Expedited Passports

Have you always wanted to be a travel writer? Do you dream of visiting Japan? Rough Guides has a new contest that could help you jump-start your career. Jaunted has the scoop: apparently, they are offering a chance to get training and experience as a professional travel writer for free. If you win the contest, you get a free trip to Tokyo, Japan. While you’re there, you’ll be doing research and writing to update the Rough Guides to Tokyo.

You’ll work with a “writing mentor” and spend 7 days traveling, staying in different hotels and working on the guidebook. Of course, all work and no play makes for a dull vacation. So, after you’re done, you’ll get a 4 day tour to yourself.

You can enter by submitting your best 500 word travel writing sample. You must write about one of the following topics:

• A Journey that Changed Lives
• Responsible Travel
• Adventure in an Unknown Culture
• A Memorable Experience Involving Food in a Foreign Country

To enter, you have to meet 3 qualifications:

• You must be over 18.
• You must not be a professional writer (curses!).
• You must have a valid US passport.
• You must be ready to go in February 2010.

What if you love to travel but don’t have a US passport? No problem-the applications aren’t due until December 21st, so you still have time to apply.

Of course, if you apply with normal processing, it will take at least 6 weeks for you to get your passport back. Expedited service from the government takes about 3 weeks. To get your passport more quickly, of course, you can use a private expediting company like RushMyPassport.com.

An expediting company forwards your application to the US Department of State for much faster processing-anywhere from 24 hours to around a week, depending on the option you choose.

Ready to make your travel writing dream come true? Apply for your US passport today!

Macau, one of China’s special administrative regions, is a playground for tourists and one of the richest cities in the world. Every year in November, the province is taken over by auto racing fans for the Macau Grand Prix. This year, as the New York Times reports, the race runs from November 19 to November 22nd.

Unlike NASCAR’s standard oval track, the track for the Macau Grand Prix is a little bit more exciting, with sharp turns and hills to add some spice to the race.  In fact, it is considered to be one of the most challenging tracks in the world. There’s also more than just cars: according to Wikipedia, this is the only street-circuit racing event that has both car and motorcycle races.

Of course, if you want to see the race in person, you will definitely need a passport.  If you don’t have a one already, you’ll need to get your application processed super-fast to be able to make this year’s race.

If you’re traveling within the next 14 days, you can either apply for fast passport processing at a Regional Passport  Agency office or use a private passport expediting system. Using an expediter is the easiest and most convenient way to get a fast passport. You don’t have to make an appointment or spend a lot of time driving to/waiting around in a passport office. Instead, you can go to a passport acceptance facility, like a post office or library, have your application documents “sealed,” and send them to the expediting company. The expediting company then forwards them to the Department of State for fast passport processing.

In fact, with RushMyPassport.com, your passport application could be processed in as little as 24 hours!

Need a fast passport? Apply with us today!

The tiny Caribbean island of St. Lucia is an excellent destination for anyone who likes tropical beaches, scuba diving, snorkeling or hiking.  Now, you can fly there on JetBlue. Jaunted covered JetBlue’s inaugural flight to St. Lucia, and notes that it is a good deal cheaper than competing fares from old-school airlines like American.

Your flight may not feature rum and cake, like the inaugural flight did,  but hey, it’s still an affordable way to get to Paradise.

Of course, if you want to fly with JetBlue to their newest destination, you will need to get a new passport if you don’t already have one.

Here’s a brief rundown of what’s required when you fill out a new passport application:

• You must apply in person at a passport acceptance facility (usually a post office, library or county clerk’s office).
• You’ll need proof of identification and proof of citizenship. You’ll also need a photocopy of your identification.
• You must complete a new passport application, form DS-11.
• Submit 2 passport photos.
• Pay the applicable fees ($70 application fee + $25 execution fee + $60 if you want expedited service).
• Wait at least 6 weeks for regular service, and at least 3 weeks for expedited service.

If you’d like to travel St. Lucia  sooner than that, a private passport expediting company is your best bet. With an expediting company, you fill out your passport application at an acceptance facility, then have the documents “sealed.” Send the sealed application packet to the expediting company, and they will forward it directly to the Department of State, putting it on the top of the stack for super-fast processing.

In fact, RushMyPassport.com can often get passport applications processed in as little as 24 hours.

Apply for your new passport today!

When I wake up in the morning, the whole house is chilly, my bones ache, and I envy the flocks of geese and other birds that pass over my yard on their way to warmer, more hospitable climes. Birds are smarter than people-when the weather turns gross and cold, they fly south to sip margaritas on a beach somewhere until spring.

Well, okay, not really. But that’s what I would be doing if I, like many North American songbirds,  were overwintering in Mexico! Like it or not,  most of us can’t afford to put all of our possessions in storage and spend 3 months of  each year south of the border. However, there are some awesome deals on airfare to Mexico and the Caribbean right now, so you just might be able to afford a week or so of sunshine.

SmarterTravel.com has the scoop, with fares starting at $152 round-trip, for a flight from Tampa, Florida to Freeport, Bahamas on Spirit Airlines.  For $176, you can get from chilly Boston to Nassau on American Airlines, and for $194, Continental will take you from Dallas, Texas to Guadalajara, Mexico.

To get your tickets at these prices, you will need to be ready to depart by November 30th, and return by December 15. So, if you don’t already have a passport, you’ll need to get one in a hurry-you can’t fly to the Caribbean or Mexico without it!

There are two different ways to expedite your passport: apply for the government’s expedited service or use a private passport expediting company.  Of the two, a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com is by far the easiest and least stressful option.

If you don’t apply for expedited service, you can expect to wait at least 6 weeks for your passport, by which time this sale will be long gone.  If you apply for the government’s expedited service, you’ll stay wait at least 3 weeks for your passport to arrive.  ‘

You also can request emergency passport service with proof that you are traveling in 14 days or less. However, you have to make an appointment and drive to a Regional Passport Agency office, and there may not be one of those within easy driving distance.

With an expediting service, you can expedite your passport application to get it processed in as little as 24 hours, with no appointments, long drives or waiting in line.  Expedite your passport the easy way with us today!

Americans tend to avoid thinking about death unless they simply can’t help it. But across the border in Mexico, there is an entire holiday centered around death- El Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead.  The Day of the Dead is traditionally a time to honor dead relatives and friends.  It is believed that the souls of the dead are able to return during the celebration and be with their loved ones again.

The celebration takes place right after Americans get done celebrating Halloween, and it’s actually 2 days long.  On November 1st,  dead children and infants are believed to return in spirit to spend the day with their families. T0 honor them, families decorate their graves and an altar inside the home with little gifts like toys and balloons.

The next day, November 2nd, is the day that the souls of adults come back.  They are honored with more “grown-up” offerings, such as bottles of tequila or mezcal, or atole, a thick, hot drink made from cornstarch.

Both children and adults are also honored with altars and tombstones draped in yellow-orange marigolds, and rich feast of cakes and candies, most decorated with grinning skulls.  Most people visit the graves of family members in cemeteries, and in some areas, more elaborate ceremonies and candlelit vigils take place.

The best places to observe the Day of the Dead in Mexico are generally considered to  be  Mixquic in Mexico City, the island of Janitzio in Michoacan, Oaxaca and Meridia in Yucatan.  It’s not uncommon for tourists to visit these areas to observe the celebrations-just remember to be respectful,  since this is a serious, important holiday for the people who live there.

If you’d like to see the Day of the Dead for yourself, you’ll need to get a passport, quick.  Since June of 2009, passports have been required for all travel to Mexico.  Currently, it takes about6 weeks to get a passport if you apply with regular processing, and at least 3 weeks if you apply for expedited processing.

That doesn’t really give you enough time to get your passport and get to Mexico in time for the Day of the Dead this year, but a private passport expediting company can help you get a passport more quickly.

An expediting company will your passport directly to the Department of State, putting it on the “top of the stack.”  This means you get your passport quick, with processing times as low as 24 hours.

Need a passport quick? Apply with us today!

Did you know that this month is National Cruise Vacation Month?  It’s true…the Cruise Lines International Association celebrates National  Cruise Vacation month every October. To commemorate the occasion, cruise lines are offering great deals on exotic cruises.

For example, according to the New York Times, if you book a cruise on Norwegian before October 20th, you’ll only pay half the deposit that you normally would, and you will get an onboard credit to use for whatever your heart desires. Other cruise deals available this month include a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise from Celebrity starting at $279; a 10-night Royal Caribbean Western Mediterranean cruise leaving from Venice that starts at $499, and a 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise from NCL that starts at $229.

To see more cruise deals, check out CruiseCritic.com. Please note that some of these deals are for international cruises-and depending on when the ship leaves port, that means you might need to get a passport, quick!

Under the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which became effective in June of this year, passports are required for passengers who travel by boat to Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean.  The exception is if you are traveling to one of these locations on a closed-loop cruise, a cruise that begins and ends at the same US port. If you’re on a closed-loop cruise, you can get by with a state-issued photo ID and a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship.

However, it’s best to have a passport anyway, since you need one for air travel to and from these locations and you want to be prepared in case you have to leave unexpectedly. Also, you definitely need a passport for European and South American cruises.

The easiest way to get a passport quickly is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com. RushMyPassport makes it easy to get a passport quick by hand-delivering your application to the Department of State, resulting in processing times as low as 24 hours.

Don’t let these great deals sail away-get a passport, quick!

Heading to Europe, but looking for a destination that’s off the beaten path?  Look for an European Destination of Excellence.  An European Destination of Excellence, or EDEN for short, is an award given out by the European Commission to highlight relatively “unspoiled” tourist destinations that still offer visitors the chance to experience local culture.

According to this article in the New York Times, European Destinations of Excellence include small, quaint villages with an ancient history, like Carlingford, Ireland Edirne, Turkey. Carlingford features fresh seafood and medieval monasteries, while Edirne has been around since the Neolithic era and claims to be the birthplace of marzipan.

Visiting an EDEN destination is also an environmentally responsible choice, since sustainable development is one of the criteria for winning the award.  In the New York Times article, Ton van Lierop, a spokesman for the European Commission, explains “We want to promote destinations, locations, regions and towns with particular historical and cultural backgrounds, where sustainability plays a role.”

So far, there are 52 destinations that have received the EDEN designation.  Check out the European Destinations of Excellence website here to discover awesome destinations like the Sierra de las Nieves in Spain or the Tourist Wine Route of the Jura in France.

Of course, once you find a place to go, getting a passport should be your first priority. It’s important to allow enough time for your passport to arrive before you plan to leave. Getting a passport takes at least 6 weeks if you apply directly to the Department of State with regular processing, and at least 3 weeks if you apply for expedited processing.

However, if you’ve found an irresistible last-minute travel deal, don’t despair. Getting a passport quickly is possible. The easiest way to get a passport in a hurry is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com.  RushMyPassport will hand-deliver your passport application to the Department of State, resulting in processing times as quick as 24 hours.

Getting a passport is easier with us-apply for yours today!

It’s not even winter yet, but the weather outside is frightful! With fall rains, wind and cold temperatures (even snow!) making most of the country miserable, you may find yourself dreaming of cultivating an off-season tan on a tropical island somewhere.

Can you imagine sitting on a warm beach by the blue ocean, drinking something fruity with a little umbrella in it?

Well, what are you waiting for? For today only, JetBlue is having an amazing sale on  airfares to destinations including Mexico and the Caribbean. For example, you can fly from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Cancun for $49 one-way, or to Nassau for $29 one-way.

From New York, you can fly to Barbados or to Montego Bay, Jamaica for $99 one-way. Kingston, Jamaica is $89 one-way  from New York, and Nassau, Bahamas is $79.

Are you ready to leave the autumn chill behind and soak up some sun? Well, you’d better act fast-this sale ends at 11:59 pm tonight! Check out available fares here.

To fly to Mexico or the Caribbean, you will also need a passport.  If you want to leave within the next few weeks, you’ will also need a rush passport.

The easiest way to get a rush passport is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com.  The government’s expedited passport service takes about 3 weeks door-to-door, but an expediting company can have your passport application processed in as little as 24 hours!

Plus, you’ll work with a trained passport specialist and get simple, easy-to-understand instructions that help you avoid common mistakes and make filling out paperwork a snap!

Order your rush passport today!

Halloween is creeping closer and closer.  For an out-of-the-ordinary fall vacation, why not visit get a fast passport and visit the scenes of some of your favorite horror stories?

• London, England:    This city is the scene of horror classics like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and parts of Bram Stoker’s classic Dracula.
• Bran Castle, Romania: This castle, located in Transylvania, is billed as “Count Dracula’s castle” although it was not a primary residence of the historical Count Dracula, Vlad Tepes. However, it’s located in Transylvania and looks exactly like what you would expect Dracula’s castle to look like, so there you go.
• Geneva, Switzerland- In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, A Modern Prometheus, Victor Frankenstein grows up near Geneva. Mary Shelley first got the idea to write Frankenstein while she and her future husband, Percy Bysshe Shelly, were staying with friends on the shores of Lake Geneva. The weather was horrible, so the group resorted to telling ghost stories to pass the time, and Frankenstein’s monster was born!
• Paris, France: The Phantom of the Opera was set in the old Paris Opera House, although the opera has since moved to a newer building. The famous Cathedral of Notre Dame was, naturally, the setting for Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Of course, to travel to any of these destinations this month, you’ll need to get a fast passport. Actually, you’ll need a really fast passport. Regular passport processing takes approximately 6 weeks to complete, while the government’s expedited service takes approximately 3 weeks.

The easiest way to get faster passport processing is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com.  At RushMyPassport.com, we hand-deliver your passport application to the Department of State, resulting in processing times as fast as 24 hours.

Apply for your fast passport today!

Looking for something exciting to do this October? AirFrance has some excellent deals on trips to Europe.

For example, you can go from Boston to Madrid, Spain for $506 roundtrip, and from Washington, DC to Paris, France for $596. Miami to Milan, Italy is $586.  You can find a complete list of fares here, on the Smarter Travel website.

Need some suggestions for what to do while you are there? In addition to the normal tourist activities, check out these local, seasonal things to do:

Looking for some liquid refreshment? Check out Cava Week in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, Spain. The festival, which runs from September 22nd to October 13th, is a glorious celebration of the local sparkling wine, called cava.

The Alba White Truffle International Festival takes place in Alba, Italy from October 2 through November 7, and is a great place to sample local foods as well as the famed (and expensive!) white truffles.

If you’re traveling with children, check out the Kidexpo in Paris from October 15th-17th. It’s packed with games and activities for kids of all ages.

On October 30th, celebrate Halloween with the Witch Festival in Chalindrey, France. The Witch Festival celebrates the history behind the legends of witchcraft.

The Torino Film Festival runs from October 12th through October 20th in Torino, Italy. If you’re a fan of foreign films and independent cinema, it’s definitely worth a visit!

If you’re a chocoholic, you might also consider traveling to Perugia, Italy for the Eurochocolate Festival, October 15th through the 24th. The whole town will be swimming in rich chocolaty goodies!

Of course, if you want to travel to Europe this fall, you’ll need to expedite your passport if you don’t already have one. The easiest way to expedite your passport is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com.

With RushMyPassport.com, you can get your passport application processed in as little as 24 hours, without having to make an appointment or wait in line at a passport agency office.

Want to go to Europe this fall? Expedite your passport today!