According to Roger Dow, President & CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, millions of global citizens are traveling abroad each year.  In the U.S., as children get out of school, I know many people who are preparing for international vacations.  I thought this might be a good time to give some protocol pointers for international travel.

We usually spend our travel planning energy on the big stuff: passports, visas, airline tickets, etc.  Sometimes, we forget there are day-to-day details that can make or break a trip, especially when we're away from all that is familiar to us.  I was reminded of this when talking to a Turkish friend, who is planning to bring his family to the U.S. this summer. His 10 year old daughter was excited about going to Disney World, but concerned about the food here.  Her dad has advised her that the hotels wouldn't have olives and cheese for breakfast.  His wife had a list of shops and outlets she wanted to visit, where she could get good deals.  My friend was also trying to get his daughter to practice her English with native speakers before the trip.

My friend is doing all of the right things by preparing himself and his family to be aware of some of the cultural differences they might encounter and to think of ways they will manage them. How many of us are as prepared?  Below are some of my travel tips:

1. Read the relevant book(s) from the Culture Shock or Culture Smart series.

2. Review the State Department Background Notes/Country Fact Sheets.

3. Do an Internet search for country information:  BBC country reports, CIA, the country's embassy or tourism office, even Wikipedia.

4.  Have the children set up a Google alert for their  specific interests and the country, so they start receiving relevant news a month or two before the trip. They'll arrive with more knowledge and a deeper sense of connection to the place you're visiting. 

4. Eat at a restaurant that serves food from the country you plan to visit.  This is especially important preparation for children.  If you're going to Asia, learn how to use chopsticks.   

5. Register with the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). You will receive alerts notifying you of any problems in that country. During a recent trip to Turkey, I received a notice of demonstration in Instanbul, so I knew what areas to avoid. 

6. Have the address of the U.S. consulate or embassy in the area where you will be staying, in case of emergency. 

7. Have copies of your passport and visa (if applicable) packed separately and with a friend or family member at home, in case the original is stolen.

8. Determine whether you need travel insurance.

9. Notify your credit card companies what countries you will be traveling to...and try to use a credit card that doesn't charge a foreign exchange transaction fee.

10. Know your pin number if you plan to use ATM machines.  Note that while these may be very convenient, some come with hefty fees.  In Turkey, it was 3%.

11. Pack an appropriate electrical converter.

12.  Buy international phone coverage, if needed, to minimize the cost of roaming.  For extended stays, you may want to buy a local phone. This article has some useful guidance on taking your cell phone abroad.  

13. If you'll have a smart phone along, download useful apps: Itranslate, Currency+, UnitConvertLT, WorldMate, TripAdvisor, TripCase, and Ispeak are some to consider.  

14. Learn some basic words and phrases in the local language: good morning, please, thank you, how are you...

15.  Be patient and flexible.  Not everything will go as planned, and things are different in other countries.  That's why we go! 

16. Relax, smile, and try to take each opportunity to learn about the new culture you are experiencing.

If you are traveling internationally, I encourage you to do a little homework on the country and people, you will find that it will make for a much more rewarding trip. 

Safe Travels,

Sonia Garza-Monarchi 

Garza Protocol Associates, LLC.

Ask the Protocol Lady: 

What is the polite thing to do when you enter a store in another country?  

While shopping customs differ in every country, in general, when you are abroad, you should always greet the salesperson upon entering a shop or boutique.  For example in France, say "Bonjour Madame/Monsieur," and smile or nod to the salesperson.   Typically, you will engage in a few pleasantries before getting down to business.  This applies even if you're "just looking." In some Middle Eastern countries, be prepared to have a glass of hot tea.  In Turkey, when I was looking at rugs I was often offered  a choice of beverages: water, hot tea, or rake (a traditional licorice-based alcoholic drink).

Know when and where it's appropriate to bargain.  Research this before you go, perhaps by asking a friend or colleague from the country.  You can also ask the hotel concierge; just be careful, if he's also making the shop recommendations.  If you're going to make a major purchase like rugs, gold, or precious stones it's better to know something about the items in advance and check prices back home.  You can find almost anything on the Internet, so if nothing else do an Internet search before you commit to a big expenditure.  It's easy to get carried away when you're away from home, and fall in love with, for example,  that perfect collector's piece of pottery.  Remember, "caveat emptor" applies everywhere.

One more note on international shopping, and that is a simple reminder about our global market.  In Turkey I was considering buying a lovely necklace with intricate craftsmanship.  When I asked where it was from the response was India.  Others found that their "Turkish" rugs were in fact from Afghanistan.  The point of origin of an object should not keep you from buying something you really like.  However, you should ask about this and be sure what you're getting, if you're looking for something authentic to the country, or paying a premium based on authenticity.  Today, whether you buy them at a Turkish bazaar, an African market,  or a beach in the Caribbean, many items are made in China, India, Pakistan...  It's globalization at work.

If the purchase is to be shipped home, make sure the store has extensive experience in this area.  Smaller shops may not be equipped to handle shipping your purchases.  Then there are always surprises: for example, a tile fountain I bought in Spain was rejected by U.S. Customs because of the type of wood used to make the shipping crate.  On another occasion, we had paid a significant additional shipping charge for a traditional Indian swing and were told it would be delivered to us in Houston. However, it ended up in New York, where we were asked to pay an additional $500 for shipping and handling to get it to us. Fortunately, our credit card company disputed the charge, and we eventually canceled the entire transaction.  Unfortunately, that meant I never got my lovely Indian swing.

Always photograph items to be shipped.  You may also be asked to sign the piece somewhere.  This is suppose to help ensure that the piece isn't switched and you actually receive the piece you bought.  Ask how long it will take to receive, and follow-up if it has not arrived within a reasonable time frame.

When you're done looking or shopping, make sure you have your receipt and the store's business card.  Currently U.S. citizens and permanent residents are entitled to bring in $800 worth of purchases duty free, and you'll need receipts to show what you spent.  Once the transaction is completed, thank the salesperson.

Happy Shopping!

 The Protocol Lady

Companies which invest in business travel are more successful than those which cut back on travel budgets, according to new research.

Just as important as making the trip and  doing business in person is being prepared with cultural knowledge and protocol skills.  This maximizes the benefit of the travel expenditures and leads to greater success in the long term.  For example, one of my clients was sending a significant number of senior executives and staff to an international conference in Europe, where they would be hosting clients and government officials from countries all around the world. In addition to advising on protocol matters for certain key events, I was asked to provide a briefing and training to better prepare the team for their time with these key individuals.  My client felt the conference was more successful than it might have been because they took the time to carefully prepare before they hopped on a plane.  

Garza Protocol Associates can provide briefings, trainings and planning assistance for you or your staff when you're ready to travel.  We'll give you the tools to feel confident and apply cultural, protocol, and etiquette best business practices so that your trip is a success.