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What type of research
should I do before I travel?
Where can I find tourism information
on the area that I'm planning on visiting?
How can I find information on road conditions,
construction and rest areas?
What additional research should I do when planning foreign travel?
Where can I find information that will
help me budget for my trip abroad?
Where can I find some online resources
to do some research for my trip?
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What type of research should
I do before I travel?
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Do some research, learn as much as you can
about your destination.
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Check to see what type of weather the area
has so you can plan accordingly.
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Check to see what type of paperwork and
documentation you will need to travel.
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Find out what type of diseases are common
to the area you'll be visiting and take actions to prevent your
exposure to those diseases.
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Check your own medical coverage to see what
type of coverage you'll have when away from home. Consider purchasing
trip insurance.
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If you plan on driving, get your car ready
and investigate the local road conditions, laws and other driving
requirements.
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Do some research about the costs of local
items so you can set your budget. Don't forget to budget
for taxes and tipping. Many governments charge high taxes
for travel related services.
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Check the dates of local major holidays
or festivals, since services may be limited on those dates.
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Where can I find tourism information
on the area that I'm planning on visiting?
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U.S.
State's Official Tourism Offices Links
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This page contains links to the official Tourism
Offices of all 50 states. Each state's site is different, but
they all contain valuable information for anyone planning a trip
to their states. Many of the sites also contain links to major
cities and tourist regions within their state.
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How can I find information on
road conditions, construction and rest areas?
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Department
of Transportation Links
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Check out the roads before you go. This page
contains links to the Departments of Transportation for all 50
States. Each state's site is different, but most sites contained
detailed information on highway construction, road closings, rest
areas and maps. Many of the sites also contain links to major
cities within their own state.
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What additional
research should I do when planning foreign travel?
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Find out if you will need a passport to
enter the country. Make sure your passport is up to date and
valid. Some countries will not let you in if your passport will
expire within six months of your return home, extend it, if
you are close to expiration.
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Find out if you will need any visas to enter
the country.
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Check with the U.S. State Department concerning
safety warnings for U.S. tourists at your destination.
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Find out what types of vaccinations you
will need to enter the country, there may also be medications
you'll need to take before, during and even after your trip.
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Check the financial section of your newspaper,
they usually post exchange rates and checking in advance can
give you an idea of how much you'll need to budget.
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Do some research with U.S. Customs to find
out what you can take with you and what you may bring back.
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Build some basic language skills in the
local language.
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Most of the world uses the metric system,
so try to become familiar with this system. 1 kilometer = .62
miles so 100 kilometers per hour = 62 miles per hour.
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Where can I find information
that will help me budget for my trip abroad?
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www.state.gov/www/perdiems/
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The U.S. State Department Bureau of Administration
Office of Allowances, Foreign Per Diem Rates web page. These per
diem rates are the per day maximum amounts the U.S. Government
would reimburse it's employees or contractors during travel. These
amounts will help give you an idea on the amount that you'll need
to budget for your trip. The site lists maximum rates for many
foreign cities, in addition to, some cities in Alaska, Hawaii,
Puerto Rico, and other possessions of the U.S. The rates are divided
into sections for lodgings, meals and incidentals, and total amount.
The amounts aren't meant to cover luxury travel, but they should
cover a comfortable mid-range stay. You can select a month and
year for which to search for foreign per diem rates. You should
consult the most recent months and the last figures stated for
the time of year you will be visiting to account for high and
low season price variations.
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Where can I find some online
resources to do some research for my trip?
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Research Links
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Check out our research links page. This internal
page contains links and descriptions of many sites that are helpful
in planning a trip. For your convenience, many of these links
are also placed in appropriate sections of this site, but this
page condenses all these links to one location.
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Section: MONEY ON THE ROAD
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