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International Center

Travel Resources




Passports

Please note the International Center does have Passport Applications in the office. Students unable to download the information from the listed websites should stop by the Study Abroad Offices in Brodschi Hall to pick up a hard copy.

How to get a U.S. Passport

  • The U.S. Department of State site gives complete information for U.S. citizens to apply for a passport. A passport is required for travel to nearly all countries. First-time applicants will have to apply in-person at officially-designated places such as selected Post Offices and County Courthouses. At least a month should be allowed for processing, though expedited processing (within 10 business days) is possible at extra cost.

  • Passport Application

Visas

Information for U.S. Citizens

  • U.S. State Department's survey of Foreign Entry Requirements
    Visas may not always be necessary for U.S. citizens traveling as tourists (to Europe, for example) but many countries do require visas for tourists. Visas are usually required for study, work, or stays longer than a few months.

  • Travel Document Services
    Site of this commercial visa service gathers together lots of country-by-country information from official and academic sources, along with basic entry information for U.S. citizens (for student and work visas, the site refers one to the respective country's embassy). Note that using this service to obtain passports or visas will result in extra charges.

Information for Everyone

  • The Electronic Embassy
    Visas usually are required for study, work, or stays longer than a few months. You can only obtain a visa from the embassy or consulate of the country of your destination, and must do so before entering that country. This website links to foreign embassies in the U.S. Look under categories such as "travel", "visas" or "consular section" to find visa requirements. Note that visa requirements differ according to one's own citizenship.

Guidebooks

  • Frommers Budget Travel Online
    This website is not as low-budget oriented as the others listed here, but contains much useful information -- and those who think of Arthur Frommer as the dean of travel may be surprised to read his "Testy Comments" about conventional tourism.

  • Lonely Planet guidebooks
    Lonely Planet publishes guidebooks for independent and inexpensive travel, with truly worldwide coverage. Their website provides extensive country-by-country facts along with links to other sources of online information. Lonely Planet also produces television shows on travel.

  • Rick Steves Europe Through The Back Door guidebooks
    Rick Steves, a long-time contributor to Transitions Abroad and producer of travel shows for PBS, writes guidebooks (for Europe only) which attempt a balance between famous and lesser-known destinations. He's also authored a self-guide to European museums, Mona Winks, and Europe 101: History & Art for the Traveler. His site has lots of great tips and links for the budget traveler.

  • Rough Guides guidebooks
    Rough Guides publishes guidebooks for independent and inexpensive travel -- known for astute political and social commentary -- for locations worldwide, though for fewer destinations than Lonely Planet. Rough Guides claims to have the complete contents of their guidebooks online, but the menus to access the texts are clunky -- it's probably cheaper and handier to buy the books. Rough Guide also produces television shows on travel, and the book Women Travel (not online).

  • South American Explorers Club
    Non-profit organization offers assistance for travel in Latin America. Web site has extensive links for travel, volunteering, and study.

  • Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory
    Links to the websites of official tourist offices, country-by-country. Not budget-oriented, but usually an excellent source of information for cultural events, museums, and more.

  • Transitions Abroad magazine
    Transitions Abroad magazine is unique in its coverage of all Study Abroad options, from study and work abroad to educational travel. Not a guidebook series, but a guide-to-the-guidebooks. Online version includes very extensive coverage of print and internet resources for travel abroad, such as recent articles, annotated guides to resources, and country-by-country annotated guides to web and print resources and travel programs. Search functions available for entire site.


Accomodations

  • Vacation Rentals at ovrentals.com
    Vacation rentals in the USA and world wide.

  • discounthotels.co.uk
    From the website - "discount hotels .co.uk use the most comprehensive online hotel reservation system on the net. We offer all types of accommodation from B & B's, to 5 star luxury hotels. Our aim is to give you the best choice and value in discount hotels worldwide. Whatever your travel needs, rest assured you will be receiving the highest quality service at LOW LOW prices. Whether you are looking for a hotel room, vacation rental, self catering apartment, or a bed and breakfast, we can cater for all your accommodation needs."

  • Eurotrip - Backpacking in Europe
    An extensive site on shoestring travel in Europe, hostels, cheap airfares, etc.

  • Hostelling International: American Youth Hostels
    Worldwide site of the non-profit International Youth Hostel Federation. Web site provides links to member hostels worldwide and access to their electronic reservation service, "IBN".

  • Guide to Hostelling
    An extensive site which provides truly worldwide coverage for a broad range of hostels, including those which are not members of the IYHF.

  • The Hotel Guide
    Not necessarily low-budget, this site lists tens of thousands of hotels worldwide.

  • United States Servas
    For those interested in staying at others' homes while traveling, Servas is a key international organization. As their website states, "Servas is a volunteer movement of caring individuals, not a budget travel service. Travelers are encouraged to participate fully in the lives of their hosts."

Currency Converters & ATM Finders

Connectivity - Phones & Internet

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