Christmas international travel 475
[shudder]. No really, a little EQ - managing the attitude, and
using the ole noggin' can make it almost pleasant!
1. Pack your patience and your Emotional Intelligence.
Turn down the emotiong, turn up the forethought. Example -
research your destination on the Internet prior for websites
where individuals (not paid interests) can tell you what you can
^anticipate^.
2. Pre-arrange everything you possibly can – air, hotel, car,
restaurant, attractions, plays.
3. Make copies of your passport, traveler’s checques, credit
cards, itinerary, and airline tickets. Carry one copy with you
and leave one copy with your designated emergency-contact.
4. Carry with you the address and phone number of your country’s
embassy (consulate) for each country you’ll visit. if you should
need them, you won't want to be looking.
5. Take any regular medication in your hand luggage and be sure
you have more than enough for your trip. (Remember needles and
scissors can’t be in hand luggage.)
6. Check the US State Dept. advisories, www.travelstate.gov,
before your go for immunizations, hazards and other pertinent
information; the Overseas Security Advisory Council,
www.ds-osac.org, and the Transportation Security Administration
site, www.tsatraveltips.us.
7. You'll know you'll be eaiting, so use your EQ and figure out
how to make it A Good Thing.
· Use e-ticket and online checkin when you can. · Bring along
that book you’ve been meaning to read · Bring a pre-paid phone
call and catch up with buddies · Bring a neck pillow and plan to
catch up on your rest · Dress appropriately for sitting or lying
around an airport for a long time – loose clothing that can be
abused
8. Use your neocortex when you pack, not your brain-stem. (You
KNOW the rules, abide by them! Exorcize from the brain-stem
another time, another place.)
· Pack carry-ons lightly so they can be checked more easily ·
Check the checked baggage allowance and be sure your name and
contact details are on the outside of each bag · Avoid packing
anything that looks like a weapon (guide – anything you wouldn’t
give an 18 mo. old free access to – nail file, letter opener,
knitting needle, and the more obvious hand grenades) · When
traveling to and from North America, TSA recommends not locking
checked baggage · Check here www.tsa.dot.gov for common items
which become hazardous in flight due to temperature changes and
pressure, and don’t pack them.
9. Be sure you have a valid passport and any required Visas and
be prepared to show them at any point along the way.
10. Know the rules of security checkpoints and abide by them.
· Only ticketed passengers can proceed beyond it · All
electronic items will be screened – laptops and cells. Remove
laptop from travel case. · Keep ticket and boarding pass and ID
within easy reach – like on neck chain · Wear shoes easy to
remove and as little jewelry as possible
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