Traveling Tips

[donsaeid]

What type of research should I do before I travel?

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Do some research, learn as much as you can about your destination.
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Check to see what type of weather the area has so you can plan accordingly.
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Check to see what type of paperwork and documentation you will need to travel.
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Find out what type of diseases are common to the area you’ll be visiting and take actions to prevent your exposure to those diseases.
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Check your own medical coverage to see what type of coverage you’ll have when away from home. Consider purchasing trip insurance.
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If you plan on driving, get your car ready and investigate the local road conditions, laws and other driving requirements.
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Do some research about the costs of local items so you can set your budget. Don't forget to budget for taxes and tipping. Many governments charge high taxes for travel related services.
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Check the dates of local major holidays or festivals, since services may be limited on those dates.

[donsaeid]

What additional research should I do when planning foreign travel?

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Find out if you will need a passport to enter the country. Make sure your passport is up to date and valid. Some countries will not let you in if your passport will expire within six months of your return home, extend it, if you are close to expiration.
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Find out if you will need any visas to enter the country.
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Check with the U.S. State Department concerning safety warnings for U.S. tourists at your destination.
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Find out what types of vaccinations you will need to enter the country, there may also be medications you’ll need to take before, during and even after your trip.
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Check the financial section of your newspaper, they usually post exchange rates and checking in advance can give you an idea of how much you’ll need to budget.
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Do some research with U.S. Customs to find out what you can take with you and what you may bring back.
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Build some basic language skills in the local language.
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Most of the world uses the metric system, so try to become familiar with this system. 1 kilometer = .62 miles so 100 kilometers per hour = 62 miles per hour.

[donsaeid]

What should I consider when shopping for new luggage?

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If you’re looking to buy new luggage, you should consider luggage with these features:
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Retractable rollers, rollers will make it easier to make it through the airport. You’ll also want retractable rollers, so the rollers won’t be pulled off.
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Removable straps. Straps make luggage easier to carry, but they can get caught on conveyor belts and either break or damage your luggage.
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A lock, preferably one that doesn’t dangle off the luggage too much.
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Carry-on luggage in a size that will be allowed under the recent more restrictive carry-on size limits.

[donsaeid]

What should I pack in my carry-on luggage?

* A passport, for all travel outside the U.S. and identification purposes.
* Wallet
* Driver's License and/or other proper photo identification required for domestic travel.
* Insurance cards for both your medical and automobile insurance
* Credit cards
* Travelers checks
* Coupons
* Airline, Cruise or Train tickets
* Itinerary with confirmation numbers and addresses and phone numbers of where you'll be staying
* Travel brochures and maps
* Lots of crisp one-dollar bills for all those tipping opportunities
* A small amount of local currency for immediate use to hold you over until you can make it to a currency exchange, if you're planning foreign travel.

[donsaeid]

What is the best way to carry my medications?

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Carry them in your carry-on since it will be less likely to be lost than your checked luggage. Your carry-on will also do less harm to temperature-sensitive medication.
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Carry your medication in their original bottles to help avoid security questions.
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Bring along the generic names of your medications since brand names can vary.
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If you have any questionable drugs or particularly large supplies, you might want to bring a letter from your doctor stating you have a legal right to use these drugs.
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If you are traveling outside the United States, check to see what you can take with you. Something legal here might be illegal elsewhere. It could get dumped, or you could get dumped in jail.

[donsaeid]

How can I avoid damaging my film?

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High-speed film is the most susceptible to damage, but all your film is at risk.
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Carrying your film in your checked bags used to be a safer bet, but with stronger bomb detection devices, your film is now more likely to get fried.
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Buy special carrying cases designed for protecting film.
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You can ask for a manual inspection in the United States and some foreign airports to avoid the x-rays if you place your film in your carry-on bag.
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The walkthrough and hand wand security devices shouldn’t effect your film.
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The safest bet for film is to buy it after you arrive and develop it before you go. This may not be the cheapest route, but it is the best guarantee to keep your memories safe.

[donsaeid]

What should I do with my valuables?

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Leave them at home in a safe place if you can.
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If your luggage has locks, you should use them.
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Shrink wrapping your luggage will not only protect the outside of your bags, but also the contents inside.
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Do not carry valuables in your checked luggage, they will be safer in your carry-on bags.
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If you do place any valuables in your luggage, hide them in the lower sections of the bags so a quick look inside won’t reveal them.

[donsaeid]

How can I keep my items neat in my luggage?

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Pack your liquid items in less than full plastic bottles, they might freeze and expand if you’re traveling by plane or putting them in a trunk and traveling through cold weather. Place the bottles in freezer bags with a seal to further protect your items.
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Bring along a plastic trash bag to keep your dirty items separate from your other clothes.
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Pack your shoes in shoe bags or old socks to keep their dirty soles from touching your clean clothes.
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Pack carefully to avoid wrinkles.

[donsaeid]

How can I avoid wrinkles?

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Don't over pack your bags.
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Travel with clothing that is less likely to wrinkle.
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Roll up T-shirts or underwear and wrap your items around them at a fold line. This will help keep a crease from forming.
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Take the proper size luggage for your trip. Too big a bag will allow your items to move around and make damage and wrinkles more likely.
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Button the buttons on shirts so items will hang properly.
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Use plastic dry cleaner bags between items. Make sure the dry cleaner bags do not have any advertising printed on them. The ink can rub off and end up on your clothes.
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Unpack as soon as possible.
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Hang wrinkled items in the bathroom while you shower to help steam out the wrinkles.

[donsaeid]

How can I avoid losses on my trip?

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Don’t pack valuable, perishable, and fragile or items sensitive to the heat and cold in your checked baggage. Try to avoid these items altogether, but if you must take them, they will be safer in your carry-on bag.
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Never leave your luggage unattended or take your eyes off your bags.
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Learn your destination's airport code and make sure the correct one gets put on your bag.
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Avoid taking luggage with flashy brand names, as it will make them more attractive to thieves.
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Avoid carrying your laptop in a bag that lets everyone know you are carrying expensive electronics.
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Use the locks on your luggage.
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Clearly label your luggage on both the inside and outside of your bags.
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Remove any items that are hanging off your luggage and could get caught on conveyor belts.
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Place a trip itinerary in your luggage so your bags can easily be returned to you.
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Place a unique bright marking on your luggage so you can easily identify it. This way others will recognize that their similar looking bag did not have the markings and leave yours alone.
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Switch some of your items with those of a traveling companion. That way if your bags go missing, you’ll still have some items with you.
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Cover your hands when you are entering ATM or phone card numbers so others can’t copy them down and use them.
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If an airline loses your items make a claim before you leave the airport; some Airlines will not honor claims made after you have left the airport.
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Carry a list of all your items in your carry-on and leave one at home, to help you make a complete claim form if your items go missing. Carry a copy of the final list in your carry-on bags, you’ll be able to use it to fill out claim forms with the airline if they lose your luggage.
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Consider purchasing trip insurance that offers protection for your property.

[donsaeid]

How can I pack light and still have everything I need?

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The more you travel, the more you know that traveling with the smallest possible amount of luggage is the best way to go. But, how can you cut down on your luggage burden?
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Call ahead to the hotel to see if they offer any laundry services. See if they include items in your room such as, robes and toiletries that will reduce your packing needs.
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Coordinate your outfits around a central color so you’ll be able to mix and match.
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Check the weather, so you can bring the most appropriate items. Remember to account for seasonal and daily temperature fluctuations and also keep in mind that increases in altitude will decrease temperature.
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Plan your outfits so you can layer instead of bringing lots of coats.
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Take a solid color sweater that will match any outfit to use to keep you warm
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List all the items you are taking and check to see if you really need each item, in other words, is there something else you could take to kill two birds with one stone.
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Take small sample sizes of toiletries that will last just long enough instead of huge bottles.
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Don’t waste an inch of your luggage space, pack underwear and socks inside your shoes. This will also help your shoes keep their shape. Pack your belts around the edge of the luggage.
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Take some old clothes with only one last wear in them. You can then toss them out and use the room for the souvenirs you’ll want to bring home.

[donsaeid]

Things to Carry on Your Person

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A passport, for all travel outside the U.S. and identification purposes
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Wallet
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Driver’s License
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Insurance cards for both your medical and automobile insurance
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Credit cards
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Travelers checks
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Coupons
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Airline, Cruise or Train tickets
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Itinerary with confirmation numbers and addresses and phone numbers of where you’ll be staying
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Travel brochures and maps
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Lots of crisp one-dollar bills for all those tipping opportunities
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A small amount of local currency for immediate use to hold you over until you can make it to a currency exchange, if you're planning foreign travel.

[donsaeid]

How can my credit card company help prepare me for my trip?

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You can arrange to pay bills that will come due while you are gone.
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They will be aware that you will be making charges from another country.
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They will be able to give you an idea of how acceptable their credit card is in that particular country.
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They can verify acceptance at certain foreign locations.
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They’ll be able to see if your PIN number will work in the countries you are visiting. They can also issue you another PIN number if your current PIN is unacceptable to the foreign bank’s system.
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They can explain cash advance, ATM, foreign purchase and foreign exchange rate policies and fees.
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They can explain any services they offer, such as, extra insurance for your rental car, luggage or purchases. Make sure the coverage offered extends outside the United States and will be valid in all the countries where you’ll be traveling. Also, be sure to note any other exceptions.
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They may need to give you another phone number to call in case you need to reach them. The 800 number listed on the back of your card may not work from foreign locations.
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You can find out if they charge a currency conversion fee, so you can find the most economical card on which to place your foreign purchases.

[donsaeid]

Should I use my credit card when I travel?

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Yes, using your credit card can be more valuable than using cash, so use it when you can.
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You’ll probably be able to get a better exchange rate than changing money to spend yourself.
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You’ll be in a stronger position; the credit card company can often charge back disputed charges.
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Many times your credit card will offer an extra guarantee or warranty when you purchase items with your card, but you’ll want to read the fine print for exceptions.
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You won’t have to risk your safety by carrying and displaying large amounts of cash.
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If you lose your card, most credit cards have a low maximum liability limit if you quickly report the card as lost.

[donsaeid]

Should I use my ATM card while traveling?

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Yes, with the ability to draw out small amounts of cash as needed, you can avoid the risk of traveling with large amounts of cash. Using your ATM card can also be a good way to get cash in foreign countries.
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The ATM will issue money in local currency.
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You should exchange at the bank’s wholesale exchange rate. You may still want to shop around to different banks since some will charge a high usage fee for their ATMs. Although, even high ATM fees may be less than others will charge for currency exchanges.
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Don't wait until you're out of money to go to an ATM, the machines can run out of money or break down.

[donsaeid]

How can I make sure I’ll be able to use my ATM card while traveling?

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Call your bank to make sure your PIN number will work in foreign countries.
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Find out your daily limits and plan ahead. You may need to take out money little by little or ask to have your daily limit increased.
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Use your ATM card before you go, to make sure it is still good.
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If you go through many airport security checks, remember that the security scans can demagnetize your cards. You might want to ask for a visual inspection.
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Don’t wait until you’re out of money to go to an ATM, the machines can run out of money or break down.

[donsaeid]

What should I know about using travelers checks?

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If the particular brand of travelers checks are accepted in the country and area you’ll be visiting.
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How widely they are accepted within the countries and areas you’ll be visiting.
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Any fees for purchasing and using the travelers checks.
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The travelers check company’s loss, replacement and refund policies.

[omid219]

thanks for the info

[donsaeid]

Tips for Traveling Abroad (some of them are just for americans)


If you are traveling abroad here are the top 10 tips you need to make your trip easier:

Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport!

Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit.

Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, the U.S. Constitution does not follow you! While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.

Make 2 copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport.

Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers.
Prior to your departure, you should register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website . Registration will make your presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an emergency.

In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts may not be released without your express authorization. Remember to leave a detailed itinerary and the numbers or copies of your passport or other citizenship documents with a friend or relative in the United States.

To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards.

In order to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques.

If you get into trouble, contact the nearest U.S. embassy.