Travel / Accommodations
– You should make your travel arrangements as soon as possible. Contact your travel agent if you need help to make these arrangements.
– Be sure to confirm your flight and accommodation arrangements with your travel agent before you depart for Europe..
– Canadian Battlefield Tours will not be providing local transportation. You will need to arrange your own transportation to and from the airport and to and from the tour departure points.
– Meals will not be provided by Canadian Battlefield Tours.
– You may wish to consult the Foreign Affairs Canada website. It contains information regarding security and safety, health and entry requirements. The website address is www.voyage.gc.ca.
Health / Medication
– Health Canada strongly recommends that you contact your physician or a travel medicine clinic six to eight weeks before your departure. A health care professional can determine your need for preventive medication and can advise you on what precautions to take to avoid disease while travelling. Consult the Travel Medicine Program Web site at www.travelhealth.gc.ca or call (613) 957-8739 to find a travel medicine clinic close to your home.
– If you are travelling with medication, do not try to save luggage space by combining medications into a single container. Keep all medications in the original, labeled container to avoid customs problems. It is also advisable to carry a duplicate copy of the original prescription which lists both the generic and trade names of the drug in case your medication is lost or stolen.
– If you need syringes for a medical condition such as diabetes, it is very important that you take along an appropriate supply. As well, you should carry a medical certificate that shows they are for medical use.
– If you have a pre-existing medical condition that could present a problem while travelling, it is wise to wear a MedicAlert bracelet. Through the MedicAlert Foundation, your vital medical facts are stored in a database that can be accessed 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world.
– If you wear glasses or contact lenses, be sure to pack an extra pair in case they are lost or broken. Carry a duplicate of your original prescription. Having the prescription makes it easier to replace them.
Travel Insurance
Make sure you have an adequate amount of travel health insurance, and make sure you are fully aware of your policy’s terms and conditions before departure. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also tell your travel agent, a friend or a relative at home and your travelling companion how to contact your insurer.
Be sure to ask whether your policy:
1. Has an in-house worldwide emergency hotline you can call if you are in trouble. Find out whether it is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; whether the operators are multilingual; and whether nurses or physicians are on staff.
2. Pays foreign hospital and related costs and, if so, whether it pays up front or expects you to pay and be reimbursed later.
3. Provides for your medical evacuation to the nearest place with proper medical care or to Canada.
4. Pays for any required medical escorts (doctor/nurse) to accompany you during your evacuation.
5. Excludes pre-existing medical conditions. If such conditions exist, notify your insurance company and get an agreement in writing that you are covered for these conditions. Otherwise, you could find your claim “null and void” under a pre-existing condition clause.
6. Provides a cash advance for hospital care if the hospital only accepts cash payments.
7. Pays for the preparation and return home of your remains should you die while travelling.
If you receive medical care while you are outside of Canada, get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you leave the country. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to get the proper paperwork from thousands of kilometers away. Remember always to submit original receipts for any medical services while travelling abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies of faxes. Keep a copy of the submitted documents for your files.
Passport
– Make sure your Canadian Passport is valid. The passport should be valid for at least six months after the date you expect to return to Canada.
– If you do not have a valid passport, you will need to apply for one right away. You can get a passport application through your local post office, passport office or MP’s office. To contact the Canadian Passport office call 1-800-567-6868.
– Keep your passport safe! Make copies of your passport’s identification page and of your identification cards and keep the copies separate from the originals when you travel. For added security, also leave a copy with a friend or relative at home. This may speed the replacement if it is lost or stolen.
– In the event that your passport is lost or stolen, contact the Canadian Embassy in the Country you are in for a replacement after reporting the loss or theft to the local police. Make sure you get a copy of the police report or the report number.
