As Travel Consultants, there are lots of “top questions” we receive on a weekly basis. When is the best time of year to travel? What are the crowds like? Can you work with my budget?

If I had to figure out what the most popular questions are about, I would have to respond with “Passports”. Passport questions can be complicated, so let me break down two of the top questions and concerns about passports.

Question: “Does it matter when my passport  expires?”
Answer: YES! Most countries (including Mexico, the Caribbean and Bahamas) will require you to have a passport that does not expire within 6 months post travel. That means that if you are traveling in June 2018, your passport would need to be valid through January 2019. Otherwise, you may be denied entry.

Always check your expiration date before you book a vacation that requires a passport!

Question: “Do I really need a passport to Cruise? My friend said I only need a birth certificate.”
Answer: This is a tricky answer. Technically yes, you are allowed to sail on a closed-loop cruise, meaning departing and returning from a US cruise port, with a certified copy of your birth certificate. BUT – and this is extremely important – all cruise lines and travel consultants are going to highly encourage you to sail with a passport. The reasons are severe. If for any reason you would need to fly home from a foreign country, you must have a valid passport in order to fly. This includes flying due to a medical emergency. It also includes needing to get home because there is an issue with your ship!

A common myth is that if you need to fly home by fault of the cruise line, “the cruise line would take care of it”. This is false. Even if you are stuck on an island while a ship is being repaired, if you need to fly home, you will need a passport.

I just read a story about a woman who lost an arm to a shark bite while snorkeling in the Bahamas. She needed immediate medial attention, and the doctors wanted to med-flight her back to the US. Because she did not have a passport, she had to stay on the island and receive medical attention at a local foreign hospital.

I’m not telling you this to scare you, but to impress upon you the risk you take by cruising without a passport.

Passports are super easy to get, so do yourself a favor and go ahead and get a passport now; even if you don’t have a trip planned. What if your friend invites you on a last minute cruise? Or your relative decides to plan a last minute wedding in Mexico? You’ll be so glad you already have one!

If you would like more information about how and where to obtain a passport, reach out and ask your Must Love Travel Planner! We are always happy to walk you through the process. 

I know there are a lot of fears and worry around traveling right now. As I keep telling my clients (and myself!) this will end, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and we all will begin to travel again very soon!

No matter where in the world you are going, here are some easy, standard tips for keeping safe when traveling internationally. Whether you are traveling to Europe, Costa Rica, Australia or Thailand, these tips will help everyone stay safe in a country that is not your own.

Getting There

• Make a color copy of your passport or take a picture and email it to yourself. This will be a great backup if your passport is lost or stolen.
• Arrive at your destination during daylight hours so you can check out the surroundings to make sure it’s safe.

Full Service Hotel

• Consider staying at a hotel that has staff working 24/7 rather than a home share.
• Write down the exact address of where you’re staying in case your phone dies or gets lost or stolen.
• Request a room on a higher floor. There is generally a layer of security before you get to the elevators.
• If you’re riding the elevator with a stranger, let them press their floor number first. If it’s the same as yours, go up another level just to be safe.

During your Trip

• Check in with family or friends at home shortly after arriving. Share your itinerary with someone at home so folks know what you are doing.
• Check in frequently throughout your trip.

Around Town

• Wear clothes that blend in while out in public. You do not want to advertise that you’re a tourist.
• Only carry what you need, primarily your phone, ID and some cash.
• Use a purse or pocket that can be worn in the front so that way you prevent pickpockets from reaching into a back pocket.
• Carry your cash in more than one spot. This way, if your purse does get stolen, you still have some money on you.
• When enjoying the nightlife, keep an eye on the person making your drink. Don’t ever let your drink out of your sight. And stay sober if you are by yourself!
• Don’t tell strangers where you are staying. If someone asks, keep it vague. (“Down near the Boat Dock”)

Excursions

• Book group tours with certified tour operators. Thoroughly read the reviews before booking.

Ready to book your next Adventure? Contact your Must Love Travel Planner today!

You never know when the opportunity to sneak away to an exotic island, visit Europe or maybe another great location on your bucket list. We have had many clients over the years be surprised by a relative that wants the whole family on a vacation or they may have just won an incentive trip from their company and they have to get their ducks in a row so panic sets in. What do I need? Where do I get it? How long will it take? These are all great questions and important to make sure you are all set and ready to go. I have 3 things I have found for our family that has prepared us for any such occasion to get out of town!

• Passports: Passports are needed anytime you travel outside of the country. They are not needed for domestic travel, however, having them as your identification is not a bad idea. Purchasing them even if you don’t have a trip scheduled is a great idea! Passports can be costly, approx. $150.00 per person. So this is a great item to budget out. The entire family doesn’t need to get them at the same time. You can get one a month or every few months. Passports for Newborn to 15 years of age are good for 5 years and 16 or older are good for 10 years. You will want to take this into consideration and plan the times for renewal as well. Visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html for all the specific legal information regarding passports
• Credit Cards: You may not be thinking of it now, but one snag when traveling abroad and wanting to purchase items on your credit card is a foreign transaction fee. This is typically 3% of the purchase price. There are some travel credit cards that waive this fee, which can be helpful if you are traveling where you intend to use your card often for dining, tours, souvenirs, etc. There is a lot more to think about with Travel Cards and I ran across a great article that will be helpful to you. The key is that this item too, takes time to get so planning ahead will relieve the stress! Check out this article for more in-depth details. https://creditcards.usnews.com/travel
• Cell Phone Coverage: A simple call to your cell phone provider at any time to discuss international plans or plans just to use when you travel will have you ready to go. It is not just your calling that you should be concerned with, but text and especially data. If you are not in wi-fi, your apps and data can really add up. Check out this article in Smart Traveler for an in-depth look at phone plans and considerations. https://www.smartertravel.com/2018/01/30/best-international-phone-plans/

These are 3 simple things that can be done ahead of time and at any time to get you prepared for travel anywhere!