|
Chepe at Temoris |
By
December 31, 2008, a
passport will be required for any air, sea or land crossing of any
US border.
The policy is being implemented in stages—
By December 31, 2007,
for travel by car or bus or walking to and from Canada and Mexico.
Passports may also become necessary for travel to and from Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto
Rico, St.
President Bush is considering the issue of a Pass Book for frequent travelers
across our
borders
with Canada and Mexico. It would be
less expensive than a passport.
By December 31, 2006,
they will be needed for travel to and from Bermuda, the Caribbean,
Central and South America and
for plane travel to and from Canada and Mexico.
Charge Cards Are Still Best. Be aware that some banks (such as Bank of America, Chase and Citibank) that issue charge cards are tacking their own fee -- generally 2% -- above the 1-2% charged by the card for charges outside the U.S. This is also spreading to debit cards. The extra fees are not listed on your monthly statement. Instead, they are included in the cost of the goods and services you purchase overseas. Check with your credit card company before leaving on your trip. Even with these fees, you will still get the best rate overseas by using a charge or debit card, according to www.bankrate.com. That is because you are getting the corporate exchange rate. The exchange rate at a local bank is 5-8%. Consider using cards issued by Capital One and MBNA, which charge no extra fees for overseas transactions; thus, you only pay the Visa, MasterCard, American Express rate. Invaluable currency exchange information is found on www.oanda.com
Real-time Traveler Alerts Now
Available. For a $25 fee, your traveling is now easier through a service
by iJET Travel Intelligence. The company's Worldcue Traveler service monitors
your destinations from the moment you begin planning your trip, alerting you to
events or situations that might disrupt your travels and informing you of
requirements, weather, etc. www.ijet.com.
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Using Frequent-Flyer Mileage Award Programs:
When do you need to buy travel insurance?
On long flights: If possible, choose a flight that arrives at
night so you can go straight to bed and then get up on local time. Avoid
alcohol, caffeine, and most of the food, choosing to sleep more than eat. If you
have to arrive in the daytime, immediately start living by the new schedule. Be
outdoors as much as possible the first couple of days..
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"Direct" and "Non-stop" flights: ”Direct” flights may stop several times, but you do not change planes. “Non-stop” flights are just that—no stops.
Dehydration: The main danger on long plane flights is dehydration. Drink plenty of fluids other than caffeine or alcohol. Too little fluid may contribute to blood clots in the legs. The airplane air (though some of the cleanest you will ever breathe) contributes also to respiratory problems. Lots of fluids will help. Also, a decongestant or cough medicine is handy if the symptoms become intolerable.For earaches on a plane: New on the market are pressure-equalizing ear plugs. (They can be ordered on magellans.com website.) Attempt to avoid boarding a plane with an ear infection.
Water Purification: Though all of our hotels in Latin America pride themselves in good potable water, it is always possible to have difficulty, even in the United States. Ionic filtration water bottles, such as those offered by Nikken, Inc., are useful whenever you're traveling. We use the water bottles ourselves when we are away from home. For more information about these and other great products, please contact my husband, Chuck Stilwell, at chuck4etl@cox.netThere is a test to check for immunity to hepatitis. Ask your doctor about it.
To avoid being bumped on flights: avoid early morning (7:00-10:00 a.m.) or rush hour (4:00-7:00 p.m.) flights on Mondays and Fridays. Sunday afternoons and evenings are also bad choices. (Ed Perkins,consumer advocate for the American Society of Travel Agents.
An alternative to taking out trip insurance each time you travel is a membership in the Travel Emergency Network. Other options are: International SOS Assistance, Medjet Assistance, and Specialty Risk. We recommend you shop around and ask for a specimen policy before buying.Pack your walking shoes and walk (in the airport, shopping malls, and city streets if nowhere else is available).
Take along healthy snacks such as protein bars, granola bars, dried fruit, whole-wheat bagels and raw nuts as alternatives to high fat foods or skipping a meal.
Practice a 10-minute stretch on the train, plane or ship. It will prevent traveling "kinks," as well as relax both body and mind.
Packing
Tips:
Most common mistake—packing too much. Carry it around the block for a trial run.
Plastic Ziploc bags make good storage bags as you can see the ingredients inside.
Only take what you are willing to lose on a trip.
Lowest Airfares:
