Once again, terrorists have determined how we travel. No longer can I bring a bottle of water with me on the airplane. The threat of a bomb created from liquids has changed how and what I pack, it has also changed how I pack it.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is charged with the [...]
* Notify your family and local law enforcement agency of your departure and return dates but don't otherwise publicize your travel or vacation plans. Leave contact numbers with appropriate mission personnel.
* Arrange to have a friend or colleague pick up your newspapers, mail, or other deliveries daily.
* [...]
Here is a step-by-step tip sheet on how to get to Pattaya.
1. Save your money all year for your vacation. Not counting airfare, budget for 150 US dollars per day.
2. Apply for and get your passport. Get a visa also if you are staying long term
3. Book your flight and hotel. You can do this online [...]
Visiting Thailand only requires a passport for visits that are 30 days or less. This pertains to U.S. citizens. Citizens from other countries need to check with their country's embassy or consular section and see what the rules are.
For Americans, a current passport and a visa are required if you are planning on [...]
You may apply for your passport by mail if you meet the following requirements:
You can submit your most recent passport.
Your previous passport was issued on or after your 16th birthday and was issued within the past 12 years.
You use the same name as that on your most recent passport or you have had your name [...]
When selecting a flight, remember that a departure early in the day is less likely to be delayed than a later flight, due to "ripple" effects throughout the day. If you book the last flight of the day, you could get stuck overnight.
If you have a choice between two connections and the fares and service [...]
For domestic flights, ensure that you check in 2 hours before your flight time. For international flights you should check in 3 hours early. For either type of flights, make sure that you have all your documentation readily available. You will need your ticket, proper identification, and for international flights, your passport [...]
Overbooking is not illegal, and most airlines overbook their scheduled flights to a certain extent in order to compensate for "no-shows." Passengers are sometimes left behind or "bumped" as a result. When an over-sale occurs, the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires airlines to ask people who aren't in a hurry to give up their seats [...]
Between the time you check your luggage in and the time you claim it at your destination, it may have passed through a maze of conveyor belts and baggage carts; once airborne, baggage may tumble around the cargo compartment if the plane hits rough air.
In all fairness to the airlines, however, relatively few bags are [...]