Beat the Heat With a US Passport - Expedited Passports

The dog days of summer are here, and at least in some parts of the country, being outside past noon is downright unpleasant.  In Oklahoma City today, the high is expected to hit 104! According to Wikipedia, the ancient Romans believed that during the dog days, “the seas boiled, wine turned sour, Quinto raged in anger, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies.”

If you’re looking for an escape from summer’s punishing temperatures, your US passport might be just the ticket.  Here are some possible destinations to help you beat the heat:

Norway: The average temperature in Oslo in July is only 63.1  °F.  Nice! Plus, the country has a variety of activities available that are guaranteed to chill you out, such as glacier walking or visiting the North Cape, where the breeze that hits your face comes directly from the North Pole itself.  In Norway, summer is also the season of the famous midnight sun.

Patagonia: Located at the southern edge of South America in Argentina and Chile, the Patagonia region is the perfect destination for skiers, snowboarders and nature lovers. Since it’s in the southern hemisphere, when it’s summer here, it’s winter there. Ski resort towns like Bariloche, Argentina combine fresh powder with delicious food and a vibrant nightlife.

Iceland: Even if the middle of summer, it’s almost unheard of for the mercury in Iceland to ever rise above 60 degrees. Add in glaciers, hot springs and a variety of other activities and it’s easy to see how a visit to Iceland would make for a refreshing interlude from the scorching heat of midsummer.

If you don’t have a US passport yet or you need to get yours renewed, don’t despair.  While regular passport processing takes about six weeks, there are a number of other options that can help you get your passport more quickly. For example, you can apply for expedited processing from the Department of State, which will cut processing time down to three weeks. For even faster service, you can either make an appointment at a regional passport agency office or use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport to get your US passport application processed in as little as 24 hours.

Need a US passport, fast? Contact us today!

Do you have summer travel plans yet? We’ve combed the web to find the coolest, most interesting summer vacation ideas for 2011. If you don’t know where you’re going yet, perhaps one of the following destinations will pique your interest:

Skiing in Patagonia, Argentia:  If lounging on the beach isn’t your thing, follow winter down to the southern hemisphere to enjoy world-class skiing in Patagonia. With resorts and terrain that cater to everyone from beginners to experts, this remote corner of Argentina has something for everyone. (via National Geographic)

Bermuda: If lounging on the beach is your thing, consider a trip to Bermuda this summer. Gadling points out that among this island’s many perks are pink sand beaches, excellent nightlife and short flights from the US.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: AOL recommends hopping on a plane to Rio this summer to enjoy Brazil’s fabulous beaches.  When it’s summer here, it’s winter there, but Brazil’s climate is so temperate that you probably won’t notice. As an added bonus, the beaches will be somewhat less packed and lodging will likely be cheaper.

Istria, Croatia: Another National Geographic pick, Istria is known for gorgeous, pristine beaches, pine forests and nature preserves.

Israel: Gadling recommends Israel for a summer vacation, noting that “Geopolitics aside, Israel is an awe-inspiring place to visit.” There’s a variety of activities available, and most people there speak English, so it’s definitely worth considering for a summer vacation you’ll never forget.

If you want to travel internationally over the summer, you’d better get your passport application in now.  Applications usually take at least 6 weeks to process, though that can vary depending on how busy the Department of State is. If you spring for expedited processing (an additional $60), you’ll still wait about three weeks.

For faster service, RushMyPassport can help. We walk you through the application process, reducing the chance of errors, and then hand-carry your passport application to the Department of State for processing in as little as 24 hours.

Need help you your passport application? Contact us today!

It’s already May, and that means it’s time to start shopping around for summer travel deals. Here’s how to end up with an incredible, affordable summer vacation in 3 easy steps:

Step 1- Apply for your US passport renewal

Some of the best travel deals this summer will take you out of the country. Since you now need your passport even for most trips to our neighbors in Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean, it makes sense to go ahead and apply for your passport renewal now.

Step 2- Friend/Follow your favorite airlines and hotels

One great way to get the inside scoop on travel deals is to connect with your favorite airlines or hotels on Twitter and/or Facebook. For example, CBS’ “The Early Show” reported that the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort is offering discounts of up to 40% off to travelers who “like” the resort’s Facebook page.

Likewise, many airlines announce specials on Twitter. For example, JetBlue airlines uses the @JetBlueCheeps account to broadcast discounted fares to its followers.

Step 3- Monitor sites for deals

Many discount travel sites will send you updates by email to show you what their latest deals are. For example, Orbitz has a service called “Deal Detector” that lets you name your desired price for a specific itinerary. If the price for the trip drops down below a certain point, Orbitz will notify you by email.

Other travel websites will send you email newsletters with hand-picked travel bargains. If you don’t want these clogging your inbox, consider changing your email settings to have them routed to a special “travel” folder, which you can then review at your leisure.

While it makes sense to book ahead most of the time, last-minute deals do also come up. That’s why it’s so important to have a valid passport. US passport renewal can take 6 weeks if you apply with regular processing, and 3 weeks even if you apply for the government’s expedited processing.

If you need your passport renewal more quickly, there is hope-a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport can get your application processed in as little as 24 hours, without you having to spend a lot of time in a passport office.

Apply for your US passport renewal today!