Visit a doctor before travelling
We strongly recommend that you see a doctor for the latest health advice at least six weeks prior to your holiday to allow time for any necessary vaccinations, etc. Remember to take your itinerary with you to the appointment. For up to date travel health advice, please check www.travelvax.com.au before departure and always seek your doctor’s advice.
Drinking Water
We strongly recommend only drinking bottled water, and avoid ice in your drinks. Some hotels will provide bottled water in the room, as well as a kettle or flasks of boiled water which is suitable for drinking and cleaning teeth. Bottled drinking water, soft drinks and beer are widely available and affordable.
Toilets
Toilet facilities are very basic throughout Asia and except in hotels and larger shopping centres, it is rare that you will find a ‘western’ style toilet. ‘Squat’ toilets are very common in public places and in some traditional restaurants. We suggest you carry tissues with you though, as public facilities may not always supply toilet paper.
Altitude
Some of our tours reach areas of high altitude. Your Tour Dossier will list altitudes reached each day. Please refer to this information to satisfy yourself that you are physically able to undertake your chosen itinerary. AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) occurs in some people of varying ages and fitness levels when they travel to altitudes over 3,000m. Symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, nausea or loss of appetite, breathlessness or headache. These usually develop over the first 36 hours at altitude and not immediately on arrival.
Your guide will be extremely well-trained in dealing with its effects – taking it easy and taking some time to acclimatise are the best ways to prevent and combat it. Usually the symptoms will subside after a day, however; if symptoms worsen you should seek medical advice and descend in altitude immediately.
It is recommended to drink more water, nonalcoholic and non-caffeinated drinks and avoid exertion after arriving over 3,000m. Our itineraries ensure you will stay overnight at least 100m below the maximum altitude reached during that day, another effective method for combatting AMS. We have adapted the itinerary to make sure that your time at these heights is as relaxed and easy as possible.
Personal Medical Kit
We strongly recommend taking all pharmaceutical products that you may require with you on your tour. Do not rely on being able to purchase these during your holiday. While there are pharmacies throughout China, foreign prescriptions cannot be filled, and non-prescription medicines will be different from the western brands you are used to. It is also unlikely that the
staff will speak English. Consider taking a ‘personal medical kit’ containing any medication or medical equipment you may need during your time in China:
- All prescribed medication (with a cover note from your doctor)
- Headache tablets
- Anti-diarrhoea tablets
- Cold and flu tablets
- Travel sickness tablets
- Lozenges
- Insect repellent and sunscreen
- Antibacterial hand wipes and/or hand wash
- Spare pair of glasses/contact lenses
- Small first-aid kit
If you need to purchase any pharmaceuticals or medical equipment whilst in country, you may ask your National Escort/Local Guide or hotel staff to help you locate a pharmacy, identify
medication or to translate from the local language to English. If you need medical attention they will be able to arrange a call from a doctor, usually one who speaks English. However, the
decision to purchase or take any non-prescribed (either western or traditional local) medicine is entirely your own.
Restricted and Prohibited Medicines
The use or possession of some common prescription and over-the-counter medicines may be banned in China. Customs officials may not be sympathetic if you claim ignorance. If in any doubt, check with the nearest Embassy or Consulate before you travel.
We strongly urge traveller's to carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:
- What the medication is
- Why you require the medication
- The dosage amount
- That it's for personal use
The staff at Wendy Wu Tours (in Australia and China) and our representatives are not medically qualified. Therefore they are neither able, nor allowed to give any medical advice, recommendations or administer medications.