**Because of stricter regulations imposed by Transportation Security Administration please be aware of the permitted and prohibited items for all airline flights. Go to the TSA web site www.tsa.gov for a listing of items.
Passports (U.S.)
For information on obtaining or renewing a passports/visas or to download passport/visa forms go to http://travel.state.gov.
If you have never applied for a passport you must apply in person. This may be done at a passport office, county clerk’s office or at some post offices. When you apply for a new passport, you are required to have in your possession:
1. The Application for Passport Form DS-11 (download at www.state.gov)
2. Proof of U.S. citizenship in the form of birth certificate or naturalization papers.
3. A passport fee of $85 applies for first-time applicants aged 16 years and over. For those applicants aged 15 years and under, the first-time passport fee is $70.
4. Two identical photos 2” x 2” in size, taken within the last six months on passport quality paper with a light background.
If your passport has expired and it has been issued within the last 15 years, you may reapply by mail. To do so, you will need to complete Form DS-82 (a pink form available at your nearest passport office or county clerk’s office). When completed, send it via certified mail to the nearest passport agency, enclosing your expired passport, two identical 2” x 2” in size, taken within the last six months and a check for the $55 renewal fee.
If your passport has expired, and it had been issued over 15 years ago or you were under 16 years of age when it was issued, you must reapply in person. The procedure for doing so is identical to that for those who have never applied for a passport, except you may use your expired passport as proof of U.S. citizenship.
Since U.S. passport applications may take up to 90 days to process, you should apply as soon as possible and well in advance of your trip departure.
NOTE: It is recommended that your passport be valid for three (3) or six (6) months beyond your planned return date, depending on the visa requirements for the country (ies) visited on your trip.
For more information on how to apply for a passport visit the U.S. State Department web site at http://travel.state.gov.
* Information provided by Alumni Holidays International
VISAS:
Persons traveling on official business for the U.S. Government should obtain visa information from the agency sponsoring their travel (travel company). For purposes of this publication, a visa is an endorsement or stamp placed by officials of a foreign country on an U.S. passport that allows the bearer to visit that foreign country.
If traveling on your own without the help of a travel company:
If a visa is required, obtain it from the appropriate foreign consular representative before proceeding abroad. Allow sufficient time for processing your visa application, especially if you are applying by mail. Most foreign consular representatives are located in principal cities, and in many instances, a traveler may be required to obtain visas from the consular office in the area of his/her residence. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TRAVELER TO OBTAIN VISAS, WHERE REQUIRED, FROM THE APPROPRIATE EMBASSY OR NEAREST CONSULATE OF THE COUNTRY YOU ARE PLANNING TO VISIT. As soon as you receive your visa, check it to make sure no mistakes were made. Processing and visa fees vary, and most fees may not be refundable, consult the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit for specific details.
For more information on how to apply for a visa visit the U.S. State Department web site at http://travel.state.gov.
Information provided by U.S State Department
What to take:
The Society of American Travel Writers polled its members who travel for a living, and asked for guidelines on what to pack for first-time overseas travelers:
1. Bring a copy of your passport's first page, copies of all your credit card numbers and the phone numbers to call to report lost credit cards. Keep these in a separate location from your wallet or purse. Leave copies of all these numbers with a friend or relative back home. Should you lose your passport or credit cards, having this information will be invaluable.
2. Bring comfortable shoes.
3. Bring two sets of all prescription medicines that you must take and pack them in different locations in case one bag gets lost. Also bring a copy of your written prescriptions, including those for eyeglasses and contacts.
4. Bring an extra fold-up bag that you can unzip and fill with purchases as you travel. Make sure it is sturdy enough to bring back as luggage and bring a name/id tag for it.
5. Bring your sense of humor and an open mind.
6. Bring a good guidebook. Sometimes they can be purchased in the country you are visiting, but it's best to bring one with you. Maps, however, are often cheaper and more available in the country you're visiting.
7. Bring lots of film. Film will most likely be fresher and cheaper in the U.S.
8. Bring a small flashlight. Many countries have power outages and a flashlight can come in handy.
9. Bring a small carry-on with an extra set of clothes. Should the worst happen and your bag is lost, you will have a change of clothes with you. If you must take daily medication, bring a two-day supply with you in the carry-on.
10. Bring photos of your home and loved ones. These do not add any weight and they make it easy to begin conversations with your new overseas friends.
Packing Tips
**How to pack without wrinkles
Wrinkling is caused both by underpacking (which allows clothes to shift) and by overpacking (which squishes clothes). To avoid wrinkles, pack lightly but tightly.
Use bags inside bags. For clothes that don't wrinkle easily, evacuate air before sealing the bags to compress them into the least space. (Check out Magellan's Pack-It Compressor®! It gets almost all the air out of your suitcase). Packing in bags makes it easy to locate what you need without pawing through your suitcase and wrinkling other clothes. It's also easy to unpack: Just toss the bags in a dresser drawer.
More alternatives are Pack-It® Cubes, which are zippered nylon pouches with mesh lids, and Pack-It® Folders. Pack-It® Folders are envelopes of Cordura nylon and mesh that organize your suitcase and avoid a cluttered jumble of clothes. Fold things uniformly using a special board, then insert the stack inside the folder, close it snugly (with Velcro®), and stash in your suitcase. When you arrive, your clothing looks crisp and fresh.
Try rolling clothes such as socks, underwear, and shorts. Rolling leaves no hard folds or creases in your clothes, and creates a compact package for wedging around the edge of your suitcase or inside shoes. To roll a T-shirt -- or a stack of several -- place face down on a flat surface, fold the sleeves inward, and roll up from the bottom. For non-wrinkling pants, start with the cuff end and roll upward.
To guard against dirt and wrinkles pack shoes inside shoe bags to keep them from soiling clothes. Some travelers cover dresses, skirts, pants, and shirts with dry-cleaner bags. Other people say it's difficult to squeeze out all the air, so the bags themselves take up space. Or they feel that in tropical climates the thin plastic traps humidity that actually fosters wrinkling. Some travelers prefer to put tissue paper over clothes before folding to discourage wrinkles. You may have to experiment a little to find the system that works best for your luggage, your fabrics, and the climates where you travel.
Divide and Conquer
This method works particularly well with vertical rolling suitcases, which often include a removable horizontal divider. The divider is the key to success. If your bag doesn't have one, it's easy to make from cardboard or stiff plastic. Cut it to fit the suitcase's dimensions. At the center of the two long sides, make cutouts for your hands so you can easily lift the divider out of the suitcase.
Here's the method:
1. Place the closed suitcase on the bed. Around it, lay out your clothes and other items for packing.
2. In the outside pockets, insert things you'll want handy: paperback book, folding raincoat, and so on.
3. Open the suitcase. Put miscellaneous small stuff in the interior pockets. Extend your belt along the inside walls. Now place your heaviest items (toiletry bag, shoes, clothes steamer, etc.) along the edge near the wheels. Other heavy things go along the side adjacent to the hinges. (The goal is to keep heavy items from shifting every time you pick up or roll the suitcase.) In the middle area, place your bags filled with socks and underwear, etc.
4. Place the divider on top. You'll now combine elements from two systems-what packing mavens call "interlayering" (weaving clothes together in alternating layers) and the "bundle" (folding clothes around a bulky core of other clothes and gear). The general idea is to avoid "hard folds" that crease the fabric.
First, lay your pants (or skirt) on the divider, with the waistband against one short end of the suitcase and the legs (or skirt bottom) extending over the other side. (Lay a piece of tissue paper on top if desired.) Now add your blazer, with the collar against the far edge of the suitcase and the bottom extending over the near side. (If you're a man, roll up your necktie and put it in the blazer pocket.)
Now arrange soft items (rolled T-shirts, sweater, a stack of folded shirts, etc.) in the remaining space. To finish, place the pants legs across these items; then fold up the bottom of the blazer across the pants.
You now have a neat package that will stay nearly wrinkle free. When you want to get at something underneath without messing up other clothes, just lift out the divider.
How to Get the Most out of Your Travel Wardrobe
The wardrobe goal for any traveler is to plan for and pack clothes that meet the needs of all planned events, are appropriate to the culture of the destination, and allow the most outfits from the least number of pieces. Here are some easy ways to lighten your load that will work for just about any trip. Less can be more when you pack the right pieces!
- Take versatile pieces. Team wardrobe pieces in many combinations to get the most out
of your clothes.
- Plan everything around a basic color. Choose medium to dark, neutral solid colors for
your main wardrobe pieces so each item will go with everything else. Good neutrals are
black, gray, navy, brown, tan, khaki, taupe and burgundy. A scarf or pin can add a little
color without sacrificing valuable space.
- Plan to wear each item several times during the trip. Choose clothing that is easy to care
for -- wrinkle resistant, hand washable, and quick drying. Take a compact laundry kit
along to wash as you go and you'll only need two pair of underwear, one to wear and
one to wash.
- Take more tops than bottoms. Every top should go with every bottom. Tops weigh less
and take less room than bottoms, and are easier to launder.
- Choose thin, packable fabrics over bulky ones. Two thin sweaters (turtleneck and
cardigan) are as warm as one bulky sweater, are more versatile. For colder climates,
pack silk long underwear that keeps you warm at a fraction of the luggage space.
- Pack for comfort. Chances are good that you will be sleeping in your clothing on the
plane. Choose clothing made of stretchy fabrics, expandable waistbands, and non-
binding collars and cuffs. Make sure these fabrics resist wrinkles to avoid the slept-in
look.
**Excerpted from the booklet Magellan's Passport to Compact Packing by Jerry Camarillo Dunn.
Clothing and Packing Suggestions
1. Prepare for the weather – check the weather forecast for the nearest large city to your destination either online at www.weather.com and plan your wardrobe accordingly.
2. Don’t pack more that you need – As a general rule of thumb: pack your bags only with what you think you’ll actually wear or need. Try to keep non-essential garments to a minimum, thereby lightening your load and enhancing your own personal comfort while in transit. Do pack a washcloth in your carry-on bag if you normally use one at home, as European hotels do not normally supply them in the bathroom.
3. Mix & Match – put some of your clothing in your companion’s bag and vice versa in the event that your bags are lost or misrouted.
4. Happy Feet – Most importantly, pack a comfortable pair of weatherproof well broken-in walking shoes to avoid blisters and abrasions. Be sure to pack soft thick socks and some Mole Skin which can be found at most drugstores and supermarkets. Also be sure to pack Band-Aids and or bandages.
5. Words to the Wise – It is suggested that you not pack any expensive or sentimental jewelry in the event that it is lost or stolen. Do not pack butane curling irons and replacement cartridges as these are considered “hazardous materials” by the airline and are not allowed on board the aircraft.
6. A Stitch in Time – Make a detailed list of all the items that you have packed and make two photocopies. Do the same with your passport. Leave one copy at home with a relative or friend; take the other with you in your carry-on bag with your important travel documents.
You may not need to refer to these photocopies again during your trip, however, in the event of a lost or stolen bag or passport, the few minutes you spend on this preparatory effort will pay off in the hours you will save if your baggage is lost or your passport stolen.
Place a copy of your itinerary and a card with your name and address, both in North America and where you are staying abroad, inside your luggage. Also, carry an extra set of luggage keys, perhaps in the care of your travel companion. If your luggage does not have a built-in lock system, invest in a small padlock and luggage strap.
* Information provided by Alumni Holidays International
Jet Lag
According to Merriam Websters Collegiate Dictionary, jet lag is defined as a condition that is characterized by various psychological and physiological effects as fatigue and irritability and occurs following long flight through several time zones and probably results from disruption of circadian rhythms in the human body. The effects of jet lag differ according to whether you’re flying westward with the sun, or eastward, against it. Traveling to the east, you will sleep later in the morning and are able to stay up later at night. It will be the opposite traveling to the west.
The following are tactics suggested by Alumni Holidays International, which will help minimize the physical effects of jet lag:
Before You Leave Home
* For a few days preceding the flight, try going to bed earlier at night and getting up earlier in the morning to get a jumpstart on acclimating to the time zone of your destination.
* Don’t eat in large quantities and avoid fatty foods.
*Cut down on your intake of alcohol, coffee and tea, all of which tend to dehydrate the
body.
* Engage in a bit of exercise to stimulate your circulation.
* Keep your skin well moistened with body lotion.
On the Airplane
* Wear loose, comfortable, layered clothing that you can sleep in.
* Get a pillow and blanket as you board the aircraft.
* Drink lots of water to prevent dehydration.
* Avoid eating red meat, fatty sauces and creams, alcohol and caffeinated beverages.
* Eat low-fat foods, a lot of fruit and vegetables in order to keep your metabolic rate at a
high level.
* Take your shoes off, put a pair of warm socks in and try to elevate your feet, resting them
on your carry-on bag.
* Put on your headset and select a soothing music channel on the audio program.
* Try to get to sleep as soon as possible after meal service and for as long as possible.
Upon Arrival
* Try to adapt to the new time zone and the routine of the day.
* Avoid the urge to take a nap. If you must lie down, do so for only 30 minutes. If you sleep
longer than 30 minutes, you will get a sluggish feeling that will be even harder to overcome.
* Go outdoors in the sunshine or fresh air as soon as possible.
* Take a short walk or engage in some exercise.
* Try to stay up until a normal bedtime for you new time zone.
The Next Day
* Get up at a normal waking time for your new time zone.
* Don’t skip breakfast and include coffee and/or tea.
* If you need a nap in the afternoon, again, take only 30 minutes.
Electric Current
The standard electric current in Europe is 220 volts. North American appliances such as razors and hair dryers are made to operate on 110 volts and will burn out if a converter is not used. An electrical current converter and a complete set of plug adapters to accommodate the various worldwide wall outlet types should be purchased prior to departure from North America. Be sure that the converter you obtain is capable of handling the highest power draw of your appliances, normally at least 1200 watts. Many large department stores and luggage shops sell converter and plug adapters. The ideal and recommended appliance is one of travel size that has a dual voltage setting, meaning it can be switched from using 110 volt to 220 volt current, thereby alleviating the necessity of a currency converter. Note that items such as dual voltage hair dryers will run at a slower cycle when in use for 220 volts and you will still need an adapter plug attachment to use the appliance in the local outlets. Beware that if you use a 110 volt appliance with only a foreign plug adapter, the appliance will burn out, rendering it useless.
* Information provided by Alumni Holidays International
Avoid Ruined Film at Airport Security Checkpoints
The International Imaging Industry Association, the trade association of makers of film, advises travelers to pack film and single-use cameras in clear plastic, or mesh bags and to stow them in carry-on luggage when traveling by air, rail and sea. Travelers are also advised to never pack unprocessed film in checked baggage. Processed film, of course, is safe in any scanners. X-ray scanning of carry-on luggage in the United States will not cause damage to unprocessed film rated at speeds below ISO 1000. However, as a result of heightened security, some passengers may be randomly selected to submit their carry-on items to a separate high-intensity scan. In these instances, to eliminate damage to unprocessed film and single-use cameras, passengers are advised to request hand inspections when passing through security checkpoints employing high-intensity x-ray scanners, per FAA regulations. Packing photographic film and single-use cameras in clear plastic or mesh bags will help the efficiency of the inspection process. These high-intensity x-ray scanners are used on all checked baggage and result in damaging streaks and unwanted fogging of all speeds of film. Higher speeds of film showed greater damage than films with slower speeds. Under no circumstances should unexposed or unprocessed film or single-use cameras be packed in checked baggage. Unloaded film cameras and digital cameras do not need to be hand inspected and may be packed in checked baggage. Travelers are advised to be wary of all scanners at airports outside the United States. When traveling internationally, I3A suggests travelers request hand inspection of film and single-use cameras.
Value-Added Tax
Value Added Tax (VAT) is a general consumption tax assessed on the value added to goods and services. With a little paperwork, non-residents can obtain a tax refund for purchases of more than 175 Euros or approximately $155, in a single store during a single visit. Refunds usually amount to up to 16.38% of the purchase price. (Stores are not required to give a VAT refund, so check before making your purchase.) Three things are needed to get a refund: the article purchased, the purchase receipt and a refund form which must be picked up at the place of purchase. Only unused items are eligible for a refund. The standard way to get a refund is to present your items to the VAT refund officer on departure at the airport, who will give you a final form to be mailed in for refund. For your own convenience, see the VAT officer before checking your bags and have your purchases in an easy to reach place. Some larger stores have a streamlined process; they handle most of the paperwork and then mail the refund to you, sometimes minus a fee. Private VAT refund services, located at the airport, will give you an immediate refund minus a fee, which is usually a percentage of the refund.
* Information provided by Alumni Holidays International
U.S. Customs Regulations
Customs for returning U.S. residents
The U.S. Customs Office allows every person to bring home up to $800 worth of goods (retail value) without paying customs if:
* articles are for personal use or they are gifts;
* articles accompany you;
* you are returning from an overseas stay of at least 48 hours;
* the items are not prohibited or restricted;
* you have not claimed the exemption or any part of it within the 30 days preceding your
departure from the U.S.
You may include in this duty-free exemption:
* 200 cigarette or 100 cigars
* one liter of liquor, wine or beer, providing you are at least 21 years of age.
Keep in mind that tobacco and alcohol purchases that exceed the above amounts are subject to customs duty, even if their value is not above $800.
You may also mail gift purchases back to the U.S. over and above your $800 allowance. However, not more than $100 worth of merchandise may arrive at the shipping address at any one time. Otherwise, the person receiving the merchandise will be required to pay the applicable customs duty prior to receiving the packages. Please note: according to federal law, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and perfume containing alcohol that are worth more than the retail price of $5 may not be included in the gift exemption.
Antiques that are at least 100 years old and fine art may enter duty-free, even if their worth is over the $400 allowance.
Note: In order to avoid being (re) assessed duty on foreign-made articles (cameras, recorders, watches, binoculars, jewelry, etc.) purchased in the country or purchased on previous trips abroad, you should be prepared to show proof of previous ownership. It is suggested that you carry the original receipt or register this type of merchandise with the local U.S. Customs Office before the day of your departure.
* Information provided by Alumni Holidays International
