Travel Guides online:
www.fodors.com
http://www.frommers.com/
http://www.roughguides.com/
http://www.ricksteves.com/
http://newyork.citysearch.com/
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/index.html
http://www.towd.com/
http://www.nps.gov/index.html
http://travel.state.gov/
(travel information from the US Department of State)
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/
(health information for travelers)
http://www.xe.com/ucc/
(on-line currency converter)
http://www.weather.com/activities/travel/
(weather)
http://www.indo.com/distance/
(distances between cities)
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004587.html
(average temperatures)
http://www.mapquest.com/
(maps by mapquest)
http://www.randmcnally.com/
(maps by rand McNally)
Tips
PASSPORT: Make several photocopies of your passport leaving
one at home,
your office and in your luggage. If your original passport
becomes lost,
your photocopy will expedite replacement.
AIRLINE TICKET: Make a copy of your airline ticket to
carry with you. Pack
any photocopies of your documents in a different location
in case one set is
lost.
CREDIT CARDS: Take with you only the major credit cards
you plan to use on
your trip. When making purchases, keep in mind the "exchange
rate" varies on
a daily basis (to your advantage or disadvantage). Make
a list of all credit
cards with numbers and pack separately.
ATM CASH ADVANCES: Since some countries now impose surcharges
for cashing
traveler's checks, you can use and ATM and benefit from
the wholesale
exchange rate banks use for large-scale transactions.
Check to see what
network your ATM card belongs to and find out if this
network is available
in the country you're visiting. Then check with your US
bank to see if your
PIN number will be accepted abroad. Also ask your bank
if there are any
charges for using a foreign ATM.
More Online Resources
PURCHASE LOG: Keep a log of all your purchases, and include
what you paid in foreign currency and the equivalent in
US dollars. This
will make it easier to fill out customs forms.
MEDICATION: Have prescription medication refilled and
bring an extra supply
along with you. Carry all vital medicines in your carry-on
luggage. Bring
along copies of your prescriptions that are written in
generic form and
explanatory letter from your doctor if you suffer from
a particular ailment,
especially if you must carry drugs or hypodermic needles
through customs.
WHAT TO PACK: Always pack light. You can avoid wrinkles
by wrapping your
clothes separately in white tissue paper.
MONEY: Bring $30 to $50 in small bills for tips.
EYEGLASSES: Always bring an extra pair of prescription
lenses or a copy of
your prescription in case your glasses are lost or broken.
Don't forget your
sunglasses!
DRIVER'S LICENSE: Your drivers license acts as a secondary
means of
identification in case your passport is misplaced.
CAMERA: Bring plenty of film and extra batteries. Remember,
most cameras
have special batteries not easily replaced outside the
US.
MAL DE MER: Motion sickness medication can be obtained
from your physician
(the patch) or at your local drugstore.
BODY ACTIVITY DURING FLIGHTS: It is important to get
up and move around
during long flights in in order to avoid the possibility
of pulmonary
embolism. To find out your risk of blood clotting (deep
vein thrombosis)
during flying, try this online test.
Passport Changes for the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
In April 2005, the Federal Government has issued new requirements
for entry
into the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean,
Bermuda and
Panama. On a phased in basis, all US citizens and foreign
nationals from
these countries will be required to have a passport for
each traveler. This
week President Bush asked for another review of the proposed
rules in order
to minimize any impact on commerce between Mexico, Canada
and the United
States.
Why the change?
As a result of Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Protection
Act of 2004, the
secretaries of Homeland Defense and State were directed
to take certain
actions to make US borders more secure. Historically,
travelers from the
above countries were only required to show minimum documentation
in order to
cross the US border. Compared with the more obvious increases
in airport
security the present day border requirements were considered
to be too
vulnerable.
What is changing?
Over a period of three years everyone traveling into the
United States will
be required to have a valid passport. The phasing is noted
below:
As of December 31, 2005 all persons traveling (air/sea)
from the Caribbean,
Bermuda, Central and South America will need a valid passport.
As of December 31, 2006 all persons traveling (air/sea)
from Mexico and
Canada will need a valid passport.
As of December 31, 2007 all persons traveling (via air/sea
or overland) to
the United States will need a valid passport.
What does this mean for families?
If the new regulations remain unchanged, all individuals
will be required to
carry passports by 2007. Passports are good for ten years
for adults and
five years for children under 16. Currently passports
cost $97 for an adult
passport and $82 for a child's passport with photo processing
and mailing
costs extra. For the stereotypical family of four, this
equates to $358 plus
expenses.
What should families do when considering or planning
an international trip?
The first thing is to plan ahead. Determine where, when
and how you will be
traveling. Families will need to balance the convenience
of having passports
ready against the fact that children's passports are only
good for five
years and the expense of renewal. For those families that
can plan it would
be wise to wait until six months prior to traveling to
order a passport for
a child.
