POE

[z_k_g]

Hey Zulu, when was the last time you were at dulles, there is a underground train now for most of the terminals!!  I hate the Miami airport, everytime when I returned from Colombia, I was harassed by the immigration agent, my luggage was almost always searched and they were just in general awful to deal with. Now that I live in the DC area, returning through customs a Dulles is fairly good experience for the most part. (best part is I have only a fifteen minute drive to my house)
 
Dan LV

2003 I think.

Zulu

[robert angel]

What has amazed me is that  my wife I have never come back from the Philippines, either together with my wife or just me alone, and had them poke around our luggage with a baton for more than a few seconds. Even then, they hardly even looked below the first couple layers of clothes.
 
Not that I'm some big time smuggler, getting away with much of anything, but I'd think that things like a few wristwatches, a dozen or so DVDs, a few bolo knives, etc--which I think have to show up on x rays, might warrant a little closer inspection. I really wonder sometimes how things really work there.
 
I don't know why people, including my wife, insist on putting the cheap little padlocks that come with most luggage. Even though it sometimes seems they never even touched the contents of the inside of our bags, they always seem to cut those puny padlocks off when we fly international..

[Ray]

 
My experience with POEs:
 
 
The most friendly and courteous customs agents... Honolulu
 
 
The absolute worst... Travis Air Force Base.
 
 
Tip of the day: NEVER mouth off to any customs agent in any country!
 
 
Ray
 
 

[thekfc]

Tip of the day: NEVER mouth off to any customs agent in any country!

Not just tip of the day but also smart travel tip 101.

[V_Man]

This is a big issue for me.
I am looking to book my next trip tp Colombia.
It is $1000- $2000 cheaper to travel via the USA than via Chile. Also there are more connections and hence options. Well more options in theory anyway. However the bad experience I have in US airports has me very motivated to try and find another $1000 - $2000.

After the last time going through the USA I was determined to go via Chile. Now I am looking at how much cheaper and quicker it could be to go via LAX and Miami. To read here that Miami airport is that bad has me thinking again that I need to do my best to try and come up wth more money.

I could go via Buenos Aires but it means a night stop over in BA.

How easy is it to transit through Rio de Janeiro? That could be a better option.

[braziliangirl]

I could go via Buenos Aires but it means a night stop over in BA.

How easy is it to transit through Rio de Janeiro? That could be a better option.

Both Bs As and Rio international airports are far away from the nice things to see and do, but totally worth a night or two.


Do you need a visa to come to Brazil?

[stnmasn]

My wife and i have been traveling to Colombia through Miami for the last 9 years at least once a year and have found it to be a great airport to deal with..we have generally found  customs very easy to deal with especially if you are wearing a Tom Brady jersey. It sounds weird but if you wear a Tom Brady jersey while flying you will never be hassled anywhere passing through anything in an airport. Even in the colombian airport they seem to know tom brady..one time i didn't wear it i was pulled aside to a little room in the Cali airport and they xrayed my stomach...i am assuming to see if i had swallowed drugs for smuggling....that was an experience. ...anyhow no problems here with Miami airport

[maritime04]

ahhh and the problem is i would never wear a tom brady jersey... I personally dislike the man.

[V_Man]

Do you need a visa to come to Brazil?

No I do not need a visa as long as I am there for no more than 90 days and I have proof of onward travel.