How long does it take to get a passport? The short answer is, it depends. How long it takes to get a U.S. passport can vary depending on how and where you apply, as well as how quickly you’ll need it before you board your international flight. If you elect for standard processing at a passport agency or center, you’ll wait longer than if you choose an expedited process. Whether you’re looking to renew your passport or need to apply for…
What are the requirements for child passports? Traveling with children is hard enough. Add in the travel planning before you go and it can be overwhelming. But we make the child passport process easy to understand. Do you need a passport for your upcoming international trip? Do children and minors need a passport? YES. Any United States citizen, no matter what age, traveling outside of the United States by air requires a passport. Confusion arises when a minor is traveling…
Four US states (Washington, Michigan, New York and Vermont) have started offering enhanced driver's licenses (EDL's), which can be used instead of a passport to travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. If you live in one of these states, should you trade your old license in for an EDL, or should you get a passport? Ultimately, the decision is yours to make, based on how often you travel out of the country and whether you usually drive or fly.…
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In some countries, getting a passport is almost second nature. Not here, though. According to this recent post on The Expeditioner.com, only 22% Americans have a passport. That's less than a quarter of the population! For a little perspective, compare that rate to our neighbors in Canada. According to Wikipedia, 56.2% of Canadians have a Canadian passport. Why is it so different here? The Expeditioner lays out a couple of possible reasons, both of which I basically agree with: Money:…
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News of natural disasters or political violence in other countries leaves most people simply shaking their heads. However, for some travelers, bad news in an otherwise attractive travel destination means that it's time to double-check the expiration date on your passport. Why would you want to travel to an area that's experiencing difficulties? Most people choose to stay home or go somewhere else when conditions in a particular destination are less than ideal, which means that you can often score…
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If you need a lot of dental work done, the costs can be prohibitive. For example, according to Wikipedia, the average cost for a root canal in the US ranges from $699 to $1300. One root canal and crown is enough to exhaust the annual benefit limit of many dental policies, so what happens if you need more than one? One possible solution involves getting a passport and flying to somewhere where dental care is less expensive. This is called…
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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.…
