Vacation Hotline

Resource Center

US State Department
Unaccompanied Minor
Other Parent Consent
Sole Custody
World Climate
Weatherbase
Weather.com
National Hurricane Center
CDC
World Health
Trans. Security Admin
US Customs
Know before you go

FAQ

How long does a price quote from Vacation Hotline remain valid?
What identification will I need to travel on a plane within the United States?
What identification or documentation will I need to travel internationally?
I am traveling with children. Are there any special documents required for children to travel internationally?
What will the weather be like when I am traveling?
When is hurricane season?
How can I find out information about health requirements at my destination?
How can I find out about security guidelines at the airport?
How can I find out what items and how much I can purchase and bring back into the United States?
When can I expect to receive my air tickets or e-ticket receipts and/or any vouchers that may be required for my vacation?
Once I get my documents, do I still need to verify my flight times before I travel?
How far in advance should I check-in at the airport?
What about seat assignments and frequent flyer credit?
What if I have a specific room request, bed type, view.
Are you able to make bookings for Canadian residents?

1. How long does a price quote from you remain valid?
Price quotes sent by our agents via email or quoted over the phone are accurate at the time they are given, but we cannot guarantee that the specific price will be the same when you call to make a booking. In most cases, if you respond quickly to the price quote, our agents will be able to obtain the price quoted for you. However, since the prices are set by airlines, hotels, and tour wholesalers, they are subject to change and are out of our control. Additionally, the price may sell out between the time it was quoted and when you are able to make your reservation. Please know that we do all possible to secure the best possible rate for you.

2.What identification will I need to travel on a plane within the United States?
All passengers over the age of 18 years must present identification in order to board an airline flight. Passengers unable to present required identification will be denied boarding. Acceptable positive proof of identification includes a current photo I.D. issued by a local, state, or federal government entity (i.e. photo driver’s license, official state I.D. card, military I.D. card). If you have any questions, please contact the airline who will be providing transportation as they will be making the final determination about what is acceptable

3. What identification or documentation will I need to travel internationally?
All passengers regardless of age will be required to provide proof of citizenship. The best proof of citizenship is a valid passport. Many countries require a valid passport. Other countries may allow entry with a certified government issued copy of a birth certificate combined with a government issued photo I.D. A hospital birth certificate or other certificate that does not carry an official government raised or embossed seal is not acceptable. Do not take for granted that because you may have been able to travel in the past with a birth certificate or voters registration receipt, that this will be acceptable now. Airlines and governments have increased security requirements so what once worked for you may not currently be acceptable.

In addition to proof of citizenship, some countries may also require a visa be obtained in advance of travel specifically authorizing entry to their country. Information on foreign entry requirements including visas required of U.S. citizens may be obtained from the U.S. State Department. The consulate or embassy of the destination country is a best source for information; contact information for consulates and embassies is also available at the above web link.

4. I am traveling with children. Are there any special documents required for children to travel internationally?
Children under the age of 18 are considered to be minors by most countries. Children traveling internationally must carry proof of citizenship. It is always a good practice to carry the child’s birth certificate to provide proof of parentage as well as a passport to show citizenship. In some instances this is mandatory. (Example: Child traveling with both parents but whose last name does not match that of both parents, as might be the case if a mother had retained her maiden name.)

In addition, minor children who are not traveling with both parents must carry notarized permission letters from the absent parent(s). Depending on circumstances, the affidavits required may include an “affidavit of other parental consent,” “parental consent for unaccompanied minor,” or “affidavit of sole custody.” Mexico is an example of a country requiring these notarized permission letters. Children without these letters may be denied boarding. Blank copies of the affidavits which must be notarized may be downloaded here.

Affidavit of Parental Consent for Unaccompanied Minor
Affidavit of Other Parent Consent
Affidavit of Sole Custody

5. What will the weather be like when I am traveling?
We cannot have a crystal ball to accurately predict the weather you will experience on a specific date. We can give you an idea of what the weather is normally like at the time of year you will be traveling. Both the World Climate and the Weatherbase web sites can give you some average high and low temperatures and average rainfalls for most destinations. Weather.com can give you current weather and a 10-day forecast which might be checked in the week prior to your departure to help with packing.

6. When is hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 through November 30. Some islands are more likely than others to be in the hurricane zone. There is no accurate predictor of hurricanes. The National Hurricane Center can give both historical and forecast information.

7. How can I find out information about health requirements at my destination?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta has excellent information on destinations worldwide. The World Health Organization also maintains a database on international travel and health.

8. How can I find out about security guidelines at the airport?
The Transportation Security Administration lists the most current items that are prohibited and permitted for traveling on airplanes. They also have sections on Travel Preparation, Special Considerations, and basic Security Procedures. Almost any question you have can be answered on this site which is maintained and kept up to date by the government.

9. How can I find out what items and how much I can purchase and bring back into the United States?
The United States Customs Service web site details the standard duty-free exemption for U.S. citizens and contains the popular “Know Before You Go” bulletin. You may also check here to learn what items are prohibited or restricted.

10. When can I expect to receive my air tickets or e-ticket receipts and/or any vouchers that may be required for my vacation?
We receive your air documents and other vouchers from tour wholesalers. We check those documents for accuracy and then forward them to the address you have specified. In general, most tour operators provide us with the documents approximately three weeks prior to departure.

11. Once I get my documents, do I still need to verify my flight times before I travel?
We strongly recommend that you verify flight times a few days prior to departure to check whether there have been schedule changes by the airlines. If Vacation Hotline is notified by either the airline or tour wholesaler of an airline schedule change, we will notify you, but we do not get schedule change notifications in all instances. It is also a good practice to call the airline on the day of departure before you leave your home to make certain that nothing has changed.

12. How far in advance should I check-in at the airport?
It is good policy to check with the airline you are flying a few days before your departure. This will enable you to get the best information for your local airport and will also provide you with an opportunity to re-confirm your flight schedule. Required check-in time varies from airport to airport. Each airline may have a different policy. Most airlines are requesting that you check in at least 90 minutes in advance for domestic flights and 2 or 3 hours in advance for international flights. Please check the specific requirements for your travel itinerary and allow ample time in your schedule for traffic problems and other unforeseen delays.

13. What about seat assignments and frequent flyer credit?
Vacation Hotline cannot assume responsibility for obtaining seat assignments or for insuring that you obtain frequent flyer credit. Where possible, our agents will attempt to get seat assignments for you and add frequent flyer numbers supplied by you to your airline reservation record. However, be advised that many charters and some scheduled airlines do not assign seats in advance. Other airlines only allow a certain percentage of seats to be assigned in advance and hold the remaining seats for assignment at the airport on the day of flight. Airline personnel will do all possible to seat families together on the day of flight.

Some, though not all, air tickets supplied with vacation packages are eligible to earn frequent flyer mileage credit. If you give your Vacation Hotline agent your frequent flyer number, she/he will attempt to add it to your airline reservation record. However, you should always have your frequent flyer numbers available at airport check-in and ask the airline agent to make certain your numbers are in the airline computer. This is your responsibility. You should also retain all boarding pass stubs and passenger receipts of air tickets eligible for mileage credit until such time as you receive your mileage statement from the airline and see that you have received proper credit.

14. What if I have a special request for a specific room request, bed type, view, or location within a hotel?
Some requests such as room category are an option at the time of booking and may impact the cost of your trip. An example of this might be an ocean view room category which is more expensive than a garden view room. If you pay in advance for ocean view, you should be given an ocean view room.

Other requests may be recorded and forwarded to the hotel but cannot be guaranteed. Vacation Hotline agents will be happy to make special requests for a specific floor or location or bedding type, but most hotels and resorts will not guarantee that they will be able to fulfill the request. Since it is in everyone's best interest for a guest to be happy, resorts do all possible to comply with special requests, but it is not always possible.

15. Are you able to make bookings for Canadian residents?
We can make land arrangements for Canadian residents. In some instances, we can also make air reservations. Some tour wholesalers with whom we work are not able to book air reservations for travel originating in Canada. You should also know that we must charge your travel arrangements in U.S. dollars and often it is more advantageous for you to make the purchase in Canada and be charged in Canadian dollars.