Global Entry Program Expands

President Obama recently issued an executive order announcing the permanent adoption and expansion of the Global Entry Program.

“Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. “

The expansion involves the addition of four more airports in Minneapolis, Charlotte, Denver and Phoenix.

Boston Logan is currently among the list of participating airports.  For the complete list, click here.

The government action is part of a larger initiative to bolster travel and tourism within the United States.

Credit Cards Abroad

Are you concerned about using your American bank issued credit card with its antiquated magnetic-strip in Europe?  You are not alone.

A featured article in the June 8th New York Times Practical Traveler column on How to avoid credit card problems abroad generated lots of reader feedback.  Mostly anecdotes on being stuck without needed cash in foreign cities, but also some few helpful tips.

Problems seem to be most severe when attempting to use your card to pay highway tolls or access other self-pay kiosks.  One recommendation is to stock up on cash using your atm card (which seem to work fine overseas as long as you use a numeric pin).  Other readers suggest being more persistent with clerks taking your payment and asking them to swipe again or even manually entering the number into the keypad.

U.S. banks are slowly coming around and some are now offering cards with the E.M.V. (Europay, Mastercard and Visa) chip technology – for a fee. Chase and U.S. Bank are the trailblazers .

Another option is the prepaid Mastercard from Travelex, but there have been acceptance problems reported and you may be charged cash advance fees if linked to your credit card.

For frequent travelers, opening a European bank account may be the best approach.

Volcano Travel Advisory

Looking for the latest information on travel advisories to/from Europe?  If you are one of the many travelers affected by the volcanic eruption in Iceland,  here are a few websites that may offer some insight into whether your vacation will actually begin or ever end.

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office has created an advisory for passengers wanting to return to the UK both from inside and outside Europe.  Although geared towards British Nationals, the site offers current information on the crisis with helpful tips.

The Guardian news organization has also established a web page for travel alerts offering advice on airport closures, alternative travel options, accommodations and insurance coverage.

For specific flight status information, check directly with the individual airline.  A list of all airlines operating out of  Logan International Airport  is available on the MASSPORT site.  Aer Lingus, Air France, American Airlines,  British Airways, Delta, Icelandair, United,  Virgin Atlantic and most other airlines are posting frequent updates on service disruptions.

Photo of volcanic eruption by NASA Goddard and republished here under a Creative Commons license.  Some rights reserved.

International Travel Site

 

 

“In a nutshell, BootsnAll seeks to cultivate an organic community that encourages  independent travel It does this through thousands of travel stories & travel blogs written by travellers, travel guides to destinations all over the world, a membership of passionate travellers, and the ability to book all of your travel needs – air tickets, hostels, RTW tickets, adventure trips, and more – from one website. In this way, BootsnAll aims to be the ultimate resource for the independent traveler.” (Description from their web site)

Information on Countries

Web sites selected by Librarians from the Library of Congress. Includes information on the social, political, economic and tourism aspects of a country.