You never know when you may wish or need to telephone home during
your trip so a telephone card is a good idea. Check with telephone
companies about pre-paid telephone card services. They should be
able to provide you with information about prices, sales locations
in the UK/United States and ordering the service by telephone. If
you decide to purchase a pre-paid telephone card, be sure that the
card you choose will work in the United States.
If you are traveling for an extended period, you may want to arrange
for the delivery of mail or messages to you abroad. Some banks and
international credit card companies handle mail for customers at
their overseas branches. General Delivery services at post offices
in most countries will hold mail for you.
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Many tourists are arrested abroad each year. Of these, approximately
one-third are held on drug charges. Despite repeated warnings, drug
arrests and convictions are still a common occurrence. Many countries
have stiff penalties for drug violations and strictly enforce drug
laws. If you are caught buying, selling, carrying or using any type
of drug - from hashish to heroin - you will be arrested. During
recent years, there has been an increase in the number of women
arrested abroad. These are usually women who serve as drug couriers
or "mules" and who believe that they can make fast money and have
a vacation at the same time, without getting caught. Instead of
a vacation, they receive a permanent residence in an overseas jail.
The risk of being jailed for just one marijuana cigarette is simply
not worth it!
If, while abroad, you purchased any articles made from endangered
animals and plants or any live wild animals to bring back as pets,
you must be aware that according to laws and international treaties,
it is a crime to bring many wildlife souvenirs back with you. Some
prohibited items include those made from sea turtle shell, most
reptile skins, crocodile leather, ivory, furs from endangered cat
species, as well as items made from coral reefs. The penalties that
you risk are severe, and your purchases could be confiscated.
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