Skip to main navigation Skip to Content

Centre for International Experience

Accommodation & Transportation

 Accommodation

When considering accommodation there are a number of things that you should consider;

  • when possible choose a room that is not on the ground floor
  • if it is clear that you are travelling alone, avoid letting people see your room number on your keys or having the concierge announce it loudly
  • choose a hotel/ hostel that has fire exits, an emergency evacuation plan
  • when alone, avoid taking the stairs, when in the elevator stand up against the buttons and in an emergency press against each floor button
  • rather then use a portable lock provided by a hotel, use your own
  • when signing into a hotel, use your first initial of your first name only
Hostels: Staying in budget accommodation might be the best way to stretch your dollars and see more places. We recommend that you research the neighbourhood of the hostel before arriving and write down the addresses of two or three different options. If you arrive and the hostel seems unsafe you will have two other options at hand. If you are arriving late, book a hostel or put a deposit down in advance so that you do not have to worry whether or not they are overbooked.

Transportation

Auto injuries, while in the automobile or as a pedestrian, is the number one cause of accidents for travellers.  Consider the difficulties of adjusting to a different traffic flow of left sided drivers, such as the case in England.  Even after you have been in the country for a long period, when you feel safe/ comfortable and guard is down, that you forget to look for vehicles in opposite direction.   Travel standards (road conditions, car care) can also differ greatly; especially in developing countries where the fatality rate can be up to 10 times higher then here in Canada.

Months before going overseas, try to get yourself in the habit of looking both ways a second time.  If you can get adjusted to looking for on-coming traffic in both directions it will be one less thing to adjust to later.

Biking: Riding your bike can be the most economical way to get around, but before you start riding around the city familiarize yourself with local customs and laws. In some places bikes can be ticketed if they do not follow the rules. If you are travelling in a busy city or developing country make sure the roads are safe. This means researching what the safest route might consist in (ex. well paved, less traffic, bicycle lanes, etc.) 


Back to Top