The Travellers Warehouse

Checking in with an embassy is probably a very good idea especially if a travel itinerary has scheduled stops in Third World or Mid-eastern countries. By registering with an embassy there is someone who knows where you are in case of an emergency at the traveler’s home or if the traveler himself has a serious situation that must be addressed. This could be very important in areas that are known for natural disasters or political unrest. An individual may need to leave very quickly and an American embassy can assist in the evacuation. In order to help they have to be able to contact you. If a country does not have an embassy register with one that is near by. Personal information is treated on a confidential basis.It becomes very important to register with an embassy if you plan an extended stay. Tours can also register with an embassy, and it is a good idea to check and see if they have done it. If not, you can still register with them yourself. It is also suggested to leave a detailed copy of a travel itinerary at home with a family member or friend along with a copy of a passport and other citizenship documents. Travel registration can be done through the State Department and is free.

There are a lot of reasons to stay in touch with one of our embassies. Many people do not know that they can help you in a financial emergency. The Department of State has an Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) office that can help a friend or relative establish a trust account so they can forward funds to the marooned party. There is a small processing fee for doing it. The funds will be transferred to the proper embassy for disbursement, and then suitable arrangements are made with the individual so they can receive the funds.

There are other methods of getting funds if a problem occurs on an overseas trip. Western Union can send the money to OCS. It is probably the fastest way to do it. You can learn about identification policies and procedures necessary for the transaction by calling one of the numbers listed below or going to the websites provided.

You can also wire money through a bank or courier service but it will take longer. The time element is much shorter when working with Western Union and the OCS.

1-888-407-4747 Overseas Citizens Services

1-800-634-4322 or http://www.westernunion.com/

http://usembassy.state.gov/

http://travel.state.gov/

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This section of Travellers Warehouse will be dedicated to Passport Issues and will be updated as new information becomes available.

Since the events of September 11, 2001 travel outside of and into the United States has changed significantly. Today we have what is known as The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), and it is being strictly enforced. Its’ birth can be found in the Intelligence Reform and Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), which requires every traveler to present a passport or other document as a method of identification and citizenship origin when entering the United States. That includes U.S. citizens. An individual may be able to go to areas in the Caribbean and have a wonderful vacation, but could run into difficulty getting back into the United States without proper identification. Anyone re-entering the United States by air must have documents that meet the WHTI regulations. The same policy is true for Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, The Bahamas and 17 different islands in the Caribbean. This policy started in January 2007 and will continue. There are also new procedures for children traveling into these areas. The whole family will be involved.

In the summer of 2008 a plan will start to be implemented to extend the rules to seaports and land ports of entry. It may take some time to fully expedite the program, but commencement of this activity is planned for that time frame.

Following is the list of accepted identification documents that are WHTI compliant as released by The Department of Homeland Security that will be accepted under proposed regulations.

U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air, land or sea between the U.S. and the aforementioned Western Hemisphere countries.

The Passport Card: This limited-use, wallet-size passport card is not yet available and is under development. When available it will only be valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean region (includes Bermuda).

Other Accepted Travel Documents: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST and the U.S. Coast Guard Mariner Document. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty traveling on orders are exempt from the passport requirement. The Department of Homeland Security website has more information on these travel documents. This information may be seen at http://www.dhs.gov/ or http://www.travel.state.gov/.

The goal of these new programs is to make it easier for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by requiring standardized documentation that enables the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler. It is also an effort to secure our borders and more readily identify those who have no good intentions when they attempt to enter the country. It is an effort by the agency make a more safe and secure environment for American citizens and their neighbors.

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Traveling across various time zones can wreak havoc with your vacation if you don’t take a few minutes and study up on how to handle jet lag. Jet lag is a relatively new term because flight across time zones didn’t become a reality until the 20^th Century. Going from New York to London on a ship a passenger had some place they could stretch out and rest. Ocean travel has its’ own set of issues but the phenomenon known as “jet lag” is not one of them, although there may still be some change in the body clock.

Dry atmospheres in airline cabins can cause dehydration. Altitude and pressure changes at each landing and takeoff also upset body systems, and although airliner cabins are pressurized, these changes can cause jet lag. So, drink a lot of liquid to counter the effects.

Frankly, I have my own way of working with jet lag. It may not work for everyone but might be helpful for some. First of all, I learned to take a leaf out of the books of other travelers, and did my best to be rested before starting the trip. Jet lag really becomes a problem when I travel coast to coast or overseas. If a trip takes me to Europe or Asia I try to plan an intermediate stop and take a few days to rest up before tackling the rest of the trip. However, that is not always possible especially for business travelers or if someone is short on funds.

Over the years I have traveled a lot to Europe for business and religious reasons. I do try to sleep on the planes, dressing as comfortable as possible. Instead of any sleep medications I take along something like some sort of tea or homeopathic remedy that encourages sleep and relaxation. It is best not to take any over the counter sleep aids or medications to use just prior to the flight. A passenger needs to be aware enough to handle an emergency. A mild relaxing tea is going to allow that. Save the stronger items for use at your destination. When I arrive at my hotel the first thing I do is lie down and take a nap. It doesn’t have to be very long. Mine is about two hours. Then I proceed through the rest of the day. Try to make flight arrangements so that you arrive during the day instead of late at night. It’s safer and there is more time to begin adjusting to the time change. The next day I try to get right out and make an attempt to fit into the flow of the new time zone. Sometimes, it is a bit of a push, but by the time you arrive back at the hotel you are ready to sleep. This is where other types of sleeping aids can come in handy. It normally takes me about two days to really adapt to the new time frame.

Here are some other tips from experts who have studied jet lag.

1. Sleep on the plane, and do use earplugs to shut out noise and eyeshades to shut out light. Pack a good neck pillow that can be folded up.

2. Take along some good warm socks or knitted slippers. Feet and legs tend to swell on a flight. Keeping your feet warm will help.

3. Dress warmly. I usually wear a pullover shirt with long sleeves over my blouse.

4. Avoid alcohol to keep from being dehydrated.

5. I do not put sugar in my decaffeinated coffee on a flight because it can cause dehydration. Also, limit your intake of salt or just don’t use it.

6. Try to get some exercise if you can on a flight. It will actually help with the jet lag problem and help you adjust to a new climate. There are special exercises you can do while sitting. On a long flight it is a good policy to find some way to exercise because Deep Vein Thrombosis can set in. This is a condition which has been tagged “Economy Class Syndrome” by some travel writers. The condition normally doesn’t affect most people, but a lot of airlines do warn passengers about it in their literature.

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The last plane trip I made with a toddler was a flight from Denver to Salt Lake City with my daughter and my 18 month old grand-daughter. We brought plenty of little toys and items to keep her busy for the 45 minute flight but she wasn’t interested. She tossed them on the floor and stayed glued to the window for the whole flight. It was her first airplane adventure and she was absolutely transfixed. We were lucky.Most of the time flying with children can be challenging. The most important thing to remember is to do everything you can to travel light, which means thinking in a portable mode. It is suggested that parents pack only one or two diapers along with a small package of wipes depending on how long the flight is. Look around for sample sized items like rash cream and baby powder. Another thing a parent can do is put everything in small plastic containers. Carry disposable bibs and sterilized bottle liners. It may be hard to do these days, but check and see if you can bring along a bottle of your own heated water. If the answer is “no” check and see if someone at an airport restaurant will fill up an empty baby bottle with hot water. Carry your own baby food, preferably in plastic containers along with plastic utensils. Passengers used to be able to take their own jars and tins on flights, but in today’s world that may be difficult. Check with the airline and see what baby changing arrangements they have. Some planes have restrooms that are a little larger and can accommodate a parent and child when diaper changes are needed. Get as much information as possible before you leave on the trip and then immediately approach the crew upon boarding and ask what assistance they can give you.

Carry a fold up stroller that can be stowed in an overhead bin. Also, be sure to take along some type of child restraint system (CRS). There is one that is approved by the FAA and there are several types of special harnesses on the market. Some airlines furnish a CRS, and will ask you to check in your unit as extra baggage. It is best to buy a seat for the child. Most passengers that I see hold their very small children on their laps. A CRS is a hard backed safety seat that can be used almost anywhere: Planes, trains and automobiles. Purchasing one is a good investment. A good alternative to a CRS is a flight harness because they can actually be folded up. For the real little guys a real good use of money might be to purchase a baby sleeping bag. They are softer and more comfortable. When traveling with very young children check with your doctor and ask which sedatives would be proper for them. Some sedatives work well while others can actually cause hyperactivity.

Talk to your agent or airline representative about seating arrangements. Sometimes it is good for parents to sit apart from one another so that they can relieve each other if tending the little ones gets to be too much. Some airlines allow children under a certain age to travel free if the child can sit on a parents lap. Each airline has a different policy. A good idea is to try to travel at off times during the day when there is liable to be a good number of empty seats. Very often a passenger who has children with them can work out a more suitable seating arrangement than child on the lap. Travel with more than one child is when additional seats may need to be purchased. Some airlines may provide special bassinets for babies. Most of these types of arrangements need to be made ahead of time. Spending a few dollars on a leash for toddler control is not a bad idea. They are very handy in airport waiting and baggage claim areas. A mother traveling with an older child, a baby and a toddler will find a leash a treasure.

Check with the Department of Transportation or your agent about any paperwork that might be needed when traveling with children. Children do need a passport when the family decides to take a trip to Italy.

Taking any trip with children can be a really great experience if proper preparations are made. If the right program isn’t in place it can be a nightmare.

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