Travel Tips For People With Disabilities
By: Larry Westfall,

* If a personal search is required you may choose to remain in the public area or go to a private area for your screening. If you refuse either option you will not be able to fly.

* You should be offered a private screening before the beginning of a pat-down inspection if the pat-down will require the lifting of clothing and/or display of a covered medical device.

* You should be offered a disposable paper drape for additional privacy before the beginning of a pat-down.

* You may request a private area for your personal search at any time during the screening process.

* Your companion, assistant, or family member may accompany you and assist you during a private or public screening. After providing this assistance, the companion, assistant, or family member will need to be rescreened.

* You may ask for a chair if you need to sit down during the screening process.

* You should be allowed to raise you arms out during an inspection only as far as you indicate you can.

* You should be allowed to remain in your wheelchair if you indicate that you are unable to stand and/or walk through the metal detector.

* You may request a pat-down inspection in lieu of going through the metal detector or being hand-wanded. You do not need to disclose why you would like this option.

* If you have a disability, condition, or implant, that you would like to remain private and confidential, ask the Security Officer to please be discreet when assisting you through the screening process.

* You have the right to ask a Security Officer to change her/his gloves during the physical inspection of your accessible property, before performing a physical search (pat-down,) or any time a Security Officer handles your footwear.

* Medication and related supplies that are carried through a checkpoint are normally X-rayed. However, as a customer service, TSA now allows you the option of requesting a visual inspection of your medication and associated supplies.

* You must request a visual inspection before the screening process begins; otherwise you medications and supplies will undergo X-ray inspection.

* If you would like to take advantage of this option, please have your medication and associated supplies separated from your other property and in a separate pouch/bag when you approach the Security Officer at the walk-through metal detector. Request the visual inspection and hand your medication bag to the Security Officer.

* In order to prevent contamination or damage to medication and associated supplies and/or fragile medical materials, you will be asked at the security checkpoint to display, handle, and repack your own medication and associated supplies during the visual inspection.

* Any medication and/or associated supplies that cannot be cleared visually must be submitted for X-ray screening. If you refuse, you will not be permitted to carry your medications and related supplies into the sterile area.

Make sure you check for the latest updates at the TSA web site.

Larry Westfall is a frequent traveler to Pattaya and saves money booking his hotel through Pattaya-Accommodations
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Follow these tips and you will have a happy and Safe Holiday
* Do not discuss your business or travel plans in public areas where they may be overheard. Discuss your travel plans and movements during your stay with as few people as possible.

* Selecting a hotel room on the third to fifth floor generally will keep you out of reach of criminal activity from the street but still within reach of most fire truck ladders.

* Do not entertain strangers in your hotel room. If you feel you must, require them to leave a valid ID card with hotel security or the front desk.

* Be alert to overly friendly locals who may have criminal intentions. They may offer to take you to a “special” restaurant. Their ruse may be to offer drugged refreshments.

* Never leave valuables in your hotel room exposed or unattended, even in a locked suitcase.

* Place valuables–money, jewelry, airplane tickets, credit cards, and passport–in a hotel safe deposit box or room safe.

* Familiarize yourself with escape routes in case of fire or other catastrophe.

* Use the door chain or bolt lock whenever you are in your room.

* Use the door viewer (peephole) before opening the door to visitors.

* Do not discuss your room number while standing in the lobby or leave your room key on restaurant or bar tables.

* Keep your room neat so you will notice disturbed or missing items quickly.

* Secure your laptop to an immovable object using a lock and cable. You can purchase one of these for about $25 online. If you have sensitive files on your laptop, consider removing your hard drive and bringing it with you when you go out.

* Carry a business card from the hotel to make it easier to get home in a foreign country where not many taxi drivers speak your language.

* Carry a color copy of your Passport wherever you go. Some countries, like Thailand, require you to carry your Passport at all time, but most law enforcement officials will not penalize you for having a copy and going to your hotel room to get the original.

* Make sure you know the local phone numbers for police, fire and emergency. Countries like Thailand have tourist police in addition to the regular police and they are trained to speak foreign languages and assist tourists.

* Try not to let your credit card get out of sight. It is very easy for someone to skim your card in just a few seconds.

Just because you are on vacation doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. Big cities are big cities everywhere in the world and all big cities have their share of crime.

A little prevention can go a long way in a foreign country and make your vacation a memorable one.

Larry Westfall visits Thailand 2 or 3 times per year and if you are lucky you will see him staggering down Walking Street
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Make A List of all Your Electronic Gadgets…
By: Larry Westfall,

One or two weeks before I travel overseas, I make a packing list and check items off as they go in my suitcase. In addition to the packing list, I also have my electronics list.

With all of the gadgets and gizmos, wires and cables, I need a list to make sure that I have everything. It is no fun to arrive in a foreign country and not be able to use your laptop or camera.

First and foremost, I check my laptop. I want to make sure that I have everything. So, I check to make sure that I have my power supply and spare battery. I also have a USB device that converts one port into four. I prefer to use a mouse, so I pack that too. I bring a LAN cable in case there is no wireless available in the hotel.

I already have a power strip that will accept 3-prong electrical plugs. This is an absolute must as a 3-prong plug will not work in most Thailand electrical outlets.

Next thing I do is charge up my camera batteries. I like to take pictures of my entire holiday to include the departing airport, layover and arrival. I also ensure that I have my memory card and my spares. I also have a USB device for my memory card so that I can transfer pictures to my laptop. I check the memory card and delete or transfer any pictures on the card. I like to start my vacation with empty memory cards.

I have a tri-band, GSM cell phone that works in Thailand with a local SIM card. So, I make sure that the battery and back-up are both charged so that I can use my Thai cell phone as soon as I hit the ground in Bangkok.

Next, I check my portable DVD player. I make sure that I have my power cord and also my DIN jacks for the TV to DVD connection. I charge the battery and make sure that I have the small remote control and that the battery is operational.

Packing up all the charger cables and wires on the very top of my suitcase makes for easy finding when I arrive.

I also have some minor electronics. I have sound reducing headphones that I pack in my carry-on. No real electronics, but I do make sure that I have 4 AAA batteries. That way I have 2 to use and 2 spares.

Checking your electronic devices before you go, charging all of your batteries, and packing all the cables and wires, will make your vacation go electronically smooth.

Larry Westfall is a frequent traveler to Pattaya and saves money booking his hotel through Pattaya-Accommodations
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Member countries of the European Union, as well as Iceland, Norway, Japan, Singapore, Australia and others - have implemented new regulations regarding liquids in carry-on bags. As a result, there are potential implications for passengers who purchase liquid duty-free items (e.g. perfume and liquor) while traveling to and from international destinations.

Because many duty-free shops in other countries are located before the security checkpoint, all liquid duty-free items purchased in those airports will be placed in special sealed tamper-evident bags in order to be permitted through those countries’ security checkpoints. The tamper-evident bag is not currently accepted through U.S. checkpoints.

To avoid the risk of having to abandon your liquid duty-free items in the U.S. and abroad, please follow the guidelines below.

For passengers traveling to an international destination from the United States:

Duty-free purchases of liquids of any size from shops in the U.S. are permitted if you have a nonstop flight to an international destination.

If you have a connecting flight in Europe, Japan or another international destination, U.S. duty-free liquid purchases in containers larger than three ounces will not be permitted through security checkpoints because they will not be in the an approved tamper-evident bag. Note: If you purchase a liquid duty-free item in the U.S. you will not be able to get a tamper evident bag for it before going through international checkpoints.

For passengers returning to the United States from an international destination:

On nonstop flights bound for the US, duty-free liquids purchased in an international airport will be permitted through the checkpoint only if they meet U.S. requirements for the use of tamper-evident bags. Duty-free delivered to the aircraft for passenger pick-up, bought on the plane or purchased after the security checkpoint are allowed.

If you are flying to the U.S. and have a connecting flight, duty-free liquids that meet U.S. requirements will NOT be permitted through U.S. security checkpoints. If you have a connecting flight, liquid duty-free purchases must be placed in your checked baggage. Since you will be required to reclaim your checked bags prior to passing through customs inspection, you can place duty-free liquids into your bags and recheck them for your connection.

Please note, this information applies only to liquid, aerosol, or gel duty free purchases that exceed the three ounce restriction for single containers.
Transportation Security Administration Tips

* When traveling to an international destination with a connection, buy your duty-free liquid items on the last leg of your trip.

* In Europe and other countries that use the tamper-evident bag, passengers should not open the bag before the security checkpoint, or else the duty-free contents may be seized.

* When returning from an international destination on a connecting flight in the U.S., use your time in customs to place any duty-free liquid items in your checked bags.

Larry Westfall is a frequent traveler to the Land of Smiles - Thailand - and books his Pattaya hotel rooms through Pattaya Beach Hotels
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