Travel Safety Guidelines

for students enrolled in MBA298 A

International Business Development

Before travelling abroad, a number of important preparations are necessary in the event an emergency arises. Below is a checklist to help outline some of the considerations to protect your health and safety on IBD projects.

Preparation
In the earliest stages of planning your trip, we make the following recommendations:
1. Contact the local embassy of the country you will be visiting to obtain a list of hotels and ask about any special security considerations.
2. Check for travel advisories issued on the U.S. State Department's Web Site or by calling (202) 647-5525.
3. Find out about any unique health threats and required vaccinations by visiting the Center for Disease Control web site or by calling the CDC Travelers' Hotline at (888) 232-3228.
4. Check your medical insurance to gather information about local doctors and hospitals overseas.
5. Obtain a country, local, and city map of the areas you will be visiting.
6. Create home and overseas contact lists.
7. Make an emergency contact card.
8. Provide a detailed itinerary to a trusted friend and office contact.
Create an Emergency Contact Card
This important document is meant to be kept on you at all times. This card should include:
1. Personal Data - Name, blood type, medications, physician information, allergies, and an emergency contact person.
2. Other Contacts - An office emergency contact person, a trusted friend or neighbor, travel and medical insurance company (include policies #s), and credit card companies (with card #). Be sure to include home and mobile numbers for personal contacts. Use direct phone numbers for businesses, because toll-free numbers do not work overseas.
3. Overseas Contacts - Hotel information: including name, address, and phone number, local car rental phone and reservation numbers, local office/business contact infromation, a home number of a local overseas associate, U.S. Embassy and/or consulate numbers, local police/emergency numbers, local insurance numbers, and International Calling Card information.
Carry Duplicate Documents
Leave copies of the following documents with a trusted friend or business associate. In the event that the original documents are lost or stolen during your trip, these may be faxed quickly if they are required.

These documents include:
1. Airline tickets
2. Credit Cards
3. Detailed itinerary with dates, flights, hotels, local contacts, and inland travel plans.
4. Driver's license.
5. Hotel reseveration/confirmation numbers.
6. Passport
7. Travel and Medical Insurance information
8. Traveler's cheque serial numbers.

Useful Web Sites
Below is a list of useful websites for travel information and convenience.

Contact

For additional information please contact:

Elizabeth Kovats
Program Manager
Tel: (510) 643-1048
Fax: (510) 643-3261
e-mail: kovats@haas.berkeley.edu

Return to IBD: Frequently Asked Questions.

Last updated March 5, 2008