Packing is important in air travel. If it is done in the right way and at the proper time, it could cause you a lot of delay. Air travel is the most luxurious form of traveling that most people love. To have a convenient journey it is necessary that you are well prepared in advance. You should always book your seat in a good airline that provides satisfactory arrangements for your journey.
Packing and travel tips
1. While you arrange your suitcase and travel bags you should put your name and address both inside and outside it. If you already have this information, you should check whether it is the current one.
2. Leave all medicines, jewelry, eyeglasses, airplane tickets, money, passports, camera or other valuable out of the checked luggage. You should carry these items with you. Many airlines such as the southwest and other carriers don't reimburse you for any loss of such items.
3. You should take a statement from your physician with details of nay particular problems like allergies and a copy of medication and eyeglass prescriptions. You should anticipate any medication you would require and carry it with you.
4. You should put cosmetics, nail enamel, shoe polish, perfume, liquor or anything that might break or spoil your clothes into a plastic or unbreakable container.
5. You should always convert cash into traveler's check that could be reissued in case it is lost. Carry any serial numbers separately from the traveler's checks. Airlines such as the southwest accept only American Express Travelers Cheques for purchase of tickets.
6. Make a list of the items in your luggage and carry the list with you. Also remove any hooks or pull straps before checking luggage to insure that they don't come off while handling.
7. Never lock your checked luggage because they might require to be opened in case of an inspection. So if you lock your luggage and the TSA forcibly opens your bag via cutting your lock, you shall be responsible for any loss or damage to your luggage.
8. Most of the airlines are liable for loss or damage of checked luggage to a maximum of $ 2,800 only. You can purchase excess valuation insurance for a nominal charge.
9. When you leave the aircraft you should look around to make sure that you have all your personal items with you because airlines cannot be held responsible for items left on board.
Grooming and toiletry items are standard on a list of what to pack for travel, but if you should forget any of the essentials, most hotels can provide you with whatever you may be missing. A few minor things to consider: If you are traveling in the winter, you may find that static cling is rampant. For women, you will notice this with dresses and skirts. To combat this, you can bring a fabric softener sheet and rub it on the affected area or a can of static spray. And if you're a fan of black pants and skirts, a lint brush or some tape can help put the final touches—or rather, take them away—on your outfit for the day or evening.
A question that many business men and women ask when trying to decide what to pack for travel is whether or not they need to bring their laptops computers. Either they want to be able to check in at the office, or they want to use the computer for taking notes at the seminars. Not only is it risky to bring your computer along with you because of theft, but it really won't be necessary unless you've been instructed to do so. Most of your time will be taken up with meetings and dinners, so any free time that you do have might be better spent on sleep. Take this trip to ‘unplug' and you'll arrive back at your office educated and relaxed.
Packing - How To Enjoy Your Trip
Knowing what to pack for travel can make for a smooth transition from one work location to the next. The essentials of business travel packing take into consideration all of the possible events that you may need to attend while also realizing that ‘free' nights may not always mean that you can sit in your hotel room in your pajamas.
The influence of professional appearance is something that can not be denied in the work setting. You will be taken more seriously if you take the time to consider what to pack for travel for your business. You may want to ask your boss what the appropriate attire is. This will only show that you are interested in making the right impression. The first is comfort.
For women, business travel packing can present a bit more of a dilemma. In the case of a more formal dinner meeting, a woman will need to have a dress available, along with shoes and accessories. A man will normally have already brought a suit, so an additional shirt and tie are all that is needed. Even if the evening seems to be more casual, it never hurts to consider the influence of professional appearance and overdress for the occasion.
Depending on the days that you will be gone at this meeting or conference, you will need to have appropriate outfits for each event. For meetings, you will want to bring something that is comfortable to sit in, but also appropriate for business. A trick to lighten your suitcase is to bring only a few pairs of slacks or skirts, but multiple shirts that will match. This trick in business travel packing will allow you to have many different combinations that will appear to be different outfits all together.
Luggage - You will usually be doing a lot of walking whenever you go on a vacation and walking with 50 kg of luggage is both tiring and difficult. You will also, most likely, be getting extremely dirty and ruining whatever clothing you take (even if it's expensive “adventure clothing”) and don't forget that some of your gear may even be stolen (sometimes by other travelers). If you show up with all the best and most expensive gear you are also a walking target for hustlers and thieves. With all of this in mind here are a few tips:
If you are going to be doing anything even remotely physical and walking any further than a few hundred meters, then a backpack is definitely the way to go. But not all packs are created equal! Think small and inconspicuous. Dark colours like brown and black will attract less attention than a bright purple or red pack. Make sure it is the type of pack that has a flap on the top that closes over the pack's opening to keep out water (the types that zip up WILL get your stuff wet). You will also want to put your clothing in waterproof stuff bags but there are tougher ones that you can buy from disposals and camping stores. You also want your pack to be as small as possible. Especially if you are only touring (mountaineers may need something bigger). 45 liters is an absolute maximum for general purpose use. You will be carrying it around a lot and if you cannot fit something in then you probably don't really need it.
Clothing - Keeping your clothes looking as though they didn't come out of a suitcase is also an essential part in the lesson of what to pack for travel. Clothes can be come wrinkled, so you may want to bring a clothes steamer, or in an emergency a bottle of something that will lessen the wrinkles. These sprays are great for cotton shirts that never seem to stay flat. You just spray this on the night before and smooth away the wrinkles as it hangs on a hanger. By the time that its dry the next day, you will have a freshly ‘pressed' shirt.
Think light and breathable! Cotton is always good. Three shirts is usually enough because you can wear one, wash one and have a spare. Take ones with collars to keep the sun off your neck if you are going anywhere remotely sunny. Dark colours are always going to hide the dirt and grime so that's also a good idea. Remember that if you need something you can always buy it there and usually for a fraction of the price than at home! Don't forget to take some type of hat as being sunburnt is a real drag when you are traveling.
Shoes - In terms of shoes, you will find that they are the heaviest addition to your suitcase, but also an important part of the influence of professional appearance. To compromise for what to pack for travel, you should bring a pair of work shoes, a pair of dressier shoes, as well as a pair of tennis shoes. By doing this, you will be wearing one of the pairs on the trip to the conference or meeting, so your suitcase will only need to house two pairs.
Unless you are doing some serious mountaineering then you probably won't need those $300 Scarpa trekking boots. In many poorer countries you can buy those $300 Scarpas at the local markets for $10 anyway, because some idiot tourist left them outside his door to dry and an enterprising local stole them to sell at the markets.
The trick to packing for adventure travel is to pack light, inconspicuous and cheap. This is to avoid a human pack-mule or a target for thieves and hustlers. You will also find that you will enjoy your traveling more because you won't be so tired nor worrying about your gear so much.
The influence of professional appearance is something that can not be denied in the work setting. You will be taken more seriously if you take the time to consider what to pack for travel for your business. You may want to ask your boss what the appropriate attire is. This will only show that you are interested in making the right impression. The first is comfort.
For women, business travel packing can present a bit more of a dilemma. In the case of a more formal dinner meeting, a woman will need to have a dress available, along with shoes and accessories. A man will normally have already brought a suit, so an additional shirt and tie are all that is needed. Even if the evening seems to be more casual, it never hurts to consider the influence of professional appearance and overdress for the occasion.
Depending on the days that you will be gone at this meeting or conference, you will need to have appropriate outfits for each event. For meetings, you will want to bring something that is comfortable to sit in, but also appropriate for business. A trick to lighten your suitcase is to bring only a few pairs of slacks or skirts, but multiple shirts that will match. This trick in business travel packing will allow you to have many different combinations that will appear to be different outfits all together.
Luggage - You will usually be doing a lot of walking whenever you go on a vacation and walking with 50 kg of luggage is both tiring and difficult. You will also, most likely, be getting extremely dirty and ruining whatever clothing you take (even if it's expensive “adventure clothing”) and don't forget that some of your gear may even be stolen (sometimes by other travelers). If you show up with all the best and most expensive gear you are also a walking target for hustlers and thieves. With all of this in mind here are a few tips:
If you are going to be doing anything even remotely physical and walking any further than a few hundred meters, then a backpack is definitely the way to go. But not all packs are created equal! Think small and inconspicuous. Dark colours like brown and black will attract less attention than a bright purple or red pack. Make sure it is the type of pack that has a flap on the top that closes over the pack's opening to keep out water (the types that zip up WILL get your stuff wet). You will also want to put your clothing in waterproof stuff bags but there are tougher ones that you can buy from disposals and camping stores. You also want your pack to be as small as possible. Especially if you are only touring (mountaineers may need something bigger). 45 liters is an absolute maximum for general purpose use. You will be carrying it around a lot and if you cannot fit something in then you probably don't really need it.
Clothing - Keeping your clothes looking as though they didn't come out of a suitcase is also an essential part in the lesson of what to pack for travel. Clothes can be come wrinkled, so you may want to bring a clothes steamer, or in an emergency a bottle of something that will lessen the wrinkles. These sprays are great for cotton shirts that never seem to stay flat. You just spray this on the night before and smooth away the wrinkles as it hangs on a hanger. By the time that its dry the next day, you will have a freshly ‘pressed' shirt.
Think light and breathable! Cotton is always good. Three shirts is usually enough because you can wear one, wash one and have a spare. Take ones with collars to keep the sun off your neck if you are going anywhere remotely sunny. Dark colours are always going to hide the dirt and grime so that's also a good idea. Remember that if you need something you can always buy it there and usually for a fraction of the price than at home! Don't forget to take some type of hat as being sunburnt is a real drag when you are traveling.
Shoes - In terms of shoes, you will find that they are the heaviest addition to your suitcase, but also an important part of the influence of professional appearance. To compromise for what to pack for travel, you should bring a pair of work shoes, a pair of dressier shoes, as well as a pair of tennis shoes. By doing this, you will be wearing one of the pairs on the trip to the conference or meeting, so your suitcase will only need to house two pairs.
Unless you are doing some serious mountaineering then you probably won't need those $300 Scarpa trekking boots. In many poorer countries you can buy those $300 Scarpas at the local markets for $10 anyway, because some idiot tourist left them outside his door to dry and an enterprising local stole them to sell at the markets.
The trick to packing for adventure travel is to pack light, inconspicuous and cheap. This is to avoid a human pack-mule or a target for thieves and hustlers. You will also find that you will enjoy your traveling more because you won't be so tired nor worrying about your gear so much.
Packing - Some Practical Tips For Your Trip
Packing is a very important thing when traveling. Traveling during the holidays can be a lot of work. So many people travel during this time of year that it can actually be downright exhausting not to mention stressful. Here are some easy and quick packing tips to simplify your holiday travels.
Bags
Focus on getting all your things into one soft side small bag. Yes, one that fits under an airline seat in front of you and is roughly 9" + 14" + 22" = 45" total. Yes, it can work and will do for any travel better than you think. Picture this: you've been standing for hours in the line for you plane and it arrives 90 minutes late which means you'll have to dash from one end of O'Hare to the other to catch you connecting flight home and be back at work Monday morning. You won't make it if you checked you luggage and it will be slow if you have to lug more than one bag on your run. Get the picture?
Travel light and pack a single bag you can carry.
When you pack you bag roll your clothes and pack them firmly together with other articles cushioned in between them. This gives everything a good chance of arriving at you destination in pretty good shape even if you are not. Do this with fancy clothes, too. They'll look just fine when unpacked and hung up.
What To Pack
Take basic outfits. Spread these out on your bed. Before you pack. Make sure pieces can be inter changeable to make several outfit combinations.
Coordinate shoes, stockings, undergarments, jewelry (minimal) and other accessories so that they go with all outfits. The idea here is to keep these things to a minimum.
Pack efficiently. Put socks inside of shoes. Put shoes inside of plastic bags. Put jewelry and any medications in a little pouch or ziplock bag that will slip between rolls of clothes. Put shampoo, conditioner and other toiletries in a ziploc bag, too. Take a large plastic bag for dirty laundry.
Before you leave decide that you will take your dirty laundery home. This is fine for a short 3-5 day holiday trip. In emergencies you can do it where you are staying but for the most part forget about it and take it home to do the week you return.
When it comes to packing clothes, you need to reign yourself in. Give some thought to your destination and what should go. If you are going to a beach area in summer, you are not going to need a sweater. You are supposed to be relaxing on your vacation. Take comfortable clothes, but no more than two of any item. In breaking news, there are laundry facilities at your destination.
A particular area where people pack way too much is footwear. Again, we are talking about a vacation. Vacation is a word that carries a definite connotation of comfort. Flip flops and tennis shoes should pretty much cut it for any trip unless you are going hiking. Dress shoes or high heels for an expected night out on the town sound great, but are they really worth lugging around for a week or two? Usually not.
Returning Home
A great trick to complete a trip is return to a clean, organized home. Especially after the jostling of a holiday trip its best to put your feet up and relax. It is wonderful to return to washed laundry, a clean kitchen with counters cleared, trashcans and newspapers taken care of by neighbors or friends.
Traveling over the holidays can actually be a fun adventure if you take time to plan ahead, so you can enjoy the actual journey. There are many nice people to meet along the way, new things to see, quiet time to read and relax. Find things you can do while traveling that you haven't had the time to do while at home.
For example, take a book you've been meaning to read or pack CDs you haven't been able to listen to yet. Fill the time with all sorts of activities you usually put off and make the most of your holiday travel experience.
Bags
Focus on getting all your things into one soft side small bag. Yes, one that fits under an airline seat in front of you and is roughly 9" + 14" + 22" = 45" total. Yes, it can work and will do for any travel better than you think. Picture this: you've been standing for hours in the line for you plane and it arrives 90 minutes late which means you'll have to dash from one end of O'Hare to the other to catch you connecting flight home and be back at work Monday morning. You won't make it if you checked you luggage and it will be slow if you have to lug more than one bag on your run. Get the picture?
Travel light and pack a single bag you can carry.
When you pack you bag roll your clothes and pack them firmly together with other articles cushioned in between them. This gives everything a good chance of arriving at you destination in pretty good shape even if you are not. Do this with fancy clothes, too. They'll look just fine when unpacked and hung up.
What To Pack
Take basic outfits. Spread these out on your bed. Before you pack. Make sure pieces can be inter changeable to make several outfit combinations.
Coordinate shoes, stockings, undergarments, jewelry (minimal) and other accessories so that they go with all outfits. The idea here is to keep these things to a minimum.
Pack efficiently. Put socks inside of shoes. Put shoes inside of plastic bags. Put jewelry and any medications in a little pouch or ziplock bag that will slip between rolls of clothes. Put shampoo, conditioner and other toiletries in a ziploc bag, too. Take a large plastic bag for dirty laundry.
Before you leave decide that you will take your dirty laundery home. This is fine for a short 3-5 day holiday trip. In emergencies you can do it where you are staying but for the most part forget about it and take it home to do the week you return.
When it comes to packing clothes, you need to reign yourself in. Give some thought to your destination and what should go. If you are going to a beach area in summer, you are not going to need a sweater. You are supposed to be relaxing on your vacation. Take comfortable clothes, but no more than two of any item. In breaking news, there are laundry facilities at your destination.
A particular area where people pack way too much is footwear. Again, we are talking about a vacation. Vacation is a word that carries a definite connotation of comfort. Flip flops and tennis shoes should pretty much cut it for any trip unless you are going hiking. Dress shoes or high heels for an expected night out on the town sound great, but are they really worth lugging around for a week or two? Usually not.
Returning Home
A great trick to complete a trip is return to a clean, organized home. Especially after the jostling of a holiday trip its best to put your feet up and relax. It is wonderful to return to washed laundry, a clean kitchen with counters cleared, trashcans and newspapers taken care of by neighbors or friends.
Traveling over the holidays can actually be a fun adventure if you take time to plan ahead, so you can enjoy the actual journey. There are many nice people to meet along the way, new things to see, quiet time to read and relax. Find things you can do while traveling that you haven't had the time to do while at home.
For example, take a book you've been meaning to read or pack CDs you haven't been able to listen to yet. Fill the time with all sorts of activities you usually put off and make the most of your holiday travel experience.
Backpacking - How To Do Packing For Your Trip To Europe
Nothing beats backpacking in Europe if you get the opportunity. So, you probably want to know what to pack for Europe.
A thousand different items could go into that open bag-- but don't get bogged down in "what-ifs," or you'll end up lugging around the kitchen sink! Don't procrastinate, either... Good packing can make the difference between a brisk walk to another terminal and a missed-plane disaster; between exploring all day and "sitting this one out" to nurse swollen blisters; between sleeping soundly and staying up all night to a symphony of barking dogs. So pack light-- and smart! Here's how.
Packing Your Backpack for Europe
Millions of people head off to Europe on a backpacking trip each year. Having done it five times, I can tell you that it will be one of the best times of your life. That being said, you must take some things with you. On the positive side, you don't need that much.
Europe is not another planet. I mention this because you should keep in mind you can buy everything there if you forget it here. The first time people go backpacking in Europe, they tend to completely overdue it on the packing front. You are not climbing Mount Everest, so don't overdue it!
The first things to pack are clothes. Depending on where you are going, you may need clothes for warm weather or cold. Assuming it is warm, you need a couple of shirts that are wrinkle resistant. You will buy others there, so don't pack ten. You also will need a pair of shorts and a bathing suit. If you plan on visiting museums and churches, you will need a pair of long pants to get into many of them. Pack something light that is wrinkle resistant.
For your feet, you can load up on socks because they do not take much space. You will need some sandals and then a pair of something comfortable. Some prefer hiking boots, but I usually went with cross trainers. Whatever you do, make sure you get used to the shoes before heading off. You are going to walk a lot, so blisters from new shoes can be a killer.
On the personal front, you need a brush, toothpaste and any medicinal needs. That is it. You can buy anything else you need as you need it. There is zero point to lugging around shampoo all over Europe. Murphy's law says it will open in your backpack! Keep it super simple.
While your trip will result in great memories, they will fade in time. Take a camera and, of course, one of our travel journals. The camera should be hardy so it can take the inevitable beating that will occur. Our Nomad travel journals are compact and in a case. They are perfect for trips to Europe because we were on one when we got the idea!
Europeans can read. This means you can buy guidebooks over there. If you plan to visit three or four countries, take the guidebook for the FIRST country only. You can pick up the others over there or trade with other backpackers. Guidebooks are heavy and this will save you the aggravation of hauling them everywhere. Also, cybercafés are everywhere, so you do not need to bring a laptop unless you really have a specific need.
Finally, keep copies of your passport and any supporting documentation with you. One set goes in your backpack while another goes in your shorts, money belt or wherever you have space.
Remember that packing is a vital part of the vacation experience. So don't let it wait until the last minute! Make your list now and check it twice-- or even thrice-- before you go.
A thousand different items could go into that open bag-- but don't get bogged down in "what-ifs," or you'll end up lugging around the kitchen sink! Don't procrastinate, either... Good packing can make the difference between a brisk walk to another terminal and a missed-plane disaster; between exploring all day and "sitting this one out" to nurse swollen blisters; between sleeping soundly and staying up all night to a symphony of barking dogs. So pack light-- and smart! Here's how.
Packing Your Backpack for Europe
Millions of people head off to Europe on a backpacking trip each year. Having done it five times, I can tell you that it will be one of the best times of your life. That being said, you must take some things with you. On the positive side, you don't need that much.
Europe is not another planet. I mention this because you should keep in mind you can buy everything there if you forget it here. The first time people go backpacking in Europe, they tend to completely overdue it on the packing front. You are not climbing Mount Everest, so don't overdue it!
The first things to pack are clothes. Depending on where you are going, you may need clothes for warm weather or cold. Assuming it is warm, you need a couple of shirts that are wrinkle resistant. You will buy others there, so don't pack ten. You also will need a pair of shorts and a bathing suit. If you plan on visiting museums and churches, you will need a pair of long pants to get into many of them. Pack something light that is wrinkle resistant.
For your feet, you can load up on socks because they do not take much space. You will need some sandals and then a pair of something comfortable. Some prefer hiking boots, but I usually went with cross trainers. Whatever you do, make sure you get used to the shoes before heading off. You are going to walk a lot, so blisters from new shoes can be a killer.
On the personal front, you need a brush, toothpaste and any medicinal needs. That is it. You can buy anything else you need as you need it. There is zero point to lugging around shampoo all over Europe. Murphy's law says it will open in your backpack! Keep it super simple.
While your trip will result in great memories, they will fade in time. Take a camera and, of course, one of our travel journals. The camera should be hardy so it can take the inevitable beating that will occur. Our Nomad travel journals are compact and in a case. They are perfect for trips to Europe because we were on one when we got the idea!
Europeans can read. This means you can buy guidebooks over there. If you plan to visit three or four countries, take the guidebook for the FIRST country only. You can pick up the others over there or trade with other backpackers. Guidebooks are heavy and this will save you the aggravation of hauling them everywhere. Also, cybercafés are everywhere, so you do not need to bring a laptop unless you really have a specific need.
Finally, keep copies of your passport and any supporting documentation with you. One set goes in your backpack while another goes in your shorts, money belt or wherever you have space.
Remember that packing is a vital part of the vacation experience. So don't let it wait until the last minute! Make your list now and check it twice-- or even thrice-- before you go.
How Not To Be Short Of Cash While On Overseas Trip
Travel is wonderful, and many of us would do nothing but travel the globe if we had the means to live that kind of jet-set life. And traveling to the far corners of the world is growing increasingly easy, with the Internet to connect us to friends and work while we are away and with major transportation centers like airports and railway stations all over the map. We can book reservations and go to even the most far-flung places that have names that we can barely pronounce. But travel requires spending money, and unless we have safe and secure ways to carry money with us when we globe-hop, we can find ourselves in a world of trouble.
Here are some different to fund your holiday.
Traveler's Checks
Travelers used to rely upon traveler's checks as the best way to carry money abroad, but in recent years this method has become somewhat cumbersome. Rules governing reimbursement have tightened to prevent fraudulent claims, and although traveler's check companies claim that they will get money to you anywhere, anytime, with emergency speed, the reality is that many travelers find themselves stuck with no cash, and lost or stolen traveler's checks are not reimbursed for months. And then they are only refunded or reimbursed after the consumer fills out pages of documents and makes many long and sometimes frustrating phone calls. Although there are still some good traveler's check companies, many travelers complain that customer service and speedy reimbursement are lacking.
It is wise not to carry large amounts of cash. You should take most of your money in traveler's checks and remember to record the serial number, denomination and the date and location of the issuing bank or agency. Keep this information in a safe and separate place so, if you lose your traveler's checks, you can quickly get replacements. You will receive a better rate of exchange at a local bank than at your hotel.
Credit/Debit Cards
A better and more dependable idea is to carry a bank card, like an ATM or credit card. Because most financial networks subscribe to the same ATM machine systems, your card will be compatible with automated cash machines throughout the world. All you have to do is take one piece of plastic with you, and your bank account is only a PIN number away. Of course you may find yourself in a place where there are no machines, or where you card does not work, but in general this is a good way to carry money overseas. Experts recommend that you plan ahead, and open a special bank account for your overseas travel. Use the ATM card connected to that account, and only deposit enough money to cover your travel expenses. That way, if your card is stolen and misused, thieves will not be able to clean out your life's savings.
Some credit cards can be used worldwide, even for cash advances. Keep track of your credit card purchases so that you do not exceed your limit. Travelers have been arrested overseas for mistakenly exceeding their credit limit! Leave all unnecessary credit cards at home. Record the numbers of the credit cards that you do bring, and keep the list separately from the cards.
You should immediately report the loss or theft of your credit cards or traveler's checks to the credit card companies and to the local police. If you plan to stay in one place for some time, you might consider opening an account for check cashing and other transactions at a U.S. bank that has an overseas affiliate. U.S. embassies and consulates cannot cash checks for you.
Before leaving on your trip, you may wish to check with your bank to see if the country or countries that you plan to visit have Automated Teller Machine (ATM) service. The bank should be able to tell you if you can use your ATM card during your trip abroad.
To back up your ATM card in case you aren't able to use it somewhere, carry enough cash - either in dollars or in the currency of the place you are traveling - to tide you over for a few days at a time. You can also use most credit cards and a passport to withdraw cash from foreign banks, but you may have to pay pretty steep fees for the convenience.
Let your credit/debit card company know that you will be using your card overseas. Otherwise, they may block access. Debit cards are preferred over credit cards due to the account limitations. Be aware that cards can be skimmed and identities stolen. Safeguard your plastic at all times.
Prepare for Emergency Funds
It is a good idea to keep the telephone number for your bank in the United States with you, in case you run out of cash and need to transfer money. In some countries, major banks and certain travel agencies can help arrange a transfer of funds from your account to a foreign bank. If you do not have a bank account from which you can obtain emergency funds, you should make arrangements in advance with a relative or friend to send you emergency funds should it become necessary. If you find yourself destitute, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance in arranging a money wire transfer from a relative or friend in the United States.
Foreign Currency
Before departing, you may wish to purchase small amounts of foreign currency to use for buses, taxis, phones, or tips when you first arrive. Foreign exchange facilities at airports may be closed when your flight arrives. You can purchase foreign currency at some U.S. banks, at foreign exchange firms, at foreign exchange windows, or even at vending machines in many international airports in the United States. Be aware that you will get the worst rates possible exchanging currency in your home country.
Some countries regulate the amount of local currency that you can bring into or take out of the country; others require that you exchange a minimum amount of currency. For currency regulations, check with a bank, a foreign exchange firm, your travel agent, or the embassy or consulate of the countries that you plan to visit.
If you leave or enter the United States with more than $10,000 in monetary instruments of any kind, you must file a report, Customs Form 4790, with U.S. Customs at the time. Failure to comply can result in civil and criminal proceedings.
As always, it is highly recommended that you leave copies of all your important documents, including your bank cards, in a safe place. If yours are lost, you can use the copies to help file claims to replace them.
Here are some different to fund your holiday.
Traveler's Checks
Travelers used to rely upon traveler's checks as the best way to carry money abroad, but in recent years this method has become somewhat cumbersome. Rules governing reimbursement have tightened to prevent fraudulent claims, and although traveler's check companies claim that they will get money to you anywhere, anytime, with emergency speed, the reality is that many travelers find themselves stuck with no cash, and lost or stolen traveler's checks are not reimbursed for months. And then they are only refunded or reimbursed after the consumer fills out pages of documents and makes many long and sometimes frustrating phone calls. Although there are still some good traveler's check companies, many travelers complain that customer service and speedy reimbursement are lacking.
It is wise not to carry large amounts of cash. You should take most of your money in traveler's checks and remember to record the serial number, denomination and the date and location of the issuing bank or agency. Keep this information in a safe and separate place so, if you lose your traveler's checks, you can quickly get replacements. You will receive a better rate of exchange at a local bank than at your hotel.
Credit/Debit Cards
A better and more dependable idea is to carry a bank card, like an ATM or credit card. Because most financial networks subscribe to the same ATM machine systems, your card will be compatible with automated cash machines throughout the world. All you have to do is take one piece of plastic with you, and your bank account is only a PIN number away. Of course you may find yourself in a place where there are no machines, or where you card does not work, but in general this is a good way to carry money overseas. Experts recommend that you plan ahead, and open a special bank account for your overseas travel. Use the ATM card connected to that account, and only deposit enough money to cover your travel expenses. That way, if your card is stolen and misused, thieves will not be able to clean out your life's savings.
Some credit cards can be used worldwide, even for cash advances. Keep track of your credit card purchases so that you do not exceed your limit. Travelers have been arrested overseas for mistakenly exceeding their credit limit! Leave all unnecessary credit cards at home. Record the numbers of the credit cards that you do bring, and keep the list separately from the cards.
You should immediately report the loss or theft of your credit cards or traveler's checks to the credit card companies and to the local police. If you plan to stay in one place for some time, you might consider opening an account for check cashing and other transactions at a U.S. bank that has an overseas affiliate. U.S. embassies and consulates cannot cash checks for you.
Before leaving on your trip, you may wish to check with your bank to see if the country or countries that you plan to visit have Automated Teller Machine (ATM) service. The bank should be able to tell you if you can use your ATM card during your trip abroad.
To back up your ATM card in case you aren't able to use it somewhere, carry enough cash - either in dollars or in the currency of the place you are traveling - to tide you over for a few days at a time. You can also use most credit cards and a passport to withdraw cash from foreign banks, but you may have to pay pretty steep fees for the convenience.
Let your credit/debit card company know that you will be using your card overseas. Otherwise, they may block access. Debit cards are preferred over credit cards due to the account limitations. Be aware that cards can be skimmed and identities stolen. Safeguard your plastic at all times.
Prepare for Emergency Funds
It is a good idea to keep the telephone number for your bank in the United States with you, in case you run out of cash and need to transfer money. In some countries, major banks and certain travel agencies can help arrange a transfer of funds from your account to a foreign bank. If you do not have a bank account from which you can obtain emergency funds, you should make arrangements in advance with a relative or friend to send you emergency funds should it become necessary. If you find yourself destitute, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance in arranging a money wire transfer from a relative or friend in the United States.
Foreign Currency
Before departing, you may wish to purchase small amounts of foreign currency to use for buses, taxis, phones, or tips when you first arrive. Foreign exchange facilities at airports may be closed when your flight arrives. You can purchase foreign currency at some U.S. banks, at foreign exchange firms, at foreign exchange windows, or even at vending machines in many international airports in the United States. Be aware that you will get the worst rates possible exchanging currency in your home country.
Some countries regulate the amount of local currency that you can bring into or take out of the country; others require that you exchange a minimum amount of currency. For currency regulations, check with a bank, a foreign exchange firm, your travel agent, or the embassy or consulate of the countries that you plan to visit.
If you leave or enter the United States with more than $10,000 in monetary instruments of any kind, you must file a report, Customs Form 4790, with U.S. Customs at the time. Failure to comply can result in civil and criminal proceedings.
As always, it is highly recommended that you leave copies of all your important documents, including your bank cards, in a safe place. If yours are lost, you can use the copies to help file claims to replace them.
The Passport - How To Protect It While You Travel
A U.S. citizen needs a passport to depart or enter the United States and to enter and depart most foreign countries. Exceptions include short-term travel between the United States and Mexico, Canada, and some countries in the Caribbean, where a U.S. birth certificate or other proof of U.S. citizenship may be accepted.
Your travel agent or airline can tell you if you need a passport for the country that you plan to visit. The embassy or consulate of the country where you plan to travel can also advise you about its entry requirements.
Protecting Your Passport
Your passport is the most valuable document that you will carry abroad. It confirms your U.S. citizenship. Please guard it carefully. Do not use it as collateral for a loan or lend it to anyone. It is your best form of identification. You will need it when you pick up mail or check into hotels, embassies or consulates.
When entering some countries or registering at hotels, you may be asked to fill out a police card listing your name, passport number, destination, local address, and reason for travel. You may be required to leave your passport at the hotel reception desk overnight so that it may be checked by local police officials. These are normal procedures required by local laws. If your passport is not returned the following morning, immediately report the impoundment to local police authorities and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Passport Fraud
Law enforcement records show that U.S. passports are sometimes used for illegal entry into the United States, or by criminals abroad seeking to establish another identity. This can cause embarrassment to innocent U.S. citizens whose names become associated with illegal activities. To protect the integrity of the U.S. passport and the security of the person bearing it, consular officers overseas have found it necessary to take precautions in processing lost passport cases. These precautions may involve some delay before a new passport is issued.
Safeguard Your Passport
Carelessness is the main cause for losing a passport or having it stolen. You may find that you have to carry your passport with you because you need to show it when you cash traveler's checks or the country that you are visiting requires you to carry it as an identity document. When you must carry your passport, hide it securely on your person. Do not leave it in a handbag or in an exposed pocket. Whenever possible, leave your passport in the hotel safe, not in an empty hotel room, and not packed in your luggage. One family member should not carry all the passports for the entire family.
Guard Against Thieves
Coat pockets, handbags, and hip pockets are particularly susceptible to theft. Thieves will use all kinds of ploys to divert your attention just long enough to pick your pocket and grab your purse or wallet. These ploys include creating a disturbance, spilling something on your clothing, or even handing you a baby to hold. You can try to prevent theft by carrying your belongings in a secure manner. For example, consider not carrying a purse or wallet when going along crowded streets.
Women who carry a shoulder bag should keep it tucked under the arm and held securely by the strap. Men should put their wallets in their front trouser pockets or use money belts instead of hip pockets. A wallet wrapped in rubber bands is more difficult to remove without notice. Be especially cautious in a large crowd - in the subway, on buses, at the marketplace, at a festival, or if surrounded by groups of vagrant children. Do not make it easy for thieves.
Please Remember!
Even if you are not required to have a passport to visit a foreign country, U.S. Immigration requires you to prove your U.S. citizenship and identity to reenter the United States. Make certain that you take with you adequate documentation to pass through U.S. Immigration upon your return. A U.S. passport is the best proof of U.S. citizenship.
Other documents to prove U.S. citizenship include an expired U.S. passport, a certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate, a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States. To prove your identity, either a valid driver's license or a government identification card that includes a photo or a physical description is adequate. Check for the latest requirements.
With the number of international child custody cases on the rise, several countries have instituted passport requirements to help prevent child abductions. For example, Mexico has a law that requires a child traveling alone, or with only one parent, or in someone else's custody, to carry written, notarized consent from the absent parent or parents. No authorization is needed, if the child travels alone and is in possession of a U.S. passport.
A child traveling alone with a birth certificate requires written, notarized authorization from both parents.
Beware of a Passport That Is About to Expire!
Certain countries will not permit you to enter and will not place a visa in your passport, if the remaining validity is less than 6 months.
All U.S. Citizens Must Have Their Own Passport.
Since January 1981, family members are not permitted to be included in each other's passports. Even newborn babies need their own passports to travel.
When to Apply
Every year, demand for passports becomes heavy in January and declines in August. You can help reduce U.S. Government expense and avoid delays by applying between September and December. However, even during those months, periods of high demand for passports can occur. Apply several months in advance of your planned departure, whenever possible. If you need visas, allow additional time - approximately two weeks per visa.
Your travel agent or airline can tell you if you need a passport for the country that you plan to visit. The embassy or consulate of the country where you plan to travel can also advise you about its entry requirements.
Protecting Your Passport
Your passport is the most valuable document that you will carry abroad. It confirms your U.S. citizenship. Please guard it carefully. Do not use it as collateral for a loan or lend it to anyone. It is your best form of identification. You will need it when you pick up mail or check into hotels, embassies or consulates.
When entering some countries or registering at hotels, you may be asked to fill out a police card listing your name, passport number, destination, local address, and reason for travel. You may be required to leave your passport at the hotel reception desk overnight so that it may be checked by local police officials. These are normal procedures required by local laws. If your passport is not returned the following morning, immediately report the impoundment to local police authorities and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Passport Fraud
Law enforcement records show that U.S. passports are sometimes used for illegal entry into the United States, or by criminals abroad seeking to establish another identity. This can cause embarrassment to innocent U.S. citizens whose names become associated with illegal activities. To protect the integrity of the U.S. passport and the security of the person bearing it, consular officers overseas have found it necessary to take precautions in processing lost passport cases. These precautions may involve some delay before a new passport is issued.
Safeguard Your Passport
Carelessness is the main cause for losing a passport or having it stolen. You may find that you have to carry your passport with you because you need to show it when you cash traveler's checks or the country that you are visiting requires you to carry it as an identity document. When you must carry your passport, hide it securely on your person. Do not leave it in a handbag or in an exposed pocket. Whenever possible, leave your passport in the hotel safe, not in an empty hotel room, and not packed in your luggage. One family member should not carry all the passports for the entire family.
Guard Against Thieves
Coat pockets, handbags, and hip pockets are particularly susceptible to theft. Thieves will use all kinds of ploys to divert your attention just long enough to pick your pocket and grab your purse or wallet. These ploys include creating a disturbance, spilling something on your clothing, or even handing you a baby to hold. You can try to prevent theft by carrying your belongings in a secure manner. For example, consider not carrying a purse or wallet when going along crowded streets.
Women who carry a shoulder bag should keep it tucked under the arm and held securely by the strap. Men should put their wallets in their front trouser pockets or use money belts instead of hip pockets. A wallet wrapped in rubber bands is more difficult to remove without notice. Be especially cautious in a large crowd - in the subway, on buses, at the marketplace, at a festival, or if surrounded by groups of vagrant children. Do not make it easy for thieves.
Please Remember!
Even if you are not required to have a passport to visit a foreign country, U.S. Immigration requires you to prove your U.S. citizenship and identity to reenter the United States. Make certain that you take with you adequate documentation to pass through U.S. Immigration upon your return. A U.S. passport is the best proof of U.S. citizenship.
Other documents to prove U.S. citizenship include an expired U.S. passport, a certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate, a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States. To prove your identity, either a valid driver's license or a government identification card that includes a photo or a physical description is adequate. Check for the latest requirements.
With the number of international child custody cases on the rise, several countries have instituted passport requirements to help prevent child abductions. For example, Mexico has a law that requires a child traveling alone, or with only one parent, or in someone else's custody, to carry written, notarized consent from the absent parent or parents. No authorization is needed, if the child travels alone and is in possession of a U.S. passport.
A child traveling alone with a birth certificate requires written, notarized authorization from both parents.
Beware of a Passport That Is About to Expire!
Certain countries will not permit you to enter and will not place a visa in your passport, if the remaining validity is less than 6 months.
All U.S. Citizens Must Have Their Own Passport.
Since January 1981, family members are not permitted to be included in each other's passports. Even newborn babies need their own passports to travel.
When to Apply
Every year, demand for passports becomes heavy in January and declines in August. You can help reduce U.S. Government expense and avoid delays by applying between September and December. However, even during those months, periods of high demand for passports can occur. Apply several months in advance of your planned departure, whenever possible. If you need visas, allow additional time - approximately two weeks per visa.
Airline Complaint - The Best Ways To Handle It
When passengers comment on airline service, most airlines do listen. They analyze and keep track of the complaints and compliments they receive and use the information to determine what the public wants and to identify problem areas that need special attention. They also try to resolve individual complaints.
Like other businesses, airlines have a lot of discretion in how they respond to problems. While you do have some rights as a passenger, your demands for compensation will probably be subject to negotiation and the kind of action you get depends in large part on the way you go about complaining. Start with the airline. Before you call or write to DOT or some other agency for help with an air travel problem, you should give the airline a chance to resolve it.
Take notes at the time the incident occurs and jot down the names of the carrier employees with whom you dealt. Keep all of your travel documents (ticket receipts, baggage check stubs, boarding passes, etc.) as well as receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses that were incurred as a result of the mishandling. Here are some helpful tips should you choose to write a letter.
As a rule, airlines have trouble-shooters at the airports (they're usually called Customer Service Representatives) who can take care of many problems on the spot. They can arrange meals and hotel rooms for stranded passengers, write checks for denied boarding compensation, arrange luggage repairs and settle other routine claims or complaints
If you can't resolve the problem at the airport and want to file a complaint, it's best to call or write the airline's consumer office at its corporate headquarters. Take notes at the time the incident occurs and jot down the names of the carrier employees with whom you dealt. Keep all of your travel documents (ticket receipts, baggage check stubs, boarding passes, etc.) as well as receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses that were incurred as a result of the mishandling.
1. Type the letter and, if at all possible, limit it to one page in length.
2. Include your daytime telephone number (with area code).
3. No matter how angry you might be, keep your letter businesslike in tone and don't exaggerate what happened. If the complaint sounds very vehement or sarcastic, you might wait a day and then consider rewriting it.
4. Describe what happened, and give dates, cities, and flight numbers or flight times.
5. Send copies, never the originals, of tickets and receipts or other documents that can back up your claim.
6. Include the names of any employees who were rude or made things worse, as well as anyone who might have been especially helpful.
7. Don't clutter up your complaint with petty gripes that can obscure what you're really angry about.
8. Let the airline know if you've suffered any special inconvenience or monetary losses.
9. Say just what you expect the carrier to do to make amends. An airline may offer to settle your claim with a check or some other kind of compensation, possibly free transportation. You might want a written apology from a rude employee or reimbursement for some loss you incurred-but the airline needs to know what you want before it can decide what action to take.
10. Be reasonable. If your demands are way out of line, your letter might earn you a polite apology and a place in the airline's crank files.
If you follow these guidelines, the airlines will probably treat your complaint seriously. Your letter will help them to determine what caused your problem, as well as to suggest actions the company can take to keep the same thing from happening to other people.
Like other businesses, airlines have a lot of discretion in how they respond to problems. While you do have some rights as a passenger, your demands for compensation will probably be subject to negotiation and the kind of action you get depends in large part on the way you go about complaining. Start with the airline. Before you call or write to DOT or some other agency for help with an air travel problem, you should give the airline a chance to resolve it.
Take notes at the time the incident occurs and jot down the names of the carrier employees with whom you dealt. Keep all of your travel documents (ticket receipts, baggage check stubs, boarding passes, etc.) as well as receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses that were incurred as a result of the mishandling. Here are some helpful tips should you choose to write a letter.
As a rule, airlines have trouble-shooters at the airports (they're usually called Customer Service Representatives) who can take care of many problems on the spot. They can arrange meals and hotel rooms for stranded passengers, write checks for denied boarding compensation, arrange luggage repairs and settle other routine claims or complaints
If you can't resolve the problem at the airport and want to file a complaint, it's best to call or write the airline's consumer office at its corporate headquarters. Take notes at the time the incident occurs and jot down the names of the carrier employees with whom you dealt. Keep all of your travel documents (ticket receipts, baggage check stubs, boarding passes, etc.) as well as receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses that were incurred as a result of the mishandling.
1. Type the letter and, if at all possible, limit it to one page in length.
2. Include your daytime telephone number (with area code).
3. No matter how angry you might be, keep your letter businesslike in tone and don't exaggerate what happened. If the complaint sounds very vehement or sarcastic, you might wait a day and then consider rewriting it.
4. Describe what happened, and give dates, cities, and flight numbers or flight times.
5. Send copies, never the originals, of tickets and receipts or other documents that can back up your claim.
6. Include the names of any employees who were rude or made things worse, as well as anyone who might have been especially helpful.
7. Don't clutter up your complaint with petty gripes that can obscure what you're really angry about.
8. Let the airline know if you've suffered any special inconvenience or monetary losses.
9. Say just what you expect the carrier to do to make amends. An airline may offer to settle your claim with a check or some other kind of compensation, possibly free transportation. You might want a written apology from a rude employee or reimbursement for some loss you incurred-but the airline needs to know what you want before it can decide what action to take.
10. Be reasonable. If your demands are way out of line, your letter might earn you a polite apology and a place in the airline's crank files.
If you follow these guidelines, the airlines will probably treat your complaint seriously. Your letter will help them to determine what caused your problem, as well as to suggest actions the company can take to keep the same thing from happening to other people.
Traveling Abroad - What U.S. Consuls Can Do To Help You
If you are ill or injured, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for a list of local physicians and medical facilities. If you request, consular officers will help you contact family or friends. If necessary, a consul can assist in the transfer of funds from family or friends in the United States. Payment of hospital and other medical expenses is your responsibility.
Should you find yourself in legal difficulty, contact a consular officer immediately. Consular officers cannot serve as attorneys, give legal advice, or get you out of jail. If you are arrested, consular officials will visit you, advise you of your rights under local laws, provide a list of local attorneys who speak English and who may have had experience in representing U.S. citizens, and ensure that you are held under humane conditions and are treated fairly under local law.
A consular officer will contact your family or friends if you desire. When necessary, consuls can transfer money from home for you and will try to get relief for you, including food and clothing in countries where this is a problem. If you are detained, remember that under international treaties and customary international law, you have the right to talk to the U.S. consul. If you are denied this right, be politely persistent. Try to have someone get in touch for you.
In the Case of Destitution
If you become destitute abroad, the U.S. consul can help you get in touch with your family, friends, bank, or employer and tell you how to arrange for them to send funds for you. These funds can sometimes be wired to you through the Department of State.
In the Case of Illness or Injury
If you become ill or injured while abroad, you can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for a list of local doctors, dentists, medical specialists, clinics and hospitals. If your illness or injury is serious, the U.S. consul can help you find medical assistance and, at your request, will inform your family or friends of your condition. If necessary, a consul can assist in the transfer of funds from the United States. Payment of hospital and other expenses is your responsibility. U.S. consular officers cannot supply you with medication.
During an emergency, if you are unable to communicate, the consul will check your passport for the name and address of any relative, friend, or legal representative whom you wish to have notified. Because the U.S. Government cannot pay for medical evacuations, it is advisable to have private medical insurance to cover this.
Marriage Abroad
U.S. diplomatic and consular officials do not have the authority to perform marriages overseas. Marriage abroad must be performed in accordance with local law. There are always documentary requirements, and in some countries, there is a lengthy residence requirement before a marriage may take place.
Before traveling, ask the embassy or consulate of the country in which you plan to marry about their regulations and how to prepare to marry abroad. Once abroad, the Consular Section of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate may be able to answer some of your questions, but it is your responsibility to deal with local civil authorities.
Birth Abroad
A child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents generally acquires U.S. citizenship at birth. As soon as possible after the birth, the U.S. parent or parents should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to have a Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America prepared. This document serves as proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship and is acceptable evidence for obtaining a U.S. passport and for most other purposes where one must show a birth certificate or proof of citizenship.
Adoption Abroad
If you plan to adopt a child overseas, you should be aware that the U.S. government considers foreign adoptions to be a private, legal matter within the judicial sovereignty of the nation in which the child is residing. U.S. authorities have no right to intervene on behalf of American citizens in the courts of the country where the adoption takes place. But there are a number of ways in which U.S. embassies and consulates can assist prospective parents.
The U.S. embassy or consulate can provide you with information on the adoption process in that particular country. Consular officers can inquire on your behalf about the status of your case in the foreign court, and they can assist in clarifying documentary requirements, if necessary. Consular officers will also try to ensure that, as a U.S. citizen, you will not be discriminated against by foreign courts, and they will provide you with information about the visa application process for your adopted child.
Because children in foreign adoptions are considered to be nationals of the country of origin, prospective parents must comply with local laws. One way to accomplish this is by dealing with a reputable international adoption agency, experienced in handling adoptions in the particular country in which you wish to adopt the child. In the case of a private adoption, you should hire a local attorney with expertise in adoptions.
Resources for U.S. Citizen Crime Victims
When a U.S. citizen becomes the victim of a crime overseas he or she may suffer physical, emotional, or financial injuries. The emotional impact of the crime may be intensified if the victim is in unfamiliar surroundings, far away from sources of comfort and support, and not fluent in the local language or knowledgeable about local laws and customs. Consuls and consular agents can provide assistance to U.S. citizen crime victims
If you become the victim of a crime overseas, contact the nearest U.S. embassy, consulate, or consular agency for assistance. Also contact local police to report the incident and obtain immediate help with safety concerns.
While consular officials cannot investigate a crime, provide legal advice, represent you in court, serve as official interpreters or translators, or pay legal, medical, or other fees for U.S. citizens, they can assist crime victims in many other ways. Consular personnel overseas are familiar with local government agencies and resources in the countries in which they are located, and they can help you:
- replace a stolen passport
- contact family, friends, or employers
- obtain appropriate medical care
- address emergency needs that arise as a result of the crime
- obtain general information about the local criminal justice process and information about your case
- obtain information about local resources to assist victims, including foreign crime victim compensation programs
- obtain information about crime victim assistance and compensation programs in the U.S.
- obtain a list of local attorneys who speak English
Victim Assistance: If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, you may benefit from specialized resources for crime victims available in the United States. Throughout the United States, thousands of local crime victim assistance programs offer help to victims of violent crime and most will help residents of their community who have been the victim of a crime in another country.
These include rape crisis counseling programs, shelter and counseling programs for battered women, support groups and bereavement counseling for family members of homicide victims, diagnostic and treatment programs for child abuse victims, assistance for victims of drunken driving crashes, and others. Information about locating crime victim assistance programs is below.
Victim Compensation: All states operate crime victim compensation programs and nearly half of them offer benefits to their residents who are victims of violent crime overseas. (See contact information for state compensation programs below.)
These state compensation programs provide financial assistance to eligible victims for reimbursement of expenses such as medical treatment, counseling, funeral costs, lost income or loss of support, and others. Generally victim compensation programs require the victim to report the crime to law enforcement and they usually request a copy of the police report.
Contact Information for Victim Compensation and Assistance Programs:
Information about each state's crime victim compensation program and how to apply for compensation is available on the Internet at the web site of the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards.
The toll-free 24 hours a day/7 days a week hotline for sexual assault crisis counseling and referrals in the United States is 1-800-656-HOPE. It is operated by a non-profit organization, RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network).
Information about local sexual assault victim assistance programs in the U.S. is also available from each state's sexual assault coalition. Contact information for these state coalitions are listed on the web site of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office.
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week National Domestic Violence Hotline that provides crisis counseling and referrals in the U.S. is 1-800-799-SAFE.
Information about local domestic violence victim assistance programs in the U.S. is also available from each state's domestic violence coalition. Contact information for these state coalitions is listed at the web site of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office.
The toll-free 24 hours a day/7 days a week crisis counseling and referral line for families and friends of those who have died by violence is 1-888-818-POMC. It is operated by a non-profit organization, POMC, Inc. (The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children).
Information about national and local resources for victims and family members of victims of drunken driving crashes is available at the web site of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Contact information for non-emergency victim assistance services in communities throughout the U.S. is available at the web site of the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime.
Information for crime victims on the impact of crime, safety planning, legal rights and civil legal remedies, and options for assistance and referrals to local programs is also available from the National Crime Victim Center (NCVC).
Should you find yourself in legal difficulty, contact a consular officer immediately. Consular officers cannot serve as attorneys, give legal advice, or get you out of jail. If you are arrested, consular officials will visit you, advise you of your rights under local laws, provide a list of local attorneys who speak English and who may have had experience in representing U.S. citizens, and ensure that you are held under humane conditions and are treated fairly under local law.
A consular officer will contact your family or friends if you desire. When necessary, consuls can transfer money from home for you and will try to get relief for you, including food and clothing in countries where this is a problem. If you are detained, remember that under international treaties and customary international law, you have the right to talk to the U.S. consul. If you are denied this right, be politely persistent. Try to have someone get in touch for you.
In the Case of Destitution
If you become destitute abroad, the U.S. consul can help you get in touch with your family, friends, bank, or employer and tell you how to arrange for them to send funds for you. These funds can sometimes be wired to you through the Department of State.
In the Case of Illness or Injury
If you become ill or injured while abroad, you can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for a list of local doctors, dentists, medical specialists, clinics and hospitals. If your illness or injury is serious, the U.S. consul can help you find medical assistance and, at your request, will inform your family or friends of your condition. If necessary, a consul can assist in the transfer of funds from the United States. Payment of hospital and other expenses is your responsibility. U.S. consular officers cannot supply you with medication.
During an emergency, if you are unable to communicate, the consul will check your passport for the name and address of any relative, friend, or legal representative whom you wish to have notified. Because the U.S. Government cannot pay for medical evacuations, it is advisable to have private medical insurance to cover this.
Marriage Abroad
U.S. diplomatic and consular officials do not have the authority to perform marriages overseas. Marriage abroad must be performed in accordance with local law. There are always documentary requirements, and in some countries, there is a lengthy residence requirement before a marriage may take place.
Before traveling, ask the embassy or consulate of the country in which you plan to marry about their regulations and how to prepare to marry abroad. Once abroad, the Consular Section of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate may be able to answer some of your questions, but it is your responsibility to deal with local civil authorities.
Birth Abroad
A child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents generally acquires U.S. citizenship at birth. As soon as possible after the birth, the U.S. parent or parents should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to have a Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America prepared. This document serves as proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship and is acceptable evidence for obtaining a U.S. passport and for most other purposes where one must show a birth certificate or proof of citizenship.
Adoption Abroad
If you plan to adopt a child overseas, you should be aware that the U.S. government considers foreign adoptions to be a private, legal matter within the judicial sovereignty of the nation in which the child is residing. U.S. authorities have no right to intervene on behalf of American citizens in the courts of the country where the adoption takes place. But there are a number of ways in which U.S. embassies and consulates can assist prospective parents.
The U.S. embassy or consulate can provide you with information on the adoption process in that particular country. Consular officers can inquire on your behalf about the status of your case in the foreign court, and they can assist in clarifying documentary requirements, if necessary. Consular officers will also try to ensure that, as a U.S. citizen, you will not be discriminated against by foreign courts, and they will provide you with information about the visa application process for your adopted child.
Because children in foreign adoptions are considered to be nationals of the country of origin, prospective parents must comply with local laws. One way to accomplish this is by dealing with a reputable international adoption agency, experienced in handling adoptions in the particular country in which you wish to adopt the child. In the case of a private adoption, you should hire a local attorney with expertise in adoptions.
Resources for U.S. Citizen Crime Victims
When a U.S. citizen becomes the victim of a crime overseas he or she may suffer physical, emotional, or financial injuries. The emotional impact of the crime may be intensified if the victim is in unfamiliar surroundings, far away from sources of comfort and support, and not fluent in the local language or knowledgeable about local laws and customs. Consuls and consular agents can provide assistance to U.S. citizen crime victims
If you become the victim of a crime overseas, contact the nearest U.S. embassy, consulate, or consular agency for assistance. Also contact local police to report the incident and obtain immediate help with safety concerns.
While consular officials cannot investigate a crime, provide legal advice, represent you in court, serve as official interpreters or translators, or pay legal, medical, or other fees for U.S. citizens, they can assist crime victims in many other ways. Consular personnel overseas are familiar with local government agencies and resources in the countries in which they are located, and they can help you:
- replace a stolen passport
- contact family, friends, or employers
- obtain appropriate medical care
- address emergency needs that arise as a result of the crime
- obtain general information about the local criminal justice process and information about your case
- obtain information about local resources to assist victims, including foreign crime victim compensation programs
- obtain information about crime victim assistance and compensation programs in the U.S.
- obtain a list of local attorneys who speak English
Victim Assistance: If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, you may benefit from specialized resources for crime victims available in the United States. Throughout the United States, thousands of local crime victim assistance programs offer help to victims of violent crime and most will help residents of their community who have been the victim of a crime in another country.
These include rape crisis counseling programs, shelter and counseling programs for battered women, support groups and bereavement counseling for family members of homicide victims, diagnostic and treatment programs for child abuse victims, assistance for victims of drunken driving crashes, and others. Information about locating crime victim assistance programs is below.
Victim Compensation: All states operate crime victim compensation programs and nearly half of them offer benefits to their residents who are victims of violent crime overseas. (See contact information for state compensation programs below.)
These state compensation programs provide financial assistance to eligible victims for reimbursement of expenses such as medical treatment, counseling, funeral costs, lost income or loss of support, and others. Generally victim compensation programs require the victim to report the crime to law enforcement and they usually request a copy of the police report.
Contact Information for Victim Compensation and Assistance Programs:
Information about each state's crime victim compensation program and how to apply for compensation is available on the Internet at the web site of the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards.
The toll-free 24 hours a day/7 days a week hotline for sexual assault crisis counseling and referrals in the United States is 1-800-656-HOPE. It is operated by a non-profit organization, RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network).
Information about local sexual assault victim assistance programs in the U.S. is also available from each state's sexual assault coalition. Contact information for these state coalitions are listed on the web site of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office.
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week National Domestic Violence Hotline that provides crisis counseling and referrals in the U.S. is 1-800-799-SAFE.
Information about local domestic violence victim assistance programs in the U.S. is also available from each state's domestic violence coalition. Contact information for these state coalitions is listed at the web site of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office.
The toll-free 24 hours a day/7 days a week crisis counseling and referral line for families and friends of those who have died by violence is 1-888-818-POMC. It is operated by a non-profit organization, POMC, Inc. (The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children).
Information about national and local resources for victims and family members of victims of drunken driving crashes is available at the web site of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Contact information for non-emergency victim assistance services in communities throughout the U.S. is available at the web site of the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime.
Information for crime victims on the impact of crime, safety planning, legal rights and civil legal remedies, and options for assistance and referrals to local programs is also available from the National Crime Victim Center (NCVC).
Car Rental - How To Get the Best Deal
Car rental can be a big vacation expense if you are traveling on budget. Getting the best deal on the transportation is very important to keeping your vacation fun while staying within budget. Getting a discount car rental doesn't have to be hard. All it takes is a little early planning. Begin your search for a discount car rental as soon as you know the location of your next trip. If you have already made plans for where you will stay, then talking to the concierge at that location can be a great resource for finding a discount car rental. See what kinds of deals you may be able to get because of staying at the hotel or condo you have chosen.
One way to keep costs as low as possible is to choose the smallest, most economical car you and your family are comfortable with. Choosing a compact, subcompact or economy car makes sense on a number of levels. For one thing, such budget rental cars are generally less pricey to rent in the first place.
The other important consideration, however, is a gas mileage. You as the renter of the car will be responsible for keeping it gassed up, including topping off the tank before returning it. Buying a car that gets great mileage will definitely help your travel budget stretch farther.
If you need a bigger rental car or minivan, it is important to shop around for the best deal you can find. While it is important to shop around no matter what type of car you are considering, it is even more important when trying to budget rental cars for which there is a lot of demand, like convertibles, minivans or SUV's.
Shopping around at a number of travel-related web sites, as well as at the web sites of the budget rental car companies themselves, is usually the finest way to grab the best deal.
1. Weekly budget rental cars
The length of the rental can have a huge impact on the cost as well. Weekly rentals are often far less costly than a comparable daily rate spread over a week. So if your vacation plans are for a week or more, be sure to inquire about special rates.
2.Joining Renter Club
Joining the frequent renter club or using the same rental car company each time is a great way to get some special coupons and some very good deals. In addition, most budget rental car companies associate with at least one airline to provide frequent flyer miles or other types of rewards when you rent a budget rental car.
In addition, many airlines run bonus programs where you get extra miles or extra credit. So be sure to inquire about these bonuses when making your reservation.
3.Insurance Coverage
Another great way to save money and keep your budget, while taking rental car, low is not to buy things you do not need. In most cases, this means waiving the optional collision insurance coverage offered by the rental car company.
Many budget rental car companies really push this insurance, but in most cases you are already covered and can securely decline it. For example, most automobile insurance policies already provide collision coverage for budget rental cars, so be sure to check with your car insurance company before starting to plan your vacation.
Even if your insurance company does not cover your rental car, chances are one of your credit card companies does. Many credit cards provide coverage for rental car paid for with the card, so be sure to check with your credit card company to see if they offer this coverage.
4.Going for Used Rental car
Another method to keep rental car costs to a minimum, and one that many people are unaware of, is renting a used budget rental car. There are a number of large national companies, and a number of smaller local companies as well, that rent used rental cars at a much lower price than comparable new cars. In most cases, these rental cars are only a few years old, and they provide the same protection, and the same transportation as more costly new budget rental cars.
Vacations and even business trips are meant to get us out of the stress and busyness of every day life and allow us to enjoy some of the simple pleasures that life offers. Figure out how to get a discount car rental and you'll be well on your way to enjoying a great vacation filled with too many good things to spend your money on. Take my advice. There are discount car rentals to be had, they just have to be found.
One way to keep costs as low as possible is to choose the smallest, most economical car you and your family are comfortable with. Choosing a compact, subcompact or economy car makes sense on a number of levels. For one thing, such budget rental cars are generally less pricey to rent in the first place.
The other important consideration, however, is a gas mileage. You as the renter of the car will be responsible for keeping it gassed up, including topping off the tank before returning it. Buying a car that gets great mileage will definitely help your travel budget stretch farther.
If you need a bigger rental car or minivan, it is important to shop around for the best deal you can find. While it is important to shop around no matter what type of car you are considering, it is even more important when trying to budget rental cars for which there is a lot of demand, like convertibles, minivans or SUV's.
Shopping around at a number of travel-related web sites, as well as at the web sites of the budget rental car companies themselves, is usually the finest way to grab the best deal.
1. Weekly budget rental cars
The length of the rental can have a huge impact on the cost as well. Weekly rentals are often far less costly than a comparable daily rate spread over a week. So if your vacation plans are for a week or more, be sure to inquire about special rates.
2.Joining Renter Club
Joining the frequent renter club or using the same rental car company each time is a great way to get some special coupons and some very good deals. In addition, most budget rental car companies associate with at least one airline to provide frequent flyer miles or other types of rewards when you rent a budget rental car.
In addition, many airlines run bonus programs where you get extra miles or extra credit. So be sure to inquire about these bonuses when making your reservation.
3.Insurance Coverage
Another great way to save money and keep your budget, while taking rental car, low is not to buy things you do not need. In most cases, this means waiving the optional collision insurance coverage offered by the rental car company.
Many budget rental car companies really push this insurance, but in most cases you are already covered and can securely decline it. For example, most automobile insurance policies already provide collision coverage for budget rental cars, so be sure to check with your car insurance company before starting to plan your vacation.
Even if your insurance company does not cover your rental car, chances are one of your credit card companies does. Many credit cards provide coverage for rental car paid for with the card, so be sure to check with your credit card company to see if they offer this coverage.
4.Going for Used Rental car
Another method to keep rental car costs to a minimum, and one that many people are unaware of, is renting a used budget rental car. There are a number of large national companies, and a number of smaller local companies as well, that rent used rental cars at a much lower price than comparable new cars. In most cases, these rental cars are only a few years old, and they provide the same protection, and the same transportation as more costly new budget rental cars.
Vacations and even business trips are meant to get us out of the stress and busyness of every day life and allow us to enjoy some of the simple pleasures that life offers. Figure out how to get a discount car rental and you'll be well on your way to enjoying a great vacation filled with too many good things to spend your money on. Take my advice. There are discount car rentals to be had, they just have to be found.
Car Rental - How To Save Time And Money
Car rental market is very competitive one and rates differences for comparable quality and service are relatively small, sometimes as small as $10 to $20. These minuet price differences are going to vanish in the wind when you consider the long lines and lost time at the cheapest renter counter, drop charges for remote destinations, late return fines, and gasoline inflated rates as well as other service charges you didn't think about when you shopped for the “best deal”.
Don't get us wrong, we don't like to pay higher prices more than you do. It is recommended to shop around and check the various rates available, especially when it's so easy to do it via the Internet at comparison sites. You need to consider other things apart from the price and when you compare please make sure you compare apples to apples and not apples to pears.
Things to consider when ordering a rented a car
1. Who is using the car, are you by yourself on a business trip or you are traveling with the whole family? How much luggage are you going to have, does the car you are thinking about is big enough to have you all plus all your hand luggage and big suitcases? If not, consider to change to a mini van or a car with extra large trunk.
2. Do you need an Infant seat or a child booster? make sure it is mentioned clearly with your order, usually there is a shortage of these seats and they are provided for extra charge. Check the state laws for where you are traveling. A law in Denver for instance, requires Booster Seats for all 4 and 5 year olds who are not 55 inches tall.
3. Do you actually need the car in the town or city at the first few days? If not, consider to take a taxi, a bus, a train or the hotel shuttle into the city and when it's time for you to go out of town and travel around, then, rent the car from the city location and by that save up to 15% on Air-Port charges as well as on city parking fees.
4. Are you going to a very warm and humid destination? If yes, it's recommended to order a car with air conditioning, usually the price difference is negligible, the problem is that it's not available in all destinations like in some European countries.
5. Most major rental car companies allow for unlimited mileage in the same state, but it's a good idea to check their policy before confirming. Many smaller local independent companies charge mileage after 100-200 free miles per day.
6. The next major thing is the fuel purchase option. The idea is that you pay for a full tank of gas ahead of time so you can return the vehicle on empty. The catch: it's virtually impossible for you to use all of the gas in the car, so it's best to decline the offer and fill up the tank just before returning it. That way, you only pay for what you've used. Otherwise, the cost is usually far more than what you actually use.
7. Aside from hidden costs, most rental companies will only rent to someone who is at least 25 years old or even older. Some companies will rent cars to persons 21 years or older but often charge an additional ten to twenty dollars a day. Also, only the driver who is renting the car is covered under the insurance, so don't let a buddy drive because if he wrecks it, you're responsible.
As mentioned before price is not the only factor to consider when choosing a car rental company. If you choose a very small, no-name company, don't expect them to provide you with service across all nation or continent, what would you do if the car is needed to be replaced or serviced for some reason?
Frequent or Preferred Renter Programs and affiliations
Frequent renter programs
Like airlines and hotels, major car rental companies track their customers' rental histories and offer preferential service to loyal customers. Most of the major companies offer frequent renter programs that are similar to airline frequent-flyer programs and hotel frequent-guest programs.
Preferred renter clubs
Most major car rental companies also offer preferred renter programs or clubs. When you belong to one of these clubs, you get preferential treatment, including automatic upgrades when those cars are available. You can join these programs at any time, even if you are a first-time renter with that company.
While basic-level club memberships are often free, higher-level memberships generally come with a price tag. What most people don't realize is that it's often possible to avoid the membership fee by simply writing or calling your car rental company and asking them to waive it. They will do it because the car rental industry is very competitive, and they want your business. If you're still faced with a steep rate, try getting discounts based on your affiliations with organizations like AARP, AAA or others. These discounts are usually not great, but they are better than nothing. In addition, always check for corporate rates if applicable to your situation.
Car Rental Insurance
Insurance is a classic example of this. The four most common types are: collision damage waiver (CDW)/loss damage waiver (LDW), supplemental liability insurance, personal accident insurance, and personal effects coverage. Most rental car companies will pitch the CDW really hard, as well as the theft insurance. What you should know is that usually you don't need either of them. Before you shell out $15 per day or more for these options, check your normal auto insurance already covers rentals.
Some of the Insurance terms seem to be confusing, let's try to clear them out first.
CDW - Collision Damage Waiver
LDW - Loss Damage Waiver
PDW - Physical Damage Waiver
PAI - Personal Accident Insurance
PEC - Personal Effects Coverage
ALI - Additional Liability Insurance
The other thing to look up is your credit card's policy on rentals. Almost every rental company requires a credit card for payment. That is because it makes it easy for the company to add charges for "damages" later. As a side note, because of this, DO NOT use a debit card, ever. You will have no opportunity to dispute the charges if you get cheated. Make sure you use a real credit card. Since you have to use a credit card, see if your credit card offers automatic insurance coverage as long as you charge the rental to that card. You would be surprised how many do.
Many of the Credit Cards have most of these coverage, therefore it's not mandatory to purchase excessive coverage. It's better to check this issue with your travel agent, insurance agent and your credit card company a head of time. Some Car rental companies require that you show proof of insurance. Also be aware that your personal insurance probably doesn't apply to your rental car when traveling overseas. All this is somewhat complicated and at times confusing because there are no industry standards for terminology and policies vary by locations.
Important things to check and do before leaving the Air-Port
After a long flight and the waiting in lines for your luggage and afterwards for
your keys at the car rental counter, it is understandable you just want to take the rented car and drive away to your hotel, but wait! Here is a list of things you must check first.
Start by making a careful check around the car, look for any small dents or scratches, in case you find some, don't be lazy, go back to the office and ask a representative of the rental company to write down all of these dents, ask for a copy of that report. Other wise you might be responsible for damages you didn't perform.
Open the trunk, make sure you have a spare tire, a jack and set of tools, there is noting more irritating than to find out in the middle of nowhere that you don't have a jack when you need to replace a flat tire.
Many car companies will provide you with an extra key if you ask for one. This can come in handy for some of us who are absent minded.
It is recommended to spend some time to get acquainted with the cars' features and switches, make sure you know where the lights switches are, how to operate the windshield wipers, the air conditioner and even set your favorite radio stations as well as set your side mirrors. It might be quiet frustrating to fight with the new switches while driving, when all of a sudden it starts raining.
Make sure you have a map and it's better to spend few more minutes and plan your driving route.
Last but certainly not least, If you have a lot of luggage, don't park the car in the parking lot and go for lunch, in many countries, this is an easy target for
the thieves, It's better to buy some sandwiches and beverages in the air-port, or stop somewhere along the way for refreshing but never leave the car unattended.
In case you are involved in a Car Accident
These are the most important pieces of information to collect from the involved parties: full name, mailing address, telephone number, insurance details, and drivers' license number. Also try to get the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident. Make a note of the vehicle's make, color, brand and license plate number.
Try to pinpoint the exact time and location of the accident. If the police get involved, ensure that you receive a copy of their report. Don't forget to inform your insurance agent immediately and notify the car rental company. They will let you know about their accident procedure.
If you purchased insurance through the car rental company, they will have to make the claim. If there is damage to the rental car, there will be much paper work to complete. Make sure any involved parties are ok. Any injuries should be taken care of ASAP. Call the police and/or ambulance (if necessary), and then call the car rental agency. Be as cooperative as possible. The car rental agency will have its own policies regarding accidents.
Exchange information with the affected parties. Try to record everything on the scene. Your notes should include details of the accident, identification of the autos and people involved, and the names and badge numbers of all emergency personnel. Take pictures if possible. If you are on vacation, you will probably have a camera handy already. File an accident report with the police, and report the claim to your own credit card company or insurance company.
When returning the Car
Make all necessary arrangements to return the car on time, that includes looking the location in the map especially if you return the car in a foreign city. Late return charges are high and arbitrary, secondly, if you are late, you probably won't have the time to fill the car with gasoline yourself and the rental company will charge you exorbitant inflated gasoline rates.
In case you return the car in a city location on Sunday, it might be that the station will be deserted, it will let you in via automated gate, make sure to take the card and leave it over the dashboard, this is your recorded time of arrival. In addition, lock the car, take the keys plus your rental contract and insert them into the designated box.
Keep these basics in mind, and watch out for local taxes. With the internet, it can be easy to search out the most expensive and least expensive cities and to plan your rental accordingly. Use all the tools at your disposal, and your experience is much more likely to run smoothly without any unpleasant surprises.
Don't get us wrong, we don't like to pay higher prices more than you do. It is recommended to shop around and check the various rates available, especially when it's so easy to do it via the Internet at comparison sites. You need to consider other things apart from the price and when you compare please make sure you compare apples to apples and not apples to pears.
Things to consider when ordering a rented a car
1. Who is using the car, are you by yourself on a business trip or you are traveling with the whole family? How much luggage are you going to have, does the car you are thinking about is big enough to have you all plus all your hand luggage and big suitcases? If not, consider to change to a mini van or a car with extra large trunk.
2. Do you need an Infant seat or a child booster? make sure it is mentioned clearly with your order, usually there is a shortage of these seats and they are provided for extra charge. Check the state laws for where you are traveling. A law in Denver for instance, requires Booster Seats for all 4 and 5 year olds who are not 55 inches tall.
3. Do you actually need the car in the town or city at the first few days? If not, consider to take a taxi, a bus, a train or the hotel shuttle into the city and when it's time for you to go out of town and travel around, then, rent the car from the city location and by that save up to 15% on Air-Port charges as well as on city parking fees.
4. Are you going to a very warm and humid destination? If yes, it's recommended to order a car with air conditioning, usually the price difference is negligible, the problem is that it's not available in all destinations like in some European countries.
5. Most major rental car companies allow for unlimited mileage in the same state, but it's a good idea to check their policy before confirming. Many smaller local independent companies charge mileage after 100-200 free miles per day.
6. The next major thing is the fuel purchase option. The idea is that you pay for a full tank of gas ahead of time so you can return the vehicle on empty. The catch: it's virtually impossible for you to use all of the gas in the car, so it's best to decline the offer and fill up the tank just before returning it. That way, you only pay for what you've used. Otherwise, the cost is usually far more than what you actually use.
7. Aside from hidden costs, most rental companies will only rent to someone who is at least 25 years old or even older. Some companies will rent cars to persons 21 years or older but often charge an additional ten to twenty dollars a day. Also, only the driver who is renting the car is covered under the insurance, so don't let a buddy drive because if he wrecks it, you're responsible.
As mentioned before price is not the only factor to consider when choosing a car rental company. If you choose a very small, no-name company, don't expect them to provide you with service across all nation or continent, what would you do if the car is needed to be replaced or serviced for some reason?
Frequent or Preferred Renter Programs and affiliations
Frequent renter programs
Like airlines and hotels, major car rental companies track their customers' rental histories and offer preferential service to loyal customers. Most of the major companies offer frequent renter programs that are similar to airline frequent-flyer programs and hotel frequent-guest programs.
Preferred renter clubs
Most major car rental companies also offer preferred renter programs or clubs. When you belong to one of these clubs, you get preferential treatment, including automatic upgrades when those cars are available. You can join these programs at any time, even if you are a first-time renter with that company.
While basic-level club memberships are often free, higher-level memberships generally come with a price tag. What most people don't realize is that it's often possible to avoid the membership fee by simply writing or calling your car rental company and asking them to waive it. They will do it because the car rental industry is very competitive, and they want your business. If you're still faced with a steep rate, try getting discounts based on your affiliations with organizations like AARP, AAA or others. These discounts are usually not great, but they are better than nothing. In addition, always check for corporate rates if applicable to your situation.
Car Rental Insurance
Insurance is a classic example of this. The four most common types are: collision damage waiver (CDW)/loss damage waiver (LDW), supplemental liability insurance, personal accident insurance, and personal effects coverage. Most rental car companies will pitch the CDW really hard, as well as the theft insurance. What you should know is that usually you don't need either of them. Before you shell out $15 per day or more for these options, check your normal auto insurance already covers rentals.
Some of the Insurance terms seem to be confusing, let's try to clear them out first.
CDW - Collision Damage Waiver
LDW - Loss Damage Waiver
PDW - Physical Damage Waiver
PAI - Personal Accident Insurance
PEC - Personal Effects Coverage
ALI - Additional Liability Insurance
The other thing to look up is your credit card's policy on rentals. Almost every rental company requires a credit card for payment. That is because it makes it easy for the company to add charges for "damages" later. As a side note, because of this, DO NOT use a debit card, ever. You will have no opportunity to dispute the charges if you get cheated. Make sure you use a real credit card. Since you have to use a credit card, see if your credit card offers automatic insurance coverage as long as you charge the rental to that card. You would be surprised how many do.
Many of the Credit Cards have most of these coverage, therefore it's not mandatory to purchase excessive coverage. It's better to check this issue with your travel agent, insurance agent and your credit card company a head of time. Some Car rental companies require that you show proof of insurance. Also be aware that your personal insurance probably doesn't apply to your rental car when traveling overseas. All this is somewhat complicated and at times confusing because there are no industry standards for terminology and policies vary by locations.
Important things to check and do before leaving the Air-Port
After a long flight and the waiting in lines for your luggage and afterwards for
your keys at the car rental counter, it is understandable you just want to take the rented car and drive away to your hotel, but wait! Here is a list of things you must check first.
Start by making a careful check around the car, look for any small dents or scratches, in case you find some, don't be lazy, go back to the office and ask a representative of the rental company to write down all of these dents, ask for a copy of that report. Other wise you might be responsible for damages you didn't perform.
Open the trunk, make sure you have a spare tire, a jack and set of tools, there is noting more irritating than to find out in the middle of nowhere that you don't have a jack when you need to replace a flat tire.
Many car companies will provide you with an extra key if you ask for one. This can come in handy for some of us who are absent minded.
It is recommended to spend some time to get acquainted with the cars' features and switches, make sure you know where the lights switches are, how to operate the windshield wipers, the air conditioner and even set your favorite radio stations as well as set your side mirrors. It might be quiet frustrating to fight with the new switches while driving, when all of a sudden it starts raining.
Make sure you have a map and it's better to spend few more minutes and plan your driving route.
Last but certainly not least, If you have a lot of luggage, don't park the car in the parking lot and go for lunch, in many countries, this is an easy target for
the thieves, It's better to buy some sandwiches and beverages in the air-port, or stop somewhere along the way for refreshing but never leave the car unattended.
In case you are involved in a Car Accident
These are the most important pieces of information to collect from the involved parties: full name, mailing address, telephone number, insurance details, and drivers' license number. Also try to get the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident. Make a note of the vehicle's make, color, brand and license plate number.
Try to pinpoint the exact time and location of the accident. If the police get involved, ensure that you receive a copy of their report. Don't forget to inform your insurance agent immediately and notify the car rental company. They will let you know about their accident procedure.
If you purchased insurance through the car rental company, they will have to make the claim. If there is damage to the rental car, there will be much paper work to complete. Make sure any involved parties are ok. Any injuries should be taken care of ASAP. Call the police and/or ambulance (if necessary), and then call the car rental agency. Be as cooperative as possible. The car rental agency will have its own policies regarding accidents.
Exchange information with the affected parties. Try to record everything on the scene. Your notes should include details of the accident, identification of the autos and people involved, and the names and badge numbers of all emergency personnel. Take pictures if possible. If you are on vacation, you will probably have a camera handy already. File an accident report with the police, and report the claim to your own credit card company or insurance company.
When returning the Car
Make all necessary arrangements to return the car on time, that includes looking the location in the map especially if you return the car in a foreign city. Late return charges are high and arbitrary, secondly, if you are late, you probably won't have the time to fill the car with gasoline yourself and the rental company will charge you exorbitant inflated gasoline rates.
In case you return the car in a city location on Sunday, it might be that the station will be deserted, it will let you in via automated gate, make sure to take the card and leave it over the dashboard, this is your recorded time of arrival. In addition, lock the car, take the keys plus your rental contract and insert them into the designated box.
Keep these basics in mind, and watch out for local taxes. With the internet, it can be easy to search out the most expensive and least expensive cities and to plan your rental accordingly. Use all the tools at your disposal, and your experience is much more likely to run smoothly without any unpleasant surprises.
Tips on Bareboat Sailing
Bareboat sailing means that the yacht you charter does not have the amenities you would have with a crewed or luxury sailing charter. You don't necessarily need to have sailing experience as you can have a captain and crew along on these charters as well. If you book a bareboat charter, you have to supply all your own food as well as that of the captain and crew. You will also have to pay these people yourself because that cost is not included in the quote for bareboat sailing yachts.
You can book a bareboat sailing charter in just about any part of the world where there are sailing charters available. You can sail the yacht yourself if you have the necessary qualifications. However, in many parts of the world where there are navigation hazards, such as in the islands of Greece, you may need to have an experienced captain along with you for bareboat sailing. The charter company will supply you with all the navigational charts you need and will give you the instruction you need so that you can have a safe sailing charter.
Have you ever considered bareboat sailing along the coast of Turkey? The yachts available for these sailing charters are well maintained and the budget price will provide you with a cheap vacation. The major cost involved in this type of bareboat sailing charter will be the travel costs associated with getting to Turkey. The cost of living is quite low in this part of the world, so the cost of the bareboat yacht is not expensive at all. In addition, the cost of groceries you need to take with you are also very inexpensive.
Bareboat sailing in Turkey will enable you to charter a yacht that is easy to handle as well as able to accommodate a small family or several couples. The protected bays and inlets along the coast are easy to navigate and will provide you with an exceptional view of Turkish culture. With a bareboat sailing charter in Turkey, you will enjoy sunfilled days, exotic scenery and turquoise waters. There are many itineraries for you to choose from if this type of bareboat charter appeals to you.
Choosing Turkey as your location for bareboat sailing will offer you a stress free holiday. There are no tides, currents or high waves to worry about and there is usually a steady afternoon wind in the summer, which makes for ideal sailing conditions. The temperature of the water is perfect for swimming in the summer, so your bareboat yacht could become your diving platform. When you consider bareboat sailing, there are so many places in the world you can go that you will have a difficult decision to make.
You can book a bareboat sailing charter in just about any part of the world where there are sailing charters available. You can sail the yacht yourself if you have the necessary qualifications. However, in many parts of the world where there are navigation hazards, such as in the islands of Greece, you may need to have an experienced captain along with you for bareboat sailing. The charter company will supply you with all the navigational charts you need and will give you the instruction you need so that you can have a safe sailing charter.
Have you ever considered bareboat sailing along the coast of Turkey? The yachts available for these sailing charters are well maintained and the budget price will provide you with a cheap vacation. The major cost involved in this type of bareboat sailing charter will be the travel costs associated with getting to Turkey. The cost of living is quite low in this part of the world, so the cost of the bareboat yacht is not expensive at all. In addition, the cost of groceries you need to take with you are also very inexpensive.
Bareboat sailing in Turkey will enable you to charter a yacht that is easy to handle as well as able to accommodate a small family or several couples. The protected bays and inlets along the coast are easy to navigate and will provide you with an exceptional view of Turkish culture. With a bareboat sailing charter in Turkey, you will enjoy sunfilled days, exotic scenery and turquoise waters. There are many itineraries for you to choose from if this type of bareboat charter appeals to you.
Choosing Turkey as your location for bareboat sailing will offer you a stress free holiday. There are no tides, currents or high waves to worry about and there is usually a steady afternoon wind in the summer, which makes for ideal sailing conditions. The temperature of the water is perfect for swimming in the summer, so your bareboat yacht could become your diving platform. When you consider bareboat sailing, there are so many places in the world you can go that you will have a difficult decision to make.
How To Get Started With Bareboat Charters
Bareboat yacht charters without an experienced captain mean that you do need to have sailing experience. In order to find out if you are qualified to handle the bareboat yacht on your own, the charter company requires that you submit a resume of your sailing experience. With many of the bareboat sailing companies you don't need to have a sailing certificate because they place more value on the experience. With others, you do need to have a certificate. You will find many bareboat yacht charters online in all parts of the world. Browse the sites to see which ones apply to you.
In order to book bareboat charters without hiring a captain, the yacht charter company will need to see proof that you can handle the yacht on your own. You will either have to show the bareboat yacht charter company proof of your experience in handling smaller or similar sized yachts or present a certificate from a boating course. For most yacht charters in the Caribbean, companies do not require certification, but it is a requirement in some parts of the world, such as Greece. If you do need to hire a captain, this is not included in the price of the charter and you have to pay the captain yourself.
There are bareboat charters that will allow you to book a one-way charter. This allows you to sail to a destination and leave the yacht there. This will cost you more because unless someone books a one-way bareboat yacht charter back from that destination the company has to find a way of getting the yacht back to home base. It is quite likely that it will be cheaper on you to charter the yacht for a few extra days and return it yourself.
You can make your booking for a bareboat yacht charter online. However, you will need to make at least a 25% deposit on the total cost of the charter and there are bareboat charters that require 50% of the total as a deposit. You will also receive a contract to sign and a sailing resume to complete from the yacht charter company. Most of the charter companies do accept credit cards, but there are some smaller companies that only accept check, cash or money order payments.
Bareboat yacht charters usually have several itineraries for you to choose from. However, you can make changes to this itinerary by making arrangements with the yacht charter company you choose. The company will provide you with all the navigation charts you need as well as the equipment you need to keep in contact with shore. There are GPS plotters on the bareboat yachts, VHF radios and other safety equipment to ensure you have the prefect sailing vacation. Bareboat yacht charters allow you to see a specific part of the world at your own pace.
In order to book bareboat charters without hiring a captain, the yacht charter company will need to see proof that you can handle the yacht on your own. You will either have to show the bareboat yacht charter company proof of your experience in handling smaller or similar sized yachts or present a certificate from a boating course. For most yacht charters in the Caribbean, companies do not require certification, but it is a requirement in some parts of the world, such as Greece. If you do need to hire a captain, this is not included in the price of the charter and you have to pay the captain yourself.
There are bareboat charters that will allow you to book a one-way charter. This allows you to sail to a destination and leave the yacht there. This will cost you more because unless someone books a one-way bareboat yacht charter back from that destination the company has to find a way of getting the yacht back to home base. It is quite likely that it will be cheaper on you to charter the yacht for a few extra days and return it yourself.
You can make your booking for a bareboat yacht charter online. However, you will need to make at least a 25% deposit on the total cost of the charter and there are bareboat charters that require 50% of the total as a deposit. You will also receive a contract to sign and a sailing resume to complete from the yacht charter company. Most of the charter companies do accept credit cards, but there are some smaller companies that only accept check, cash or money order payments.
Bareboat yacht charters usually have several itineraries for you to choose from. However, you can make changes to this itinerary by making arrangements with the yacht charter company you choose. The company will provide you with all the navigation charts you need as well as the equipment you need to keep in contact with shore. There are GPS plotters on the bareboat yachts, VHF radios and other safety equipment to ensure you have the prefect sailing vacation. Bareboat yacht charters allow you to see a specific part of the world at your own pace.
How To Save Money With Bareboat Yacht Charters
Bareboat charters are yachts that you can rent and operate by yourself. If you are not experienced in handling a yacht, you can hire a captain to take over this job for you. The idea behind a bareboat charter is that you do not get any extras - just the bare boat. You have to supply your own food and entertainment and if you want toys for watersports you either have to bring your own or rent them. Most of the bareboat yachts are between 30 and 50 feet in length and you can choose bareboat charters using power, sailing or catamaran boats.
When you submit your record of sailing experience for bareboat sailing, charter companies will let you know whether or not they feel you can handle the yacht on your own. This is because bareboat yacht charters have to protect their investments as well as be assured of your safety. If they do not feel your qualifications are up to par for sailing the specific waters they service, you may be required to have one of their experienced captains on board. You can take advantage of this opportunity to learn what you need to know for the next time you want to book a bareboat sailing charter.
The reason these yachts are called bareboats is that they do not contain any of the luxuries you would find on other types of yacht charters. Bareboat sailing charters mean that you charter the yacht itself. There are no supplies included. You will have to bring your own food and entertainment items, but there are no microwaves or televisions on these yachts. Bareboat yacht charters are mainly designed for those who want to enjoy the sailing experience and the thrill of being on the open water.
Along with sailing, you can dock in many small locations where larger ships cannot enter. This gives you a chance to see many locations where you can enjoy the culture of the area and get to meet the local people. Bareboat yacht charters are very popular ways to see the islands of the Caribbean and the Bahamas as well as Hawaii, Greece, the French Riviera and many other parts of the world. Alaska bareboat sailing charters will take you to the great glaciers of the world as well as give you the opportunity to see many species of wildlife in their natural habitats.
When you book bareboat charters you usually get just the yacht itself. Although some of the charter companies do include a dinghy in the cost, most of the Florida companies require that you rent the dinghy. Since this is a necessity, you have to allow for the extra cost. You won't have any of the amenities that you are used to at home, such as a television or microwave. You will also have to supply your own linens, dishes, food and water. If you want to book one of the bareboat charters that will take you to another country, you do need to make sure you have your passport with you or you won't be allowed to dock in the ports.
When you submit your record of sailing experience for bareboat sailing, charter companies will let you know whether or not they feel you can handle the yacht on your own. This is because bareboat yacht charters have to protect their investments as well as be assured of your safety. If they do not feel your qualifications are up to par for sailing the specific waters they service, you may be required to have one of their experienced captains on board. You can take advantage of this opportunity to learn what you need to know for the next time you want to book a bareboat sailing charter.
The reason these yachts are called bareboats is that they do not contain any of the luxuries you would find on other types of yacht charters. Bareboat sailing charters mean that you charter the yacht itself. There are no supplies included. You will have to bring your own food and entertainment items, but there are no microwaves or televisions on these yachts. Bareboat yacht charters are mainly designed for those who want to enjoy the sailing experience and the thrill of being on the open water.
Along with sailing, you can dock in many small locations where larger ships cannot enter. This gives you a chance to see many locations where you can enjoy the culture of the area and get to meet the local people. Bareboat yacht charters are very popular ways to see the islands of the Caribbean and the Bahamas as well as Hawaii, Greece, the French Riviera and many other parts of the world. Alaska bareboat sailing charters will take you to the great glaciers of the world as well as give you the opportunity to see many species of wildlife in their natural habitats.
When you book bareboat charters you usually get just the yacht itself. Although some of the charter companies do include a dinghy in the cost, most of the Florida companies require that you rent the dinghy. Since this is a necessity, you have to allow for the extra cost. You won't have any of the amenities that you are used to at home, such as a television or microwave. You will also have to supply your own linens, dishes, food and water. If you want to book one of the bareboat charters that will take you to another country, you do need to make sure you have your passport with you or you won't be allowed to dock in the ports.
How To Sail in the United States
Sailing can be readily divided into two parts. The Keelboat Sailing Certification Program is made up of seven stages while Small Boat Sailing Program contains a further two stages.
The Basic Small Boat Sailing Standard requires no previous experience or qualifications. It is the first course in the Small Boat Sailing Program. Students must demonstrate a theoretical knowledge of the names and functions of various parts of a boat together with common sailing terms, the sail and its ancillary components, the International Rules for Collision Prevention both at sea and on inland waters and hey should demonstrate a basic knowledge of safety procedures. On the practical side they must show they can tread water for 5 minutes and swim 100 metres, rig, launch and retrieve the boat, set and trim the sails, sail both upwind and downwind, tack and gybe, correctly apply the rules of the road, recover a man overboard, recover from a capsize, accept and pass a towline, tie four specified Knots within a given time. Upon completion he or she will be able to sail a centerboard or multihull sailboat in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters.
The first course in the Keelboat Sailing Certification Program is known as Basic Keelboat. No experience or qualifications are necessary. To complete the course students will be required to demonstrate that they can put a name to and describe the workings of various parts of a boat including the hull, keel, deck bow and stern. The components of both the running and standing rigging. The different sails including the names of part of a sail - foot, leech, luff, head, tack and clew. The various spars, mast and boom. They will be familiar with sailing terminology used to describe various manoeuvres such as gybing and coming about. Students will understand the points of sail be it close hauled, reaching or running. They will understand the basics of collision avoidance including rules of the road. They will demonstrate they are familiar with regulations covering registration and identification, proper waste disposal, who to notify in the event of an accident and what safety equipment is requires by law to be carried on a vessel and how it is used. They will be able to demonstrate a knowledge of buoyage Participants will know how to anchor a boat and describe the choice of anchors and their attributes and failings. On the practical side they must demonstrate sail handling skills, they will display competence at the helm including mooring, sailing both upwind and downwind together with a successful tack and gybe. They will complete a successful man overboard recovery. They will show they know how to tie 6 different knots and understand their various uses. Upon completion of the course students should be able to sail a boat of some 20 feet in length in moderate winds in familiar waters.
The second stage is called Basic Coastal Cruising and students must hold the Basic Keelboat Sailing Certificate prior to undertaking this course. The course looks at safety on board including equipment and procedures. An understanding of fire prevention and fighting is required. Students will be required to demonstrate a knowledge of first aid and the treatment of hypothermia. Basic meteorology is considered and students must demonstrate an understanding of shipping forecasts. An understanding of the relationship between the skipper and crew and the respective duties of each is required. Students must be able to undertake basic chartwork including depths; types of bottom, hazards, bouys, beacons and lights. The practical side of this course looks at boat handling under power and sail, man overboard recovery, the various points of sail, reefing and heaving to, docking and mooring and some knot work. When completed the sailor should be able to cruise safely in regional waters on a sailboat of up to 30 feet in length, in moderate winds and sea conditions.
Trailerable Multihull Standard, this course is the second in the Small Boat Sailing Program. It may be taught as part of or following the Basic Coastal Cruising course. Completion of the Basic Keelboat is a prerequisite prior to taking this course. On the theory side students must be able to identify and name the various parts of a multihull that are not found on a monohull including the different wing decks, hulls, cross arms, three point rig, bridle line, safety nets, seagull and dolphin strikers. They will be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of multihulls including, performance, comfort safety and the danger of capsize. On the practical side the sailor will demonstrate: how to cast of and leave the quay with at least two different wind directions relative to the bow and then return and berth alongside, pick up a mooring buoy, manoeuvre in a restricted space, reverse, recover a man overboard, the different points of sail, tacking and gybing, sail a compass course within 10 degrees. They will anchor in the following ways, bow anchor and bridle and single bow with a stern line to the shore. When completed sailors are able to cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary multihull sailboat of up to 30 feet in length, in moderate wind and sea conditions.
Bareboat Chartering is the next stage. Participants are expected to hold the Basic Coastal Cruising Certificate before doing this course. The theory side covers the preparation of both crew and boat for a one week cruise including the preparation of a passage plan. Meteorology is considered including a look at fog and onshore and offshore winds. Seamanship is looked at and students should know what action is required if the engine fails, they should know how to anchor the boat bow or stern to. On the practical side the student will be able to undertake daily and weekly maintenance tasks, manoeuvre the boat under power in a restricted space, pick up a mooring buoy, use the VHF radio. The following navigational skills are required, plotting a course and establishing the compass heading and calculating an estimated time of arrival. Establishing a fix using visual bearing. Use a chart to pilot the boat into an unfamiliar harbour. Students must obtain and interpret a shipping forecast. When completed the individual can act as skipper of a boat up to 50 feet in length sailing by day in coastal waters.
The next stage is known as Coastal Navigation. This is a theory only course and no prior experience or knowledge is required. Students will be required to demonstrate knowledge of various State and Federal regulations pertaining to sailing. They must understand how the use navigational instruments including both steering and hand bearing compasses, binoculars, depth sounder, log, parallel rule and dividers. Participants must display an understanding of tide tables and their use when dealing with secondary ports. They should be able to convert bearings and compass courses between, compass, magnetic and true, plot a dead reckoning position, understand the effect of current and leeway when estimating a position and plot a position by two or more bearings, a running fix and a bearing and distance. Finally they will need to demonstrate a knowledge of buoyage and lights.
The Cruising Catamaran course deals exclusively with multihull sailing and concentrates on the differences a sailor finds as opposed to monohull sailing. Participants should have completed the Bareboat Chartering stage. On the theory side students must be able to identify and name the various parts of a multihull that are not found on a monohull including the different wing decks, hulls, cross arms, three point rig, bridle line, safety nets, seagull and dolphin strikers. They will be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of multihulls including, performance, comfort safety and the danger of capsize. On the practical side the sailor will demonstrate: how to cast of and leave the quay with at least two different wind directions relative to the bow and then return and berth alongside, pick up a mooring buoy, manoeuvre in a restricted space, reverse, recover a man overboard, the different points of sail, tacking and gybing, sail a compass course within 10 degrees. They will anchor in the following ways, two anchors of the bow or stern, bow anchor and bridle, single bow with a stern line to the shore and bow to fixed mooring. Upon completion the person can skipper a multihull sailboat of up to 50 foot in length by day in coastal waters.
Advanced Coastal Cruising follows and participants should have completed both the Bareboat Chartering and Coastal Navigation stages. Students will be required to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the theory of sailing, an understanding of meteorology including the various cloud formations and the weather that can be expected with each. They will understand the needs of heavy weather sailing, the necessary sail changes and the use of the correct safety equipment and procedures. They will be able to describe: how set a second anchor to reduce swinging, how to recover a fouled anchor, how to use a trip line and an anchor buoy and when and how to set an anchor watch. They will describe how to tow or be towed. They will have a knowledge of distress signals. Students will correctly describe the actions required in the following emergency situations: a dismasting, running aground on a lee shore and engine failure. Students will be able to carry out maintenance and repairs on the engine. On the water students must: sail on all points of the wind and tack and gybe in a wind of at least 15 knots, sail a compass course to within 10 degrees, carry out a man overboard recovery in darkness. They will demonstrate their ability to set, sail with including a gybe, douse and pack a spinnaker. And finally they will stand a navigation watch of 20 miles both at day and night. When completed a person can skipper a sailing vessel of up to 50 feet in length both during day and night in coastal waters regardless of weather and sea conditions.
The next stage is called Celestial Navigation. The course is theory based and requires no experience or prior qualifications. The student must be able to demonstrate the Celestial Navigation required to navigate a sailboat on an offshore passage. The successful student will have demonstrated their ability to: Convert longitude into time and standard time and zone time to GMT. They will be able to calculate: the zone time given longitude, the chronometer error given a previous error and the daily rate, the time of meridian passage of the sun and calculate the boat's latitude from the observed meridian altitude of the sun, the times of sunrise, sunset and twilight, plot celestial lines of position on a Mercator projection or on a universal plotting sheet and the true bearing of a low altitude celestial body in order to determine the error and deviation of the compass. The student will be able to apply the corrections for index error, dip of the horizon, and total correction to convert sextant altitudes of the sun, stars, planets, and moon to true altitudes, determine the latitude at twilight by means of the Pole Star and the approximate azimuths and altitudes of the navigational stars and planets at twilight. In addition they will be capable of solving the navigational triangle using a navigation table and advance the LOP obtained from a sun sight to another LOP obtained from the sun at a later time and find the boat's position using a running fix (sun-run-sun).
This celestial theory can be put into practice during the Offshore Passage Making course. Entrants should be certified to the Advanced Coastal Cruising level. The student will plan a passage across either the Pacific or North Atlantic using Great Circle Plotting Charts and Climatic Charts. They must show an understanding of the essential factors to be considered when selecting a vessel for an offshore ocean passage of at least 1000 miles including hull construction and shape, keel, rig, and rudder type, fuel and water capacity. They must provide a list of tools and spares required for such a voyage. They must victual the boat for four people on passage for seven days. They must list the items to be carried in the first aid kit and describe basic treatments for injuries and illnesses that may occur together with identifying a source of mare advanced medical information while on passage. They will prepare a watch keeping system and define the duties of crew members both on and off watch. They will design a maintenance plan to cover: Bilges, electronic equipment, fuel system, hatches, galley equipment, rigging, safety equipment sea cocks, steering and the water system. They will describe the procedures to be undertaken in the following emergency situations: abandon ship, dis-masting, fire on-board, lightning strike, man overboard. A comprehensive knowledge of the International Regulation for Preventing Collision at Sea must be demonstrated. When the course is completed is the sailor cans skipper a sailing vessel on offshore passages in any weather.
The Basic Small Boat Sailing Standard requires no previous experience or qualifications. It is the first course in the Small Boat Sailing Program. Students must demonstrate a theoretical knowledge of the names and functions of various parts of a boat together with common sailing terms, the sail and its ancillary components, the International Rules for Collision Prevention both at sea and on inland waters and hey should demonstrate a basic knowledge of safety procedures. On the practical side they must show they can tread water for 5 minutes and swim 100 metres, rig, launch and retrieve the boat, set and trim the sails, sail both upwind and downwind, tack and gybe, correctly apply the rules of the road, recover a man overboard, recover from a capsize, accept and pass a towline, tie four specified Knots within a given time. Upon completion he or she will be able to sail a centerboard or multihull sailboat in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters.
The first course in the Keelboat Sailing Certification Program is known as Basic Keelboat. No experience or qualifications are necessary. To complete the course students will be required to demonstrate that they can put a name to and describe the workings of various parts of a boat including the hull, keel, deck bow and stern. The components of both the running and standing rigging. The different sails including the names of part of a sail - foot, leech, luff, head, tack and clew. The various spars, mast and boom. They will be familiar with sailing terminology used to describe various manoeuvres such as gybing and coming about. Students will understand the points of sail be it close hauled, reaching or running. They will understand the basics of collision avoidance including rules of the road. They will demonstrate they are familiar with regulations covering registration and identification, proper waste disposal, who to notify in the event of an accident and what safety equipment is requires by law to be carried on a vessel and how it is used. They will be able to demonstrate a knowledge of buoyage Participants will know how to anchor a boat and describe the choice of anchors and their attributes and failings. On the practical side they must demonstrate sail handling skills, they will display competence at the helm including mooring, sailing both upwind and downwind together with a successful tack and gybe. They will complete a successful man overboard recovery. They will show they know how to tie 6 different knots and understand their various uses. Upon completion of the course students should be able to sail a boat of some 20 feet in length in moderate winds in familiar waters.
The second stage is called Basic Coastal Cruising and students must hold the Basic Keelboat Sailing Certificate prior to undertaking this course. The course looks at safety on board including equipment and procedures. An understanding of fire prevention and fighting is required. Students will be required to demonstrate a knowledge of first aid and the treatment of hypothermia. Basic meteorology is considered and students must demonstrate an understanding of shipping forecasts. An understanding of the relationship between the skipper and crew and the respective duties of each is required. Students must be able to undertake basic chartwork including depths; types of bottom, hazards, bouys, beacons and lights. The practical side of this course looks at boat handling under power and sail, man overboard recovery, the various points of sail, reefing and heaving to, docking and mooring and some knot work. When completed the sailor should be able to cruise safely in regional waters on a sailboat of up to 30 feet in length, in moderate winds and sea conditions.
Trailerable Multihull Standard, this course is the second in the Small Boat Sailing Program. It may be taught as part of or following the Basic Coastal Cruising course. Completion of the Basic Keelboat is a prerequisite prior to taking this course. On the theory side students must be able to identify and name the various parts of a multihull that are not found on a monohull including the different wing decks, hulls, cross arms, three point rig, bridle line, safety nets, seagull and dolphin strikers. They will be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of multihulls including, performance, comfort safety and the danger of capsize. On the practical side the sailor will demonstrate: how to cast of and leave the quay with at least two different wind directions relative to the bow and then return and berth alongside, pick up a mooring buoy, manoeuvre in a restricted space, reverse, recover a man overboard, the different points of sail, tacking and gybing, sail a compass course within 10 degrees. They will anchor in the following ways, bow anchor and bridle and single bow with a stern line to the shore. When completed sailors are able to cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary multihull sailboat of up to 30 feet in length, in moderate wind and sea conditions.
Bareboat Chartering is the next stage. Participants are expected to hold the Basic Coastal Cruising Certificate before doing this course. The theory side covers the preparation of both crew and boat for a one week cruise including the preparation of a passage plan. Meteorology is considered including a look at fog and onshore and offshore winds. Seamanship is looked at and students should know what action is required if the engine fails, they should know how to anchor the boat bow or stern to. On the practical side the student will be able to undertake daily and weekly maintenance tasks, manoeuvre the boat under power in a restricted space, pick up a mooring buoy, use the VHF radio. The following navigational skills are required, plotting a course and establishing the compass heading and calculating an estimated time of arrival. Establishing a fix using visual bearing. Use a chart to pilot the boat into an unfamiliar harbour. Students must obtain and interpret a shipping forecast. When completed the individual can act as skipper of a boat up to 50 feet in length sailing by day in coastal waters.
The next stage is known as Coastal Navigation. This is a theory only course and no prior experience or knowledge is required. Students will be required to demonstrate knowledge of various State and Federal regulations pertaining to sailing. They must understand how the use navigational instruments including both steering and hand bearing compasses, binoculars, depth sounder, log, parallel rule and dividers. Participants must display an understanding of tide tables and their use when dealing with secondary ports. They should be able to convert bearings and compass courses between, compass, magnetic and true, plot a dead reckoning position, understand the effect of current and leeway when estimating a position and plot a position by two or more bearings, a running fix and a bearing and distance. Finally they will need to demonstrate a knowledge of buoyage and lights.
The Cruising Catamaran course deals exclusively with multihull sailing and concentrates on the differences a sailor finds as opposed to monohull sailing. Participants should have completed the Bareboat Chartering stage. On the theory side students must be able to identify and name the various parts of a multihull that are not found on a monohull including the different wing decks, hulls, cross arms, three point rig, bridle line, safety nets, seagull and dolphin strikers. They will be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of multihulls including, performance, comfort safety and the danger of capsize. On the practical side the sailor will demonstrate: how to cast of and leave the quay with at least two different wind directions relative to the bow and then return and berth alongside, pick up a mooring buoy, manoeuvre in a restricted space, reverse, recover a man overboard, the different points of sail, tacking and gybing, sail a compass course within 10 degrees. They will anchor in the following ways, two anchors of the bow or stern, bow anchor and bridle, single bow with a stern line to the shore and bow to fixed mooring. Upon completion the person can skipper a multihull sailboat of up to 50 foot in length by day in coastal waters.
Advanced Coastal Cruising follows and participants should have completed both the Bareboat Chartering and Coastal Navigation stages. Students will be required to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the theory of sailing, an understanding of meteorology including the various cloud formations and the weather that can be expected with each. They will understand the needs of heavy weather sailing, the necessary sail changes and the use of the correct safety equipment and procedures. They will be able to describe: how set a second anchor to reduce swinging, how to recover a fouled anchor, how to use a trip line and an anchor buoy and when and how to set an anchor watch. They will describe how to tow or be towed. They will have a knowledge of distress signals. Students will correctly describe the actions required in the following emergency situations: a dismasting, running aground on a lee shore and engine failure. Students will be able to carry out maintenance and repairs on the engine. On the water students must: sail on all points of the wind and tack and gybe in a wind of at least 15 knots, sail a compass course to within 10 degrees, carry out a man overboard recovery in darkness. They will demonstrate their ability to set, sail with including a gybe, douse and pack a spinnaker. And finally they will stand a navigation watch of 20 miles both at day and night. When completed a person can skipper a sailing vessel of up to 50 feet in length both during day and night in coastal waters regardless of weather and sea conditions.
The next stage is called Celestial Navigation. The course is theory based and requires no experience or prior qualifications. The student must be able to demonstrate the Celestial Navigation required to navigate a sailboat on an offshore passage. The successful student will have demonstrated their ability to: Convert longitude into time and standard time and zone time to GMT. They will be able to calculate: the zone time given longitude, the chronometer error given a previous error and the daily rate, the time of meridian passage of the sun and calculate the boat's latitude from the observed meridian altitude of the sun, the times of sunrise, sunset and twilight, plot celestial lines of position on a Mercator projection or on a universal plotting sheet and the true bearing of a low altitude celestial body in order to determine the error and deviation of the compass. The student will be able to apply the corrections for index error, dip of the horizon, and total correction to convert sextant altitudes of the sun, stars, planets, and moon to true altitudes, determine the latitude at twilight by means of the Pole Star and the approximate azimuths and altitudes of the navigational stars and planets at twilight. In addition they will be capable of solving the navigational triangle using a navigation table and advance the LOP obtained from a sun sight to another LOP obtained from the sun at a later time and find the boat's position using a running fix (sun-run-sun).
This celestial theory can be put into practice during the Offshore Passage Making course. Entrants should be certified to the Advanced Coastal Cruising level. The student will plan a passage across either the Pacific or North Atlantic using Great Circle Plotting Charts and Climatic Charts. They must show an understanding of the essential factors to be considered when selecting a vessel for an offshore ocean passage of at least 1000 miles including hull construction and shape, keel, rig, and rudder type, fuel and water capacity. They must provide a list of tools and spares required for such a voyage. They must victual the boat for four people on passage for seven days. They must list the items to be carried in the first aid kit and describe basic treatments for injuries and illnesses that may occur together with identifying a source of mare advanced medical information while on passage. They will prepare a watch keeping system and define the duties of crew members both on and off watch. They will design a maintenance plan to cover: Bilges, electronic equipment, fuel system, hatches, galley equipment, rigging, safety equipment sea cocks, steering and the water system. They will describe the procedures to be undertaken in the following emergency situations: abandon ship, dis-masting, fire on-board, lightning strike, man overboard. A comprehensive knowledge of the International Regulation for Preventing Collision at Sea must be demonstrated. When the course is completed is the sailor cans skipper a sailing vessel on offshore passages in any weather.
How To Protect Yourself On Sail
Full preparation for sailing can prevent you from suffering avoidable losses. Here are a few things to think about before you sail away.
1. Do check the price. It may be possible to take an actual, fairly luxurious cruise instead of sailing on one of the oldest boats in America.
2. Do make sure you fully understand the size of your "room " on the boat. If you are hoping to have any romantic action in your cabin it would be good to know ahead of time that you and your partner each have a small bunk and these bunks are not on the same wall.
3. Do know ahead of time if you and your partner can both even stand up at the same time in your "room" on the boat. If the answer is "no" consider other options.
4. Don't leave without checking more than once to make sure you have Your luggage. Even though you carefully packed All the luggage, did Yours actually make it to the boat? If not you will have a fantastic time with no changes of clothing and nothing warmer than a sweatshirt. Don't leave without all your luggage!
5. Don't get on a boat where the crew is planning on having a lot of assistance from you and the rest of the paying customers. Like, for instance, doing your own dishes or pulling in ropes and such.
6. Don't think you will get everything outlined in the brochure. Will you ever go onto land during this excursion or will you just ride around and around on the boat being quite sure you've seen that same shoreline five times in three days. Do ask the boat crew if you will ever see any of the sea creatures promised and what about the island lobster bake?
7. Don't plan on real bathroom facilities and do ask where the shower is. Ha!!
8. Don't even think of taking this kind of boat trip if you don't like small spaces. Not only is the berth area minuscule, there is no other place to play games or cards except the galley, also tiny and often being used to fix the meals.
9. Do consider this boat trip if you enjoy working while on a very expensive vacation in the smallest accommodations imaginable while possibly seeing no sea life and not eating promised lobster!
Take good note of these points and some other one that you may deem necessary based on your specific situation.
1. Do check the price. It may be possible to take an actual, fairly luxurious cruise instead of sailing on one of the oldest boats in America.
2. Do make sure you fully understand the size of your "room " on the boat. If you are hoping to have any romantic action in your cabin it would be good to know ahead of time that you and your partner each have a small bunk and these bunks are not on the same wall.
3. Do know ahead of time if you and your partner can both even stand up at the same time in your "room" on the boat. If the answer is "no" consider other options.
4. Don't leave without checking more than once to make sure you have Your luggage. Even though you carefully packed All the luggage, did Yours actually make it to the boat? If not you will have a fantastic time with no changes of clothing and nothing warmer than a sweatshirt. Don't leave without all your luggage!
5. Don't get on a boat where the crew is planning on having a lot of assistance from you and the rest of the paying customers. Like, for instance, doing your own dishes or pulling in ropes and such.
6. Don't think you will get everything outlined in the brochure. Will you ever go onto land during this excursion or will you just ride around and around on the boat being quite sure you've seen that same shoreline five times in three days. Do ask the boat crew if you will ever see any of the sea creatures promised and what about the island lobster bake?
7. Don't plan on real bathroom facilities and do ask where the shower is. Ha!!
8. Don't even think of taking this kind of boat trip if you don't like small spaces. Not only is the berth area minuscule, there is no other place to play games or cards except the galley, also tiny and often being used to fix the meals.
9. Do consider this boat trip if you enjoy working while on a very expensive vacation in the smallest accommodations imaginable while possibly seeing no sea life and not eating promised lobster!
Take good note of these points and some other one that you may deem necessary based on your specific situation.
Boat Insurance - Protecting Yourself Against Losses
Boat insurance should never be overlooked. This is more as your auto insurance is one of your priorities. They think that nothing bad is going to happen, when in reality, bad things often happen involving boats. If you own a boat, you need boat insurance. In fact, many states now require boat owners to carry Watercraft Liability insurance before they transport or operate a boat. If your boat has been financed, your lender will almost always require you to carry full coverage boat insurance.
Again, most people don't think anything bad will happen - but bad things do indeed occur. Vandalism is one problem that you may encounter. This is especially true if you dock your boat in a marina. Vandalism can also occur when you park your boat at your home, or at a hotel when traveling.
When you shop for insurance, make sure that vandalism is covered on your policy. Most issuers of boat insurance will only offer you the Watercraft Liability - but in most cases, you need more coverage than that! Theft is another possibility. Cars are stolen all the time - but boats are stolen as well. In fact, stealing a boat is easier than stealing a car!
Boat insurance should cover you in the event of vandalism, theft, sinking, fire, storms, capsizing, stranding, collision, and explosion. Furthermore, the insurance should cover the boat, the motor, and the trailer used to transport the boat. The boat should be covered no matter who is operating the boat, as long as they are legally allowed to operate the vessel.
Boat insurance will typically cover you in the event of malfunction as well. If something happens to your motor, it should be covered by your insurance. It should also cover you in the event that your boat needs to be towed back to shore.
What you are covered for depends on what type of coverage you purchased through your insurance agent. For this reason, it is important to know what type of coverage is available. Not all insurance companies will offer all types of coverage, but they will offer Watercraft Liability and Watercraft Medical payments.
Watercraft liability covers you just like car liability insurance protects you in the event of an accident where you are found to be at fault. Medical payments will cover medical expenses incurred by you and the occupants of your boat that are the result of a boating accident in the covered water vessel.
Optional insurance usually includes coverage for reasonable repairs, emergency services to your boat, motor, or boat trailer, and wreck removal. Wreck removal is very important coverage to have. If you boat sinks, it will need to be raised before an insurance company can access the damages and pay your claim. This is very expensive, and in most states, the law requires you to remove wrecked or sunken vessels.
Boats may be luxury items - but they are very expensive luxury items. Repairing or replacing a boat may not be something that you can easily afford - but in most cases, you will find that boat insurance is quite affordable. However, if you are thinking in terms of cost, and you think that you cannot afford the boat coverage, you can be certain that you will not be able to afford to repair or replace the boat either.
No matter how you look at it, you need boat insurance, even if you just purchase the watercraft liability coverage. Again, most states now require this liability coverage for water vessels, and if the boat is financed, the optional coverage may be required as well. Discuss your boat insurance coverage needs with your insurance agent to determine what coverage is right for you and your boat.
Again, most people don't think anything bad will happen - but bad things do indeed occur. Vandalism is one problem that you may encounter. This is especially true if you dock your boat in a marina. Vandalism can also occur when you park your boat at your home, or at a hotel when traveling.
When you shop for insurance, make sure that vandalism is covered on your policy. Most issuers of boat insurance will only offer you the Watercraft Liability - but in most cases, you need more coverage than that! Theft is another possibility. Cars are stolen all the time - but boats are stolen as well. In fact, stealing a boat is easier than stealing a car!
Boat insurance should cover you in the event of vandalism, theft, sinking, fire, storms, capsizing, stranding, collision, and explosion. Furthermore, the insurance should cover the boat, the motor, and the trailer used to transport the boat. The boat should be covered no matter who is operating the boat, as long as they are legally allowed to operate the vessel.
Boat insurance will typically cover you in the event of malfunction as well. If something happens to your motor, it should be covered by your insurance. It should also cover you in the event that your boat needs to be towed back to shore.
What you are covered for depends on what type of coverage you purchased through your insurance agent. For this reason, it is important to know what type of coverage is available. Not all insurance companies will offer all types of coverage, but they will offer Watercraft Liability and Watercraft Medical payments.
Watercraft liability covers you just like car liability insurance protects you in the event of an accident where you are found to be at fault. Medical payments will cover medical expenses incurred by you and the occupants of your boat that are the result of a boating accident in the covered water vessel.
Optional insurance usually includes coverage for reasonable repairs, emergency services to your boat, motor, or boat trailer, and wreck removal. Wreck removal is very important coverage to have. If you boat sinks, it will need to be raised before an insurance company can access the damages and pay your claim. This is very expensive, and in most states, the law requires you to remove wrecked or sunken vessels.
Boats may be luxury items - but they are very expensive luxury items. Repairing or replacing a boat may not be something that you can easily afford - but in most cases, you will find that boat insurance is quite affordable. However, if you are thinking in terms of cost, and you think that you cannot afford the boat coverage, you can be certain that you will not be able to afford to repair or replace the boat either.
No matter how you look at it, you need boat insurance, even if you just purchase the watercraft liability coverage. Again, most states now require this liability coverage for water vessels, and if the boat is financed, the optional coverage may be required as well. Discuss your boat insurance coverage needs with your insurance agent to determine what coverage is right for you and your boat.
Travel Checklist For Cheap Airfare
Travel checklists need to be made for every trip. With gasoline prices going through the roof and increased costs due to new security measurements, airline ticket prices have risen drastically in the last few years. Flights that were once under two hundred dollars can now cost up to three times as much as before. However, it is still possible to find a cheap ticket if you are willing to be flexible and to do a little research.
You'll find that with each travel excursion you'll need checklists. And more checklists. Each trip gets a standard checklist & a relative one. A short weekend trip to Niagra falls doesn't require a passport, or does it. You may want to go into Canada to see the Falls from the other side. You checklist would have covered this.
You want to fly to Vegas for the weekend. break out the checklists. First, book a flight. You live in a time when you can now book flight from the comfort of you own home. Book online. Try every site at least once throughout the year.
Below is a generic Travel checklist. Modify this list to your pesonal needs. Modify it to your types of travel.
Pre-Departure
- Passport
- Visa if needed
- Health Documentation
- Transportation Tickets
- Frequent Flyer Cards
- Emergency Information
- Insurance
- Hotel Reservations
- Traveler's Checks
- Currency (both local and American)
- Credit Cards
- Guide Books and Maps (X)
- Trip Cancellation/ Medical
Information
- Copies of Passport, ID and Documents
- Special Event Reservations
Travel Gear
- Main Travel Bag (Duffle/Luggage, etc.)
- Packing Accessories (clothes, small stuff and toiletries)
- Security (Passport carrier, luggage locks/ tags)
- Document Organizer
- Everyday Bag
Everyday Basics
- Travel Clothing
- Raincoat/ Umbrella
- Travel Footwear
- Visor or Brimmed Hat
- Camera, binoculars (scopes) (X)
- Radiation Shield for Film
- Video Camera, Tapes
- CD/ Cassette Player
- Electric/ Phone Converters
- Travel Alarms
- Language Books
- Reading Materials
- Address Book
- Travel Journal
- Pen/ Pencil
- Scarf/ Bandana
- Games/ Playing Cards
- Snacks
- Hand Sanitizer/ Towlettes
- Travel Neck Pillow
- Eye Shade/ Ear Plugs
- Portable Door Lock
- Tissues/ Toilet Paper
- Keys
Maintenance Items
- Flashlight Batteries/ Bulbs (X)
- Matches or Lighter (X)
- Extra Batteries
- Sewing/ Repair Kit
- Duct Tape
- Travel Iron or Steamer
- Sink Stopper for Hotel Sinks
- Zip-Close Plastic Bags
Travel Health
- Travel Health Booklet
- Pain Reliever/ Aspirin (X)
- Cold Medicine (X)
- Contact Lens Items
- Diarrhea Medicine
- Motion Sickness Medicine
- Laxative
- Insect Protection (X)
- Sun Protection (X)
- Antibiotic Cream
- Malaria Medication
- Personal Hygiene Items
- Personal Prescriptions
Some airlines offer cheap tickets directly through special web deals. Visit an airline website and locate links for special Internet offers, and you may be surprised at what you can find. Most offer weekly or monthly specials to particular destinations, and you can often save a lot of money by booking your flight online.
If you are a member of a frequent flier program, you can save money of flights not only by using your miles to purchase tickets, but also by taking advantage of the special rates offered to club members. Sign up for email updates from your affiliated airline, and you will become privy to many of their discount specials. On rare occasions, airlines may offer two for one tickets to certain destinations when you use frequent flier miles, or they may offer extra miles when you rent a car from a certain company or stay in a certain hotel. Take advantage of credit card affiliations, as well. You can often earn frequent flier miles by making purchases on a specific credit card affiliated with your airline of choice.
You'll find that with each travel excursion you'll need checklists. And more checklists. Each trip gets a standard checklist & a relative one. A short weekend trip to Niagra falls doesn't require a passport, or does it. You may want to go into Canada to see the Falls from the other side. You checklist would have covered this.
You want to fly to Vegas for the weekend. break out the checklists. First, book a flight. You live in a time when you can now book flight from the comfort of you own home. Book online. Try every site at least once throughout the year.
Below is a generic Travel checklist. Modify this list to your pesonal needs. Modify it to your types of travel.
Pre-Departure
- Passport
- Visa if needed
- Health Documentation
- Transportation Tickets
- Frequent Flyer Cards
- Emergency Information
- Insurance
- Hotel Reservations
- Traveler's Checks
- Currency (both local and American)
- Credit Cards
- Guide Books and Maps (X)
- Trip Cancellation/ Medical
Information
- Copies of Passport, ID and Documents
- Special Event Reservations
Travel Gear
- Main Travel Bag (Duffle/Luggage, etc.)
- Packing Accessories (clothes, small stuff and toiletries)
- Security (Passport carrier, luggage locks/ tags)
- Document Organizer
- Everyday Bag
Everyday Basics
- Travel Clothing
- Raincoat/ Umbrella
- Travel Footwear
- Visor or Brimmed Hat
- Camera, binoculars (scopes) (X)
- Radiation Shield for Film
- Video Camera, Tapes
- CD/ Cassette Player
- Electric/ Phone Converters
- Travel Alarms
- Language Books
- Reading Materials
- Address Book
- Travel Journal
- Pen/ Pencil
- Scarf/ Bandana
- Games/ Playing Cards
- Snacks
- Hand Sanitizer/ Towlettes
- Travel Neck Pillow
- Eye Shade/ Ear Plugs
- Portable Door Lock
- Tissues/ Toilet Paper
- Keys
Maintenance Items
- Flashlight Batteries/ Bulbs (X)
- Matches or Lighter (X)
- Extra Batteries
- Sewing/ Repair Kit
- Duct Tape
- Travel Iron or Steamer
- Sink Stopper for Hotel Sinks
- Zip-Close Plastic Bags
Travel Health
- Travel Health Booklet
- Pain Reliever/ Aspirin (X)
- Cold Medicine (X)
- Contact Lens Items
- Diarrhea Medicine
- Motion Sickness Medicine
- Laxative
- Insect Protection (X)
- Sun Protection (X)
- Antibiotic Cream
- Malaria Medication
- Personal Hygiene Items
- Personal Prescriptions
Some airlines offer cheap tickets directly through special web deals. Visit an airline website and locate links for special Internet offers, and you may be surprised at what you can find. Most offer weekly or monthly specials to particular destinations, and you can often save a lot of money by booking your flight online.
If you are a member of a frequent flier program, you can save money of flights not only by using your miles to purchase tickets, but also by taking advantage of the special rates offered to club members. Sign up for email updates from your affiliated airline, and you will become privy to many of their discount specials. On rare occasions, airlines may offer two for one tickets to certain destinations when you use frequent flier miles, or they may offer extra miles when you rent a car from a certain company or stay in a certain hotel. Take advantage of credit card affiliations, as well. You can often earn frequent flier miles by making purchases on a specific credit card affiliated with your airline of choice.
Frequent Flyer Programs - How To Make The Best Deals
Frequent flyer programs could result in great savings on your next travels. Airlines know the price of getting a new customer. And they know that it's a whole lot easier and less expensive to keep the customers that they already have. For this reason, airlines started frequent flyer programs. These programs reward you the more you fly.
Frequent flyer programs let you to receive certain travel benefits based on the number of miles (or sporadically the number of trips) you fly on a specific airline. Standard awards include a free ticket or a free upgrade from coach to first class.
Some airlines also offer "elite" programs that provide check-in and boarding priorities, and "affinity" credit cards which earn mileage credits when you use them for purchases.
In order to earn these benefits you must become a member of that airline's program; this can often be done through a travel agency.
There isn't a how many programs you can join. But before you decide which program to join, you should compare different programs carefully. Every airline program carries conditions and limitations. So you should be careful to read the promotional material and the all the fine print. Here are a few things you should take a look at:
- The rate at which credits are earned, minimum credits earned per flight
- If you are more interested in free tickets for yourself, or companion tickets, or upgrades
- How much credit you need for the awards you're interested in
- What are the deadlines for accumulated credits?
- Does the airline serve the cities you're traveling to, and if it has tie-ins or other airlines and to car rental companies and hotels you would use.
- If awards can be transferred to someone else or just members only
Also, airlines reserve the right to make changes at any time. More often than not, without notice. This can include changes to the conditions and limits on the awards earned. You should also be keeping track of the mileage you've earned and check it against the statement the airline mails to you. It's not uncommon that airlines add new routes after you join the program.You might be able credits on that route but not use awards there.
Another important not that you should be aware of is that airlines usually restrict the transfer of mileage earnings. Most often being the sail or attempted sale of credits or awards you've earned and want to sell. You should never try this as the airlines have caught on to these schemes and actively pursue it.
Frequent flyer programs let you to receive certain travel benefits based on the number of miles (or sporadically the number of trips) you fly on a specific airline. Standard awards include a free ticket or a free upgrade from coach to first class.
Some airlines also offer "elite" programs that provide check-in and boarding priorities, and "affinity" credit cards which earn mileage credits when you use them for purchases.
In order to earn these benefits you must become a member of that airline's program; this can often be done through a travel agency.
There isn't a how many programs you can join. But before you decide which program to join, you should compare different programs carefully. Every airline program carries conditions and limitations. So you should be careful to read the promotional material and the all the fine print. Here are a few things you should take a look at:
- The rate at which credits are earned, minimum credits earned per flight
- If you are more interested in free tickets for yourself, or companion tickets, or upgrades
- How much credit you need for the awards you're interested in
- What are the deadlines for accumulated credits?
- Does the airline serve the cities you're traveling to, and if it has tie-ins or other airlines and to car rental companies and hotels you would use.
- If awards can be transferred to someone else or just members only
Also, airlines reserve the right to make changes at any time. More often than not, without notice. This can include changes to the conditions and limits on the awards earned. You should also be keeping track of the mileage you've earned and check it against the statement the airline mails to you. It's not uncommon that airlines add new routes after you join the program.You might be able credits on that route but not use awards there.
Another important not that you should be aware of is that airlines usually restrict the transfer of mileage earnings. Most often being the sail or attempted sale of credits or awards you've earned and want to sell. You should never try this as the airlines have caught on to these schemes and actively pursue it.
How To Save on Airport Parking Online
Competition and decrease in fares have made traveling by plane an everyday affair. But frequent travelers often burn holes in their pockets by paying exorbitant airport parking fees. Finding convenient parking close to an airport at prices that do not pinch the purse has now become a reality. All you need to do is surf the net and find services that offer off-airport or on airport parking information as well as competitive rates.
There are airport parking “web directories” like:
www. http://airportparkingreservations.com/ or APR ; http://www.parkingcompany.com/; or http://parknflynetwork.com/ among many others that offer:
- 24/7 reservations for airport parking online.
- Rate comparisons between different parking facilities at different airports. The table is comprehensive and you can then choose a site at a rate that is suitable to you. Tabulated rates indicate that the economy parking charges at airport lots are nearly double that of most other off-airport facilities. One can be an informed and discerning consumer and know where to spend and how to make a saving for services that are no different.
- Comprehensive rates that include taxes and there are no surprises in store for you.
- Displays of current availability of parking at any given lot so that you don't make the mistake to selecting a lot that is already full.
- Information that enables you to select a parking that is most convenient to you. Gives details like frequency and time-table of shuttle service to and from the lots as well as user ratings.
- Attractive promotions like hotel and parking combos.
- Tips and info on parking lots that have a meet and greet service where for a token payment or as a complimentary service several parking lots offer a service where a person will meet you at the airport terminal, take away your car for parking, and once again meet you with your car when you land saving you many hassles.
- Printable online coupons which just have to be presented at the parking lot.
- Attractive discounts on parking where savings up to 45% and more can sometimes be made.
- Details of add on privileges like free coffee, newspapers, clean comfortable rest rooms, and new marketing promos.
All you need to do is access the web a few hours before departure and you are guaranteed not just parking space but peace of mind and good time management. The sites feature airport lots, off-airport parking, open as well as covered parking. There are great options like offering to clear ice from the car or cool the interiors before you arrive, car wash or servicing while the car is parked, help with dead batteries, or any other problem you may encounter with the car.
As a part of customer convenience now many travel sites like Expedia and Orbitz have made alliances with parking sites so that their clients can make parking bookings along with flight reservations.
There are airport parking “web directories” like:
www. http://airportparkingreservations.com/ or APR ; http://www.parkingcompany.com/; or http://parknflynetwork.com/ among many others that offer:
- 24/7 reservations for airport parking online.
- Rate comparisons between different parking facilities at different airports. The table is comprehensive and you can then choose a site at a rate that is suitable to you. Tabulated rates indicate that the economy parking charges at airport lots are nearly double that of most other off-airport facilities. One can be an informed and discerning consumer and know where to spend and how to make a saving for services that are no different.
- Comprehensive rates that include taxes and there are no surprises in store for you.
- Displays of current availability of parking at any given lot so that you don't make the mistake to selecting a lot that is already full.
- Information that enables you to select a parking that is most convenient to you. Gives details like frequency and time-table of shuttle service to and from the lots as well as user ratings.
- Attractive promotions like hotel and parking combos.
- Tips and info on parking lots that have a meet and greet service where for a token payment or as a complimentary service several parking lots offer a service where a person will meet you at the airport terminal, take away your car for parking, and once again meet you with your car when you land saving you many hassles.
- Printable online coupons which just have to be presented at the parking lot.
- Attractive discounts on parking where savings up to 45% and more can sometimes be made.
- Details of add on privileges like free coffee, newspapers, clean comfortable rest rooms, and new marketing promos.
All you need to do is access the web a few hours before departure and you are guaranteed not just parking space but peace of mind and good time management. The sites feature airport lots, off-airport parking, open as well as covered parking. There are great options like offering to clear ice from the car or cool the interiors before you arrive, car wash or servicing while the car is parked, help with dead batteries, or any other problem you may encounter with the car.
As a part of customer convenience now many travel sites like Expedia and Orbitz have made alliances with parking sites so that their clients can make parking bookings along with flight reservations.
How To Save on Airport Parking
Airport parking could involve unexpected costs that could surprise you. Off-site airport parking is a boon for travelers. Often they prove to be cheaper than parking lots run by airports and online discounts and other conveniences make the option even more attractive. Satellite parking lots face competition and so it is easy for those in the know to save big.
Here are a few insights:
1. Keep a tab on offers. As the race for success becomes intense, all sites run attractive offers giving away coupons or web only deals. Many offer an e-coupon that entitles the user to a day's free parking at selected parking lots. This means a saving of US$ 21. Other offers give away a day if you park for two days or 50% off on the first days parking fee.
2. If you are a frequent user of parking lots check for offers where a parking operator with a major presence near airports you use offers a 50% discount if you purchase a certain number of parking vouchers online or on the phone using your credit card.
3. Many parking sites have a different rate for different parking positions. Check on the kinds of parking and rate differences. You could save up to $ 62 for a seven day parking.
4. Ask for rates depending on the length of stay. Rates vary so if you are going to need parking for a week then you could get a higher discount than the daily rate on offer.
5. Many run a frequent user program where repeat customers are offered many facilities. This is similar to frequent flier programs.
6. Find out if the lots you use offer special discounts to members of AARP, AAA, or other such organizations. In fact, AA members save between 10-20% on parking. Some sites even offer the service of picking up and dropping your car from the airport terminal.
7. Do your research well compare providers, the rates on offer, as well as facilities at the place you need to park. If you are clever you can get more for less.
8. Before you travel use the internet to check on daily and weekly parking offers. There are free days, discounted weekly rates, and guaranteed rates on offer at various times. You can avail the offer by making a booking online or printing out the page with a code and presenting it to the cashier at the parking lot.
9. Keep track of promotions especially during holiday seasons. Many lots accept coupons and give away discounts offered by consumer products
10. Often pre-booking parking can get you a saving of even 70% and more.
11. Hotels often offer parking specials, so make use of the extra facility being offered by the hotel you plan to stay in.
12. Some travel agents who book flight tickets offer advice or coupons for parking at the point of exit and entry. Ask your agent when you book your flight.
Parking sites have introduced fierce competition among parking lot managements and the result is an ongoing price war to keep their slice of pie or business. And because of this, a wise traveler can save up to $ 100 for five days of parking. Off site parking is not just fast and convenient it can be a saving too.
Here are a few insights:
1. Keep a tab on offers. As the race for success becomes intense, all sites run attractive offers giving away coupons or web only deals. Many offer an e-coupon that entitles the user to a day's free parking at selected parking lots. This means a saving of US$ 21. Other offers give away a day if you park for two days or 50% off on the first days parking fee.
2. If you are a frequent user of parking lots check for offers where a parking operator with a major presence near airports you use offers a 50% discount if you purchase a certain number of parking vouchers online or on the phone using your credit card.
3. Many parking sites have a different rate for different parking positions. Check on the kinds of parking and rate differences. You could save up to $ 62 for a seven day parking.
4. Ask for rates depending on the length of stay. Rates vary so if you are going to need parking for a week then you could get a higher discount than the daily rate on offer.
5. Many run a frequent user program where repeat customers are offered many facilities. This is similar to frequent flier programs.
6. Find out if the lots you use offer special discounts to members of AARP, AAA, or other such organizations. In fact, AA members save between 10-20% on parking. Some sites even offer the service of picking up and dropping your car from the airport terminal.
7. Do your research well compare providers, the rates on offer, as well as facilities at the place you need to park. If you are clever you can get more for less.
8. Before you travel use the internet to check on daily and weekly parking offers. There are free days, discounted weekly rates, and guaranteed rates on offer at various times. You can avail the offer by making a booking online or printing out the page with a code and presenting it to the cashier at the parking lot.
9. Keep track of promotions especially during holiday seasons. Many lots accept coupons and give away discounts offered by consumer products
10. Often pre-booking parking can get you a saving of even 70% and more.
11. Hotels often offer parking specials, so make use of the extra facility being offered by the hotel you plan to stay in.
12. Some travel agents who book flight tickets offer advice or coupons for parking at the point of exit and entry. Ask your agent when you book your flight.
Parking sites have introduced fierce competition among parking lot managements and the result is an ongoing price war to keep their slice of pie or business. And because of this, a wise traveler can save up to $ 100 for five days of parking. Off site parking is not just fast and convenient it can be a saving too.
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