Travel Smart
Pack smart, eat bold, come home happy.
Gina’s no-stress checklist for traveling abroad. Rules change, so every section links to the official source with the current details.
1 · Documents you may need
Passport
Many countries want it valid at least six months past your trip, with blank pages. Renew early — processing times change.
Passports at travel.state.gov →Visas & e-authorizations
Some places need a visa or an online pre-approval before you fly, like the UK’s ETA, and Europe’s ETIAS as it rolls out. Check each country’s page.
Country information pages →REAL ID for U.S. flights
Flying domestically to your departure city? You need a REAL ID-compliant license or a passport at the TSA checkpoint.
REAL ID at tsa.gov →Traveling with kids
Traveling with a child without both parents? Some countries ask for a signed consent letter. The entry rules on each country page say so.
Check entry rules →Faster re-entry
Global Entry and the free Mobile Passport Control app can shorten the line coming home.
Trusted traveler programs →Copies of everything
Snap your passport photo page, insurance card and itinerary. Save them to your phone and email them to yourself.
2 · Government services & travel alerts
The U.S. State Department rates every destination from Level 1 to Level 4. Check it when you book and again the week you leave.
3 · Gina’s safety tips
- Split your money. One card in your bag, one back at the hotel. Tell your bank your travel dates.
- Use ATMs inside banks, not on the street, and cover the keypad.
- Food & water: “Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.” Busy stalls with lots of turnover are your friend.
- Rides: use official taxis or app rides, and match the plate before you get in.
- Get travel insurance with medical coverage — your U.S. health plan may not cover you abroad.
- Know the emergency number (112 works across the EU) and save your embassy’s number in your phone.
4 · Dos & don’ts when staying abroad
Do
- Learn “hello,” “please” and “thank you”
- Look up tipping before you go — in Japan it isn’t expected
- Cover shoulders and knees for temples and churches
- Ask before photographing people
- Eat where the locals line up
Don’t
- Flash cash, jewelry or your phone in crowds
- Touch someone’s head in Thailand
- Pass food with your left hand in much of the Middle East and India
- Leave your passport in an unlocked bag
- Assume your phone plan works abroad — check roaming first
5 · Cruise Corner
How to cruise like Gina
Every port is a new food stop. Here’s how to pick a ship, pack, and eat your way ashore.
Pick the right cruise
Big ships for shows and kids’ clubs, small ships for more time in port. Read the port list before the ship’s brochure.
Bring a passport anyway
Some round-trip U.S. cruises accept a birth certificate and ID, but if you miss the ship in a foreign port you’ll need a passport to fly home.
Eat off the ship
Skip the buffet on port days. Gina’s stories show you exactly what to order ashore.
Check the ship’s health score
The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program publishes inspection scores for ships calling at U.S. ports.
CDC inspection scores →Be back early
The ship won’t wait. Set your watch to ship time and be aboard 30 minutes before all-aboard.
Pack the carry-on right
Medicines, documents, a swimsuit and a change of clothes — checked bags can take hours to reach your cabin.
Gina’s tips are friendly guidance, not legal advice. Always confirm entry rules with the official sources linked above. Last reviewed October 2026.