America short notice – how short ?

Voyager2002

Note that ESTA approval can take up to 24 hours if the server is busy. So don't leave it until the last minute. (This happened to some of my relatives, and they had a sleepless night waiting for approval!)

shaun_from_Africa

Unless the travel plans came about at very short notice, I've never understood why people leave it to the last moment before considering getting an ESTA to save a bit of money.
An ESTA is valid for up to 2 years and with the current exchange rate costs about £10.25 which means it's about 10p per week.

Hardly the saving of a lifetime when you consider that the flights alone are probably £400+ per person.

pollypenny

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Note that ESTA approval can take up to 24 hours if the server is busy. So don't leave it until the last minute. (This happened to some of my relatives, and they had a sleepless night waiting for approval!)

An ESTA approval can take 72 hours! Although OH has never had a problem, on two occasions mine has been 'pending' and I've had to wait - nervously.

Just get one asap. Use the link from the travel section of this site.

[Deleted User]

ERICS_MUM wrote: »

I'm retired too and I clicked NO. My ESTA was authorised immediately.

Thanks very much, ERICS MUM - that's good to know.

Deleted_User

ERICS_MUM

Before you book anything, get your travel insurance.

Booking a trip so close to departure date means you will have to pay in full immediately, a lot of money to lose if something happens between booking and actually getting on that plane !

After that you just need to throw a few things in a case, make sure you've got money & credit cards in your wallet and off you go. Have a great time!