Getting a Passport to a European Eden - Expedited Passports

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!

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!

Right now, students are eligible for some excellent travel deals from STA Travel, with flights to Europe marked down up to 40%. That means you can fly from New York to London for $307 round-trip.  Chicago to Paris is $382, and Miami to Rome is $389. If you’d like to hang out in Amsterdam, round-trip tickets start out at $438 if you fly from New York.

You can also get an additional $100 off your flight if you book a room at a hotel or hostel, buy a Eurorail pass or purchase an adventure travel package from STA Travel.  You can see more flights and get more information here.

To qualify for these deals, though, you will need an International Student Identity card. Your college ID won’t cut it.  International Student Identity Cards are available to all full-time students ages 12 and up. You can apply for one here.

In addition to an International Student Identity Card, you’ll also need a valid passport.  You should fill out your passport application and turn it in well before you actually plan to leave the country. If you request regular processing with your application, you can expect to wait at least 6 weeks before you get your passport. If you expedite your passport application using the government’s expedited service option, you’re still looking at about 3 weeks for processing.

If you need your passport more quickly, a private passport expediting company is the most convenient option. RushMyPassport.com will hand-deliver your passport application to the Department of State, resulting in processing times as low as 24 hours.

Submit your passport application today!

In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was  common for wealthy young men to go on a “Grand Tour” of Europe,  visiting the major cities and seeing important historical sites and works of art.  In those days, the “Grand Tour” usually took months, if not years. However, if you act fast, Ryanair is giving you the opportunity to create your own, much faster version of this tradition, by selling a million plane tickets  from Great Britain to  different cities in Europe for only one euro.

What about getting there? Coincidentally, both American Airlines and United Airlines are having a sale on plane tickets to Europe, starting at $438 round trip.  So, you can get there and get around relatively cheaply.

However, if you want to take advantage of these specials, you’ll need to get a passport, quick. Ryanair’s deal ends tomorrow, on September 17th, and your travel dates have to be between October and December. Plus, the American Airlines deal is only valid if you travel before November 25, although United will give you until March of next year.

The best way to get a passport in time is to apply through a private passport expediting company. If you apply directly through the government, it will take about 6 weeks for your passport to come back. Even if you apply for the government’s expedited service, you can still expect to wait at least 3 weeks.

An expediting company will hand-deliver your passport application to the Department of State. This cuts processing times down to as little as 24 hours, so you’ll get your passport, quick!

Don’t miss out on these great airfare deals: get a passport, quick and start planning your trip today!