[Travelandtourism] Traveling Internationally

Fri Jul 27 18:09:23 UTC 2012

Hi Cheryl,
I have no problem with you using any information I can provide. Did you have any particular questions? When I travel to Ghana I have friends that assist me when i'm their, so I usually stay in a private residence. 

Some more things to keep in mind:

Most houses do not have hot water and a lot more do not even have running water. The houses that have running water are not to a standard that we would expect to see in the western world. Running water is good for things like washing hands but when it comes to showering you are using buckets of water to wash with. There is just not enough pressure in the taps to provide for the shower. 
Do not under any circumstances drink water from the taps. Purified bottled or small bags of water can be found anywhere so drink that instead. I don't believe tap water is treated their, at least not in the same way we have become used to in the west. This is the hardest thing I had to get used to when I was their. Houses that do have running water will have flushing toy-lets, so that is a good thing.

If you want to use a cell phone, such as an iPhone, make sure it is unlocked. Although locked phones will work, you will be paying very, and I mean very expensive rates to your home carrier. Bell Mobility was charging something like $2.99 Canadian per minute. I bought an unlocked iPhone 3GS to take with me when I went the last time. 

To sign up with a phone carrier such as MTN or Vodafone you go to their office and register for a sim card. You must have your passport to register. When you get your sim installed you then by phone credit from either stores or street vendors. These are cards you can by in different denominations which you have to scratch off a number on the back of the card and enter this into your phone using the phone's keypad. I just get someone sited to do this for me. 

Although credit and bank cards can be used at ATMs. This presents a problem. Although many people can speak good passible english they have a hard time reading english instructions. So make sure you can find someone who can read english as well as speak it to read the instructions from the ATM for you. 

Get used to carrying cash. All people I have met their use cash to pay for goods. All stores mainly except cash and nothing else. 
The currency in Ghana is the Ghana Seedy. I may be mistaken but as I understand it this currency has to be obtained in the country and you are not allowed to leave with it. 

Transportation between short distances can be provided by taxi which can take you anywhere you want to go or via small vans that travel preset routes Larger busses are used to go longer distances of about two hours or more. 
Taxis are not maintained to a standard we would expect in North America or Europe. If you take a taxi don't be surprised to hear squeeks and rattles that you would not hear otherwise. 

I hope this helps someone. Please contact me with any questions you may have.  

Regards,

Doug

On 2012-07-26, at 8:44 PM, cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com> wrote:

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> Appreciate you helping out Doug, if you have photos and/or videos that can be added to our website, which our Board Member/Webmaster Daniel Carr can use, we welcome them.
> Might we also use the information provided Doug that would be awesome.
> Thank you.
> Sincerely,
> 
> Cheryl Echevarria, PresidentNFB Travel and TourismPresident at nfb-travel.org631-236-5138
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> Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
> Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
> Help fuel the "Dream Machine" of the Imagination Fund by visiting www.nfb.org/imaginationfund to make a donation using your credit card ortext the word "blind" to 85944 and you will automatically donate $10 worth of fuel via your cell phone bill.
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>> CC: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
>> From: doug.lawlor at gmail.com
>> Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2012 19:23:57 -0230
>> To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Traveling Internationally
>> 
>> Hello:
>> Although I have not traveled in Europe, I have traveled to Ghana, West Africa. 
>> I found that both Air Canada and Lufthanza were very good with providing assistance. 
>> The first time a arrived in Ghana the assistent insisted that I get into a wheel chair when I got on the bus to go from the plane to the airport terminal. No airplane bridges their. Everyone departs all aircraft and boards a bus to be transported to the airport. The wheel chair insident only happened once though. The second time I went back I had no problem. The assistent just let me take his arm and he guided me through the airport. 
>> When in Ghana everyone who doesn't know you personally and provides you a service of any kind is expected to get paid a small amount. I gave them 10 GHS, about $5.20 canadian. Strangely, this only happened on arrival, not when I departed the country. 
>> 
>> If anyone would like to know more about my travels to Ghana just ask. 
>> 
>> Doug
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
>> 
>> On 2012-07-26, at 3:29 PM, Keitei Colton <kekiangeles111 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Hello,
>>> 
>>> Is there anyone that has traveled internationally through Europe? If so, is there any tips for doing it?
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> 
>>> Keitei Colton
>>> 555 South 200 East
>>> Salt Lake City, UT 84111
>>> kekiangeles111 at gmail.com
>>> (435)-901-4265
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