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Being A "Smart Traveller".

Aussies have always loved to travel. Given our remote location towards the bottom corner of the world, in most cases it is more than a simple hop, skip and a jump to actually get anywhere. So we save up, pack our bags and take "big" trips off to far away lands and foreign territories, eager to explore and experience other sights, sounds and distant cultures.

Unprepared, it can turn out to be a dangerous and costly experience. Many travellers fail to be insured against medical or other circumstances, or simply are unprepared for the changes in culture, politics or even geographical or climate issues.

Yeah, I know - most of us dislike anything to do with Governments or with Goverment institutions. Maybe it's an Aussie thing against authority. I dunno. However, given that in this age conditions can deteriorate or change drastically within a relatively short period of time, being a Smart Traveller is more than just a blase recommendation - it should be an integral part of your travel planning.

The Charter for Safe Travel is a partnership between the Australian Government and the travel industry to assist Australians to travel safely overseas. Under the Charter, the travel industry encourages individuals to consult travel advisories and to take out appropriate travel insurance.

So before you go, check out the latest advisories and bulletins on the Smart Traveller website, or use the lnks on the right hand column to check the latest. Secondly, register your details on the site - if you are somewhere remote and a major incident happens, at least the authorities know where you should be, which can make it easier for them to track you down and get you home if the urgent need arises. It just makes smart common sense..