DO
THREE MONTHS BEFORE DEPARTURE
PASSPORTS
Check your passport and make sure
it will remain valid for at least six
months after your arrival in all destination countries. If
you do not have one or if it expires within six months of arrival,
renew it. Allow two months for this
process. For more info, contact the US Passport Office: (800)
688-9889 or
go to the Dept
of State Website
VACCINATIONS & MEDICATIONS
Check with your doctor about recommended vaccinations
and medications for travel in India, specifically the states
you will
be traveling in. Ask him or her when you should begin obtaining
these vaccinations. Usually within 4-6 weeks of your departure
is all that is required but some vaccinations, like hepatitis,
may require a series of shots. Also be sure to check on the necessity
for malaria medication. Note: many insurance companies do not
pay
for vaccinations.
An alternate and excellent alternative to your doctor is the S.F.
Dept of Health, Adult Immunization Clinic at 101 Grove St, Rm
102. (415) 554-2625. Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9-4; Tues 9-3. Open during lunch. Available even to non-S.F.
residents.
They
accept cash, VISA, MC, and ATM cards but not insurance or personal
checks. They claim to have the cheapest costs. They recommend: Hepatitis
A, Polio
booster, Typhoid. They do not provide malaria medication. According
to the Adult Immunization clinic, vaccinations are good for the following
amount
of years: Polio: 10 years; Typhoid: 2 years; Hepatitis A: 20 years;
Hepatitis
B: 10-12 years; Tetanus: 10 years. Go to their website for costs
and full info.
Another
resource is The Travel Clinic at California Pacific Medical Center,
3801 Sacramento Street, in San Francisco at 415/ 750-2356.
For complete details on recommended vaccinations as well as great tips for staying healthy in India, see to the CDC website.
Finally, you can contact Dr. Bryson at: 415-362-7177. He has an office in
San Francisco, specializes in travel medicine and has all necessary vaccinations.
Ask your doctor to record your vaccinations in the yellow International
Certificate of Vaccination booklet. Also be sure to ask them for any prescriptions
refills. Also
ask your doctor for advisability regarding a prescription for Cipro which
is an antibiotic used for intestinal problems.
If
you are interested in alternative to vaccinations, I've heard
that a homeopath, Richard Pitt, is an excellent resource. His office
is in San Francisco and he is available both for phone consultations
and office visits. You can call him at (415) 695-8200. Or check
out his website at www.homeopathy-academy.org He also recommends the
book "The
Vaccine Guide" by Randall Neustadter.
Check
with your health insurance plan to get
clear if/what they will cover during your travels.
Travel insurance is highly recommended; it can save alot of money
if you run into problems. Different packages cover different
things so read the
fine print. Among the items that travel insurance may cover are:
trip cancellation, loss and theft during your trip; sickness,
injury during your trip, and emergency
evacuation due to medical emergency. To
obtain some of these coverages, you must apply for the
insurance within 15 days of your first payment to me.
The
following are some well known companies. I personally like TravelGuard
as they have comprehensive coverage at a good price. However,
I am providing a few different links for your consideration.
Be sure to read the fine print and compare coverages.
TravelGuard:
800-826-4919. America's #1 travel protection. Easily
to navigate sight. Packaged plan. Cost based on cost of trip.
Another
place to obtain travel insurance is through your travel agent.
DO
TWO MONTHS BEFORE DEPARTURE
VISAS
You need to obtain a Tourist Visa
to enter India. Visas are now issued by Travisa India Visa Outsourcing, 965 Mission Street, Suite #110
San Francisco, CA 94103, (415) 644-0149. Their website is: http://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com. There, you will find all necessary forms and information for obtaining a visa.
To obtain a visa, you need to submit your passport, valid for at least six months, along with your application and two photos. You can apply through the mail or in person. If you mail it, allow at least two weeks for processing. If you apply in person and arrive between 9 am - 12:30 pm, you can pick up your visa the same day between 4:30-6:00. Alternately, you can arrive between 2:00 - 4:00 and pick it up another day.
A tourist visa which is good for 6 months costs $73; one which
is good for 10 years costs $163.There is an additional shipping fee of $20 if you apply through the mail.
MEDICAL AND DENTAL CHECKUPS
Since we'll be a long way from home, it's a good idea to get a physical and dental checkup before you go .
COMPLETE NEEDED VACCINATIONS AND MEDICATIONS
Complete needed vaccinations. Obtain prescriptions for medications you are currently taking as well as for Malaria and Cipro if your doctor recommends. Order/obtain Preventative Medicines.
DO WITHIN 4 WEEKS OF DEPARTURE
OBTAIN TRAVELER CHECKS
Get American Express Thomas
Cook or VISA travelers checks (other brands
may not be cashable in India). Please note Travelers
Checks are no longer available at CSAA offices.
MAKE PHOTOCOPIES OF DOCUMENTION
To prevent a lot of hassle in the event that your documents
are lost or stolen, make 3 photocopies of:
-
the
inside page of your passport (the page which contains your photo)
-
-
the
serial numbers of your traveler's checks.
- your
credit card
Leave
one copy at home with someone. Give a second copy to someone
else on the tour (not your roommate) for safe keeping.
Keep a third copy yourself.
Also,
if you have expensive cameras or equipment, make a copy
of the bill of sale. This will prevent customs hassles
when arriving or departing in India or returning to the
US.
FLIGHT NEEDS
Contact your arilines if you have special needs such as
meal or seat requests, etc. Make sure you reconfirm your
reservation at least 72 hours in advance.
AIRPORT ARRIVAL
Arrive at the International
Terminal at least three hours before departure. Be sure
to bring your passport
and ticket! After you check in, there will be a rendezvous
point for those travelling with the group.
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