Travel Tips: Passports (IV)

Just a few days ago, I mentioned that the Government has decided that US citizens who had applied for passports but had not received them could still travel between the US and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda with proper government issued photo identification (such as a driver's licenses) and a Department of State official proof of application for a passport. (See Travel Tips: Passports (III).)

Now the Government is willing to go a step further.

If you paid the extra fee for expediting your applications but still did not receive the passport, you may be able to receive a refund of that expedite fee.

However, the Department of State has been slow to inform citizens about the refund. As of today, there is no notice of the refund prominently available on its site; even so you can read about it on the site here: Expedite Fee Refund.

If you believe you are entitled to a refund, you should send a refund application to the Department of State's refund office in Washington (see below for address). Be sure to include your passport number (if you know it), your name, your date and place of birth, the date (or approximate date) you applied for your passport, and your mailing address and phone number.

There is no word yet how long you will have to wait for your refund.

The government is insisting that the the requirements for passports for travelers driving between the US and Mexico or Canada (to be in-hand by January 2008) is not expected to change.

Address to write for a refund (note that the decision is made on a case-by-case basis and there is not set 'entitlement' to the refund).

Department of State
Passport Services/PPS/Refunds
2100 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20037-3202

Tom
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Travel Tips: Passports (III)

By now, we should all know that passports are required for travel by between the US and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

However, just when we were getting used to the requirements, things have changed slightly. Because of the backlog in processing applications, the US Departments of State and Homeland Security have decided to allow those US citizens who have already applied for a passport but not received it, to travel by air without the passport.

Does this mean it is like the 'old days?' Can I just use my driver's license?

No.

You must have a government issued photo identification (such as your driver's licenses) and a Department of State official proof of application for a passport. It is expected that processing should return to normal by September 30, 2007. For more, see the US Department of State's site: Temporary Travel Accommodations for those with Pending Passport Applications.

Tom
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Paris Sewers Redux

Sometime ago, I wrote about the sewers of Paris and the fascinating tour you can take through them (Exploring the Sewers of Paris). Once again I have thrilled at taking uncertain travelers through les égouts.

At first, everyone seems a bit put off. "You want me to do what?" I try to enchant them with the idea. First, I tell them that all the water that comes into Paris has to get out somehow, and ask them to imagine how many miles of underground streams there must be. I then tell them that the now-famous district, the Marais, is so named because it was a swamp. That swamp, thanks in part to the sewers, is now livable.

But the final clincher that really gets travelers in the mood is when I tell them that the Jean Valjean of Les Misérables used the sewers to move about Paris.

Then they go in.

Once in, and once over the sometimes obvious stench, they become as fascinated as I am. The smell isn't bothersome for too long and before we reach the exit, the conversation is filled with amazement and wonder.

So, have some fun next time you are in Paris and visit the sewers!

Tom
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Travel Tips: Travel Insurance

We are probably a lot a like. We don't really think about insurance until we need it.

But since I have been working with large numbers of travelers and taking them around the world, I have learned the value of travel insurance.

The recent case of Andrew Speaker traveling with tuberculosis makes the idea of having travel insurance particularly relevant.

Travel insurance has many facets it to it, and whatever company you use to purchase it, make sure you understand the details. But the basic coverage is this: trip delay and cancellation, travel accident, and medical expenses and evacuation.

It is this last point that applies to Andrew Speaker. Depending on the insurance he bought and a few other factors, he may have received emergency medical evacuation. This might have only been to a hospital in Italy that could have helped him, but in any case, he would have had no worries about cancelling his honeymoon travel plans. He could have cancelled, potentially received a refund of (most) of his travel costs and had assistance in seeking medical attention. In fact, his bride-to-be may have also received a refund due to his cancellation and medical emergency.

This is an extreme case, but it is in the extreme that the value of travel insurance proves itself. For a few hundred dollars, he could have saved himself and a lot of other people a big headache.

Whatever you do, be sure to shop around. Your own policies may cover you, but most do not cover you once you leave the country.

Most travel insurance companies base their policies on a number of factors, including age, length of the trip and the cost of the trip. Some do not consider the cost of the trip.

Some travel insurance companies to consider: AIG Travel Guard, Travel Safe, and Access America. You can also purchase it from STA Travel. Again, be sure to read all the details. Some have coverage for pre-existing conditions, but require purchase of the insurance within a certain time frame after the trip purchase, and in the case of STA Travel, the exception applies only if the trip is bought through them.

Travel Guard also offers a full year of coverage. If you travel often throughout the year, this makes great sense. The coverage cannot be found on their website, you need to call them.

And if you don't like having to call each and everyone to find out premium amounts, you can try a comparison site such as InsureMyTrip.com.

Tom
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