Worried About Mexico? Get a Passport and Head Further South - Expedited Passports

Drug-fueled violence has been simmering over in certain parts of Mexico for well over a year now. The State Department has issued official travel warning after official travel warning to keep US citizens informed of the situation, most recently in April.

With horror stories coming in from across the border on a semi-regular basis, many US citizens have decided that it might be more prudent to take a summer vacation elsewhere. It should be noted that only certain parts of Mexico are affected by the violence- even the cautious bureaucrats over at the Department of State note that “the majority of visitors to Mexico thoroughly enjoy their stay.” The travel warning suggests that you stay away from the following areas: Northern Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon (especially the city of Monterrey), Tamaulipas Durango, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Sinaloa, Southern Sonora, Nayarit, Jalisco, San Luis Potosi, Michoacán, Guerrero and Morelos.

That still leaves a lot of places in Mexico that are fairly calm. However, if you’d prefer to stay out of the country altogether, Gadling has a couple of alternative suggestions: Costa Rica and Panama. According to the Department of State, the main threat to tourists in Costa Rica is theft. While Costa Rica has long been popular with American tourists, Panama is more of an up-and-coming destination, as evidenced by the construction of country’s first Westin Hotel and resort.

If you want to check out either of these countries, though, you’ll need to get a passport. To enter Costa Rica, you’ll need a US passport valid for at least 30 days after your arrival. If you’re going to Panama, it must be valid for at least three months.

To ensure you get your passport in time, plan ahead. It takes about six weeks to get a passport if you apply for regular service, and about three weeks if you request expedited service for an additional $60.

To get a passport more quickly, you can either make an appointment at the nearest regional passport agency office, or save time and gas money by using a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.

Let us help you get a passport quickly today!

Winter got you down? No problem! Currently, American Airlines is offering some excellent deals on flights to Belize. (Via Smarter Travel). Why stay stuck in the rain, cold and frost when you could be lounging on a white sand beach, exploring the rainforest or visiting Mayan ruins?

American Airlines currently has flights to Belize for as low as $298 round-trip if you fly out from Saint Louis, Missouri; Hartford, Connecticut; Miami, Florida; Washington, DC or New York City. It’s $358 to leave from Chicago and $378 to leave from Los Angeles.

If you go to Belize, here are some sights you should not miss:

• Belize Barrier Reef- a paradise for scuba divers and snorkelers, the Belize Barrier Reef is home to a dazzling variety of marine life.
• Half Moon Caye Natural Monument- the first area in Belize to be designated as a protected area.
• Caracol- An amazing Mayan site. Climb to the top of the awe-inspiring temple of Canaa, which towers 143 feet above the jungle, and explore the surrounding buildings to get a sense of what everyday life was like for the Maya.

If you’re planning on going to Belize, a valid US passport is a necessity. To get the American Airlines special, you will need to book by December 22nd and travel between January 1st and March 31, 2010.  Depending on when you travel, you may need to apply for an express passport.

The easiest way to get an express passport is to apply with a private passport expediting company. Currently, the Department of State says to allow 6 weeks or more for regular service and 3 weeks or more for expedited service. The only way to get it faster is to apply at a Regional Passport Agency, which requires that you make an appointment.

An expediting company can get you an express passport quickly, often within 24 hours, with no need to drive to a Regional Passport Agency office or take time off from work for your appointment.

Apply for your express passport today!