Getting through Philly airport

After you arrive follow signs for immigration (just follow the crowd). Once in immigration visitors are on the right side desks, but just listen to staff who will guide you through. Family groups can approach the desk together. Hand your customs form in (blue and white form handed out on the aircraft). They will hand the form back, hang on to it you'll need it later. You will be asked to provide fingerprints first your 4 fingers then thumb again just follow the instructions. You will also have your photo taken (no hats or specs allowed ). After a couple of questions you will pass through to baggage hall.  Your flight number will appear on the screen, go to that belt. It's possible your luggage may be off the belt and stacked on the floor ( depends how long it's taken to get through immigration).  Carts cost $4 and you need to swipe your credit card if you want one. Leave baggage hall following signs for customs, it's near baggage belt 2 or 3. Hand your customs form in. Turn right and bear left through double doors, you are now in Philly...welcome!  

To get to the hotel or car hire buses keep walking straight ahead, take lift to ground floor, exit the lift turning left, go through 1 set of double doors turn left and out of the airport building. Look for bus stop for car hire buses. Happy days !

Free satnav to use in the US

Download NAVFREE app US version, then install any of the state maps you might need (Pennsylvania) and use like any satnav. It's free and does not use any data when over in the US .., BONZA!! 

Getting through Philly airport....update

Ok we are here now, I'll update this page shortly with more details about getting through the airport etc

Nearly there

Oddly after all the planning, the fact that some of us head off next week is a bit surreal. Head off we will, just a quick posting to say if you need any info / advice / anything, then just get in touch.

Getting through Philly airport. 

Pretty straightforward really, first desk (queue) is immigration, just follow directions given by staff and line up. Immigration will check passports, check customs form, ask a few questions, take photograph and your fingerprints. Just watch what the people ahead are doing. 

Once through immigration, you'll collect your bags. 

Trollies in PHL are paid for, there will be a line of them and you will need to either use a credit card or cash to get one...$2 was the price last time we went through. If you can manage your bag ok you will probably be ok without one. 

Now follow signs to customs and hand customs form in. 

Turn right and within a few yards you are in Philly, WELCOME!!  

All of the buses (hotels and car hire) are on lower floors so use lifts, you'll see others using them. 

If you are collecting a car just follow the signs, all of the car hire companies are off site but the roads are quiet where the depots are. 

Car hire buses constantly run passed the terminals you won't have to wait too long. 

Make sure you know where you are going plan your route have a map or sat nav etc. if in doubt ask at the car hire office. Or give us a shout and we will see if we can help with directions. 

Driving in the USA is straightforward but the first few miles will naturally be a little different!  Just take your time, you will be fine. 

Last minute stuff

OK people we are getting there!

Reminders...print copies of things like 

• Flight itinerary
• Insurance documents, 
• ESTA forms (you won't need ESTA form for immigration, but it's just for peace of mind you have one), 
• Copies of any vouchers ie car hire/hotels.

Other reminders

• Passports sorted and packed in hand luggage,
• Make sure you have filled in Advance Passenger info (APIS) with your airline.  
• Currency arranged (better deals are online, don't just go into a store to buy you won't get the best rates).  
• Tell your bank (credit and debit cards) you are away and the dates you'll be in the US.  

Have a copy of your contact details inside your suitcase, never put your home address/phone number on a luggage label

Medication, make sure it's in your hand luggage

Read the page on the blog about driving in the USA, just to remind yourself of the rules when in the US.

Weddingsnap app...please make sure you have the app installed on your smartphone, we are going to be asking you to use it (use it now to show your preparations for your trip)...we really want to see photos of what you are doing...even if you don't have a smart phone, take some digital shots and send me the jpegs....it's really important.

If you have any questions about anything let me know.

US Customs Declaration Form and Entry Into The US

Immigration and Customs (you might want to print this off)

Customs form will be provided on the aircraft when travelling to the US

• Below you will find a copy of the customs declaration form all families must complete on entry into the US.  I have listed the notes from the form along with any of my own comments in red.
• Only one form per family group needs completing.
• Do not include yourself in the count in section 3, Family Members travelling with you.
• Country of residence is UK
• If you make any mistakes, complete a new form, immigration will not take a corrected form.
• The immigration officer will want to see your customs form but will hand it back, you need to hand the form to customs officers, after you have collected your bags. 
• Immigration will take your photo and fingerprints (electronic), just watch the people in front of you when they speak to the officer to see how it's done.
• On arrival the sequence of events is 

1. Immigration
2. Collect bags
3. Customs

US Immigration Site with sample forms

Customs Declaration Form (Front)

Sections to complete (All must be printed and in ballpoint pen)

1. Print your Family (Surname) name. Print your first (Christian) name. Print the first letter of your middle name (if you have one)

2. Print your date of birth in the appropriate day/month/year boxes.

3. Print the number of family members travelling with you (do not include yourself).

4. Print your address in the United States. If you are staying at a hotel, include the hotel's name and street address. Print the city and the state (PA is enough) in the appropriate boxes.

5. Print the name of the country that issued your passport. (enter UK)

6. Print your passport number.

7. Print the name of the country where you currently live. (UK for those of us coming from UK)

8. Print the name of the country(ies) that you visited on your trip prior to arriving to the United States. (None)

9. Print the airline's name and flight number.

10. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you traveling on a business (work-related) trip?

11. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you bringing with you:

12. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Have you or any family members traveling with you been in close proximity of (such as touching or handling) livestock outside the United States?

13. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you or any family members traveling with you bringing $10,000 or more in U.S. dollars or foreign equivalent in any form into the United States? (if yes then you must declare it on a separate form which you can complete in advance)

Currency in excess of $10,000 form

Read definition of monetary instruments on the reverse side of the form.

Examples: coins, cash, personal or cashier's check, traveler's checks, money orders, stocks, bonds.

14. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you or any family members traveling with you bringing commercial merchandise into the United States?

Examples: all articles intended to be sold or left in the United States, samples used for soliciting orders, or goods that are not considered personal effects.

15. If you are a U.S. resident, print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you have purchased or acquired abroad (including gifts for someone else, but not items mailed to the United States) and are bringing into the United States.

Note: U.S. residents are normally entitled to a duty-free exemption of $800 on items accompanying them.

If you are a visitor (non-U.S. Resident), print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you are bringing into the United States and will remain in the United States.

Note: Visitors (non-U.S. Residents) are normally entitled to an exemption of $100.

Declare all articles on this form. For gifts, please indicate the retail value. Use the reverse side of this form if additional space is needed to list the items you will declare.

The U.S. Customs officer will determine duty. Duty will be assessed at the current rate on the first $1,000 above the exemption. (this will generally be 0, Immigration will ask the purpose of your visit, if you say wedding they may ask if you have brought anything into the USA as gifts, they may not.)

· Read the notice on the reverse side of the form.

· Sign the form and print the date.




Selling Long Haul online magazine, article on Philly and Valley Forge Park

Click on this link to see the online travel magazine Selling Long Hauls' article on Philadelphia and Valley Forge Park.  

Valley Forge is a national park and within easy driving distance of Berwyn, it's well worth a visit (free entrance and parking).

This is where George Washington (that well known Geordie) billeted his troops during the War of Independence, there are a few historic buildings for you to wander round.

But mainly, it's a big old park

Valley Forge National Park

Print Friendly button added to blog posts and pages.

Important Reminders For You

ESTA (USA travel Visa for UK passport holders) completed and paid for, printed and with travel documents

Passport checked and valid for travel, UK passports must be valid for whole stay in the USA

Medication, remember to take any prescribed medication, and pack in hand luggage

Cameras, check batteries are fully charged and you have your charger

Any electronics you are taking (phones, mp3 players etc) make sure they are charged and if you need to take a charger with you.  US plugs look like this 

2 Pin

3 pin

UK to US adaptors can be bought on the high street or before departure at the airport.  US voltage is 110      

Travel documents, Tickets/Passports/Visa’s all organised and easy to get to

Location of where you are staying, this will be needed for customs form

Currency ordered (buying online will be a better deal)

Phones, will it work in the US, check with your provider

Contact your bank and credit card company to advise you are visiting the US and give them the dates

Insurance documents...have a copy to take with you and any emergency contact numbers

Gift Registry

We have a gift registry for you…

B&Q Wedding Registry

Code is 11970

“We are looking to change our kitchen, so this will be really helpful. 

Thank you!!

Andrew and Emma”

Packing tips

Lifted from a useful blog somewhere else in the Ether, I feel no guilt.  See really useful baggage item added by us at the bottom of the post.

There's no end to our quest for self-improvement — the urge to do everything better, smarter, faster, cooler. In this spirit, we've compiled our 24 best packing tips and tricks — some old standbys, some new hacks — to get you from A to B and back to A with a little more spring in your step and a little less sag in your shoulders.

1. The Golden Rules:- Carry-on instead of checking so that you can exit the airport immediately after reaching your destination.
- Check in online 24 hours before a flight, not only to save time at the airport but also to get a better seat

2. What to Wear on the Journey: Something cozy but not schleppy. Translation: Instead of sweats, try cashmere lounge pants/leggings under a comfortable dress or comfy jeans and a sweater.

3. Bag It Up: Air-compression packing bags are miraculous, squeezing air out of clothes, giving you more room in the suitcase. Giant Ziploc bags work, too. Just roll them tight. We use Ziplocs in various sizes for everything from toiletries to wet swimming gear and always pack a few extras.

4. Head to Toes: Check that you've packed everything you need by mentally dressing yourself from shoes and socks up to goggles and hats.

5. Bling: Leave pricey watches and jewelry behind. If you aren't prepared to lose it, don't pack it. Buy a cheap Swatch for traveling and costume jewelry for show. (Bauble Bar is a great resource.)

6. Accessorize: Unless you know you are going to be causal, pack something small that can make any outfit smarter. You never know when you'll need to look sharp. For men, an uncreasable silk knotted tie. For women, a fancy scarf.

7. Shoe trees: Pack rolled socks into your shoes (saves space, keeps shoes shaped). Separate shoes in bags and line them along the sides of the suitcase.

8. Outfits: Think about the number of outfits you need and subtract one. You still won't wear everything you pack.

9. Charge it: Charge all phones, cameras, iPads, and laptops before getting to an airport. If you do get delayed, you won't have to stalk outlets, which are always too few and far between. Rokit Boost makes a protective iPhone case that doubles battery life.

10. Adapters: Carry the adapter for your destination — a multi-plug version is the best. If you're sneaky — or are traveling to a problematic area — bring a double plug so you can share outlets with others.

11. Dopp Kit Essentials: Give up squeezing your favorite face wash into tiny tubes. Buying travel-size items of your favorite products — and laundry detergent — and keeping them at the ready in a Ziploc under your sink might seem indulgent, but it will save time, product, frustration, and your skin. 3Fl.Oz. is our favorite source for these.

In a pinch: Pack nearly empty toiletries, and leave them behind. Or just buy certain toiletries at your destination. Why shlep a big can of shaving cream when Gillette is universal?

12. Chemist: Make sure you have enough medicine to cover unforeseen delays. (Remember the volcano ash cloud?)

13. Contact Info: Mark your suitcases with your email address as well as your actual addresses. (Editor A4 sheet of paper inside not on a baggage label on the outside)

14. Itinerary: Email friends and family your itinerary, passport number, and insurance documents, and load them onto a private folder on the cloud. Don't forget the prescription for your glasses.

15. Tipper: Make sure you have small denominations in local currency for tips.

16. The Go Pouch: Pack a zippered pouch stocked with in-flight comfort essentials: earbuds or headphones (to zone out); lip balm, hand lotion, toothbrush/toothpaste, and hand wipes (for surfaces and dirty hands); a pen (for filling out landing cards and swapping emails with your cute seat-mate); tissues, Advil, and extra undies (especially on a long-haul flight). TheFlight001 Seat Pack we use has a loop for easy hanging on the seat in front of you.)

The travel reading before the edit and after. Which would you rather carry?

17. Reading list: Long journeys are great for catching up on the reading pile. Instead of packing heavy magazines, rip out the articles that you want to read. (Do this on the drive to the airport.) Voila: Vanity Fair and Vogue now weigh 95 percent less. Alternately, bring magazines that you can leave behind, shedding weight as you go. Of course, you could just load up the iPad with books and articles. (What? We're still addicted to paper. And these are our favorite books for the long haul.)

18. Movies and Podcasts: If you'd rather listen and watch than read, download movies and podcasts to distract you during long bus rides, plane delays, and train rides. If you subscribe to a local podcast from the region you are about to visit, you'll be caught up on the news and culture of the region before you arrive.

19. Snacks and Drinks: Pack filling and healthy snacks for the trip. You'll feel more with it after eating almonds, energy bars, dried mangoes, apples, Wasa crackers, and carrots than a super-salty bag of chips. Pack tea bags — herbal, green tea, your favorite — as flights usually only offer Lipton. Watch out for coffee: It's dehydrating and can make you edgy. Obviously, drink as much water as you can. and bring a few vitamin-inflused fizzy drink packets (like EBoost) to add to a water bottle.

20. Shhhh: Noise-reducing headphones really do make a huge difference in terms of in-flight comfort. 

21. Gifts: If you're traveling with gifts, slide gift bags and tissue paper into the outer pocket of your rolly so everything lays flat. (You don't want to have to ask a hostess for tape or wrapping paper.) Don't pack wrapped gifts: They're bulky and they'll get messed up in transit. Or ship your gifts before your arrival.

22. Breathing room: Leave room in your suitcase so that if you buy souvenirs, you won't have to cram your stuff. And stash an empty, fold-down-to-nothing LeSportsac tote in case you do need an extra bag.

23. Welcome wagon: Order the pick-up car before you leave. There's nothing better than not having to wait for a car after a long flight.

24. Friends in High Places: Make nice with a few passengers at the gate — smile, make eye contact or a joke with moms and their kids, an elderly gent. This comes in very handy when you get on the plane and need room for overhead baggage, need to swap seats, need gum. People will be nice back and make room in their overhead bin or help make your life a little easier.

Something we use is Immobilise.com, (the UK national property register) on there you can buy a barcoded luggage label.  You register the label with your details (secure site) if your luggage goes walkabouts, the airport authorities can scan the barcode for your details and re-unite passenger and bags.

The great debate, to roll or flat pack, you decide