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Mexico has long been a playground for Americans on vacation, but lately it's been in the news due to an unfortunate epidemic of drug-fueled violence. Is it still a safe place to visit? Despite the grisly headlines, the answer is "yes"-as long as you use common sense and stay away from the most lawless, unsafe regions of the country. With that in mind, here's a summary of the areas in Mexico that the US Department of State has warned US…
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Today was Passport Day in the USA. Did you manage to make it down to your local passport office? To encourage Americans to get passports, the US Department of State opened its Regional Passport Agency Offices for special Saturday hours to give busy Americans a chance to apply for a passport in person without an appointment. What if you missed it? No worries, you can still get a passport. Just find the nearest passport acceptance facility using the Department of…
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Have you gotten one of the new US passport cards yet? If you have one, and you are driving across an international bridge into Mexico or Canada, border officials want you to take that card out of your wallet and "wave it in the air like you just don't care" before you get to the inspection booth. No, this isn't some elaborate prank designed to make you look foolish for border officials' amusement. According to the El Paso Times, this…
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At 5,525 miles long, the US/Canadian border is the longest border in the world. Not all of that border is paved-some is mountain wilderness, some of it empty prairie, and some of the border runs along the Great Lakes. If you are crossing from Canada into the United States at a border crossing in a populated area, you need a US passport, passport card or another document that's compliant with the World Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). For more details, see Do…
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Forget those fluffy marshmallow chicks and those atrocious egg-shaped jelly beans (especially the licorice-flavored ones!) When it comes to Easter candy, chocolate is where it's at. If you're looking for something to do this Easter holiday, why grab a fast passport and enjoy the world's best chocolate, right from the source? The following destinations are the creme de la creme of the chocolate world: Cadbury World, Birmingham, England The folks behind both Cadbury creme eggs and a range of iconic…
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*The passport fees have recently changed. As of April 2nd, 2018, the passport acceptance fee has gone up from $25 to $35. Two travel industry groups, the ASTA and the Interactive Travel Services Association, are urging the US Department of State to reconsider their plans to institute new, higher passport fees. The plans, which were announced last month by the Department of State, would increase passport fees for new passports and for replacing lost or stolen passports from from…
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If you've ever wanted to visit Paris, why not go this spring? Yes, the whole "Paris in the springtime" thing is a bit of a cliche, but it really is one of the nicest seasons to visit. The weather is mild, not hot like it gets in the summer, and it's also less crowded. Even better, you're more likely to be able to find a good price on a hotel room if you go now than you would in the…
