Helpful Advice

Participants are responsible for obtaining a valid passport and a visa for the country involved (if needed). Most short-term stays (3 months or less) do not require a visa for U.S. citizens ญญ--- except China, Vietnam, and Russia. For China, Vietnam, and Russia you need a visa. Non-U.S. citizens should check with the country Consulate nearest you for info and details on how to apply.

Before You Leave

• Get signatures from department heads and option heads to complete prior approval form.


• Inform all credit card and banks of the dates and locations that you will be traveling and authorize the use of them in those location during those dates.


• Make a copy of your credit card and write a letter to the credit card company, giving your parents or someone you trust authorization to cancel your credit card. This is good insurance in case your credit card is stolen, it makes it easy for your parents to worry about making the phone calls.


• Make copies of you passport and visa for your parents as well as our office. This will help if there is some kind of emergency. Also keep a copy of your passport in the back of your luggage.

Getting Tickets

Be sure to ask the following questions and get the answers in writing:

• How much will it cost to change the return ticket?
• Who do I call to change the ticket? The travel agent or the airlines?
• In case of an emergency what are my options for getting a ticket back to the US?

To purchase tickets visit the following sites:

• Student Travel (STA)
  
  



• Student Universe

Recommended Travel Site

• Let's Go books - These give good information about costs and distances between cites, interesting places to visit, and how to do it on a budget. Visit their website here.


• Lonely Planet Guides - These come highly recommended and offer much information on budget traveling. Their website is here, and it offers some useful information on various areas of the world as well.


• Go Abroad - This site provides the most comprehensive international education and alternative travel databases. Including extensive additional information within its dynamically constructed travel guides, currency converter, and embassy directories. Visit their website here.


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  Hostel World - This site provides on-line confirmed bookings for hostels, budget accommodation centres and package tours, as well as comprehensive content such as city and country guides. Visit their website here.