Do you have your travel documentation?  

Any time you are planning travel, you need to make sure you have or are prepared to obtain proper travel documentation.  First things first, do you know what the proper travel documentation is for your travel? This answer can vary based on the type of travel and your specific circumstances.  There are a variety of travel documents to consider such as Passports, Visas, and Unaccompanied Minor forms.  Legal status may also have an effect on your travel documentation.

When it comes to passports and flying in and out of the US, the rule is simple.  You must have a passport book.  Passport cards are not valid for international air travel.

 I am often asked, “Do I have to have a passport for my cruise?”  There isn’t really a simple answer to this question.  My recommendation, and that of any reputable travel professional or organization, is always YES!  However, technically speaking, there could be a slightly different answer.

Let’s look at the easy scenarios first.  If your cruise departs out of any foreign port of call such as Canada, England, Europe, etc. then yes, you must have a passport.  (Remember, you need a passport to get to the departure city.)  If your cruise departs out of one US port and returns to a different US port, then yes, you must have a passport.

Now here is where it can be tricky, if your cruise departs and returns from the same US port, and you are a US citizen, although highly recommended, you may not be required to have a passport.  The department of Homeland Security has a policy that exempts passengers on a “closed loop” cruise from the passport requirement.  According to the department of homeland security, as shown on their website, a closed loop cruise is defined as a voyage or itinerary where a vessel departs from a U.S. port or place and returns to the same U.S. port upon completion of the voyage. They go on to further state that travelers on “closed loop” voyages are not subject to the same documentary requirements for entry to the United States as other travelers.

Having said that, most travel professionals and organizations agree while it may not be required, it is strongly recommended that you have a passport for any travel that involves leaving the United States.  There are many reasons for this.  Did you know that your birth certificate, even a certified copy, is not really proof of citizenship?  It does indeed prove you were born, but offers no current proof of your citizenship status.  Without being able to prove you are a US citizen, it is almost impossible to get back in this country if for some reason you aren’t coming back the same way you left!  For example, if there is some sort of family emergency while you are traveling, without a passport you would not be allowed to fly back to the US from any other country.  If you personally experience any sort of unforeseen circumstance or emergency while traveling and you need to return to the US via crossing a land border or flight, you will not be allowed to do so without a passport.  In this day and age, it is never a good idea to leave the US without a passport and proof of citizenship.   Many travel professionals are now requiring any passengers that opt to travel without a passport to sign a waiver stating that they understand they are leaving the country without a passport and they accept that risk and responsibility.

While we are on the subject of passports, please do yourself a favor and get a passport book, not the passport card.  The passport cards are not valid for air travel.  As per the US department of state:   The U.S. Passport Card can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.  The passport card will not do you any good if you need to fly home in the event of an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance.  Yes, passport cards are less expensive, but passport books are good for 10 years and when you do the math, very cost effective.  Plus with a passport book, you are ready to go at a moment’s notice regardless of where and how you are traveling.

If you don’t already have a passport, there is no time like the present to go and get one!

Another important topic for travel documentation is Visas; many countries require them.  The need for a Visa is determined by your country of citizenship, and the country you are visiting.  There is a very specific process and time frame for obtaining your travel visas.

Unaccompanied Minor documentation is also important to understand.  Any time a minor child is leaving the US without BOTH parents (regardless of marital status or custody arrangements), specific documentation is required.

Legal status is also something to be taken seriously before you book your travel or before travel departure.  Just because you have a date valid passport that does not mean your passport is valid for travel to all countries.  Our legal system here in the US makes significant differentiation between misdemeanor offenses and felony offenses.  This is not the case in all countries.  Just because you have a passport does not mean you are eligible to enter another country.  There are too many scenarios to cover here, but some of the biggest issues come in to play with DUI, DWI, back-child support, and other crimes.

When you book your vacation with me, I make sure you understand all of the documentation required for your travel.  I always recommend having a valid passport on hand so you can book that much needed vacation at a moment’s notice!

Happy Travels,

When are you going to Europe?

Did you know that the Euro (€) is at a 9 year low against the US Dollar? What that means for you, is that your dollar will go further in Europe! Earlier this week, the Euro was at 1.17, in other words $1.17=1€. I can remember one of my trips when the Euro was at $1.47. To help put that in perspective for you, let’s look at a shopping scenario for you. If you are in Europe and find an item for 100€, with an exchange rate of 1.17 the item will cost you $117. However, with the higher exchange rate of 1.47, that same item will cost you $147. Which would you rather pay? I know I would much rather pay $117!
The Euro is the second most traded currency in the world after the US dollar. There are 19 of the 28 countries in the European Union that use the Euro as their official, primary, or only currency. Those countries are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. Also, some of the overseas territories of European Union members use the Euro as their official, primary, or only currency. (For example, on the French side of St. Martin in the Caribbean the Euro is the official currency.)
Something else to consider along with the exchange rate in Europe is how to get cash exchanged when you are in Europe. To get cash, the best exchange rate will be found using your bank / debit card at an ATM machine in Europe. Of course you need to check with you bank before leaving to see which banking machine system your card is compatible with. The ATM machines will charge you a fee for the exchange, but depending on your bank and the bank you are using in Europe, those fees are much lower than using a currency exchange booth at the airport, and most times lower than the fees for pre-purchasing your currency. Please avoid the currency exchange booths if at all possible; the fees are exorbitant most of the time. If you must use them upon arrival because you need it for taxi fare, or you find your card won’t work, only get the bare minimum you need until you can get to an ATM machine or contact your bank. Another option, but one I don’t recommend, is to use your credit card and get a cash advance at a bank. With credit cards, the interest on a cash advance often starts the day you take out the advance, not on the billing cycle date. In addition to that, there is also a fee to do the transaction.

Using credit cards in Europe also deserves your attention and fore thought before traveling. For your credit card purchases, you will want to check with your credit card company ahead of time and make sure your card can be used in Europe. Many places in Europe have gone to chip technology with their credit card processing; it is recommended that you have a credit card with a chip. Also, as a note, the most widely accepted cards in Europe are Visa and MasterCard. American Express is not as widely accepted, and Discover Card is rarely (almost never!) accepted. Another thing to consider with your credit cards is the foreign transaction fees. You may want to consider obtaining a credit card that does not have foreign transaction fees.

As always, regardless of where you travel, always alert your bank and credit card companies what countries you will be visiting and the dates you will be traveling. It is always the recommendation to use credit cards outside of the country and not debit cards.  Debit cards are a great convenience, but they are not credit card and do not have the same policies when it comes to fraud protection. Many debit cards are not even able to be used outside of the US. Prepaid credit cards are never a good idea outside of the US either; the vast majority of them cannot be used outside of the US.

Have you always wanted to visit Europe? Now is a great time! If you can’t visit now, but plan to in the relatively near future (approximately 1 year), you can always look at purchasing Euro’s now to use on your trip later. Now is the time to think about that trip to Italy you have always wanted to take, or maybe you have always dreamed a visit to France, Spain, Germany, or Ireland. Where ever your dream takes you, we can make that dream a reality!

Happy Travels,

Kelley