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Travel
Tips
At
American
Travel International
,
we do our best to help you save money and time.
Our goal is to make your travel experience easier.
Traveling
Abroad:
If you are traveling abroad and need detailed country information such
as geography, culture, or even how many AM radio stations are on the
air, there is a free online resource with more data than you ever
imagined. The CIA publishes "The
World Fact Book," providing data and intelligence on nearly
every country in the world, with a regional map, population, and even a
summary of political issues.
Your Health:
For some international destinations there is significant risk to
contract Malaria and Yellow Fever. Recent outbreaks of Hantavirus,
Meningitis and Diphtheria have also been reported in the last 12 months.
Some advance travel planning will keep you from canceling your travel
plans, or worse yet, traveling without the proper vaccinations.
To find information on recommended immunizations required vaccinations
and valuable advice about your health, check out Centers
for Disease Control Travelers' Health.
Free
downloads and information are available on topics such as
•
Traveling with Children—Includes
a checklist and a Travel Health Kit for pregnant travelers
• Special Needs Travelers—Find
out how accessible specific destinations are for travelers with
disabilities
• Diseases—Search by
destination or by disease to determine if pre-trip vaccinations are
needed
• Safe Food and Water—Travelers'
Diarrhea, Mad-Cow Disease, & info on Food Borne Illnesses
Travel smart, be informed and --
Here's to Your Health!
Traffic
Reports:
The Department of Transportation has valuable information on Traffic
and Road Closures for travelers hitting the roadways in the U.S.A.
Pets:
Pets are a part of the family, and more travelers than ever are packing
their pups and carrying their cats as they head off on holiday. This
will involve determining your carrier's restrictions on kennel sizes and
health guidelines. Be aware that air carriers observe weather
restrictions and most don't accept pets in cargo during the hottest
summer months. Airlines handle about 500,000 dogs and cats per year, and
charge upwards of $75 per animal carried.
Check with the specific airlines to verify applicable fees based on your
needs prior to finalizing your plans.
For more information and helpful hints, there is a free online brochure,
"Traveling
with Your Pet," available at the USDA Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
Safety:
The U.S. State Department has a free service designed to advise
Americans of questionable or possibly dangerous conditions in foreign
countries. There are three categories: Travel Warnings, Public
Announcements and Consular Information Sheets.
Each describes a level of awareness travelers should
heed while outside the United States.
-
Travel
Warnings: issued by the State Department, based on all
relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a
specific country.
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Public
Announcements: designed to enhance public awareness about
terrorist threats and other relatively short-term and/or
transnational conditions posing significant risks to the security of
American travelers.
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Consular
Information Sheets: available for every country of the
world. They include such information as location of the U.S. Embassy
or Consulate in each country, unusual immigration practices, health
conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry
regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties.
Access
this valuable and free information: http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html
Tips for International Travel
:
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Have
a signed, valid passport (and visas, if required). Before you
travel, fill in or update the emergency information page of your
passport.
-
Read
the Consular
Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings,
if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit. Available at http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html
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Familiarize
yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you
are traveling. Remember that the U.S. Constitution does not follow
you! While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.
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Make
2 copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate
replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at
home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a
separate place from your passport.
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Leave
a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you
can be contacted in case of an emergency.
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Do
not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept
packages from strangers.
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If
you stay abroad for more than two weeks, you should notify by phone
or register in person with the U.S. embassy of the country you are
visiting. This will facilitate communication in case someone
contacts the embassy looking for you.
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To
avoid being a target of crime, don't wear conspicuous clothing and
expensive jewelry. Do not carry large sums of money or unnecessary
credit cards.
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In
order not to violate local laws, deal only with authorized agents
when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques.
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In
case of trouble, contact the nearest U.S. embassy.
For
more free travel advice: http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html
Passport and Visa Information:
Don't travel without proper documentation when traveling outside the
United States! For a wealth of information on passports and visas: http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html
Free information and forms are available on the following topics:
• Easy Passports • Where to Apply
Nationwide • Passport Agencies
• Fees for U.S. Passports • Passport
Applications
• Passport Processing Time and Status
Checks
Also available is information on changing your name on your current
passport, getting a copy of your birth certificate, and replacing a lost
or stolen passport.
It's cheap and easy to be prepared for
International travel!
Airport
Information:
Ever wondered what the airport code for Governors Harbor, Bahamas is?
For all the latest airport code information, both domestic and
International, from the Federal Aviation Administration: http://www.faa.gov/aircodeinfo.htm
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