Articles

Entry Requirements & Customs

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

A Rare Fee Reduction! The TSA Trims the Cost of PreCheck

You don't see this very often these days: prices going down. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration and its enrollment partner IDEMIA, eager to get more travelers signed up…

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

How Fast Is the USA's New Online Passport Renewal System? I Tested It.

How long does it take to renew a standard U.S. passport using the State Department's new all-digital process? And is it as miserable as mailing an application?

Article / Passportable

Already a Fave with Expats, Portugal Is Launching a Digital Nomad Visa

One of Europe's most popular destinations for expats is making it easier for digital nomads to stick around for up to a year. Starting October 30, citizens of the United States and…

Article / Passportable

TSA PreCheck Will Come to You Now: How to Find the Mobile Enrollment Truck

Enrolling in TSA PreCheck is getting more convenient in cities across the U.S. this fall. Thanks to the expanded IdentoGO mobile enrollment push, travelers who want to join the…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Online Renewal of U.S. Passports Reopens for a Limited Time

Update: The portal for renewing U.S. passports online has reopened as of October 11. In September, the window was open for less than two days before slots filled up. After October's…

Article / Beach & Water Sports

Covid-19 Requirements for Visiting Mexico and the Caribbean

The latest updates on entry requirements for visiting Caribbean islands and Mexican resort areas during the pandemic

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

Got a DUI? You're Banned from Canada (and Maybe These Other Countries)

Sober up or stay home: Some countries refuse to admit foreigners who have been caught driving under the influence.

Article / Passportable

Seeking Long-Term Digital Nomads, Thailand Adds 10-Year Remote Visa

Thailand is a mainstay on lists of the best places for digital nomads, thanks to the Southeast Asian country's tempting combo of picture-perfect beaches (Phuket is pictured above),…

Article / Entry Requirements & Customs

Can I Use a Driver's License to Drive Into Mexico or Canada?

Here's what's required of U.S. citizens to cross by land into Mexico or Canada.

Article / Passportable

This Himalayan Kingdom Is Adding a Tourist Tax of $200 Per Day

The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan will finally reopen its borders to tourists on September 23, following an extended closure due to the pandemic. But the government has thoroughly…

Article / Family & Kids

Do Kids Need Their Own Memberships in Global Entry?

Do children need to enroll in Global Entry, or can they simply tag along on their parents’ memberships?

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Can't Get Global Entry? Skip Airport Lines with Mobile Passport Control—It's Free

With airports busy again, travelers are seeking ways to dodge cumbersome lines. Some of the worst queues stack up at the Border Protection desks at entry points to the United…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

European Vacations Went Cashless Fast. Are You Prepared?

I spent all of May in the United Kingdom. And as incredible as it sounds, I didn't go to an ATM once. When I entered the country, I had £40 in my wallet, plus a little loose change. I…

Article / Passportable

Yellowstone Is Partly Closed: Here's How Getting in Works Now

Update, July 1: Yellowstone National Park will reopen significant sections of the North Loop Road on July 2. Check the park's official site (linked below) for the latest changes in…

Article / Passportable

USA Borders Will End Covid Testing Requirement as of June 12

Just in time for the peak summer travel season, the United States will scrap a cumbersome requirement for all incoming air passengers to furnish negative results from a fresh Covid-19…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Traveling to Cuba Gets Easier for Americans—but Big Obstacles Remain

In late 2019, the Trump administration banned U.S. airlines and chartered flights from going to any cities in Cuba other than Havana. This week, as part of Pres. Biden's stated aim to…

Article / Passportable

U.S. Extends Mask Mandate for Travel, But Only By Two Weeks

Update, April 18: The TSA announced that as of April 18, it will no longer enforce the mask mandate during its last few remaining days. Some airlines and travel facilities have…

Article / Passportable

Canada Dumps Pre-Arrival Covid Testing for Most Travelers

So many countries are dropping Covid-19 hurdles for inbound tourists that we could fill our pages with dozens of happy announcements every day. (And in our consistently up-to-date post…

Article / Passportable

New Zealand Finally Reopening to Vaccinated Travelers

Destinations around the world are lifting mask mandates and even vaccine requirements. And now a major milestone on the way to a full reopening of travel has been reached Down…

Article / Passportable

France's "Health Pass" System for Tourism Is Officially Over

France's so-called "Health Pass" system that was introduced last August has been eliminated as of today, March 14. The system's QR code—which was required to enter the country's bars,…

Article / Passportable

Throw Away the Test Kit! Hawaii Drops All Covid Entry Rules

Hawaii is ending all Covid entry restrictions for domestic visitors. On the state's official Safe Travels website, a new alert appeared this week. Framed in an orange box that usually…

Article / Passportable

LOOK: Belgium's New Passports Feature the Smurfs and Tintin

Belgium's new passport design, which debuted earlier this month, pays tribute to the country's rich history of comic strips. The 34-page travel document features illustrations of…

Article / Passportable

After Two Years, (Most of) Australia Will Welcome (Most) Tourists Again!

After two agonizing years in southerly isolation, Australia will finally open its borders to tourists. Covid-19 infections remain an issue Down Under, but because so many…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

It's True: This European Country Has Abandoned Covid Restrictions

Imagine a land with no masks. No social distancing. No entry tests, no quarantine. A place where tourists can do whatever they want as soon as they get off the plane. Imagine, in…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

New Zealand Is Reopening, the Headlines Cheer. Don't Get Too Excited

If you were to go by the headlines this week, you'd be planning a vacation to New Zealand tomorrow. New Zealand is "welcoming vaccinated Americans this summer," says USA Today. New…