Health & Security
"But isn't it dangerous to go around the world ?"
Many are surprised by our project because not many would have dared to leave like we did. While it is true that much courage is needed to be able to make up one’s mind, a world tour is in reality within everyone's reach. Our journey has taught us many things, one of which is that our limits are often only defined by our mind. Once launched, we quickly realized that anything is possible if we do not remain prisoner of our unfounded fears. The obstacles (or excuses) often put forward against such an adventure consist mainly of prejudices associated with security but also with health, and all the more so now with covid. But with a minimum of preparation, the risks are greatly reduced.
We are therefore proud and happy to say that in a year and a half of traveling, we have never been robbed or attacked, and that we have never felt insecure. We have hardly ever been sick, except for two or three indigestions. Also note that we did not experience any difference from being two girls traveling. By being forward-thinking, careful and informed, there is actually no reason for a backpacking trip to go wrong, even in so-called risky countries.
In this article, we'll answer the following two questions:
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What security & health procedures to make before departure?
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How to apprehend the safety & health risks during the trip?
What safety & health procedures to make before departure?
Security
Security plays an essential role in the definition of an itinerary (full article to find HERE). Indeed, some countries are considered more dangerous than others for different reasons: political unrest and instability (conflicts), health crises (Ebola, Zika, Covid) among others. Information from the French, Canadian and American foreign ministries was of great help in assessing the security situation in each country before leaving.
After analyzing the risks associated with the destinations initially chosen, we made the choice to remove several from our itinerary, such as Mozambique and Madagascar. Thanks to the feedback of travelers on the spot, other countries such as Colombia and Burma have on the other hand been kept despite some worries. The tolerance threshold is different for every person.
Beware, however, of comments from people who have never been there and to the media, who tend to amplify information with negative connotations. We realized that some security issues were often exaggerated. Of course, we are not talking about Syria or Afghanistan here, but for example Mexico, greatly feared because of drug trafficking. However, we did not encounter any problems there. It is even one of the countries where we have felt the safest and Mexicans are one of our favorite populations! Not that the issues mentioned are not real, but they are often generalized when they only concern a part of a territory or a community. So beware of the image conveyed on the networks and of prejudices: we don't really know a country until we have visited it, nor its inhabitants until we have met them.
Health
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Vaccinations (except Covid)
A significant aspect of health preparations, vaccines... For this step, it is useful to go to the Institut Pasteur website to find out about the vaccines recommended for each selected destination. We can also recommend this very comprehensive website if you are unsure about which ones to do. In fact, with the exception of the yellow fever required for entry into certain countries and the DT Polio Whooping cough required in France, other vaccines are not mandatory and are a personal decision. Everyone is therefore free to measure the risks and make the choices in accordance with themselves. You will find below the list of recommended vaccines in relation to our itinerary:
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Yellow fever: compulsory vaccine to travel to certain countries such as Colombia
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Hepatitis A & B: very important vaccines, it is better not to ignore them
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Japanese encephalitis: minimal likelihood of catching the disease, except for a certain audience (the only one we haven't done)
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Typhoid: very important vaccine
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DT Polio Whooping cough: compulsory vaccine to be done every 10 years in France, even when you are not going on a trip
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Rabies: vaccine that we did before leaving, but that we immediately regretted for its exorbitant price (2 injections of 100€/person) and its lack of effectiveness (it does not immunize but simply gives an additional delay to get to the hospital and decreases the amount of care needed on site)
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Meningitis A, C, Y & W: vaccines not compulsory but recommended in some cases like ours (remote humanitarian missions in Africa)
Vaccines represent a significant expense. We carried them out at the travel clinic in Luxembourg. To find out more about their costs and the budget needed for a world tour, it's HERE.
It is then important to record injections in an international vaccination record. This is issued in all institutes that administer the yellow fever vaccine and it is this document that you will be asked to present at the borders of countries that require vaccinations.
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Covid
Needless to say, it is difficult to project on a trip in the midst of a pandemic. Formalities are constantly evolving, as are the risks that must be taken. A full article on travelling during Covid can be found HERE.
Concerning us, the pandemic fell on us without warning after six months of adventure. Consequently, we couldn't anticipate anything before we left. The fact of not being vaccinated during the trip did not necessarily harm us. As most of the populations encountered did not have access to the vaccine themselves, governments did not differentiate between those who were immunized or not.
However, countries have now adapted to the situation and have put in place several admission criteria specific to Covid. Depending on your route, it may therefore be necessary to get vaccinated. Do not hesitate to inquire in advance about the entry requirements for each desired destination.
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Malaria
Currently, malaria still affects around 100 countries around the world, mainly the less favored tropical areas of Africa, Asia and Latin America. This potentially fatal infectious disease is caused by several species of parasites transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Given our route and the severity of the disease, we naturally made the choice to take anti-malaria treatment. However, it is necessary to be able to anticipate the exact need for medicines on the spot in order to be able to buy them before departure. To do this, you can go on this website, where it is possible to click on a destination and then make appear a malaria map to reveal the risk areas.
On the recommendation of a doctor at the Luxembourg travel clinic, we decided to consider anti-malaria treatment only in areas at very high risk, namely in Africa. There, Malarone (a type of anti-malaria drug) is recommended. Note that this budget is still quite substantial (find our article about a world tour budget HERE). As with any other medicine, it is important to compare the prices of different pharmacies. Indeed, a box of 12 Malarone tablets can vary from 10€ to 25€! Remember to ask for the generic, here Atovaquone, often much less expensive!
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Medication kit
We both left with a more than complete first aid kit, the detailed list of which can be found HERE. No need to bother with too many drugs, there are pharmacies in every country, and often at cheaper prices!
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Health proofs
It is also necessary to remember to travel with the necessary health proofs for the trip, such as medical prescriptions. If they have never been checked, it is possible that you will be asked to present them at some airport checkpoints when checking baggage in.
For security reasons, we also both left with blood group cards.
Remember to save an online copy of all these documents before you leave in case of loss or theft during the trip.
Insurance
While some travelers take the gamble of leaving without insurance, the majority opt for full coverage (accident, illness, cancellations, etc.). And since we quickly realized that traveling with a peace of mind was priceless, it didn't take long for us to find the best provider. We therefore compared many long-term travel insurances on the tourdumondiste bible, and finally decided to trust Chapka Assurances and their “Cap Aventure” contract, which covers medical costs at 100% and from the 1st Euro (Covid included). It also offers repatriation assistance 24/7. Other guarantees such as personal effects coverage and civil liability are also included. As the market leader, we were very reassured to see that Chapka was not on his first try. But to repeat, we would prefer to support smaller organizations (like HEYME), with less notoriety but offering the same services.
Unsurprisingly, the amount of a subscription is high: 576€/year/person (possibility of partnering for a shorter period; decreasing rates), renewable after 1 year. The Covid having changed the situation, it is perhaps better to subscribe for only a few months and renew regularly. The amount will be a little higher, but will still be cheaper than if you lose 6 months of payment due to a premature return. Indeed, once paid, the insurance is non-refundable, unless you come home much earlier than expected and without having declared a single claim during the travel period!
How to apprehend the safety & health risks during the trip?
Security
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Security watch
Safety watch doesn't stop once the journey begins. Always keep up to date with political developments in the countries you are about to discover, especially those considered unstable. When we were in Colombia, for example, violent riots broke out. But by educating ourselves daily (on the internet and with locals) about the situation, we were aware of the regions to avoid and the days of demonstrations. We have never been worried.
We also strongly recommend that you register on government websites (Ariane for the French, Diplomatie Belgique for the Belgians) to notify embassies of your location and receive advice intended for travelers on time.
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Careful behaviour
It goes without saying that adopting a careful and respectful attitude will save you a lot of trouble.
The tourist is the main target of criminals. So do not display your valuables (watch, jewelry, etc.) and put away your electronic devices when you no longer need them. When using public transport, do not leave anything valuable in your large backpack (in the trunk) because it can remain out of sight for several hours. Keep your personal effects in a smaller bag at your feet and avoid leaving them in the upper compartments. Having a few (strong) locks available can reassure and deter thieves.
Also remember to share and separate your identity papers and your means of payment to reduce the risk of theft. A small, secure, banana-type bag or ticket-hiding belt hidden under clothing is the ideal accessory for more relaxed travel.
When visiting a city, find out about the most infamous neighborhoods beforehand and take only the bare essentials. You are more likely to be robbed in the street than in your home. With just a few clicks, it is also possible to find out about the scams present in the country concerned (taxi meter out of service, accidentally getting something spilled on your bag, fake police officers, attempted corruption during road checks, etc.).
If you want to hire a vehicle, especially a two-wheel, insist that you be given helmets. These are not automatically provided and often optional, especially in Asia.
Obviously, it is advisable to learn about the habits and customs of the host country. Certain behaviors that are perfectly acceptable in the West may be frowned upon by other populations. For example, be sure to respect the dress codes specific to certain regions, especially in cultural and religious places.
Finally, in case of aggression, NEVER resist.
However, you shouldn't be obsessed with security and paranoia (which, by the way, will get more attention). Do not deny yourself new encounters out of fear and do not hesitate to reach out to others to discover a different culture.
If despite these recommendations you are the victim of a bad experience, it is necessary to contact your embassy (theft of identity papers) and your insurance company as soon as possible to inform them of the situation.
Health
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Accident and illness
If in a year and a half of traveling we have never faced serious problems, it is true that we have encountered one or two mishaps. But it wasn't our fault.
Remember, for example, never to descend like Anouck on the muffler side of a scooter, or you risk getting second-degree burns... After stupidly letting the wound become infected, we went to a clinic in the Philippines where a doctor quickly disinfected and treated the burn. Two days later, and it was already healing.
Also watch out for food poisoning. If something looks suspicious to you, don't force yourself. Also, don't be surprised by often-past expiration dates. Some grocery stores are full of expired products. Likewise, always use filtered or bottled water, and make sure that the latter has never been opened before. We have already consumed non-potable bottled water despite a plastic protection covering the cap.
In any case, we must not forget that doctors and pharmacies exist in every country. So don't panic if something goes wrong, especially since the locals will be more than happy to help you. The insurance will cover your back, so don't forget to renew it during the trip if necessary.
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Covid
As we have experienced, the conditions for entering countries are constantly changing. It therefore becomes essential to learn regularly about the prerequisites for the next stage of your itinerary.
An antigen or PCR test of less than 24/48/72 hours is almost always required for unvaccinated people. Be sure to compare the prices of the laboratories on site as well as the lead time for the results, which can differ greatly. Health forms to be completed 24 hours before arrival in the chosen country are also often requested upon boarding or immigration.
Despite all of these efforts, we would like to point out that these issues never really affected us. The ability to travel and see unique sites without any tourists immediately made up for any possible frustration. We have written a full article on the topic of "Travel & Covid" for more information, available HERE.