🧳 Stuff Every Traveler Should Know: Training Guide

Security Basics for Adults and Kids

Adults flying within the US need an acceptable ID. A REAL ID compliant driver's license shows a star at the top. An enhanced driver's license shows a flag instead.

TSA does not require children under 18 to show ID when flying with a companion within the United States. The adult companion shows their ID. Airlines may have their own ID rules on international trips.

Toddlers and babies have special screening. At age 13 and older, standard screening procedures apply. Younger children get modified procedures and stay with their parent or guardian.

Formula, breast milk and toddler drinks over 3.4 ounces are allowed in carry-on bags. Tell the officer at the start of screening so these items can be checked separately. Clear bottles are easier to screen than pouches.

Strollers, car seats, carriers and booster seats must be X-rayed at the checkpoint. If an item is too large, officers inspect it by hand.

Liquids and Sharp Items

The TSA 3-1-1 rule limits each liquid container in a carry-on to 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters or less. This rule covers aerosols, gels, creams and pastes, not just drinks. Larger containers belong in checked bags.

Each traveler may bring one quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes. Everything must fit inside that bag.

Duty free liquids over 3.4 ounces can travel in a sealed, tamper-evident bag on an international connection. The purchase receipt must be from within the last 48 hours.

Do not pack box cutters, utility knives or razors in carry-on luggage. Safety-cartridge razors, where the blade cannot be removed, are an exception.

TSA PreCheck

With TSA PreCheck, travelers usually leave laptops and 3-1-1 liquids inside the bag. Belts and light jackets can stay on. But TSA never guarantees expedited screening.

Children 17 and under can use a PreCheck lane with a PreCheck adult if PreCheck shows on the child's boarding pass. On some trips this may not happen.

Battery Safety

Spare lithium batteries, power banks and portable chargers must go in carry-on bags only. Never pack them in checked bags.

Batteries rated up to 100 watt hours need no airline approval. Batteries rated 101 to 160 watt hours require airline approval.

With airline approval, a passenger may carry up to two spare lithium-ion batteries rated 101 to 160 watt hours. Protect them from short circuit.

Batteries above 160 watt hours are not allowed on passenger aircraft. This ban covers large power banks, power stations and generators in both carry-on and checked bags.

E-cigarettes and vape devices contain lithium batteries and must go in carry-on only. They must be protected from damage and short circuit.

Battery Math and Special Cases

To find watt hours, multiply volts by amp hours. For milliamp hours, divide by 1000 first. A 12-volt, 8 amp hour battery is 96 watt hours.

Damaged or recalled batteries that might spark or make heat cannot be carried in carry-on or checked bags unless they are made safe.

If a device or battery starts smoking or swelling on a flight, tell the flight crew right away. Overheating, expanding, smoking or burning are signs to report.

Bluetooth luggage trackers like AirTags may go in checked bags if the battery is tiny: lithium content 0.3 grams or less, or no more than 2.7 watt hours.

Refunds and Flight Disruptions

If an airline cancels a flight, you are entitled to a refund regardless of the reason. You can decline rebooking, credits or vouchers and still get your money back.

Once you decline the alternatives, the refund must be issued automatically, without you asking.

Blood Clots and Moving on Long Flights

Flights longer than 4 hours can raise the risk of blood clots. Sitting still lets blood pool in your leg veins. Standing and walking help.

Choose an aisle seat so you can get up easily. Move around every 2 to 3 hours. Flex your calf muscles in your seat.

Do not take aspirin to prevent travel blood clots. Moving and calf exercises are the simple steps. People with extra risk factors can ask a doctor about compression stockings.

Jet Lag

Flying east across many time zones shortens your day. Before flying east, go to bed an hour or two earlier. Flying west is the opposite.

Arrive at least 2 days before an important event so your body can adjust. Follow local sleep and wake times when you arrive.

If you are sleepy in the daytime, take a nap of no more than 15 to 20 minutes. Avoid alcohol and late caffeine. Stay in well-lit areas by day.

Motion Sickness and Emergency Evacuation

For motion sickness, sit in the front of a car or bus and choose a window seat on flights. Facing forward and seeing the horizon helps your eyes and inner ear agree.

A medical evacuation from a remote place could cost more than $100,000. CDC suggests medical evacuation insurance for remote trips. Pick a policy with a 24-hour physician support center.

Choosing Safe Food

Eat only foods that are cooked and served hot. Cooking hot kills most germs. Skip food that has been sitting on a buffet.

Avoid raw meat or seafood, including items cooked only in citrus juice like ceviche. Citrus or vinegar does not reliably kill germs.

Sealed carbonated drinks are usually safe because the bubbles show the drink was sealed at the factory. Bubbles do not kill germs.

Water and Ice

Avoid ice in places with unsafe tap water. Ice is usually made from local tap water, and freezing does not make unsafe water safe.

Do not drink restaurant fountain sodas where tap water is unsafe. They are made with local tap water. Sealed cans and bottles are safer.

To make water safe at normal elevations, bring it to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. Above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes.

Most portable water filters remove parasites but do not reliably remove viruses and some bacteria. Reverse osmosis filters can.

Do not drink water disinfected with iodine if you are pregnant, have thyroid problems, have an iodine allergy, or need to use it for more than a few weeks. Chlorine dioxide tablets can work against Cryptosporidium if used as directed.

Traveler's Diarrhea and Cruise Health

If you get traveler's diarrhea, drink lots of fluids first. Oral rehydration solution helps for serious cases. Antibiotics are for severe cases only, as a doctor directs.

On a cruise, wash hands with soap and water before eating and after the bathroom. Avoid touching your face to help prevent norovirus-type stomach illness.

Medicines

Pack medicines in your carry-on bag, not checked luggage. Checked bags can be lost or delayed, and you may need medicine on the way.

Keep prescription medicines in their original labeled containers. A doctor note helps for injectables like insulin or EpiPens. Some medicines allowed at home can be restricted abroad.

Crossing time zones, take medicines according to the time since your last dose, not the local clock. Ask your provider about changes to timing.

About 9% to 41% of medicines sold in low and middle income countries may be counterfeit. In high-income countries like the US it is under 1%. Bring enough medicine from home.

Vaccines and Travel Health Kit

See a health provider at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip for vaccines and medicines. Bring a copy of your immunization records on the trip.

Routine vaccines like measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, hepatitis A and flu may need a booster before travel.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is valid beginning 10 days after vaccination. The vaccine itself is valid for life even if the card shows an expiration date.

A travel health kit should include hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, sunscreen SPF 15 or higher, insect repellent and water purification tablets.

Sun, Bugs, and Dive Safety

If you use both sunscreen and insect repellent, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second. Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours and after swimming or heavy sweating.

A base tan damages skin and does not protect you on your trip. Use sunscreen, a wide-brim hat and shade at midday instead.

A travel mosquito net should be compact, white, rectangular, with 156 holes per square inch and long enough to tuck under the mattress. White makes it easy to spot bugs.

Never apply permethrin directly on skin. Use permethrin on clothing, boots and gear. Use an EPA-registered repellent on skin.

Do not use oil of lemon eucalyptus or PMD repellents on children under 3 years old. Adults should spray repellent onto their own hands first, then apply to a child's face. Never put repellent on a child's hands, eyes, mouth or cuts.

After a single no-decompression dive, wait 12 hours to fly. It is 18 hours after repetitive dives and 24 to 48 hours after dives needing stops. Flying too soon can cause decompression sickness.

Outdoor Hazards

At high elevation, if altitude sickness symptoms get worse while resting, go to a lower elevation. Do not go higher until symptoms are gone.

In a rip current, swim parallel to shore until you are free, then swim diagonally back toward shore. Never swim alone in unfamiliar waters.

Avoid petting or feeding animals abroad, even pets. They may not be vaccinated against rabies. If bitten, wash the wound well and seek medical care right away.

Heat stroke is an emergency. A key warning sign is lack of sweating. Get medical help immediately if you suspect heat stroke.

Hypothermia can happen at mild temperatures around 50 degrees F if you are chilled by rain, sweat or cold water. Early signs include shivering, tiredness, clumsiness and confusion.

If there is no sidewalk, walk on the side facing oncoming traffic. Use a flashlight and reflective clothing at night, and do not wear earbuds while walking.

EU Borders and Trusted Traveler Programs

The EU Entry/Exit System began its progressive start on 12 October 2025. It records fingerprints and facial images from non-EU short-stay visitors, plus entry and exit dates.

ETIAS is a travel authorisation for visa-free visitors to 30 European countries on short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Check the official EU site before you go.

Global Entry members are eligible for TSA PreCheck benefits. At Global Entry Touchless Portals, CBP uses facial comparison, and you scan your passport only if prompted.

You can renew Global Entry membership one year before it expires. If you apply before it expires, you can keep using benefits for up to 24 months past the expiration date. Global Entry cards are not accepted at kiosks.

US Customs and Mobile Passport

Mobile Passport Control apps are free to use and need no pre-approval. After you submit, the app gives an electronic receipt with a QR code to show the CBP officer along with your passport.

It is legal to carry more than $10,000 in cash into or out of the US, but you must declare it to CBP. Penalties for not reporting can be severe. You can file FinCEN Form 105 before your trip.

Declare all food, plants and animal products when you return to the US. The officer decides whether an item can enter. Declaring helps you avoid fines or penalties.

Money, Fees, and Tipping

Prepaid cards may charge a foreign transaction fee as a percentage of each purchase or withdrawal. This fee applies when you use the card in a foreign country or make an international purchase from the US.

Some shops offer Dynamic Currency Conversion: charging your card in dollars instead of local currency. Visa says this includes the exchange rate and additional fees. The choice is yours, and you can decline.

If your lost debit card is used and you report it within 2 business days of noticing, your maximum loss is $50. For credit cards, the most you might owe is $50, and generally nothing if you report before unauthorized use.

In the US, a tip of about 15% of the bill before tax is expected for satisfactory service, and about 20% for great service. Groups of six or more may have 15% to 18% added automatically.

In Japan, tipping is not customary. Service workers do not depend on tips, and a server may politely refuse yours.

At a foreign ATM, your bank and the foreign bank may both charge fees. Use an ATM inside a bank or enclosure when possible. The best currency exchange rate usually comes from an ATM, not an airport exchange counter.

Power, Voltage, and Mobile Connectivity

To avoid roaming charges abroad, use Wi-Fi hotspots instead of a foreign mobile network. Check with your provider before you leave.

Roaming rates can apply even to receiving or checking voicemail. Do not assume your unlimited domestic plan covers you abroad; you may be charged per minute, text, or megabyte.

A US single-voltage appliance made for 110V needs a step-down transformer in the UK, where outlets give 240V. A plug adaptor only fixes the shape.

Japan supplies 100 volts, close to the US 120V. Most US appliances do not even need a plug adaptor there. Appliances from Europe or elsewhere may need an adaptor and possibly a transformer.

If your device label says Input 100-240V, it is dual voltage. You only need a plug adapter in Europe. Most modern electronics have a voltage converter built in.

A local SIM card or eSIM can give your phone a local number and local rates. Your phone must be unlocked to use a local eSIM. A locked phone is tied to your carrier.