Of course every culture is experienced differently and when you travel you will learn new and wonderful things. Asians are generally forgiving and understand that foreigners might not know certain things.
Most rules that apply in the West also apply in Asia such as being polite, not yelling, having patience, using please and thank you, etc.
What to avoid to not cause offence:
· Avoid public shows of affection throughout Asia
· Avoid being loud and confrontational
· Dress appropriately. In tourist areas you will have more freedom but when leaving these areas, please be respectful of the local population.
· Visiting temples and other holy places will mean you dress appropriately with long pants and sleeves, and women must avoid touching monks at all times.
· Do not touch any sacred items in temples or holy places.
· Do not touch anyone’s head – even small children’s. This is considered very rude throughout most of Asia.
· General respect for the law.

Many people often ask “Do I really need travel insurance?” It’s something travel agents hear a lot. This specific type of insurance is not something to skimp out on, especially when you are paying large amounts for your travel. The few extra dollars could be not only money-saving but also life-saving.

There are many benefits to travel insurance. It will offer you:
· Coverage in cases of unforeseen events when travelling
· It can not only save you tens of thousands for medical emergencies but help with emergency accommodation and vehicle accidents
· Dental insurance
· Assistance with lost or stolen luggage, handbags, backpacks and other items
· Assistance when your flight has been cancelled or rescheduled – this can wreak havoc on your travel plans.

Many Aussies mistakenly believe that their Australian health insurance will cover them in other countries. This is not the case, and any trip to a doctor’s clinic or a hospital, especially the latter, can end up costing thousands, even tens of thousands.

Even within Australia, if you happen to be travelling in an area that is more remote and there is a sudden medical emergency, you may have to be airlifted out to a bigger city.

Things such as weather, strikes, or technical issues can result in people missing a connecting flight or even leaving on the one they are scheduled to be on. In such cases, the last thing people want is to be left out of pocket for something that was unavoidable and not their fault.

It is also important to mention that banks and credit card companies are now offering insurance for travel, however, this insurance is often not comprehensive travel insurance and many people find out too late, that it was not worth what they paid for it. Travel insurance companies are experts in travel and therefore have the expertise and the coverage that is necessary for people travelling overseas or domestically.

So, when travelling, whether it be domestic or overseas, travel insurance is a must and should never be overlooked. Always check the terms and conditions. Touchdown Tours only works with reputable travel insurance companies that can have you covered for every unforeseen event.