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How to apply for a U.S passport:

–Do you need a passport or a visa? A visa is issued by the country you are going to, and is necessary if you intend to stay for a long period of time. Obviously, the length of time before a visa is required varies by the country.

–Plan ahead. The process of obtaining a passport is not difficult, but it usually takes about three weeks. So don’t postpone your application if you are planning to travel overseas.

–If you need a faster response, an expedited processing will cost an additional $60, whether you are applying for a first-time passport, or renewing an existing one.

–You will need a certified birth certificate, two identical passport-size photos (2X2 inches), your social security card and your drivers license.

–You must apply in person if this is your first U.S. passport application; or if your previous US passport expired and was issued when you were under 16; or if your name has changed since your passport was issued and you do not yet have a legal document formally changing your name.

–Remember, your passport is the only valid ID accepted once you cross an international border. Carry it with you at all times (a money belt is an excellent investment before you leave, and will be the ideal place to carry this and other important documents).

–If your passport is lost or stolen while your are in another country, go immediately to the nearest US embassy or consulate to have a replacement issued.

–For more information, visit the US Department of State’s website at http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html.

COPYRIGHT © Charles Brown, 2006. All rights reserved.

Think budget travel equals boring travel? Think again!
Learn the Guerrilla Traveler’s insider secrets to budget adventure travel to the world’s most exciting places
and experience the coolest travel adventures without spending a bundle.
Charles Brown is a former attorney who now spends his time indulging his passion
for travel and shares the unique travel destinations and adventure travel bargains
he uncovers on his blog, Guerrilla Traveler - Adventure on a Budget, http://www.guerrillatraveler.blogspot.com.

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Whenever you are thinking of going on holiday what is the first thing you think of after you have your destination? Normally people will think of visiting a high street Travel Agent. However and no offence intended but what does a high street travel agent probably know about the destination unless they have been there? Understandably all they are selling is what they are told to sell, what is in the book. However how do you know you are getting a good deal? Many a time have other in country travel agents had to clean up the holiday mess caused by High Street Travel Agents.

Say for instance you are thinking of coming to Costa Rica. From my experience of UK Travel Agents the majority have never been and the holiday they are trying to sell you is a preplanned tour that is not designed to your needs. Also the price is usually much more expensive as the High Street Agent will have to go through 3 or 4 peoples pockets before it gets to the hotel. Therefore in our opinion it is always much better to use an in country Travel Agent for reasons below:

1. The in country Travel Consultant lives and works in the country so use their knowledge and experience to design a perfect custom itinerary just for you.

2. The In Country travel agent uses a lot more hotels, tours band transportation companies than a non-In country travel agent this way giving you more choice.

3. The In country Travel Agent has more flexibility to design a custom itinerary, always make sure you provide them with all the information that they are going to need. If you let them know you then they will be better prepared to produce the perfect itinerary for you.

4. The In Country Travel Agent goes straight to the hotels, this way the price is less and also they can instantly check availability. There is nothing worse than booking something that is not available!!

5. Use your Travel Agents experience to the up most, get to do all the great things in the country that normal people do not get to do!!

6. When you use a Travel Agent in that country you are supporting that countries local economy and helping keep locals in jobs.

7. If you have a problem while in the country how will the High Street Travel Agent help you? Will they call from the UK to sort everything out for you? In Country Travel Agents normally provide a 24 hour service just in case the worst happens.

We hope this has given you some reasons why to use a local travel agent in the destination country. If you have any questions please feel free to call Costa Rica Holiday on 0207-1933930.

Costa Rica Holiday
http://www.costaricaholiday.co.uk
UK 0207-193-3930

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Put on your fedora, pick up your bullwhip and set off for adventure where your travel may find you digging up buried treasures that have been lost for centuries.

OK, real archaeologists aren’t like Indiana Jones, but it is fun to imagine yourself unraveling ancient secrets that have eluded modern man for ages; especially if you can get a chance to be part of an archeological expedition.

Many archeological teams are looking for volunteers to spend their vacations helping dig up the past, whether you are helping to excavate a medieval castle, a temple in a South East Asia jungle, or even the tomb of an Egyptian king.

If this sounds like the adventure vacation you have been looking for all your life, here are a few resources to check out before you go:

• One excellent site is www.archaeolink.com, where you will find an exhaustive list of archeolical tours and volunteering opportunities for vacations all over the world.

• K. Kris Hirst, who writes the Archaeology section of About.com has written a very good article on archaeological volunteering that you should check out at www.archaeology.about.com.

• Gorpaway.com, who always does adventure travel right, has a huge list of archaeology vacations and tours. While it does seem that most of Gorp’s tours are in North America, it also has tours available in Mexico, South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Check out their list at www.gorpaway.com.

• Another article you should check out is by Richard Collins in familyadventuretravel.com. He points out that:
  The real adventure in archaeology, however, is doing it. There is no substitute for the thrill of discovery–of actually touching history and feeling it come alive in your hands. Finding even the most mundane of artifacts, such as a simple stone tool that may have last been held by human hands perhaps a thousand years ago, is an absolutely unparalleled experience.
  Be sure to check out his excellent article at A Vacation You Can Really Dig - Archaeological Tourism.

OK I hope we are really clear that real archaeology is not like Hollywood makes it look in the movies. It’s a safe bet you won’t be finding secret passages or hidden tombs, and you definitely won’t be chased across the world by treasure-hunting Nazis.
But your archaeological vacation will have its own kind of adventure that you won’t ever forget. So go out and touch history.
COPYRIGHT © 2006, Charles Brown. All rights reserved.

Think budget travel equals boring travel? Think again! Learn the Guerrilla Traveler’s insider secrets to budget adventure travel to the world’s most exciting places and experience the coolest travel adventures without spending a bundle. Charles Brown is a former attorney who now spends his time indulging his passion
for travel and shares the unique travel destinations and adventure travel bargains he uncovers on his blog, Guerrilla Traveler - Adventure on a Budget, http://www.guerrillatraveler.blogspot.com

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