Tagged: passport

Online Renewal of U.S. Passports Reopens for a Limited Time

Update: The portal for renewing U.S. passports online has reopened as of October 11. In September, the window was open for less than two days before slots filled up. After October's…

Can I Use a Driver's License to Drive Into Mexico or Canada?

In the past, it was possible for U.S. citizens to drive into Mexico or Canada using only a standard state-issued driver's license and birth certificate. That has changed. The U.S.…

Can't Get Global Entry? Skip Airport Lines with Mobile Passport Control—It's Free

With airports busy again, travelers are seeking ways to dodge cumbersome lines. Some of the worst queues stack up at the Border Protection desks at entry points to the United…

Sharp Price Increase for U.S. Passports Announced

Looks like inflation is also hitting government fees. This week, the U.S. State Department announced that the cost of a passport will go up by 13%. Beginning December 27, a new…

Scam Alert: Passport Processing Swindles Are Booming

We've been warning you about the immense backlog of passport applications facing the U.S. State Department—up to two million people are now reportedly waiting for processing. It…

The Best and Worst Passports on the Planet, By Cost and Power

Fewer than 50% of Americans have passports—a surprisingly low percentage. Some people blame the price of the document, which is currently $145 for a new application or $110 to renew. A…

This Year, You Finally, Really, Truly Need Real ID to Fly

Update, April 27, 2021: Guess what? The government delayed Real ID yet again. Click here to read about the new deadline.We really mean it this time: Real ID becomes mandatory at U.S.…

Do I Need a Passport to Cruise?

Surprisingly enough, there's a loophole that lets American passengers soak in the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean and other destinations without a passport. You don't need a…

Arthur Frommer: Make Sure To Check Your Passport Dates Before Travel

You are about to leave on an international trip, and you have carefully checked the contents of your suitcase, wallet or purse to make sure that everything—especially your passport—is…

Brazil Just Got a Whole Lot Easier to Visit

Hallelujah! Brazil's arms are finally opening wide to tourists.For years, if you wanted to visit the riches of this South American country, you soon found out how difficult it was.…

App for Speeding Up Customs Process Now Live at 14 Airports

A mobile app designed to move you through customs quickly and efficiently is now available at 14 of the country's international airports. The latest addition, Washington Dulles in…

Expiring Passports Should Be Renewed Early

On the Frommer's Travel Show, our weekly radio broadcast, we recently interviewed Brenda Sprague, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Passport Services for the U.S. State Department,…

Two New Passport Rules Elicit Anger

The U.S. State Department has changed the rules for passports in two ways.First, as of January 1, 2016, it will no longer allow you to add pages to your passport if you fill up…

U.S. Government Is Pushing TSA PreCheck to New Passport Recipients, But Global Entry Would Be Smarter

Get a new passport these days, and it will arrive with a new bookmark urging you to sign up for TSA PreCheck. Volunteer some personal information about yourself beforehand, it says,…

The Able Traveler: Charleston, Military History and Wheelchair-Access

2011 marked the start of sesquicentennial remembrances of the four-year-long U.S. Civil War, and historic venues across America are holding special events up through 2014 to…

Montreal Getaway: Exploring the City Year-Round

As temperatures cool down, hockey season is heating up. A winter trip to Montreal offers a chance to see hockey played in its sacred homeland, Canada. In addition to taking in a game,…

Traveler's Ski Report: Crested Butte, Colorado

Nuts and Bolts: In Crested Butte, there are times when you have to pinch yourself. Like when you're riding the Silver Queen Express at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (tel.…

Take a Trip Down Memory Lane at Disneyland

Come on. Let's have some fun. We deserve it.Ignore those office emails, forget all about the economy and for an afternoon focus instead on what's really important, especially on…

Greenwashed! Make Sense of the Travel Industry's Eco Promises

Book an airline ticket, save the planet.Re-use the towel in your hotel; stop global warming. Rent a hybrid car; reduce our dependence on fossil fuel.Lofty promises made by…

Put These Free Travelers' Services On Your Speed Dial

Even though we'd prefer otherwise, not everyone carries Frommer's guidebooks with them everywhere they go. But that's okay: you still have a powerful travel information tool with you…