Travel Tips from The Travel Doctor

This page contains some links and other travel-related tips you may find helpful as you plan a trip abroad.

Cultural Awareness International, Inc. cross cultural training & relocation services worldwide

U.S. Customs Traveler Information

Currency Converter for all countries

CIA Fact book on all countries

Maps of countries around the world

CDC Geographical Travel Map with individual countries

U.S. State Department Travel Advisories

CDC "Bluesheet" - Weekly update on disease outbreaks

World Health Organization(WHO) Weekly update on disease outbreaks

WHO Emerging and Other Communicable Diseases

Passport

A passport is an official government document that certifies your identity and citizenship and permits you to travel abroad. U.S. citizens who travel to a country where a valid U.S. passport is not required will need documentary evidence of their U.S. citizenship and identity. Proof of U.S. citizenship includes an expired U.S. passport, a certified (original) birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States. To prove identity, a valid driver's license or government identification card are acceptable provided they identify you by physical description or photograph. However, for travel overseas and to facilitate re-entry into the U.S., a valid U.S. passport is the best documentation available and unquestionably proves your U.S. citizenship.

Some countries require that your U.S. passport be valid at least six months or longer beyond the dates of your trip. If your passport expires before the required validity, you will have to apply for a new one. Please check with the embassy or nearest consulate of the country you plan to visit for their requirements.

Foreign Entry Requirements for All Countries
(Listed Alphabetically)
http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html

Apply for your U.S. passport

Visa

A visa is an endorsement or stamp placed by officials of a foreign country on your passport. It allows the bearer to visit that foreign country for a particular purpose and length of time. It is very important to note that visas should be obtained before proceeding abroad. It is a good idea to apply for your visas as soon as you get your passport. Allow sufficient time for processing of your visa application, especially if you are applying by mail. Most foreign consular representatives are located in major cities, and in many instances, a traveler may be required to obtain visas from the consular office in the area of his/her residence. The addresses of foreign consular offices in the United States may be obtained by consulting the Congressional Directory in your local library.

It is the responsibility of the traveler to obtain visas, where required, from the appropriate embassy or nearest consulate of the country you are planning to visit.

Packing Tips

It is advisable to start planning for the items you will need for your trip as soon as possible. Make a list of the things you will need. Ask your spouse or a friend to make a list of the items they think are essential in a foreign country. You wouldn't believe some simple items that could be forgotten. Do not pack in a hurry. Instead, take your time and go over each item to make sure you do not forget anything.

Add items if you must but resist the urge to pack any non-essential items that will simply take up unnecessary space.

One of your best friends on a long trip could be your carry-on bag. It doesn't occur too often but losing your check-in luggage or having it stolen is a reality. For items you simply can't live without, even for a day, pack in your carry-on bag. Include your passport, airline tickets, any important or legal documents, traveler's checks, medications and prescriptions, eyeglasses or contact lenses and a complete change of clothing.

For a comprehensive list of packing tips and information, visit Web pages that focus on this topic:

The Universal Package List

The Complete Carry-On Traveler

Jet Lag

Jet lag is a syndrome characterized by fatigue and diseqilibrium experienced by travelers crossing three or more time zones. It is generally more severe in persons traveling west to east than vice versa, primarily because it is easier to stay awake when traveling east to west than to go to sleep when traveling in the opposite direction.

Jet lag before or during travel may be avoided by modification of your diet, sleep cycles, and exposure to daylight. A traveler's usual sleeping hours can be adjusted to conform with those of the travel destination by gradually changing bedtimes during the week before travel. Persons traveling from east to west should retire an hour or two earlier each night, while those traveling west to east should stay awake an extra hour or two each night. Travelers who lack flexibility in their pre-travel schedule may consult their physician about using a short-acting sleeping pill such as triazolam (Halcion). This may enable a traveler to sleep during air travel and arrive awake and alert at the destination. Alcohol should not be consumed by persons using a hypnotic such as triazolam.

Transportation

Individual motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury-related deaths of Americans overseas. Vehicular crash-related death rates in certain developing countries frequented by American tourists are much greater than the rate in the U.S. Other developing countries are experiencing a dramatic rise in the number of fatal motor vehicle crashes; this increase reflects the poor state of highway developments coupled with the increasing number of motor vehicles in these countries.
Development of strategies to prevent injuries to travelers should take into consideration the vehicle you will be driving and environmental factors. For example, the traveler whose destination is Western Europe should be advised that the British roadway system involves driving on the left. The U.S. Embassy in London reports that each year, one American pedestrian fatality is attributable to the traffic pattern in this city.

Constructive approaches to the prevention of motor vehicle crash injuries include the use of safety devices in cars, motorcycles and bicycles. These safety devices include seat belts, airbags, and infant seats in cars, and helmets for bicycles and motorcycles. It is very important to request these safety devices when renting motor vehicles or bicycles. Although international car rental agencies routinely provide seat belts for their vehicles in Western Europe, the availability of seat belts and infant safety seats is not guaranteed in less-developed countries. It is essential that you inquire about these items before you arrive.

Strategies for Preventing Injuries

Use helmets on motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles
Use seatbelts in cars and taxis
Use car seats when traveling with children
Rent larger vehicles when possible
Use hired drivers and guides when possible
Be aware of traffic rules and patterns, both pedestrian and driver, when walking or driving
Be aware of hotel fire-safety rules and exits
Travel in groups when possible

Avoid

Nonscheduled aircraft
Alcohol when swimming or driving
Swimming alone or in unfamiliar areas
Travel at night
Traveling alone

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