It's the season for travel and all good vacations have one thing in common-careful planning. Here's how:
- Involve every member of the family in the planning stage.
- Research before making reservations. When you pick your destination, read up on it. Find out what there is to do and see, where to stay, how to get around and the best way to get there.
- Libraries, travel agents, tourism organizations and the web also provide abundant information.
- Stick to your budget.
- Divide that amount by the number of days you plan to stay. Keep a certain amount for any unexpected expenses.
- Know what your rights and responsibilities are as a travel consumer. Read and understand the fine print in any travel agreements you sign.
- Plan a few specific activities for your vacation. Curb any impulses to plan for every hour of your trip, but also do not leave the time completely unstructured.
All About Passports
In fiscal year 1997, exactly 6,295,003 passportswere obtained in the U.S. Obtaining your passport is very easy and necessary if traveling overseas. Simply go to the local County Clerk building or download the official application from the US State Dept.
To Apply:
- Obtain a court-certified birth certificate or naturalization certificate to prove U.S. citizenship. It must be from the county you were born in, NOT from the hospital.
- If you do not have your birth certificate, the Register of Deeds from the county where you were born can issue you one.
- Two identical current passport photos (full face from a front view, 2 x 2 inches). The UPS Store is a great place to get them done.
- Photo identification with a physical description such as your driver's license.
- Fees are about $60.00 or about $90.00 for a rush job.
- The Clerk's office will process your application and forward it to a passport agency, most likely in San Francisco, where your passport will be printed.
- To avoid any delays or cancellations of travel, be sure to apply for the passport well in advance, at least 6 weeks for normal delivery or three weeks for a rush job.
- Passports issued to adults are good for 10 years. Children passports expire after 5 years.
- Some countries also require visas. Contact Awanna Travel in Granite Bay to learn which countries do.
- Your representative can also provide information that American citizens should know before traveling to certain countries--including travel advisories, immunization requirements and the locations of American embassies and consulates.
We hope these guidelines will help prepare you for a fabulous vacation.
