Visas and Passports

The US Department of State warns of the risks of travel in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (aka Congo-Kinshasa or DRC).

From the Editor — Suzanne M. Stein of Chesterfield, Missouri, was partway through an Adventures Abroad tour of Iran, Syria and Jordan, Sept. 30-Oct. 31, 2010, when a paperwork problem forced her to leave the group. What travelers can do so the same thing never happens on any tour they’re taking is part of what I’ll cover here.

By far, the company most recommended by those who responded to our “Person to Person” request for a good, reliable guide in Cape Town, South Africa, was Africa 2000 Tours (Knysna, South Africa; phone +27 44 3841262), owned and operated by Gill and Graham Maskell. What a find!

You’re winging your way across Europe, having the time of your life, when you make a simple mistake. You set your bag down as you slurp an extra-large gelato, and before you know it your bag is gone. Unfortunately, today’s the day you tucked your passport, credit cards and extra cash in your bag instead of in your money belt. That sinking feeling is the realization that — except for the euro or two in your pocket — you’ve lost everything.

by Teresa O’Kane, San Jose, California

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 426th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine, where all subscribers are encouraged to share their experiences and opinions.

The US government continues to receive information indicating terrorist groups may be planning attacks, possibly against US interests, in Uzbekistan. In the past, these groups have conducted kidnappings, assassinations and suicide bombings.

The areas of Uzbekistan bordering Afghanistan should be avoided for all but essential travel. Extreme caution should also be exercised in the Ferghana Valley bordering Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and there have been exchanges of gunfire across the Uzbek/Kyrgyz border.

by Randy Keck (Second of three parts, go to part one or part three)

My tour of Kenya and Tanzania in late February 2011 continued with my flying from the Masai Mara back to Nairobi, where I had lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant, known far and wide for its meat-on-a-spit selections which are hand carved at tables by roving waiters.

A subscriber wrote (Dec. ’10, pg. 33) that, while visiting Amsterdam on a European tour, several members of the group purchased marijuana legally but carried it with them as the tour coach continued to more countries. One tour member obtained what the subscriber assumed were prescription pain killers and openly shared them with tour members. The subscriber also witnessed one tour member shoplift a dish towel from a sidewalk stand.