I am a HUGE fan of the Olympics and I can’t wait to go to Beijing this year! I have never traveled to Asia before (luckily the last Olympics were in Utah, which was only a four hour plane trip). I am really exited about going, but also a little nervous because of all of the things going on in China right now (the earthquake a month ago, health scares, politics and terrorism, etc). Is anyone else a bit anxious about their trip?
I’m keeping an eye on the U.S. Department of State’s Web site and the official Olympics Web site for anything and everything related to China. I think I only have to get vaccinated for Typhoid, Rabies and Hepatitis A and B. I’m also getting trip cancellation and travel medical insurance in case anything was to happen. There is a local out of Indiana named Seven Corners who has an Olympics travel insurance package to cover my Olympic ticket cost, plane trip and medical expenses, so I feel like I’m covered there.
Is there anything else I can do to ease my mind about the big trip? Any tips out there?
Reply to this I moved this to the forum which is for discussing travel related news.
Reply to this Hello Dana & welcome to the Forum!
Beijing will be my third Summer Olympics and generally they are very user-friendly places as the whole city is geared to welcoming visitors. Be aware that the US State Department's web site (just like their equivalent in Australia) takes an overly cautious view of the world - and it would be very rare for you to face any of the problems/issues that they detail.
Travel insurance is essential, and as long as you have a good policy that covers lost luggage, travel delays and the like - you will be fine. Just make sure you have a copy of the policy somewhere safe. I also keep a copy of my insurance, traveller cheque numbers and a scanned copy of my passport on my hotmail account, so if the worst happens and everything is lost - I just need to access an Internet Cafe and everything is there. Also, ensure that you get your vaccinations soon, as some have a lead in time of a couple of weeks before being effective - I think that this could be true of the Rabies shot(s).
Beijing will be primed like no other city for the Games, and the chances of anything striking you like a rabid dog or an earthquake are very remote. However, the heat could be an issue if you are not used to it, and so could the pollution. The other concern is that it is typhoon season, and though Beijing will not receive the full force of these storms, it could still bring rain, so bring a good waterproof jacket.
If you get an opportunity to be away from the sports action for a day or so, there are some great sites in the area (Forbidden Palace, Summer Palace, Great Wall) so try to squeeze some of those in. Chinese culture and history is a real highlight - and I have deliberately kept a few sports-free days in order to enjoy some of these attractions. Asia has a really great vibe - you'll love it!
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.
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