Top 5 Reasons to Get a Passport in 2011 - Expedited Passports

It’s a new year, and that means it’s time to start planning the places you’ll go in 2011. To help you get started, I’ve hand-picked 5 of the best destinations recommended by travel experts – 5 great reasons to get a passport in 2011!

London, England

Travel experts agree: this is London’s year. The upcoming marriage of Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton is expected to attract a flurry of tourists from England, America and beyond, all there to bask in the pomp and circumstance that surrounds a royal wedding.

But the Telegraph has what I personally consider a much better suggestion: skip the wedding. Watch it on TV. Then, go later in the year, after things have died down a bit, and stay in one of the new luxury hotels that are opening in the city.

Turin, Italy

Turin is one of those cities that’s often overlooked, taking a backseat to more famous Italian jewels like Rome and Florence. Not this year. According to the Guardian, art lovers will converge upon Turin in 2011 as the city celebrates the 150th anniversary of Italian unification with stellar exhibitions of both Renaissance and modern art.

Curacao

USAToday notes that “2011 will mark Curacao’s first full year as an autonomous nation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, adding a new chapter to the island’s rich history.” Why not go out and see the Caribbean’s newest island nation for yourself?

New Zealand

New Zealand is an exciting place to be this year, with the Auckland Arts Festival for art lovers, the World Rugby Cup for sports fans and the filming of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit for geeks.

Iceland

Why Iceland? Hot springs, breathtaking scenery and a smoking nightlife are combined with prices that are still quite reasonable. Even better, new airline routes make it easier than ever to get to.

Of course, to visit any of these destinations you’ll need to get a passport. Apply early, as it takes about 6 weeks if you apply for regular processing. You can get a passport in 3 weeks if you pay an additional $60 for expedited processing. If you need it sooner, your only options are to make an appointment at a regional passport agency office or apply through an expediting company like RushMyPassport.com. An expediting company is definitely more convenient, as you don’t have to make an appointment, travel to a passport agency or wait in line.

Don’t wait – Get a passport today!

Is a visit to the Eternal City on your bucket list? Take note: the New York Times is reporting that this fall is a particularly good time to go. That’s because o Dr. Roberto Cecchi, Rome’s new Archaeological Commissioner, has made it a point to both restore and restore access to archaeological treasures that were previously closed to the public. For example, through October 2nd, the Colosseum now has extended Saturday hours and is open until midnight. You’ll also be able to see the usually closed arena level and part of the hypogeum, the area where wild beasts and gladiators awaited their turn in the arena. The Baths of Caracalla will also be open for tours after dark.

Additionally, the Temple of Romulus in the Roman Forum is now open to the public, as are some recently restored frescoes in the House of Livia.

If these exhibits pique your interest, you should go ahead and renew your passport now if you want to see them. The New York Times spoke to Colosseum director Dr. Rossella Rea, who implied that the expanded hours and exhibits would probably not last forever:

These new fall options for visiting Rome’s most celebrated archaeological parks is tremendously exciting for both travelers and archaeologists. Yet in a city where cultural financing is tenuous, it is important to seize on new openings as they come about. “We want to continue to do more here,” Dr. Rea said, “but in the end it all depends on money.”

Whether you need to renew your passport or get a new one, you should expect to wait at least 6 weeks if you apply with normal processing. For an additional $60 fee, you can apply for expedited processing, which will reduce the time it takes to process your application to approximately 3 weeks. If you can’t wait that long, don’t panic-you do still have some options. Either make an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency or use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com.

Renew your passport with us today!

It’s almost Valentine’s Day. In honor of the annual love-fest, why not plan a trip to one of the romantic cities described below? Each of the cities below is famous for having a romantic atmosphere that makes falling in love seem effortless-so much so that all 5 of them have been used as settings for some of the classic love stories of the silver screen:

Paris, France:  Paris’ reputation as the “City of Love” has made it the city of choice for romantic flicks-think Last Tango in Paris, An American in Paris, and Gigi, among many, many others. Walk along the Seine, climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and don’t forget to share a bottle of wine and some excellent chocolate with that special someone!

Rome, Italy- Used as a setting for romance movies both old (like Roman Holiday) and new (like When in Rome), a visit to the Eternal City is even better when you share it with someone else.

Casablanca, Morocco- The scene of the classic romance Casablanca is still a romantic city to visit, thanks to its mild climate and gorgeous architecture.

London- What could be more romantic than strolling through the streets of London, the scene 0f Shakespeare in Love, and many of Shakespeare’s plays as well?

Rio de Janeiro- The scene of Notorious, a 1946 romantic thriller featuring Cary Grant and Ingrid Berman, Rio de Janeiro features world-class beaches and stunning scenery.  For a romantic afternoon activity, take the glass-paneled cable car up Sugarloaf mountain.

To get to any of these cities, you need more than a taste for romance and adventure. You also need a US passport. RushMyPassport makes applying for your US passport easy and fast. We help you through the application process, providing clear, easy-to-understand instructions and a handy checklist that makes gathering the appropriate documents a breeze.

Then, we hand-deliver your passport application to the Department of State, resulting in processing times that range from 24 hours to a little over a week, depending on the option you request when you sign up.  Compare that to the normal processing time of 6 weeks for regular passport processing and 3 weeks for the government’s expedited service, and you can see why our service is the most convenient way to get a US passport quickly.

Apply for your US passport today!

Not sure where to go for your next vacation? There are so many possibilities, especially with many airlines and hotels offering rock-bottom prices on international travel.  If your new passport is burning a hole in your pocket and you’re having trouble choosing a destination, you might want to try out Joobili.com.

What is Joobili? As this post on the  Joobili blog points out, the service is different from most travel websites because it caters to people who know when they want to travel but don’t have a destination in mind.  To use Joobili, all you have to do is select the dates for your vacation, and the website comes up with a list of events and cool things to do around the world during that time period.

For example, if you select April 10th through the 19th, you’ll get a list of events including the following:

• Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film: An international film festival that showcases science fiction, fantasy and horror films. Held in Brussels, the festival also includes a Zombie Parade!
  
• The Snowbombing Festival in Mayrhofen, Austria: An enormous music and dance festival in an ice village. Festival highlights include bands, DJs, costume parties and dancing on igloos.

• The Prague Easter Markets in the Czech Republic: Shopping, intricate hand-painted Easter Eggs, lots of delicious local food and Pilsner beer. Fun for the whole family!  (more…)

Passport requirements for travel to the Caribbean have changed! Click here to see the most up-to-date information.

US travel regulations have been changing over the past few years, so you may need a passport to go to the Caribbean even if you were able to travel without one in the past. Here are the details you need to know to  plan your Caribbean adventure, including current requirements and upcoming changes.

Right now, whether or not you need a passport to go to the Caribbean depends in part on which Caribbean country you are traveling to. There are 17 Caribbean countries that are part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI):

• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Aruba
• Bahamas
• Bermuda
• British Virgin Islands (more…)

If you’re in the mood to travel but not sure where you want to go, NileGuidance has a great post up that lists the top-rated travel destinations as voted on by travel industry experts.

The top 10 travel icons include some exciting destinations: the Eiffel Tower in France, the Great Wall of China, Mt. Fuji in Japan, the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, Iguazu Falls on the border between Brazil and Argentina and Victoria Falls in South Africa.

If you want to visit any of these iconic destinations, don’t forget your passport! Travel experts recommend applying for a passport at least a couple of months before your trip. If you want to leave at the last minute, you’ll need to get a passport fast.

Fortunately, getting a fast passport is simple when you use a private passport expediting service like RushMyPassport.com.  Private passport expediting companies can offer fast passport processing because they deliver your application by hand to the US Passport Agency. They also offer instructions and assistance to simplify the passport application process.

RushMyPassport.com has a range of fast passport options designed to meet your travel needs and budget.  Order your passport today, and get ready to travel!

What are your favorite iconic destinations? Let us know in the comments!