Articles

Entry Requirements & Customs

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

What to Know About the U.K.’s New Online Application and Entry Fee for Visitors

Launch dates, fees, and other info to know about the U.K.'s ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), a requirement for all visitors, including U.S. citizens

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Say Goodbye to Passport Stamps in Europe: New Entry/Exit System Starts in November

The European Union Commission has officially announced the start date of its incoming Entry/Exit System (EES) for arriving tourists, which will change the way international passports…

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

Say Goodbye to Passport Stamps in Europe: New Entry/Exit System Starts Soon

Europe's new automated entry system, EES, comes online soon, ending the age-old tradition of collecting passport stamps at major border crossings.

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

How to Apply for a U.S. Passport or Visa

Here's everything you need to get an American passport or a passport card: the rules, fees, instructions, photos, forms, and directions.

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

How to Get a Copy of Your Birth Certificate for Travel

Birth certificates are crucial for obtaining essential identification for travel. Do you know where your birth certificate is?

Article / Passportable

The Rules for Bringing a Dog Into the US Are Getting Stricter: Here's What's Changing

This post, originally published May 13, 2024, has been updated with new information.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is rolling out new rules for bringing a dog into…

Article / Cruise

The Best Cruises You Don't Need a Passport For

U.S. travelers don't need passports to take these memorable cruise itineraries—even though they make international stops. 

Article / Passportable

Venice, Italy, Says the Entry Fee for Day Trippers Will Be Doubled

Update: November 8, 2024: There has been an update to this story. Click here to read it. The trial period for the controversial new entry fee for Venice Italy, is complete for 2024.For…

Article / Air Travel

5 Idiotic Viral Travel Hacks You Shouldn’t Bother Trying When You Fly

Don't believe everything you see on the internet. These viral travel hacks aren't likely to make flying better—and could make things worse. 

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Online Passport Renewal is Back in the U.S.! Here's How to Get In On It

All right, Americans. Ready? This is online passport renewal, take two. The U.S. State Department today announced that it is once again accepting applications for online passport…

Article / Passportable

TSA Confirms Real ID Will Be Mandatory to Fly Starting May 7, 2025

This post was originally published in December 2022 and contains updated information.The deadline for all Americans to be using Real I.D., the strengthened identification format that…

Article / Food and Drink

Flying With Wine: Packing and Legal Tips You Need to Know

Packing wine to fly? We asked an expert about customs laws, airline policies, and avoiding luggage disasters.

Article / National Parks

How to Get U.S. National Park Reservations if They're Sold Out

The most popular national parks in the United States now require advance reservations for entry in peak season, and those often book up months in advance. Here's how to get into a…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Car Rentals in Europe: Travelers Have to Watch Out for These Pitfalls

If you don't live in Europe, your assumptions about renting a car there may be wrong. Watch out for these classic mistakes when you rent a vehicle in Europe.

Article / Air Travel

10 Surprising Things That Could Trigger a Bag Search at the Airport

If you pack any of these items, don't be surprised if airport security agents ask to open your luggage for closer inspection.

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

What to Know About Europe’s Upcoming Entry Requirement and Entry Fee

Soon, travelers to Europe will need to register with the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). Here's how—and how much it will cost.

Article / Passportable

Missed by No One, Brazil’s Visa for U.S. Citizens Is Returning

This post has been updated with new information.Just a few years after visiting Brazil got easier for Americans, traveling to the South American nation will get harder again. On…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Can Visitors to Germany Use Cannabis Now That Recreational Use is Legal There?

In 2024, Germany legalized the use of marijuana products for recreational use. Does that mean tourists can buy or use cannabis in Germany now?

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Fee for Global Entry to Rise on October 1, 2024—Apply Now for the Older Rate

Global Entry is a special system that allows U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents to skip the long processing lines and security checks at international entry points to the…

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

How to Apply for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

A step-by-step guide—with current links, prices, and helpful tools—to applying for two useful programs that empower travelers to jump lines at airports.

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

Can I Cruise with Just a Driver's License?

Is a driver's license enough ID to take a cruise? The answer is mixed.

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

U.S. Passport Wait Times Are Back Under Control. How Long Will It Take Now?

A year ago, as the U.S. government continued to climb out of the bureaucratic hole that Covid-19 and staffing woes had dug, the wait time for a new passport was as long as 13…

Article / National Parks

The Cost of Going Cashless at U.S. National Parks As Many Switch to Plastic-Only

Increasingly, U.S. national parks are switching to cashless payment for entrance fees and other charges. Critics say that hurts equal access to public lands. 

Article / Passportable

POV: Follow the Path of Checked Luggage Through an Airport's Conveyor Belt Network

In today's installment of The Internet May Be Destroying Society, but Hey, You Should Totally Check Out This Video, someone put a camera on luggage to show were it goes after airport…

Article / National Parks

Which National Parks Require Reservations in 2024?

You'll need advance reservations to visit these popular U.S. national parks in the spring and summer of 2024.