Start Early. If a passport is required for you to enter the country where you are planning to travel, apply for it as soon as possible. Photocopy all your travel documents including your passport and any document that has your signature on it and leave them with a relative or friend that you know you can contact in the event that you loose all your documentation. The copies can be faxed to you.

You will not get a break buying film/batteries/memory cards etc. for your camera in a tourist destination. Always keep your film, tape, or computer disks out of the sun. Carry an extra supply of batteries, and be prepared to turn on your camera, camcorder, or laptop to prove to security personnel that the device is real. Always ask for hand inspection of film, which becomes clouded after successive exposures to airport X-ray machines, and keep videotapes and computer disks away from metal detectors.

Safety begins when you pack. Leave expensive jewelry, unnecessary credit cards, and anything you would hate to lose at home. Use a concealed money pouch or belt for passports, cash, and other valuables. To facilitate replacing a lost or stolen passport, carry two extra passport photos and a photocopy of your passport information page and other identity documents with you in a separate place from those items. Do not take valuables to the beach. When possible, use the hotel safe when you go to the beach or into town.

On the day of the trip or just before you leave, use a Polaroid camera and take photos of each child in your party. Keep the pictures with you at all times. If you become separated from your child, you will have a photo of what your child looks like right then, that day.

Mark every piece of luggage inside and outside with your last name and first initial only. Do not use a title [Ms.] Do not put your home address or destination address on the luggage unless your destination is a hotel or resort. Use garbage-bag ties to secure the zips (as well as locks) on your luggage. This measure annoys and may deter a potential thief.

Take extra precautions. In your carry-on luggage bring an extra pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses and enough of any medication you take to last the entire trip. You may also want your doctor to write a spare prescription using the drug’s generic name, since brand names may vary from country to country. Never put prescription drugs or valuables in luggage to be checked. To avoid customs delays, carry medications in their original packaging. And don’t forget to copy down and carry addresses of offices that handle refunds of lost traveler’s checks.

When you are traveling as a couple, each of you should put one complete outfit in the other’s suitcase in case one suitcase is delayed or lost. It is also a good idea to carry a change of underwear and socks in your carry-on. Bag it. Plastic bags — for everything from toiletries to shoes to aerosol cans — have prevented many a suitcase fiasco. Resealable bags are great for dirty clothes or wet suits. Also use them for cameras, film and whatever else you don’t want sand/water/etc. in. First aid: Pack band-aids, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, nail clippers, Tylenol, anti-bacterial wipes.

Learn about the countries you plan to visit. Before departing, read up on the culture and people for the places you will travel. For up-to-date travel information on any country in the world that you plan to visit, obtain the Department of State’s Consular Information Sheet. This covers topics such as entry regulations, the crime and security situation, drug penalties, and location of the nearest U.S. embassy, consulate or consular agency

Bring light ponchos for rain gear. These can be purchased from most camping stores. Many stadiums also carry a light poncho to sell to fans of local football teams. These work great as well. They are small and light and easy to carry anywhere you go as a rain cloud can show up unexpectedly and quickly.

If you plan to walk into the jungle make sure you know what you are doing. Carry a GPS and know how to use it. A compass will help the experienced explorer but if you just bought it and expect to enter the jungle then you may find yourself in deep trouble. If you must venture into the bush then please follow these instructions: Tell somebody where you are going. Bring lots of water. Make sure your compass works. Mark your trail. Be visually aware and remember landmarks.

When traveling in a large group, it is helpful to either tie the same brightly colored ribbon or affix a brightly colored piece of tape on every piece of luggage. This aids in being able to spot each other’s luggage at all times.

Be sure to pack an effective topical antibiotic cream. The smallest scratch or insect bite can quickly become infected. To prevent ringworm, the most effective product is “Nizoral” – sold over the counter as an anti-dandruff shampoo.

In a restaurant, ask for a bottle of water unopened. Have them open it at the table, and you can be sure you won’t get local water, bottled.

As you travel, keep abreast of local news coverage. If you are in an area experiencing civil unrest or a natural disaster, if you will be staying more than two weeks in an area, or if you are going to a place where communications are poor, you are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S./your country embassy or consulate. Registration takes only a few moments, and it may be invaluable in case of an emergency. Remember to leave a detailed itinerary and the numbers of your passport or other citizenship documents with a friend or relative back home.

Crime Information. Most visitors to the Caribbean have a relatively safe trip. However, thievery, purse snatching, and pick pocketing do happen, particularly in cities and at beaches. There has also been an increase in violent crimes, such as rape and assault against tourists. Robbery of yachts is a problem in some marinas.

Make certain that sports equipment, including scuba equipment, which you rent or buy meets international safety standards. If you use a beach without a lifeguard, exercise extreme caution. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for tourists in the Caribbean. Do not dive into unknown bodies of water because hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause serious injury or death. In some places, you may need to wear sneakers in the water and on the beach for protection against sea urchins.

If you plan to rent a car, be aware that most jurisdictions of the Caribbean drive on the left. The only places where you drive on the right are Aruba, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, and the Netherlands Antilles. In other places, if you are not used to driving on the left, proceed slowly and with utmost caution. You may wish to ride as a passenger for a while before trying to drive yourself. Many roads are narrow or winding, signs may not be in English, and in some places, domestic animals roam freely. Defensive driving is a must.

You will need a passport and visas to reside in or to conduct or start a business in the Caribbean. Although some Caribbean countries welcome retirees or others of independent means as long-term residents, requests for work permits are rarely granted. Before you travel, apply to the country’s embassy or consulate to obtain a visa if you wish to reside, go into business, or work in the country.

If you are staying at a small hotel you’ll need to bring your own beach towels. Larger resorts provide them. You may also want to bring a couple of washcloths if you’re staying at a small hotel, they don’t always have them. Also bring your own toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, deodorant, bar of soap. When to go: December through mid-April is the most popular time to visit the Caribbean, as travelers flee the chilly northern weather for sunny skies, white-sand beaches, and warm temperatures. To get the best rates, visit in the late spring or summer months or get even better rates by traveling in the fall.

European Citizens whose country is under the authority of the Schengen Treaty may enter Italy with nothing more than a valid identity card or passport. Citizens from all other countries must show their passport on the border; where a visa is required, this must also be presented to the border authorities and must indicate the length of the holder’s stay and his or her destination. Visa applications – specifying the reason for the trip –  must be made to the Italian Consulate in the applicant’s country of residence, and are generally issued 90 days after the application was been made.  Once visitors arrive in Italy, those who will not be staying in a hotel or similar accommodation facility must register with the local police headquarters within 8 days of their arrival in the country. Visitors staying in hotels or other tourist accommodation facilities will automatically be registered upon reception there.

There are no limits to what may be bought or carried on trips within the European Union, provided such purchases are for the traveler’s own personal use.

Driving licenses issued by any of the EU Member States are valid throughout the European Union, including Italy. Drivers with a license issued by any EU country do not require an international driving permit or a legal translation of their own license. To drive in Italy, you must be over 18. Keep right and overtake on the left. Dipped headlights must be used on two-lane motorways. When driving through towns and villages, the horn may be sounded only in the event of an emergency. Trams and trains have right of way. The use of seat-belts in both the front and rear seats is compulsory, and failure to keep them fastened may result in fines for both drivers and passengers.

Police 113
Fire Brigade 115
Ambulance 118

Since 2001, the currency used in Italy is the euro. One euro is divided up into 100 euro-cents. There are eight different coins (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 euro-cents) and seven notes (5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros).

As well as in cash, purchases can be paid for using the most common credit cards. This payment system is common in Italian shops, which generally display the symbols of the credit cards they accept on the outside door. If you pay by credit card you will be asked to show an identity document. Travelers cheques (in USD or Euros) can also be cashed in Italian banks.

Tips are not compulsory and in Italy there are no generally established rules, although it is common practice to leave a sum amounting to around 10% of the bill if you are satisfied with the service you have received.

To call an Italian telephone number from outside Italy, either from a land line or a mobile phone, you will need to add the international dialing code for Italy, which is 0039 (+39), followed by the telephone number you require. To call another country from Italy, you will need to add the international dialing code for the country you are calling, followed by the telephone number you require. To make calls within Italy, dial the number you require without adding the international country dialing code. To make calls from public telephones (which you can find on the street, in some bars, restaurants, etc and in shopping centers), you may use coins or phone cards, which can be purchased from tobacconists, news kiosks and telephone shops. Before traveling to Italy you should contact your telephone services provider to activate the international roaming service (if it is not already activated automatically). Making international calls from a mobile phone may be very expensive, and it is often advisable to purchase a phone card to call home from a public telephone.

There are numerous internet points and cafés offering internet access. In many hotels (especially higher-category ones) a direct internet connection is provided in the rooms. In addition, in Italy you will find Wi-Fi access available in many airports, hotels, train stations and other public places where travelers pass through or stop off.

In Italy the electrical current is 220 volts AC (50 Hz). Electrical sockets comply with European regulations. In most hotels you will find adaptors for different types of plugs.

The supply of drinking water is guaranteed throughout Italy. The water from taps and fountains is checked regularly, and is perfectly safe to drink, unless there is a notice indicating otherwise.

For more information visit: italia.it

The Azores is part of Portugal, therefore the official language is Portuguese. Many Azoreans speak English and some speak French.

As part of Portugal, the currency is Euro as well. Most of the restaurants, hotels and car-renting companies accept common credit-cards. But don’t expect credit cards to be accepted in smaller restaurants and residential. Be sure to carry small bills. There are places that it can be a problem to change bigger notes.

The voltages on all the Azorean islands is 220 volt alternating current. Don’t forget an adaptor/converter. Wall sockets are different from Canada.