Tips For Late Summer Travel

by Rick Chapo
We are into the latter part of summer, but that doesn't mean many of us are not still traveling on vacations. Here are a few last minute tips to help you out.

First and foremost, figure out if you will need a passport for your trip. Recent regulation changes have been implemented that require you to have a passport to reenter the US from practically any country. This includes Mexico and Canada. The new regulation has led to a massive backlog, so make sure you have a current passport. If you need a new one, find out how long it will take and any exceptions that might apply to your destination.

A second issue to take into account is the end of summer weather. Mentally, we all usually equate the end of summer with cooling temperatures. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is not true. August is one of the hottest months and September will bake as well. Only in the latter half of September can you expect things to cool down. Plan and dress appropriately for the heat.

Electricity is the same everywhere except when it is not. If you live in the US, you should know the rest of the world for the most part run their electronics on a different voltage. If you are heading outside of the country, make sure you have a power converter. There is no better way to ruin a trip than to plug in the old laptop, here a crackling noise, smell a bad odor and know something very, very bad has happened!

If your wallet is light, try to look for charter air flights. These airlines offer intermittent flights through the summer. As summer comes to a close, the ticket prices can get super low. Once you buy a ticket, try to upgrade when checking in. I once paid $75 for an upgrade to first class on a flight from Paris to Los Angeles. Best $75 I ever spent!

Finally, avoid the doom and gloom. For some reason, we have become a species of complainers. Yes, the summer is coming to an end, but that doesn't mean you need to sit around and complain about it. Doing so is not going to make time stop, so don't! Get out there and enjoy yourself.


http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=581632