Mexico Travel Requirement

The Navigator: With vacation travel up this summer, what are the best travel tips?

Close to 35 million Americans traveled over the Memorial Day weekend, mostly by car, according to the AAA . That’s about 100,000 travelers more than last year, which to many suggests a fairly busy summer season ahead.

The airline industry is upbeat, too. The Air Transport Association predicts that U.S. airlines will carry a total of 206.2 million passengers from June through August — about 3 million more passengers than during the same period last year, an increase of 1.5 percent.

Readers such as Tom Thomas, a retired federal employee from Takoma Park, are making big plans. He’s flying to Washington state for his high school reunion and then on to Alaska for a tour of the Inside Passage from Vancouver. “I’ve never been to either,” he says.

After several years of staycations, it’s clear that a good number of American travelers are planning a long-overdue getaway. Higher prices don’t seem to be standing in their way.

Hotel rates are up between 5 and 10 percent, depending on the amenities, says the AAA. Airfares are up 14 percent from 2010, with the lowest average round-trip fare at $201. Meanwhile, a gallon of gas costs an average of around $3.80, more than $1 higher than this time last year.

While that’s good news for the travel industry, it’s not so great if you’re in the travel advice business. Dispensing tips is easy during a recession, when the deals are everywhere, but it’s not as simple during a recovery.

I’ve been collecting some of this year’s best and worst advice over the past few weeks. The travel site Cheapflights.com just sent out a warning about hidden travel fees, which are among my top annoyances . The worst are the so-called “peak travel day fees,” which increase the price of your flight because of higher demand. Problem is, almost every day during June, July and August is considered a “peak” day, so the only way to avoid it, according to the company, is to postpone your vacation until the end of the summer. If you have kids in school, that may not be an option. (Full disclosure: Cheapflights is a supporter of my blog.)

Another Web site, LowFares. com , recommends that bargain-hunters look to the Caribbean, Cancun and Las Vegas for relief from high prices. Sure, you can find deals in those places. That’s because summertime is low season in the Caribbean (hurricanes and rainy weather), Cancun (it’s Mexico, say no more) and Las Vegas (hot enough for you?).

Traveling to Mexico? Be Sure to Understand the New Travel ...

Article by Jon Wuebben

Making plans to travel to Mexico this year? Is a Mexico family vacation in your future, or are you looking to take a little time for rest and relaxation on the sandy white beaches of Cancun or Puerto Vallarta?  Well, your timing is right. It promises to be another fantastic year south of the border for all of the major Mexico resort hot spots! In fact, 16 million Americans will probably visit Mexico this year.  

Be sure you are prepared before you travel, as there have been some new requirements issued by the U.S. State Department . Although it’s a minor change from prior travel requirements, it affects all U.S. citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. Essentially, all that is required is a passport, which most frequent travelers have anyway. The goal? To make it safer for you and to strengthen United States border security.

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States.In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines.The proposed timeline will be as follows: December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

December 31, 2007 – Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel. The Easy Way to get a Passport

First, when applying for a passport, make sure you allow enough time! It typically takes 6 weeks to process a passport application. Where can you apply for a passport?  The State Department provides a handy search tool to help you find the Passport Acceptance Facility nearest you. What’s the busiest time for passport processing? Usually between January and July. Of course, if you have an emergency and need to travel to Mexico right away, the State Dept does offer some options. Go to their website at http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html , or call the U.S.

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