(2nd of 3 parts on Brazil)

Despite increased access to our ever-shrinking planet, Brazil, the world’s fifth-most-populous country (about 200 million), remains an enigma to even the most seasoned international travelers.

Brazil’s identity is somehow obscured by rampant diversity on fronts ranging from complex ethnicity and a consistently unpredictable, often volatile economy to unparalleled natural world attractions. With a land area comparable to that of the...

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 467th issue of your monthly foreign travel magazine. Whew! I’ve worked on 463 of them… and still love doing it. Every month brings interesting mail, and it helps to have good-spirited, dedicated coworkers. 

Your letters of encouragement are inspiring too. With ITN largely reader written, this is a group project. And let’s not forget the advertisers who help support the magazine; if you notice something interesting in one of their ads, give ’em...

 (Second of three parts)

Last month, I presented the first installment of my report on import duties charged on purchased items that travelers bring into the US. This month, I continue by covering the subject of import duties on items that do not accompany you to the US.

HOW TO SEND UNACCOMPANIED BAGGAGE BACK HOME

You can send unaccompanied baggage back home three different ways: by US mail, as express shipments and as freight.

A. US mail shipments

The US...