The last hurdles of International Travel

AIRLINES HUB OF TRINIDAD & TABAGO

Well after a few restless nites over the last few weeks we believe that we have solved a myriad of problems on our trip south that popped up as we made final preparations to go sail the Caribbean.

WHERE TO BEGIN:

 Well just a few weeks ago as we were checking out our Itinerary and our documents we noticed the first problem. We had purchased our tickets flight's thru Expedia using Amanda's current married name, but noticed that it did not match her maiden name on her passport. After hours on the phone with the airlines and Expedia's customer service rep's in India or wherever we were told that the names had to match to be allowed to check into our destination country. Apparently the receiving country could refuse her entry and fine the airline some $30k for bringing her there (Seemingly a quick way for a poor government to make some money at our expense) and return us back to the states.

U.S. PASSPORT

 So after many more hours involved we were finally able to change her name with the airline back to her maiden name so customs and immigration would be happy as there was not enough time before the trip to get her passport name changed. We decided that since not really trusting the word of the foreign airlines customer service on this important matter we decided to check out with American Airlines at our departure airport. When we asked for copy's of our actual tickets we found out the name had not been changed only internal notes were made of the discrepancy. We were somewhat relieved after speaking to a customs officer at the airport that as long as she brought substantiating documents such as birth certificates and marriage license we would be all right. Wow what a relief.



YELLOW FEVER MAP



THE NEXT BIG PROBLEM - Immunization for entry clearance.

 When making our travel arrangements to get to Grenada we found that there was no direct flights from Arizona to get there. So we decided (without proper research) to not only take the flight from Miami to Grenada via Trinidad and Tobago but to leave a few days earlier and stay there for a day to see that country as well. We booked a nice hotel in Port of Spain and looked forward to taking in the sites there before we got to the sailboat.

 Well we just discovered a major problem while looking thru the U.S. State Dept traveler's information website. Apparently, without a Yellow Fever Vaccination we would not be allowed in Grenada having spent more then 12 hours in an infected country like Trinidad. We also found out there was not enough time to get a doctor to prescribe a vaccination and to get the shot ordered at a special clinic also taking into account the vaccine takes 10 days after the shot to be effective. This would not be enough time and could spell disaster for our trip plans.

TYPICAL ISLAND TRANSIT

We were facing a big dilemma. There were not many favorable options . We could use our flight to Miami and get a hotel there for a night then book a direct flight the next day to Grenada and be there still a day earlier then we had planned, or get the airline to route us thru some other country and hopefully the change fee would be less expensive. After hours on the phone again first with Expedia and then the airline direct (although we would be traveling American, Caribbean and Liat Airlines) we were told that Expedia had made the tickets thru Caribbean Airlines and they were demanding that with any changes at least one leg of our trip included there airline. This left us no other option but to travel to Trinidad as that was there hub and the only way to get to Grenada.

PIARCO AIRPORT, TRINIDAD



Finally after speaking with an very nice and understanding Trinidadian customer service rep of Caribbean Airlines we made a change in plans to keep our original plans with the exception of leaving Trinidad for Grenada a day earlier so as to be in the country less then 12 hours eliminating the need for vaccination. Thanks to him we were able to utilize at least one night of our booked hotel stay in Trinidad and see a little of that country before continuing on to Grenada.

SAINT GEORGE'S GRENADA

THE MORAL OF THE STORY:

 So in the end at looks right now that we have  hopefully averted a complete disaster. We now can look forward to our trip plans with less stress. As future world travelers we are getting a real taste of customs and immigration rules, quarantine procedures and learning to sail all in one trip. Certainly more then we initially had bargained for. This was a good experience in the level of preparedness we will need to travel the world by cruising sailboat.

NEXT STOP SAILING GRENADA AND THE GRENADINES