“Forewarned is forearmed.” And this can be applied to any traveler, especially for trips to the Middle East, where cultural differences can lead to some undesirable situations. In this post, Mandala Tours gives you some tips to avoid unexpected events before and during your trip.
Travel with Insurance that Covers Flight Cancellation
In these first two sections of the post, we refer to travel insurance, but we divide it into flight insurance and health insurance because you should pay attention to these two major aspects. The first is this: the possibility of having to cancel the flight. This risk is inherent to any trip, not just those to the Middle East. However, these flights are generally long and not always cheap. Therefore, it is advisable to have insurance that reimburses you in case you have to cancel for personal reasons. Sometimes, the airline itself offers this insurance, but you can also purchase it independently from your trusted insurer, although this might involve additional paperwork.
Travel with Good Health Insurance
The other major utility of travel insurance is the medical aspect. And in any of the countries we work with, this is especially evident. Not all destinations have quality public hospitals and health centers, and agreements between countries for the reciprocity of these services can lead to obstacles or misunderstandings. For a trip, the most practical and convenient option is to resort to private healthcare, if the need arises. Private healthcare in these countries does meet the expected quality standards, but it can be very expensive, so it is highly recommended to have a policy with good coverage.
Check the Medical Entry Requirements
None of the North African and Middle Eastern countries we work with have special health warnings. And the latest Covid-19 restrictions were lifted some time ago. However, it is always advisable to check the recommendations offered by health authorities, such as recommended vaccines for at-risk populations, especially if you are going to visit areas with potential contact with wild animals.
Prepare a Good Basic First Aid Kit
Some reasons that make it advisable to carry a good basic first aid kit when traveling to the Middle East are the incidence of sun and heat, the sudden change in diet, or arriving in rural areas with few pharmacies nearby. Some of the medications or products that should not be missing from this kit are antibiotics, antidiarrheals, water purification tablets, gauze and wound disinfectants, or medications for insect bites. Products to protect or repair the skin from sun exposure are also essential.
Trust a Travel Agency
Finally, as a final and overall tip, we recommend that you rely on a local and trusted travel agency to plan your experience, such as the branches of Mandala Tours. Keep in mind that safety is always an important element in the equation when visiting these countries, so there is no better recommendation than to put yourself in the hands of people who know the country, speak the local language, and are resourceful in making necessary decisions in the face of unexpected events. In short, this is much better than traveling on your own to these countries, where the language can be a barrier and solo travelers can generate suspicion or mistrust among the local population and authorities, especially in remote areas.
