Questions about travel

Frequently Asked Questions about Outbound Travel

1. How many days in advance should I sign up for an outbound tour?

Answer: In principle, if you don’t have a passport, you should arrive at least 20 days in advance. If you have a passport, please register as early as possible to ensure your seat.

2. How many days does it take to apply for a passport and what information do I need to prepare? What is the procedure for applying for a passport?

Answer: For details, please refer to the "Instructions for Applying for a Five-Year Private Passport".

The application procedures are roughly as follows:

1) People with Shanghai household registration should bring their ID card, household register and 5 photos of the specifications to No. 333 Wusong Road, Shanghai to apply for the application.

2) It can be collected after 10 working days.

3) If you have registered residence in other places, you need to go back to the place of residence to apply for a passport.

3． What does an outbound travel package generally include and what does not include?

Answer: Shanghai Airlines International Travel Service has given you the most thorough consideration.

1) Contents included in the quotation include: Shanghai round-trip international air tickets, overseas meals, accommodation, travel, travel, visas, star hotel accommodation, tour guide and tour leader services, travel agency liability insurance, and special gift items (Subject to the contract);

2) Does not include: passport production fee or expedited fee, airport construction tax, tips for overseas tour guides and drivers, additional paid items that you voluntarily choose to participate in, pay TV, telephone, Laundry, personal shopping, and additional expenses caused by force majeure factors such as natural disasters and traffic delays.

For specific service content, please refer to the details of each line.

4． If I join an outbound travel group, can I leave the group?

Answer: In principle, it is not allowed. If you are really in an emergency, you can discuss it with the tour leader, but you must hand in your passport and pay the departure fee.

5. When participating in a group tour, can the return ticket be rescheduled?

Answer: In principle, domestic teams/outbound teams cannot refund or reschedule their tickets.

6． What are the procedures for replacing a lost passport?

Answer: 1) Please go to the police station where your household registration is located to issue a loss certification letter (content: name, reason for loss, ID number, etc.)

2) Please go to the immigration management with the certification letter A letter of introduction for reporting loss will be issued at the counter

3) Please go to the "Public Security News" agency company with the letter of introduction and certification to apply for reporting loss

4) After three months, please present The newspaper reported as lost + the completed passport application form can be used again. Used passports still need to be stamped when re-applying, while unused passports do not need to be stamped with political approval stamps.

7． What are the overseas travel destinations and countries that Chinese citizens can currently travel to at their own expense?

Answer: As of September 1, 2004, the Chinese government has approved the opening of 90 countries and regions as self-funded group travel destinations for Chinese citizens.

Among them, 54 have been officially implemented:

19 in Asia: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Indonesia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Maldives, India, Pakistan, Turkey, and special administrative regions such as Hong Kong and Macao;

30 European countries: 24 EU countries (Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy , Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Greece, Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Cyprus, Malta, Denmark, Ireland) and Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Croatia and Romania;

Oceania 2: Australia, New Zealand;

Africa 2: Egypt, South Africa;

American 1: Cuba.

In addition, the outbound travel business for Chinese citizens in the eight African countries that have signed the memorandum (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Tunisia) and Jordan will start on December 15 Implementation has begun; I have also signed memorandums of understanding with Fiji and Vanuatu; currently, there are 3 countries and regions in Oceania (Tonga, Cook Islands, Northern Mariana Islands), 6 Latin American countries (Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile), nine Caribbean countries (Guyana, Bahamas, Jamaica, Suriname, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica), etc. will all sign the memorandum after Implemented gradually.

8． How is the air ticket price for children (individual passengers) calculated?

Answer: Departure: Children over 2 years old and under 12 years old pay 75% of the adult ticket sales price and occupy a seat. Infants under 2 years old are charged 10% of the adult fare and do not occupy a separate seat.

The above regulations do not apply to group air tickets and charter flights.

9. Free baggage allowance based on weight?

Answer: On international and regional routes, according to the passenger fare class, the free baggage allowance for each full-fare or half-fare passenger is: 40 kilograms for first-class fares and 30 kilograms for business fares. Economy ticket costs 20kg. Infants who pay 10% of the adult fare do not have free baggage allowance.

10． How to pay for outbound travel?

Answer: Currently, outbound travel has become a new fashion.

Which method of settlement is more convenient when paying overseas?

Generally, people have three choices: bringing cash, buying traveler's checks, and bringing bank drafts. The pros and cons of these three are introduced below.

Cash: easy to carry, universal currency, accepted by everyone. However, due to the proliferation of counterfeit banknotes, US dollar bills, and differences in national currency management regulations across countries, cash is not as easy to use as imagined. As stipulated in Singapore, cash may be refused if it is damaged in any way. In addition, if cash is lost, it cannot be reported as lost.

Travelers' checks: In recent years, they have been increasingly accepted by tourists, hotels and banks as a new settlement tool. It has many advantages: if the issuing institution is reputable, most of them are international financial companies or banks. The denomination is fixed, ranging from 10 to 100 yuan or even 10,000 yuan, and the security is good. An initial signature is required at the time of purchase, and a face-to-face signature is required at the time of redemption. The two must match; the higher cost is also a feature, and a 10% handling fee must be paid at the time of purchase. Traveler's checks cannot be reported lost or bearer.

Bank draft: Generally issued by foreign exchange banks that handle international business, it has reliable credit and low fees. Generally, banks only charge a few thousandths of a handling fee; the currency and amount can be freely selected. International banks such as the Bank of China not only have branches abroad, but also have accounts in banks in various countries. For example, the Bank of Milan in the United Kingdom, Citibank in the United States, and Chase Manhattan Bank all have accounts in corresponding currencies; they have branches in Singapore and Thailand. , it is very convenient to cash bank draft. Its weakness is that it has to go through banks and is not easily accepted in the hotel and restaurant industry.

11． What should I buy when traveling abroad?

Answer: When traveling around the world, buy the most representative local items and keep them as souvenirs to make the trip more memorable. There are specialties and representative items from all over the world. Spending a small amount of money to buy a few will leave many wonderful memories of travel. The following "Guidelines" are provided for reference.

Asia:

Japan - kimono, fashion, handbags, magnetic necklaces

Korea - ginseng, leather clothing, toys

Philippines ——Silverware, jewelry, wood carvings, handicrafts, dried mango

Thailand—crocodile meat, seafood, coconut sugar, beef jerky, pork jerky

Singapore—chicken jerky, carrots Fengyou

Malaysia - kites, batik, tofu oil, durian paste

Indonesia - seafood, bird's nest, wood carving, printing, cowhide

India ——Gemstones, carpets

Europe:

UK - antiques, pottery, velvet fabrics at London Airport

Netherlands - flower market, ceramics in Amsterdam , diamonds, wooden shoes

Vatican - Buy commemorative stamps, sacred objects, and silver from the postal car on the side of St. Peter's Basilica

Italy - Buy leather clothes and fashionable clothes in Piazza di Spagna in Rome , leather shoes, silk

Germany - beer mugs, woodcuts, camera accessories, Ziren brand scissors

Belgium - buy exquisite hand-woven lace, diamonds, tapestries in Brussels Square

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France - Shopping for perfumes, cosmetics, wine and fashion in the first and second districts near the Paris Opera House

Czech Republic - crystal, glass, leather clothes

Switzerland - - Clocks, cross-branded military knives, music boxes, chocolates, toys

Austria - decorative woodcuts, leather goods, crystals, handmade fabrics

Oceania:

Australia - kangaroo toys, dried abalone, koala toys

New Zealand - carvings, wool products

North America:

United States - American ginseng, Frozen seafood, frozen lobster fillets, souvenirs

Hawaii - Hawaiian straw hats, shells, wood carvings, necklaces

Canada - frozen salmon, leather clothing, wood carvings in Toronto, Vancouver Indian Crafts

12. Why tip? How much tip is appropriate?

Answer: In China, waiters are not allowed to collect tips from guests. But in foreign countries, tipping waiters has become a common custom. Unless you are not satisfied with the service, you will not fail to tip. Receiving tips has become a common practice in the international tourism service industry. The main income of hotel waiters, travel agency tour guides, and drivers of car and ship companies comes from the consumption paid by guests. The standards for tipping vary from country to country. For example, in South Korea, each guest should tip 30 yuan per day; in Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, the tip is generally 20 yuan per person per day.

Tipping can not only represent the guest's respect for the work the service staff has done for them, but also express the guest's affirmation and gratitude for the service. On the other hand, it also reflects the cultural accomplishment and civility of the guests themselves.

13． How to tip?

Answer: Some tips and conventions for tipping. Just give the tip to the waiter who cleans the room and leave it in a conspicuous place when leaving the room. Don't put the tip under the pillow, otherwise the waiter will think it is the guest's own thing and forget to keep it. If you can leave a "THANK YOU" note on the table while leaving a tip, the waiter will be more welcome and respected. If you want to tip the bellman in person, it is best to shake his hand to express your gratitude and give him the tip secretly.

Tips for tour guides and drivers must be paid by the group members together and put in envelopes, and a representative will give them to them in public. When tipping in person, you should avoid tipping with coins, as this will make the other person unhappy.

14. Why does the travel agency charge my deposit?

Answer: Visa is a key part of outbound travel. The reason why travel agencies can obtain visas relatively easily is due to the good cooperative relationship and good reputation between travel agencies and embassies. Any country welcomes normal tourists, but no country welcomes illegal immigrants. The reason why travel agencies need to collect deposits is to obtain financial guarantees from tourists to avoid illegal immigration. The deposit collected by the travel agency will be returned to the guest immediately after the tourist returns to Shanghai.

15. Can I visit family and friends during my trip?

Answer: It is not impossible to have your own arrangements or tour items when traveling abroad. Most itineraries will provide guests with optional self-funded items, so that you can selectively tour according to your own interests. Of course you can also use this time to drop in and visit family and friends.

However, the main purpose of outbound travel should be tourism. If your main purpose of going abroad is to visit relatives and friends or other things, please apply for the corresponding exit permit for other legitimate reasons.

When traveling abroad, you should abide by the group's itinerary and regulations. We do not encourage traveling alone without leaving the group. (Except for self-guided tours)

16. What is the difference between travel agency liability insurance and travel accident insurance?

Answer: 1) Travel agency liability insurance is the act of the travel agency paying insurance premiums to the insurance company according to the insurance contract, and the payer of the insurance premiums is the travel agency;

Travel accidents Insurance premiums are paid directly by tourists to insurance companies or collected from tourists by travel agencies on behalf of insurance companies, that is, the premium payers for insurance other than travel are tourists;

2) Travel agency liability The person responsible for the insured accident in the insurance is determined, that is, the person responsible for the accident is the travel agency, that is, the travel agency caused damage to the tourists' personal and property while engaging in tourism business activities, and the liability for the damage The travel agency is the travel agency, and the damage compensation is borne by the travel agency;

The person responsible for the travel accident insurance accident is uncertain. The person responsible for the travel accident may refer to objective circumstances that were not foreseen and unavoidable by the travel parties. , the person responsible for causing travel accidents may be a travel agency, a tourist, or a third party.

3) The carrier of travel agency liability insurance compensation is the underwriting insurance company.

Overview of the Maldives

Country name: The Republic of Maldives

Independence Day: July 26 (1965)

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National Day: July 26 (1965)

National flag: rectangular, with a length-to-width ratio of 3:2. The national flag consists of three colors: red, green and white. The flag ground is a green rectangle surrounded by red edges. The width of the red edge is one quarter of the full flag width, and the width of the green rectangle is half of the full flag width. A white crescent moon is located in the center of a green rectangle. Red symbolizes the blood of national heroes who sacrificed their lives for national sovereignty and independence; green means life, progress and prosperity, and the white crescent represents peace, tranquility and the Maldivian people's faith in Islam.

The national emblem: consists of a crescent moon, a five-pointed star, two national flags, a sea coconut tree and a ribbon. The crescent moon and five-pointed star indicate that the state religion of the Maldives is Islam, the national flag symbolizes the power and dignity of the country, and the coconut palm represents the livelihood of the people. The traditional name of the Maldives is written on the ribbon at the bottom.

Physical geography: The total area is 90,000 square kilometers (including territorial sea area), and the land area is 298 square kilometers. An archipelago country in the Indian Ocean, it is 820 kilometers long from north to south and 130 kilometers wide from east to west. It is located about 600 kilometers south of India and about 750 kilometers southwest of Sri Lanka. It consists of 26 groups of natural atolls and 1,190 coral islands, divided into 19 administrative groups, distributed in a sea area of ??90,000 square kilometers, of which 199 are inhabited and 991 are desert islands. The average area of ??the islands is 1-2 square kilometers. The terrain is low and flat, with an average altitude of 1.2 meters. Located near the equator, it has obvious tropical climate characteristics with no four seasons. The annual precipitation is 2143 mm, and the average annual temperature is 28°C.

Population: 287,000 (2002), all of whom are Maldivians. The national and official language is Dhivehi, and English is widely used in education and foreign exchanges. Most Maldivians belong to Sunni Islam, and Islam is the state religion.

Male Island, the capital of the Maldives

Capital: Male, with a population of about 75,000 (2002).

Administrative divisions: The country is divided into two districts, the south and the north. Each district has a deputy minister who has jurisdiction over several groups of atolls.

Currency: Rufiya>>>

Brief history: Aryans settled here in the 5th century BC. In 1116 AD, the Sultanate with Islam as its state religion was established, and it went through six dynasties before and after. Portugal has implemented colonial rule over it since 1558. Under the leadership of Takuru Fanu, the Maldivian people staged an uprising and regained their motherland in 1573. It was invaded by the Dutch in the 18th century.

It became a British protectorate in 1887. In 1932, the Maldives converted to a constitutional monarchy. In 1952, it became a republic within the British Commonwealth. In 1954, the Malaysian Parliament decided to abolish the Republic of China and reestablish the Sultanate. The 1960 agreement between Britain and Malaysia stipulated that Britain would lease the Gan Island base for 30 years. The Maldives declared independence on July 26, 1965. On November 11, 1968, it was changed to the Republic of China and implemented a presidential system.

Maldives - on the water side>>>

Politics: The new constitution came into effect on January 1, 1998. The Constitution stipulates that Malaysia is a completely independent and sovereign country. Change the stipulation in the old constitution that there can only be one presidential candidate, and all members have the right to participate in the presidential election. The presidential candidate is nominated by the National Assembly and elected by a majority of all voters for a five-year term. The President has the power to approve laws, convene special sessions of the National Assembly, issue temporary decrees and amnesties, and appoint ministers. The National Assembly of the Maldives is the country's highest legislative body, with members serving a five-year term. Parliament passes bills with a simple majority. The government implements a presidential cabinet system. There are no political parties or groups established in the country. Horses practice Islamic law.

Economy: Tourism, shipping and fishing are the three pillars of the horse economy. Ma is rich in marine resources, including various tropical fish, sea turtles, hawksbill turtles, corals, shells and other seafood. The country's arable land area is 6,900 hectares. The land is barren and agriculture is very backward. Coconut production plays an important role in agriculture, with approximately 1 million coconut trees. Other crops include millet, corn, banana and cassava. As tourism expanded, vegetable and poultry farming began to develop. Fisheries are an important part of the national economy. Horses are rich in fishery resources, rich in tuna, bonito, mackerel, lobster, sea cucumber, grouper, shark, sea turtle and hawksbill turtle. In recent years, tourism has surpassed fishing to become the Maldives' largest economic pillar.

News and publishing: There are two daily newspapers and a small number of weekly newspapers in the country, which are in Dhivehi language and are mainly published in the capital Male. There is also a bi-weekly English newspaper.

Diplomacy: pursue a foreign policy of peace, independence and non-alignment, be friendly with all countries that respect the independence and sovereignty of Malaysia, and attach importance to the development of relations with India, Japan, Sri Lanka and Arab countries.

Relations with China: On October 14, 1972, the Maldives established diplomatic relations with China.

Finally: The Maldives, with its blue sky and clear water, is definitely a good place for a honeymoon.

I wish you a happy wedding and a pleasant journey!

Are you satisfied with the above answers?