Costa Ricans get new digits March 21

Traveling to Costa Rica? Plan to make a local call? New changes are coming into effect that youl'll want to know about. The telecommunications industry in Costa Rica continues to grow, and new changes are coming into place as a result. According to a recent note on ASI Hotspots starting on March 21 phone numbers will pick up an extra digit, going from seven to eight.

What will change:

• A “2” will be added at the beginning of all landline numbers.
• An “8” will be added at the beginning of all mobile/cell phone numbers (which will take effect after users reboot their phones).

What stays the same:

• All 800 numbers
• All three-digit numbers, including the 911 emergency and 113 information numbers.

What can travellers expect?

There may be some technical glitches immediately after the change takes place at midnight. Services aren’t expected to be disrupted. Make sure to add the extra digit to any local phone numbers you need while you travel, such as your local embassy and hotel.

Keep your luxuries to yourself in the DPRK

Do you know how the United Nations sanctions may affect you when traveling to North Korea?

The Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade now warns its citizens to familiarize themselves with United Nations sanctions before they travel to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), especially when it comes to luxury goods.

According to the governmental advice, Australians are allowed to carry items on the luxury goods list for their personal use only. The sale or transfer of goods is strictly prohibited.

Not Australian? You should still known and understand the UN sanctions. Check your government advice for more information.

Rupee or bust

Traveling to India? You’ll want to leave your U.S. currency behind.

Got a wallet full of greenbacks? As of the end of November, they won’t get you into many popular tourist attractions in India. According to an article in the New Zealand Herald, the falling U.S. currency has prompted India's Ministry for Tourism and Culture to rule that it will no longer be accepted as payment to enter popular destinations, such as the Taj Mahal. The decision comes as part of a move to avoid losses due to the changing exchange rate.

Consider: In the past, travellers could use their greenbacks to pay a set entry fee of USD $5.00 – back when $1.00 was roughly equivalent to 50 rupees. Today, one U.S. dollar is only worth 39 rupees. The “flat fee” means that the Indian government now loses 55 rupees per visitor.

In response, the government has now fixed the admission rate for foreign tourists at 250 rupees. U.S. tourists will notice a rise in price of more than a dollar.

Settle your business before you depart

Many people travel for business, but disputes could delay their plans in some countries.

According to government advice for Libya, foreigners who are involved in business disputes in that country might have their passports confiscated and may not be allowed to leave the country until the matter is settled.

Knowing the local laws and customs before you go can help you avoid potential problems.

Can you use your credit card overseas?

Credit cards a boon to travellers because they can help manage expenses and are convenient to use. However, before you too heavily on your cards, ask yourself two questions:

Are credit cards widely accepted at my destination?

Some countries are “cash economies”, meaning that credit and debit cards are not widely used or accepted. You’ll have to opt for another form of payment if you aren’t staying at a resort. Make sure you know where and how to get money in an emergency.

Looking for more information? Try the government travel advice for your destinations – the advice covers money and currency.

Will foreign merchants accept my card with/without a “chip and pin?”

Many countries throughout Europe have moved to a more secure “chip and pin” system for credit card purchases. However, if your financial institution or destination isn’t following suit, you might find your credit card is denied. Check with your credit card company about its international policies.

Want to know more about the problem? Take a look at a recent article on news.com.au called “Chips are down on magnetic strips”.

Time stands still for Venezuela

What happened to the President’s plan to change the clocks?

The September 24 deadline came -- and went -- without a change in the time. According to various media reports, President Hugo Chavez postponed his plan to turn the clocks back by half an hour. The change would have allowed school children to wake up for school in daylight rather than before sunrise.

The problem? The plan was announced only eight days before the intended change – causing confusion across the country. The government now plans to implement the change in 2008, thereby allowing the country to complete all necessary bureaucratic process.

Once the change is implemented, Venezuela will be in its own time zone at – 4:30 GMT.

For more information, see the article in Reuters here.

How safe is your cruise?

Are you safer at sea or at home? You might be surprised by recent news.

The cruise industry has been plagued by a number of issues this past year ranging from virus outbreaks to ships running aground. An article on NEWS.com.au warns of another startling trend: cruise ship passengers are 50 percent more likely to be the victim of a sexual assault on board than on land. According to expert Ross Klein from the University of Newfoundland, about 80 percent of assaults were carried out by cruise line staff.

But are cruise ships really that dangerous? As noted in the article, part of the problem is that people assume they are safe and are therefore less vigilant. Klein notes that people should at least take the same precautions on board a cruise as they would in a major city, if not more. For example, parents should not let their children run around unsupervised.

The Australian Government’s advice for Shipping and Ports now includes a section on cruise ships to provide safety advice for travellers.

It’s the weekend… a day later

If you’re doing business in or traveling to Kuwait, you’ll want to know about this change of plans.

According to various sources, Kuwait recently announced that it will be changing the days of its weekend. Government offices and much of the private sector will switch their Thursday-Friday days off to Friday-Saturday.

The changes come into effect on September 1, 2007.

Holy water: miracle or security threat?

Surprised pilgrims discovered holy water is banned from their flight – even though the Vatican chartered the plane.

The Vatican recently launched its Boeing 737 charter flight service for pilgrims starting with Lourdes, France. Lourdes is home to the famous grotto where Catholics believed the Virgin Mary appeared almost 150 years ago, and many believe that water from this grotto has healing properties. Consequently, the water is available for purchase.

However, bottled water – holy or not – is not permitted on flights because it exceeds the three ounce (100 mL) security restrictions currently in place. Surprised pilgrims quickly found out that security officials would not make an exception. Any amount of liquid that exceeds the restrictions can be considered a threat.

According to various media reports, one woman had eight bottles of water – shaped like the Madonna – confiscated while another man drank his bottle on the spot rather than surrender it.

Reportedly, the Vatican predicted this problem would occur and offers complimentary bottles on board.

"If they sell them in the street, how can it be illegal?"

Can shopping get you in trouble? Yes, and here's why:

Market places and street vendors can offer unique items that make great souvenirs. However, as a tourist in Russia recently discovered, not everything for sale on the streets is legal.

A recent article in the International Herald Tribune recounts the story of a Chilean tourist in Russia who purchased Red Army metals and old ruble notes not realizing that buying and selling these items violates Russian law. Though these items are worth a relatively small sum, the tourist has so far endured two months of issues dealing with a foreign justice system.

In other parts of the world, items made from protected animals and plants are also readily available for sale in market places but are actually illegal to purchase and transport out of the country.

Because not knowing about a law will not exempt you from being prosecuted under that law, a little pre-trip research and caution while shopping can save a lot of hassle later on.

Beijing Olympics nothing to spit at

China aims to clean up its dirty habits ahead of the 2008 Olympics – but how?

Littering, cutting in lines and the infamous habit of spitting in public… These are all habits that China would like to see corrected before the world spotlight is on the country for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

According to an article on NEWS.com.au, new bans and procedures were already in place for the May Day week holiday. Officials handed out thousands of bags to tourists in an effort to prevent littering. Travel guides are now required to include a discussion on etiquette, and the eleventh day of every month is “voluntarily wait in line” day to get people in the habit of behaving in an orderly fashion rather than pushing and shoving.

Officials have also implemented campaigns whose goal is to “cultivate courtesy and civility”, the article reports.

The Summer Olympics begin August 8

Keep your hands to yourself

Be aware of what your hands might be saying in a different culture. Many people “talk with their hands” but what their gestures are saying may different from country to country.

For example, according to FCO advice for Zimbabwe, a politically turbulent country, an open hand is a symbol of the opposition party. A friendly wave may therefore be misinterpreted. In Australia, a “thumbs-up” sign is a profane gesture. In many Latin American countries, a simple hand signal can warn you against theft, according to a Spanish Language website.

The best defense? Read the travel advice for your country and invest in a good guidebook to learn about the culture and customs where you are traveling.

Brits behaving badly

How prepared are travellers when it comes to avoiding or minimizing problems? A new report suggests there is a lot of room for improvement.

Arrests, hospitalizations, lost passports and even deaths are among the many reasons British nationals needed help from their government while travelling last year. On August 2, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Know before you go campaign released its new report on British Behaviour Abroad which reveals some startling statistics.

For instance, Greece had the largest number of hospitalizations at 955, despite having significantly less visitors than Spain and France. The USA has the most arrests per capita at 1368, as well as the most lost passports (3064) – second only to 6078 lost passports in Spain which had three times as many visits. The data doesn't cover victims of crime other than rape or transportation accidents.

Furthermore, the report suggests that “although Brits are getting more adventurous with their travels, they are not doing enough preparation before they go.” The FCO hopes releasing this data will encourage travellers to better prepare for their trips. According to the report, the FCO “believes that many of these problems could be prevented or made easier to deal with through better preparation by travellers”. The report therefore provides tips and information on preventing common problems, such as protecting your password, avoidng excessive drinking and exercising caution in certain locations.

The best advice? Check out the government travel advice before you go.

To see the full details of the report, see British Behaviour Abroad.

Can (Thousand) island hopping getting you arrested?

The Thousand Islands region spans both Canadian and American borders, so exercise caution when traveling amongst them.

Even though the islands act as stepping stones between the two countries, entry requirements still apply. It is illegal to go ashore without reporting to an immigration officer at a port-of-entry (even if it is unintentional), and doing so could have serious consequences -- including a fine, arrest, or removal from the U.S.

More information can be found from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website at www.cbp.gov. The department publishes a site for Reporting Requirements for Pleasure Boat Operators.

Also, you should note that Canadian boat tours make stops at Boldt Castle -- an American tourist attraction. If you wish to disembark, you will be subject to U.S. Customs & Immigration laws and will require necessary identification and documentation.

Sweet rewards for safe drivers

What are Swiss police doing to encourage safe driving habits? The answer is "sweet".

Following a recent run of serious road offences in Fribourg, police have added a little reward to their road side checks: chocolate.

According to an article in the Mail & Guardian, police launched a one-day “Thank You” campaign aimed at rewarding good drivers as well as punishing offenders. Motorists with a “clean sheet” were rewarded with bars of chocolate. Offenders were handed out penalties.

The article notes that in the last six months at least 830 drivers have been charges during road side checks. Speeding, drunk driving and license offenses are the most common issues.

Beware: Thieves could make you pay

Did you know you may have to pay if your car is stolen in Bulgaria?

According to a recent advice update from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, victims of car theft may be subject to fines and taxes. Technically, a car registered outside of the EU is considered to be “temporarily imported.” If the car is stolen while in Bulgaria, the owner must pay import duty and all related taxes.

Check out the advice for Bulgaria for more policies about driving.

Declare your cash in the EU

Planning to travel through the EU? According to recent UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice updates, new regulations for declaring cash came into effect on June 15, 2007. Anyone entering or leaving the EU must now declare the money they carry when the amount exceeds 10 000 euros. This amount includes all cash, cheques, traveller’s cheques and money orders.

The exception to the rules? You will not need to declare your cash if you are:

• travelling within the EU.
• travelling via the EU to a non-EU country (when the original journey started outside of the EU).

The naked truth about local dress

Not only do rules for acceptable dress vary from country to country, they can also vary within a country depending on the city and circumstance. For example, major cities in Muslim countries tolerate Western dress styles, while surrounding areas tend to be stricter. Many countries in Europe favour conservative dress for women.

Pre-trip research and cultural awareness are key, but when in doubt, watch the locals for cues on how to dress and try to blend in.

This habit could have saved an American tourist a lot of trouble when it comes to local practices. According to an article in the Mail and Guardian, a visitor to Berlin shocked locals by not wearing anything at all. The man mistakenly thought this practice was acceptable in Germany, where nude sun bathing in public parks is permitted. His error cost him a sizable fine and resulted in an investigation for indecent behaviour.

It’s a small, smoke-free world after all

Disney World hotels will soon be smoke-free! According to various media sources, visitors to Walt Disney World hotels will soon have to watch where they smoke. As of June 1, 2007 a new ban prohibits smoking in hotel rooms, balconies and all other public areas. Smokers may use special designated areas instead.

Will the move cause a drastic change? Not likely, according to an article in the Orlando Sentinel. Smokers comprise only four percent of Disney’s booked rooms. In fact, Disney is implementing the ban based on feedback from their customers.

Guests who try to sneak in a cigarette will find a cleaning fee of $250 - $500 USD tacked on to their bill to cover deep cleaning services and the replacement of items such as curtains and bedding. The article notes that it is unclear if smoking customers may gravitate towards other hotels on Disney property, such as the Hilton, which permit smoking.

A New King for Wallis? Don’t ask.

If you’re travelling to Wallis and Futuna before October, don’t ask the locals for information about their new ruler. Tomasi Kulimoetoke died in May after a long illness, prompting the Wallis’s chief minister to declare a six month period of mourning for the late monarch. According to Radio New Zealand International the topic of choosing a successor is considered to be off-limits during this period.

Tomasi Kulimoetoke signed a pact in 1961 to make Wallis and Futuna a French Overseas Territory. He ruled for over 35 years before passing away at the age of 88 years.