Hints & Tips

Passports

To enter the USA your passports must have at least 6 months validity on your return date and several blank pages for entry stamps, check this carefully for everyone in the party, otherwise you will be refused at check-in in the UK or on arrival in the USA.

Each person traveling must have their own machine readable passport, this includes children traveling with their family regardless of age (even babies), if in doubt, go to the UK Passport website at www.ukpa.gov.uk for up to date information and advice. 

Visas:  The Reciprocal Visa Waiver Program allows UK citizens to stay in the USA for up to 90 days without a visa if they have an onward or return ticket.

Please Note.  You will need the address of the Villa to hand to complete the Visa Waiver form on board the aircraft, these are usually handed out a couple of hours before landing along with a Customs declaration.  If you are unsure how to complete these forms, please ask a member of the Aircraft Crew for assistance as you will be sent to the back of the queue in Passport Control if not correctly completed and those queues can be really long!

All passengers arriving in the USA now will have their two index fingers scanned and a digital photograph taken to verify their identity at the port of entry. 

Before you go

·   Check your next-of-kin details are complete and up to date

·   Take a photocopy or scan of the data pages of your passport and leave in a safe place or with a friend or relative.

·   Take some other form of Photo ID with you if possible

·   If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, contact the nearest British Embassy immediately.

Insurance

·   Take out a good holiday insurance policy which covers the length of your stay including outbound and inbound dates (remember your return will be the day you leave +1 as you arrive in UK early next day)

·   Keep a note of your policy number and make sure family or friends know it too

·   Note the international 24 hour emergency number, or program it into your mobile phone

·   Ensure you keep all paperwork, such as tickets, receipts, medical bills, police reports etc in case you need to send them to your insurer on your return

·   Please Note.  No insurance cover drink or drug related incidents

·   Does your policy cover all the activities you intend to try? Check any exclusions.

Change for Toll Roads

There are several Toll Roads in Florida, near the airports, they range from 25c per toll booth to $1.00.  They are great roads and easy ways to get around, however, not all the toll booths are manned.  You will need exact change for the automated booths – they do not give change and only take 5c, 10c or 25c, so always carry a number of quarters – 25c (or other change) with you.  We recommend breaking a note at the airport before collecting your car, buy a pack of gum or sweets and ask for your change in quarters.  Some of the manned booths will give change – they do advertise which it is, however, there are a couple of the entrances where you do not have pay to get on, but you may have an automated booth to get off, your hire company will be fined if you do not pay the Toll fee which they will in turn take from your credit card. 

First Aid Kits

Take a small first aid kit with you (saves you having to go the Pharmacy to buy things you’d normally have at home in the event of a minor accident or someone being ill). 

Suggestions: Plasters & antiseptic cream (Savlon), Painkillers (Ibuprofen, Aspirin or Paracetamol - American pain killers have different names which can be confusing). Cold & Flu decongestants (many people get a cold in the first few days of a holiday), Imodium (in case of upset tummy) and Indigestion Tablets (all that rich food can leave you a little bloated), Antihistamines (hay fever tablets – plants flower at all times of the year in Florida due to the warm weather). 

You can buy a basic First Aid kit in most supermarket – Please Note.  You will need to remove scissors and sharp objects such as tweezers if you carry it in your hand luggage.

Sunscreen

It is very sunny in Florida, it is advisable to use a high factor waterproof sunscreen especially for children, you can buy this in America, but taking it with you for your first day is essential, especially if you are going to the Beach. Please Note.  Even if you are not planning to go in the water, waterproof sunscreen is essential as it can easily be washed off by your own sweat.  Factor 30 or more is advisable, Factor 60 (waterproof) if you are spending the day out at the Theme Parks, Water Parks or the Beach.  You will need after sun, no matter how much sunscreen you think you’ve applied; someone will end up a little too pink!

Sun Hats & Sun Glasses

To avoid sun stroke and heat exhaustion we strongly recommend you wear a hat and have a lightweight covering for arms and shoulders for long day trips.  It is also very bright in Florida (which we are not used to) and sunglasses are an essential item to reduce glare and help prevent headaches.

Water

The tap water in America is safe to drink but does taste very different to what you are used to at home.  You will need to take plenty of fluid whilst your out and about so we strongly suggest you purchase individual bottles of water (you can buy them in multi packs at the Supermarket) as one of your first purchases to take out with you (drinks can be very expensive at the Theme Parks).  The Villa has 2 filtered water supplies, one on the kitchen sink and 1 on the fridge.

Top Tips

·   Keep a spare credit card separate from your wallet/purse for emergencies

·   Take the 24 hour emergency number for your credit cards with you to report lost or stolen cards

·   Travel light, your going to a hot country so you don’t need loads of bulky clothes, the less you pack, the less stressed you’ll be by the weight and by the thought of losing it all should the airlines make an error.  

·   Place a note inside your suitcase (if there is a zipped pouch on the lid this is the best pace) with your full name and phone number in case the suitcase becomes lost because it loses it's label or your ID tag - airlines are allowed after a period of time to open unidentified luggage to look for any ID to try to get your case back to you.

·   Keep hand luggage to a minimum especially when traveling with small children for a stress free start to your holiday.

Essentials for Hand luggage

Airlines occasionally forget to put your suitcase onboard or it accidentally goes to the wrong destination – this is very annoying but they will endeavour to get your case to you as quickly as possible. 

In the meantime, take a few small bare essentials in your hand luggage, for example: spare underwear, a swimsuit or bikini, a spare T-shirt and shorts (or a sarong), flip flops and your toothbrush, hairbrush and any medications you require.

If you do have to make any small purchases due to delayed baggage, ensure you keep the receipts as you may be able to claim this back from the airline.