Most countries will want to see your passport, but in addition to this there are sometimes other things you . . . → Read More: Passport]]>

Most countries will want to see your passport, but in addition to this there are sometimes other things you need to know which aren’t so obvious. For example, some countries require that your passport is valid for at least six months after you plan to leave that particular country and if it isn’t you won’t be let in. So it pays to get your passport renewed if it is quite close to expiring.

Some countries, such as South Africa, have other requirements. Your passport needs to be valid for at least 30 days after your intended date of departure, but also it must have at least two blank pages for an entry stamp.

If you also require a visa to enter South Africa (EU and USA citizens currently don’t), then you must also have a passport with two blank facing pages, one for the visa and one for the entry stamp. Anyone attempting to enter the country without the two blank pages will be sent home (at their own expense).

So, as you can see, it pays to check these things well in advance. A good place to find current entry requirements for most countries in the world is using the World Country Guides on the World Travel Guide website (scroll down when you get there and click on the country you want to go to on the map).

As well as a passport, many countries require a visa to enter. This is simply a document or stamp . . . → Read More: Visas]]>

As well as a passport, many countries require a visa to enter. This is simply a document or stamp issued by a country giving you permission to enter for a given period of time and for certain purposes, which is usually stamped or glued inside your passport, or issued as separate pieces of paper.

Here are some examples of entry requirements around the world (check with the country’s embassy or consulate before you leave, though):

New Zealand doesn’t require US or EU citizens to obtain a visa in advance but you do need a return or onward ticket (plus a visa for the country where you are heading, if required).

Some countries (for example, Australia) use electronic “visas” where you can apply online and, if successful, your name is added to a database which is checked when you enter the country.

Indonesia requires an onward ticket for entry but these can be bought cheaply after landing at the Indonesian airport and then sold later if not needed.



There are reciprocal arrangements between various countries, too, like the US Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa and vice-versa. The reciprocal arrangement means that most European countries will admit citizens of the United States with just a valid passport.

Canada just requires that US citizens have official identification (usually a driver’s licence), and sufficient funds to enter.

Mexico requires just an id to travel within 26 kilometers of the border, and a $15 visitor card beyond that (bought at checkpoints).

Thailand will issue a free transit visa valid for 15 days to those arriving there without a visa as long as you have an onward airline ticket. For $25, paid in advance at a Thai embassy or consulate, you can get 30, 60 or 90 day visas (valid from the date of entry), with no need for an onward ticket.

A visa for visiting India is multiple entry (you can leave and re-enter on the same visa), and can be obtained at your local Indian embassy. You will get an application form which you send back with your passport and the required fee by registered mail. Your passport is then returned with the visa inside. This will take about two weeks, although, for an additional fee, you can get next-day processing. The visa is valid from the date of issue, not from when you enter the country.

Other things to be aware of are such things as the fact that there are certain countries that will not let you enter if you have an Israeli entry stamp in your passport (or if you use an Israeli passport when entering). Luckily, you can make alternative arrangements, for example, by applying for a second passport if you travel frequently to Israel.

The World Travel Guide says this: “Tourists [visiting Israel and] continuing [on] to Arab countries, excluding Egypt and Jordan, are recommended to request that an Israeli stamp does not appear in their passport. The granting of such requests is at the discretion of the authorities.”

As with passports, applying for visas is another thing that can take time (for visas to enter some countries it can take months), so, again, check the requirements for the countries you are visiting well in advance of your trip (here, for example, on the World Travel Guide website).

Once in a country it can be possible get visa extensions but sometimes it is easier to leave the country and come back on a new visa.

Finally, it also pays to take extra passport-sized photos for any additional visas that you might need while travelling.

Some of the following links are on other pages of this website. I have brought them all together on . . . → Read More: Websites]]>

Some of the following links are on other pages of this website. I have brought them all together on this page, plus a few others that I found useful when researching long-term worldwide travel.

The links are not listed in any particular order, although I try to keep them arranged in the same order as they appear on this site.

General:

How to travel overland comfortably and affordably
General Travel Hints and Tips
The Traveller’s Toolkit – Independent travel resources
Round-The-World Travel Guide – The Travel Library
Lots of very useful travel advice links
Using a cell phone overseas
Maps of the night sky

Money:

Visa worldwide ATM/cash machine locator
MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus ATM locator
Credit card travel tips
Lost VISA card toll-free numbers
Lost MasterCard card toll-free numbers

Health:

Health Information for Overseas Travel
World Health Organization latest information by country
Health information by country and by illness plus a world list of doctors
Vaccination information by country
Malaria information – Generate a personal anti-malarial report by country
Malaria information – World map of risk areas

Water purification:

Water bottle purification systems
Steripen handheld, pocket-sized water purifier

Working/Volunteering Abroad:

Volunteers Abroad – Worldwide volunteer opportunities
Help Exchange – Volunteer to work at farms, homes, ranches, lodges, etc.
Voluntary Service Overseas

Packing light:

Lightweight Backpacking 101 – For hiking and camping
Travel light out of one carry-on sized bag
For the First-time Traveller
Packing light for vacations and air travel

Equipment stores:

Magellans International Travel Inc

Backpack security:

Pacsafe Anti-Theft Bags & Travel Security Products
Travel Security Products

Country guides:

Government Advice for UK travellers
Government Advice for US travellers
South East Asia specific travel advice
Weather information by country

Accommodation:

Hostel information by country
Youth Hostel Association – UK
Youth Hostel Association – Worldwide

Phrasebooks:

www.lastminute.com
www.collinslanguage.com

Stock photos:

www.tssphoto.com
www.the-lightbox.com
www.availablestockphotos.com

Write lists of phone numbers and addresses of emergency contacts, friends you will be visiting, numbers to call if . . . → Read More: Contact Information]]>

Write lists of phone numbers and addresses of emergency contacts, friends you will be visiting, numbers to call if you lose things and need to cancel services or get replacements sent to you (your cell phone and credit cards, for example), phone numbers and addresses of embassies/consulates, and perhaps addresses of useful travel-related websites.

Similarly, for any hotels or lodging you have arranged in advance, make a note of addresses and phone numbers.

Enter all the phone numbers into your phone’s address book and maybe even email a copy to yourself. Another idea to keep it safe is to print out the list on a small piece of paper and laminate this (thus waterproofing it).

Try to get local numbers. These will be cheaper to call from within the country where you are staying, and besides, most home country toll-free numbers can not be accessed from overseas.

There are ways around this, however. One is to use the AT&T USADirect service, which gives access to a limited number of 800 numbers. Or a similar service from MCI where you can call the number listed for the country where you are currently located and ask the operator to make a collect call to the number you are trying to reach (my bank in the US uses this service, for example).

However, the best way to keep in touch while abroad is to use Skype.

I have been using this service for a few years now, calling between Europe and the States (and occasionally to France and New Zealand), a lot of the time for free, and at other times for just pennies. It is also the best way to call 800 numbers in the US from Europe (and for free).

Click on the ad above to check them out.