Tesla Bethel
Lantern Staff
There are certain steps one has to take for international travel. This ranges from simple investigations of the destination and the weather to more complex issues such as if a country requires a visa. There are a lot of things to consider for international travel, so I have compiled a checklist not just for myself, but for fellow travelers as well.
• Get a passport, (see Issue 9 that was published on Tuesday, Feb. 14). Also make sure that passport does not expire for at least six months after one’s return. According to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, if you are over the age of 16, the passport shouldn’t expire for 10 years; however, if you are or under the age of 16, the passport is only valid for five years.
• Visa or no visa: Certain countries require visas. If you go to https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country.html, this will bring up a map. Then zoom in and click on the chosen destination. It will tell you if a country requires that travelers have a visa. For example, I am going to Greece for 17 days. Since it’s under 90 days, it is not required that I get a visa.
• Have a photo copy of all important travel documents in case of emergencies. This is a given in case something gets lost or stolen. Sometimes baggage doesn’t make it to the destination, so having these copies can help.
• Talk to your bank. According to Education First tours, if you plan on doing an international travel, it’s important that you let your bank or credit card company know you will be out of the country. If you do make purchases they won’t promptly freeze your assets.
• Health: Keep an eye on health precautions. Make sure you are up to date on all vaccinations required for travel into or out of that country. For instance, if one isn’t up to date on vaccinations, he/she might be able to get into the country, but he/she won’t be able to get back into the United States. The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs recommends to make sure that medical professionals write letters in regards to all prescription medications; otherwise, they may not be allowed on the airplane.
• Travel warning/alerts: One of the simplest things one can do to prepare for international travel is to keep track of travel alerts and warning because of weather in case one’s flight gets cancelled.
• Destination investigation: The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs recommends that one reads up on his/her destination of choice in order to know more localized laws, the culture and at the very least what the weather will be like on the travel dates.
• Plane requirements: The requirements for international travel are different than domestic travel. For instance, according to USA Today, carry-on bags for domestic travel might not have a weight limit, but with international travel they are restricted to 11 pounds or less.
Knowing these requirements will make the entire travel process smoother. The smoother the process, the more one can relax on their vacation.