GENERAL TIPS - DOs & DON'Ts FOR THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVELER

DON'Ts

• Don't drink the water
  Do not drink water out of faucets in Ghana. Drink only bottled water, or any other drink out of a sealed container. Make sure the container still has its original seal--sometimes bottles are simply re-filled and re-sold.
  
  
• Don't flash around lots of money
  Keep only a small amount of money in a pocket or wallet at a time. Showing lots of money makes it more difficult to bargain.
  
  
• Don't expect things to move as quickly as they do back home
  Things here are said to run on "Ghanaian Time" This means that what may take twenty minutes to reach back home may take an hour or more to reach here. Just remember to budget more time for everything, as traffic is almost always heavy in the bigger cities in Ghana.

DOs

• Carry a backpack with you when you go out
  Keep a bottle of water, some tissues or moist towelettes, a hat and sunglasses, and some money with you.
  
  
• Learn a few words of Twi
  You'd be surprised how a little of the local language goes a long way. Even a few words tend to make people smile and laugh! The official language is English. Most everyone speaks some English, but Twi is the vernacular for most non-work conversations.
  
  
• Bargain
  When you're out in the marketplace, bargain for everything. However, prices in established stores like groceries are set, so you should not try to bargain there.
  
  
• Drink lots of bottled water
  It's very warm here, and dehydration can creep up quickly.
  
  
• Take pictures
  The Ghanaian people are warm and friendly. There are lots of opportunites to take some great pictures.
  
  
• Buy a map
  Buy a map and keep it handy. This is useful for communicating destinations to taxi drivers.
  
  
• Have fun!
  We want this to be a fun and rewarding experience for you. If there is anything you need, please let us know and we will do our best to accomodate you.