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For the handicapped, taking a trip by air can be a truly harrowing experience. This is why many of our physically impaired citizens just don’t do it. It is often too difficult for them. And this is a shame, a sad state of affairs, because it arbitrarily and unnecessarily, narrows their world. However, just as we mentioned in our article about those who are handicapped when it comes to walking, there are also services available, and things the visually and hearing impaired can do to ease the burden of traveling. This is true, even if they have to travel alone. And they have definite rights under the law in this regard. Airlines must obey them.

Handicapped Seating, O’Hare International Airport Author, Piotrus, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) of 2009 stipulates definite rules for those with disabilities and their right to access to airports and flights on air­lines. The ACAA delineates exactly what information the airlines are required to give you. The airlines must also provide an array of services to such handicapped passen­gers under this law. Some, but not all of these are:

Accessibility to air­line information and reserva­tion services for the visually and hearing impaired, including text telephone (TTY) if it is also providing phone services of a similar nature to non-impaired customers. And they must respond in substantially the same time and manner that they would for any non-handicapped customers.

Impaired passengers have a right to access information at airports, but they must first notify the attending airline’s personnel of their impairment, so such needs can be properly met. In this regard, foreign flights must also provide such information if they are flying to or from the United States. Among the items they must provide are ticketing information, schedule changes, gate assignments, baggage checking, flight check-in, and even if the passenger is being paged. Televisions at airports must have closed captioning. If you’re visually impaired, bring your cane. It lets others know you have a sight problem. What’s more, don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Once on the plane, visually or hearing impaired passengers must notify the flight’s personnel of this fact, and they are then entitled to receive any onboard information the other passengers may be receiving. This includes such diverse topics as flight safety, weather information at the flight’s destination, baggage claims (where to go), connecting gate assignments and/or changes, emergencies, etc. Whatever the regular passengers are given in the way of information must be given to impaired passengers, as well.

Special Markings For The Visually Impaired Author, Poco a poco, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

With regard to an impaired person’s service animal, as long as the flight is under eight hours, in most instances, the impaired can have their animal with them on the flight. If over eight hours, the passenger may be required to show that the animal does not have to relieve itself, or it can be done is such a way as not to cause any health or hygiene problems. Also, the animal cannot be situated in such a way that it blocks any area, especially the aisles. If this is the case, the airline must try to find another seat for the passenger and the animal where this is not a problem.

And in some instances, the airline may insist upon a safety assistant traveling with the person, because of the need to make sure the passenger is clearly informed of any emergency situations, and such other critical information. This may be the case for someone who is both visually and hearing impaired. However, if the airline insists upon this, they cannot make the passenger pay the cost for an assistant. The airline alone must carry the burden of any such costs. Also, all impaired passengers are entitled to assistance when moving around the interior of the airport, as well as embarking and debarking from flights, and moving about on board.

If Visually Impaired, Bring Your Cane Emijrp Commons Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Airlines must have a designated Complaint Resolution Officer in the airports and these officers are supposed to be experts in their field and have the authority to resolve any issues themselves. As a hearing or visually impaired passenger, you have the right to make complaints, and they should be dealt with by such a Complaint Resolution Officer. However, if they do not resolve any such problems, or the passenger feels less than satisfied with the type of resolution, they may call the U.S. Department of Transportation. It has a toll-free hotline for handicapped travelers. The hotline numbers are 1-800-778-4838 if you can use voice, or use 1-800-455-9880 if you need text telephone access (TTY). If you prefer to file a complaint later, please do so within the six-month period immediately following any such incident that causes the complaint.

Again, handicapped passengers have rights! Whether physically impaired with regard to walking, visual, or hearing, you have rights! And if your complaints aren’t resolved, file them with the U.S. Department of Transportation. This helps not only you on future flights, but all impaired passengers, too. There is power in numbers. Use it!

For a complete summary please go to:

http://www.alda.org/pdfs/DHHCAN_AirTravel_2009_guide.pdf

This site gives you detailed information on all of this, and in much greater depth than we can do here. I highly recommend this site for all impaired passengers, regardless of the type of handicap.

So when it comes to traveling for the impaired, remember, under the new legislation, you have more rights than ever, and it seems everyone is set on enforcing them. That’s the good news. However, being alone in an airport with an airline agent who is unresponsive or rude, can still happen on occasion. It can be traumatic for such a passenger. That’s why it is all the more important to demand to see the Complaint Resolution Officer, and failing this, to call the U.S. Department of Transportation Hotline number(s) listed above in this article. And, it might also help very much to have a copy of the DHHCAN Airline Travel Action Guide 2009 whose website is also above listed (and below, under “References”). Having the actual paper in your hand can go a long way to getting recalcitrant airline personnel to listen to you. Or, at least, bring this article with you.

International Symbol For Hearing Impaired Public Domain, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

And don’t be afraid or feel intimidated into not flying. This world belongs to all of us, not just some of us, and you have a right to go where you want to, impaired or not! So please, if you get nothing else from this article, get this much: You have a right to fly! You have rights in that regard! And nobody should infringe upon those rights or take them away from you!

And when it comes to your currency needs, remember Currate.com, the folks who bring you all this great and helpful information. At Currate.com, you will find images of over 180 of the world’s currencies, a point-and-click to your destination Earth map, regularly updated currency exchange rates, and an online currency conversion calculator, so you will know exactly what that monetary exchange is costing you in your own currency. And don’t forget that Currate.com also has features for those who have mobile phones with Internet browser capability. If your phone has enhanced features, go to http://currate.com/e.php. If you phone is not capable of such features, than try http://currate.com/m.php. Either way, with a mobile phone with Internet capability, you will always be just a few seconds away from all the information you need for regularly updated currency exchange rates for just about anywhere!

So for all travelers, whether physically impaired or not, Currate.com performs a great service when it comes to giving information about various currencies. The best part? It’s all free, a service designed specifically for travelers, physically impaired or otherwise, and available to all!

Rob Shelsky, Currate.com Contributing Editor
Robert Rademacher, Currate.com Editor-in-Chief

References:

Air Carrier Access Act
http://www.bcm.edu/ilru/dlrp/html/guide_to/acaa.html

Overview Of The Air Carrier Access Act
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34047_20090519.pdf

Aviation Consumer Protection And Enforcement
http://airconsumer.dot.gov/ACAAcomplaint.htm

AIR CARRIER ACCESS ACT OF 1986 As Amended Effective May 13, 2009
http://www.state.hi.us/health/dcab/factsheets/AIR%20CARRIER%20ACCESS%20ACT.pdf

DHHCAN Airline Travel Action Guide 2009 Summary PDF File
http://www.alda.org/pdfs/DHHCAN_AirTravel_2009_guide.pdf

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If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium—now there is a blast from the past, as far as movies go. The year, 1969, to be exact, and it starred Suzanne Pleshette, and Ian McShane, among others. More importantly, was the premise of the show. It was a comedy about Americans taking a whirlwind tour of Europe. Depending on what day it was, told the increasingly confused tourists what country and/or city they were supposed to in at any given moment. Apparently, so fast was the tour, so quick were the changes for the tourists, they just couldn’t keep it all straight in their minds.

One Stop On A Tour, Tours Cathedral, Author Erin Silversmith Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Why do I bring this up now? Well, that movie was based on the real-life problems many tourists had and still have, in some cases, in going on packaged tours to Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. Tours, and the groups that composed them, came to have very bad connotations for many travelers. And well-seasoned travelers began to avoid them like the very plague. In fact, a distinct and certain snobbery has set in these days. Where it is still okay to take cruises en masse to places (because of the luxury aspects of such type of travel), tours tend to be looked down upon as unworthy of any real traveler, Tours are often considered to be fraught with too many problems, such as traveling too fast, too far, too organized, no spontaneity, and fellow travelers that can drive you crazy and from whom you just can never seem to get away.

Tour buses have come a long ways over the years—from basic models to far more comfortable air conditioned ones!

Vintage Tour Bus of St .Marys, Author Dr. Neil Clifton

Modern Tour Bus - Volvo, Author, JI Engels,

Are these prob­lems with group tours real?  Oh, yes. They can be quite real, in some cases, and to vary­ing de­grees. Tour fatigue is not just a myth. Neither are the problems many tourists speak of upon having finish­ed such tours. However, many prob­lems can be avoided with a little foresight when planning your trip and choosing your tour.

You might well wonder, why even bother, right? Why try to deal with such problems when you can just avoid them by not taking tours at all? Well, tour groups also have some great advantages, ones that can be hard to beat. For instance, many tour packages include all forms of transportation and places to stay while on the tour. This can include, and often does, transportation to and from the airport, the bus you will use while en route, hotels (even porters fees plus all taxes included in the package price), side trips on such things as vaporettos in Venice, short cruises up the Rhine in Germany, and much else. The hotels have to be to certain standards, so you are assured of reasonable quality. Even some food can be included in the price, such as continental breakfasts, dinners every other night, some lunches, etc. To top this all off, it is the rare person who can complete such complex trips in such a timely manner and at so cheap a price! Tour companies get special rates from the hotels and restaurants they use. For you to purchase nights and meals at these same places would cost you far more as an individual.

Japanese Tourists In Front Of Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France Author, Luctor, Public Domain, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

So the big advantage of tour groups? They are, comparatively, very cheap! They often are very inclusive. You get to see a lot. You don’t waste precious time stumbling around on your own trying to find places. Your hotel reservations are always there for you at the end of the day. And, you don’t have to worry about trying to rent a car, purchase train, bus, subway, or other types of transportation. In short, just about everything is done for you. You get to relax and enjoy the trip.

Lion Monument, Lucerne, Switzerland Public Domain, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

There is also one more advant­age to tours. For travelers going to new places, tours are a good way to get an overview of the main sites and tourist attractions. You, as a traveler, unless extremely well informed, can’t know all the places that you should see in a country. Tour groups do know this and they take you there. So whether it’s the Lion Monument in Lucerne, or the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, tourist companies know, and often incorporate such in their tours. What’s more, you have the benefit of a virtually round-the-clock guide to answer your questions on everything from what currency is being used and where, to how to go about getting a doctor if you need one. Tour guides are often like built-in concierges.

Bridge of Sighs, Venice, Italy, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Again, packaged tours have a lot going for them. As an example, one tour I’m aware of is a 15-day excursion to Egypt. It includes Cairo, the museum there, the pyramids, the sphinx, a several-day cruise up the Nile, the Temple of Karnak, the statues of Abu Simbel, lots of other ancient sites, an overnight (with sleeping facilities) train trip, even an interior flight in Egypt, along with a short stay in Alexandria. And the price was incredibly low, being about $1,500 for all this, including transportation, days on a boat on the Nile (with staterooms), hotels, entrance to various sites, and again, even some meals. How can you beat that price?

Temple of Karnak, Egypt Author, Kurohito, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Now, what are the problems with traveling in tour groups? Well, the ones stated near the beginning of this article can be real enough. Pick the wrong package and your “whirlwind tour” can be just a little too whirlwind at times. Traveling by bus can be fatiguing, but then, so can driving a rental car in a strange country.  Dealing with other members of the tour, when you are with them all day, and then packed into the same hotel with them at night can get difficult, even downright annoying! And schedules have to be kept. There is little room for spontaneity on tours in this regard. You get up bright and early, and get on your way—like it or not!

So how does one take a tour without dealing with all these problems? Well, first choose your tour package carefully. Different packages include different things, such as number of places to visit, length of tour (time-wise, and mile-wise), tourist sites included, hotels, length of stay at each location, which meals are included, and which other costs are covered.

This means you can customize your tour package to some reasonable degree. My advice is to pick a longer tour. These often include free weekends in various cities and towns. The tour takes you on an excursion of the city the first morning there. These usually last a couple of hours and help with your personal orientation of the place. Then, you have the rest of the weekend free to go where you want, see what you want, and do what you want. Meanwhile, your hotel is paid for, usually you have at least a continental breakfast included in this, and sometimes an evening meal or lunch as well. This way, although with a tour group, you can strike out on your own and escape them all if you wish.  Such free time helps a lot!

However, although there were times I wanted to do this, to get away from all of “them,” there were times when I really enjoyed my fellow travelers’ company. They could be a great bunch of people. What’s more, they spoke my language, English, so in places like Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and France, I didn’t feel so alone. And there is safety in numbers. Traveling as a group to various out-of-the-way, isolated tourist sites made one feel safer. And, I made a lot of lasting friends. One friend, a woman I met from Australia, still emails me regularly. It’s been 23 years now, and we still keep in touch this way. Also, I have some marvelous memories of things we all did together as a group (and photos as well), such things as dancing with a female member of the party in the actual summer house used in The Sound Of Music. That was on a trip to Salzburg. Or, another lasting memory is of having a joint hotel balcony party with food and drink while overlooking the Eternal City of Rome, Again, lots of memories.

Do you have to put up with the odd foibles of someone else while on these tours? Yes, this is true. One older gentleman and his wife latched onto me, and didn’t want to let me out of their sight. They actually became jealous if I spoke with other people. It took some doing and wriggling to avoid them at times, just to have some time alone. Still, we have become fast friends. Also, one tour guide I had was a bit too much of a flirt with the women on the tour, to the point of irritating several of my fellow passengers—the husbands, mostly.  Not good…

So yes, tour packages can have their problems, but they can also be very reasonably priced alternatives to trying to travel alone in strange places, at what would be much higher costs. And, if the other members of the tour can sometimes get a little grating, they can also become fast friends you will keep for a lifetime. Just remember to pick the best tour for the style of travel you prefer. Again, I recommend one that leaves the traveler some free time when in various cities. Also, be firm. If someone is bothering you too much, won’t leave you alone, politely but firmly just tell them you prefer to spend some time on your own. One can still be polite, yet firm.

In these hard economic times, it can be just too costly for some of us to travel the usual way. This is where tour packages can be great alternatives. And, too, there are some countries I just don’t want to be completely on my own in, such as Egypt. I don’t know the language, don’t know the laws or customs well enough to want to travel their on my own. Again, tour groups do offer a certain “safety in numbers.” Moreover, it’s a good way for women who don’t wish to be completely alone when traveling. Some countries can still be very difficult for the lone woman to move about in, and sometimes even a bit dangerous.

Oh, and if your tour guide can’t answer your questions as to the most recent exchange rate for a currency, or is not able to help you with figuring out what different prices are in your own currency when you want to buy something, then I recommend using Currate.com’s excellent mobile phone features. If you have a mobile phone with Internet service, just go to http://currate.com/m.php. If your mobile phone has enhanced features, then use http://currate.com/e.php. Currate.com is the traveler’s best friend when it comes to currency matters. Currate.com has an online currency conversion calculator, regularly updated exchange rates for currencies, an Earth map that shows your destination countries by merely pointing to them and clicking.

Also, you will find actual images of all the worlds’ major currencies there. And to top it all off, we have an ongoing series of articles that cover such important matters as to where to find ATM’s upon your arrival in a country, what the costs (and hidden fees) are for withdrawing money in local currencies, where to eat, how best to travel, and places to see. We even recently discussed that mysterious Rule 240 that many airlines are supposed to adhere to when it comes to delayed flights. So check out Currate.com. With its great currency conversion features and topical articles, again, Currate.com is the traveler’s best friend! And enjoy that tour!

Rob Shelsky, Currate.com Contributing Editor
Robert Rademacher, Currate.com Editor-in-Chief

References:

Trafalgar Tours
http://www.cheapertravel.com/tours/Trafalgar?gclid=CK-Z5Ln3958CFSFy5QodPBzvEA

Atlas Tours And Cruises
http://www.atlastravelweb.com/europetours.shtml

Tours For Fun
http://www.tours4fun.com/europe-tours/

Tour Egypt
http://www.touregypt.net/Travtip.htm

Wanderlust and Lipstick, Your Destination For Women’s Travel
http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/

Good News For Single And Solo Travel
http://www.cstn.org/news/single.htm

Organized Tours…….A great way to travel or simply for the lazy gringo?
http://www.travelblog.org/Topics/10494-1.html

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We’ve all been hearing about it lately. The buzz is almost nonstop. Health insurance—should it be a requirement, or not? One estimate says that roughly some forty million Americans do not have health insurance and that’s a major problem, no doubt. So, of course, various groups are pushing to have such insurance supplied, and require us all to have it. Good or bad idea? I leave it to you to decide. But did you know that when you travel abroad, this can be just as much of a problem? Health insurance is fast becoming a big issue for international travelers these days. (‘’)

Emergency Room

And even if you already have your own health insurance here in the United States, you may still have to pay for required extra travel insurance whether you want it or not. This is the “Required Travel Insurance” that can tack on a hefty surcharge to any cruise or trip. And for the unsuspecting tourist, especially those traveling on a budget, this can be a major shock, even a deal breaker, because some people simply can’t get such insurance, because of preexisting health conditions. Or, they simply can’t afford the extra cost, which gets higher for those who are older. This means that some people just can’t go some places, as a result.

What exactly do we mean by places demanding required travel insurance? Well, one good example of this is the Czech Republic. Here are the entry requirements for the Czech Republic, as stated by the U.S. State Department:

“ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: The Czech Republic is a party to the Schengen Agreement. As such, U.S. citizens may enter the Czech Republic for up to 90 days within any 180-day period for tourist or business purposes without a visa. The passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the periods of stay. For further details on travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen Fact Sheet. All foreigners seeking entry in the Czech Republic must carry proof of a medical insurance policy contracted for payment of all costs for hospitalization and medical treatment in the Czech Republic.”

This makes it clear that you can’t go to the Czech Republic unless you can show verifiable proof of health insurance, or some ability to pay for it while there. It’s “required.” And the Czech Republic is hardly alone in this. It gets even more complicated. As of this April 2010, citizens of the United Kingdom have to purchase extra coverage to go to the Channel Islands, because their National Health Insurance no longer will cover them there.  The same is true in reverse. So things are changing rapidly in this regard, all around the world, and not for the better.

With the onset of financial problems due to current worldwide economic conditions, expect more countries to protect their own health system’s costs by requiring travelers to show required proof of insurance before entry.  This is a growing phenomenon, and may well be “the wave of the future.”

Alaskan Cruise, Photograph by Robert A. Estremo, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons Medicare “might” cover you on such an Alaskan cruise, but not most foreign places.

And this isn’t just true of countries, this demanding of re­quired travel insur­ance. Again, cruise lines do it, as well. One company charges $245 per person (see email message below sent by the reader) as the standard fee for taking its regu­lar cruises. Longer cruises cost more. And to confirm a booking, you often have to have this. And the same goes for some tour services, as well. Prices vary, but to purchase the pack­age, you often have to pay for the required travel insurance, like it or not.

This happened to my father and me. A while back, we traveled on a Trafalgar tour. As part of the package deal, we had to pay a required travel insurance fee for each of us. Now, this isn’t necessarily Trafalgar’s demand, but to enter certain countries, all members of the tour had to have it, so Trafalgar had to charge for it. Fair is fair, I suppose. But as a side note, when my father’s back went out while we were in Venice, our tour guide was very reluctant to aid us in getting my dad to a doctor (as the brochure told us they would do). In fact, he did not help us at all, and said that “there wasn’t time for that” if we wanted to continue with the tour, although we were only talking about a standard one-hour appointment with any available local doctor.

Venice, Author, “Rambling Traveler” Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

So, feeling we had very little choice, we didn’t go to the doctor. My father did recover slowly and we believe it was just a back spasm, but for days, he was in a lot of pain. It interfered with what he could do on the tour. So in this case, even though we had paid the required travel insurance up front, we didn’t feel we realized the benefits of it when needed. That’s just som­ething to think about here, because it seems, although you may be required to have travel insurance, whether or not it will work for you when actually needed, is another matter.

Now, a lot of retired folk feel they don’t have to worry about this issue, because they have Medicare. Wrong! Medicare almost NEVER covers people abroad, except under VERY limited circumstances only, which almost never seem to apply in the real world. So, producing your Medicare card as proof of required insurance in such places as the Czech Republic, simply won’t fly at all.

What’s more, this more often than not holds true for most American medical insurance plans, as well. You often are not covered while abroad. So when some official in another country demands you produce proof of coverage, those insurance cards will often not meet the required travel insurance standards. In short, they can be worthless pieces of paper in this regard. And even if your medical plan will act to cover you abroad, they are often highly limited in what they will pay for in such instances. Medical evacuation back to the United States is often not included.

Is required travel insurance a growing problem? Yes, most definitely. As economies falter, the demand for this sort of thing is growing around the world. So, it is something travelers must take into account when they go abroad. What can be done about it? Probably, very little, I’m afraid. If a country or tour company demands required travel insurance, your only options seem to be not to go to that country, or not to use that tour business. And as more countries demand such insurance, bet on more tour companies doing the same.

Here’s the email message sent to us by our loyal Currate.com subscriber asking about the travel insurance issue:

This same piece of advice goes for everything else you do in planning your travels. Research is key to safe and fun traveling. It applies as to which countries you may want to go to, what items and documents to take with you, and what local currencies you will be using. For the last, I very much recommend Currate.com. It’s an “all-in-on,” very inclusive website where you  can determine what the local currencies are for each country you are visiting, what the current (reliable) exchange rates are, and even what the currencies actually look like.

Currate.com has actual images of over 180 currencies. And with a currency conversion calculator right there, you can check to see just what anything and everything should cost you. This way, you will avoid expensive mistakes, and even sometimes, being cheated. Currate.com even has a mobile phone feature for those whose mobiles have Internet browser capability. Just go to http://currate.com/m.php. If your mobile phone has enhanced features, then why not try http://currate.com/e.php, instead? Again, researching every aspect of your trip is paramount if you want to have a save and fun travel experience. And Currate.com is an excellent site to research all the currency aspects of your travels. Check it out! You won’t be sorry.

References:

International Medical Insurance
http://www.international-medical-insurance-guide.com/

U.S. Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1099.html

Tips For Traveling Abroad (U.S. Department of State)
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1099.html

Medicare For Expats, Or A Mess Of Pottage?
http://www.escapefromamerica.com/2009/10/medicare-overseas/

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Stuck on a crowded airplane for a long trip? Kids around you screaming, an obese person next to you enveloping you and your seat, and with no way for you to get up to reach your “stuff” in the overhead compart­ment, let alone to make a trip to the restroom? Feeling trapped and claustrophobic because you are in a window or middle seat on a packed plane?

A Not Too Crowded Flight, Author, Charlie Brewer Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

Let’s face it; this and many other things have happened to a lot of us. Lately, due to airline cutbacks, canceling flights, and cost-control measures, more flights are flying that are completely booked. This means we’re often traveling in what amounts to an almost cattle-car-like situation.  And to be honest, sometimes, we do get seats next to overweight passengers who overflow their own, taking up some of ours. I mention this specifically, because of the recent news media flap over Director Kevin Smith being refused a right to fly for being overweight. I have no real opinion on that incident, but I do understand that both sides have some valid points regarding this matter. But sometimes, sitting next to such a person can be worse than just uncomfortable. It can be downright painful.

Case in point; I flew from Tampa to San Diego, about a seven-hour flight, all told. I was in a three-row seat, in the middle (window seat on my right). A heavy-set gentleman had the aisle seat. Now, mind you, he was a friendly fellow, and I enjoyed his company, but he did overlap his seat into mine—a lot! He literally and completely enveloped the armrest between us with his body, and his large arm and thigh were well into “my territory” (meaning he was absorbing about a good third of my seat). And unfortunately, he wore only a tee-shirt and so did I, because it was hot on that plane! With so many people on the flight, no matter how high we put our air-conditioning, it was still hot! His flesh pressed against my entire side in such an intimate way for those seven hours as to make me wonder about the morality of it all. I think you get the picture.

Director Kevin Smith, Author, Nehrams2020 Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

For seven hours I had to endure leaning to the far right of my seat. My traveling companion pressed herself against the window to give me a little more space. We were, to use an old saying, “packed like sardines in a tin” and sideways at that, in this case. It wasn’t just uncomfortable—it was painful, at times almost unendurably so. Before the end of the trip, I had a stiff and sore neck, and this lasted another two days. I was much too hot the entire trip. I couldn’t get up to go to the bathroom, because, frankly, it was such an effort for the poor man to get out of his seat that I just didn’t wish to disturb him, although he was very good-natured about it when I absolutely had to do this. And eating meals was a nightmare! I couldn’t lower my tray to place my food on it. There was no room!

Now, am I attacking overweight people, not wanting them to be on planes? Absolutely not! He was a pleasant man, a good conversationalist, and I think he had every bit as much right to be on the plane just as much as anybody else did. I feel it is up to the airlines and/or the FAA to establish rules and/or procedures for this problem, but with the rights of all travelers being thoroughly protected in the process. How they resolve the issue is for all of them to decide and not me. I’m no expert on such matters.

My only concern was that I paid for a ticket for a seat, and I felt I should have gotten the entire seat, not one-half to two-thirds of it! I can barely afford my own flights, without subsidizing other people’s flights in such a way. And if you think I’m exaggerating this episode, let me just say this; when we landed in San Diego and went to collect our baggage, I was waiting a long time for my luggage to appear. So was an Asian gentleman. He asked me if I was on the flight from Tampa. I nodded. And he said; “Oh, that’s right. You were the one having to sit sideways next to that obese guy! We all felt so sorry for you.” See? It wasn’t just my imagination. So my feelings on this whole issue, just to mention them in passing, is that everyone who pays for a seat, should be entitled to the whole seat or seats for which they’ve paid. It’s that simple, and regardless of anyone’s size, all of our rights need to be respected.

But even though this issue is much in the news right now, it is just one possible problem we face when flying. Above, I’ve mentioned others. And all those, combined with the airport terminals themselves, finding parking, finding your correct terminal, locating our flight gates, etc., it can get very stressful to fly these days, indeed.

So here are some tips to make taking a flight a little better, a little easier:

Portland International Airport Security, Author, Aboutmovies Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

First and we say this many times here, because it is so important; get to the airport well before your flight time. This way, if you make mistakes, take wrong turns, end up at the wrong terminal, or have trouble finding your parking location, you will have time to correct the situation without the chance of missing your flight. This helps relieve a lot of stress. And call the airline before leaving home to confirm you flight, that it is still flying at the same time. You don’t want to get to the airport to find your flight’s been moved up an hour and is now about to leave. That would be very stressful!

Secondly, when you arrive, check in as soon as possible. Remember, if you arrive late, your chances of getting bumped off your flight increases some, so get there early! And security is taking ever longer these days to pass through, so it helps to arrive early. To speed your ability to get through security, avoid wearing belts with metal, metal jewelry, or anything with metal (watches, etc.) for that matter. This will keep you from having to repeat trips through the detector. This can be nerve wracking and embarrassing for some, because inevitably, it starts to hold up the line behind you. Also, try to wear shoes without metal in them for the same reason. Slip-ons or loafers are a good way to go, because they do make you remove your shoes these days. It’s best to wear shoes that are easy-on, and easy-off. Again, watch out for metal bits.

Make sure your carry-on luggage has the right things in it. If you take medications and need to take them during the flight, you will need them with you. And, make sure you have those other things you know you will want. Whether pills, a book, or whatever, if you have them with you, rather than in the overhead compartment, it will save you having to hop up and down, blocking the aisles, and discom­moding other passengers in the process.

Baggage Check In, Author, Mattes Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

Finally, settle in and enjoy the flight. With headphones for music or a movie, and/or your own ear plugs, you can block out most sounds around you, including those of screaming kids. A sleep mask will do wonders, too. Virgin Atlantic, at this time, issues a small free gift bag on its international flights. This includes a pen (for signing those destination country’s passport info cards, slip-on socks (for strolling about the plane in—a great idea), a sleeping mask, and several other items. I heartily recommend you bringing something like this with you. It will make your trip that much more comfortable. As for the flight being crowded, or having obnoxious neighbors who won’t stop talking—well, some things we just have to live with in this world, unless, of course, we can afford to travel first class.

But remember, flying is only a relatively short part of your travel experience. So, calm down. Try to relax and do those things mentioned above that may help you to do so. I even take along a safe, over-the-counter, sleeping aid on overnight flights. These help me to get some rest. Truth is, I have a very hard time sleeping on planes even if I manage to have my entire seat to myself.

Finally, when traveling internationally, arriving at a foreign country without local currency can be very stressing. How do you pay for anything you might need? Well, do a little checking on the Internet before you leave. You will find most airport terminals now have ATM cash machines where you can get local currency. However, beware of something else they also have, Change Bureaus. Where withdrawing cash with your debit or credit card is a relatively cheap transaction, the “Bureaus de Change” are not! They charge a higher exchange rate; often it is a much higher one to exchange money.

The best way to not fall for this, and end up with that stressful feeling of having been “robbed” by such a transaction, is to know the current exchange rates for the countries that are your destination. Check out Currate.com to find the current exchange rates for any currencies, because they have regularly and so reliably updated exchange rates for over 180 of the world’s currencies, so it’s almost a sure bet you will find the rate for the money you need. And Currate.com has an online currency conversion calculator, so you can figure out what things will cost you in your own money. No stressful surprises there! And with its “point-and-click” earth map, all you have to do is click on your destination to see it. Don’t forget that Currate.com can also be used by mobile phones with Internet Browser capability. Just go to http://currate.com/m.php or http://currate.com/e.php, if your phone is capable of utilizing more features.

Take all this advice and you will help to reduce your travel stress when flying. And remember, short, tall, thin, or heavy, we are all fellow travelers embarking on adventures. So concentrate on this aspect of things, rather than any negatives, and you will have a much better, less stressful flight.

Rob Shelsky, Currate.com Contributing Editor
Robert Rademacher, Currate.com Editor-in-Chief

References:

Getting Through Security
http://www.magellans.com/store/article/451?Args=

Flight Delays—What You Need To Know
http://www.magellans.com/store/article/438?Args=

Fly Next To A Fat Person, Get $250
http://www.bigfatblog.com/fly-next-fat-person-get-250

Travel Tips For Making Airline Travel Less Stressful
http://www.travelpost.com/articles/airline-travel-tips.aspx

Kevin Smith “Too Fat” To Fly Southwest
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20344142,00.html

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When Americans travel, we often take many things for granted, including ease of going places without a bunch of bothersome restric­tions. We come by this attitude naturally. Being able to move freely through all fifty states of the United States, we get used to the idea that this is our “right.” And yes, we know that when we travel abroad we need a passport. But this is something we’re a little less used to having to do all the time, because, until very recently, some countries, such as Canada and Mexico, did not require us to have a passport. Now they do.

Visa Passport, Public Domain, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

But things have changed even more radically over the last ten years than that. Where once we didn’t need passports to travel to some places, now we have to have them for everywhere. This isn’t just so we can get into those countries. It is also so we can get back into our own! Try to reenter the United States without a passport, and good luck! But again, most of us know that passports are now “a must” whenever we travel anywhere outside of America.

But what about visas? Do we need those, as well? What are they? Many first-time travelers, and even some seasoned travelers, aren’t very aware of visas, as to when they are or are not required, and under what circumstances. Many don’t even know what they are.

Well, simply put, visas are special documents that allow you entry into a specific country. For certain countries, visas are required, as well as a passport, in order to enter that country. You may be surprised which countries do and don’t demand them. Also, normally, you get them before you leave home, by contacting any embassies of destination countries that require them. And for the unwitting traveler who doesn’t know about this, it can be a real problem when they take that “dream of a lifetime” trip. Because to get it wrong, can really wreak havoc with your travel plans, and at the worst possible moment, that is, when you are actually arriving at your destination.

What’s that you say? You don’t have to worry about this, because your travel agent will let you know if you need one? Think again. First, the majority of us now are making at least part of our own travel arrangements. Who reading this article, for example, hasn’t booked their flight to somewhere, at least once? Making our own travel arrangements is fast becoming the “new norm,” and with that goes the responsibility of you making sure about whether or not you need a visa to go somewhere. And also, and I hate to say this, but since it happened to me, I’m going to—some travel agents don’t always know about these things.

Case in point: In the late 1980’s I was planning a month-long tour of Europe. At the time, in those “no-Internet” days, I relied strictly upon a travel agent. I was assured by her I didn’t need any visas in Europe. Now, this was in the days just before the European Union really came into being and each country really was very much separate with border guards, and still with the whole passport drill at each crossing. I remember Spain had intimidating armed guards at its border. Still, even there, visas were not required. But just one week before I was due to leave on my trip, I heard France, because of some internal problems, was suddenly demanding that even American visitors have a visa.

Not being sure about this, not knowing what else to do, I called my travel agent, of course, she being the supposed expert on all this. She assured me I did not need a visa to enter France (so much for her keeping up with the latest travel events of the time.) When I became persistent about having heard it on the news, her response to me was “It’s not really my problem to handle these things.”  Of course, I knew it was my responsibility to have a passport and any visas I needed, but I assumed my own travel agent could give me the latest news, at least, as to whether I actually would need them or not! She not only didn’t know, but I also had the distinct impression she couldn’t have cared less, having already received my money.

But not trusting her vague answer (and one which I felt was very ill-informed—I mean, doesn’t she ever watch the national news?), I called the French Embassy in Washington. They “assured” me that, yes, I did have to have a visa.  So in a panic, I drove to the embassy in Washington (took two days to do this at the last minute, too, because I didn’t live there), and obtained such a visa. So, I was fine on my trip abroad.

However, a large number of Australian citizens who were also taking the same tour as I was didn’t know about this problem. Result? They spent the two days we had earmarked for exploring London, instead scrambling to get in long lines at the French Embassy there, trying to obtain their visas at the last minute. Part of their trip was wiped out, lost forever, because their travel agents hadn’t known about the French visa problem. And they had left on their trip two weeks after I’d left on mine, so that was plenty of time for their travel agents to have learned of the French visa problem well before they left Australia. By the way, just so you know, France no longer requires visas. It was a temporary emergency measure at the time, but now no longer.

My point here with all this is these things do change. Countries that didn’t require visas may suddenly start requiring them. And a lot of this has happened since September 11, 2001. America started demanding certain other countries’ citizens have visas to come here, and they retaliated by demanding the same from our people. So visa requirements have been in a state of flux for a while now. Lately, they have settled down some, but remember this: It is up to you, as the traveler, to have the appropriate documentation to enter any country you wish to visit. Failure to have such upon arrival there, and again, good luck! You could, and probably will in some instances, be ordered to return immediately from whence you came.

So, which countries require visas? Well, right now, and I stress that, because these things change, most Western European countries do not require a visa. By Western European, I mean countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany,  Belgium, Lichtenstein, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Netherlands—all those we are used to thinking of as “Europe” for the last half a century or so.

However, go just a little farther east and it gets trickier. Latvia requires a visa, but Lithuania and Estonia do not. Greece does not require a visa, but Turkey does. Croatia does not require a visa, but Moldova, does. See what I mean? It gets to be a bit of a checkerboard in Eastern Europe, as to whether or not visas are required for certain countries.

In Africa, it is even worse. South Africa and Morocco don’t require us to have a visa, but many other African nations do, including Kenya, Liberia, Egypt, Nigeria, and a host of others. In fact, in Africa, more nations do require visas than don’t. So keep this very much in mind if you are planning a tour of Africa.

The Caribbean region is much the same way. Countries such as Jamaica and Trinidad want you to have a visa, but Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, and others, do not.  And when it comes to Cuba, you have to get special authorization from the U.S. Department of State if you want to travel there as an American citizen. But there’s more.

Countries That Can Use Australia’s ETA Program, Public Domain, Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

South America is a bit of a checker­board, as well. Peru and Paraguay want visas, but Chile and Argentina don’t. In Central America, El Salvador wants them, but Nicaragua and Costa Rica don’t require them. So again, one has to be careful.

Paraguay Visa, Author Alex Steffler, Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

Asia is a veritable patch­work of countries that do need visas, and some few that don’t. Australia even demands an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority), which will allow you to spend up to 180 days in their country. This is a surprise, because most of us don’t think of Australia as demanding a visa of any sort.

So you see, you can’t just rely on entire regions being “okay” with regard to not needing visas when it comes to traveling abroad. And even those areas that don’t require them now, may institute them if they suddenly feel the need. And this can change, right up to the last minute before you travel, as it did with me, so you must be aware of this. It is you that will be denied entry, and not your travel agent, when it comes to traveling. So it is entirely up to you to be responsible for knowing which countries demand you have visas, and which do not. If you do know and go prepared, you will have a great trip. Otherwise, well, your holiday might turn out to be a nightmare.

Eurozone Map 2009. Author, Kolja21, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Another con­sidera­tion when traveling abroad is money exchange rates, and which countries have what currencies. Even some countries that are now members of the European Union do not yet use the Euro. England doesn’t, for example, but Ireland does. So, you had better have knowledge of which country has what currency when traveling abroad, and what the current exchange rates are for them.

My advice; please do use Currate.com! I’ve said it before, but only because it is so true, Currate.com really is your one-stop website for learning all you need to know about foreign currencies, what they actually look like, what the current exchange rates for them are, and how to calculate different amounts from one currency to another. So for example, if you have to exchange Euros for Egyptian Pounds, at Currate.com you will find the answers you need with regard to those currency conversion rates, what each currency looks like, and how much of the new money you should end up with after the conversion. Currate.com, the travelers’ friend when it comes to currency conversions!

World's First Google World Currencies With Currency Converter, Including Currency Images

And for more information on which countries require visas, what types, etc., please follow the links below this article. And again, for your currency needs, check out Currate.com. With a marvelous online currency calculator, an Earth map of destination countries where you can just point and click, as well as images of the world’s currencies, regularly updated exchange rates, and even applications that allow access with Internet Browser mobile phones, you can’t go wrong. Try http://currate.com/m.php for this. If your mobile phone has enhanced features, then use http://currate.com/e.php. The best part; it’s all free! And it’s user friendly.

For the savvy traveler, knowing about passports, visas, and currencies is a must. Knowledge of all these things will make for a smoother trip, a more fun one, and a cheaper one! So have fun traveling, and remember that visa, if you need it! And don’t forget to have some of your destination’s local currency. You will need that, too.

Rob Shelsky, Currate.com Contributing Editor
Robert Rademacher, Currate.com Editor-in-Chief

References:

Australian Electronic Travel Authority
http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/

Peninsula Visa & Passport Services
http://www.peninsulavisa.com/visa-forms.htm

U.S. Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Delta, Visa and Passport Information
http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/

Visa Exempt Countries
http://www.southafrica-newyork.net/homeaffairs/visaexempt.htm

What Is A Russian Visa?
http://www.waytorussia.net/RussianVisa/Info.html

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