Start Planning Early For 2009 Travel

For those of you who are planning on traveling in 2009, there are some things that you should be aware of before your trip. Even though it just became October it is never to early to begin planning for trips happening in 2009. You do not want it to be 3 days before your trip and realize that you'll be needing a passport to drive into Canada!

In an article recently published on MSNBC, the following are new issues that will be taking effect in 2009.

• Starting June 1 a passport will be required for all border crossings whether its by air, land or sea. To avoid the passport rush seen before, apply for your passport as soon as possible, even if you are not planning on going anywhere soon.

• The European Parliament issued a new rule, which should take effect late in 2008 or early 2009, where when traveling to or in Europe all airfare prices have to include taxes, and fees when advertised. This will put an end to all the surprise charges that are seen when buying a ticket.

• Another law that might (fingers crossed) come into effect in 2009 is the Passenger Bill of Rights. This Bill would provide passengers who are stuck on planes for more than three hours, (due to delays) with fresh air, food, water, and waste removal. This bill was first introduced in New York, but was struck down by the federal appeals court this past March.

So regardless if you already have all your travel plans for 2009 booked, make sure that you brush up on the new rules and regulations before you departure, and don't forget to register to get your passport as soon as possible if you don't have your yet. 

Lost or Stolen Passport?

Some people have wondered what they should do if their passport is lost or stolen. The answer to this question would depend on where you lost your passport: in the U.S. or in a foreign country.

If your passport is lost within the U.S. you must report is lost or stolen right away and then you need to take the necessary steps to replace your passport. In order to report a lost or stolen passport you'll need to complete a statement (Form Ds-64) regarding a lost or stolen passport. Once you have reported your passport lost or stolen it becomes invalidated and can no longer be used for travel. In order to replace a lost or stolen passport one must appear in person at a Passport Agency or Acceptance Facility. 

Now if you are out of the country and find that your passport has been lost or stolen you must contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate as well as the local police. Don't worry, you will not be stranded in a foreign land; the U.S. Embassy and or Consulate will help you get an emergency passport, this can take up to three days. If you are traveling outside of the country some good advice would be to take a photocopy of your passport and give one to a relative or friend and put one in your luggage. This way if your passport does get lost or stolen, you'll have a copy and your friend or relative will have a copy that they could fax over if need be.  Usually if you can provide a copy of your passport officials will be able to get you a new one within 48 hours. 

Passport Cards: Required For Land or Sea Travel

Recently, the USA TODAY reported that more and more travelers have started to apply for passport cards. These cards will cost less then the typical passport and it will be small enough to fit into one's wallet. The government has stated that about 350,000 people have already applied for a passport card and are anticipating that the number of applicants could reach up to 4 million by June 2009. 

These new passport cards will only be valid for U.S. residents who plan to travel by land or by sea and are traveling to and from Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean. If planning on traveling by air, one needs to use the traditional passport. 

The State Department suggests not waiting till the last minute to apply for your passport card or traditional passport. The processing time takes about four weeks, at which point the passport will be mailed to you. The cost of the passport card is: $45 for adults, $35 for minors. The renewal time is: 10 years for adults, and five years for those who are under 18. 

For more information visit: the U.S. Department of State