Specific info is always provided for each trip through “AFS Tips for the Trip” and “Heading Abroad with AFS” which are provided after booking. If you need help with a passport or visa use Passport Visa Advisors 704-246-6373 Marc Gilland https:adventuresforsingles.com/about/passport-travel-visas
Inoculations- If necessary we will tell you via TIPS FOR TRIPS. Tips will be available on the itinerary page on our website. Packing and more will be there too.
We encourage you to do this yourself. Our travel lovers do great using Google Flights. Specific air details come in your trip tips. However it’s important to wait until our air schedule is posted in the Trip Tips before you make your plans.
For Economy seating email flights@diversedestinations.com
Want to fly business class? Many but don’t realize fares range from 4K to 9K. We do have two good contacts for AFS that can get seats at nearly half cost by combining award miles…. ali@above9.travel Ph. (855) 777-6336 or britney@business-class.com 305-390-4132 or see skylux.com or business-class.com. Tell them Suzy sent you.
To prevent errors, tell them you’re with an AFS group and give the following:
Names: LAST/FIRST
Date of birth Mo/Da/Yr
Dates/Routing (specific cities they need to fly out of to connect)
Electric needs – Most hotels have hair dryers. It’s wise to get a worldwide outlet adapter that will fit 150 different countries. If you’re a techie with many items like cellphone, iPad, laptop, etc.) You should consider buying an international power strip. (Google it.)
All trips differ with activity levels. You don’t have to be an athlete to enjoy one of our adventures. You do, of course, have to be in good health and fit, possess a reasonable level of fitness. Most of our tours are done the old-fashioned way, on foot. We carefully pace our trips to allow people of many different ages and fitness levels to travel with us. And we always balance any hikes or lengthy city walking tours with plenty of ‘downtime’ to allow you to rest.
Our adventures are not appropriate for travelers using mobility aids. Some activities may have weight restrictions. You must be able to keep up with the group. It is essential that you tell the truth on your booking form. You must also be comfortable participating in, on average, 3-5 hours of daily physical activities. We also can travel over some rugged paths, as well as bumpy, unpaved, dusty roads, both by bus and on foot.
The U.S. Transportation Administration or TSA has posted answers to some frequently asked questions on their website and will continue to update them as measures evolve. Here are the major changes that affect travelers:
At U.S. Airports (Other countries may vary)
Only 3.4 oz liquids or gels will be permitted in carry-on baggage.
Exceptions: Medicines, which must be presented for inspection at the checkpoint. Prescription medicine that matches the passenger’s name is permitted. Essential non-prescription medicines such as insulin are permitted.
Beverages purchased in the boarding area, beyond the checkpoint, must be consumed before boarding because they will not be permitted onboard the aircraft.
Laptop computers, cell phones and other electronic items ARE still allowed on board.
Keep a paper copy of your emailed e-ticket. We email this 3 weeks prior departure if you bought group air. Some foreign airports will not let you enter he airport without it.
Arrival time: Passengers should consult their individual airline, but the TSA recommends arriving at least two hours in advance of flight time. Again, keep in mind that if it is necessary to remove liquids at the checkpoint, time will be added to the process.
Additional bag searches: There will be more hand searches of bags at the checkpoint and a bag check at the gate immediately prior to boarding the aircraft.
Note: Passengers traveling from the United Kingdom to the United States will be subject to a more extensive screening process.
The process of obtaining, renewing, or updating a passport is exactly what one would expect when working with a government agency: tedious, mind-numbing, and overly complex. While you’ll find everything you need to know about the often befuddling process on the U.S. State Department website, we’ve made things a little simpler for you by breaking down the basics—from forms to fees to IDs—and providing helpful links to the appropriate forms and websites.
In September 2024 the Department of State announced an online passport renewal is available at Travel.State.Gov/renewonline
Getting your first passport
Getting a new USA passport requires you to show up in person. Make an appointment at a passport acceptance facility or passport agency; search for the one closest to you here. You likely live near a facility where you can get a passport. Many post offices and even some public libraries can accept passport applications. Arrive at your passport agency with:
• Your filled-in DS-11 application form. You can download and print the form from the U.S. Department of State’s website or pick one up from the acceptance facility. Do not sign it until instructed to do so by an acceptance agent.
• Evidence of U.S. citizenship. Find a list of acceptable documents here. These include birth certificates, naturalization certificates, or prior U.S. passports.
• Valid identification. Find a list of acceptable ID here. These include driver’s licenses, government IDs, or current military IDs.
• A photocopy of the front and back of the identification you’re bringing on clean, white 8½” x 11″ paper.
• Your application fee. For a first-time adult passport, the total fee is currently $165 ($110 application fee + $55 execution fee). The application fee is paid to the U.S. Department of State by check or money order, and the execution fee is paid to the acceptance facility. Check or money order should be made payable to U.S. Department of State.
• Passport photos. You can read more about the specifications for passport photos here. But most major drug stores, such as Walgreens or CVS, will sell appropriately sized passport photos that comply with government standards; this makes things a little easier.
Lost or stolen passports
If your previous passport was lost or stolen, you’ll have to apply for a new one in person. You’ll need to bring two forms in this case: the standard DS-11 passport application and Form DS-64, which asks you to describe what happened to your little blue book.
Unfortunately, a replacement passport isn’t free. You’ll have to pay the standard application fee when applying for your new passport. Refer to the “Getting your first passport” section above; it lists everything else you’ll need to bring with you, including passport photos and identification.
Remember to always report your passport as missing the moment you’re sure it’s gone. You can do this by calling 1-877-487-2778.
Lost or stolen passports abroad
First and foremost, be prepared! Always travel with a photocopy of your passport and other identification, such as a driver’s license or birth certificate; this will make your situation much easier if (knock on wood) your passport disappears. Take a photo of your important documents and store them in the Cloud for easy retrieval when abroad.
The State Department advises that American travelers get in touch with the closest U.S. embassy or consulate if they lose their passports while abroad. You’ll have to go there in person to get a new passport in order to return home. In What to Do If You’ve Lost Your Bag, Wallet, Everything, Rick Steves writes, “A replacement passport costs $140 and can generally be issued within a few days, or faster if you make a good case that you need it right away. If you don’t have the funds, the embassy will help you contact someone at home who can wire money directly to the embassy.”
Expediting a passport
You can get your passport expedited in roughly two to three weeks (door-to-door) via the State Department when you pay an extra $60 plus $12.85 for overnight delivery in addition to the standard processing fees. (Processing times can vary, so check theState Department site for the most up-to-date estimate.)
Need it sooner? Schedule an appointment to show up in person at a regional passport agency if you require a passport for travel within two weeks.
We don’t normally recommend using passport expediting services, which sometimes charge hundreds of dollars to secure passports in as little as 24 hours, unless you’re desperate. If you have enough time to get your passport directly through the traditional government channels, do it that way. It’ll save you a ton of money. You can check the status of a pending passport application online.
Changing your name on your passport
Good news: There’s no fee for changing the name on your passport if your passport was issued less than a year ago. If the book’s more than a year old, though, you must pay standard renewal fees.
To change your name, fill out the appropriate form (use Form DS-5504 if your current passport is less than a year old and Form DS-82 if your passport is more than a year old) and mail it with your current passport, original proof of name change, a passport photo, and renewal fees, if necessary. Read more about tweaking your name on your passport here. And congratulations on your new moniker.
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