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REMINDER U.S. CITIZENS: A Valid US Passport will be required for air/sea travel in the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America after December 31, 2005. Processing takes about 6 weeks, so do not delay. For more information access www.travel.state.gov or call 1-877-487-2778.
If your planning a trip where you will require a cooler after arriving, don't buy the cheap styrofoam type. It might be cheap, but you will have a wet rental car before too long. TRUST ME. Buy a hard plastic cooler that suites your needs and when the trip is over, pack it with souvenirs and tie or tape it shut. Check it with your other luggage and use it when you get home.
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If your renting a car in the US, you will usually be covered by your own full coverage policy from home. You might also check with your credit card companies to see what they offer. The important thing to remmber is that some car rental companies want "loss of use" if their cars are dammaged. Most car insurance companies do not cover this so it might be a good idea to buy the rental insurance or a portion of it. Loss of Use is what the rental company will say they would have earned with the damage car had it not been in the repair shop. Check out Thrifty.com for more information on this tip.
Before leaving on a trip within or out of the United States, call your credit card companies. Let them know where and when your going to be traveling. Some card companies will suspend your account if they see unusual charges coming through from places you normally are not at. This is a service they provide to cover you and themselves. Now they will expect charges and the flags won't fly as high.
If you do alot of traveling and use hotels alot, this tip is going to save you $1000.00's. Many hotel chains offer great priced rooms to employees throughtout the world. Some chains only require you be a part-timer. Get a job doing anything at all. You could be on your way to great savings.
Renting a car in Las Vegas or another major city? If the company has their cars offsite, but still have a check-in counter at the airport, USE IT. It might seem long at first, but it's nothing compared to how bad it will be when you get to their car lot and try to check-in. Recently on a trip to Las Vegas, I stood in line 20 minutes at the airport and was leaving the Enterprise Rent-A-Car lot after only 5 minutes.  
For Traveler Health Information, go to the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov/travel. This site will help you find out what shot are needed and what's out there that can make you sick in your travels.
When traveling you may need a ATM for quick cash. Visit http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Finance_and_Investment/Banking/Automated_Teller_Machines__ATMs_/ATM_Locators/ for more information.
Don't fill gas at the pumps near major exits. Take a few minutes and drive into town and fill. Prices near the major roads and interstates are normally much higher in price. Recently I pulled into town and paid $1.92 when it was $2.21 only a mile away.
 
I recently used Smart Travel.com for some research and found that their website was actually about 15% lower in cost than other last minute travel sites.Visit SmarterTravel.com for discounts on airfare, hotels, car rentals and more! . Compare and see if you agree.
AIRLINE PHONE NUMBERS: here are a few of the major players if you happen to need them.
Air Canada....................................1-800-776-3000/ Air France....................................1-800-237-2747
American Airlines.............................1-800-433-7300/ British Airways..............................1-800-247-9297
Continental Airlines..........................1-800-523-3273/ Delta Airlines...............................1-800-221-1212
Northwest Airlines............................1-800-225-2525/ United Airlines..............................1-800-241-6522
Japan Airlines................................1-800-525-3663/ USAirways....................................1-800-428-4322
KLM Airlines..................................1-800-374-7747/ Southwest Airlines...........................1-800-435-9792
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