So you’re planning on taking a summer cruise but don’t know where you should go? Travel in summer is popular since the kids are out of school and work tends to be at its slowest since coworkers are also on holiday. Here are some trip ideas for cruise vacations that are sure to please.

The most popular summer cruises are those short cruises from Seattle to Vancouver and San Diego to Northern Baja California but if you’re up for something a bit more exciting then there are plenty of options.

Consider travel to Europe since it will have pleasant weather and you can immerse yourself in new cultures. There are small ships that ply the Adriatic and Mediterranean so you can visit Greece and Italy. Embarkation points are popular on the southern coast of France but there are many others including Venice and Dubrovnik.

Also in Europe are cruises in the Scandinavian countries and summer is perfect since the weather is its warmest and most pleasant. The Norwegian Fjords are a highlight of these cruises and they will surely amaze you with quaint villages and cold weather native animals. There are many departures from Helsinki and a popular cruise sails on a 245 passenger ship. You’ll eat Nordic cuisine and have shows that highlight native customs and dance.

If cooler climates interest you then there are more options than Scandinavia. There are voyages leaving Reykjavik, Iceland or Syalbar, Greenland. There is an abundance of arctic-like wildlife including polar bears and caribou. These cruises are usually combined with onshore excursions for exploring the flora and fauna of these hidden treasures.

You can head south of the border for something warmer and closer to home. There are many typical cruises that ply the Pacific Coast of Mexico by why not try something more interesting. There are cruises that combine the open seas relaxation and inland exploration. The Yucatan Peninsula is full of history and ruins and cruises combine the crystal blue waters with land excursions. The best time for these trips is early or late summer when the weather is the most pleasant. There are similar trips further south in Belize, Panama and Peru where you can take inland excursions to dense rainforests and ancient ruins.

You can also combine a cruise with a trip to Asia. There are cruises along the Chinese coast or trips around the beautiful islands of Thailand and Malaysia. These areas are generally served by smaller ships that have a more personalized feel.

Wherever you decide to go you’re sure to have an exciting and adventurous cruise vacation that you will not soon forget.

Robert Carlton is publishing largely for http://www.alicante-spain.com , an online publication on the topic of madrid to alicante by train . You might come across his publications on train from alicante to madrid over at http://www.alicante-spain.com .

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Protect Your Passport

Your passport is the most valuable document that you will carry abroad. It confirms your U.S. citizenship. Please guard it carefully. Do not use it as collateral for a loan or lend it to anyone. It is your best form of identification. You will need it when you pick up mail or check into hotels, embassies or consulates.

When entering some countries or registering at hotels, you may be asked to fill out a police card listing your name, passport number, destination, local address, and reason for travel. You may be required to leave your passport at the hotel reception desk overnight so that it may be checked by local police officials. These are normal procedures required by local laws. If your passport is not returned the following morning, immediately report the impoundment to local police authorities and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Passport Fraud

Law enforcement records show that U.S. passports are sometimes used for illegal entry into the United States, or by criminals abroad seeking to establish another identity. This can cause embarrassment to innocent U.S. citizens whose names become associated with illegal activities. To protect the integrity of the U.S. passport and the security of the person bearing it, consular officers overseas have found it necessary to take precautions in processing lost passport cases. These precautions may involve some delay before a new passport is issued.

Safeguard Your Passport

Carelessness is the main cause for losing a passport or having it stolen. You may find that you have to carry your passport with you because you need to show it when you cash traveler’s checks or the country that you are visiting requires you to carry it as an identity document. When you must carry your passport, hide it securely on your person. Do not leave it in a handbag or in an exposed pocket. Whenever possible, leave your passport in the hotel safe, not in an empty hotel room, and not packed in your luggage. One family member should not carry all the passports for the entire family.

Guard Against Thieves

Coat pockets, handbags, and hip pockets are particularly susceptible to theft. Thieves will use all kinds of ploys to divert your attention just long enough to pick your pocket and grab your purse or wallet. These ploys include creating a disturbance, spilling something on your clothing, or even handing you a baby to hold!

You can try to prevent theft by carrying your belongings in a secure manner. For example, consider not carrying a purse or wallet when going along crowded streets.

Women who carry a shoulder bag should keep it tucked under the arm and held securely by the strap. Men should put their wallets in their front trouser pockets or use money belts instead of hip pockets. A wallet wrapped in rubber bands is more difficult to remove without notice. Be especially cautious in a large crowd - in the subway, on buses, at the marketplace, at a festival, or if surrounded by groups of vagrant children. Do not make it easy for thieves!

I always make a color copy of my passport and visa and carry that with me and secure my passport in the hotel safe. Some countries require you to always carry your passport on your person. But, most will not have a problem if you carry a color copy.

Larry Westfall gets to Thailand whenever he can and is the author of Pattaya Crazy | Newbie”s Guide to Pattaya
Submitted by: Automatic Article Submission
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Here are my top ten travel tips for students traveling overseas

1. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport! Make color copies of your passport and visa information and carry a copy with you at all times. This way you can secure your passport in your hotel room safe.

2. Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit. You can easily find them at the U.S. state department travel web site. Register your trip online at the same web site.

3. Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends at home, so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency. Keep your host program informed of your whereabouts.

4. Make sure you have insurance that will cover your emergency medical needs (including medical evacuation) while you are overseas. If you bring any medication with you, ensure that you have copies of your prescriptions.

5. Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, while in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws! You will not be in Kansas anymore. What is legal in one country may not be in another. Do your homework before you go.

6. Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas and never accept packages from strangers. Thieves and possible drug smugglers may target you. Be observant and report anything suspicious.

7. While abroad, avoid using illicit drugs or drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages, and associating with people who do. Possession of small amounts of marijuana may be a misdemeanor in your home town, but may be a Class I felony in another country. Instead of a small fine, you may be looking at 10 – 20 years in a foreign prison. Don’t even consider doing drugs in a foreign country.

8. Do not become a target for thieves by wearing conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of cash or unnecessary credit cards. Dress plain and simple with nondescript shirts and jeans.

9. Deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money to avoid violating local laws. Currency exchanges and banks are your best choices. Money changers on the streets or back alleys may be illegal.

10. When overseas, avoid demonstrations and other situations that may become unruly or where anti-American sentiments may be expressed. Avoid government buildings and embassies unless you absolutely have to go. Registering with the state department travel website will provide the embassy a way to contact you in country either by phone or email.

Use common sense and have a great trip.

Larry Westfall is a frequent traveler to Bangkok - Pattaya - and Phuket and books his hotels in Thailand through Thailand Accommodations
Submitted by: Automatic Article Submission
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By: Larry Westfall

Here are some quick tips to make your travel easier and safer:

Register so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Register your travel plans with the State Department through a free online service. This will help them contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization.

Sign your passport, and fill in the emergency information: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.

Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

Check your overseas medical insurance coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation. If it does not, consider supplemental insurance.

Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. The State Department web site has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit.

Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.

Contact your embassy in the event of an emergency: Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the U.S. are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs may be reached for assistance with emergencies at 1-888-407-4747, if calling from the U.S. or Canada, or 202-501-4444, if calling from overseas.

Make a few minor preparations before you travel overseas and it will make your trip a lot smoother and give you peace of mind. Remember, you cannot plan once the emergency happens; you need to do your planning ahead of time.

Larry Westfall is a regular visitor to Thailand and will retire in Khon Kaen but while he is still single he will get drunk on Walking Street
Submitted by: Article Publisher
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