Packing
( 1 Article )
Secrets of Budget Travel for Families: Real Tips You Can Use Before Your Next Vacation
No question, you can drop thousands of dollars on a one week getaway, but you certainly do not have to. If you know a few simple secrets, you can stay within your budget and still enjoy an exciting, unforgettable trip with the grandkids. All it takes is a little creativity and knowledge.
Here is what you need to know:
Saving on Family Airfare Airline travel is unquestionably expensive, but many opt to fly over driving because of the time involved, as well as the cost of gasoline. There are a number of steps you can take to reduce your family airfare. Many airlines still allow children under the age of two to fly free. The caveat is that no seat is guaranteed for the free price. Mom should expect to hold baby or toddler in her lap during the flight. Many times the airline will try to seat families traveling with a non ticketed child next to an empty seat so that baby is not restricted to a lap during the whole flight. If you do not need much advance notice you can pick up some great last minute online fares. This is often difficult when a parent needs to schedule time off work and the children are in school. However, if you can leave on a moment’s notice, it is a wonderful, affordable option.
Do a Google search for "last minute flights" to locate these rates. To save even more on airline travel, it really helps if you are flexible with your travel dates. Typically Monday, Friday and Sunday are departure days that garner higher rates than if you left on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. It used to be that you had to stay over on a Saturday to get a better rate, but that is not always the case. Online booking sites, such as Travelocity and Expedia, allow you to play around with different dates and find out, at a glance, what your best option may be. One day earlier or later can save you big on the price of the ticket.
Also, check surrounding airports at both the departure and the arrival city. You may need to drive an hour or two to get to the different departure or arrival airport; however if it saves enough money on each ticket, it will be well worth the drive. One family in the Midwest finds it much more affordable to fly out of O Hare in Chicago. Yet they live over three hours away from ORD and also do not particularly care to drive in Chicago traffic. They found a win/win solution. They drive 90 minutes toward Chicago and then pick up a motor coach bus that drops them off at the terminal of the airport. The children ride the motor coach for free and there are no long term airport parking fees either because they left their car at a park and ride. It is a creative way that offers them less hassle and cost less money in the long run.
Saving on Food While Traveling:
Recent airline security makes it difficult to travel with food and beverages in carryon bags. However you can place some staples inside your suitcase and check your luggage under the belly of the plane. Peanut butter, bottled water, crackers, fruit and cans of tuna make great snacks when the kids are hungry. You can pick up additional items such as a loaf of bread, once you land. Do not forget to pack a can opener. If you are driving to your destination pack a cooler full of food. It may be a little tricky making space in the trunk for the cooler; but once you realize the cost savings of not having to eat out every time someone is hungry, you will be glad you brought it with you.
Saving Money on Lodging:
You can also save money on lodging. Complete an online search using the words "kids stay free hotel." You will be amazed at the number of hotels and inns that offer this perk. Also look over their amenities because many hotels also offer free continental breakfast. Continental breakfast means a variety of things. In some places it means cold bagels, a banana and orange juice. In other hotels and suites, free continental breakfast includes sausage, cereal, eggs, potatoes, bagels, bananas, apples, oranges, juice and coffee. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and nothing like a free one to start the day right! Traveling with the family on a budget does not mean you have skimp and cut back. It just means you may need to be creative and flexible, and that is what having a family all is about.
About the Author
Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape at http://www.momscape.com. Visit today for the latest online Coupon Codes including coupons for discount travel packages.
Travel Tips-Packing Your Gear
By: Lance Chambers
Packing is an important part of your pre-trip planning. Leaving something behind may not be important if you're heading off to a major destination where you can probably buy what you need. But travel well off the beaten-track (where the best adventures are usually found) and you could be in trouble.
Make sure you can easily identify you luggage. You can get something that has a unique color or tie a colored ribbon around the handle - anything that will make your stuff stand out from the crown. It will make it far easier to find inside a mound of like colored black backpacks or cases.
Check your carry-on luggage allowance and stick to it. If you try and take too much onboard you may be forced to leave it behind or catch a later flight; which can be a very difficult decision to make.
If you are using cases then make sure they have wheels and a retractable handles that are long enough for you to pull without having to bend over - carrying or pulling luggage for long distances can really take it out of you. Also make sure that the wheels are wide enough apart to stop the case from flipping over.
Make sure that fully packed cases are comfortably to lift with one arm. If they are too heavy they will become a real burden and impossible to move if you have more than one.
If you're a backpacker then make sure that the pack has good lower back support - this means that it has a belt that can be fastened around the waist. Also make sure that the shoulder straps can be adjusted. A backpack that only has shoulder straps (or even worse just one strap that crosses the front of your body) may look great and be the height of fashion and be available in your favorite color but you will suffer a lot of pain if you buy one of those monstrosities.
Knowing what to pack can be harder to work out than what to pack it into but there are a few simple ideas that will help a lot.
Packing light does not mean a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Wearing those types of clothes will invariably label you as a tourist in almost any country and if you are wearing trainers (or thongs [not what YOU might think they are but rather light rubberized shoes available all over Australia] if you're an Aussie) will just heighten the problem.
A good rule of thumb is to lay out everything you think you'll need and then put at least half of it back. Always remain aware of your destination - your electrical goods might not work over there because of differences in power supply [put all the electrical stuff back], heading to Australia in summer [all the winter clothes go back]. Are you going to be invited to dine with the Queen? Probably not, so get rid of anything that looks formal. Be savage! You will be happy you were later on in your trip. But there is one other way as well. Take whatever you like as long as you will be happy to put it into a trash can at some stage when you discover it's just a pain carrying it around all over the place.
Make sure you have good shoes. Sightseeing often requires a lot of walking and painful blistered feet are not a good thing to end up with. A pair of comfortable, black, rubber soled shoes that will clean up a bit with just a damp cloth will be good for any eventuality - like that dinner with the Queen if it happens.
When it comes to clothes be savage. Don't take a thick winter coat even if you think you'll need it - use layering. Make sure you have clothes that you can wear one on top of the other to stay warm (that does mean long sleeves). Wear three pairs of socks, 2 t-shirts and a long sleeved shirt, 2 pairs of underwear and a pair of shorts under your long trousers - if you need to stay warm. Those same cloths will work fine (just with a few less layers) when you find yourself in warmer climates as well. A jacket (wind and waterproof) or a jumper can be worth it depending on your destination.
Please be aware that in some countries you will need to dress conservatively and this applies to both men and women. Do not humiliate, anger or embarrass those people you have come to visit.
Take a good sized and sturdy rubbish bag to hold your dirty laundry. Takes up no room and will prove very useful.
For the smaller items pick from the following list as you think appropriate depending upon your destination (be aware that you can buy toothpaste in any country in the world it's just that if you cannot read the label you may end up brushing your teeth with the local rectal cream) and the length of the trip:
Small fold up umbrella
Small combination lock to seal your luggage or room (write the combination somewhere you can find it when you need it)
Separate items like toothpaste, deodorant (not a pressure pack but maybe a small roll-on or stick) and soap into a small bag of their own (in fact anything that could make a mess if it accidentally opens in transit should all be packed together)
· Lip-balm, insect repellant and sunscreen
· Sanitary items such as toothpaste, pads, shampoo and soap
· Spare glasses or contacts including lens cleaner solution
· Money belt
· Coin purse (not a wallet)
· Nylon or plastic raincoat (can be very handy)
· Alarm clock
· Deck of cards
· Books
· Small day backpack
· Voltage adaptor and/or adaptor power plugs
· A couple of high energy snacks
This article is copyrighted by Lance Chambers, a senior partner at www.accommodationnear.com
· Film if you use a non-digital camera
· Any prescription drugs and make sure you have a spare prescription using the drugs Generic Name. Please be aware that some medications that are completely legal in one country are illegal in another (ie: Codeine is legal in Australia and most of Europe but is a prohibited drug in Greece. Getting caught with it and without a prescription from your doctor can be a jail able offense - do you want to be in a Greek prison for 5 years for having some Codeine on you?
· Small wind-up torch (batteries not needed - check with e-bay)
· Laundry kit and detergent
· Small sewing kit
Emergencies and Safety Overseas
( 1 Article )
Death or Injury of an American Citizen Abroad
Death
When an American dies abroad, the Bureau of Consular Affairs must locate and inform the next-of-kin. Sometimes discovering the next-of-kin is difficult. If the American’s name is known, the Bureau’s Office of Passport Services will search for his or her passport application.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs provides guidance to grieving family members on how to make arrangements for local burial or return of the remains to the U.S. The disposition of remains is affected by local laws, customs, and facilities, which are often vastly different from those in the U.S. The Bureau of Consular Affairs relays the family’s instructions and necessary private funds to cover the costs involved to the embassy or consulate. The Department of State has no funds to assist in the return of remains or ashes of American citizens who die abroad. Upon completion of all formalities, the consular officer abroad prepares an official Foreign Service Report of Death, based upon the local death certificate, and sends it to the next-of-kin or legal representative for use in U.S. courts to settle estate matters.
A U.S. consular officer overseas has statutory responsibility for the personal estate of an American who dies abroad if the deceased has no legal representative in the country where the death occurred. The consular officer takes possession of personal effects, such as:
- Convertible assets
- Apparel
- Jewelry
- Personal documents and papers
The officer prepares an inventory and then carries out instructions from members of the deceased’s family concerning the effects. In Washington, the Bureau of Consular Affairs gives next-of-kin guidance on procedures to follow in preparing Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, and Affidavits of Next-of-Kin as acceptable evidence of legal claim of an estate.
Injury
In the case of an injured American, the embassy or consulate abroad notifies the Office of Citizen Services, which notifies family members in the U.S. The Bureau of Consular Affairs can assist in sending private funds to the injured American; frequently it collects information on the individual’s prior medical history and forwards it to the embassy or consulate. When necessary, the State Department assists in arranging the return of the injured American to the U.S. commercially, with appropriate medical escort, via commercial air ambulance or, occasionally, by U.S. Air Force medical evacuation aircraft. The use of Air Force facilities for a medical evacuation is authorized only under certain stringent conditions, and when commercial evacuation is not possible. The full expense must be borne by the injured American or his family.
Arrest/Detention of an American Citizen Abroad
One of the most important tasks of the Department of State and of U.S. embassies and consulates abroad is to provide assistance to U.S. citizens incarcerated abroad. The State Department is committed to ensuring fair and humane treatment for American citizens imprisoned overseas. We stand ready to assist incarcerated citizens and their families within the limits of our authority in accordance with international law.
We can and do monitor conditions in foreign prisons and can protest allegations of abuse against U.S. citizen prisoners when requested to do so. We work with prison officials to ensure treatment consistent with internationally recognized standards of human rights and to ensure that Americans are afforded due process under local laws.
While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. As the Country Specific Information explains, penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, fined, arrested, or imprisoned.
Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. If arrested abroad, a citizen must go through the foreign legal process for being charged or indicted, prosecuted, possibly convicted and sentenced, and for any appeals process. Within this framework, U.S. consular officers provide a wide variety of services to U.S. citizens arrested abroad and their families.
HELP FOR AMERICAN VICTIMS OF CRIME OVERSEAS
The Bureau of Consular Affairs, Overseas Citizens Services is committed to assisting American citizens who become victims of crime while traveling, working, or residing abroad. Government officials, known as consuls or consular officers, at embassies and consulates in nearly 250 cities throughout the world are responsible for assisting U.S. citizens who may be traveling, working, or residing abroad. In addition, in approximately 50 cities where a significant number of Americans reside or visit and there is no U.S. embassy or consulate, consular agents provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Consuls, consular agents, and local employees work with their counterparts in the Bureau of Consular Affairs Overseas Citizens Services Office in Washington, D.C. to provide emergency and non-emergency services to Americans abroad.
How to Contact The US Government For Help
Consular duty personnel are available for emergency assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at embassies, consulates, and consular agencies overseas and in Washington, D.C. To contact the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the U.S. call 1-888-407-4747 (during business hours) or 202-647-5225 (after hours). Contact information for U.S. embassies, consulates, and consular agencies overseas is on this Internet site.
If You Are the Victim of a Crime Overseas
Contact the nearest U.S. embassy, consulate, or consular agency for assistance.
Contact local police to report the incident and obtain immediate help with safety concerns. Request a copy of the police report.
Consular Assistance to American Crime Victims
Consular personnel can provide assistance to crime victims. When a U.S. citizen becomes the victim of a crime overseas, he or she may suffer physical, emotional, or financial injuries. Additionally, the emotional impact of the crime may be intensified because the victim is in unfamiliar surroundings. The victim may not be near sources of comfort and support, fluent in the local language, or knowledgeable about local laws and customs.
Consuls, consular agents, and local employees at overseas posts are familiar with local government agencies and resources in the country where they work. They can help American crime victims with issues such as:
· Replacing a stolen passport;
· Contacting family, friends, or employers;
· Obtaining appropriate medical care;
· Addressing emergency needs that arise as a result of the crime;
· Obtaining general information about the local criminal justice process and information about your case;
· Obtaining information about local resources to assist victims, including foreign crime victim compensation programs;
· Obtaining information about crime victim assistance and compensation programs in the U.S.; and
· Obtaining a list of local attorneys who speak English.
Consular officials cannot, however, investigate crimes, provide legal advice or represent you in court, serve as official interpreters or translators, or pay legal, medical, or other fees for you.
Individual Reactions to Crime Victimization
How individuals react to being the victim of a crime will vary from person to person. Reactions are affected by individual factors such as how the victim handles stress, the nature and duration of the crime, the physical safety of the victim, and the number and type of support systems available. Reactions to a crime may be immediate or delayed. The physical, emotional, or cognitive (involving thinking ability) symptoms a victim may experience could include nausea, headaches, fatigue, hyperventilation, or sleeping problems. Some victims report feelings of anxiety or fear, hyper-vigilance, guilt, anger, or isolation. Some experience difficulty making decisions, short-term memory problems, difficulty concentrating, or recurring memories of the crime.
It is important to realize that these are normal feelings, behaviors and reactions to an abnormal event. One of the first things to pay attention to is your need to feel safer. Addressing safety concerns and receiving emotional support can help. For most victims the reactions described above diminish with time. If these reactions persist and are disrupting your life or getting worse after three or four weeks, you should consider seeking professional assistance.
Resources and Information for Crime Victims:
Victim Assistance: If you are the victim of a crime while overseas you may benefit from specialized resources for crime victims available in the U.S. Throughout the United States thousands of local crime victim assistance programs offer help to victims of violent crime and most will help residents of their community who have been the victim of a crime in another country. These include rape crisis counseling programs, shelter and counseling programs for battered women, support groups and bereavement counseling for family members of homicide victims, diagnostic and treatment programs for child abuse victims, assistance for victims of drunk driving crashes, and others. Information about locating crime victim assistance programs is below.
Victim Compensation: All states operate crime victim compensation programs and nearly half of them offer benefits to their residents who are victims of violent crime overseas. (See contact information for state compensation programs below.) These state compensation programs provide financial assistance to eligible victims for reimbursement of expenses such as medical treatment, counseling, funeral costs, lost income or loss of support, and others. Generally victim compensation programs require the victim to report the crime to law enforcement and they usually request a copy of the police report.
Contact Information for Victim Compensation and Assistance Programs:
Information about each state’s crime victim compensation program and how to apply for compensation is available on the Internet at the web site of the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards, http://www.nacvcb.org
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week hotline for sexual assault crisis counseling and referrals in the United States is 1-800-656-HOPE. It is operated by a non-profit organization, RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), which also has information on the Internet at http://www.rainn.org
Information about local sexual assault victim assistance programs in the U.S. is also available from each state’s sexual assault coalition. Contact information for these state coalitions are listed at the website of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/help.htm
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week National Domestic Violence Hotline, which provides crisis counseling and referrals in the U.S., is 1-800-799-SAFE.
Information about local domestic violence victim assistance programs in the U.S. is also available from each state’s domestic violence coalition. Contact information for these state coalitions is listed at the website of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/help.htm
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week crisis counseling and referral line for families and friends of those who have died by violence is 1-888-818-POMC. It is operated by a non-profit organization, POMC, Inc., (The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children) which also has information on the Internet at http://www.pomc.org
Information about national and local resources for victims and family members of victims of drunk driving crashes is available at the web site of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, http://www.madd.org
Contact information for non-emergency victim assistance services in communities throughout the U.S. is available at the web site of the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, http://ovc.ncjrs.org/findvictimservices/
Information for crime victims on the impact of crime, safety planning, legal rights and civil legal remedies, and options for assistance and referrals to local programs is also available from the National Crime Victim Center. Call toll free (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST) 1-800-FYI-CALL or call TTY for hearing impaired (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST) 1-800-211-7996. Information is also available on the Internet at http://www.ncvc.org
Information and referral to victim assistance programs is available from the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). Call toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week 1-800-TRY-NOVA. Information is also available on the Internet at http://www.try-nova.org
Information about victim assistance programs in approximately 20 countries is available at the web site of Victim Assistance On-line, http://www.vaonline.org
American Citizens Missing Abroad
As concerned relatives call in, Consular officers use the information provided by the family or friends of a missing person to locate the individual. We check with local authorities in the foreign country to see if there is any report of a U.S. citizen hospitalized, arrested, or is otherwise unable to communicate with those looking for them. Depending on the circumstances, consular officers may personally search hotels, airports, hospitals, or even prisons.
Abductions in Progress
Contact the Office of Children’s Issues immediately if:
- Your child is in the process of being abducted internationally by a family member, and
- Is NOT yet abroad.
Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM EST - Call at 202-736-9090
Evenings, Holidays, and Weekends - Call 1-888-407-4747 How they can help:
- They can work with law enforcement to try to stop the departure of children being abducted from the United States.
- If the abductor is transiting a country that is party to the Hague Abduction Convention, they will contact authorities of that country who can attempt to stop the abduction as it is in progress.
- If your child has already been abducted to another country, please visit the possible solutions page for more information, and then contact us for assistance.
Crisis Preparedness
Crisis preparedness means planning and preparing for the many types of disasters and other crises that can occur while abroad. We cannot overemphasize the importance of being prepared. When a crisis or disaster strikes, you will only have the time to use the tools at your disposal. Planning and preparedness are essential.
The following information may be helpful to you in preparing for a crisis abroad.
ready.gov from the Department of Homeland SecurityOffice of Emergency Preparedness (OEP)
Your Safety
General Advice For Americans Resident Overseas
Among the highest priorities of the Department of State and our missions abroad is the safety and security of locally-resident Americans overseas. In the past year, the Department has intervened to assist in the evacuation of Americans from half a dozen countries throughout the world as a result of serious political or economic unrest, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks. Hundreds of expatriate Americans each year are forced by personal emergencies (e.g. death or illness in the family) to return to the U.S. on short notice. Evacuations, especially under crisis conditions, are inevitably very disruptive and distressing for those involved.
The State Department routinely provides standard advice to its employees on prudent steps to take to ensure they would be prepared in the event of such an evacuation. This and other advice on crisis preparedness is available on the
