsthand. They have an abundant beauty of both natural and man-made attractions. Many foreigners leave their home countries just to get a chance to work in America. America promises a brighter future to most people. And thus, the fame of America ensues.

Presented here is a general guideline of what to do when planning to visit America. It always pays to be prompt. The traveler should be at the airport two hours before the departure time. It is not good to panic and scramble when nearing the boarding time already. Be there ahead of time and relax. Remember that morning flights are never delayed because it is not affected by previous flights. It is best that travelers take a flight that lands on breaks in between so that their travel would not push them off the gear.

Put the passports and tickets in the hand luggage. Use a lanyard that has plastic passport holder and tie it around your neck if you prefer it that way. Do not wrap packages in your carry on luggage. Place all valuables in the carry luggage. Never lock your bags because inspections are done randomly in the airport. TSA might break your locks just to be able to inspect your bags.

Carry only US Dollar currency. Money can be in cash or traveler’s cheque. Reservation for all flights and hotel are done with a credit card. Be sure to have a non-immigrant visa for temporary stay or you will not be permitted entry in the American territory. You have to have an immigration visa if you wish to stay there permanently.

Visa to America is not easy to get. There are lots of requirements to meet to be able to get an approved visa. Even a visitor’s visa is difficult to get. The visitor must know the basic laws of America. They should be able to prove to the embassy that they are not intending to stay as an immigrant.

Be honest in your interview always, and relax. State the purpose of the trip, be it for business trip, medical treatment or pleasure activity only. You can say you want to see the wonders of America, like the famous Statue of Liberty. Just give the assurance that you just want to visit and see their country. Tell them the duration of your stay if possible. Also give them an idea of the funds you saved to cover the expenses of the whole trip. And lastly, it is very important to establish your local residence from wherever country you are based.

Any person living in a foreign country under the Visa waiver program, or is a resident of Mexico, Canada and Bermuda, is exempted from applying for a visa of entry. His passport is enough. For the rest of the countries, the locals are required to get a visa. Non-immigrant visa is for an international travel that is planning to come to United States for a short and temporary time. The non-immigrant traveler should check the following things:

Check your visa from time to time. You need to renew it if it is about to expire already. That would mean another trip to the American Embassy. Check the available time for interview appointments in the website of America’s government. Plan an interview either in the embassy or at the consul. The first and foremost requirement for immigration visa is an affidavit that supports your status.

These are just some of the things you need to do to be able to enter America. You can not enter America without following these simple steps. Follow these steps so that you would not have any problem when you go to America.

By: David Urmann