Those students who dream of traveling to distant lands to spend their spring break days need not look any further. International travel requires some extra time to plan but can make the break an even more memorable experience.
Those who wait until the very last minute to plan an international vacation will have quite a bit of trouble in finalizing their trip. Laurie Nibblett, a certified travel consultant for Ambassador Travel Services, gave this advice: “Plan way in advance.”
Spending extra time on planning does not have to be a difficult chore. Travel agencies such as Ambassador offer a number of free services to help voyagers complete their oh-so-long checklists and leave home with peace of mind.
The more flexible people are with their traveling dates, the better chance they have of booking flight reservations at this point, Nibblett said. Before too long, there will be almost no flights left for departure on Saturday, March 24, and return on Saturday, March 31.
“The more mid-week [Monday-Thursday[ you can travel, the better rates you will get,” Nibblett added.
The plus side is that because this is the “down season,” a round-trip ticket from Eugene to London would only be about $650, Nibblett said.
Costs vary, however. Yumi Aoyagi, a senior international studies major who frequently flies internationally, said her tickets to Latin America are usually about $1,500. “Going to Japan is cheaper,” she said.
Next comes the passport. International vacationers who do not already have passports need to take care of this as soon as possible. Applying in person ensures a faster delivery of the passport, and it can be done at the main post office at 520 Willamette St..
You will need two recent full-face photos, two inches by two inches in size. There is a fee of $60, plus a $35 “rush” fee if you need the passport within 10 days. You must also bring proof of identity, which could be a drivers license, and proof of U.S. citizenship, such a birth certificate.
Normally, it takes about six weeks to receive a passport by mail, so there is still time for the spring break deadline. Check the United States travel Web site at www.travel.state.gov for more information on passports and visas, which are required for visiting most countries.
Travel agencies are an excellent resource for easy, hassle-free planning. However, with the rise of do-it-yourself Internet travel resources, the Web is a smart place to look for lodging, car rentals and plane tickets. A comprehensive site to try is Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel at www.frommers.com.
Angela Biancalana, a freshman communications pre-major whose family lives in Germany, has an important recommendation once plans are finalized.
“When traveling internationally,” she said, “you should open yourself up and absorb the culture around you. It’s amazing to see how the smallest differences make our worlds so diverse.”