We all dream about leaving the confines of our borders for vacation and honeymooning, but how much effort do we put into making sure our trip is hassle-free? Many of us have passports, but don’t investigate the restrictions and responsibilities that come along with international travel. I have compiled a short list of things to consider when booking a trip out of the country. If you have anything to add, please let us know in the Comments!
(1) PASSPORT EXPIRY: Did you know that to enter some countries, your passport must be valid past the time you intend to stay? For instance, if you are a citizen of the United States, and you wish to visit the United Arab Emirates, your passport has to be valid for at least six months past your date of entry. So…if you plan to visit the United Arab Emirates Giuseppe Zanotti Shoes on January 1st, your passport must not expire before July 1st, or you may be denied entry. To find this information for your destination, visit your consulate website or state department website. For those with United States passports, you can check your requirements here: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html.
(2) PASSPORT BLANK PAGES: Much like the passport expiry requirement, many entry guidelines demand that you have a specified number of blank pages in your passport to gain entry. If you are visiting Germany Giuseppe Zanotti canada , for example, you must have at least two blank pages in your passport, or you can be denied entry. You can also check this information on your country’s consulate or state department website.
(3) VACCINATIONS: Depending on where you are traveling to, it may be in your best interest (and sometimes even required) to vaccinate yourself. There are many countries that are in regions that make you susceptible to contracting illnesses like yellow fever and malaria, for example. The best way to be informed is to check your consulate for vaccination requirements or your Ministry of Health. If you are a citizen of the United States, you can check the Centers for Disease Control here: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.
(4) POWER OUTLETS: How many times have you made a packing list, checked it twice, and realized when you got to your destination that your electronic devices don’t fit the outlets? It has happened to me more times than I care to admit, which is why I have a drawer full of power converters that I http://www.elleno.ca/ have purchased around the world. The best way to be prepared is by purchasing a multi-outlet converter, that way you have all possible combinations of outlets in one device. If you don’t want to do that, you can check your specific destination to see which outlet they use by visiting World Standards here: http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/.
(5) CULTURAL ANOMALIES: Have you taken time to thoroughly research the cultural norms of the destination you will be visiting? Many times, I see fellow travelers making cultural faux pas…be it out of ignorance or innocence. These are small things—such as how to dress, how to greet elders, and even how to point! Did you know that something as simple as a “thumbs up” means different things in different countries? While in America, it is a signifier of a job well done, in places like Iran or Italy, it is construed as “up yours!” While we may not INTEND to be insulting, it does not mean that we are NOT being insulting. It is important to use the resources available to you, such as the Internet, the library, travel guides, and even friends, to find out the cultural norms of where you are visiting.
Do you have any international travel
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By Victor Amos, Beauty & Travel Editor at WBM.