If your motorcycle travel plans include crossing international borders, please enjoy a snippet of info as continued from previous blog posts below. Or, feel free to download your copy of our International Motorcycle Travel Guide here.
Part 1 (Continued)
- Illnesses & Medications
- Medical, Travel, Medi Vac, and Trip Insurance
- Riding skills & physical condition
- Maps
ILLNESSES & MEDICATIONS
Some common illnesses tend to strike travellers who are experiencing a foreign land for the first time. Problems with diarrhea, altitude sickness, and dehydration are commonly reported, and can certainly degrade your overall experience if left uncontrolled.
We recommend you consult with your doctor or travel nurse in advance to understand which pain relievers, anti-biotics, or prescription medications might help you through any of these situations. Keep in mind that not all pharmaceuticals you have available at home will be within reach once at your destination. Plan ahead and learn how you’ll combat or eliminate such illnesses so you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.
MEDICAL TRAVEL, MEDI VAC, & TRIP INSURANCE
Please note, there are different types of insurance to consider when it comes to travel:
a) Medical Travel - Should an unfortunate illness or injury result in your needing medical attention, is your current insurance provider prepared to cover your expenses from a foreign country? Review the benefits and coverage included with your plan, and make whatever adjustments are necessary for your trip.
b) Medi Vac - In the most unfortunate of incidents, some travellers have needed urgent transfer to proper medical attention by helicopter, airplane or other mode of transport because the area they were injured in didn’t have sufficient urgent care capabilities. The costs that come with such urgent transfer can be absolutely devastating without insurance to cover such bills (examples of helicopter charges have exceeded $250,000 USD.) For this, you can do your own research online or with your insurance provider and purchase specific medical air transport insurance for the duration of your trip. Companies like “Air Ambulance” and “Med Jet Assist” are popular for this type of coverage.
c) Trip Insurance – Such insurance can be purchased to help alleviate some of the financial loss you may incur as a result of trip interruption, delay, or other unforseen events. As is with almost any insurance option these days, the Internet can be a great way to find the right plan for your trip.
RIDING SKILLS & PHYSICAL CONDITION
Especially in the case of a motorcycle trip, your upcoming vacation should not be your first time on a motorcycle in any significant amount of time. In addition to being on a motorcycle you might not be familiar with, road conditions, signs, temperatures, and all surroundings will be testing your coordination such that you don’t need to be “re-learning” how to ride once the trip starts. Does your itinerary include any dirt, gravel, mud, or sand riding? Check with your rental provider and prepare your riding skills accordingly.
With any kind of active adventure travel, physical conditioning prior to your trip is essential for making the most of your experience. While your travel plans might not require extreme strength or cardiovascular conditioning, being on the “upper end” of such conditions prior to and during your trip will help you feel better and more energetic once underway. Aside from just enjoying the experience more, fatigue and lapses in concentration can impact our reaction times and coordination. Play it safe, get in shape if you’re not already, and lower the chances that you suffer injury or illness because the journey is exceeding the limits of your endurance.
Furthermore, activities like stretching and impact training can greatly reduce the severity of any accidents or injuries that occur during your travel. Prepare your body so that it can be tested to the limits, and you’ll reduce the chances of any incident ending your trip early.
MAPS
Your rental probably already includes a local map with your motorcycle, but don’t count on finding more or “better” maps once you’re on your way! Purchase maps ahead of time (if you don’t feel your provided map will be sufficient) because finding maps in foreign countries might be much more of a challenge than you might think.
