1. Make sure to plan some rest time after you return from your trip to deal with any tiredness or jet lag.
2. Confirm all your travel documents a few days before you leave so any last-minute changes can be sorted out.
3. When packing, remember to bring what you need, considering any shopping you want to do on your vacation.
4. If you’re traveling with family and kids, pack items that cater to the needs of both elders and children to avoid any discomfort or meltdowns.
5. It’s important to let your close friends or relatives know about your travel plans. Arrange for babysitting, camping gear, or pet care if needed while you’re away.
6. Call your bank before you leave to let them know about your travels and any big purchases you might make with your debit or credit card.
7. In Madagascar, only Visa and Mastercard are accepted for withdrawing local currency from ATMs. Note that credit card payments are not widely accepted, except at some 5-star hotels in major towns or cities.

Prioritizing your health and taking necessary precautions will contribute to a safe and enjoyable travel experience for all.

1. Consult with a healthcare provider: Before traveling to Madagascar, schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider or a travel medicine specialist to discuss your trip. They can provide personalized advice based on your medical history, itinerary, and any specific health concerns.

   2. Stay up-to-date on routine vaccinations: Make sure that you and your children are up-to-date on routine vaccinations recommended by your country’s health authorities. These may include vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and influenza.

   3. Get travel-specific vaccinations: In addition to routine vaccinations, certain travel-specific vaccinations may be recommended or required for Madagascar. These may include vaccines for diseases such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, and meningitis. Make sure to get these vaccines well in advance of your trip, as some may require multiple doses or take time to become effective.

   4. Prevent mosquito-borne illnesses: Madagascar is a malaria-endemic country, so it is important to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites. Use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved clothing and pants, and sleep under a mosquito net, especially in rural areas. Consider taking antimalarial medication as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

   5. Practice safe food and water precautions: To prevent foodborne illnesses and waterborne diseases, only drink bottled or boiled water, avoid consuming raw or undercooked foods, and peel fruits and vegetables before eating them. Pack a supply of safe snacks and drinks to have on hand during your travels. Please, also your tour guide recommendation for restaurant, especially for your allergic foods.

   6. Pack a travel health kit: Before departing for Madagascar, pack a travel health kit with essential items such as prescription medications, over-the-counter medications (e.g., pain relievers, antidiarrheal), first aid supplies, insect repellent, sunscreen, and hand sanitizer. Be prepared for common travel-related health issues and emergencies.

   7. Seek medical attention if needed: If you or your children develop any symptoms of illness during your trip, seek medical attention promptly. Visit a local healthcare facility or contact your travel insurance provider for assistance. Be aware of the nearest medical facilities and emergency contact information in the areas you will be visiting.

Please take note that visa requirements for certain countries may change from time to time. It is advisable that you check with your travel agent or directly with destination country’s Embassy or High Commission in Malaysia before booking a holiday.

What sort of protection/coverage does a travel insurance covers you? Some of the coverage that you should expect is as below:

• Personal Accident
• Medical Expenses
• Loss of Luggage & Personal Effect
• Loss of Travel Documents
• Baggage Delay
• Travel Delay
• Missed Departure
• Flight Overbooked
• Hijack Inconvenience
• Travel Cancellation
• Loss of Money/ Valuables

….and other types of coverage as well.

Here are other examples that might NOT be covered in travel insurance:

• Declared or undeclared war or any act of war, invasion, act of foreign enemy, and other war terms
• Loss or destruction of goods due to radiation
• Suicide/Self harm/ or any intentional acts by the insured person that provoked homicide or assault personnel or military personnel of any country or international authority, whether full-time service or as a volunteer
• The Insured Person engaging in, practising for or taking part in training in any speed contest, any professional competition or sports, and participating in Hazardous adventure

For more information on the inclusions & exclusions of travel insurance coverage, contact your travel agent.

On your travel day, make a list of the things that you need to bring along- luggage, passport and tickets. Also, mark all your bags inside and out with your name and address – both home address and your holiday address. To be on the safe side, weigh your bags to ensure you don’t exceed the baggage requirements of the airline. Travel insurance is becoming a must, so do consider getting one because you do not have to worry if your bags are lost or if your flight has been cancelled or even if your passport and wallet is stolen. It is always best to get yourself and your family covered as mishaps do happen when travelling.

You do know that it is possible to travel with hand-luggage only, rite? Just that you will need to know the airline rules for carrying liquids, otherwise you may have to remove them at the security checkpoint! In order to handle jet lags, stay hydrated by drinking lots of plain water during the flight. Avoid tea and coffee.

Gather required documents before your flight as you are responsible to present as required, documents by the relevant authorities at all entry and exit lanes, health and other documents required by law, regulations, order, demands or requirements of the countries flown from, into or over.

Self-check-in is free, simple & quick! It will save your time at airport! Otherwise, counter check-in opens 3 hours before the scheduled time of departure and closes 1 hour before the scheduled time of departure. Note: Check-in deadlines may vary at different airports and for particular flights. Airport has long queues due to complex security checks. We suggest that you check-in early and proceed immediately to the departure gate or you may risk being left behind in security.

Pre-book your checked baggage to save money and time. Each piece/item of checked baggage has to weigh less than 30kg. Guests may not combine their checked baggage weight with other guests unless travelling in the same booking.

For, baggage drop counter, it opens 3 hours before the scheduled time of departure and closes 45 minutes before the scheduled time of departure. Guests are required to hold a boarding pass to use our baggage drop counters.

Bringing liquids are subject to the prevalent applicable local laws and regulations guests may take liquids on board in their cabin baggage with a maximum volume of 100 ml. The items must be placed in a transparent, re-sealable plastic bag.

For boarding time, guests are required to be at the boarding gate at least 20 minutes before the scheduled time of departure or you will be denied boarding.

• Ensure you have a reliable GPS system and location maps in the car. Sometimes, you can’t rely totally on GPS and the local location maps come in handy.
• Pack enough liquids/water and snacks in the car as some stretches are long and do not have halfway stops.
• Try to reach your destination before dark as most stretches are either forests or farms where street lights are minimal in the countryside.
• Plan some games, pack short story books or sing along rhymes if you travel with kids.
• Umbrellas are great in case there are light drizzles or rain.
• Always ensure your tank is full and refill before it reaches quarter tank as it is not easy to find another petrol station nearby. You never know if you have gotten on the wrong track/trail or got lost.
• Buy insurance coverage for the driver and passengers.

When you are overseas/ holiday destination, do call your close relatives/ friends to let them know you have arrived safely and keep them updated of where you are if you are moving around. Make sure to always keep your luggage locked when leaving them behind in the hotel. Carry your passport with you and ensure you don’t carry excessive cash that might attract attention. If you are taking a self drive holiday, make sure you collect the car from the airport and get a GPS.

When you are abroad and if you want to try something local, make sure it is a recommendation from a trustworthy source. To make life easier, get a local map and identify the tourist info centres. Moreover for safety precautions, avoid walking alone at night or in dark areas and beware of pickpockets whose modus operandi is by distracting you. Also, if you drive, follow the local traffic rules and avoid driving at night.

Before your return flight, do confirm your flight details in case of delays or cancellations. It is best to ensure that you have all travel documents prepared and easily accessible for check in. Always plan your packing and don’t do too much last minute shopping that can’t fit your luggage. Keep track with the luggage requirements of the country you’re visiting in mind.

Do not forget to remind your close relatives/ friends of your return and make arrangements for an airport pick up. Keep track of all your valuables and make sure that they are in your hand- wallet, passport, camera, watch, jewellery.

Last but not least, make sure you are at the airport two hours (or 3-4 hours in some countries) earlier to avoid missing the flight.