International Travel Tips
1) Whenever leaving the USA for a trip, proof of citizenship is required to be in your possession. For those areas requiring passports, make sure you have a signed, valid passport (and visa, if necessary) which will extend at least 6 months past your scheduled return date. This would cover you in the unlikely event you would need to be hospitalized or to cover other emergency situations that could possibly occur during your trip. Caribbean and some other destinations close to home require only a birth certificate along with a photo ID for adults (just the birth certificate for minors). Always ask your vacation specialist about requirements. If you are taking children who are either unrelated or who have a different last name, you may also be required to have a letter from a Parent or Guardian (or other parent in some cases) to take minors outside the USA. The final responsibility lies with the traveler to make sure all documentation for foreign travel is in order!
2) If you are traveling to unusually exotic destinations, or to countries with a history of unrest, be sure to check the U.S. State Department website for updates, warnings, or advisories.
3) Always leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page & visas (where applicable) with family or friends back home, so that someone can contact you in case of emergency.
4) Be sure to purchase trip insurance, which will cover last-minute cancellation fees or penalties, and offers health and medical service abroad. Not anticipating the possibility of catastrophic events can affect the rest of your life. Air evacuation from foreign ports easily runs into the tens of thousands of dollars, and your personal medical insurance may be invalid outside the continental USA.
5) Familiarize yourself in advance with the local customs and laws of countries you intend to visit. While in a foreign country, you are subject to their legal and judicial system.
6) Do not leave your luggage unattended in any public areas, and never accept packages from strangers under any circumstance.
7) While abroad, recognize that using illicit drugs or overuse and abuse of alcohol can have serious consequences. Don't associate yourself with people who do, either, as "guilt by association" may have different parameters in a foreign country.
8) Do not set yourself up as a target for thieves by wearing conspicuous clothing, expensive or gaudy jewelry, and do not carry excessive amounts of cash or unnecessary credit cards.
9) Deal ONLY with authorized agents when exchanging monies or currency, or purchasing high-ticket items such as antiques, artwork, etc. to avoid violating local laws or being jilted by unscrupulous criminals.
10) When overseas, avoid demonstrations, protests, or other situations that may become unruly, or where anti-American sentiments may be expressed. Common sense is always your best travel companion!
11) Whenever traveling through airports with young children, take a Polaroid picture of each child before leaving the house (wearing the same clothing he or she will be traveling in). That way, if you become separated from your child, you'll have an extremely current photograph, and authorities will also know what color and style clothing to look for.
12) Some items to pack in your carry-on: a list of all credit card numbers, passport number and emergency contact numbers; bottled water to combat the dryness of the airplane; a change of underclothing and any necessary medications, just in case your checked luggage goes astray; a list of your packed items, again in case of lost luggage; and a photograph of your checked luggage - it will make describing your lost luggage much easier. Losing your luggage is never fun, but you can make the experience less traumatic with a little planning.
13) We all know to carry copies of our passport in case it's lost, but why not take this tip into the 21st century? Scan your passport, airline tickets and any other important documents you could need and send them, attached to an e-mail, to yourself. Be sure to use an e-mail address accessible from the internet. If you need to access them, most cities and towns now have internet cafes.