WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – Just as the busy holiday travel season is getting underway, the State Department has been sharing tips for Americans who are traveling abroad in the coming weeks.
“More Americans than ever before have passports so more Americans are traveling internationally,” said Rena Bitter, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs.
The department said millions of Americans will be traveling around the globe throughout the busy travel season and some projections indicate that they will be traveling in greater numbers than in the past. AAA reports that international flight bookings are up 23 percent compared to last Thanksgiving.
Bitter said the most important tip to remember before departing is to check your passport.
“Go check the expiration date of your passport if you’re planning to travel this year. It’s really important, just not to make any plans until you have in your hand a valid passport,” she said. “And then the other important thing about to remember is that many international destinations require Americans to have six months of validity left on their passport before they’re allowed to enter.”
Bitter also recommends looking up your destination country’s laws before getting there.
“One piece of information that Americans don’t often think about is ways in which local law differ from U.S. law so Americans might get caught out. So, for example, substances like cannabis that might be legal where you live or firearms, frankly, ammunition, might not be legal at your destination,” said Bitter.
Other tips from the department include registering your trip with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, checking travel advisory risk level ratings, telling loved ones where you are travels to and getting travel insurance.
The State Department’s website, State.gov, also has specific guidance for nearly every country.
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