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Course Catalog / BMU 190

Course cover for BMU 190 Smart Travel: Plan, Save and Stay Safe, Career and Skills department.BMU 190 Included in All Access Career and Skills

Smart Travel: Plan, Save and Stay Safe

Build a budgeted, checked plan for a real trip: compare total prices, know your flyer rights, get documents ready, choose insurance, avoid scams, and plan for safety abroad.

Getting started: how this course works and how you finish. Course glossary: key words from the lessons, A to Z.

Media coming soon. Audio and video for this course are on the way. The full course is here as text today.

Who this course is for

  • You are planning a trip and want it to cost what you planned
  • You want the passport, ID, refund, and safety rules from official sources
  • You are taking a first trip abroad or a first cruise

What you will be able to do

  • Build a realistic trip budget: write a trip goal with a ceiling, list costs in eight categories, check room and meal guesses against the GSA per diem benchmark, add a buffer of at least 10 percent, and set a weekly savings target.
  • Compare fares and stays and spot hidden fees: compare offers on total price for the learner's needs, apply DOT full fare advertising (14 CFR 399.84), the FTC fee rule for lodging (16 CFR Part 464), and the 24-hour hold or cancel rule (14 CFR 259.5), and use DOT refund and denied boarding rules (14 CFR Part 260 and 250.5) when plans change.
  • Prepare documents and get through security: check passport timing, six month validity, blank pages, and visa needs on State Department pages, carry a REAL ID or other accepted ID, apply cruise document advice, and pack by the TSA liquids rule, the FAA lithium battery rule, and CDC's Pack Smart list.
  • Choose travel insurance wisely: check what current coverage pays abroad (including Medicare.gov), tell apart health, evacuation, and cancellation coverage, check any policy against the State Department checklist, and write a reasoned decision.
  • Recognize and avoid travel scams: name the FTC red flags, verify a rental or offer before paying, choose a payment method that can be disputed, and report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • Plan for health and safety abroad: use the CDC destination page and a provider visit 4 to 6 weeks ahead, read the full State Department advisory, enroll in STEP, save embassy and State Department emergency numbers, and write and share a one page emergency plan.

Syllabus

4 weeks · 8 lessons · each lesson has a short read, a Try it action step, and in most lessons a quick check

Week 1
Week 2
  • Lesson 3: Flyer rights and cruise basics
  • Lesson 4: Documents, security, and packing
Week 3
  • Lesson 5: Choose travel insurance wisely
  • Lesson 6: Spot and stop travel scams
Week 4
  • Lesson 7: Health and safety abroad
  • Lesson 8: Your complete trip plan

Please read

This course teaches a careful way to plan trips. It does not promise any price, deal, or result. General education, not legal, insurance, medical, or financial advice.

An original BMU course.

Related reading

The Travel Tribe Guidebook. See the book page.

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