Packing Suggestions
related links:
Aer Lingus baggage info
Aer Lingus carry on information
TSA carry on liquids information
TSA prohibited items
Academic
Carry-on
Clothing
Miscellaneous Packing Considerations
Manners on the Tour
Ambassadorship
Behaviors Britons Detest
Behaviors Tour Directors Discourage
Attitudes Tour Directors Appreciate
Finally, for most of you, this trip will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We're gone for only 24 days. Given the grandeur of what you're about to experience, you cannot afford to be anything less than excited, cheerful, pleasant, patient, tolerant, understanding, positive, fun, grateful, and gracious.
As directors, we understand the responsibilities and obligations we have to you, your parents, and BYU-Idaho. We're thrilled that you're going on this year's tour and are anxious to serve you.
Currency Exchange
Bring your ATM card. The best rates these days are often obtained from cash machines, which are everywhere in Western Europe's cities and increasingly available even in the East and in smaller towns. Check with your issuing bank to see if they have a list of overseas ATM locations that are valid for your type of card.
There are some cautions to keep in mind when you use an overseas ATM. Don't withdraw extremely large amounts. Getting a week's worth of cash at one go will save transaction fees, but it also puts you at risk for theft, accidental loss, and even an expensive failed transaction -- where the ATM records your withdrawal but doesn't dispense any funds, or not the right amount. Getting this sort of error corrected can be much more difficult in a foreign country than it is at home, and might not be resolved until long after your trip is over -- if at all. Should you need a substantial amount of cash for some reason, it's best to wait for banking hours and carry out the deal in person.
And watch your back. If someone is crowding you, even if they don't appear to be paying attention, put your card away and try another location. Theft of PIN and calling card numbers has become an art form in many areas -- professional thieves use mirrors, video cameras, even binoculars. Take care to block the view when you're punching in your code. And put that wad of cash away before you turn around, not as you're strolling down the street.
Don't assume that because your ATM or debit card was accepted by one machine, it will work everywhere -- European systems can be finicky and unpredictable when it comes to foreign cards. We had one experience where, within 48 hours, the same card was rejected as "Declined by issuing bank" in Budapest, reported as "Not valid for international transactions" in Rome, and then -- at another Rome ATM no more than fifty feet away -- cheerfully produced 100,000 lira, no questions asked. Yet all three machines had our card's logo. If your ATM card fails in one machine, don't panic -- try the next one you see.
Bring some currency with you. It's now a simple matter to order $100 or so of foreign funds before you leave, at generally reasonable rates, using online services such as Currency FX. When you've just arrived in a foreign city, it's pouring down rain, the currency counter is jammed, and all you want is a cab to your hotel, it's a wonderful thing to have real money in your pocket right off the bat. If you're going to be visiting several countries, get a "starter-set" of $50 to $100 for each.
Use credit cards as much as you can. This way you don't pay a commission for changing funds, and the rate you'll get is generally very good. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are very widely accepted in most of Western Europe.
However, be sure to check with your credit card issuer to see if they've added new foreign-exchange fees recently (or raised the fees they had before). Many banks have done so, but not all. If your card is gouging travelers, dump it and get a different one.
When you do change traveler's checks for cash, you'll get the best rate at banks and (usually) the worst rate at shops and hotels. Falling in between are the ubiquitous change shops found at airports, railway stations, and on virtually every street corner in popular tourist areas. Be aware that the terrific rates trumpeted in large print outside these places are invariably buy rates -- that is, it's the rate at which they'll buy local currency and sell you dollars. Since this isn't the transaction you have in mind, you'll actually get a different and less favorable calculation -- usually posted in much smaller print inside. Also be aware that a transaction fee is nearly always added on -- generally the equivalent of $2-$3 -- which further reduces your effective rate, especially for small transactions. Often, however, the fee can be substantially less if you wander a few blocks away from the busiest streets, and look for change shops on the periphery that are a bit more hungry for business. (As a bonus, this can also be a good way to find a place for lunch!)
Another change-shop scam to watch out for: some will try to hand you a cheap map or coupon book along with your funds, giving the impression that it's complimentary -- but if you check your receipt you'll find you were charged (and dearly) for what's usually a worthless advertising brochure. The practice is illegal in many jurisdictions, so if you raise a stink there's a good chance they'll quickly take the item back and give you a refund.
Once you get some local currency in your hands, take time to learn it. Travelers probably lose more funds through overpaying -- mixing up pence and pounds, forgetting the value of 1,000 lira vs. 10,000 -- than they do from overpriced exchange rates. If you don't know the coins, you'll fall into the habit of handing someone a large bill for every transaction, and end up lugging around twenty pounds of pocket change that you're afraid to spend. Remember that coins in many European countries come in higher denominations than we're used to -- take them seriously. Also remember that most change shops, and even most banks, will not accept foreign coins for exchange regardless of their value -- so try to work your coin-purse empty before you depart. (This can be a wonderful excuse for buying chocolate bars and other such high-rationalization items.)
Speaking of coins: if you have a stash of leftover change from a trip five years ago, bring it along but use caution. Some European countries retire coins after a number of years and issue new versions, and the deal is not always backwardly compatible... in fact you can get in a bit of hot water trying to palm off a "withdrawn" coin. Check your souvenirs against what's circulating now, and ask your concierge or hotel desk clerk if you're in doubt. Even older bills can be worthless if you take them out of their native country; if a country has recently undergone a devaluation or other major currency change, you may find that old specie is still in circulation there which won't be accepted by money-changers elsewhere. If you're getting ready to leave a country and have excess cash on your hands, it's usually better to change it before you go. (Especially if you are leaving Eastern Europe for the West.)
Finally, be sensible about getting a good exchange rate, but not fanatical. Remember that you're in Europe: you paid a lot to get there and you're paying a lot to stay there, and your time is worth something too. We once encountered a young couple sitting on a sidewalk in the Paris financial district, looking tired and bored. When we struck up a conversation, we learned that they were "waiting for the bank to open." They had walked some two miles from their hotel, had been sitting on a hot sidewalk for over an hour, and once they cashed their traveler's checks they planned to walk two miles back to visit a museum near the hotel. Familiar with the area, we noted that there were a half-dozen change shops within a block of the museum's entrance. "Oh, but those are terrible rates," they said knowingly. "We aren't going to let ourselves be ripped off." When we passed by an hour later they were still sitting there -- wasting a morning in Paris, but not getting "ripped off." Be sensible.
Passport Application Instructions
Items Needed for First-time Passport Application
It is always wise to make photocopies of you airline tickets, rail pass, the ID page of your passport, your drivers license, and the credit cards you take with you. Leave one set of photocopies at home and take another set with you, storing it in a separate place from the originals.
Leave a list of the serial numbers of your travelers checks at home. Take a copy of that list on your trip, but keep the list separate from the checks. As you cash each check, tally the ones that remain unredeemed. This way you can spot if there is anything missing.
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, pack an extra set. If there are any particular medicines you need, bring along an ample supply as well as a copy of prescription and generic names of those drugs. Keep these in your carry-on luggage. Leave medicines in their original labeled containers so as not to complicate customs processing. If any medications contain narcotics, carry a letter from your physician attesting to your need to take them. Leave a copy of your medical and dental records with a relative or friend.
Include a tag or label with your name and address inside each piece of luggage, and lock your bags.
Leave a copy of your itinerary with a relative or friend should it be necessary to contact you in case of emergency. Some people contact their consulate when traveling in a foreign country. This can be particularly helpful when traveling in dangerous or unstable regions, but is otherwise unnecessary.
Think about purchasing travelers checks or cash of the country in which you'll be arriving. Having $50 or $100 in local currency for hopping a cab or grabbing a bite, sure beats standing in line at the money exchange after a long flight and leaves you with one less task to worry about.
Find out if your insurance policies cover you for theft, loss, accident, and illness while you are in another country. If yes, write down the procedures to follow in case an accident occurs. If you're thinking about traveling to a country where there's been some unrest, you might want to check with the State Department's hotline first at (202) 647-5225 from a touch tone phone.
Reducing Jet Lag and DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis or "Economy Class Syndrome")
What is jet lag? Jet lag is a combination of physical fatigue, disruption of the body's biolgocical clock, and mental confusion resulting from unfamiliar situations. It can make you feel entirely yucky, or it can be almost bypassed.
Jet lag is not a serious condition to people in reasonably good health, but it can rob you of the enjoyment you anticipated during the trip. Feeling droopy for a day or two is no big thing at home, but the days of the trip are too precious for that. Avoiding jet lag is worth the few easy adjustments it requires.
CNN report on DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis): DVT Report Link
During the Few Days Before the Flight
related links:
Aer Lingus baggage info
Aer Lingus carry on information
TSA carry on liquids information
TSA prohibited items
Academic
- Bring books, syllabi, handouts, pens, BYU-Idaho College ID card, and paper (for journal entries and notes).
- Make 2 photocopies of your passport. Take one; leave one with your parents.
- Get a security pouch, wallet, or belt (to hold tickets, passport, money). These items should be on your person at all times.
- Make sure your parents have a copy of the tour's itinerary and emergency contact information.
Carry-on
- Bring one carry-on bag (23 x 15 x 8). We will take no check-in bags.
Clothing
- Observe BYU-Idaho Standards
- Layer clothing (shirt -- sweater/sweatshirt - windbreaker).
- No shorts.
- Bring shoes already proven to be comfortable.
- Bring clothing that can dry out quickly (i.e., synthetics); for example, avoid thick cottons.
- Nylon athletic socks work well.
- Bring clothing that doesn't require ironing.
- Clothing articles should be mix-and-match and multipurpose (i.e. appropriate for both church and state functions).
- Bring plastic trash bags for dirty clothes.
- Buy Woolite for washing clothes in the hotels
Miscellaneous Packing Considerations
- In addition to prescriptions, bring any possible medications you anticipate needing. (Most students need Dramamine--especially for ferry crossings)
- Bring a towel and shower shoes.
- Take extra batteries.
- Buy camera film here. Consider whether you'll want slides or photos.
- Bring both a watch and an alarm clock.
- Bring a converter if necessary.
- Butane/propane curling irons are a possibility.
- Bring leak-proof drinking and storage bottles (for shampoo, etc)
- Use "zip-lock" baggies to individually store liquid items.
- If you're a "shop-aholic," pack an extra bag for stuff you'll buy.
- Leave room in your bag: you shouldn't leave on the tour with your bags stuffed to the limit.
- Pack lightly you'll need to be able to carry everything yourself, sometimes for considerable distances.
Manners on the Tour
Ambassadorship
- Remember, to varying degrees, you are representing yourselves, the tour, BYU-Idaho, the Church, and the United States.
- Unofficial tour motto, suitable for screening on t-shirts: "Wherever thou art, act well thy part."
Behaviors Britons Detest
- Shouting. Britons typically speak in low tones.
- Blocking Traffic. Stay out of people's way by moving aside whenever possible.
- Comparing life in America to life in Britain. British ways are enviable, in many cases.
- Bragging and boasting. This is tacky. We're all nationalists. If anything, tell Britons what you like about Britain--you'll make a friend for life.
- Complaining about anything. Food will be different. Toilets will flush differently. Towels may not be "Downy soft." Deal with it; this is a part of the travel experience. Try new foods, new words, etc., embracing such opportunities as part of a new culture.
- Rudeness and impatience. Britons will expect you to be extremely courteous and polite regardless of what happens.
Behaviors Tour Directors Discourage
- Being Late. It holds up everyone--don't do it.
- Flirting. This can be very dangerous in Europe, as Europeans interpret signals differently.
- Flashing cash. Be "street smart" and discrete when handling money. Be aware that certain people may want to take advantage of you. Theft is very common in Europe, especially in Paris. Tourists are easy to identify and victimize. When in doubt, think like a criminal.
- Mocking language, customs, mannerisms, etc. In reality, you're just as strange to them (and maybe even more so.)
- Doing anything listed under behaviors Britons detest.
Attitudes Tour Directors Appreciate
- Being a cooperative team player. Think in terms of what's best for the whole tour, not just yourself. You'll have considerable free time to satisfy your personal whims.
- Assuming tour directors are doing all they can to make the tour enjoyable. Also, assuming they're only human (some things are even beyond their control.)
- Being cool when things go wrong, as they inevitably will. Anticipate being flexible.
- Being your brother's/sister's keeper. Help each other out, bear one another's burdens, look out for each other.
- Listening to directors' instructions carefully. Most of what they say will be with your best interests in mind.
Finally, for most of you, this trip will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We're gone for only 24 days. Given the grandeur of what you're about to experience, you cannot afford to be anything less than excited, cheerful, pleasant, patient, tolerant, understanding, positive, fun, grateful, and gracious.
As directors, we understand the responsibilities and obligations we have to you, your parents, and BYU-Idaho. We're thrilled that you're going on this year's tour and are anxious to serve you.
Currency Exchange
Bring your ATM card. The best rates these days are often obtained from cash machines, which are everywhere in Western Europe's cities and increasingly available even in the East and in smaller towns. Check with your issuing bank to see if they have a list of overseas ATM locations that are valid for your type of card.
There are some cautions to keep in mind when you use an overseas ATM. Don't withdraw extremely large amounts. Getting a week's worth of cash at one go will save transaction fees, but it also puts you at risk for theft, accidental loss, and even an expensive failed transaction -- where the ATM records your withdrawal but doesn't dispense any funds, or not the right amount. Getting this sort of error corrected can be much more difficult in a foreign country than it is at home, and might not be resolved until long after your trip is over -- if at all. Should you need a substantial amount of cash for some reason, it's best to wait for banking hours and carry out the deal in person.
And watch your back. If someone is crowding you, even if they don't appear to be paying attention, put your card away and try another location. Theft of PIN and calling card numbers has become an art form in many areas -- professional thieves use mirrors, video cameras, even binoculars. Take care to block the view when you're punching in your code. And put that wad of cash away before you turn around, not as you're strolling down the street.
Don't assume that because your ATM or debit card was accepted by one machine, it will work everywhere -- European systems can be finicky and unpredictable when it comes to foreign cards. We had one experience where, within 48 hours, the same card was rejected as "Declined by issuing bank" in Budapest, reported as "Not valid for international transactions" in Rome, and then -- at another Rome ATM no more than fifty feet away -- cheerfully produced 100,000 lira, no questions asked. Yet all three machines had our card's logo. If your ATM card fails in one machine, don't panic -- try the next one you see.
Bring some currency with you. It's now a simple matter to order $100 or so of foreign funds before you leave, at generally reasonable rates, using online services such as Currency FX. When you've just arrived in a foreign city, it's pouring down rain, the currency counter is jammed, and all you want is a cab to your hotel, it's a wonderful thing to have real money in your pocket right off the bat. If you're going to be visiting several countries, get a "starter-set" of $50 to $100 for each.
Use credit cards as much as you can. This way you don't pay a commission for changing funds, and the rate you'll get is generally very good. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are very widely accepted in most of Western Europe.
However, be sure to check with your credit card issuer to see if they've added new foreign-exchange fees recently (or raised the fees they had before). Many banks have done so, but not all. If your card is gouging travelers, dump it and get a different one.
When you do change traveler's checks for cash, you'll get the best rate at banks and (usually) the worst rate at shops and hotels. Falling in between are the ubiquitous change shops found at airports, railway stations, and on virtually every street corner in popular tourist areas. Be aware that the terrific rates trumpeted in large print outside these places are invariably buy rates -- that is, it's the rate at which they'll buy local currency and sell you dollars. Since this isn't the transaction you have in mind, you'll actually get a different and less favorable calculation -- usually posted in much smaller print inside. Also be aware that a transaction fee is nearly always added on -- generally the equivalent of $2-$3 -- which further reduces your effective rate, especially for small transactions. Often, however, the fee can be substantially less if you wander a few blocks away from the busiest streets, and look for change shops on the periphery that are a bit more hungry for business. (As a bonus, this can also be a good way to find a place for lunch!)
Another change-shop scam to watch out for: some will try to hand you a cheap map or coupon book along with your funds, giving the impression that it's complimentary -- but if you check your receipt you'll find you were charged (and dearly) for what's usually a worthless advertising brochure. The practice is illegal in many jurisdictions, so if you raise a stink there's a good chance they'll quickly take the item back and give you a refund.
Once you get some local currency in your hands, take time to learn it. Travelers probably lose more funds through overpaying -- mixing up pence and pounds, forgetting the value of 1,000 lira vs. 10,000 -- than they do from overpriced exchange rates. If you don't know the coins, you'll fall into the habit of handing someone a large bill for every transaction, and end up lugging around twenty pounds of pocket change that you're afraid to spend. Remember that coins in many European countries come in higher denominations than we're used to -- take them seriously. Also remember that most change shops, and even most banks, will not accept foreign coins for exchange regardless of their value -- so try to work your coin-purse empty before you depart. (This can be a wonderful excuse for buying chocolate bars and other such high-rationalization items.)
Speaking of coins: if you have a stash of leftover change from a trip five years ago, bring it along but use caution. Some European countries retire coins after a number of years and issue new versions, and the deal is not always backwardly compatible... in fact you can get in a bit of hot water trying to palm off a "withdrawn" coin. Check your souvenirs against what's circulating now, and ask your concierge or hotel desk clerk if you're in doubt. Even older bills can be worthless if you take them out of their native country; if a country has recently undergone a devaluation or other major currency change, you may find that old specie is still in circulation there which won't be accepted by money-changers elsewhere. If you're getting ready to leave a country and have excess cash on your hands, it's usually better to change it before you go. (Especially if you are leaving Eastern Europe for the West.)
Finally, be sensible about getting a good exchange rate, but not fanatical. Remember that you're in Europe: you paid a lot to get there and you're paying a lot to stay there, and your time is worth something too. We once encountered a young couple sitting on a sidewalk in the Paris financial district, looking tired and bored. When we struck up a conversation, we learned that they were "waiting for the bank to open." They had walked some two miles from their hotel, had been sitting on a hot sidewalk for over an hour, and once they cashed their traveler's checks they planned to walk two miles back to visit a museum near the hotel. Familiar with the area, we noted that there were a half-dozen change shops within a block of the museum's entrance. "Oh, but those are terrible rates," they said knowingly. "We aren't going to let ourselves be ripped off." When we passed by an hour later they were still sitting there -- wasting a morning in Paris, but not getting "ripped off." Be sensible.
Passport Application Instructions
Items Needed for First-time Passport Application
- Properly completed passport application forms . Obtain new or renewal application forms at the Rexburg Courthouse or at this government site: Passport Services Link
- Certified birth certificate.
Obtain an official copy of your birth certificate from the Office of Vital Statistics in your state of birth.
Must be an official copy--photocopies are not accepted.
Must be sent with your application, but it will be returned with your passport.
- Two duplicate passport photos.
Available at Inkley's for around $10.
BYU-Idaho Photo Services.
- Application fees.
Check form for processing fee.
- Driver's license--for identification and verification.
- Complete application forms. (Use your full name.) Gather all materials needed.
- Take them to University of Idaho Extension Services Building (across from Rexburg County Courthouse).
- Pay the clerk the $10 execution fee, in cash. The clerk will then process your materials.
- Passport Services will send the passport to the mailing address listed on your passport form. If everything is in order, the process takes about two weeks. If things are not in order, much more time is needed. It is best to allow six weeks in case of problems.
- Make three photocopies of your passport identification page. Leave one copy at home. Give one to Tour director. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen.
- Always carry your passport on your person, rather than stow it away in luggage.
It is always wise to make photocopies of you airline tickets, rail pass, the ID page of your passport, your drivers license, and the credit cards you take with you. Leave one set of photocopies at home and take another set with you, storing it in a separate place from the originals.
Leave a list of the serial numbers of your travelers checks at home. Take a copy of that list on your trip, but keep the list separate from the checks. As you cash each check, tally the ones that remain unredeemed. This way you can spot if there is anything missing.
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, pack an extra set. If there are any particular medicines you need, bring along an ample supply as well as a copy of prescription and generic names of those drugs. Keep these in your carry-on luggage. Leave medicines in their original labeled containers so as not to complicate customs processing. If any medications contain narcotics, carry a letter from your physician attesting to your need to take them. Leave a copy of your medical and dental records with a relative or friend.
Include a tag or label with your name and address inside each piece of luggage, and lock your bags.
Leave a copy of your itinerary with a relative or friend should it be necessary to contact you in case of emergency. Some people contact their consulate when traveling in a foreign country. This can be particularly helpful when traveling in dangerous or unstable regions, but is otherwise unnecessary.
Think about purchasing travelers checks or cash of the country in which you'll be arriving. Having $50 or $100 in local currency for hopping a cab or grabbing a bite, sure beats standing in line at the money exchange after a long flight and leaves you with one less task to worry about.
Find out if your insurance policies cover you for theft, loss, accident, and illness while you are in another country. If yes, write down the procedures to follow in case an accident occurs. If you're thinking about traveling to a country where there's been some unrest, you might want to check with the State Department's hotline first at (202) 647-5225 from a touch tone phone.
Reducing Jet Lag and DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis or "Economy Class Syndrome")
What is jet lag? Jet lag is a combination of physical fatigue, disruption of the body's biolgocical clock, and mental confusion resulting from unfamiliar situations. It can make you feel entirely yucky, or it can be almost bypassed.
Jet lag is not a serious condition to people in reasonably good health, but it can rob you of the enjoyment you anticipated during the trip. Feeling droopy for a day or two is no big thing at home, but the days of the trip are too precious for that. Avoiding jet lag is worth the few easy adjustments it requires.
CNN report on DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis): DVT Report Link
During the Few Days Before the Flight
- Take Vitamin C (500 mg per day) to reduce the possibility of coming down with a cold.
- Alter your schedule by going to bed early and getting up early, to reduce the number of hours shock to your system (when your travel will be easterly).
- Take naps and be thoroughly rested when the trip starts.
- Get moderate exercise.
- Pack well in advance and make all last minute arrangements before the last minute. Then do something diverting before the trip actually begins.
- Review all travel plans carefully so that you can anticipate each event rather than be surprised as the trip unfolds.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
- Walk around now and then to stretch muscles and reduce swelling in the feet.
- Eat sparingly. Airline food schedules and servings are geared to the hungriest.
- Drink lots of water and fruit juices. Avoid caffeine.
- Sleep. Airline activities are calculated to prevent rest. Rest anyway.
- Perform leg and ankle exercises: Leg and Ankle Exercises Link
- Set your watch to the new time and don't calculate what time it is back home.
- Let the trip leader do the worrying about customs, exchange, and shuttle.
- Lie down briefly in your room, but not longer than a couple of hours.
- Go to bed in good time and get up early the next morning.
- Continue the Vitamin C for a few days.