Travel Tips

Student Travel - Documentation

Passport

Before you leave make 2 copies of your passport. Take one copy with you but keep it in a separate place from your original passport. Leave your 2nd copy with a family member. If something should happen to your passport, lost or stolen, having this information available can make replacing a passport much easier. (http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html)

Visa

Make sure you check the visa requirements of all the countries you will be visiting or transiting through. Contact the consulate of the country you plan to visit to request detailed visa information. (http://www.embassy.org/embassies)

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Student Travel - Health Tips

Some Countries require or recommend vaccinations certificates or other personal health information before entry. Contact your local public health department for specifics on the countries you plan to visit. Click here for Center for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/)

For a complete list of countries with Warnings (don't go) from the State Department, click here (http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html).

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Student Travel - Money Tips

The safest way to carry money is in travelers checks.

For your convenience, always have a small amount of local currency in your pocket when you enter a foreign country. For currency conversion click here (http://www.xe.net/currency)

It is best to exchange your travelers check at a local bank of the country you enter or a currency exchange. Before exchanging any moneys always reconfirm the rate of exchange and any fees.

If you have an ATM Card contact your local bank for a listing of their international locations. You should be able to obtain cash easily overseas and usually at an exchange rate better than the currency exchange offices. Please note most international ATM machines only support a 4 digit pin number. For a listing of ATM machines click here (http://www.visa.com/atms).

Also, for emergency purposes have a large bill ($50.00 or $100.00USD) in a separate safe place from other moneys.

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Student Travel - Rental Car Tips:

• We suggest learning the driving rules of the countries you will be traveling through in advance of your arrival.
• Toll Roads are found throughout Europe and can be very costly. If you are adventurous you can save money by utilizing local roads.
• The minimum rental age for most countries is 21 years of age.
• Driving takes your total concentration, we do not recommend reading maps, eating, or talking on the phone while driving.

Driving in Europe as a tourist is different than the driving you experience in the USA. Europeans take driving very seriously, if you are a timid driver we suggest you travel by train.

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Student Travel - Customs Tips

When returning to the USA you must declare all items purchased abroad. US Citizens and US Residents are permitted $400 worth of goods duty free, if you have been out of the country at least 48 hours. In addition, you may mail packages to yourself up to $200 USD duty free and mail a package valued up to $100 USD duty free to another address. For more information contact or write the US Customs Service Office for the brochure "Know before you go", at P.O. Box 7407, Washington DC 20004 or 202-927-6724. (http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/travel/leavingreturntoUS/vacation/know_brochure)

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Student Travel - Baggage Requirements

How much luggage can I take?

For international air travel, each passenger is allowed to check 2 bags and carry 1 bag. The maximum dimensions for checked luggage is 62 inches (length + width + height) and the sum of the dimensions for the 2 bags combined cannot exceed 107 inches. In addition, the weight of each bag cannot exceed 70 pounds. An additional bag, an oversized bag, or an overweight bag would be subject to an excess baggage charge.

In lieu of a piece of checked baggage, any item listed below would be considered as 1 piece of checked luggage, regardless of actual dimensions.

• 1 Sleeping Bag
• 1 Back Pack
• 1 Pair of Snow Skis (with one pair of ski boots and poles)
• 1 Duffel Type Bag
• 1 Packed Bicycle (provided the handlebars are turned sideways and the pedals removed)

For your carry on bag the sum of the linear dimensions cannot exceed 45 inches. In some cases a bag of a lesser size would be required for smaller aircraft.

However, please note getting your luggage from one place to another is the easy part, carrying it around is the real challenge!

For Ducky's packing guidelines click below:
(http://www.webfoot.com/travel/tips/pack.take.html)

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Student Travel - Inflight Travel Tips

• Eat lightly 24 hours before your flight
• Eat lightly while in-flight
• Avoid drinking alcoholic and caffeinated beverages
• Drink one glass of water or juice every hour
• Wear eyeglasses during the flight, not contact lenses, to minimize eye irritation
• During the flight place your feet on the footrest or carry-on under the seat in front of you. This will take pressure off the back of your thighs
• Ear plugs worn during the flight relieves the stress of engine noise

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Student Travel - Safety Tips

Backpack

Never leave your backpack unattended, thieves are very quick and can be very devious.

Money Belt

Protect your valuable documents by carrying them in a money belt or a wallet under your clothes.

Laptop Alert

A warning to travelers carrying laptop computers - hustlers are stealing laptops at the security inspection stations. When a traveler approaches the metal detector and puts a laptop on the x-ray conveyor, two crooks get in line immediately ahead. The first crook passes right through the metal detector, while the second crook deliberately sets off the security alarm and stalls the line. While the passenger is stuck behind the second crook, the first one snatches the laptop and vanishes!

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Student Travel - Pet Travel

Pets traveling in the aircraft cabin must be carried in a suitable container (sturdy and leakproof). The dimensions of the kennel must not exceed a total of 45 inches (length + width + height) and may not exceed a total of 11 pounds (pet & kennel).

The container must be placed in front of the owners seat and the small dog or cat may not leave the container during the flight.

If you are considering traveling with a pet, make sure you make a reservation for your pet, as space is limited to approx. 2 animals per compartment. In addition, transportation of the pet will be charged the equivalent excess baggage charge.

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