Month: June 2016

I’m packed the ready to head for Venice, or Paris, or Denver. Where do I park at SFO Airport?

Check out this site…http://airportparkinghelper.com/

Many countries have multiple types of visas. There are tourist, work, business, and student ones.

The application process and turnaround times vary for each of those…sometimes dramatically so.

Some embassies and consulates require appointments to apply for a visa and yet others process visas only through a third-party agency. It all varies by country. You may need a plane ticket or even a letter of invitation.

If you need a visa, start the process three months in advance. Keep in mind you will need to give the agency your passport for this process. So, don’t plan any international trips during your wait time.

No, you cannot take a selfie as your passport photo. At least not now.

The requirements for the photos are…the photo must measure two inches by two inches; your head must measure between one and 1.375 inches; you will be asked to remove your glasses; you will be asked to not smile.

Continuing on with your passports…

Remember to check your expiration date. Why? Because some countries require your passport be valid for 90 days after entry, but a safer rule of thumb is to be valid for six months.

You can visit Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam without a passport.

There has been a ton of information on travel sites about passports in recent months. I’ve even written a bunch about them.

Here are some reminders and some new info.

In 2007 it became mandatory to have a passport for travel between the US and Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Those expire 10 years from the time they were issued. If an influx of travelers applied for their first passport in 2007 or 2008…those will be expiring soon. That means there will be a bunch of people renewing their passport.

Since the passport offices can only handle so many renewals every day…check your expiration date now and get ahead of the rush.

Also, check out information on the Real ID Act. You can read more about it here https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief.

If you’re from California or several other states…you need to keep aware of this. Don’t panic…just pay attention to what is happening with driver’s licenses.

Have you thought about planning a specialty tour, like art history, Tuscan cooking, chocolate tasting, or landscape painting? If so, you might want to see if the tour is the right one for you.

Is it tailored to and designed for beginners or for experts? That will make a difference on how much you enjoy it. No sense being bored as the tour guide explains the difference between oregano and basil. Yet, all the art history information geared to college professors might be a little over your head.

Ask yourself some basic questions. Is this a hands-on tour? Will I be able to try my hand at making gnocchi?

Is my guide trained in Renaissance art? What language does my guide speak? Are there additional fees associated with this tour…or is the wine included?

What happens if the tour gets cancelled?

How many people will actually be in the group?

Now, read the reviews. Are they recent ones or all over a year old? Read reviews on more than one site. Are they ALL positive? If so, I would be little concerned. Is the site reputable? Do they post both great and not-so-great reviews? You want the truth.

Great views of the Mediterranean from Collioure, France.

Enjoy the city of Beaune, France.

I read an interesting fact about airfare and what it should cost. This might come in handy when you’re looking for your next flight.

The Adobe Digital Index’s 2016 Travel Report say the total cost of a domestic ticket should come to less than the total number of miles you’re traveling, times 3.2 cents, plus $230. Whew!

That means Roundtrip Miles x $0.032 + $230.

Got it?

For international flights, Roundtrip Miles x $0.08 + $200.

If you find yourself going to Beaune, France, check out this hotel. The Abbaye de Maizieres.

You’ll thank me.