Read Through Travel Tips and Information

Global Discount Travel stands out as a travel consolidator, offering affordable and competitive rates. We empower our customers with a comprehensive suite of resources, accessible through the links below.

Travel Tips at Global Discount Travel

We do our best to help you save money and time. Our goal is to make your travel experience easier, affordable, and pleasing.

Traveling Abroad

If you're planning international travel and require comprehensive country-specific information—from geography and culture to the number of AM radio stations—an invaluable free online resource awaits. The World Factbook offers extensive data and intelligence on nearly every nation, including regional maps, population statistics, and summaries of political landscapes.

Your Health

For certain international destinations, travelers face a notable risk of contracting malaria and yellow fever. Additionally, recent outbreaks of Hantavirus, meningitis, and diphtheria have been reported within the last year.

Proactive travel planning is crucial to avoid trip cancellations or, more critically, traveling without necessary vaccinations. For comprehensive information on recommended immunizations, required vaccinations, and essential health advice, consult the Centers for Disease Control's Travelers' Health resources.

Free downloads and information are available on topics such as:

  • Traveling with Children - Includes a checklist and a travel health kit for pregnant travelers.
  • Special Needs Travelers - Find out how accessible specific destinations are for travelers with disabilities.
  • Diseases - Search by destination or by disease to determine if pre-trip vaccinations are needed.
  • Safe Food and Water - travelers' diarrhea, mad cow disease, and info on food-borne illnesses.
  • Travel smart, be informed, and here's to your health!

Traffic Reports

The Department of Transportation has valuable information on traffic and road closures for travelers hitting the roadways in the U.S.A.

Pets

Pets are a part of the family, and more travelers than ever are packing their pups and carrying their cats as they head off on holiday. This will involve determining your carrier's restrictions on kennel sizes and health guidelines.

Be aware that air carriers observe weather restrictions, and most don't accept pets in cargo during the hottest summer months. Airlines handle about 500,000 dogs and cats per year, and charge upwards of $75 per animal carried.

Check with the specific airlines to verify applicable fees based on your needs prior to finalizing your plans. For more information and helpful hints, visit Traveling with Your Pet.

Safety

The U.S. State Department has a free service designed to advise Americans of questionable or possibly dangerous conditions in foreign countries. There are three categories: travel warnings, public announcements, and consular information sheets. Each describes a level of awareness travelers should heed while outside the United States.

  • Travel Warnings: Issued by the State Department, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a specific country.
  • Public Announcements: Designed to enhance public awareness about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term and/or transnational conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers.
  • Consular Information Sheets: Available for every country of the world. They include such information as the location of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in each country, unusual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties.

Access this valuable and free information: http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html

Tips for International Travel

  • Have a signed, valid passport (and visas, if required). Before you travel, fill in or update the emergency information page of your passport.
  • Read the consular information sheets (and public announcements or travel warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit, available at http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html
  • Familiarize yourself with the local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember that the U.S. Constitution does not follow you! While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.
  • Make 2 copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport.
  • Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
  • Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers.
  • If you stay abroad for more than two weeks, you should notify by phone or register in person with the U.S. embassy of the country you are visiting. This will facilitate communication in case someone contacts the embassy looking for you.
  • To avoid being a target of crime, don't wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry. Do not carry large sums of money or unnecessary credit cards.
  • In order not to violate local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques.
  • In case of trouble, contact the nearest U.S. embassy.

For more free travel advice: http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html

Passport and Visa Information

  • Don't travel without proper documentation when traveling outside the United States! For a wealth of information on passports and visas visit: http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html
  • Free information and forms are available on the following topics:
  • Easy Passports
  • Where to Apply Nationwide
  • Passport Agencies
  • Fees for U.S. Passports
  • Passport Applications
  • Passport Processing Time and Status Checks
  • Also available is information on changing your name on your current passport, getting a copy of your birth certificate, and replacing a lost or stolen passport.
  • It's cheap and easy to be prepared for international travel!

Airport Information

  • Ever wondered what the airport code for Governors Harbor, Bahamas is? For all the latest airport code information, both domestic and international, you get it from the Federal Aviation Administration. [http://www.faa.gov/aircodeinfo.htm]

International Vaccination Requirements

Before traveling abroad, it's important to check if your destination requires any specific vaccinations. Some countries mandate vaccines for diseases such as yellow fever, hepatitis A, or typhoid before entry.

To stay informed and protected, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for up-to-date health notices and recommended vaccines for every country:

Vaccines Planning ahead ensures your health and helps you avoid travel disruptions