16 Tips to Prevent Passport Problems Carelessness is the number one reason for a passport application being rejected or delayed or for a passport being lost, stolen, or damaged. What steps are necessary to prevent these things from happening? How can you take care of your passport? Below are 16 practical tips you can follow to acquire your passport, keep it in your possession, and preserve it in good condition. Before You Leave On Your Trip 1. Check to see if you even need a passport. Countries can, and often do, change foreign entry requirements. If you arrive at the airport without the required documents, you'll be denied boarding privileges. And, of course, This isn't covered by travel insurance. Currently, more than 80% of the world's countries require a valid passport for entrance. It's important to verify the foreign entry requirements for the country you plan to visit as early as possible. 2. Apply for your passport early. You should apply for a new passport at least 90 days before your departure date. For a renewal, begin the process 8 to 11 months before your passport expires. Why so early? Many countries require that your passport have six to eight months of validity remaining before they will issue a visa. 3. Fill out the correct form correctly. Each type of passport service has specific criteria that must be met. Make sure you get the right application form, and then fill it in carefully. Double-check each entry. Ask a friend or relative to verify it as well. Errors made on the application form can lead to delays, or even rejection of your passport request. 4. Follow the specifications for the required documents exactly. When applying for a new passport, the most frequently used documents are a certified birth certificate for proof of citizenship along with a valid driver's license for proof of your identity. Your birth certificate must be a certified copy with a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed, or multicolored seal, registrar's signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. No photocopies are accepted. Your driver's license must be more than six months old. For a passport renewal, your previous passport serves as both proof of citizenship and proof of identity. To be valid, it cannot be mutilated, altered, or damaged in any way. You must send two identical passport photos taken within the last 6 months. These passport photos must be 2 x2 with a plain white or off-white background. They have to be a full-face view with the head being from 1 to 1 3/8 inches from the chin to the top of the head. The photos can be either color or black and white. 5. Sign both the passport application form and your check. Surprisingly, many people forget to sign either the passport application form or their check to Passport Services. Once again, check everything twice, or even three times. 6. Request additional pages. Are you a frequent flyer? Request a 48-page passport (at no additional cost). It will allow you to travel longer before having to replace it. 7. Sign your passport and fill out the emergency information. When your passport arrives, check to see that all the information contained in it is correct. If it is, sign it and fill in your current address and the name of a person to contact in case of emergency. If not, return it to the State Department for correction. 8. Make two copies of your passport and photos. Give one copy of your passport to a friend or relative who can be easily contacted in case of an emergency. Take the other copy and the extra photos with you on your trip. If you use an online document storage service, you can scan your passport and upload a copy. That way, you can access it from almost anywhere in the world. While You're Away 9. Always keep your passport in a safe place! Never leave your passport in your baggage, backpack, purse, car, hotel room, or anywhere else! When you must carry your passport, keep it in a money belt or inside coat pocket. Upon arrival at the hotel, put your passport in the hotel safe. 10. Never lay your passport down anywhere. Passports placed on a counter, phone booth or table can be easily forgotten or stolen. Practice the habit of immediately putting your passport away after using it. 11. If you travel as a family or as part of a group, don't let one person carry all the passports. The odds are much greater for one person carrying all the passports to lose them or have them stolen than for all the passports to be stolen or lost if each individual owner carries them. 12. Never let anyone leave your presence with your passport. When you're checking in at the airport, passing through customs, exchanging currency, or doing anything else that requires you to show your passport, never allow the person examining your passport to leave your presence. If the person starts to leave, call their attention and request to accompany them. Law enforcement records show that U.S. passports are sometimes used for unlawful entry into the United States or by criminals abroad seeking to establish another identity. You would be pretty embarrassed if your name were associated with illegal activities. 13. Immediately report the loss of your passport. If you are careful and follow the tips above, you shouldn't have any problem with the loss of your passport. If it does occur though, immediately notify the local police and then proceed to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Take the copy of your passport and extra photos with you. You will be issued a temporary passport that you can replace upon returning to the United States. After You Return 14. Schedule your passport renewal. Check the expiration date and make a reminder to renew your passport at the proper time. Remember, you should begin the process 8 to 11 months prior to the expiration date. Put the reminder somewhere where it won't be forgotten. 15. Check the number of blank pages remaining. Some countries require a blank page for their visa. If you plan a future trip on which you will visit various countries, you might need the same number of pages as countries to be visited. If you do not have an adequate number of pages but your passport is not due for renewal, you can request additional pages. 16. Store your passport in a safe place. If you have a safe in your home, keep your passport there. If not, consider a safety deposit box at your local bank. Follow the practical tips above and you can easily avoid passport problems and more fully enjoy your international travels. William Manor is the owner of U.S. Passport Service Guide, a very useful and com prehensive resource for U.S. citizens who travel internationally. http://www.us-passport-service-guide.com

Safe Travel - 11 Travel Tips! by http://mycontentbuilder.com/profile/vietnaminfocus/4720

When traveling many things can and do go wrong. Following a few simple rules could help prevent many of those problems fellow travelers encounter on the road.

Problems that could mean you spend time:

·At the police station filling reports.
·Locked in your hotel room, scared it will happen again.
·Leaving with bad memories and a dislike of the local people.
·Replacing items lost, that can cost you lots of money.
·Or just totally annoyed, ruining your holiday.

So what can you do? Here are a few tips for staying safe and still enjoying your holiday!

Common Sense

The single most important tool for traveling safe! You’re in foreign land, meeting new people, walking down strange roads, eating and drinking new things. Use your common sense, if it doesn’t feel right – do something about it.

Carry Only What You Need

If you are heading out on the town to discover new bars or taking photos at the local fish market, do you really need to carry your passport, travelers cheques, excess cash, visa card, American express card, plane tickets etc? Take what YOU need and leave the rest in the hotel safe. Better to lose a little, rather then everything.

Spread It All Out

A good tip is to place a small amount of money in a few different bags/pockets. By doing this, if you happen to lose a bag, visa card or money, you will still have something there to keep you going until it can be resolved.

Two Credit Cards

Many couples traveling will have 2 credit cards, both accessing the same account. The problem here is if one is lost, you have to cancel the account, meaning the 2nd card is no longer valid.
So think about getting two cards, each accessing separate accounts. If hubby loses his, the wife will still have a fully functioning credit card so you can continue traveling.

Hold Your Bags and Cameras

A big thing now is bag/camera snatching. To prevent this happening to you, make sure you wear the backpack on your back. Sling your camera over your head and shoulder. Walk on the pavement; motorbikes and cars can’t drive here!
If you leave your bag/camera dangling of one shoulder, someone WILL grab it!

Empty Your Back Pockets

Most guys (and some girls) will place their wallets in the back pocket of their jeans or shorts making them an easy target for pick pockets. Change your habit, place money/wallets in the front pockets or perhaps buy a bum bag (bags that strap around your waist). Out of sight, out of mind!

Scams and Scams

We have all read about the different scams that people have fallen for. Truth is, people continue to fall for them! Why? Because the scammers are professionals, it’s their job and their good at it. In most countries, the local people will be kind, courteous and helpful. Use your common sense. If unsure, leave. Or try asking other travelers, locals or hotel staff for advice.

Their Smarter

One of the problems people have when traveling, is that they think they are smarter than the scammers, robbers and pick pockets. The sad reality is; your wrong, THEY ARE SMARTER!
Remember, these people do it for a living. This is how many of them feed themselves and their families. They are pro’s and very good at their craft.

Lock it

If you use a small backpack or day bag when wondering the streets or local markets, buy a small padlock and use it. Instantly, would be pickpockets will be put of.
If you are like me and continually lose the keys, trying using a small D-Shackle, like they use in rock climbing. It doesn’t lock; rather it acts as a deterrent for unwanted hands getting into your bag.
D-Shackles can be brought at most sport shops or large supermarkets for just a few dollars

Opportunity Knocks

Many of the problems outlined above happen only when travelers let their guard down. The basic rule of thumb is – you give them the opportunity, they will grab it with both hands!

Enjoy

The most important aspect for any traveler, ENJOY your travels! Being paranoid will have you locked in a hotel room. Prepare, use your common sense and then get out there, meet the locals, try the food and have fun.

Adam Hurley is an experiance tour guide and photographer, with over 5 years experiance in South East Asia. Visit him at:
http://www.vietnaminfocus.info or http://www.snapperphotography.com


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When planning your travels or buying your airline tickets, you have probably come across definitions and terms that might have seemed strange to you. Granted, many of the definitions and terms become more understandable as you become familiar with the industry as a frequent flier. While there are many terms for hotel room types, car types, and travel amenities, the area that we shall attempt to define would be tours.

Tour operators try to make their brochures and websites as attractive, informative and understandable as possible; however, in reading this information you will undoubtedly encounter some terminology that is new and unfamiliar. To assist you, here's a glossary covering some of the terminology you will most most frequently find in brochures, fliers, and on websites.



Accommodations:

* Single Room: A room with one bed for one person.
* Twin Room: A room with two beds for two people.
* Double Room: A room for two persons with a double bed.
* Triple Room: A room for three persons, usually consisting of twin beds (or double beds, plus a rollaway bed.
* Ocean Front: A room directly facing the ocean. Usually it is on the first floor with a door that exists onto the beach.
* Ocean View: A room from which it is possible to view the ocean, whether the room is on the first floor, the 12th floor, or on a hillside.
* Service Charges/Taxes: Service charges are a fixed percentage automatically added to room and meal charges. The city, state or federal government sets taxes.


Air Transportation:

* Add-on Fare: The cost of air travel from a domestic city to another domestic city from which the tour/vacation package originates and vice versa.
* Baggage Allowance: The weight or volume of baggage that may be carried by a passenger without additional charge.
* Connecting Flight: A segment of an ongoing trip, which requires a change of aircraft, but necessarily a change of airline.
* Direct Flight: A flight on which passengers do not have to change planes, but may involve one more stops enroute.
* Non-stop Flight: Service between two points with no scheduled stop enroute.


Car Rental:

* Drop-off Charge: Fee charged by a car rental company to defray the cost of returning the vehicle to its original location.
* Value Added Tax (VAT): Tax imposed by governmental authority.


Charter Travel:

Thanks to improved Federal regulations and a new generation of operators, air charters have become the preferred way to reach many of the world's most popular vacation destinations for reasons of value and convenience.

Here's how they work: The tour operator rents an airplane and sells the seats, often in combination with a hotel package and perhaps other ground components. The result is a substantial savings.


Conditions:

* Force Majeure: An event or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled (such as storms or war).


Consular Information Sheets:

Governments issue Consular Information Sheets for every country of the world. They include such information as location of the U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country, unusual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties. If an unstable condition exists in a country that is not severe enough to warrant a Travel Warning, a description of the condition(s) may be included under an optional section entitled Safety/Security.


Documents:

* Passport: An official government document certifying identity and citizenship and granting permission to travel abroad (overseas).
* Visa: An official authorization appended to a passport permitting travel to and within a particular country.


Escorted Tours:

The most traditional tour product is also the most misunderstood. The options are so varied that it's easiest to identify the few elements they share: Group travel, usually by motor coach but sometimes by ship, or train; a set itinerary, with lodging, activities, and most meals included and a tour director to coordinate, guide, and manage the trip. Traveling on an escorted tour provides a measure of security and peace of mind. And today, more tour operators build in free time on group tours, giving travelers the best of both worlds.


Independent Travel:

There's no group on these trips, no guide and no fixed itinerary, unless the client wants one. The sole difference between this and fully independent travel is that by booking through a tour operator from its available inventory, your clients get the advantage of group buying power, without the group.


Package Travel:

Like group tours, packages tend to have fixed itineraries, with ground transportation and hotels booked in advance. But like independent travel, there's no organized group; clients are on their own, free to do as they please at each destination, but they still have the convenience and reliability that come with booking through a tour operator.


Public Announcements:

Public announcements (PAs) are a means to disseminate information about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term and/or trans-national conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers. The PAs are made when there is a specific threat that cannot be countered. In the past, Public Announcements have been issued to deal with short-term coups, violence by terrorists and anniversary dates of specific terrorist events.


Tours:

A group of people traveling together who follow a pre-planned itinerary. Most tours include accommodations, a number of meals, sightseeing, land transportation, and/or other transportation, plus the services of a professional tour manager or escort who accompanies the group.


Travel Warnings:

Travel warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Countries where avoidance of travel is recommended will have Travel Warnings as well as Consular Information Sheets. You may also want to review specific country Background Notes.


Vacation Packages:

Vacation packages are designed for those traveling independently. They include a combination of two or more travel services (e.g. hotel accommodations, car rental, air transportation) that are offered at a package price. Many vacation packages offer a choice of components and options, thereby enabling you to customize the package to your tastes, interests and/or budget.


Vouchers:

Documents issued by tour operators to be exchanged for accommodations, sightseeing and other services.
MMIV, Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW



About the Author
Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts lectures, seminars, and writes articles on his theme: ... helping you maximize your potential. For more information visit http://www.executiveandgrouptravel.blogspot.com