Before You Depart

Checklist – Considerations for the Journey To/From Corsica, France
 

As you prepare for this exciting adventure, we know many of you have traveled extensively and, for some, it may have been a while since you’ve traveled internationally or possibly it’s your first time. Our intention is to provide helpful hints/tips.

• Your passport - www.travel.state.gov

• Prepaid phone card – In the event your cell phone doesn’t operate internationally or you don’t wish to incur international cell phone charges, you may wish to purchase a prepaid phone card before leaving the US. If you purchase a pre-paid card, obtain the access codes required to use the card while in France or other countries you may be connecting through.
• Cell phone accessories – Consider packing your cell phone charger in your carry-on luggage so you have access to it before leaving the US and upon re-entering the US.
• Sun glasses, sun tan lotion and swim wear
• Pillow for the international flight
• Leave a copy of your passport and itinerary with your family/friends before departing
• Converting US Dollars to Euros prior to leaving the US – AAA and banks are resources to convert US Dollars to Euros. If you wait to convert USD to Euros while in France, conversion fees may be higher and banks are not open on the weekends in Corsica.
• Prescription or over-the-counter medications
• Melatonin or Jet Zone – Both can be purchased at Whole Foods or online and some people find these products to be useful over-the-counter meds to help adjust to the varying time zones.
• Camera, memory card/film, umbrella, preferred toiletries, alarm clock
• Travel converters – we recommend Brookstone’s 7 piece converter kit with case. Also, travel iron information is on the link. http://www.brookstone.com/search/search.asp?N=0&act=A30&search_type=search&Ntk=product&cmid=hdr_search&cm_re=B_Hdr*Search*N/A&Ntt=power converters&D=power converters&search_words=power converters
• Snacks - cans of nuts/protein bars travel well and curb the munchies
• French phrase book – recommendation is listed on our Resources – Bookshelf link
• Credit Cards – consider leaving a copy, front and back, of your credit cards at home and consider contacting your credit card companies to advise them you will be out of the country – where and for how long. There have been times when credit card companies have stopped foreign purchases until they were notified that the card holder was making the purchase.
• International Driver’s Permit – Obtain from AAA if you plan to rent/drive a car while in France.
• Emergency contact card in your wallet – Name and phone number of the person/people to be contacted in the event of an emergency.
• Luggage weight – Some planes to Ajaccio are not jets; therefore, the carriers weigh luggage frequently. The weight provisions will be listed on your ticket information. If for some reason your luggage doesn’t make the final flight, please file a delayed/lost luggage claim before leaving the airport and obtain a copy of the claim form for follow-up. The carrier will need the following information:

  Hotel where you are staying: Hotel Les Roches Rouges, Piana, Corsica, France Phone # (dialing while in France): 0 495 27 81 81

• Health/medical insurance card and if travel interruption insurance is purchased for your trip, you will receive a contact sheet with information about how to file claims from the travel insurance company. We encourage you to take the contact sheet with you.