|
|
|
Have new technologies improved solo business travels?
In the last 10 to 20 years, advance in technology has transformed many aspects of business travel; from the way we book our hotel rooms to staying in touch with relatives left at home. However it seems that it has not changed one aspect of it: the...
Hungary Travel - Lake Balaton, Visegrad and Szentendre
When visiting Hungary, it is easy to fall in love with Budapest and never venture beyond the city. If this happens, you'll rue the day you missed a chance to visit Lake Balaton, Visegrad and Szentendre.
Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton is located in...
RoomSaver.com Travelers Prefer More Than One
September 21, 2005- A recent poll of RoomSaver.com's Travel club members reveals that the majority of the respondents prefer to take more than just one trip per year, stay more than just 1-2 nights per trip, and travel with at least one other...
Travel Guidebooks Reviewed
Travel Guidebooks are an invaluable source of information. Even if the size of each book is enough to put you off your research, they can be a great reference guide while traveling. But how do they stack up to one another? Lonely Planet Lonely...
Ways To Use Backpacks - Travel In Comfort
Backpacks are commonly associated with kids carrying
books to and from school. However, there are many other
ways to use backpacks. Campers, hikers and
mountaineers have been using backpacks for decades. It
allows them to have their hands...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
How Business Travellers Can Stay Safe in the Worlds Hotspots
word count: 614 character width: 60 resource box: 2 lines + url link to cheaphotelsdeals.com
========================================================== "How Business Travellers Can Stay Safe in the Worlds Hotspots"
- by John Williams
© DigiLectual Inc. 2004 http://www.cheaphotelsdeals.com/ ==========================================================
Business travellers increasingly find themselves needing to visit hotspots. Outside Europe and America, many countries need special care. Obviously, Iraq wouldn't be the number one choice for a business trip. But other countries, like Saudi Arabia or parts of the Far East, require attention too.
Horrific stories of kidnapping and murder scare anyone planning to visit a hotspot. But what are the real risks ? And what can you do to minimize those risks ?
Let's make a list, and discuss each in turn.
* Kidnapping * Attack * Robbery * Accident
It's reassuring to discover few travellers fall victim to kidnapping. Kidnap victims are usually local people or resident expatriates. Why ? Probably because travellers are unpredictable. Kidnappers don't know their plans, where they're staying, or even that they're there at all !
Random attacks are much more likely, but the risk of these can be much minimized, as we'll discuss later.
Robbery - theft of possessions and money can be common among travellers. But these risks can also be minimized.
The biggest threat to business travellers comes from accidents. The number of road accidents, in particular, far exceeds any deaths in terrorist incidents.
How to minimize risk
Reduce your risk by good preparation. Learn about the country and city you plan to visit. A number of websites will help your research. The U.S State Department runs a website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/ The British Foreign Office maintains a website at www.fco.gov.uk - you can find constantly updated general and country specific travel advice.
If you get advice, follow it. Don't ignore it. Keep a low profile where possible, and don't draw unfavourable attention. Is that a good neighbourhood you plan to walk around ? How about that quaint little bar ? Maybe it's the local criminal hangout ?
Find out what you can before you leave, and then take local advice when you get there. Chat with your taxi driver and your hotel manager. You'll find out 99% of what you need to know from these two guys
!
So, before you go you've already found out about good and bad areas of town. You've learned enough to book a good hotel in a good area. Then you'll fill in more detail when you get there (manager, taxi driver etc.)
But what if things go wrong ?
Okay, you've taken steps to reduce your risk. But accidents sometimes happen. You might get robbed in broad daylight on a busy street, though it's unlikely.
Get proper insurance. Standard travel insurance covers most situations, and you should check with your broker. Not all insurance covers business travel, so check. In some higher risk countries, you might need specialist insurance. Yes, you can get insurance to cover emergency evacuation, or even payment to skilled negotiators to help secure your release.
But you only need insurance when it's already too late. Make contingency plans to get yourself out of a bad situation. You've got backup plans for your computer systems and other business operations. Make backup plans for yourself.
If you get caught in political disruption or natural disaster, what will you do ? Communication usually disappears first. Buy or borrow a mobile phone that works locally. Take your own tri-band phone, or rent a phone locally at the airport. Make sure you've got a local contact who can get messages back if necessary (agree this in advance).
So there's little need to worry about the more horrific incidents we see on T.V every day. But more mundane risks, such as robbery or attack can be minimized by the right preparation. Use the internet to research where you're going, and use the U.S and U.K Government web sites for up- to-date advice.
=========================================================== Discover useful information, and some of the best cheap hotels deals on the internet. Click ==> http://cheaphotels.cheaphotelsdeals.com/
** Attn Ezine editors / Site Owners ** Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site so long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include my resource box as listed above.
If you do use the article please send me a note to articles@cheaphotelsdeals.com so I can take a look. Thanks. Check out other great articles at http://www.cheaphotelsdeals.com/articles.htm
About the Author
Discover useful information, and some of the best cheap hotels deals on the internet. Click ==> http://cheaphotels.cheaphotelsdeals.com/
|
|
|
|
|
|