UPDATE ON A DOZEN QUICK REMINDERS FOR STRESS FREE TRAVEL

This is an update on a blog originally published on April 9, 2008. There have been significant changes.

1. PLEASE, Please, please purchase Travel Protection Insurance. If you have children or elderly parents, whether they are traveling with you or not, please think twice abut passing up the opportunity to have peace of mind as you pay for all your travel arrangements. We have witnessed too many people who lose all or most of their vacation investment because they skimped on travel protection coverage. These policies typically cover Trip cancellation and Interruption, Trip Delay, Missed Connections, Baggage and Personal effects, Baggage Delay, and very important, especially for travel outside of the United States, Medical expenses for accident or illness and Emergency Medical transportation. It is not only if there are problems arising for those traveling, but also if you need to return home for family emergencies or, if you need to cancel the trip because a member of your immediate family has an accident or becomes seriously ill prior to your travel. Also, don’t forget to ask about insurance that covers pre-existing conditions particularly important for those of us who are a bit more mature. Some insurance policies are also sold as “cancel for any reason”. Ask about those as well.


2. Please be sure you have a valid passport. You really need one now if you want to travel by air or sea outside of the United States. It is also the absolute best way to verify your identity and nationality and we used ours even for travel within the US. Forms are available on line at www.state.gov or from most local post office locations. Passport pictures are easily available from most nationally known drug store chains. Also, be sure that you know the Expiration Date on your passport since many overseas trips or visas require that your passport be valid for up to 6 months after you return.


3. If you are taking a cruise, be sure to log into the cruise line’s website as soon as you have made your final payment and fill in the Immigration and other necessary information. It will save you a lot of time when you are boarding the ship and whatever you do, never pack your passport! We once saw a couple of passengers delayed boarding while the cruise line located their baggage so they could retrieve their passports.


4. Here are a few more items you should never pack – Prescription medications, cameras, jewelry and your trip and/or cruise documents.


5. For Your own Peace of Mind - Make a copy of your passport and credit cards and keep them in a safe place, different from where the original documents are kept. And, when in a hotel or on board a ship, please remember to use the safe for your valuables and important documents.


6. Arrive at the airport early. This will help in a number of ways – you won’t be panicking in long lines as your flight time approaches and you still need to get through another long line in security. And, if you want to change your seat to the emergency exit row or the bulkhead, you at least stand a fighting chance of getting one of the few that are available.


7. Keep a supply of Zip Lock bags in all sizes. They are useful to carry make-up, liquids, gels and creams so that they do no leak all over your clothing. Larger sizes are also great for sorting groups of clothing like underwear, socks, children’s outfits, etc, etc… Other things you need to bring along: Sunglasses and a good sunscreen especially when visiting the Caribbean, Mexico or the Bahamas at any time of year. A good pair of walking shoes, particularly for Europe where there are a lot of cobblestone streets. Always a good idea to bring along a simple first aid/medicine bag with some aspirin/pain relievers, antacids, allergy medications, topical antibacterial (Neosporin type item), band aids, motion sickness preventatives and the like. And… Don’t forget to bring your camera, extra batteries, film, memory card or whatever is needed. These items may not be easy to find while abroad and may be very expensive.


8. Wear comfortable slip-off shoes when flying and wear or carry a pair of short cut socks. When you have to remove your footwear to go through security, they will slip off and back on easily and your feet won’t get cold or dirty as you walk through the screening area.


9. If you are on a cruise, remember that you will have to put your luggage in the hallway outside of your cabin the night before you disembark. Do not pack everything – you will have to dress the next day for your journey home. People will look at you funny if you're disembarking in you jammies or nightgown. Always keep a small carry-on bag in your cabin to carry your last minute toiletries, medications and the clothing or pajamas that you wore the night before.


10. For Airline flights, invest in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. They can be used to watch the movie, listen to music or just give you a chance for a good nap or to read your book and you won’t need to pay for those awful earphones that they give you. Also, your neighbor won’t keep talking to you if they think you are listening to something.
    
11. Put some identifying marking(s) on you luggage so that it can be easily identified. Remember that all black luggage looks the same at first glance. Place identifying information inside each piece in case an external tag gets separated.
    
12. Most important – remember to smile and keep your sense of humor – you’ll need it! A kind word goes a long way!
    

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PASSENGERS

Effective June 1, 2009, all US citizens and residents including children, must have a valid US passport to board their ship and re-enter the country. To ensure speedy embarkation, please be sure to bring a valid US passport for each passenger as well as any cruise line issued documentation, including any documents printed online, with you to the pier.

Because of the US Government requirement for all cruise lines to electronically transmit crew and passenger manifests to US Customs and Border Protection, you must check-in at least two hours prior to sailing time. Cruise line policy is very specific, guests will not be allowed to board after check-in has been closed. Late arriving guests may join the ship at an approved port of call in the scheduled cruise itinerary. Travel to that subsequent port of call will be at the guests' expense.

PASSPORT RULES FOR U.S. LAND AND SEA BORDERS

On March 27, 2008, the Departments of Homeland Security and of State issued the final rulemaking concerning the requirements of passports for land and sea border crossings under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

After years of development following 9/11, this ruling is the end of the process and is considered FINAL. This information is posted here to help ensure that you have the proper identification when traveling.

Effective June 1, 2009, the following rules take effect for cruise passengers:

U.S. citizens on cruise voyages that begin and end at the same U.S. port (closed-loop itineraries) must show proof of citizenship and government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license). These documents include: Original or certified copy of birth certificate; Naturalization papers; Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by Department of State. A passport will not be required for passengers that fall into this category. Please note that if, for any unanticipated reason, you must cut your trip short and return to the United States by air from a foreign country you must have a passport.

All other passengers and/or itineraries (such as cruises which begin in one U.S. port and return to a different U.S. port or any cruise that begins or ends in a foreign port) will require a passport or other recognized document. For a list of accepted documents, see www.travel.state.gov.

The good news for a majority of cruise passengers – American citizens that leave and return on their cruise from the same U.S. port – is that the travel document requirements will remain largely unchanged from how the industry is operating today.

We continue to encourage travelers to obtain passports to enable the broadest travel opportunities. Please visit www.travel.state.gov to obtain information on how to apply at more than 9,000 passport acceptance facilities in the United States.

Passports and Travel Regulations

Per US Governement State Department regulations,a valid passport is the required document for proof of identity and citzenship. However,due to the high volume for new and renewal passports, the date for full implementation of this law, particularly as relates to travel in the Western Hemishpere, has been delayed several times. THE FACT IS, THIS REQUIREMENT WILL BE ENFORCED, most likely before the end of 2008.
Here of late, the waiting time for new issues and renewals has become shorter. If you will be traveling outside the United States and do not now possess a valid passport that will expire at least 6 months after the return of your trip, we strongly recommend that you apply for your new or renewal passport as soon as possible. There are many ways to accomplish this and we recommend that you see the State Department website (http://travel.state.gov/index.html) for the most up to date information for application methods and enforcement dates.
Since it may take a little time to gather the necessary documents to apply we suggest you start now so as to avoid stress and disappointment as you attempt to accomplish your travel plans. A little advance planning will be essential to making your dream vacation a reality. Expedited passport renewal can be accomplished through the US Government or, at a cost, through other agencies. Let us know if we can help you with these arrangements.

Visas are necessary to enter some countries and the process of obtain them is also time consuming. Don't wait till the last minute! Expedited Visa procurement can be accomplished through other agencies at a cost Let us know if we can help you with these arrangements.