Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 2 . PLANNING AN AFFORDABLE TRIP TO AUSTRALIA
and February, but serious damage is relatively
rare.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET
SICK AWAY FROM HOME
In most cases, your existing health
plan will provide the coverage you
need. But double-check; you may
want to buy travel medical insurance
instead. (See the section on insurance,
above.) Bring your insurance ID card
with you when you travel.
If you suffer from a chronic illness,
consult your doctor before your departure.
For conditions like epilepsy, diabetes,
or heart problems, wear a Medic
Alert Identification Tag (& 800/825-
3785; www.medicalert.org), which will
immediately alert doctors to your condition
and give them access to your
records through Medic Alert’s 24-hour
hot line.
Pack prescription medications in
your carry-on luggage, and carry prescription
medications in their original
containers, with pharmacy labels—
otherwise they won’t make it through
airport security. Also bring along
copies of your prescriptions in case
you lose your pills or run out. Don’t
forget an extra pair of contact lenses or
prescription glasses. Carry the generic
name of prescription medicines, in
case a local pharmacist is unfamiliar
with the brand name.
Contact the International Association
for Medical Assistance to Travelers
(IAMAT) (& 716/754-4883 or
416/652-0137; www.iamat.org) for
tips on travel and health concerns in
the countries you’re visiting, and lists
of local, English-speaking doctors.
The United States Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (& 800/311-
3435; www.cdc.gov) provides up-todate
information on necessary vaccines
and health hazards by region or country.
Any foreign consulate can provide a
list of area doctors who speak English.
If you get sick, consider asking your
hotel concierge to recommend a local
doctor—even his or her own. You can
also try the emergency room at a local
hospital; many have walk-in clinics for
emergency cases that are not life threatening.
You may not get immediate
attention, but you won’t pay the high
price of an emergency room visit.
STAYING SAFE
Driving probably poses one of the
greatest risks to visitors to Australia.
Australians drive on the left, something
which North American and European
visitors still often have difficulty
remembering. Drivers and passengers,
including taxi passengers, must wear a
seatbelt at all times, by law. Avoid driving
between dusk and dawn in country
areas, because this is when kangaroos
are most active, and a collision with a
’roo is something to be avoided at all
costs. Road trains—as many as three
big truck carriages linked together can
be up to 54m (177 ft.) long—are
another danger, particularly in the
Outback. If you break down or get lost,
NEVER leave your vehicle. Most people
who get lost do so in Outback
spots, and those who wander off to
look for help or water usually die in the
attempt. If it happens to you, stay with
your car. See “Getting Around Australia”
later in this chapter.
10 Specialized Travel Resources
TRAVELERS WITH
Australia have wheelchair access.
DISABILITIES
Many smaller lodges and even B&Bs
Most disabilities shouldn’t stop anyone
from traveling. There are more abilities, and some diving companies
are starting to cater to guests with dis-
options and resources out there than cater to scuba divers with disabilities.
ever before. Most hotels, major stores, National parks make an effort to
attractions, and public restrooms in include wheelchair-friendly pathways,