Answering some of those common “what if” questions and others that you might be (over)thinking about.
General
There are so many benefits to using a travel advisor to help plan your trip!
Detailed Planning
If you aren’t a planner or just don’t like planning, a travel advisor is definitely for you.
From complex multi-city trips, larger group trips, or special requirements, we’re here to take care all aspects of your vacation plan.
Expert Advise
Through our own experiences, training, and industry knowledge, we provide recommendations shaped by your personal interests. We also stay up to date on any travel news the could apply to your trip.
Personalized Service
As a travel advisor, it’s our job to provide excellent service that fits your needs whether that’s booking transfers, waiting on hold with the airline, or making an itinerary custom to how you want to travel if you’re feeling overwhelmed. We’ll be with you before, during, and even after your trip to ensure you’re taken care of.
Peace of Mind
Part of the reason why we’re called Overthinker Guide Travel is because we are doing the overthinking for you! We’ll make sure you’re as prepared as possible to embark on that exciting journey.
Due to the time, effort, and expertise put in to building, booking, and/or managing a trip(s), yes a service fee is charged.
Please schedule a free consultation if you’d like more information.
Please read our blog post: Travel Safety Tips for Your Next Trip.
Also, please make sure your emergency contact has your trip itinerary and Overthinker Guide Travel contact information in case they need to reach us.
It is strongly recommended to get travel insurance either for the individual trip or annual travel insurance if you’re taking 3 or more trips in a year.
We never want anything to happen while on vacation but sometimes the unexpected can happen. Travel insurance will ensure that you’re covered for the unexpected.
Always make sure to read your policy to see what it covers.
Please read our blog post: Basic Vacation Packing List.
It is advised to arrive at least 2.5 hours before a domestic flight or 3 hours before an international flight.
You can also check how busy the airport is by using the MyTSA app.
Cruises
We have plenty of tips for first time cruisers!
Please see the blog posts:
It depends on what you want out of your trip!
Cruising let’s you travel to multiple places for one set price, with just one “hotel” reservation. You get a taste of the places on the itinerary from 6 hours all the way to overnight stays in some cases.
Land trips let’s you really immerse yourself in the place but may require more time or money if you want to visit multiple destinations in one trip.
At Overthinker Guide Travel, we highly recommend booking excursions with the cruise line whenever possible. The number one reason is – if your excursion is delayed getting back to the ship, the ship will wait because it’s under the cruise line. If the excursion is delayed and outside the cruise line, it is possible for you to get left behind in port.
Just keep this in mind when considering outside excursions or make sure the excursion is schedule to end at least 3 hours before all aboard time.
Absolutely not! Adults can enjoy the Disney fun on land or at sea. Disney is for everyone!
Disney cruises have an adult-only restaurant (at an additional cost), numerous lounges, and an adult-only pool area on the ship for you to relax.
Dining reservations open 45 days before the sail date for sailors with Insider, Sea View, and Sea Terrace cabins.
Sailors with Rockstar Suites are able to make reservations 60 days before the sail date.
The deposit for all tattoo types is $200. If you get a pre-made Virgin Voyages design, it will be $200 (the deposit covers the tattoo cost).
If you want a custom design by the artist, the price starts at $250 and can go up based on size or complexity.
Tip 1: If you know for sure you want a tattoo, go to schedule it the first night so you have more appointment times to choose from. The longer you take to schedule, the less slots they’ll have available during the cruise.
Tip 2: Bring antibacterial soap and ointment, like Aquaphor, with you on the ship to handle aftercare especially if you get your tattoo towards the beginning of the cruise.
It is recommended to get a passport for your cruise, however some cruise lines will allow the use of your original birth certificate and photo ID. If you’ve changed your name, you will also need to provide the paper trail of the name change.
That being said, having a passport will make your process of embarking and disembarking the ship easier (and faster).
Virgin Voyages requires a passport for their cruises.
International Travel
Please view the U.S. Department of State website for latest information on passport fees.
Check with your bank or credit union. Most have the ability to do the currency exchange.
It can also be done at the airport or at the destination ATM using your debit card (but make sure to decline the ATM conversion).
Travel advisories provides alerts from the U.S. Department of State regarding the events or safety of different countries around the world.
To get alerts sent directly to you for your specific trip, we encourage you to enroll in STEP (Smart Travel Enrollment Program), a free program offered by the U.S. Department of State. It connects with the U.S. Embassies around the world.
The need of a travel visa depends on which country you are visiting. Overthinker Guide Travel will advise if you need a travel visa during the planning process, however if you’d like to check, visit the U.S. Department of State website and type in the name of the country you’re visiting.
ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System.
It is an entry requirement for countries who don’t require a visa to enter Europe (like the U.S.). An application will need to be filled out if you traveling to any of the 30 European countries starting 2025.
For more information, please visit the ETIAS website FAQs.
An eSim is an electronic sim card you can use for your smart phone to make calls in the country you’ll be traveling to. You’ll have a number according to the country you’re in.
Your phone must be unlocked and compatible to use an eSim. If you bought your phone directly from the manufacturer (Apple, Samsung, etc.) it is most likely unlocked. If you bought your phone through a carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.) it may be locked.
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Pocket Wi-Fi or Mobile Hotspots provide you portable Wi-Fi connection so you’ll never be without it (as long as it’s charged). Some may require a sim card but most don’t.
Global Entry is a pre-screened program that allows you to get through customs faster. It is $100, good for 5 years, and includes TSA PreCheck.
NOTICE: On October 1, 2024 the fee for Global Entry will increase to $120. For more information, please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
Mobile Passport Control is a free app to process custom documents.
Both are only at specific airports.
View Global Entry airports here.
View Mobile Passport Control airports here.
They cannot be used simultaneously meaning, if you start the process with Mobile Passport Control for example, you have to finish it through that process even if you have Global Entry and that line is shorter.
- Use a language learning app like Duolingo, Babble, Rosetta Stone.
- Learn key phrases like
- Hi my name is…nice to meet you
- What is your name?
- Do you speak English?
- I don’t speak [local language]
- Sorry
- Please
- Excuse me/pardon me
- Thank you
- How much?
- Where is….(ex. the bathroom)
- Consume media of the country like movies, shows, music, or books before the trip.
Think telenovellas, Bollywood movies, K-dramas, K-pop, J-pop, anime, or manga.
There are some standard restrictions and some restrictions based on the state you’re flying back into (keep this in mind if you have a connecting flight within the states on your way back home).
View a list of some of the prohibited items on the U.S. Customs Border and Protection website.
Theme Parks (Disney, Universal, etc.)
Those who are 14 years or older are not allowed to wear costumes in the parks. However you could “Disneybound” which is wearing colors similar to the character.
View their dress code here.
For Disneybounding inspiration, check out Color Me Courtney (no, this is not our founder, Courtney Gilmore 😅).
Absolutely not! Adults can enjoy the Disney fun on land or at sea. Disney is for everyone!
You can even do a drink “around the world” at EPCOT in Disney World.
The Festival of Fantasy Parade has two times: 12PM and 3PM daily.
Typically, 40 minutes before park closing times.
Please visit Disney World’s Fireworks & Nighttime Entertainment page for more information.
Dining reservations open up 60 days in advanced. They can be made on their websites or through their apps.
In order to ride The Hogwarts Express to see both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, a Park-to-Park ticket, season pass, or annual pass are required.
See more about the Wizarding World on Universal’s website.
Group Trips/Cruises
Here at Overthinker Guide Travel, we consider a group trip to consist of 7 or more people.
You can lead your own group trip with Overthinker Guide Travel assisting with the planning or you can join a group trip hosted by Overthinker Guide Travel.
For more information, head over to our Group Trips page.
For group trips hosted by Overthinker Guide Travel, you don’t have to participate in all the group activities but we hope you do!
Have fun getting to know us and your fellow overthinkers!