Travel Guidelines: Your Most Frequently Asked Questions Answered

There are a lot of guidelines that you must consider when you travel, especially if it’s internationally. Honestly, depending on the country, it can become pretty overwhelming! Every country has their own requirements for entering and leaving the country, as well as airport procedures.

Here I have accumulated some must-know information regarding the most searched for questions about travel guidelines, procedures, and requirements.

Think of this as your little pocket guide for getting to and from your destination, with absolutely no hiccups!

Here are my answers to your most frequently asked travel questions:

What’s the Low-Down with REAL ID vs. Passport?

For Americans, there has been a lot of confusion surrounding the upcoming deadline to possess a REAL ID. For starters, one might wonder, “What is the the REAL ID anyway?” The REAL ID acts as both a driver’s license and identification card that meets federal security standards. These cards will have a star in the upper-right corner.

But I Already Have a Driver’s License, Do I Still Need a REAL ID?

Yes you do… if you plan on flying domestically within the United States. However, if you already possess a passport in good standing, then you can present that in lieu of a REAL ID. So if you are already traveling internationally, there is no need to worry about this new requirement unless your passport has expired.

Who Is Required to Have a REAL ID?

Any American aged 18 and older must have a REAL ID if they plan to fly domestically within the United States. Also, if you plan to enter any federal facility or military base, you must present a REAL ID. I don’t know many people that are, but if you are planning to enter a nuclear power plant facility, then you must present your REAL ID!

What About Children Under the Age of 18?

Children under the age of 18 ARE NOT required to have a REAL ID, however their parent or legal guardian must have proper ID. HOWEVER, if the child is traveling alone, the child must then present a REAL ID. That is going to be the only reason for a child to apply for a REAL ID.

When Will the US Start Requiring the REAL ID?

The REAL ID will be required for domestic flight beginning May 7, 2025. So even if you fly to your destination on May 5th, and depart after May 7th, you will still need a REAL ID.

How Do I Apply for a REAL ID?

You must visit your local DMV in person, and provide residence documents such as a current driver’s license, passport, or utility bill. You must also present a marriage license if your have married and your name does not match the one on your residence documents.

Passport Is King

Remember: If you already possess a valid passport, meaning not expired and showing your correct name, then you do not have to get a REAL ID. You can fly both domestically and internationally without a REAL ID.

Europe Travel

It’s not as easy as getting on a plane and flying to Paris anymore! Especially not for non-European Union members. However, once you wrap your head around the new policies for entering Europe, you’ll get used to it just like any other travel requirement.

It is highly important these days to know before you go, and doing your research on travel policies for any individual country that you plan on visiting BEFOREHAND will save you a lot of grief!

EES

Let’s start with the EES (Evaluation Entry System) first. This one is the most annoying, because it’s somewhat invasive. It is what is though, lots of countries are doing it (including the United States), and if you want to enter Europe, you must comply.

When you enter a country in the EU Schengen Area, not only will your passport be scanned, but you will also have your fingerprints taken, and a photo taken at a kiosk. This is so that you may be monitored when entering and leaving a Schengen Area country.

Every country has their own way of monitoring the border, and this is the EU’s way.

There is no application that you have to fill out to comply, you just show up. The confusion lies in whether current visa holders have to go through the process, and the answer is… well, it’s complicated!

Who Has to Comply With EES?

The policy is that all non-EU citizens traveling to Europe for a short-term stay, whether you hold a current visa or not, must comply with EES.

**A short-term stay means visits of 90 days or less within a 180 day period.**

Long-term visa holders on the other hand, do not have to go through the EES process.

When Will the EES Start Being Implemented?

The EES is a new program, and will start being implemented in October of 2025. The expectation is that it will take about six months to phase this program in. Be prepared!

ETIAS

The European Travel Information and Authorization System is a travel authorization system (surprise!) for non-EU Schengen Area citizens who are already allowed to travel to Europe visa-free for short-term stays.

Instead of having to obtain a visa, you must apply for pre-approval with ETIAS to enter a European country in the Schengen Area.

This is no big deal! You can apply for ETIAS online at the ETIAS website, and pay the fee of $7.97 or 7 Euros.

Your ETIAS-approved status will be linked to your passport and valid for three years, which is a pretty sweet deal for $7.97!

Who Does Not Need ETIAS Approval?

• Citizens of non-EU Schengen Area countries that ARE required to apply for a visa to enter Europe, such as most African, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries, do not need to apply for ETIAS if they already obtained a visa. You MUST have a visa to enter Europe though.
• Family members of EU citizens will not be required to be pre-approved with ETIAS.
• Some Non-EU Citizens are automatically exempt from requiring ETIAS:
  • United Kingdom
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Liechtenstein
  • Norway
  • Switzerland
  • Iceland

When Will ETIAS Start Being Implemented?

ETIAS is expected to begin in late 2026, although the exact date has yet to be announced. Keep your eyes and ears open!

ETA

Just to make things a little more confusing, the United Kingdom requires its own separate form of travel authorization! The Electronic Travel Authorization is for short-term travel to the UK, and the ETIAS is NOT required for travel into the UK.

ETA for the UK! Burn that into your brain!

Unlike the ETIAS, the ETA is already being implemented.

Just like the ETIAS, applying is easy. You can go to the designated ETA website for your country (because every country has a different portal). For example, Americans can go to the U.S Customs and Border Protection website to fill out the “ESTA” application (don’t ask me why it’s a different abbreviation).

You must pay a fee which will be $21 for Americans, $7 CAD for Canadians, $20 AUD for Australians and 7 Euros for other Europeans.

Who Has to Apply for the ETA?

Anyone who does not hold a long-term visa or residency in the UK must apply through the ETA. This includes other Europeans!

This does not apply to Irish citizens!

**Also, it is important to note that if you are NOT visiting the UK, and just have a layover at a UK airport (meaning not passing through customs or border control), you do not need to apply for ETA!**

Mexico Tourist Card

So when I recently started planning my trip to Mexico, I stumbled upon a little information that confused me. My research led me to believe that you no longer had to fill out the physical paper form on the plane, but you now had to fill out a digital form BEFORE your flight.

This is not exactly the case. And it’s not necessarily true that you will still have to fill out the paper form either. So what gives???

Do I Have to Fill Out the Mexico Tourist Card or Not?

Let me just tell you something. The FMMD website for obtaining information on entering Mexico is super outdated and very confusing!

Also, since there aren’t too many people including airlines that seem to know what the hell is going on with the FMMD website, there have been scam websites set up masquerading as the portal for obtaining the Mexico Tourist Card.

DO NOT GIVE YOUR INFORMATION TO ANY OF THESE WEBSITES!!!!!

Here’s the low-down:

As of at least two years ago, you do not need to fill out a paper form OR a digital tourist card to enter Mexico! YAY!

Your current passport is all you need. Anything else that is required of you will be done at the airport through immigration.

What If I’m Crossing the Border By Means Other Than Flying?

You still don’t need the Mexican Tourist Card, but crossing the border is a whole different process entirely! You should do your research on what documentation is needed well before crossing the border.

For more accurate and updated information on entering Mexico, I suggest you consult Reddit. No seriously, it’s THAT BAD! I could not figure out what was going on with this on the whole worldwide internet until I got on Reddit! And then I was able to go down the rabbit hole and find more sources.

Thank you Redditors!

Where Can You Go Without a Visa?

Visas are kind of a doubled-edged sword. On one hand, you love them because they allow you to enter the country you want to visit. On the other hand though, they are just one more hoop you have to jump through to get where you’re going.

You may think that you need a visa to go everywhere, but that’s not true!

Here are a few places you can visit without that visa… whether you desire to or not! It’s more than you think:

• For US Passport holders: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Georgia, Ireland, Kosovo, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, Ukraine, Vatican City, Bermuda, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Montserrat, Svalbard, Canada, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, the majority of Caribbean Islands, the majority of South America, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Turkey, most South Pacific countries, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates.
• For EU Citizens: All other EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, the United States, China, Russia, The Gambia, the majority of South America, many Caribbean islands, most South Pacific countries, Vietnam, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Palestine, Iran, many African countries, Mexico, Belize, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates.

Where Do You Need Special Permission to Travel?

Most of us take for granted that can we travel around the world… almost anywhere! Almost. There are a few places where it’s not as simple as applying for a visa and going. In most cases, for good reason!

Here are a few places where you have to go the extra mile to visit:

• North Korea- North Korea is a special place, and not in a good way. North Korea is an authoritarian state that does not allow its citizens to come and go freely. It is the only country in the world that I have made the executive decision to never visit in my lifetime. No one outside of North Korea can truly say they know what’s going on in this country, because its citizens are 100% censored. If you do get the itch to visit North Korea, just know that you are restricted to visiting a designated area of the country. Are you a journalist? Don’t even bother applying for a visa here, unless you want to put yourself at risk of detention. Are you a U.S Passport holder? You probably won’t be granted a visa anyway.
• Bhutan- It isn’t as simple as applying for a visa in Bhutan. Unlike North Korea, Bhutan is an exciting and welcoming destination. Until you get your visa, you cannot buy plane tickets to Bhutan. You won’t be planning out your itinerary as independently as you’re used to. You must book your travel to Bhutan with a licensed Bhutanese tour operator. Also, there are certain areas of Bhutan where you need to apply for special access outside of the main tourist areas, on top of that visa. So why all the hoops? Bhutan wants to keep Bhutan the way it is for as long as possible, without banning visitors. You will be required to pay a Sustainable Development Fee when you do go to Bhutan, which goes toward local community and conservancy. It is advised to plan your Bhutan trip well in advance so that you can sort through all of these requirements, hire the best tour guide, and secure transportation and accommodation in Bhutan.
• Cuba- Much like Bhutan, if you want the chance to visit Cuba, you must be matched up with an official tour operator. And that’s not the end of it! One does not simply visit Cuba. Cuba is a communist country, and for Americans, you are not permitted to travel there unless it is for a special purpose. The U.S also has an embargo on Cuba. A lot of people can work their way through these “special purposes,” because some of them are pretty vague. These special purposes include family visits, professional research, official government business, journalism, humanitarian projects, religious activities, and education. If you simply state that you are visiting Cuba as a tourist though, you can forget it! You will have to apply for a special license through the U.S Office of Foreign Assets Control. This is not to say that Cuba isn’t a welcoming country for tourists.. ahem! I mean humanitarians and journalists! I have not been to Cuba myself, but my dad has had the pleasure of living there twice, once in childhood and once while in the military. He quite enjoyed it as an American!
• Antarctica- This is one of those places that will be unlike any other place you ever visit, for multiple reasons. For starters, a visa is not required to visit Antarctica, because no one country has ownership! However, you will have to travel with a licensed tour operator, and the area that you can visit in Antarctica is limited due to restrictions set by the Antarctic Treaty. Most of the continent is reserved for “scientific research.” I’m not going to get into all the theories that surround Antarctica and whether or not it should be off-limits or not, it just is! If you want to visit Antarctica, one of the easiest ways is via a cruise, because honestly you’re not going to find a commercial flight that goes there, and these cruises are catered to the unrestricted and safe to visit areas, where no one is going to get into trouble. To me, visiting Antarctica is like saying you want to visit Area 51. Sure, you can see it from afar, but you can’t go too close and you can’t experience much of anything. For that reason, I’m leaving this place off of my bucket list.

Travel Advisories

Just because you don’t need special permission to go to a certain country, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a great idea! Travel advisories come and go for a lot of countries, and then there are some that just seem to stay on the travel advisory list. This list is constantly being updated, so be sure to do your own research before you go!

Here is a list of countries that are currently (2025) considered to be Level 4 Travel Advisories (DO NOT TRAVEL) per the U.S State Department:

• Afghanistan
• Belarus
• Burma
• Burkina Faso
• Central African Republic
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Haiti
• Iran
• Iraq
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Mali
• North Korea
• Russia
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Syria
• Ukraine
• Venezuela
• Yemen

TSA Rules and Regulations

One of the biggest fears people have when flying to and within the United States is dealing with TSA (Transportation Security Administration), and rightfully so! However, once you’ve dealt with TSA a couple times, you are more than likely going to get over that fear and realize that the process is not so bad!

Lines? Waiting? You have to deal with that everywhere.

The fear comes from the confusion of not knowing all of the policies that need to be followed when flying within the U.S. It can be a lot to follow for sure, but just know that if you make mistakes, a TSA employee is just going to tell you to correct it. There will be no burning at the stake in the middle of the airport, I promise!

I’ve had my share of blunders with airport security (in multiple countries) and came out completely unscathed every time. Even that time I tried to bring a conch shell from Antigua and Barbuda through customs, they simply rolled their eyes, showed me the ways in which I could use it as a weapon, confiscated it, and we all moved on with our lives!

You can always go to the official TSA website (which is actually pretty thorough and easy to follow) to look through all of the policies and guidelines, but I also compiled a simple, pocket-guide version of the information listed on the TSA website for you.

What Can You NOT Bring On a Plane?

Things that you should not pack anywhere in your luggage, pockets, or even leave the house with on the way to the airport are:

• Alcoholic beverages over 140 proof
• Bang snaps (you know the little popper fireworks kids throw at the ground at 4th of July)
• Bear bangers (flare devices used to scare bears away)
• Bear spray
• Blasting caps (used to detonate explosives. pretty self explanatory there)
• Butane
• Chlorine
• CO2 Cartridges
• Cooking Spray
• Dynamite
• Engine-powered equipment w/ residual fuel (such as a chainsaw)
• English Christmas Crackers (sorry my British friends, you can buy them in the States though)!
• Fertilizer
• Fire Extinguishers or other compressed gas
• Firecrackers or any other Firework
• Flammable Liquids, Gels, Aerosols or Paints
• Flare Guns or Flares of any kind
• Fuel of any kind
• Gas torches
• Gun Powder
• Hand grenades
• Lighter fluid
• Lighters of any kind
• Liquid Bleach
• Matches
• Party Poppers
• Propane
• Realistic Replicas of Explosives (no 3D printouts of dynamite please)!
• Realistic Replicas of Incendiaries (no 3D printouts of bombs either)
• Recreational Oxygen
• Rocket Launchers
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (THIS IS A BIG ONE: banned due to serious safety concerns w/ the battery)
• Compressed Gas Cartridges
• Spillable Batteries (except in wheelchairs)
• Spray Paint or Starch
• Tear Gas
• Turpentine and Paint Thinner

This is all pretty self-explanatory, no?

For What Do I Need Special Permission to Bring on the Plane?

There are many items that you can’t bring on the plane in your carry-on, but can put in checked luggage with special permission.

Special permission means making it clear to TSA upfront that you have the item, and allowing them to do any additional screening they require, as well as any further containment procedures that they require.

Items that you should disclose to TSA for further instructions are:

• Aerosol Insecticide
• Air Mattresses w/ a built-in pump
• Airbrush Machines
• Alcoholic beverages
• Ammunition
• Baby formula
• Battery-powered wheelchairs and mobility devices
• BB Guns
• Non-infectious biological specimens
• Blender
• Breast milk
• Bug Repellent
• Butane Curling irons
• Camp Stoves
• Canned food
• Car Parts
• Cheese
• Liquid chocolate
• Cigar cutters
• CO2 Cartridge for life vest
• Liquid coffee
• Compressed air guns
• Crampons
• Cremated Remains
• Curling irons
• Electric fans
• Electronic cigarettes and vaping devices
• Electronic toothbrushes (w/ lithium-ion batteries)
• EPIRB Radiobeacons
• External Medical Devices
• Firearms
• Freezer packs
• Fresh fruits and veggies
• Fresh meat and seafood
• Frozen food
• Fuel cells
• Gel ice packs
• Hair straighteners
• Heated jackets and sweaters
• Ice
• Inhalers
• Insulin pumps and glucose monitors
• Insulin supplies
• Juice for babies
• Lighters
• Liquid nitrogen in a dry shipper
• Lithium-ion batteries
• Makeup remover
• Maple syrup
• Medical marijuana
• Medical thermometers (mercury)
• Medically necessary personal oxygen
• Liquid medications
• Mixer
• MREs
• Multi-tools
• Musical instruments
• Nail polish and remover
• Nebulizers
• Non-spillable wet batteries
• Oils and vinegars
• Parachutes
• Guns and firearm parts
• Peanut butter
• Pellet guns
• Permeation devices
• Wet pet food
• Portable oxygen concentrators
• Pots and pans
• Power tools
• Salad dressing
• Salsa and sauces
• Scissors
• Shell casings
• Skateboards
• Small pets
• Soap
• Soda
• Soups
• Tattoo guns and inks
• TENS unit
• Tent poles
• Tools
• Toy guns and weapons
• Umbrellas
• Syringes (used or unused)
• Vacuum-sealed bags
• Wedding dress
• Yogurt

What is the Policy on All Other Toiletry Items?

If you are bringing a toiletry item on the plane in your carry-on that is not listed above, there is one rule that you need to follow.

The rule that you need to remember is 3.4 ounces or less ONLY! Otherwise, stick it in your checked luggage. If your bottle of lotion is 3.5 ounces, it will not be allowed on the plane in your carry-on. Period! You can buy blank or labeled 3.4 oz bottles for this exact purpose (like these), to store all your favorite beauty and bath items.

You must also be able to store any of these items in ONE quart-sized Ziploc bag per person per carry-on. So, if you know how big a quart-sized Ziploc bag is, you know that’s not a lot of room. Honestly though, there isn’t going to be much in the way of beauty products that you need on the plane with you.

Follow the 3-1-1 Rule:

• Each container must be 3.4 oz or less.
• All containers must fit into one quart-sized Ziploc bag.
• Only one quart-sized Ziploc bag per passenger.

I personally store most of my toiletry items in my checked luggage. I also secure my toiletry items in sealed Ziploc bags, in case anythings leaks or explodes (it happens)!

TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry

When you are making your way through the airport, you may see multiple signs for both “TSA PreCheck” and “Global Entry.” You may also think that neither of these apply to you, but both of them can benefit you if you want them to.

One thing that both of these services offer is faster screening at the airport. What sets them apart is that TSA PreCheck applies to screening at domestic airports within the United States, and Global Entry applies to customs screening at domestic airports when coming back to the U.S from international locations.

The other perk of Global Entry? It includes TSA PreCheck! So with Global Entry, you are essentially getting a two-for-one deal.

The big differentiator is the price. The price of TSA PreCheck is $78 for five years enrollment. The price of Global Entry is $120 for five years enrollment.

The one you choose is going to be based on what kind of traveler you are. Do you go to Florida every summer, and that’s about it? Then choose TSA PreCheck. Do you like to sprinkle in a Mexico or Puerto Rico trip every year? Then Global Entry is the way to go!

How Do You Apply?

Both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry require a lengthy application process, and for good reason! The whole point of both of these programs is to have already screened every individual ahead of time, and to already have the maximum amount of information on file of these individuals AHEAD of time. Which is why these individuals get to enjoy shorter lines and less screening at the airport.

For TSA PreCheck, you will fill out an application online and schedule an appointment with an enrollment center to do a background check and fingerprinting. At times, the wait for an enrollment center appointment can take months. Assuming everything goes well, you will receive a Known Traveler Number.

For Global Entry, the process is similar to TSA PreCheck. You create a Trusted Traveler Programs account online, then fill out an application, and schedule an appointment at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. Again, assuming that all goes well, you will get a Known Traveler Number. If not, that application fee is not refundable, so make sure you are providing accurate information.

Travel Insurance

Up until 2018, which was my first international flight ever, I didn’t even know about travel insurance! I had never heard of it, and I honestly didn’t know anyone else that had it. Granted, I had only ever gone on road trips within the United States, to assumingly innocent destinations with no real danger. These days however, it would be a mistake to assume any place is without its dangers!

Now that I do go on international trips more often, I always secure travel insurance!

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

Insurance is complicated enough without having to consider it for travel. So I’ll simply break down what travel insurance can cover:

• Trip Cancellation due to unforeseen events
• Medical Expenses, because shit happens!
• Emergency Medical Evacuation, because when shit happens overseas, you may not be near the best medical facilities.
• Rental Car Damage
• Lost and Stolen Belongings & Baggage
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment- As with life insurance, this is not a benefit for you personally, but for your loved ones.

These are all things that can happen to anyone at any time! Especially when you think about how everything went down with COVID, these are things that can definitely happen to YOU!

How to Choose a Travel Insurance Plan

Travel Insurance can be pretty versatile. Some of the choices you can make:

• Single-Use Plan or Annual Plan
• Individual or Family Plan
• Can I add extras to the plan?
• Does my travel credit card already have me covered?

Travel Insurance via Credit Card

Some travel credit cards will provide full-boat travel insurance as a perk, while others will claim to offer travel insurance but it only covers a few things. Be sure to do your research and ask a representative how you are covered, instead of being surprised in the wrong place.

The Top Reasons People Get Travel Insurance

You may be thinking that you would be better off not wasting your money and taking chances. All of us are guilty of that at some point in our lives. While travel insurance is totally optional, I would not consider it optional for myself. Here are the top reasons that people believe in travel insurance:

• Financial Protection- Every one of us knows how costly medical care is with or without health insurance! Now imagine having to seek medical care in another country for which you have no health insurance or having to be medically evacuated! You could very likely be bankrupted! I’m not kidding. That is a huge risk.
• Peace of Mind- Do you get sick often? Does it always seem like things pop up? Does work always throw little surprises on you? These are all things you can tackle with the help of trip cancellation. It sucks to have to cancel your trip, but it sucks even more to not get your money back and having nothing to show for it!
• Baggage- Baggage gets lost. Baggage gets stolen. Baggage gets delayed or put on the wrong plane. Baggage flies out of your trunk because you forgot to shut the trunk. No matter what happens, it’s likely to happen to you at some point. Travel insurance can alleviate some of this pain. Also, I highly recommend investing in a few Apple AirTags!

Safety Wing Travel Insurance

I personally choose Safety Wing for all of my travel insurance needs. I like how versatile it is. You can choose to get basic travel insurance by the month, or you for you digital nomads and expats, you can get a complete travel and health insurance package by the month.

Check it out for yourself!

Another good option would be World Nomads Travel Insurance!

Those are my answers to your most frequent travel-related questions so far!

If you have a travel-related question that you would like me to answer or clarify, feel free to drop it in the comments below or use the contact form to email me.

I truly enjoy doing my own research for you guys and sharing my own travel experiences! 

For more travel tips, check out the Travel Tips archive here.