Travel Resources

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We compiled this list of online resources that you may find helpful during your travel preparations. Be sure to read our Travel Tips and suggestions. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Destination Information

Passports and Visas. This is the official U.S. Department of State website where you will find a variety of information about renewing or getting a U.S. passport, and visa requirements. There is also lots more information about traveling. Note: many countries require that your passport is valid for six months past your travel date.

Country Specific Information is available from the U.S. Department of State website. These pages include such information as location of the US embassy or consulate, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, and security information.

Travelers' Health section of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has lots of information about travel notices, vaccinations, insect protection, safe eating and drinking, and health information about specific destinations.

Medline Plus is a service of the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. This web site contains lots of information about travel and health from peer reviewed journals and prominent organizaions.

The Weather Channel will let you search for the current weather of cities all over the world.

Geology.com has a very nice map collection for different countries around the world, both political maps and satellite images.

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Gear

Electric power and sockets. Find descriptions and pictures of electric sockets used throughout the world. Use this to pack the right voltage converter and plug adapter.

Binocular recommendations from Doug Cheeseman. Good binoculars will really enhance your experience, especially if you will be looking at birds.

Digital Storage recommendations for your photographs from Doug Cheeseman.

Converters

Time converter. Convert time between two cities from around the world.

Currency converter. Convert currencies between over 164 countries using the OANDA daily rate.

Airline and airport codes. Descipher the airport and airline codes you find on your airline tickets.

International Phone Codes. Look up the country codes and instructions you need to use to phone between two countries.

Travel Support

Travel Insurance. There are many types of travel insurance, including emergency medical insurance and trip cancellation insurance. Be sure to compare benefits and exclusions carefully so you will purchase the policy that you desire and need. Read our recommendations and requirements.

Travel Tips and suggestions from our long experience and our travelmates.

US Airport Security. Read the latest regulations from the Transportation Security Administration.

Restricted Items. Read about items that are prohibited and restricted from bringing into the US from the US Customs and Border Patrol (CPB), including cultural objects, wildlife parts, food, plants, medication, and embargoed goods.

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Our Favorite People and Places

Akeena Solar is a trusted solar installer located in the Bay Area, California, with thousands of satisfied customers. Their mission is to help customers reduce or eliminate their electric bills with the award-winning Andalay system—the most reliable solar power system on the market today. Doug and Gail Cheeseman should know, they have installed solar power at their home office.

Bhutan Birding and Heritage Travels is owned by Hishey Tshering who is also the resident guide during our unique Bhutan tour. They have extensive knowledge and experience with the unique natural heritage of Bhutan. Their speciality is offering both nature and cultural tours customized for travelers from all over the world.

Birding Adventures Birding Adventures is the first birding TV program that focuses on destination and adventure bird-watching. Explore the best exotic birding destinations on the planet; the most unusual, rare and highly sought after bird species; amazing cultures and wildlife. Join their informative, passionate - and sometimes crazy! - host, James Currie, on a unique adventure.

Birds In My Yard Larry and Briditte Jordan have always been in love with the natural beauty and peace that birds bring into our lives. They want to share that peace with everyone in the hope that it will bring people more in touch with nature and themselves. Their website has lots of information about birds and birdwatching, and sells supplies to enhance your experience with nature and the world around you.

Kiwi Wildlife Tours NZ has a dedicated team who shares a passion for wildlife and birds in New Zealand, the South Pacific, and Australia. We were lucky to have Karen Baird and Chris Gaskin lead our past tour extension in New Zealand, gathering rave reviews from our clients.

Let's Go Birding was founded by Lisa Myers, who also worked at Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris. Lisa leads tours to California 's birding hot spots providing opportunities for the beginning and intermediate adult birder to go birding in a non-intimidating atmosphere. Along with having a lot of fun, people get to visit incredible places while increasing their birding skill level.

Live to 100 is a very popular healthy, green and conscious living celebration that includes 225 exhibitors, more than 70 workshops and speakers plus live entertainment, films and interactive events. Join them on February 20-21, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel San Francisco Airport in Burlingame, CA, and you'll vastly increase your knowledge of how to extend your life and how to live to your full potential at any age.

Moody's Namena Resort is an environmentally friendly private island getaway in Fiji that offers offers scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, and honeymoon vacations with Fijian bure accommodation. This secluded paradise in the South Pacific has white sand beaches as well as hiking trails through tropical forest.

Patagonia River Guides Patagonia River Guides is a full service fly fishing company based in Esquel, Argentina, a small town in the Andes Mountains. Their fly fishing program is designed not only for anglers that come primarily to fish, but also for discriminating anglers wanting the fishing trip of a lifetime while also enjoying the beauty, culture, people, and experiences of Patagonia Argentina.

Rod Planck Photography Offers nature photography seminars and workshops throughout the United States. Rod has over 25 years of photography experience, writing instructional articles in popular magazines and publishing several photography books. His photos appear in many coffee table books and magazines. Although his photographs have been published widely, his inspiration for making beautiful images has always been purely non-commercial and springs forth from his experiences in the field. Rod's wife, Marlene, assists and manages their successful photograhy business, and is also a staunch nature-lover. They have both been an important part of all our Antarctica expeditions.

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Updated in November 2009

All material © Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris.
All photos © Doug or Ted Cheeseman, unless otherwise credited.
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