Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
directions—or a map with the route
clearly marked—from the agency
showing how to get to your destina-
tion. (Many agencies now offer the
option of renting a cellphone for the
duration of your car rental; check with
the rental agent when you pick up the
car. Otherwise, contact
InTouch USA
at
&
800/872-7626
or www.intouch
usa.com for short-term cellphone
rental.) And, if possible, arrive and
depart during daylight hours.
If you drive off a highway and end
up in a dodgy-looking neighborhood,
leave the area as quickly as possible. If
you have an accident, even on the
highway, stay in your car with the
doors locked until you assess the situ-
ation or until the police arrive. If
you're bumped from behind on the
street or are involved in a minor acci-
dent with no injuries, and the situa-
tion appears to be suspicious, motion
to the other driver to follow you.
Never get out of your car in such situ-
ations. Go directly to the nearest
police precinct, well-lit service station,
or 24-hour store.
Park in well-lit and well-traveled
areas whenever possible. Always keep
your car doors locked, whether the
vehicle is attended or unattended.
Never leave any packages or valuables
in sight in your vehicle. If someone
attempts to rob you or steal your car,
don't try to resist the thief/carjacker.
Report the incident to the police
department immediately by calling
&
911.
2 Getting to the U.S.
AIRLINE DISCOUNTS
The smart
traveler can find numerous ways to
reduce the price of a plane ticket simply
by taking time to shop around. For
example, overseas visitors can take
advantage of the APEX (Advance Pur-
chase Excursion) reductions offered by
all major U.S. and European carriers.
For more money-saving airline advice,
see “Getting There,” in chapter 3.
British Airways
(
&
800/247-9297
in the U.S., or 03/4522-2111 in the
UK; www.british-airways.com) offers
direct flights from London's Heathrow
Airport to Chicago. Some of the other
major international carriers that service
Chicago are
Aer Lingus
(
&
800/474-
7424 in the U.S., or 01/886-8888
in Ireland; www.aerlingus.com),
Air
Canada
(
&
888/247-2262 in the U.S.
and Canada; www.aircanada.ca),
Qan-
tas
(
&
800/227-4500 in the U.S.,
or 612/9691-3636 in Australia; www.
qantas.com), and
Air New Zealand
(
&
800/262-1234 in the U.S., or 0800/
737-767 in New Zealand; www.air
newzealand.com).
Prepare to Be Fingerprinted
Many international visitors traveling on visas to the United States will be
photographed and fingerprinted at Customs in a new program created by
the Department of Homeland Security called
US-VISIT.
Non-U.S. citizens
arriving at airports and on cruise ships must undergo an instant background
check as part of the government's ongoing efforts to deter terrorism by ver-
ifying the identity of incoming and outgoing visitors. Exempt from the extra
scrutiny are visitors entering by land or those from 28 countries (mostly in
Europe) that don't require a visa for short-term visits. For more information,
go to the Homeland Security website at
www.dhs.gov/dhspublic
.
Tips
