Travel Information

Where is my ticket?

You will receive your finalized information packet that includes flight itineraries when you receive your uniform. Most of the tickets USAAI issues are e–tickets. This means that all you have to do is take your passport and go to the ticket counter to get your paper ticket(s) when you check your bags. Some airlines have the option for those with e–tickets to print their own ticket(s) off at an e–ticket kiosk. You will need your passport to do so, and you will check your bags immediately after you are done.

IF your flight itinerary includes travel on British Airways, you will find a paper ticket included in the finalized information packet you receive with you uniform. If your itinerary says British Airways but you do not find paper ticket in your packet, please contact your recruiter.

How early should I be?

We like to use the rule of 3.

• How early should I get to the airport? Approximately 3 hours before your flight leaves.
• How much time should I give myself between my connecting flight’s arrival and my international flight’s departure? At least 3 hours.

Baggage

When traveling internationally, every airline has different rules for baggage allowances.  It is important that you check the website of the airline carrier for your trip for the applicable allowances and potential baggage charges.

When traveling with large sporting equipment (i.e. Bats, Sticks, Racquets, etc.), it’s always a good idea to call the airline to find out requirements for checking and/or carrying on your equipment bags.

Checked Luggage – This refers to bags or suitcases too large to fit in the overhead compartments above passenger seats in the body of the plane.

Carry–On – This refers to luggage that is small enough to carry onto the plane and store in the overhead compartments.

Personal Item – This refers to a piece of luggage, typically smaller than your carry–on (purse, sack, backpack, etc.) that can be kept with you while you are on the plane. Your personal item must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you.

Restrictions – There are restrictions on the number, size and weight of your checked baggage and carry–on.  Travelers are responsible for any baggage charges charged by the airlines, so make sure to check the requirements from your group’s carrier prior to arrival at the airport.

Checked bags:
Number Generally Allowed – 1-2 (baggage charges may apply)
Size – 62 in. (length x height x width)
Weight – 50 lbs.

Carry-On bags:
Number generally allowed – 1
Size – 45 in. (length x height x width)
Weight – 40 lbs.

Personal Items:
Number generally allowed – 1

These weights and dimension are offered as the industry standard. Check with your carrier(s) before your departure to see if they have their own, more stringent, guidelines. Also, be sure to keep a little extra room in your bags, just in case you’re over weight in one and need to transfer items to another. A fee is charged for all overweight bags, as well as luggage you check in addition to the two you are allowed.

Special Attire

We ask all USAAI team members to wear one of the t–shirts they receive with their uniform to the airport so that the tour leader, coaches and other group members can identify one another in the airport and once they arrive. Which t–shirt will be specified in the finalized information that accompanies each athlete’s uniform. Coaches are asked to wear their USAAI polo shirts.

Time differences will be HUGE when you try to contact people back home, and vice versa. To make sure you aren’t waking your family up at 3 a.m., familiarize yourself with the time difference between your destination(s) and home city.
Sites like Time and Date can show you different time zones around the world as well as calculate time differences between cities.

Jet Lag

One of the toughest things for athletes to fight through once they arrive is jet lag. There are several easy tips that can help you adjust in no time!

• Don’t take a nap on the day of your arrival. USAAI tries to make sure the group stays really busy on their first day so there isn’t time to think about how tired you are. Why? Because napping will throw your system out of whack even further. If you can hold off until bedtime, you’ll be exhausted, yes, but your body will think that you’ve just had a really long day.
• Drink lots and lots of water! The healthier and cleaner the body is inside, the faster it can adapt. The more hydrated you stay, the faster your body will adjust to your new schedule.

Exchange rates fluctuate frequently. To find out the rate of exchange between the American dollar and currency of the country you are going to visit, Google the current exchange rates or visit your local bank branch. There are also several apps available that tell you the exchange rates, even while offline.

The local weather of your destination plays a key role in how you prepare and pack. Factors like time of year, proximity to the equator and general weather patterns will dictate your surrounds, so don’t get caught off guard. Before you leave, make sure to check the recent as well as forecasted weather for your destination(s) to make sure you are always ready. Websites like Weather.com and AccuWeather.com are great places to start.

Adapters

The appliances in almost every country that USAAI visits use a different voltage and different plug-in than the one your electrical equipment does. Using American appliances without a converter and adapter may cause your appliances to short out, melt or explode! Before you leave on your trip, invest in an international adapter kit. These kits allow you to convert your appliance’s voltage and adapt your plug to that of the country you are visiting. You can purchase these kits at any number of electronics stores (ex: Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon, Ebay) or stores that carry travel equipment.

Spending Money

“Cash, debit/credit cards, travelers checks… they’re all money, so which should I take with me?”

When it comes to international travel, each of these types of money have their pros and cons, but you may be surprised to learn that not all of them spend the same.

Cash

It’s always a good idea to have some cash on hand. It is accepted everywhere, and you never know when you will run into a vendor or taxi driver that accepts nothing else. There is a fee to exchange American dollars for foreign currency. You can choose to exchange your money before you leave, however it is not necessary since there are a number of currency exchanges in the countries once we arrive. Often times they charge a smaller fee than in the United States.

Debit/Credit Cards

Cards are extremely helpful because they give you up-to-the-minute exchange rates at the time of purchase. The drawback for this option is that they are not accepted everywhere and most debit cards will charge a small transaction fee for their use. The most commonly accepted form of card is VISA.

Travelers Checks

These are very secure but EXTREMELY problematic when trying to cash or use for purchases. Most vendors do not accept them and many banks will not cash them. We strongly discourage athletes from bringing these with them.

We suggest you bring a combination of cash and debit/credit cards to be used at your own discretion.  We recommend a budget of $40-$60 per day to cover your uncovered expenses and leave you with some additional spending money for the tour.

Destinations

USA Athletes does our utmost to keeps our athletes healthy, happy and safe. We do not travel to any countries posted on the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Warning list. If you have questions about travel safety or would like to see the current Travel Warning list, visit www.travel.state.gov.

Vaccinations

USAAI does not send its athletes to any location that requires vaccines for visitation in accordance with the Department of Health & Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. If you have any questions concerning travel shots or vaccination, please visit the Center for Disease Control & Prevention’s website.

Altitude Sickness

Many travelers who visit destinations at high elevation experience altitude sickness. The ailment is typically characterized by a headache, diarrhea, upset stomach or any combination thereof. If you are traveling to a country known for its elevation difference, you might want to consider bringing altitude sickness medicine with you. Over-the-counter varieties can be found in the healthcare section of most stores. You can also get a prescription-strength form from your doctor.

Server Tipping

Tipping customs vary from country to country when you eat out. Some countries are like the United States where wait staffs are paid a very small hourly wage and rely heavily on tips. Others have wait staffs that are traditionally paid the same rates that other jobs would be paid and tipping is not necessary. Be sure to ask your tour leader about the customary tipping in the countries on your tour.

Bus Driver Tipping

USAAI teams often have their own private coach for transportation. It is customary to give the driver a tip at the end of a very long day. Your tour manager will let you know when this is appropriate. Please remember to set a small amount of your personal money aside for this purpose.

Drinks & Ice in Europe

Simply put: There are no free refills… on anything! Europeans restaurants charge for every drink that is brought to your table, so select wisely and sip slowly.

If you desire to have ice in your drink, make sure you request it. European countries don’t typically serve their drinks with ice. Because you’re paying for your drink every time, it seems logical that you would want as much of it as possible in each glass. Ice simply takes up space that could be used for your beverage.

Condiments

If you decide that you just can’t live without a fast food burger, go in knowing that it won’t be “just like home”. America is one of the few places that you don’t have to pay for extra condiments. If you want ketchup or ranch to dip those fries in, it’s going to cost you extra. Honey or barbecue sauce for your chicken fingers? Yup, that’s extra too.

Air conditioning

For those of you who like to hide polar bears in your luggage, consider yourself on notice: Air conditioning is a luxury in most countries. Many of the hotels you may stay in do not have it. Sorry, you’ll have to find an alternative for keeping the bears cool. May we suggest filling your tub with ice?

Alarm Clocks

Upon entering your hotel room you may discover something, or rather discover that it is not there. Most countries consider bedside clocks and alarm clocks to be an unnecessary part of their rooms. To keep yourself timely:

• Get a wake-up call – Call the front desk and set up a wake-up call. But be careful, just like in the States, these can sometimes prove less than reliable.
• Use your cell phone alarm.

Bartering

There are a number of places that you will have the opportunity to buy from street vendors. When bartering, there are a couple things that you should keep in mind:

• The price is always negotiable. If you know that the vendors in this area barter, never agree to the initial price they offer, they will always bring the price down.
• Be willing to walk away. If you don’t agree with the price they are offering or the vendor is pleading with you to purchase, do not feel bad about saying, “No thank you” and leaving. These people do this for a living, saying no does not hurt their feelings… and it will save you money.

Paying For The Toilet

Yes, it’s true. It is not always free to go to the bathroom. A number of countries charge you to go to use their public facilities. You may have to deposit change into the stall door before you can enter, other times there will be a person near the entrance that will take your money. Privately owned businesses have been known to do this sometimes too. For them, it is at the discretion of the owner.
So be aware if you have the urge to go, it just might cost you.