Long Island, NY: What is the difference between a passport and a visa?

Gayle Forman: A passport is a little booklet that proves your identity as a citizen of a certain country. You need a passport to travel outside of the US. A visa is essentially an entry permit into a certain country. Different countries require visas from different nationalities (go to www.travisa.com for specifics). Many countries do not require a visa from US citizens. You must usually pay for a visa and it is stamped or glued into your passport. They make nice souvenirs.

_______________________

Lakeland, FL: I'm traveling to Rome May 6th. Do you have an idea/feeling where the dollar v. Euro might be? Thanks.

Gayle Forman: The weak dollar is definitely a drag for travelers. The current exchange rate is about 1 euro=$1.29. My experience, however, was that Italy was not nearly as bad as some other European countries. For instance in the Netherlands, it seems as though many establishments used the changeover to the euro as an excuse to jack up prices. Such that a cup of coffee that once cost 3 Dutch guilders (about a dollar fifty back in the day) now cost 3 euro. This tended to happen in countries where the value of the former currency and the euro were close (Germany, Netherlands). Wasnt such an issue in Italy. But anyone traveling to a euro country with greenbacks will feel the sting.

_______________________

Miami, FL: We'd like to travel to South Africa in October this year to see Cape Town, the Garden Route, and the wine country but have heard conflicting reports about the safety and security of Americans traveling there. Do you recommend going? Is it "safe?"

Gayle Forman: I'm going to use your question to address the safety issue.
I traveled around South Africa on my own, with my husband and with my parents without incident. Cape Town and the Garden Route are generally thought to be safer than Johannesburg, a villifed city that I really like.
S. Africa does have crime issues and many countries have safety concerns, but I tend to feel that they often get over-hyped and that a good amount of common sense, awareness of your surroundings, cultural sensitivity can go a long way to keeping you safe.
For what it's worth, we traveled for a year and I spent at least two months of that time on my own. The only time I was a victim to a crime was in Rome. Some very clever pickpockets got me on the bus.

_______________________

Royal Oak, MI: I was wondering how many foreign countries you have visited, and where your book is being sold.

Gayle Forman: We visited about 20 on that trip. I think I've been to about 40 overall. I'm not in the 100 club, travelers who've been to more than 100 countries. My book is on sale at the usual places: Barnes&Noble, Amazon etc.

_______________________