New Mexico Marks Route 66 Centennial With Passport Program

Celebrating the centennial of Route 66 this year will spur people to head out in their vehicles to explore (what's left of) the fabled road.

New Mexico has come up with an incentive for doing so: a passport sticker program.

MSN reported:

New Mexico is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66 with a new passport program that allows travelers to collect stickers from participating businesses along the iconic route. Known as the "Mother Road," Route 66 has a long and varied history, and New Mexico is the only state in the country that hosts one of the original crossroads.

Many road warriors take photos or buy gifts to remember their scenic drive, and now, for the centennial year, the state and main districts of iconic Route 66 communities in New Mexico are teaming up. Travelers can pick up a passport at a business in one of the participating districts throughout the state and collect stickers from each location.

To read more, go here. 

The Long Wait To Get A U.S. Passport

There's an old saying:

It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

That certainly applies to many things, that includes having a valid U.S. Passport at the ready before one takes an overseas trip.

I renewed my passport last year. At present, I have no plans for any foreign travel. That's not to say that on the spur of the moment, I may decide to go to Japan or to some other country, like I did with the Cuba cruise in 2019.

It is a good thing I renewed my passport last year. Right now, since the pandemic is done, people are flooding the passport offices around the country applying for or renewing passports. The manpower just isn't there to handle the deluge and the wait is a long one, an estimated 13 weeks.

The Citrus County Chronicle reported:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Seeking a valid U.S. passport for that 2023 trip? Buckle up, wishful traveler, for a very different journey before you step anywhere near an airport.

A much-feared backup of U.S passport applications has smashed into a wall of government bureaucracy as worldwide travel rebounds toward record pre-pandemic levels — with too few humans to handle the load. The result, say aspiring travelers in the U.S. and around the world, is a maddening pre-travel purgatory defined, at best, by costly uncertainty.

With family dreams and big money on the line, passport seekers describe a slow-motion agony of waiting, worrying, holding the line, refreshing the screen, complaining to Congress, paying extra fees and following incorrect directions. Some applicants are buying additional plane tickets to snag in-process passports where they sit — in other cities — in time to make the flights they booked in the first place.

To read more, go here. 

New Passport Arrived

My new U.S. Passport arrived in today's mail.

It is hard to believe that it is good until I am almost (by two years) 80 years old, should I be fortunate enough to live that long.

Now I am able to do some overseas traveling to Japan or somewhere else (if Mitch Geriminsky comes up with a travel scheme like he did when we took that 2019 cruise to Havana). My old passport should be sent to me shortly. It has stamps from several trips to Japan and the Cuba trip.

Passport Renewal Time

Above, en route to Key West and Havana three years ago. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

My U.S. Passport is about to expire in a month from now. It seems like I just renewed it. But that was ten years ago. It is incredible at how time flies when one gets older. 

I went to the local Walgreens to get my Passport photos made yesterday. It is funny that as one gets older, they prefer wearing eyeglasses as they help hide the bags under one's eyes. But, the State Department doesn't want eyewear in Passport photos. Such is life.

I'll be completing the required form and mailing my old passport along with the fee and photos today. Passport renewal fee: $130.

Right now, I don't know when or where (except Japan) where I may need it. But you don't know when something may come up that's too enticing to pass up. Such was the case of the cruise I took three years ago to Havana, Cuba. My friend, Mitch Geriminsky, found a cruse deal for just under $500 that took us from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Key West and Havana and told me about it. I never contemplated ever visiting Cuba, but it was too interesting to pass up (especially at that price), so I went. I am glad I did. That was the last time I needed to use my Passport.

So, if some overseas trip should come up, or even if I never travel overseas again, it is better to have a valid Passport just in case. Like guns, it is better to have it and not need it than to need it an not have it.

Have You Checked Your Passport's Expiration Date Lately?

How much time do you have left on your passport until it expires?

The average person (who doesn't use their passport that much) likely doesn't know when it expires. I have to renew mine next year and have already noted when to start the process in my phone's calendar. It seems not that long ago that I renewed it, but it has been about nine years already. I last used it two years ago during my cruise to Havana, Cuba.

Above, yours truly at Havana's Plaza de la Revolución two years ago. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Travel + Leisure has an article on how long the process takes to renew a U.S. passport.

They begin it with:

Before you even think about booking that bucket-list vacation, there's one thing you need to do right now: Double check the expiration date on your passport.

It's vital to make sure your travel documents are valid for at least six months past the dates of any planned international trips. Since passports are valid for up to 10 years, it's understandably easy to forget when exactly it needs to be renewed (especially if you don't use it all that often). This seemingly small detail could result in a travel disaster.

To read more, go here. 

The Travel Industry Is A Mess

Above, despite high demand for flights, the airlines don't have enough planes or staff. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is a good thing that I mainly travel in my RV, for the travel industry is best described as a "shitshow" right now.

Despite the travel industry being a mess, people are traveling anyway.

New York Magazine has an article on what people are currently experiencing, and it ain't pretty.

They begin it with:

Wall Street veteran Peter Schiff knew well ahead of time that he’d need to renew his 7-year-old son’s passport for their June trip to Switzerland. Passports for minors must be renewed in person, at the passport office, but on their first attempt, the Schiffs were told it was too early. With service still limited due to the pandemic, the Stamford, Connecticut, office would only process emergency passport applications — which require appointments within 72 hours of the trip. But when Schiff, the CEO of Euro Pacific Capital, a billion-dollar money manager, tried to make an appointment, there was no longer any availability in that window at all. It wasn’t just the Stamford location that was booked up: “The only state where we could get an appointment was Hawaii,” says Schiff.

The investor began contemplating his options: Cancel and postpone his trip‚ a change he estimates would have cost him $10,000 to $20,000 extra in airfare, or fly his wife and son to Hawaii for an overnight, with at least 12 hours of travel each way. “I was looking at 10-to-12-thousand bucks to get over there, and a hotel,” he says. “The government really doesn’t care much about people,” adds Schiff, a goldbug and longtime stock-market bear who has strong opinions on bureaucracy, debt, and loose monetary policy. “It’s really inconveniencing Americans who want to travel.”

In the end, a Twitter tipster — Schiff has more than 500,000 followers on the platform — suggested he use a company called ItsEasy Passport & Visa Services. Schiff was able to get an appointment on the Upper West Side for the day prior to his flight. When he arrived, he saw a line stretching from the building down the street and around the block — but an employee told him that was the line for people without appointments, which are required. “He said none of them are going to get in, none of them,” recalls Schiff. “I heard so many horror stories.” But when he finally made it into the actual passport office, he was surprised to see it anything but crowded. “Once you get in, the place is empty,” he says. “They had a skeleton crew.”

Schiff’s experience of disorganization, chaotic delays, and huge extra expenses is increasingly typical as more Americans seek to get back out into the world and travel, after 16 months spent largely at home. Millions are finding that the travel industry isn’t yet ready for them. As of the July 4 holiday weekend, travel returned to 98 percent of pre-pandemic highs, with 5 percent more road-trippers than in 2019 and 90 percent as many airline travelers, according to AAA. “I equate what’s going on to travelers being given the keys to a terrific sports car but then being told they can drive no more than 40 miles per hour,” says Henry Harteveldt, a veteran travel-industry analyst.

Their advice for a stress-free vacation, stay at home. Oh, the irony!

To read the full article, go here.

Will An "Immunity Passport" Allow Us To Travel?

Above, a COVID-19 vaccination card may make international travel easier. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Around about a month ago, I received my second shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. 

I had my vaccination card signed off without any instructions told to me. After reading an RV Travel article about "immunity passports", I find that if I want to travel, especially internationally, I'd better guard it and keep it handy while traveling. 

According to the article by Gail Marsh:

As the nurse handed me my COVID-19 vaccination card, she looked me in the eye and said, “This is a legal form of identification. Protect it as such.” Huh? I’d just received my second dose of Moderna’s COVID vaccine. As I walked back to my car, I examined the “proof of vaccine” card and couldn’t help but wonder about it. As a legal form of identification, the “immunity passport” must have intrinsic value. But how? So you must protect your card – from whom, and why?

An infectious disease specialist, Dr. Amesh Adalja, recently told ABC News: “What these little cards have the potential to do is to make something like international travel easier by avoiding requirements for quarantine or testing.” In other words, vaccinated folks may be able to resume at least some normal pre-COVID activities – if we can prove that we’ve been vaccinated. 

Here’s what I’ve learned about the “COVID Card” or “Immunity Passport”:

• The “proof of vaccine” card has detailed information about the kind of vaccine you were given and when. If boosters are recommended in the future (possibly for variant virus strains), the card will help your health professional know if/when you need a booster shot. 

• Be sure to tell your primary care physician that you’ve received a vaccine. S/he may want a copy of your “proof of immunization” for your health history file. 

• You may need to provide proof of vaccination if you choose to travel (especially across international borders). In addition, you might need the “immunity passport” to get into large venues or gather in large groups (e.g., church, conferences, organized tours). 

• The official CDC card is made from cardstock-type paper. However, it can easily fray, crease, and/or tear if kept in a wallet or purse. Some people recommend taking a cell phone photo of your vaccination card for easy access. Or you can use your printer to make a copy of the vaccination card to carry with you. Staples office supply stores will laminate your vaccination card for free until May 1!

The article suggests keeping the vaccination card where one keeps their Social Security card and U.S. Passport.

There's more information that the article provides.

To read it, go here. 

Condé Nast: How To Renew Passports

As one gets older, time seems to go by faster.

It seems like only yesterday that I renewed my U.S. Passport, but it was only 2012. Mine expires in 2022. I've traveled to Japan and Cuba with my current passport.

Above, yours truly at Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto, Japan.

For those of you who are reading this, yours may be due for renewal sooner. It currently costs $110 to renew adult passports.

Thank goodness that Condé Nast Traveler has an article on how to renew passports.

They start it with:

If you’ve previously applied for a U.S. passport, renewing one should be a breeze—or a strong gust. It takes some organization, planning, and yep, a bit of money. Discover how to renew your passport, whether in person or by mail.

When should you renew your passport?

Set a calendar announcement six months before your passport is set to expire, reminding you to get the process started. Does it take six months? No. But since many countries require at least three months’ validity left on your passport (and others six), it pays to give yourself some buffer time in case passport wait times are longer than usual. Most passports and passport cards are valid for ten years from the date of issue.

Above, yours truly at Havana Port in Cuba.

To read more, go here. 

Cheap Transport Deals For Tourists In Tokyo and Japan

Above, a shinkansen (bullet train) arrives at Atami Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Besides allowing people from around the world to travel from one country to another, one's passport also opens doors to deals in Japan. All one has to do is just show the passport.

Time Out Tokyo has an article on cheap transport deals one can get in Tokyo and Japan tourists can get by just showing their passports.

The begin with:

Flash your foreign passport and get access to a host of discounted tickets for trains, buses, metro, flights and even the shinkansen 

Everyone keeps telling you how expensive Tokyo is, right? Don't let the naysayers get the better of you. There are means to beat the budget-blowing travel expenses that come with sightseeing around the city and beyond. One of the best money-saving tips is to get a travel pass that gives you unlimited rides on the city’s efficient and extensive public transportation network with just a one-off payment. Here are your options. Some of these will require you to show your passport upon purchase or use.

To read more, go here. 

What To Do If Your Passport Is Lost

Travel season is coming soon and one of the things that can and do happen is losing a passport.

During G-TOUR in 2004, one tour member lost his passport while in Japan. Fortunately, it was found and was sent to him while he was still in Japan. That was a happy ending for him. But others aren't so lucky.

Condé Nast Traveler has an article on what to do if a passport turns up lost.

They begin it with:

Most of us have been there: prepping our tickets and travel docs for an upcoming flight, only to realize, with a sinking feeling, that the little blue book is nowhere to be found. For many, this is (thankfully) a false alarm—a passport slipped into a different part of your bag, say, or is sitting somewhere in plain sight. For others, a passport really is just that: lost. 

According to the U.S. Department of State, more than 300,000 American passports are lost or stolen in the U.S. each year. Regardless of where in the world you are, reporting a lost or stolen passport as soon as possible is necessary to help protect you against identity theft. And no matter how savvy of a traveler you are, it does happen.

To read more, go here. 

Passport Stamps Becoming A Thing of the Past

Above, some of the stamps in my old U.S. Passport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thanks to inroads in modern technology, the cherished passport stamp is fast becoming a thing of the past.

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO - As electronic entry procedures usher arriving passengers more quickly through immigration control at airports around the world, one of the casualties of progress is the time-honored passport stamp. 

While many travelers welcome the improved efficiency, for those who regard passport stamps as souvenirs of their travels, they are going to miss the memories that an immigration stamp can trigger of far-off destinations they have visited. 

As the number of air passengers grows, airports are looking at ways to avoid congestion at passport control, and getting rid of the tradition of stamping passports is one of the solutions. "There is a trend to eliminate the passport stamp to shorten processing times, especially in advanced nations," a Japanese airport official said. 

In Japan, this has seen biometric measures, such as facial recognition, beginning to replace stamping passports as a way of tracking the entry and exit of passengers. 

In a move to speed up procedures, Hong Kong abolished passport stamps in 2013 and instead began issuing computer-generated landing slips bearing the visitor's name, arrival date and date the visitor is permitted to remain until.

To read more, go here. 

Passport Renewal: The Time Is Now!

So you're planning a trip to another country during next six to eight months from now and your current passport is about to expire. Or, it may not expire for another year. You may wonder, When is the best time to renew my passport?

According to Condé Nast Traveler, the best time is NOW!

They wrote:

The main reason? Processing times are shorter between September and December, with a big rush of passport renewals coming in January and clogging up the system. But the more important reason to renew your passport ASAP is that the Real ID Act kicks in January 22, 2018, meaning driver's licenses from a number of states will no longer work as forms of ID at the airport. (You can see if your state's licenses are complaint or not on the Department of Homeland Security's website.)

According to this, now is the time to get off your butt and get your passport renewal done.

To read more, go here. 

9 States Driver's Licenses Unusable By TSA In 2018

Above, you'll need one of these if you have
 a driver's license from one of the listed states.

Nine states have driver's licenses that will no longer be accepted at TSA checkpoints starting in 2018.

That means that it would be a good idea to obtain a U.S. Passport.

According to Condé Nast Traveler:

Bad news for Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington: Starting January 22, 2018, driver's licenses issued by these states will no longer be accepted at TSA checkpoints. They fail to meet the federal government’s minimum security standards under the Real ID Act. Instead, travelers have to use another form of identification to pass through security for domestic flights—think military ID, permanent resident card, or passport.

To read more, go here. 

What To Do If Your Passport Is Lost Or Stolen In Japan

Above, the stage of Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Losing your passport while traveling to Japan (or anywhere else) is a major headache. I remember one member of the 2004 G-TOUR lost his. But he was lucky, as it was found and sent to him before we left Japan.

Others in that situation may not be so lucky.

Travelers Today has posted an article with five tips on making that as painless as humanly possible.

They begin with:

Heard of those horror stories about travelers losing passports while traveling abroad? It happens more times than you can imagine and it can happen to you too. If it happened to you, follow these top 5 things to do if your passport Is stolen or missing while traveling in Japan.

To read more, go here. 

Five Ways To Keep Your Passport Safe

The most important thing to have with you while traveling in foreign countries is your U.S. Passport.

If it is lost or stolen, and you hadn't taken any precautions beforehand, you're stuck like a bug on a windshield.

However, Condé Nast Traveler has five things you can do just in case your passport turns up missing later.

They begin with:

It's precious cargo, but there are easy ways to avoid losing or damaging your passport. And those pickpockets won't stand a chance. 

What passports lack in size, they more than make up for in stature. With them, we board planes, trains, and ships, and cross borders (mostly) freely—after all, a U.S. passport alone allows visa-free entry to 174 countries. Here's how to make sure your passport stays protected when you travel.

To read more, go here. 

Japan's New Passport Design

Above, a bullet train view of Mount Fuji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To prevent forgery, Japan regularly changes its passport design.

They have done so again, and this time Mount Fuji is the subject in the new passport's stamp pages.

Travel + Leisure reported:

Japan is known for it’s natural wonders and modern design, so it’s no surprise that their passport would reflect the same aesthetic. The Foreign Ministry announced this week that they would be issuing a new series of passports that will feature landscape images of “thirty-six views of Mount Fuji” for the stamp pages.

To read more, go here. 

Renew Your Passport NOW, State Dept. Says

Since I already renewed my U.S. Passport a few years ago, I don't have to worry. But people who have to renew theirs this year had better get on the ball and renew them.

Condé Nast Traveler reported:

Expecting a deluge of renewals and applications, State Department officials are urging Americans to renew sooner rather than later. 

Is your passport expiring soon? You're not alone: In 2006 and 2007, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative went into effect, which for the first time required passports for Americans returning by air from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Millions of citizens applied, and the State Department is anticipating a surge in renewals of these very passports, creating a potential backlog. They're encouraging travelers to renew and apply as soon as possible. “We were overwhelmed then, and we are not going to be overwhelmed again,” Michele Bond, the assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, who oversees passports, told The New York Times.

To read more, go here. 

Changes To U.S. Passports

Condé Nast Traveler has posted a new article on what's in store for the U.S. passport.

They wrote:

A longtime bragging right of frequent fliers is about to disappear: The U.S. government announced that effective January 1, travelers will no longer be able to get extra pages added to their passports. The State Department made the news official earlier this week, citing security concerns, but they did present an alternative: a new 52-page passport, twice the size of the standard 28-pager. Travelers can specify whether they'd like the current 28-pager or the supersized version, and both will cost the same —$110—to obtain or renew, minus any expediting charges you might add on. This is the second major passport-related announcement the government has made in the past few weeks—in addition to the government being able to withhold passports from people who owe significant back taxes to the IRS.

To read more, go here. 

USA Today: Nine Surprising Facts About Passports

Above, the passport photo of yours truly.

Before you can leave the old USA for Japan or other foreign destinations, you will need to obtain a passport from the U.S. Department of State. Without a passport, to put it simply, you ain't goin' anywhere!

USA Today has an interesting article that those who are applying for a passport for the first time or those who are about to renew theirs should find useful.

It starts with:

Did you know the U.S. government recommends you send your passport application in a special envelope? Or that losing a lot of weight may trigger the need for a renewal? Would you be surprised to find out that some people's passports are longer than short novels? Here are nine impressive, surprising and vital facts about U.S. passports. You never know when one might apply to you.

To read the full article, go here. 

Getting A U.S. Passport

Before you can even go to Japan to visit Godzilla's stomping grounds, you
will need a valid passport. In this blog post, I am only addressing Americans.

If you've never had a U.S. Passport, you may ask, How do I get one?

Travel writer Peter Greenberg has an article and video on just how to get yourself a U.S. Passport. All the essential information is provided.

To view the article and video, go here.