Posts Tagged ‘travel visas’

Travel Visas for the Tour d’Afrique

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

The Tour de France? That’s nothing! Try riding across the entire African continent on a bicycle! Since 2003, a hardy bunch of cyclists has been doing just that, as part of the Tour d’Afrique. The Tour d’Afrique crosses the entire African continent, from Egypt to South Africa, approximately 7,500 miles. While some participants are there to race, many others are just there for the experience and travel at their own pace, so people of all ages are welcome as long as you are in good shape and like to ride.

The Tour d’Afrique takes a good four months to complete, and like most epic-level travel experiences, it’s not cheap. The full tour will set you back €8,900, not including your bike, supplies for your bike, food on rest days, flights or visas. Fortunately, you can also sign on to just do a specific part of the tour.

As far as travel visas are concerned, the requirements vary depending on which country you’re looking at. Here’s a breakdown:

  • Egypt: If you’re flying in, you can get a 30-day tourist visa when you arrive at the airport, or apply in advance if you’d like. If you’re entering by land, you’ll need one in advance.
  • Sudan: US citizens should apply for a visa in advance at a Sudanese embassy or consulate.
  • Ethiopia: If you’re riding in, you’ll definitely need to apply for your visa in advance. Theoretically, if you’re flying in, you can get a visa on arrival, but the US Department of State recommends against it as airport officials sometimes refuse to issue them. So, be a good Boy/Girl Scout and “be prepared!” See Ethiopian Visa Requirements for Tourists for more details.
  • Kenya: US citizens need to apply in advance to enter by land. If flying in, you should be able to get a visa on arrival but be prepared to wait for the privilege. See Kenyan Visa Requirements for Tourists for details.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Destinations | No Comments »

Travel Visa Requirements for the “Banana Pancake Trail”

Sunday, December 19th, 2010

If you’ve considered a trip to Asia, particularly a long-term backpacking trip, you’ve probably heard the term “banana pancake trail” thrown about. You might have thought to yourself, “Hey, I like pancakes. I like bananas. Where do I sign up?”

It’s not really that simple-the banana pancake trail doesn’t really have a beginning, end or set route. It’s not a backpacking trail per se, though you’ll certainly meet lots of backpackers on it. The term “banana pancake trail” is simply used to designate areas of Asia that get a lot of young Western tourists, usually backpackers. The name comes from the banana pancakes that are often served at guesthouses serving this clientele.

That said, there are definitely cities and towns that are indisputably part of the banana pancake trail. Whether you’ll want to visit or not depends on the type of traveler you are; if your goal is to see places that are untouched by tourism you may be better off elsewhere. Here’s a list of some of the most popular stops, along with the travel visa requirements for each:

India

If you’re planning on traveling to India and you have a hankering for banana pancakes check out Goa, Pushkar and Varanasi. See Indian Visa Requirements for Tourists for details on visa requirements.

Vietnam

Halong Bay, Hoi An, and Hanoi in Vietnam are popular backpacker stops. As with India, Vietnam requires American tourists to get visas in advance; see Vietnam Visa Requirements for Tourists for details.

Thailand

In Thailand, the following regions are known for being great places to hang out and party, if that’s your bag:

  • Bangkok, especially Khao San Road
  • Pai
  • Ko Pha Ngan, known for its notorious full-moon party
  • Ko Phi Phi

Laos

In Laos, you can follow your breakfast of banana pancakes with a day of river tubing in Vang Vieng. You can either get your visa on arrival or before you enter the country- see Laos Visa Requirements for Tourists for details.

Cambodia

In Cambodia, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap (near the famous temples of Angkor Wat) are the main banana pancake trail stops. See Cambodian Visa Requirements for Tourists for more details on visas.

Malaysia

Penang, the Perhentian Islands and Melaka are popular “banana pancake trail” stops in Malaysia. You do not need a visa for stays of 90 days or less.

Indonesia

Lake Toba, Yogyakarta, Mount Bromo and the islands of Bali, Lombok and Gili Trawangan are all great places to feast on banana pancakes before going sightseeing. You can apply for a visa on advance or get one on arrival- see Indonesian Visa Requirements for Tourists for details.

China

Banana pancakes have been sighted in China in Dali, Lijiang, and Yangshuo. You’ll need to get a visa in advance to enter China. See Chinese Visa Requirements for Tourists.

No matter where you’re going, RushMyTravelVisa can help you get the travel visas you need to get there. We’ll research your itinerary and help you with the paperwork, then expedite your visa for the fastest possible processing!

Tags: , ,
Posted in Destinations | No Comments »

Travel Visa Requirements for Discovery Adventures Newest Destinations

Friday, October 22nd, 2010

Guided tours can be a wonderful, relatively stress-free way to see some amazing destinations-but you have to make sure you book with a good group. With their Discovery Adventure packages, the Discovery Channel is attempting to help take the uncertainty out of booking a guided tour. The website promises that “Each trip boasts carefully chosen and exhilarating activities so you can experience your chosen destination to the fullest.”

The Discovery Channel’s latest destination (h/t Gadling) is Indochina, with a 15-day “Indochina Cultural Journey” package that offers time in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. For $2899 per person, not including airfare, the tour promises to allow you to “Explore the cultural best of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Encounter history, both ancient and modern, and witness the unbelievable splendor of Angkor Wat. From the natural beauty of Halong Bay and Chiang Mai’s temples to Kantoke dinners and Khmer lunches, our expert guides will share the natural, historical and cultural beauty that has persisted in this region. More than a tour—this is an adventure of discovery.”

One thing that you’ll have to discover on your own, though, is how to get the travel visas you’ll need for the trip. If you are an American citizen, you shouldn’t need a visa for Thailand since you’ll only be staying 15 days. Visas are required to visit Cambodia and Vietnam, however.

You can get a visa for Cambodia in the airport when you fly in with your group. However, you will need the following documents to do so:

  • 2 passport-sized photos.
  • Your US passport. Make sure that yours is valid for at least 6 months past the date you plan to enter Cambodia and that you have enough room in the back for your visa.
  • A copy of your travel itinerary.

For Vietnam, you’ll need to apply in advance, before you leave the United States. See Vietnam Visa Requirements for Tourists for more details.

Whether you’re traveling independently or with a group, RushMyTravelVisa can help you get the documents you’ll need. We’ll help you with all the logistics and paperwork, and expedite your applications for the fastest processing available.

Apply for your travel visas through us today!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Destinations | No Comments »

Israel Passport Stamps and Travel Visas

Friday, September 24th, 2010

Israel is one of the most popular countries in the Middle East for American tourists. US citizens do not need to apply for a travel visa in advance to visit Israel-all you need is a passport valid for at least the next 6 months and you’re good to go. However, having an Israeli stamp in your passport can make it difficult to get travel visas for certain other countries. For example, if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport, the following countries will not issue you a travel visa or allow you to enter the country:

  • Libya
  • Sudan
  • Lebanon
  • Syria
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Kuwait
  • Yemen
  • Iran

For this reason, most travel guides recommend making Israel the last stop on your Middle East tour. You can also ask the Israel customs officials to stamp a detachable sheet of paper inside of your passport rather than the passport itself. In most cases, they will comply, but the US Department of State advises that making this request means that you “may face additional, often time-consuming, and probing questioning by immigration and border authorities, or may even be denied entry into Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza.”

You do have another option: applying for a second passport. US citizens are able to get a duplicate valid passport with authorization from the State Department. The second passport is valid for only two years, but if you’re a frequent traveler, it’s a good investment anyway because it makes applying for travel visas much less of a headache.

No matter where you’re going, RushMyTravelVisa makes it easy to determine exactly what documents you’ll need. We’ll research your itinerary and walk you through the application process, helping you avoid common mistakes and ensuring that you get your travel visas as quickly as possible.

Let us help you get the travel visas you need today!

Tags: , ,
Posted in Government Regulations | No Comments »

Travel Visas To Travel the Silk Road

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

The Silk Road-even the name sounds romantic, doesn’t it? The Silk Road connected China with the West and provided a vital distribution route for ideas, culture and materials goods like silk.  Even today, many of the major stops along the Silk Road are vibrant and interesting tourist destinations.

If you want to tour the Silk Road, the first step is determining which route to follow. There were actually two main land routes. The northern one led from China to the western boundary of the Roman Empire or to Iraq. The southern route led from China to the Levant in Syria or to Alexandria in Egypt.

After you decide on a route and book your travel, the next step is to secure the necessary travel documents. To help you out, here’s a list of countries that you might travel as part of a Silk Road tour, with information about visa information and whether or not you must apply in advance:

  • China: Tourists need travel visas and must apply in advance. See Chinese Tourist Visa Requirements
  • Kazakhstan: Apply in advance. See Apply for a Kazakhstan Visa
  • Azerbaijan: You need a visa, but if you’re flying into Azerbaijan directly you can get one in the airport. If you are entering by land, you must get one in advance.
  • Georgia: If you’re a US citizen visiting Georgia for 360 days or less, you do not need a Georgian visa
  • Turkmenistan: You need a visa, and you must apply ahead of time.
  • Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan does not issue visas on arrival. Apply for yours in advance.
  • Tajikistan: Apply in advance for your Tajikistan visa.
  • Syria: Obtain your visa prior to travel.
  • Egypt: Tourist visas can be obtained on arrival at the airport or in advance. If you are arriving by land, you need to have your visa ahead of time.

RushMyTravelVisa can research your exact itinerary to make sure you have the documents you need for your trip. We can also help expedite your visa applications, making the entire process of getting your travel visas much quicker and easier.

Need a travel visa? Apply with us today!

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Destinations | No Comments »