If you are in Rome for the first time, or for only a couple of days, you will inevitably end up with the crowds at the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, or St Peter’s Basilica. But if you know where to look, Rome’s less well-known and less crowded attractions can offer a lot more.

Where to go

A district which has a lot to offer is the Trastevere across the Tiber from the heart of the city. This is a great district to wander around. It’s easy to get lost and has lots of small places to eat and drink – the funky Grazia & Graziella is a personal favourite.

An unexpected treat in Rome is several surviving early churches in the Roman rectangular basilica style featuring re-purposed Roman marble. Pre-dating the Great Schism between Rome and the Orthodox Church, they contain some distinctive Byzantine mosaics. Don’t be put off by later additions such as Renaissance or Baroque porches. Three or four of these early churches are in Trastevere. Worthy of special mention is Santa Maria in Trastevere, San Crisogono, and St Cecilia in Travestere.

Where to stay

A great base with easy access to this area is the conveniently located Hotel Ponte Sisto. There is a small supermarket almost next door, a gelateria on the corner and any number of outdoors eateries in the nearby Campo de Fiori.

It is less than 15 minutes on foot to the Pantheon, about 25 minutes to the Colosseum and Forum, and just 5 minutes across the Ponte Sisto into Trastevere.

What to do – Eat

One of the great highlights of Rome is the (light) eating: working through all the major food groups – pizza, gelati, coffee, orange juice – all of which are excellent and reasonably priced.

The pizza, of course, is thin-crusted, not overladen with a mish-mash of ingredients, and quite cheap. Indeed, if two of you have pizza and beer for lunch, it is quite likely the beer will cost more than the pizza.

Gelati is ubiquitous and excellent. At most cafes and bars the orange juice is freshly-squeezed when you order. Surprisingly, you can get excellent beef in Rome, often cooked fairly rare. Try upmarket Girarrosto Fiorentino where meat is a speciality.

What to do – Culture

Of course, while in Rome you will want to visit the famous Imperial Forum. But, in many ways, more impressive is the under-visited massive and well-preserved multi-level Trajan’s Market nearby. It is located across the road which was pushed through the whole site by Mussolini and next to Trajan’s Column.

There are three very old and picturesque remains in Rome which are still in excellent condition. The 62 BC Ponte Fabricio bridge which is across the Tiber to the Isola Tiberina, the small round Temple of Hercules, and the Temple of Portunus. Both are about 2^nd century BC and situated near the Ponte Palatino.

Another not overly-crowded Imperial remnant is Augustus’ Altar of Peace (Ara Pacis) with wonderful crisp reliefs dating from 13BC. It is enclosed in a modern glass pavilion.

The Baths of Caracalla, even in their present stripped-bare condition, are massive and hugely impressive. Compare them with the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli (Piazza della Republica) carved out of the remains of just the vast frigidarium of the Baths of Diocletian

Another spectacular site readily accessed independently by train from Rome, which is less than an hour from Termini, is the archaeological site of the old Roman port of Ostia. With extensive remains of buildings two and three storeys high, it is best visited first thing in the morning.

What to expect

When travelling to Rome, or anywhere else, for that matter, a little bit of advance information and organisation can save much aggravation and ensure that you actually get to see the sites.

There is no point arriving at the Vatican Museum or the Colosseum only to spend two hours in a queue to get inside.

The internet is a great gift to travellers. You can purchase tickets online in advance (or, at the very least, check out opening hours and best visiting times). Many attractions which may be a little challenging to get to yourself like Hadrian’s Villa are readily accessible on a variety of tours. These vary in convenience and price from coach loads to small groups to personalised tours and can be easily compared on sites such as Viatour.

What experiences are on your Rome bucket list? Let us know in the comments!

When we’re at home, we’re pretty used to having internet access at all times. The price of mobile internet has dropped to a level where messaging over data is more common than SMS and, most likely, your dad even regularly video calls you at 9.00am on a Saturday. However, we don’t usually expect this kind of connectivity while overseas.

Travelling always includes some level of the ‘quest for wifi’, often consisting of loitering at a fast food joint, surrounded by the smell of capitalism, or sitting down at a cafe and pulling out your laptop only to notice one of those signs “We don’t have wifi, talk to each other!!!” Such is the life of a traveller who books flights, trains and hostels on the fly – a corresponding cost to the benefit of going with the flow.

New ‘Roam like at home’ wi-fi laws 

Since March this year, sniffing out wifi is a dying art – at least in Europe. This wonderful development is called ‘Roam like at home’, and it is exactly what it sounds like.

The new laws mean that if you have a SIM card from an EU country, there are no additional roaming charges when you use your phone in another EU country, and some providers have extended the deal to other countries such as Israel and the Channel Islands.

Roam like at home rules cover data as well as SMS and calls to home country numbers. For about $25 per month, you can get 5GB of data which is enough to regularly use maps, stream music, watch the occasional video and call home to ask your grandma for her pesto recipe.

Calls to EU countries not included in the scheme

Calls and texts to other EU country numbers are not included and can be expensive, but this can usually be circumvented by messaging and calling over the internet. There are data limits and a “fair use policy” which means that you cannot roam indefinitely. These are, however, aimed at preventing people from finding the cheapest plan in the EU and using it full time at home.

As with any consumer contract, it is important that you read the fine print and fully understand the inclusions and exclusions before going nuts with your calls and texts.

Benefits for your next Europe adventure

So how has this constant internet connectivity changed travel forever?

Well, your dad can continue his habit of video calling you at 9.00am on a Saturday morning no matter where you are in Europe. But the benefits don’t stop there. Say goodbye to buying a new SIM card every time you cross an EU border.

Getting lost is a thing of the past, as mobile internet gives you maps and step-by-step directions at your fingertips. Hungry? You can not only find a restaurant but also find one that does those skinny fries that you like. Book accommodation while you are on a bus on the way to the airport. Use mobile check-in for your flights and use your phone as a boarding pass. Share a sunset with your loved ones in real-time. Watch your nephew read the book you bought him online while waiting in line at the supermarket. If you’re one of those slashies (e.g. lawyer/entrepreneur/yoga teacher) running a business while you travel, you can bring your communication costs right down.

Downsides of hyper-connectivity

Some of the unknown element, mystery and excitement of exploring new places is gone as getting lost is a thing of the past.

Some of the most profound and challenging moments on the road happen when you have no idea where you are all your plans have turned upside down. If you have the self-control, you can just turn off your phone, leave it in your luggage and try to remember the sense of direction you gave away when you downloaded your maps app.

Other drawbacks include that feeling of despair for humanity when you look up from your phone and everyone in your line of sight has their head bent towards a glowing rectangle; your friends and family expect to hear from you several times a day and worry if they don’t; and you feel a weird twist in your gut when you see someone experiencing a sunset through a social media filter. 

These are not the only disadvantages of ‘roam like at home’.

The reduction in income from roaming will impact small telco operators more than large ones and, in some cases, the changes have driven the cost of phone contracts up.

EU initiatives such as this have alienated some sections of the British population, and many people voted for Brexit because they feel that their taxes and their higher phone bills are subsidising the lifestyle of wealthy people who zip around Europe as a matter of course. ‘Roam like at home’ has been called a publicity stunt and a gamble by a conflicted EU with the potential costs unknown. Of course, no one knows how Brexit will affect the UK’s participation in the scheme.

Despite the criticisms, ‘Roam like at home’ is here, and it will change your experience of travelling through Europe.

Just remember to look up every once in awhile.

More on BucketOrange Magazine

• Five Stages of Grief When Travelling Without Internet

Feeling wrecked and disorientated after staying up until 3am completing last minute packing before a major international trip that same morning. Arriving late to the airport, you’re faced with filling out an outgoing passenger card including your name, flight number, intended destination and duration of your trip as an enormous queue snakes around black ropes, incrementally lurching forward at Sydney International Airport’s departure area.

Invariably, the build up of tension and stress in the days preceding your big adventure, combined with the frantic struggle to find your pen and passport at the bottom of your backpack, and the awkward aerial acrobatics (one part crouching tiger pose, one part drunk uncle) you perform while filling out the card kick things off to a less than ideal start. As you complete your details against the unstable and lumpy surface of a friend’s back, periodically stepping forward as the line inches closer to customs officials, you collide with an irritable traveller agitating for the top of the queue.

The tiny boxes are laughing at you.

One imperceptible lapse in concentration later and you instantly transform from a perfectly respectable, travel-happy human named “Sarah Lynch” to a lumbering, constantly ravenous, tuck shop lady named “Sarah Lunch.”

Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

Back you venture to the end of the line where you fetch another card and resume the heinous airport shuffle.

Nightmare, right?

Well, no more!

From 1 July 2017, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection is removing the requirement to endure those insufferable tiny boxes as part of a move towards more efficient and streamlined process for travellers.

The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Peter Dutton said:

The automated process will add to existing state-of-the art passenger processing technology at our border and will help reduce queuing times and get travellers to their destination more quickly. Removal of the outgoing passenger card further supports the move towards a more seamless, secure and simplified border clearance process.”

The information previously gathered on paper-based outgoing passenger cards will now be collated from existing government data and will continue to be provided to users. Re-using this data is just one of the measures being taken by the Government to reduce the burden on Australians and international visitors to provide the same information multiple times.

While arriving travellers will still be required to complete the orange incoming passenger card, the removal of the outgoing passenger card is considered a positive move towards the continued smooth passage of increasing traveller numbers departing Australia, which last year numbered 40 million.

High five!

Voluntourism – a combination of volunteering and tourism – has become an incredibly popular way to travel and experience new destinations. But the industry has a dark side. Rising to prominence as a by-product of privileged, mostly Western, tourists wanting to ‘do good’ and tick a box on their CV, voluntourism is increasingly being recognised for what it is – a major problem with a global impact.

What is voluntourism?

Also known as volunteer tourism, volunteer holidaying and volunteer travel, voluntourism is the convergence of international volunteering and tourism.

Basically, it is a rapidly-expanding industry that involves travellers volunteering their time for worthy causes or charities. Commonly this involves work in underprivileged communities in developing countries for social or environmental purposes. The ultimate goal of many programs is to engage in sustainable community development or conservation work that alleviates poverty and restores buildings or other structures or assists children in orphanages (among other things).

The practice of voluntourism is heavily promoted as an alternative way to gain an authentic travel experience. For many volunteers, this creates an artificial expectation of responsible tourism – ‘do good’, and ‘feel good’ while you do it.

Increasingly, however, questions have been raised around the ‘misconceived idealism’ of voluntourism and whether the practice is purely an exercise in narcissism for travellers. More often than not, rewards for host communities are not commensurate with the swift ego boost for volunteers and the overall profit travel companies derive from organising these activities.

Why is voluntourism a problem?

Sustainable development projects are among the most problematic ways to volunteer overseas.

Work that could have been completed by local skilled labourers is given to tourists with no experience in building infrastructure, in aid of giving them a warm and fuzzy feeling and the illusion of altruism. In many cases, host communities are left with dilapidated and unstable structures that are useless within a few months.

Is voluntourism fuelling the paper orphan trade?

Arguably the worst way to spend time volunteering overseas is at orphanages.

While Australia does not allow unskilled tourists or volunteers to have unchecked access to vulnerable children, voluntourism gives well-intentioned, unskilled and unqualified overseas visitors unfettered access to children.

Despite the documented negative psychological and emotional effects residential care can have on children, the number of orphanages has increased in many developing countries. This is to meet the rising demand from tourists even though the overall number of genuine orphans has decreased.

Increased demand for such volunteering opportunities has seen the emergence of a new business model. Owners of sham orphanages travel to poor communities and convince vulnerable families that their children would be better off in a boarding school with access to education.

Once recruiters sell children into an orphanage, documents are falsified and their identities are changed. Due to name changes, families are no longer able to locate their children. Many charities and NGOs refer to such children as ‘paper orphans’ as they are not genuine orphans. Nepal, Cambodia, Ghana and Uganda are among the countries worst affected by the paper orphan trade, with UNICEF estimating that of the
8-million children living in institutions globally, more than 80% are not genuine orphans.

According to The Guardian, Nepal’s bogus orphan trade is being fuelled by voluntourism:

It is a business model built on a double deception: the exploitation of poor families in rural Nepal and the manipulation of wealthy foreigners. In the worst cases, tourists may be unwittingly complicit in child trafficking.”

The shocking result? Families in rural areas are manipulated into giving up their children who are exploited to generate money for a profit-driven system, either by their residence which is used to encourage orphanage donations from tourists, or by being trafficked. The fees orphanages charge volunteers line the pockets of owners, while children are often abused and live in appalling conditions.

The orphanage profits in many ways from the presence of these ‘paper orphans.’ Some orphanages encourage volunteers to come and spend time with the children, profiting through the fees they charge and lower care costs due to the free labour that volunteers provide. Others have their ‘orphans’ dance or sing to encourage donations.” – The Conversation.

Unfortunately, if you travel to developing countries with the intention of volunteering at orphanages without doing your due diligence, you are feeding into a corrupt system that does more harm than good. It’s a misguided attempt to support poverty-stricken communities that often becomes more of an exercise in narcissism than it does in promoting the common good.

Western volunteers have, perhaps, unwittingly endorsed the commodification of children with money and ignorance.

Of course, many of us don’t even realise this problem exists. While Save the Children and UNICEF have campaigned against voluntourism for years, the issue has failed to gain the traction it deserves.

According to Save The Children:

Child protection specialists have also raised concerns about the presence of short-term foreign volunteers in residential care institutions and the potential for them to create confusion around identity and culture.”

Illegality of voluntourism

Voluntourism attracts over 30,000 tourists to Nepal each year.

With widely publicised volunteering programs, few foreigners consider whether it is actually legal for them to do so. In its report on The Paradox of Orphanage Volunteering, Next Generation Nepal reports that international volunteering is illegal for many tourists.

Clause 19 of the Immigration Act 1994 states:

(1) A foreigner having obtained a visa as a tourist or his family member
pursuant to these Rules shall not be allowed to work, with or without
receiving remuneration, in any industry, business, enterprise or
organisation during his stay in Nepal.

(2) A foreigner having obtained a visa pursuant to these Rules shall not be
allowed to carry out any work other than that for which purpose he has
obtained the visa.

Day-to-day, however, most visitors do not apply for work permits. The dichotomy between the official position and what happens in practice has presented additional challenges to combating unethical voluntourism programs.

A way forward

The devastating effect that well-meaning efforts can have on local communities is a harsh reality. But it is one that we must come to terms with if the damaging impact of voluntourism, including the fraudulent trade in paper orphans, is to end.

If you are considering volunteering your time and labour overseas next year, make sure your expectations are realistic. Research legitimate and ethical programs dedicated to recruiting skilled volunteers which can, and do, have a positive impact on local communities. Avoid visiting and donating to orphanages as this perpetuates a cycle of child trafficking.

If you wish to volunteer with children, choose organisations that are dedicated to locating and reuniting paper orphans with their families and communities. The best volunteer programs provide support, opportunities and skills development for families and children within their existing community.

The fact of the matter is that as long as a market for voluntourism exists, paper orphans will continue to be created and exploited. To disrupt this fraudulent trade, perhaps it is time that we find another way to feel better about ourselves.

Further Information

• Australian Volunteers International – provides opportunities for skilled Australians to contribute to the Australian Government’s aid program.

• United Nations Volunteers – (UNV Program)

• ReThink Orphanages – a group of non-governmental organisations that campaign to end the exploitative trade of children. They advise anyone considering volunteering overseas to research carefully before deciding to support assistance programs and orphanages.

• Forget Me Not – an international NGO originally established to fund best-practice orphanages. It has since changed its focus to finding and returning paper orphans to their families. Forget Me Not also assists children to reintegrate with their community.

• Cambodia Childen’s Trust – focused on reuniting paper orphans with their families and communities.

• Next Generation Nepal – reunites orphanage-trafficked children with their families.

Former President, Barack Obama, has said on the subject:

It ought to concern every person, because it’s a debasement of our common humanity.

It ought to concern every community, because it tears at the social fabric.

It ought to concern every business, because it distorts markets.

It ought to concern every nation, because it endangers public health and fuels violence and organised crime.

I’m talking about the injustice, the outrage, of human trafficking, which must be called by its true name—modern slavery.” 

It is a global affront to human rights and its eradication remains an ongoing challenge.

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is recognised as an international crime, defined under international law to encompass the forced use of persons for exploitation.

According to Article 3 of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, human trafficking is:

the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.”

Sexual exploitation is the most documented form of abuse, followed closely by forced labour, forced marriage, organ removal, warfare and domestic service.

Global Slavery Index reports that 161 countries are responding to the issue of modern slavery. Of those 161 countries, 124 countries criminalised human trafficking in line with the UN Trafficking Protocol, however, convictions are reportedly low. In 2011, of 7206 prosecutions for trafficking, only 4239 resulted in convictions, while 41,210 victims were identified.

Who does modern slavery impact?

Anyone can be a victim of modern slavery.

Statistics show that there are 27-36 million victims in modern slavery at any given time.

68% are victims of forced labour exploitation, in economic activities such as agriculture, construction, domestic work or manufacturing. 22% are victims of sexual slavery. Of this statistic, 21% or are children.
The remaining 10% of individuals are in state-imposed forms of forced labour.

The majority of victims are female, making up 55% of all trafficked victims globally, with trafficking of children on the rise (approximately 20%, although this statistic increases in some regions).

How does modern slavery occur?

There are a number of factors that make persons vulnerable to human trafficking and modern slavery. Often things like the absence of protection and respect for basic rights, physical safety and security and access to basic necessities such as food, water and health care. Other factors such as displacement and conflict play a role.

Victims are often recruited through false advertising for what appears to be genuine employment, such as in cleaning, waitressing or farming.

Where is human trafficking most prevalent?

Human trafficking occurs all over the world and has been documented in 167 countries.

The crime is often carried out by traffickers who are of the same nationality as the victim, which accounts for why statistics show the trade is usually limited to a national or regional context.

By proportion to population, the countries with the highest estimated prevalence of victims of modern slavery are:

• Bangladesh
• Cambodia
• China
• India
• North Korea
• Pakistan
• Qatar
• Uzbekistan

Human trafficking also occurs in popular travel destinations throughout Europe – including England – and North America.

Unsurprisingly, countries with the lowest estimated incidence of modern slavery by the proportion of their population are:

• Luxembourg
• Ireland
• Norway
• Denmark
• Switzerland
• Austria
• Sweden
• Belgium
• United States
• Canada
• Australia
• New Zealand

Many factors contribute to the low incidence of human trafficking in these countries, including greater economic wealth, higher government response, low levels of conflict, political stability as well as a commitment to protecting basic human rights and fighting modern slavery.

The unexpected difference you can make while travelling

As global citizens, we not only have a responsibility to ourselves but also to other humans.

We all have the power, however small, to make choices that contribute to the promotion and protection of basic rights and that make a positive and lasting change and that can transform lives.

If you know where to look, there are countless ways that you can be a more informed, responsible and ethical traveller. Making small, seemingly insignificant, choices (like choosing one travel company over another) can make a difference at a grassroots level in the fight against human trafficking. Here are a few of our favourites ways you can help:

1. Research your accommodation and tour operators

Tour operators or hotels often have policies on human trafficking, which are included on their website.

The Code (of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism) is an industry-driven initiative designed to prevent sex trafficking of children worldwide through education, awareness, tools and support.

Commercial sexual exploitation of children under 18 years (which includes child sex tourism, child sex trafficking, the prostitution of children, and child pornography) involves children being bought and sold for sexual purposes. It’s a crime that often occurs in hotels, which is why responsible tourism companies are encouraged to voluntarily become members and implement the Code’s principles to help fight exploitation of children.

You can search the full list of companies who have already joined the Code and choose to stay at and support hotels, hostels or other travel industry service providers who are committed to keeping children safe.

If your tour operator does not openly communicate its position on child sexual exploitation, why not suggest that they take a stand and demonstrate their corporate social responsibility by becoming a member of the Code?

2. Take photos of your hotel room

Traffickcam is an app that allows users to upload photos of their hotel room while travelling.

No matter where you travel, this is a simple, easy and positive step you can take to actively make a difference in the fight against human trafficking. The app works by helping authorities identify the locations in which sex trafficking crimes occur as victims are often positioned and photographed on the beds of hotel rooms.

All you have to do is upload 4 pictures of your hotel room, enter your hotel and room number and hit ‘submit.’ The app works because sex traffickers post online ‘advertisements’ of victims posing on beds in hotel rooms. By taking images of your room, and contributing to a database of over 1.5 million images of hotels snapped from around the world, you can help investigators to match the inside of hotel rooms with images taken of victims of sex trafficking. This helps law enforcement locate sex trafficking rings, save victims and prosecute offenders.

3. Identify a victim

Sometimes victims of slavery are held away from the public, however, in many situations victims are hidden in plain sight. They may work frontline in restaurants, on farms, at hotels, at construction sites, and in beauty salons. There is a good chance that you have already come face-to-face with a victim of modern slavery without realising it.

Being informed, being observant, staying aware of your surrounding as well as some of the common indicators of modern slavery may mean that you can help to identify a victim of trafficking.

General signs may include situations where a person is:

• Living with their employer in poor conditions
• Paid very little
• Submissive or fearful of their employer (or their interactions with others are tightly controlled)
• Speaking in a way that seems scripted or rehearsed
• Without any travel documents or their employer holds their travel documents (for example at the airport or in other transport hubs)
• Dressed inappropriately
• Appears to be under-aged, or
• Showing signs of abuse.

There may also be over-the-top security or guards on site.

If several of the above warning signs are present, and if you are able to speak with the person you suspect is a victim of trafficking without putting yourself, or the suspected victim in any danger, the US Department of State recommends discreetly asking the following questions:

• Can you leave your job if you want to?
• Can you come and go as you please?
• Have you been hurt or threatened if you tried to leave?
• Has your family been threatened?
• Do you live with your employer?
• Where do you sleep and eat?
• Are you in debt to your employer?
• Do you have your passport/identification? Who has it?

The most important thing is to avoid endangering anybody, including yourself, by doing something reckless like confronting the suspected trafficker or raising your suspicions aloud at the time.

Instead, follow your instincts and report your concerns to local law enforcement (if reliable) or to a global or local NGO which is known to combat trafficking in the area. If the victim is foreign, you can also contact their embassy (contact details below).

4. Be a conscious and safe traveller

On your next overseas trip, you can volunteer your time or donate to local charities that are working towards the eradication of modern slavery.

While it is important, wherever possible, to play a part in helping to fight the proliferation of human trafficking by being conscious of your surroundings and reporting suspicious behaviour, it is equally important to be mindful of your personal safety while travelling.

The reality is that anyone can become prey to a human trafficker, so avoid taking unnecessary risks, placing yourself in dangerous situations, travelling to particular regions alone.

If you can, try to travel in groups and make sure that you leave a copy of your current itinerary (as well as your local phone number) with family and friends. Check the travel advisories associated with your destination countries before travelling and register with Smart Traveller.

A difference to be made closer to home?

On a day-to-day basis, we might consider the impact of human trafficking in Australia.

Have you ever stopped to think about who produces the clothes you wear and where the food you eat comes from?

Further Information

To report a suspected case of human trafficking or offer authorities a tip while overseas, contact:

• European National Human Trafficking Hotlines
• Abolishion Hotlines Listed Alphabetically by Country
• National Human Trafficking Hotline
• US Domestic Trafficking Hotlines

To report a suspected local case of human trafficking in Australia contact:

• Australian Federal Police (AFP) by filling out an online form; or
• Call 131 AFP (131237); or
• Email AOCC-Client-Liaison@afp.gov.au

To access free legal services if you, or someone you know, has experienced trafficking or slavery in Australia contact:

• Anti-Slavery Australia

Further Reading

• For comprehensive reports on human trafficking by region and country visit the Global Slavery Index.
• For a look at the Australian context visit Freedom Partnership
• To watch an awareness-raising video from Crimestoppers UK visit Read the Signs
• For an extensive journalistic investigation into human trafficking visit Lydia Cacho’s Slavery Inc
• For a documentary on sex trafficking and abuse recommended by United States State Department. visit Price of Sex.
• For a comprehensive look at preventing and addressing forced marriage in Australia visit My Blue Sky
• To download the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) global report on trafficking in persons click here.

How many slaves work for you?? Find out by taking the slavery footprint survey.

9.2 million Australians left our wide brown land for a short-term jaunt overseas in the 2014-2015 period, with departures of Australians traveling overseas now exceeding arrivals of international travellers entering Australia.

The places we visit are diverse. The most popular destinations for young Australian travellers are New Zealand, Indonesia, the United States, United Kingdom and Thailand. China, Singapore, Fiji, India and Japan not far behind.

At the heart of it, travel is an adventure. So it’s easy to see why many young Australians get caught up in the excitement of exploring a new country and can forget that cultures, customs and laws differ significantly from what we know and understand.

A little planning, foresight and consideration from the get go will not only help ensure that you travel safe but also that your holiday is as enjoyable and hassle-free as possible.

Research local laws & customs before you go

The internet is your best friend when it comes to planning your trip, and that goes beyond booking flights and researching hotels.

Your first stop is Smart Traveller. You can quickly and easily check travel advisories from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for each country on your itinerary, as well as visa requirements and anything else you may need to look out for.

Your next stop is to arm yourself with facts by scanning travel forums such as TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet and relevant travel blogs to learn from the experiences of other travellers, as well as any local customs, cultural differences and applicable laws you may need to be aware of.

Register your trip before you leave Australia

Once you have booked your flights and checked relevant travel advisories, make sure you register your travel plans with Smart Traveller before heading off.

It is a quick and easy way to ensure your safety while you travel. Registering your itinerary makes it easier for the Australian Government to contact or locate you in case of an emergency.

It is also worth subscribing to email notifications for the duration of your trip.

Make sure you have everything you need to travel legally & safely

Make a checklist which can include:

• A valid Australian passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining
• Any necessary visas, or the correct currency to pay for them on arrival
• Up-to-date vaccinations, travel or otherwise
• Any medications you need. Be sure to check that it is possible to take your medications into the countries you are visiting, and carry all relevant supporting documentation. This can include a letter from your doctor, a prescription, or a letter from the relevant embassy
• Travel insurance. Make sure you have the appropriate level of cover and understand your coverage
• Double check that you are not travelling with anything prohibited. For example, foods, medications, vitamins, media (magazines, books, video, music), religious materials, alcohol or cash.

Are You A Dual National?

If you hold dual nationalities, you are a citizen of Australia and another country.

For example, your parents are nationals of another country, or you marry someone of another nationality.

If you are a dual national, there may be implications if you travel to the country of your other nationality. For example:

• you may be liable to complete military service
• you may be liable for prosecution for offences under the laws of that country, even if they were committed elsewhere
• the Australian Government may be limited in its ability to provide you with consular assistance if you seek it.

Always depart and re-enter Australia on your Australian passport

All Australians, including dual nationals, are advised to leave and enter Australia on their Australian passport. If you have a passport from another country, you can use this once you have left Australia.

Laws abroad may surprise you

Many countries have unexpected rules and regulations which can catch unsuspecting travellers. For example:

• In Singapore, it is illegal to import chewing gum
• The legal drinking age in Bali is 21
• Sharia law is in place in parts of Malaysia
• Sex outside of marriage is punishable by imprisonment in Dubai
• It is illegal to deface or step on the Baht (local currency) in Thailand
• Pseudoephedrine and codeine-based medications are illegal to bring into Japan
• You must carry your passport with you at all times in China
• Homosexuality is a criminal offence in India

When in Rome, do as the Romans do

Making sure you respect cultural differences and customs is a good way to avoid drawing unwanted attention and accidentally landing in trouble with the authorities.

Some common things to consider:

• Eye contact – In some parts of the world, such as China and Japan, prolonged eye contact is considered rude and akin to staring. In other countries such as the United States and Canada, however, eye contact is considered essential and a way to demonstrate that you are interested and engaged in the conversation.
• What not to wear – In Dubai, for example, it is important to cover your shoulders and back and wear garments that end no higher than the knee. In Barcelona, it is illegal to wear swimwear in any locations other than the beach, and streets very close to it.
• To tip or not to tip – In some countries tipping is expected. But in others it is frowned upon. For example, it very rude to tip in Japan. In the United States, on the other hand, tipping makes up a significant portion of income for many industries – so expect to tip 15%-25% for meals, drinks, and cabs.
• Physical contact – Different parts of the world consider differing levels of physical proximity appropriate, and public displays of affection may be encouraged, tolerated, frowned upon, or even illegal depending on where you travel.

Dealing with local authorities if something goes wrong

Although it is uncommon, in some cases gross injustices are done when victims of sexual assault have been imprisoned after reporting the crime to police.

If you are a victim of crime while traveling overseas, the most important thing is to get yourself to safety and contact someone you trust. Get in touch with the nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate.

Report the crime to the local authorities as soon as possible, however, your first port of call should be Australia’s 24-hour consular emergency service.

Further Information

For 24 hour consular assistance visit the SmartTraveller 24 Hour Emergency Assistance tool or contact:

• 61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas)
• 1300 555 135 (from within Australia)
• 61 421 269 080 (for SMS)

To register your trip visit:

•  SmartTraveller

For passport information visit:

• Australian Passport Office

To be the first to hear about official government advice when travelling sign up via:

• SmartTraveller’s Sign Up Form

For more resources to visit before you travel visit:

• DFAT’s Guide for Travellers – What To Do Before You Go
• SmartTraveller Travel Advisories

You probably set yourself some pretty ambitious goals earlier this year:

• Find a new job (one that challenges and interests you – hopefully it pays better than your current role);
• Lock in some adventure travel plans (or, at the very least, plan more weekend mini-breaks);
• Spend less money on nights out, gigs and festivals;
• Spend more money on sensible life planning (like saving for a car or your first home).

But it’s already 1/4 of the way into the new year, and you find yourself still reading the same book you started over Christmas.

Half your time is spent living vicariously through Facebook, which drip feeds you images of your friends who are embarking on Attenborough-esque Galapagos Island adventures. Their updates – involving 1am evacuations with life vests after their boat unexpectedly hits rocks and floods their cabin – make you sick with longing that you were chasing life and bobbing on a life boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Because, ultimately, the perspective offered by the narrow beam of your flashlight when travelling always trumps the dim existential illumination provided by your work cubicle.

So take control. Regroup – and book those cheap flights before the year gets away from you!

1. Travel At The Right Time

When you choose to travel heavily influences the price you pay for flights.

If you decide to travel during peak season, for example, you can commit yourself to paying double the price you would pay during off-season.

2. Subscribe To Alerts

Email alerts from your preferred airlines will tell you when sales and hot deals are on.

Keep your eyes peeled to grab special deals before anyone else.

3. Book Ahead

As a general rule, booking between
6 weeks to 8 weeks before your planned departed date is ideal for securing the best and cheapest flight prices.

4. Price Comparisons

Check a range of sites to make sure you are getting the best deal on your flights.

The below flight price comparison websites are a good place to start:

• Expedia
• LastMinute
• Webjet
• Skyscanner
• I Want That Flight
• Zuji
• Kayak

5. Fly Mid-Week

This is usually the quietest and cheapest time to travel.

Fridays and Sundays are generally the most expensive days to fly. Avoid booking on these days wherever possible.

6. Go Incognito

Use a private browser (such as Google Chrome using an incognito window) when searching for flights.

This prevents airlines from tracking your browsing history on Monday, for example, and jacking up prices for the flights you are interested in purchasing when you come back to buy your tickets on Tuesday.

7. Pay Now, Save Later

Never ever think that you can manage your overseas trip without travel insurance.

You could need insurance for any number of scenarios, including:

• an unexpected cyclone that leaves you stranded in Fiji and needing to change flights and travel plans; or
• a violent sandstorm in the Namibian desert which destroys your digital SLR camera; or
• your suitcase, including your laptop, being stolen in Bangkok; or
• a tree coming out of nowhere, while snow boarding in Whistler, which leaves you seriously injured and needing to be medically evacuated out of Canada.

Travel insurance is an essential safety net for the myriad of reasons you cannot foreshadow running into while travelling. Use the cash you save on cheap flights to buy a comprehensive travel insurance policy: the few hundred dollars you invest here can save you thousands in the long run.

Further Information

For some of the cheapest and most comprehensive travel insurance visit:

• World Care Travel Insurance

What countries are on your ‘must visit list’ this year? If you had the money to book an overseas holiday departing next week, would you drop everything and go? Let us know in the comments section below!

I’m not just talking about the savings you can make through duty free shopping at the airport. You can also claim the tax component of the sales price when making purchases throughout your trip.

For young Australian travellers, tax-free shopping is often met with a chorus of questions and confusion – and for good reason! There are often prescriptive rules attached to the claims process and these rules differ from country to country. Unless you are a seasoned traveller, keeping up with these rules (not mention rule changes) is no mean feat.

To help you take off on the next leg of your trip with some extra spending money, we’re making this process as seamless as possible for you. Below are some common questions about tax-free shopping for Australian residents travelling overseas.

How Do I Claim A Refund When Leaving Australia?

The Australian Tax Refund Scheme (TRS) allows overseas visitors and Australian residents (except operating aircrew) to claim a refund of goods and services tax (GST) and wine equalisation tax (WET) when you purchase certain goods in Australia.

To claim a refund, you must:

• be leaving the borders of Australia;

• purchase the goods no more than 60 days before departing Australia;

• spend $300 or more (including GST) at a single business. Bundling multiple receipts from a single business is fine;

• wear or carry the goods on board with you as hand luggage and present them along with your tax invoice(s), passport and boarding pass to the TRS officer. If the goods are restricted e.g. liquids, gels, aerosols or oversized items you will need to speak to check-in staff and have these goods checked in;

• have paid for the goods yourself; and

• have an original tax invoice for the goods.

I’m An Australian Resident Who Is Leaving Australia For A Holiday – Are There Any Additional Limitations To Claiming GST Back On Goods I Purchase?

The TRS was designed to ensure that tourists who visit Australia do not have to pay GST since they are not Australian residents. Accordingly, this scheme is based on the fundamental assumption that when you claim the GST component of your purchases with the TRS you will not be re-entering Australia with those items.

Nevertheless, the Passenger Concession does allow you to bring into Australia up to $900 worth of goods duty free or $450 worth of goods duty free if you are younger than 18 years of age. Families travelling together can pool this duty free allowance.

For example, if you are a family of four (2 adults and 2 children) and you claim $2,200 of goods tax-free in total as a family on your return to Australia, under the Passenger Concession, you will not be required to pay back tax on these goods – even though you have returned to Australia with them.

If the goods that you are bringing into Australia tax-free are of greater value than the Passenger Concession, Australian law requires that you declare all of these goods to customs on arrival.

In this situation, you will be required to pay back previously claimed tax under the TRS. The obligation to pay back the tax will apply to all items of this nature and not just goods that fall outside the Passenger Concession limit.

Penalties may apply if you do not declare that you are carrying into Australia duty free goods which are in excess of your Passenger Concession.

Hot Tips:

• Arrive at the airport early

This ensures you leave yourself enough time to have your claim processed. Long queues at the TRS office at Sydney International Airport are common. I recommend factoring in at least an extra 45 minutes to avoid disappointment.

• Save time by planning ahead

Enter the details of your purchases in the Customs and Border Protection Services mobile and web TRS app in advance of your departure date. Once you have completed the steps on the TRS app you will be issued a QR code which you can take with you, along with your purchased goods and tax invoices, to the TRS office. A dedicated queue is available for those who have taken this additional step, which is likely to help speed up the process for you.

• Have all your details ready

For big ticket items over the value of $1,000 AUD, make sure that you obtain a tax invoice which includes details of your name and address.

• What your tax invoice should include

Remember your tax invoice should have the words “tax invoice” on it and display the business name and Australian Business Number (ABN) of the retailer, a description of the goods, the date you bought the goods, the purchase price and the GST/WET component of the price.

Can I Claim Tax Back On Purchases Made In The EU?

Subject to certain rules, if you are a visitor to the EU you will be able to claim the Value Added Tax (VAT) back on your departure from the EU.

Some main points to note when claiming VAT back:

• If the retailer participates in the VAT-refund scheme (most larger-sized or tourist-oriented stores do), you will need to purchase a minimum amount before the store will process the paperwork necessary for you to obtain a refund document. From personal experience, each form can look quite different, so make sure you ask the retailer to show you how to correctly complete the forms before leaving the store;

• If you are travelling to multiple countries within the EU, you only need to declare your purchases to customs, and obtain a stamp on each of the refund forms you have, at your last point of departure from the EU.

• Depending on your final departure airport, you will have a couple of options on how you can receive VAT back on your purchases. At Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, for example, you can either claim the VAT at the airport or post your refund documents (once you have obtained the requisite customs stamp) at the airport. In the latter option, a refund should be made to your nominated account within a few months.

Hot Tips:

• Factor in the length of your trip

If you are planning a substantial sojourn to the EU (6 months, for example), remember that you only have 3 months from the date of purchase to claim your VAT back;

• Get to the airport early

On a recent European holiday, my last destination was Paris. Even arriving at the airport 3.5 hours ahead of flight departure time, I was not able to collect a refund at the airport. Queues are shockingly long and could easily have taken another 45 minutes. I chose to post stamped/verified documents via the yellow postal boxes and received most of my VAT refunds about 2 months after arriving home.

• Ask retailers about minimum qualifying amounts

Find out from the retailer the minimum qualifying amount that you need to spend before you are eligible to receive the refund documentation. This can vary from country to country within the EU.

• Be prepared for different processes among stores

Different stores have different processes in place with respect to the tax refund. At large department stores in major cities (for example, Galeries Lafayette or Printemps) the process for claiming tax back is extremely organised.

Always speak to the “Information Desk” or “International Shopping Desk” to clarify the process before making purchases.

A Note About Shopping Overseas

Whether or not you are able to claim tax back on goods purchased in stores overseas can vary substantially.

In the United States, for example, sales tax is charged by a number of individual states and, in most cases, you will not be eligible for a sales tax refund. On the other hand, in countries such as Singapore and Japan there are similar programs to the TRS in place.

Further information 

• Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)
• Sydney Airport
• European Commission
• Useful information on tax free shopping worldwide

In the end we only regret the chances we did not take.

Travel is a wonderful and exhilarating adventure. But adventures and surprises often go hand in hand. Some surprises, like killer cases of food poisoning on a road trip are random, cruel and largely beyond our control. Other surprises, like a sobering roundhouse kick to your wallet by accumulated foreign transaction fees, we can control.

Travel is a deeply entrenched part of Australian culture. In the year ending June 2015, 9.2 million Australian residents returned after a short-term holiday overseas. According to Expedia, 83% of young Australians aged 18-24 plan to travel overseas in the next 12 months.

One of the most important, and commonly overlooked, aspects of an incredible trip is knowing how to handle your money. That’s why we put together what you need to know how to choose the best and cheapest travel credit card.

What You Might Not Know About International Transactions

When planning our trips, most of us focus on a strict savings plan with the intention of spending all our money once we are away. But an equally important aspect of travel is knowing how to save money by avoiding hidden banking and transaction fees which can quickly deplete your travel funds while you are still overseas.

Unlike domestic credit or debit card purchases in Australia, every transaction you make overseas with a card attracts additional charges. Currency conversion fees, international transaction fees and foreign exchange fees may apply.

International transaction fees from most major Australian banks usually amount to around 3% of the cost of your purchase. Most credit and debit cards charge between $4-5 for ATM withdrawals overseas.

What Is A Travel Credit Card?

A travel credit card is a pre-paid debit card that allows you to use your own money while travelling.

They are a popular choice for many travellers because they are easy to use. You can purchase a card any time meaning that you can load your card with foreign currency when the Australian dollar is strong and you can also load multiple currencies.

While overseas you can use a travel card for ATM withdrawals, shopping, restaurants, souvenirs, accommodation and online shopping. It is also possible to load more money or change currencies while overseas either online or using your mobile.

Canstar provides a great comparison of all major travel cards.

Source: Canstar

Travel cards are marketed as an effective way to avoid international transaction fees by allowing you to charge up a card with foreign currency prior to your trip. But where travel cards succeed in helping you avoid international transaction fees, they fail in reducing the cost of exchange rates.

Hidden Travel Card Charges & Problems

The below fees can amount to significantly higher fees and charges than you might expect. Some travel cards even charge up to 4-5% higher exchange rates than most average credit or debit cards.

• ATM Flat Fees – between $2-4 for ATM withdrawals overseas
• Initial Card Purchase – between $10-15
• Cash Re-load Fees – approximately 1.1%. Canstar’s 5-Star rated cards do not have a cash re-load fee
• Closing Travel Card Fee – approximately $10
• Currency Conversion Fee for changing currencies on travel card – between 3-5% of the value
• Card Top-up Fee – approximately 1% of value
• Wrong Currency Fee in cases where you have run out of local currency but have other currencies loaded on card – 5.95% of transaction
• Monthly Inactivity Fee where you return from holiday but have not closed your account – $4 per month
• Refund Fee to draw money you did not spend – approximately $10

Another major shortcoming of travel cards is the time it takes to recharge. If you use up the money you put on your card it can take up to 72 hours for additional funds to be processed, meaning you could be stranded without cash.

Cheapest Credit And Debit Cards

To avoid high international transaction fees, many travellers withdraw large sums of cash in their destination city, however, it is never safe to travel with large sums of money on you.

Your best option is to travel with a low fee debit or travel credit card (below) and to withdraw small amounts of cash for food and incidentals as you need, using your debit or credit card for most other purchases. It is a much more secure way to travel than with cash or travellers cheques.

ING Direct Orange Everyday Visa Debit Card

• No annual fees
• 2.5% of transaction amount for international purchases
• $2.50 international ATM withdrawal fee
• No currency conversion fee

28 Degrees Mastercard 

• No annual fees
• No currency conversion fees
• No international transaction fees (purchases)
• 3-4% international transaction fees (cash withdrawal)
• 3% ATM withdrawal fee

What are your favourite cards for overseas travel? Let us know in the comments section below! 

Along with your passport, a good travel insurance policy is the one of the most essential things you need before jetting off on holiday. Travel insurance can cover you for emergencies you may run into while away from home – for example if you become sick or injured, if your luggage is lost or stolen, or if you need to cancel your trip because of a medical emergency.

But a staggering number of young Australian travellers do not know what is included in their travel insurance policy. Dean Van Es, CEO Fast Cover, says:

A survey commissioned by Fast Cover found that 17.2% of Australian travellers don’t understand what they are covered for when they buy travel insurance. 34.4% of these people are between 18 and 24 years old.”

Here we debunk some of the most common misconceptions about travel insurance and what you need to know to protect yourself while on holiday.

Myth 1: I Don’t Need Travel Insurance

Surprisingly up to 30% of travellers, the majority of whom are Gen Y, still travel without travel insurance.

Even if you are young, have never broken a bone, are very rarely sick, have had all your immunisations and plan to just relax on a beach overseas, you still need travel insurance.

Accidents and illness can happen to anyone, anywhere and at any time. There is no way to guarantee that it will not happen to you. What you can guarantee without travel insurance is that you will foot the cost of any unexpected expenses in an emergency.

The Australian Government will not pay for your medical expenses or medical evacuation while you are overseas. Depending on the nature of the emergency, the cost can range from a few hundred dollars to a six figure sum.

A single day in a hospital in the United States, for example, can cost between $1,400- $13,400 AUD. The cost of a medical evacuation from a cruise ship in Australian waters can reach between $10,000 and $20,000.

Travel insurance also covers you for a lot more than medical expenses. For example, you can purchase cover for lost luggage and unexpected trip cancellations, as well as emergency assistance.

Some travel insurance companies can provide you with international assistance over the phone:

Fast Cover gives travellers 24/7 access to the Allianz Global Assistance team. This team can guide you over the phone when you experience an emergency, wherever you are in the world” says Mr Van Es.

Myth 2: I’ll Get Travel Insurance The Day I Leave

While no one is going to make you buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip, it may be in your best interests to do so once you have made some deposits.

Without travel insurance, if you need to cancel your trip unexpectedly, any deposits you have made towards your trip may be lost.

Paying a couple of hundred dollars for accommodation you will never stay in, a flight that you will never take or a cruise that you will miss is a learning experience that you can easily avoid.

Myth 3: My Pre-Existing Medical Condition Is Not Such A Big Deal

So perhaps you have been taking medication regularly for years with no problems, or you previously have had surgery.

You might not think this is significant when you buy your travel insurance, but it can be if your condition lands you in hospital or requires medical attention while you are overseas. Some travel insurers will cover a number of pre-existing medical conditions, however, if your condition is not covered by your policy then you will personally face any medical expenses.

It is always best to check your policy and to choose a travel insurance company that covers your underlying medical condition.

Myth 4: Travel Insurance Covers Me When I Party!!

Well, yes and no. While your travel insurance will cover you if you go to a party, it will not cover you if you do not act in a responsible way or if you participate in any illegal activity.

Most likely you will not be covered for medical expenses if you become sick or injure yourself when you have drunk an excessive amount of alcohol or taken illegal substances.

Myth 5: Everything I Do Overseas Is Covered

This is another unfortunate misconception.

If you hurt yourself by falling off an elephant, crashing a moped or toppling from a kayak, your travel insurance may not cover your medical expenses.

Your travel insurer will outline what activities you are covered for in their Product Disclosure Statement. If your activity is not listed it is best to assume that it is not covered and to find out if your travel insurer can cover you for that activity.

Adventurous activities such as bungee jumping and paragliding may be covered by paying an additional premium.

Myth 6: The Cheapest Policy Is The Best Policy

If only the cheapest option were always the best option.

It is worth remembering that in many cases paying more means getting more. While the cheapest travel policy will always be the most appealing, you should expect limitations on the level of cover you receive.

Compare a few policies and decide which option suits your trip best.

Myth 7: I Will Recieve A Refund If I Decide Not To Travel

Cancellation cover does not mean that you can recover the deposits you have put towards your holiday if you simply decide that you would rather not travel.

Cancellation cover only applies when an event prevents you from going on your trip.

For example, if you or a relative becomes sick or injured and you need to stay at home. In these situations you will be able to make a claim. If you decide that you would rather save money by cancelling your trip, you probably will not be able to make a successful claim.

Conclusion

Understand what is, and is not, covered by your travel insurance policy before your next adventure. When it comes to travel, a little bit of planning and research can go a long way.

What are some of your best (or worst) travel experiences? Has your travel insurance policy covered you? Tell us about it in the comments section below!