Documentation Health Tips Money Rental Car Tips Customs

Baggage Requirements Inflight Tips Safety Tips

Student Travel - Documentation

Passport
Before you leave make 2 copies of your passport. Take one copy with you but keep it in a separate place from your original passport. Leave your 2nd copy with a family member. If something should happen to your passport, lost or stolen, having this information available can make replacing a passport much easier. (http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english.html)

Have all the documents regarding the school you will be attending ( I-20) with all the housing and transportation informations. You should have in writting the addresses, names and phones of the school administrator or travel agent  responsable of your file 

Visa
Make sure you check the visa requirements of all the countries you will be visiting or transiting through. Contact the consulate of the country you plan to visit to request detailed visa information. (http://www.embassy.org/embassies)

Student Travel - Health Tips

USA and Canada recommend vaccinations certificates or other personal health information before entry. Contact your local public health department for specifics on the countries you plan to visit consulate. Click here for Center for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/)

For a complete list of countries with Warnings (it's going to be hard for you to get a US visa) from the State Department, click here (http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html).

Student Travel - Money Tips

The safest way to carry money is in travelers checks.

For your convenience, always have a small amount of local currency in your pocket when you enter a foreign country. For currency conversion click here (http://www.xe.net/currency) or www.xe.com/ucc

It is best to exchange your travelers check at a local bank of the country you enter or a currency exchange. Before exchanging any moneys always reconfirm the rate of exchange and any fees.

If you have an ATM Card contact your local bank for a listing of their international locations. You should be able to obtain cash easily overseas and usually at an exchange rate better than the currency exchange offices. Please note most international ATM machines only support a 4 digit pin number. For a listing of ATM machines click here (http://www.visa.com/atms).

Also, for emergency purposes have a large bill  in a separate safe place from other moneys.

Student Travel - Rental Car Tips:

• We suggest learning the driving rules of the countries you will be traveling through in advance of your arrival.
• Toll Roads are found throughout US. If you are adventurous you can save money by utilizing local roads.
• The minimum rental age for most countries is 21 years of age.
• Driving takes your total concentration, we do not recommend reading maps, eating, or talking on the phone while driving.
• Driving in USA is different than the driving you experience in the where else.  American driving is  seriously wild. and the police stand by to reward the law breaker, If you are a timid driver we suggest you to call a taxi once at the airport. 

How much luggage can I take?
For international air travel, each passenger is allowed to check 2 bags and carry 1 bag. The maximum dimensions for checked luggage is 62 inches (length + width + height) and the sum of the dimensions for the 2 bags combined cannot exceed 107 inches. In addition, the weight of each bag cannot exceed 70 pounds. An additional bag, an oversized bag, or an overweight bag would be subject to an excess baggage charge.

However, please note getting your luggage from one place to another is the easy part, carrying it around is the real challenge!

Student Travel - Inflight Travel Tips

• Eat lightly 24 hours before your flight
  
• Eat lightly while in-flight
  
• Drink one glass of water or juice every hour
  
• Wear eyeglasses during the flight, not contact lenses, to minimize eye irritation
  
• During the flight place your feet on the footrest or carry-on under the seat in front of you. This will take pressure off the back of your thighs
  
• Ear plugs worn during the flight relieves the stress of engine noise

Student Travel - Safety Tips

Bags

Never leave your bags unattended, thieves are very quick and can be very devious.

Money Belt
Protect your valuable documents by carrying them in a money belt or a wallet under your clothes.