Carry Relevant Documentation

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Whether you travel alone or not, make sure you always have all of your documentation with you at all times.  And whenever possible, have this paperwork translated into the local language.  You never know when you’ll need to ask someone for directions back to your hotel or to the nearest emergency room. 

What Type of Documentation Should You Carry with You?

In addition to your passport, wallet, and visa information, you should also carry: 

• Directions, addresses, and phone numbers for hotels and medical facilities.  As mentioned above, we recommend that you have all of these items translated into the local language.  Not everybody will be able to speak English (or whatever language you happen to speak).  If the local language uses a script or alphabet that you can’t read, be sure to include your own notes at the top of each paper so that you know exactly which set of directions corresponds to which destination.

• Travel itineraries, dates, locations, and times.  Again, these items should be translated into the local language as well.  Japanese people don’t call their country “Japan.”  Germans don’t call their homeland “Germany.”  So if you need to show a taxi driver that you want to catch an 11 a.m. flight from a certain airport to a certain destination, it is imperative that you have an itinerary that he or she can understand.

• Instructions for any medication or medical equipment.  In the event of an emergency, your travel companions, passersby, or medical personnel might need to administer medication.  If you’re unconscious, they’ll need to be able to access these instructions easily.  But even if you are conscious, you might not be able to explain what needs to be done if your “would-be” rescuers don’t understand the same language that you do.  This is why having translations is crucial.

 
Not only should you have translations for all of the above, but you should also have multiple copies on your person, in your luggage, in your carry-on, and with your travel companion.