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    travel tips

    helpful travel tips

    will you need a visa?

    To participate on a Converge internship, you need a passport. And you will need to check to see if you need a visa as soon as possible. Go to this site to find out if the country you are traveling to requires a visa: https://www.passportindex.org/

    travel insurance

    Every participant is required to have their own international travel medical insurance. Though Converge does not purchase the insurance for participants, insurance may be provided by the host organization. Check with the host. If the host organization does not provide insurance, the participant is expected to obtain international medical insurance prior to departure. These insurance providers have received good recommendations from travelers.  

    Volunteer Card - Visit this site.

     Sign up, pay, and have your Volunteer Card mailed directly to you. For more information, visit the Volunteer Card site. 

    Insured Nomads- Visit this site.

     We also recommend Insured Nomads, an insurance provider for world travelers, digital nomads, remote workers and expats on the move. Insured Nomads supports the work of Not For Sale. This link will allow you to automatically associate your insurance purchase with YWAM Converge. For more information, visit the Insured Nomads site. 

    U.S. Dept of State - Visit this site.

    This site is designed for American citizens traveling abroad. However, this information is also useful for travelers from many nations. At this link, you will find information about:

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -  Visit Travel site

    The Center for Disease Control maintains a website of current worldwide immunization recommendations (www.cdc.gov).

    General Travel Information sites.

    Currency Converter

    International Student I.D. Card

    STA Travel

    CheapFlights

    Travel Guide sites.

    Let’s Go

    Lonely Planet

    DK Travel

    travel safety

    Check the medical situation

    Ask your host if they recommend certain vaccinations or medical supplies to carry before you travel. Speak with your doctor about any personal medical concerns that need to be addressed before you travel. Some medications (like malaria pills) will need to be taken weeks and sometimes months in advance. 

    Communications

    If you’re traveling alone, get a cell phone and know your emergency phone numbers. As well, check for relevant apps such as the State Department one that lists embassy phone numbers and addresses. Have regular check-in times with family and with your Mentor. Post regularly on your blog so that family and friends can keep up with your experiences. This is also a good safety measure in case something happens they’ll know ASAP.

    Health

    If you’re sick, don’t waste time wondering how bad it is. If you’re not sure, call home or go to a doctor! To stay healthy, avoid questionable food and drink. In questionable situations, if you can’t boil it, cook it, or peel it, don’t eat it.

    Driving & Motorcycles

    We do not recommend that you drive when traveling abroad, but if you do make sure you have proper training, licensing, and insurance. We strongly recommend that you NOT ride on motorcycles. Did you know that volunteers with the Peace Corps get sent home even if they suspect you rode a motorcycle? Yes! They’re that dangerous! 

    Follow Your Hosts Safety Guidelines

    Before you go out, ask your Host and other locals what areas are safe and which aren’t. 

    Dangers of alcohol and drugs

    Did you know there’s almost a 90% correlation with alcohol and rape? Drinking alcohol may be acceptable as a social activity in some countries, however, we strongly recommend against it. And did you know that marijuana, in some countries, can carry a death sentence? 

    for all international travel

    1. Know your Embassy’s phone numbers.
    2. Visit the State Department website for any travel warnings, and WATCH THE NEWS.
    3. Visit the State Department website to see what areas you need a visa for and which ones you can get ‘on arrival.’ Every country you travel to will have an immigration department, and without adequate preparation, you may not even be able to enter the country!
    4. Register with the State Department’s Smart Travelers Enrollment Program.
    5. Scan your passport, email a copy to yourself, and save it on your Google or another cloud drive. This is just in case yours gets lost, stolen, or a sunk to the bottom of the Amazon… in this way you have a digital copy so that you can more easily prove you are who you say you are to the embassy when you’re trying to get a new one.
    6. If you lose your passport, contact the embassy immediately – delaying this call will only mean a delay in getting a new one as they now have to check to see if your passport has been used illegally and thus taking more time for them… and more time for you!
    7. Let us know if you have any other essential travel safety tips to know before you go!