New - Budapest and EES  

I have been to Budapest in the past, however, leaving not coming in and at the tail end of a trip. A Viking guest just a few days ago came in to Budapest at the beginning of a trip and had this to say about off boarding and the EES and customs wait, I wanted people to be aware of this time lag so decided to post it. Plus, a major and important note to post especially with all recent changes in travel and the possibility you may be waiting in lines longer in some places- before getting OFF the plane...remember the restroom break!! It could be very important.

"We landed in Budapest (direct from Philadelphia, USA) Wednesday morning around 7am. Took us 3 hours to get through the non-EU citizen line) EES & customs. The first hour we spent standing in a hallway. Last 2 hours were in a winding queue in a large, very hot room. There is a bathroom in that big room but hard to get to from the queue. Go to the powder room, etc before you get off the plane."

 

Travel Tiips and/or Requirements change all the time. This page tries to keep up with them all, from new EU Requirements to just common sense travel. Some are timely relevant options and choices - others are pertaining to cigarette do's and don't in Mexico. You never know..

PASSPORT INFORMATION (AGAIN) 

Passport PSA: Unofficial novelty or souvenir stamps may seem fun, but they are NOT allowed in your U.S. passport and may cause problems when you travel. Stamp them in a notebook or journal instead!  

Do not write or add markings to any passport pages other than your signature or emergency contact information. Learn more at travel.state.gov/new

ROOM VIEW CHOICES - this can be for either a cruise or a resort, something to remember Room views actually, the description is: View of the river side of the resort (facing in towards the chapel). View of the river itself is not guaranteed. Unfortunately a “river suite” does not actually mean a river view. Just that you could be closer to a river or maybe have a view.

I constantly have to correct people on this because they use the term river view, ocean view or garden view, when it's river suite or garden suite, OR ocean view when a resort. This isn't a view, it's a location on property. Meaning you are facing the river you won't necessarily have a view of the river.  That is a river suite.  OR facing the Ocean you won't necessarily have a view of the ocean - some resorts it could be a parking lot on the ocean side. It's  PROPERTY LOCATION, whether a ship or a resort..

IMMIGRATION or CUSTOMS - MEXICO:  immigration, because there is no going through customs, you just walk through an area that most people are not stopped in. they have gotten it to where there is almost no wait time now. less than 20 minutes I would say for sure

This is one of those "Did you Know" subjects: (This article was written by Travel & Leisure in 2025 and very possibly some may have changed. I tell ALL my clients to have 6 months of validity on their passports when they return home.)

Passport at Time of Entry

Don’t let an expired passport ruin your travel plans: These countries require a valid passport upon arrival and for the duration of your stay. Keep in mind that some destinations may also have additional entry requirements, so it’s essential to check the latest guidelines before you go. For example, as of this year, the United Kingdom requires U.S. travelers to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival. In Japan, U.S. citizens can visit for up to 90 days without a visa, but they must show proof of an onward or return ticket upon entry. Plus EES is in full force as of April 10. ETIAS will be in effect most likely by October of 2026.

Anguilla,Aruba, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Cayman Islands (British Overseas Territory), Colombia (though the U.S. Department of State recommends six months' validity), Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic,  Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, United Kingdom, 

APRIL 10  EES  (Europe)   The European Union’s new digital Entry/Exit System launched on April 10 across the 29-country Schengen Area. Swipe to find out what travelers heading to Europe should know about the new program, and share this with your clients who are planning to go across the pond! 

Purchasing and Shipping

 

IF you are purchasing items that you are shipping home - this might be helpful to remember. Actually this happened in Italy but it could have been elswhere.

To anyone from the U.S. keep in mind if you ship your beautiful ceramic finds (I suggest La Bacheca in Praiano) that you will have to pay a tariff. The UPS person try to deliver and was asking for a money order or a check. To the client this was confusing and concerning at first. Turns out if you have the tracking number you can pay this tariff online on the UPS website so you don’t have to do a check or money order!

Connection Times- Amsterdam (however, this hold for any major European airport)

Recommended Connection Time
A minimum of 90 minutes to 2 hours (actually I do MINIMUM 2 1/2 to 3 hours, and that was before the new digital screening) is generally recommended for international connections at AMS. This allows enough time to go from your arriving gate to your departure gate comfortably, including any security or passport checks.

What to Expect During Your Connection
Since you’re connecting from a gateway (within Europe) to an international flight (to home gateway), you will typically have to:
Pass through a security screening before your transatlantic flight, even if you are already in the Schengen area.

Clear passport control/immigration leaving the Schengen Zone, since the US is outside Schengen.

European Travel Requirements: 

ETIAS until later in year. (October is the latest word).  European gates/countries:  It’s EET that is done upon arrival. 
For instance: Amsterdam (AMS) 18March and immigration was in person.  If you go through and are automated:  Step one gets you a number, 1 or 2. Depending on that number you either go through automated or not. The lines were long. Don't try to do automated if that's not what you got, they'll make you go to the other side.

UK: DIfferent system - ask me for the code and I will send. It is approximately $18 and is good for 2 years. You can do it online and is quick. (Keep a copy of the email with your passport just in case)

3/24/26  Mexico Travel: Remember this: no vaping or E cigarettes allowed in Mexico as well as 10 packs allowed per traveller. 

3/29/26  Good tip to pass on... get an eSim before leaving the states. Clients got a Nomad eSim and it has really come in handy. Not everyplace has WiFi. Communication for transportation, finding lodging and restaurants is not readily available. The eSim saves so much time and helps you communicate if you do not speak the language of the country you are going to.