Making plans to travel to Mexico this year? Is a Mexico family
vacation in your future, or are you looking to take a little time
for rest and relaxation on the sandy white beaches of Cancun or
Puerto Vallarta? Well, your timing is right. It promises to be
another fantastic year south of the border for all of the major
Mexico resort hot spots! In fact, 16 million Americans will
probably visit Mexico this year.
Be sure you are prepared before you travel, as there have been
some new requirements issued by the U.S. State Department (
http://www.state.gov/ ). Although it's a minor change from prior
travel requirements, it affects all U.S. citizens entering the
United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do
not currently possess valid passports. Essentially, all that is
required is a passport, which most frequent travelers have
anyway. The goal? To make it safer for you and to strengthen
United States border security.
Here are some important facts you should know:
* The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (
www.ncix.gov/publications/law_policy/law ...
/PL108_458_Intel_Reform_and_Terrorism_Prevention_Act_2004.pdf
) requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the
Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport
or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the
United States.
* In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a
period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be
rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as
possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the
terms of the new guidelines.
* The proposed timeline will be as follows:
- December 31, 2006 - Requirement applied to all air and
sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South
America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
- December 31, 2007 - Requirement extended to all land
border crossings as well as air and sea travel.
The Easy Way to get a Passport
First, when applying for a passport, make sure you allow
enough time! It typically takes 6 weeks to process a passport
application. Where can you apply for a passport? The State
Department provides a handy search tool to help you find the
Passport Acceptance Facility ( http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ )
nearest you. What's the busiest time for passport processing?
Usually between January and July. Of course, if you have an
emergency and need to travel to Mexico right away, the
State Dept does offer some options. Go to their website at
http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html, or call
the U.S. National Passport Information Center: 1-877-4USA-PPT
Additional Tips for Travel to Mexico
* Be sure to leave your travel itinerary and passport
information with a friend or relative in case the originals
are lost. It can also be helpful to carry a copy of your
travel documents with you in a separate location from the
originals.
* Avoid traveling with large amounts of cash. Credit cards are
widely accepted and most areas visited by tourist will have
an ATM machine. These are great options because they are safe,
convenient and you get a favorable exchange rate. Another
option is to use traveler's checks.
* Using a fanny pack or travelers wallet for your cash and
passport is a great idea.
* While they are making great strides in improving the water
quality throughout Mexico, it is advisable to drink bottled
water. In addition, avoid drinking beverages over ice as the
ice may have been made from tap water.
* Wash vegetables and fruits in a purifying solution of some
type.
* Before leaving, check with your health insurance provider
so that you are aware of your coverage.
* If you are planning to drive over the border be sure to obtain
a temporary import permit and all the necessary insurance.
So now that you've been informed, what are you waiting for?
Mexico is a land of incredible beauty and natural wonder! Whether
you're going to sunny Cancun, festive Acapulco, or even Puerto
Vallarta, your perfect Mexican vacation getaway is just a flight
away!
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