On Arrival

YOU’RE ALMOST THERE! You’ve arrived at your destination, and now all you need to do is clear customs and immigration, collect your bags and be on your way!

IMMIGRATION

It is the job of immigration officials to check that you are who you say you are, and to determine if you should be allowed entry into their country. If they are intimidating, that’s likely intentional, so take a deep breath and don’t take their tone personally. Answer questions simply and honestly, and allow them to do their job.

CUSTOMS

My best and only advice when it comes to clearing customs is: declare, declare, declare. There is absolutely no advantage to hiding and lying about your purchases just to save a few dollars. Getting caught and having to pay the penalty is far worse. A record will be kept of your infractions, meaning that you will be flagged and may undergo more detailed inspections in the future. Be honest, and you’ll find the customs agents are generally very reasonable.

MISSING LUGGAGE

It’s every traveller’s worst nightmare: landing at your destination only to find your luggage is missing. I’m happy to say that with all of the miles I have flown I have lost my luggage only twice, and in both cases I was fortunate to have it recovered quickly. I think that I have been lucky with my luggage in part because I observe a couple of hard-and-fast rules. I always go to the airport early to check in—usually two hours ahead, and sometimes more. And I always leave plenty of time between connecting flights, because it gives baggage handlers enough time to transfer bags.

But what should you do if it does happen? First, report your loss to the airline’s baggage service counter before you leave the airport. Make sure you have your baggage-claim receipt, and be prepared to give a detailed description of your luggage. If you have a photo, even better. In return you’ll be given a file number or telephone number to track the status of the search. Usually lost luggage is located and returned within 24 hours.

MEETING AT THE AIRPORT

There is great joy and excitement in meeting loved ones at the airport. For a problem-free reunion, be sure to prepare ahead of time. Get the travellers’ flight details, and be sure to share cellphone numbers in case you have trouble finding each other. Set up a Plan B so that if you are unexpectedly unable to meet they will know what to do. On the day of the flight, check with the airport or airline to ensure the flight is on time. When you meet, have a luggage trolley ready. And be prepared for your travel-weary loved ones to want to unpack and get settled in before you plan a night on the town.

TRANSPORT TO YOUR ACCOMMODATION

When you are planning your trip, it’s important to determine ahead of time how you are going to get to your accommodation. Whether you choose a car service, a taxi, car rental or public transit, do your research, and find out the price in advance so there won’t be any surprises.

BUTLER’S TIP: CAR RENTAL

Think about what your needs are and what your budget is. This will help you decide what kind and what size of car you want to rent.

Always book ahead of time; never leave it to the last minute in the hopes of a better deal, because selection will usually be much more limited.

Car insurance is very important! You may have a credit card that will give you coverage, but check the fine print to make sure it will be enough. Personally, this is one area I won’t scrimp on, because you never want to be short on collision or liability insurance.