Some beautiful places!!!

Posted on Jul. 6, 2005 at 8:49 AM - Link

** Paris

**Moscow

*** Turin

LATER I WILL POST MORE!!

Things to do the day you leave

Posted on Jul. 5, 2005 at 8:41 AM - Link

>> Turn water heater down to the lowest setting.

>>  Turn your air conditioner up in summer. You want to reduce your bills, but you may have to keep the house from getting too hot to protect your pets and electronics.

>> Turn your heat down or off in spring or fall. Be sure to leave the house warm enough in the winter. You may want to reduce your bills, but you may need to keep the house from getting too cold to protect your pets and water pipes.

>> Leave shades or drapes as you normally do.

>> Plug a cheap radio into a timer so you can have some noise in the house during part of the day.

>> Lock all doors and windows including basement & garage.

>> Unplug electronic items, such as, your computer to protect them if you have a storm while you’re gone. Remember to unhook your phone line from the modem. Unfortunately, you may have to leave it all hooked up if your computer is your only answering machine. Make sure your surge protectors are properly installed.

>> Pack the car inside the garage, with the door down, so people driving by won’t find out you’re leaving.

>> Disconnect the garage door. Unplug it if you can, don’t pull the fuse for the garage door until you verify the fuse isn’t hooked up to something that needs to stay on, such as, your refrigerator or maybe a freezer in the garage.

Passport, Visas, and Documentation

Posted on Jul. 4, 2005 at 8:28 AM - Link

Will I need a passport?

·         It depends on where you are going. Foreign travel often requires a passport. However, you may be able to enter some countries with just a notarized birth certificate with a raised seal and your driver’s license. Although, some countries may not require much to enter, you’ll still need proof of citizenship when you re-enter the United States.

·         You’ll need to find out if any of the foreign travel you are planning will require a passport or visa.

·         You should be able to find specific instructions on what type of paperwork you’ll need from the embassy or consulate of the country you’ll be visiting.

·         The passenger is completely responsible for all travel documents. Just having a ticket to get there won’t do you any good.

·         If you don’t have a passport, apply for one at least 3 months before travel.

·         If you already have a passport, make sure it will still be valid for your entire trip.

·         If your passport will be within six months of expiration while you’re traveling, you may want to get a new passport since some countries now require that your passport must be valid six months after your return to the U.S.

Where can I get a passport?

You can get one at a State Department Passport Agency, a clerk of any Federal or State Court of record, designated municipal or county official or a designated U.S. Post Office.

Where can I find online passport information?

travel.state.gov/passport_services.html

The U.S. State Department’s Passport Services web page. This site contains information on how to get a U.S. passport.

What will I need to get my passport?

·         You may need to appear in person. If you are a first time applicant, you’ll need to appear in person at one of the official locations listed above. You will also need to appear in person if it has been more then 12 years since your last passport was issued or you were under 16 years of age when your last passport was issued. Applicants under 13 are not always required to appear in person since a parent or guardian may execute the application on the child’s behalf.

·         You will need one of the following to provide proof of U.S. citizenship.

·         A certified copy of your birth certificate with a U.S. State or county embossed seal. Hospital certificates are NOT accepted. OR

·         Your naturalization/Citizenship certificate. OR

·         Your previously issued and expired passport. If your name has changed from the one listed on your previous passport, you must submit the sealed legal document showing the name change. (Marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.)

·         Two identical recently taken 2x2inch front view facial, from the bottom of your chin to top of head, photographs. No hats or dark glasses can be worn in the photographs. Have them taken at a passport shop since snapshots and machine photos are not acceptable. You may want to get several extra copies of the photograph since they can also be used for international driver’s permits and other documents. Traveling with extra photographs will also make it easier to replace your passport, if yours is lost.

·         A Driver’s license or Military I.D. issued over six months ago. State I.D. cards are only acceptable with several other forms of I.D. Temporary or altered documents are NOT accepted. Parent’s I.D. will be used for that of a minor child.

·         A completed official passport application form.

·         You’ll also have to pay a passport fee that will be listed on your application form.

What is a visa?

A visa is an endorsement on your passport that will allow entry into the country you’ll be visiting. It states that your passport has been inspected and that everything is valid. It will usually give permission for you to visit a country for a specific time period and purpose.

Will I need a visa?

Some countries in the world require that you be issued a visa before you are allowed to enter their country. They may also have special requirements if you plan a particularly long stay or will be doing business while visiting. You’ll need to make sure to have all the papers you’ll need. All travel documents are the responsibility of the passenger. Your ticket to get there won’t do any good if you don’t have the required paperwork. You should contact the embassy or consulate of each country you’ll be visiting for information on the paperwork needed for entry. Remember to allow plenty of time for the paperwork to be processed before you travel. Visas often require several weeks to be processed.

How can I find out if I will need a passport or visa for my trip?

Go To:  Embassy Links

This page contains links to many foreign countries’ Embassies and Consulate Offices located in the United States. Each Embassy’s web site is different, but they all contain contact information and other helpful information for anyone planning on visiting their country.

travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html

The U.S. State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Foreign Entry Requirements web page. This site lists the entry requirements of foreign countries. It also includes the addresses and telephone numbers of foreign embassies and consulates in the United States. This web site is a good starting point, but since the information presented is subject to change, you should also check directly with the embassy or consulate of the country you a planning to visit.

www.state.gov/www/travel/consular_offices/fco_index.html

The U.S. State Department’s Foreign Consular Offices web page. This site contains an updated listing of contact information for foreign countries’ consular offices in the United States.

What should I do if I lose my passport?

Immediately notify the local police and the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, so they can begin to work on a replacement and grant you permission to re-enter the United States. Hopefully, you will have made a copy of your original passport and brought along some extra passport photographs to expedite the process.

How can I find the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country that I’m visiting?

usembassy.state.gov

The U.S. State Department International Information Program’s U.S. Embassies web page. This site contains links to U.S. Embassies and Consulates in foreign countries throughout the world. Each site is different, but they all contain information that would be helpful to a U.S. citizen planning on visiting the particular foreign country.

What type of research should I do before I travel?

Posted on Jul. 3, 2005 at 5:22 PM - Link

• Do some research, learn as much as you can about your destination.

• Check to see what type of weather the area has so you can plan accordingly.

• Check with the U.S. State Department concerning safety warnings for U.S. tourists at your destination.

• Find out if you will need a passport to enter the country. Make sure your passport is up to date and valid. Some countries will not let you in if your passport will expire within six months of your return home, extend it, if you are close to expiration.

• Find out if you will need any visas to enter the country.

• Check to see what other type of paperwork and documentation you will need to travel.

• Find out what type of diseases are common to the area you’ll be visiting and take actions to prevent your exposure to those diseases.

• Find out what types of vaccinations you will need to enter the country, there may also be medications you’ll need to take before, during and even after your trip.

• Find our what type of electrical outlets the country uses, you may need a special converter or adapter to use your electrical appliances.

• Check your own medical coverage to see what type of coverage you’ll have when away from home. Consider purchasing trip insurance.

• Do some research about the costs of local items so you can set your budget.  Don't forget to budget for taxes and tipping, many governments charge high taxes for travel related services.

• Check the financial section of your newspaper, they usually post exchange rates and checking in advance can give you an idea of how much you’ll need to budget.

• Do some research with U.S. Customs to find out what you can take with you and what you may bring back.

• Build some basic language skills in the local language.

• Check the dates of local major holidays, since services may be limited on those dates.

• If you plan on driving, investigate the local road conditions, laws and other driving requirements.

• Most of the world uses the metric system, so try to become familiar with this system. 1 kilometer = .62 miles so 100 kilometers per hour = 62 miles per hour.

Posted on Jul. 2, 2005 at 8:19 PM - Link

Hello, my name is Simon. One of my passions is travel.

Here I wanna post some helpful free tips and links for travelers!

Have fun!!

Thanks!!