Become an Educated World Traveler

          I read an interesting article recently which stated that nearly ninety percent of Americans do not have a passport.  It is something that most people take for granted.  We have had clients tell us they know they don’t need a passport in order to go on a cruise.  They are right, of course.  If you are taking a closed loop cruise, then you may use your government identification (driver’s license) and a certified copy of your “state” issued birth certificate.  Please note that the hospital birth certificate is not accepted.

          Now, suppose you’re traveling and something unfortunate happens, i.e. a car accident or injury while on a shore excursion.  You end up in a foreign hospital where they may or may not speak English.  Let’s assume it’s not major, perhaps a broken leg.  By the time that you’re released from the hospital; the cruise ship is gone and now you have to figure out how you are getting home.  Oh, and let’s not forget that you now have a medical bill in the foreign country.  While this may be a surprise to some people, most medical insurance does not cover medical costs incurred in another country. God forbid if you had to be medically evacuated from the ship. The average cost of being air lifted is around $50,000. Again, this may not covered by your medical insurance, either. It would be covered by travel insurance, but that’s for another article.

          You are going to have to get a flight back to the United States, but you do not have a passport proving that you are a United States citizen. You would need to go to the U.S. Embassy and request a passport to be issued to you.  Did you remember to bring your birth certificate with you from the ship and your driver’s license? Of course you didn’t.  The U.S. Embassy can assist you, but it will not be an overnight procedure. Hope you like playing the waiting game.

          You need to rent a hotel room (which costs money), pay for transportation everywhere you are going, in addition to your food and incidentals. 

          Your clothes are probably still on the ship.  After several days, you are issued a passport and now you have to book a flight and get home.

          Furthermore, there are new changes coming from Homeland Security and T.S.A.  The Real I.D. Identification requirement will mandate that all states comply with the T.S.A. requirements for security in driver’s licenses.  Those states that fail to comply by January 2018, their issued driver’s license will not be allowed to be used for domestic air travel.   One more thing.  Many people applied for their passports in 2007 and 2008 because of new rules on passports, hence many of those are going to expire over the next two years and you don't want to be caught up in their rush.  Apply for your passport early and allow plenty of time before your trip.

          Many of these tedious issues could be solved by owning a passport and bringing it with you any time you leave the country. The $135 to obtain a passport becomes more than worth it in the case of an emergency. You can’t put a price on peace of mind

          Griffin World Wide Travel is an experienced travel company located in Prince William County, Virginia.  With over fourteen years of travel experience, we are here to help you avoid the many possible pitfalls of travel.