Basic Travel Information

International Air Travel

Rule of Thumb:  When booking travel to international destinations, it is important to allow at least a minimum 2 hour window between the domestic and international flight.  This is especially important if you choose not to use the same airline carrier for your domestic travel and international travel.

  • U.S. Passport Book (Good for international travel by air, sea, or land)
      • Make sure you have a current passport, as a general rule of thumb, most countries will not allow you to enter if your passport expires within six months.
      • Always check the U.S. government or your own country’s passport website for the most current updates and information.
      • Always carry a copy of your passport with you in an area separate from your original passport.
        • Leave a copy of your passport with a family member back home.
  • U.S. Passport Card (Cannot be used for international air travel)
      • Passport Card is used for land border crossings and seaports of entry from:  Canada, Mexico, The Caribbean, and Bermuda
        • On a recent trip in June of 2017, relatives were to meet in Canada for a cruise departure to Alaska.  Three relatives thought their U.S. Passport Card would allow them to enter Canada by air travel.  Unfortunately, the day of their departure from the United States, they were denied boarding on their planned flight.  They had to re-book their air to fly to Seattle, Washington, where they rented a car to drive to the border of Canada.  They left their rental car in Canada paying a high fee and barely made their cruise with minutes to spare.
  • Visa

Depending on the country you may need a visa to enter.  Some countries will allow you to pay for your visa upon arrival while others require a visa to be obtained before your departure.  Visa requirements are dependant upon the length of stay.  

Upon Arrival

    • If the country allows you to obtain a visa upon entry, be prepared to pay in cash only with new crisp currency.
    • Some countries require an extra passport photo for the visa requirements, so check ahead of time in case you need to bring an extra photo with you.

Prior to Departure

      • For other countries you must apply in advance by filling out paperwork and paying a fee.
      • As soon as you know where you are going, check to see the visa requirements through the government website and allow enough time.  There are specialty websites that will help you obtain your travel visa for the particular country you will be visiting.  We have used the following company for our visas – https://www.travelvisapro.com/

Airport Check-in Process

  • For international travel, arrive at least 3 hours prior to departure to allow for the check-in process and security check-point.
  • When traveling with children some countries require your child’s original birth certificate in addition to your child’s passport.
    • Example:  We once missed a flight out of Argentina because we had a copy of our son’s birth certificate, instead of the original. Although we had his passport we were unable to depart. Now I always carry my children’s birth certificates in addition to their passports.
  • If you purchased a seat for a child less than 2 years of age, airlines require the child be seated on your lap during take-off and landing unless they are seated in a car seat or safety restraint. If not bringing a car seat, airlines provide a lap belt extension so the child may be seated on your lap during take off and landing.
    • Example:  On a recent trip to Europe with our 18 month old, we did not bring a car seat. Since we purchased a seat for our child, we bought a Cares safety restraint which we never used! The airline provided an extension belt for take-off and landing and instructed us to place the child on our lap. Save your pennies and skip buying the expensive safety restraint.
  • Some countries have priority check-in lines when traveling with children, or if pregnant.  

Registration

When traveling solo or with a group, it is important to register any international trip with the United States Government through (STEP) prior to your departure.  By enrolling, the nearest embassy will be notified of your travel plans.  Embassy contact information will be provided to you for your safety.  It is important to be aware of current affairs in the area you are traveling to.  You will receive important updates and travel alerts/warnings such as –

      • Safety conditions in the area
      • Notification of civil unrest
      • You will be contacted in case of an emergency along with loved ones notified as well
  • Vaccinations

Depending upon the country you are visiting, you will need to make sure you are up-to-date with routine vaccinations as well as other vaccinations specifically needed for your destination.  Keep a record!

where there is a “Complete List of Destinations”.  Information is provided on each country.

      • Allow enough time prior to your trip, since most vaccinations need time to develop/establish an immune response in case you are exposed to the virus or pathogen.   
  • Travel Insurance

Traveler’s insurance?  Buy it or not?  We typically do not buy travel insurance.  However, we evaluate each trip and depending on cost, extended family health concerns, or travel location, we have purchased insurance.  Maybe we have been lucky!  Beware of hidden clauses because the travel insurance may not provide all that it was intended for.

  • Negative Example:  Travel insurance was purchased through the travel company we were traveling with.  It was their recommended insurance for a trip to Antarctica.  My husband and I left on our flight from the United States out of Texas.  The flight was late leaving due to luggage issues of another passenger.  Their luggage had to be taken off the airplane which caused us to arrive in Argentina late missing our connecting flight.  It was Saturday, which made it difficult to get a hold of the travel company.  We eventually purchased very expensive tickets on another flight to arrive to our flight destination in Argentina where we were to board the ship sailing for Antarctica.  After our trip, we contacted the travel company who sent us to their insurance agent.  Guess what?  The insurance did not cover the particular situation and we were told to contact the airlines.  The airlines gave us a credit for future travel.  
  • Positive Example:  Three family members traveled to Moscow, Russia to pick-up our daughter who was living there.  Our daughter, traveling with us, had a small luggage stolen from the carousel after we arrived.  We eventually received money for our insurance claim to cover the luggage cost and articles of clothing inside.  

The following website may help you make that important decision.  It lists the 11 Reasons why to buy Travel Insurance – http://www.travelinsurancereview.net/tips-and-advice/understanding-travel-insurance/reasons-to-buy-travel-insurance/

We have had success with this travel insurance company.  The company helps you find the right travel insurance coverage for your trip.  They listen to your concerns and why you want to purchase travel insurance.

    • They are professional.
    • They offer comparisons of several travel insurance companies.
    • Specialty insurance (purchased for trip of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa).  Not all insurances provide the protection for medical reasons due to the elevation of the mountain.

We have found that some travel companies provide a brochure of a recommended travel insurance with the agent’s name.  Does the travel company receive a compensation if you purchase that insurance?  We feel it is best to get comparisons so you have an insurance tailored to your specific needs.

  • Currency
      • Clean crisp bills for travel outside the United States.  No tears or markings.  No bills greater than a $20.00.  Have $1.00’s, $5.00’s, $10.00’s on hand.  Check the country to see if U.S. currency is accepted and some countries will ONLY accept the currency after a certain year.
      • Important to carry emergency cash.
      • Follow safety measures for use of an ATM.
  • Credit Card
      • Call the credit card company or report online your dates and location of travel.  Add in an additional day for travel back in case there was an issue with your departure date.  
      • Verify pin is working prior to trip.
      • Europe – only uses the chip cards.
      • Visa & mastercard credit card widely accepted.  American Express for overseas is difficult to use, but is slowly becoming more acceptable.
      • Bring the credit card and a copy of your statement with you for proof at airport check-in that you purchased your flight.  
  • Example:  Twice at the airport we have had problems for travel to Africa where they questioned that we purchased the airfare. 

Food/Water Safety Recommendations

World Health Organization has a motto:  “Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it”

    • Check on your travel destination for recommendation of water or food before travel.  In many overseas locations, we have drank their water, had their lettuce, and enjoyed street food and have been fine.  In other locations, we wished we would have not had what made us sick, even at a very nice hotel.  
    • We have found that taking a probiotic pill each day has helped our travels.  (Probiotic is helpful bacteria to keep your gut healthy).

Rule of Thumb:  Check your destination before travel through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/food-water-safety

Basic rules to reduce your risk of traveler’s diarrhea and other diseases –

    • Food and Beverage guidelines:
        • Eat food that is cooked and served hot
        • Either reheat or do not eat cooked food that has been at room temperature for several hours.
        • Hard-cooked eggs.  Avoid raw or runny eggs
        • Avoid raw seafood or undercooked meat
        • Eat fruits and vegetables you have washed in clean water or peeled yourself
        • Avoid unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables
        • Avoid lettuce on sandwiches or green salads
        • Eat pasteurized dairy products
        • Avoid unpasteurized dairy products
        • Careful with food from street vendors.  Look at the cleanliness of their station.  (Consider the country first).
        • Make sure all food is cooked completely and in front of you.
        • Avoid bushmeat such as monkeys, bats, or other wild game
        • Bottled water that has been sealed.  Beware of bottle seal.  
          • Example:  We have purchased bottled water where we knew the lid had been re-glued because the water tasted soapy.
        • Tap water.  (Consider the country first).
        • Some destinations have been safe for us to drink or brush our teeth with the local tap water.
        • Ice that is made with bottled or disinfected water ONLY
        • Avoid juice made with tap water, popsicles, ice cream, etc., unless you know the source of the product.
        • Ice cream, juice drinks, popsicles can often be contaminated. If from an unreliable source or not sure, then don’t buy it.

Personal Hygiene

If your travel destination is a country that you cannot use the tap water, be careful about the following:

    • Brushing teeth only with bottled water.  By habit, there have been many times where the toothbrush has been held under the tap.  
    • Bring an extra toothbrush.
    • Showering with mouth open.  Be careful not to let tap water run into your mouth.
    • Careful on a boat ride down a local river and water splashing into your mouth.

Domestic Air Travel

Rule of Thumb:  When booking travel within the 48 states, if your flight is not direct and has connections, it is important to allow at least a minimum 1 hour window between flights.  

  • Identification such as a Driver’s License

Airport Check-in Process

  • For domestic travel, arrive at least 2 hours prior to departure to allow for the check-in process and security check-point.

Rule of Thumb:  Check your departure city to see what the minimum required check-in time is prior to departure.

  • Majority of domestic airports offer kiosk check in. Download your airline carrier’s app and check in online. Even better, your boarding pass is scanned from your smartphone. No paper necessary!
  • Always check the monitor for your departure. Even though it’s printed on your boarding pass, gate changes often happen.

General

  • Check out the etiquette of the area before you travel.
  • Airline schedule, travel itinerary, and other documentation should be left with family member or friend.  In case of an issue, they know your whereabouts.
  • The documentation needed can vary depending upon your destination, so it’s good to check ahead to make sure you’re good to go.
  • Before the day of travel, verify all documentation, etc., is ready to go.  This helps to eliminate last minute stress.

Did you know you can track a flight (international or domestic) through this website?  Include the airline and flight number or if you don’t know, you can list the departing city and arrival city.

    • Helps to identify if there is a delay in arrival time.
    • Fun to see where the airplane is located.

BON VOYAGE!