It’s always best when things run smoothly on a vacation and the Cruise & Travel Experts team does its best to get the details right so there are no delays to your fun. Obviously, any trip requires careful planning. Here are some steps you can take to prepare for a safe and enjoyable trip outside the United States.
Make sure you have all the required travel documents and they are up-to-date
Most U.S. citizens must use a U.S. passport to travel overseas and reenter the United States. A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies your identity and citizenship. Most foreign countries require a valid passport to enter and leave. Some countries may allow you to enter with only a birth certificate, or with a birth certificate and a driver’s license, but all persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air, must present a valid passport to reenter the United States. If you are traveling by land or sea, you must provide evidence of both your U.S. citizenship and your identity when you reenter the United States. For many land or sea trips, this means you can travel using the new U.S. passport card instead of the normal passport book. Make sure your passport and other forms of identity are current weeks before your departure date. If you are traveling with children, be aware that some countries have instituted requirements to help prevent child abductions and may require travelers to present proof of relationship to the children and evidence of consent from any non-accompanying parent(s).
Pack Smart!
■ Pack light so you can move more quickly and have a free hand when you need it.
■ Carry a minimum number of valuables and plan places to conceal them.
■ Use covered luggage tags to avoid casual observation of your identity and nationality.
■ Avoid packing IDs, tickets, and vital documents in backpacks or other places you won’t be able to see at all times.
■ Make sure you have a change of clothes and toiletries along with any medications in your carry-on luggage just in case.
■ Pack a pair of comfortable shoes and bring an extra sweater or jacket in your tote so you can add or remove layers (as local weather can change in the course of a day and from destination to destination).
Bring Photocopies of Your Itinerary and Travel Documents
Make two photocopies of all your travel documents in case of emergency or if your documents are lost or stolen. Leave one copy with a friend or relative at home.
It is always a great idea to let at least one person know exactly where you will be staying and how to contact you in an emergency. Carry the other copy with you stored separately from the originals. Documents to make copies of include:
■ Passport ID page
■ Foreign visa (if applicable)
■ Itinerary
■ Hotel confirmation
■ Airline ticket
■ Driver’s license
■ Credit cards brought on the trip
■ Traveler’s check serial numbers
