Hello Traveler!  Welcome to Art-Mouse travel tips 2010. Hopefully the page will be useful to you, and for your convenience I have included a list of printable links and another for your
WiFi-connection.

Included on this “Travel Tips Page” are helpful hints and links and  some advice based on “not to do what I did…” some to take precautions, a reminder, and perhaps convert some measurements,  look at weather and more.

Happy travels and best wishes from Margareta
 

JUST IN CASE... and perhaps first of all:
Remember to have a proper Health Insurance. Check before hand if a visitor's visa applies, and also if Your drivers-license is valid. The Embassies or Consulates in Your country knows about these details. You might also be able to find information on Your government's site.

RV;  here Robin Williams and his movie family
are trying out an exciting  trip in a motor home.
You might need IE to be able to see the clip.

RENTING a car or a motor-home (RV stands for recreational vehicle):
Do not expect that you are able to return your vehicle at your final destination like in a lot of places in Europe. Please ask!
This "off the road" link can be interesting and fun. Are you going to visit some National Parks? More than one? It might be worth to invest in a membership card.

MAKING A BUSINESS TRIP TO NORTH AMERICA?
Perhaps this link with it's database will become helpful to you.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
It is important to know when National Holidays occur in North America. It is not a nice surprise to find that all domestic flights and cars for rent are all booked. Thanks-giving is one of the most difficult time to remember. Some holidays moves around on the calendar to occur in connection with weekends. Please check your calendar for these events so you don't get stuck where you don't want to be.
*NATIONAL HOLIDAY*
USA: Celebrates on the 4TH OF JULY. This is the
Independence Day.
*THANKSGIVING is in  November/December

*NATIONAL HOLIDAY*
CANADA: Celebrates THE 1ST OF JULY. It is called Canada Day. THANKSGIVING is in October/November

LABOR DAY, IN NORTH AMERICA, IS ON THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER  but changes according to the weekend to a MONDAY in connection. Some times holiday-dates changes for people to be able to have a longer weekend.
And there are Civic Holidays when banks and post offices are closed. It is good to check your Internet-calendar or look for your nearest ATM incase you need some cash..

Hej  Turist!
För Dig som förstår och  talar svenska finns här en sida med länkar som gäller Florida

Currency Exchange: http://www.oanda.com

GOING FISHING? Before You go fishing, make sure You don't need a license, which is very common in North America. It is likely to get one at the local Chamber of Commerce or the Police Station in the town you visit.

Regarding CAMPING and/or renting a Recreational Vehicle or at RoadBearRV where you can pick up an RV and return it some where else (in my case in Las Vegas and returning it in San Francisco).
For a lot of information and guidance check with KOA or to find something different: Real Adventures.

The Yellow Pages of North America on the W.W.W, is of great help. So is googeling. But to tie you over, here are some links to places for some information that could come in quick and handy . PRESS HERE  for the printable list

Sending postcards or souvenirs? This is a link for mailing services and calculating rates from USA. There were an increase 2009. A post card  within US is now $0.44 and international $0.98

Mailing from Canada? Here is the link for Canadian postage

Calling home? This link will help you to dial the correct numbers while abroad.

Brought your laptop? Here is the download place for Google Earth.

For your convenience there are lists with the URLs for sites mentioned above. One is spelled out and  printable and the other is linked to the web location (to bookmark for your Wi-Fi-connection)

Remember also to bring your Dictionary! Mimic isn't always enough. In Canada you might need to ask a person who only speak French. At times we also  lack of vocabulary when we try to explain something in technical terms.

*Valid passport and visas for the whole trip? And is your * *Visitors visa for the United States in good order?
*Items with sharp edges and bottled  liquid in your check in luggage? Good.

Before you enter the line at the immigration office there is a form that should have been filled out. A form declaring who you are and where you are going to stay etc.  You will also need a form for an import declaration. Make sure,  before your flight, when you check in, that the flight is carrying these forms. On the border between Canada and USA the US immigration mostly is located  at the Canadian airport. Make sure you filled the forms correctly and your passport is at hand. Get in line! and Bon Voyage!