AAA Shares a Checklist for International Travelers
AAA Travel today released a list of its customers’ most popular international destinations (booked through July 2016) and a checklist of tips for Americans headed across the Atlantic .
The association noted that favorable exchange rates and the growing interest in “hassle-free vacations” promised by river cruising make this a great time to sell Europe.
The top destinations of AAA travelers are:
- London
- Rome
- Cancun
- Paris
- Dublin
- Amsterdam
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Prague, Czech Republic
And some tips for travelers across the seas:
- Plan ahead to make sure your travel plans are not delayed by the passport application process, which can take as long as six months. Note that some countries require that a traveler’s passport be valid for at least six months beyond the dates of the trip.
- Travelers planning to drive overseas may need an International Driving Permit(IDP), and it is a useful document to have for ID purposes in any case.
- Refer to the U.S. Department of State’s current list of travel advisories and register all international travel plans with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program(STEP), which makes it easier for the local embassy or consulate to contact you in case of an emergency.
- Notify your bank and credit card companies’ fraud departments before traveling internationally to let them know what countries the card will be used in to avoid service interruptions. Use a chip-embedded credit card with EMV technology, a more secure system being adopted in the U.S. that is already widely used throughout Europe.
- Travelers planning to post about their trips on social media or call home regularly should consider subscribing to an international data plan through their current cell phone company or a local provider.
- Don’t exchange foreign currency at the airport or train station, where the kiosks often charge high rates or service fees. Check with a travel agent or bank to exchange currencies before an international vacation, or use a credit card.
