Practical advice from someone who books trips for a living.

Before you book

• Check your passport early. Most countries require six months of validity past your return date. Renewals are currently taking 6–8 weeks routine, 2–3 weeks expedited.
• Plan around your departure airport. Bismarck (BIS), Fargo (FAR), Grand Forks (GFK) and Minneapolis (MSP) all have different international connection options — itinerary timing matters.
• Book early for January–March warm-weather trips. Midwest demand peaks then, and the best rooms book six months out.
• Build in a connection buffer. When weather can shut down a regional airport, we plan an overnight in your gateway city for international departures.

Airport & flight day

• Get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry — Global Entry includes PreCheck and is worth it if you'll fly internationally even once a year.
• Make sure your driver's license is REAL ID compliant for domestic flights, or bring your passport.
• Carry on a change of clothes, medications, and chargers — checked bags miss connections, especially through MSP in winter.
• Download your airline's app before you leave for the airport. Rebooking from your phone beats a service-desk line every time.

Packing

• Beach & resort: Two swimsuits, one nicer dinner outfit per three days, reef-safe sunscreen, a packable hat.
• Alaska & cruise: Layers — base layer, fleece, waterproof shell. Binoculars for wildlife days. One smart-casual outfit for dining.
• Europe: Comfortable walking shoes already broken in, a crossbody bag that zips, a power adapter (Type C/E for most of mainland Europe, Type G for the UK).
• River cruises: Smart-casual at dinner, no formal nights. Bring a foldable day bag for excursions.

What to expect on a cruise

• You can usually board around noon on embarkation day, even though your cabin may not be ready until later.
• Tipping is typically added daily to your shipboard account ($16–$20 per person per day) — we'll walk you through it.
• Specialty restaurants book up fast. We make reservations for you the day they open.
• Phone plans: turn off cellular data on the ship and use Wi-Fi packages or wait until port.

Money & phones abroad

• Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Capital One Venture and Chase Sapphire are common options.
• Notify your bank of travel dates, or set a travel notice in the app.
• For phones: Verizon and AT&T both offer ~$10/day international plans. T-Mobile includes international data on most plans.

Health & safety

• Carry medications in original bottles in your carry-on, with a written list of what they are.
• Check the CDC's destination page before international trips for any recommended vaccines.
• We strongly recommend travel insurance for almost every trip.

The small things that matter

• Photograph your passport, ID and credit cards and email them to yourself.
• Pack a few zip-top bags. Always useful, never expected.
• Keep one full day at the start of your trip with no agenda — jet lag is real.