Traveling to/from Your Vacation Destination

Arriving safely at your vacation destination is your ultimate goal - but the process of doing so is also the first challenge that you must face. This is because you often feel so disoriented.

Follow the information below and get your trip off to a great start.

Flying To/From Your Vacation Destination

You have already purchased your airline ticket. Now make your departure easier by following these instructions:

1) Reconfirm your airline reservations within 72 hours of your departure – just in case anything has changed.

2) Arrange your transportation to the airport.

3) Find the average average waiting time to clear security at the airport.

4) Consider getting bumped from your flight.


Arriving at the airport, you must pass:

a) Check-in

b) Security Screening

a) Check-in

“Checking in” at the airport means having your name entered into the airline’s computer at the baggage counter. “Check-in” does not refer to checking your luggage with the airline or having a boarding pass in advance.

Make sure that you have your passport with you at the airline’s ticket counter in order to obtain your boarding pass.

Obtain your boarding pass and then proceed to security screening.

b) Security Screening

You must now pass through the security screening area to arrive at your departure gate. Do the following:

1) Show your boarding pass to security personnel.

2) Remove all metallic objects that you are carrying on your person.

3) Place any medications and bottles containing gels or liquids into a clear plastic bag for inspection.

4) Remove your shoes.

5) Pass your belongings through the xray machine.

6) Walk through the metal detector and wait to be cleared by the security personnel.

7) When you are cleared, proceed to the departure gate.

Arriving at Your Vacation Destination

When you arrive at your destination:

1) Collect your luggage and proceed to Immigration and Customs.

2) Present your Customs Declaration Form to the Customs Official (at some point you will be provided with a Customs Declaration Form and asked to complete it)

3) Clear Immigration and Customs, leave the airport and proceed to your first destination.

Travel to the First Destination on Your Itinerary

Arrange your transportation from the airport and travel to your first destination.

Your transportation options may include:

1) Airport shuttle

2) Rental car

3) Taxi

4) Train

5) Subway

6) Bus

Upon arriving at your first destination, arrange your lodging for the first night.

If you arrive early enough, freshen up and begin your sightseeing. Simply follow your travel itinerary as planned.

Returning Home

Repeat the same steps as outlined above.

If you are returning from a foreign country, you must clear Customs and Immigration at home.

When you pass through Customs and Immigration you must “declare” all of your purchases. You may be charged a duty if you exceed any of the “duty-free exemptions” to which you are entitled.

Here are several websites where you can see the duty free exemptions to which you are entitled for the U.S. and Canada.


Once you clear Customs and Immigrations you can return home.

Chapter 17 of Turn Your Dream Vacation Into Reality: A Game Plan for Seeing the World the Way You Want to See It addresses travel to your destination in greater detail.

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