Help / FAQ

Travel Tools and Resources

Where can I get help getting or renewing a passport? How can I check security conditions in a foreign country? Should I purchase trip insurance? Should I purchase foreign currency before my trip? How can I check for required vaccinations or other health related information?

Where can I get help getting or renewing a passport?

You can apply for a passport at many Federal, state and probate courts, post offices, some libraries and a number of county and municipal offices. The U.S. State Department offers guidelines including when you must apply in person versus by mail and what documents you need to apply, including what to do if you do not have a certified birth certificate. Under the Reference section of the Resources library, you will find a link with more useful passport information.

Effective on the first of this year, passport fees were the following:

The U.S. State Department's website also includes printable passport application forms and how to check the status of your application. Plan on waiting at least 6 weeks to receive your passport in the mail. Expedited services may be available. To renew your passport by mail, your passport must not be mutilated, damaged, or altered. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of State.

How can I check security conditions in a foreign country?

The U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories offers travel warnings and public announcements that alert travelers to use extra caution when traveling in a foreign country, or to avoid it altogether for a certain time. The Resources section also includes advisory links including health, political, and travel conditions. The Center for Disease Control includes travel information on outbreaks, traveling with children and people with special needs, and vaccination recommendations. U.S. travelers may also hear recorded information by calling the Department of State in Washington, D.C. at 202-647-5225 from their touchtone telephone, or may receive information by automated telefax by dialing 202-647-3000 from their fax machine.

Check out our Travel Safely Dos and Don'ts for more tips on how to have the happiest, safest vacation possible.

Should I purchase trip insurance?

Experienced travelers know that an unplanned occurrence can always arise, before or during a trip. Your primary health plan may not pay for you to see a doctor or be admitted to a hospital away from home.

Many cruise providers, tour operators, and vacation vendors recommend that travelers purchase trip cancellation and health insurance prior to departure. Many vendors may offer a prorated penalty scale based upon notice given in days, with a 100% forfeit for late cancellations or no-show. The Traveler's Insurance section of the Resources library includes a link to Purchase Insurance that gives options based on your travel needs. Common types of trip insurance include:

• Single-trip protection plan: covers cancellation, interruption, delay, baggage, medical, evacuation, rental car collision damage
• Annual multi-trip travel: medical, evacuation, & accident insurance for domestic & international travel up to $100,000 for trips up to 70 days
• Adventure/Sports: a tailor-made policy that allows you to take part in almost all extreme sports and activities
• And more.

Should I purchase foreign currency before my trip?

Use the currency converter on the Money section of the Resources library to calculate foreign exchange rates in your country of destination. Remember that twelve countries are replacing their national currency with the single European currency, each with its own fixed conversion rate against the euro. Travelers checks are recommended for travelers, since they are refundable anywhere in the world if they are lost or stolen.

Save time and avoid hassle by ordering foreign currency online. You can also purchase foreign currency from your bank, the airport, or at a private business offering currency exchange (often found in metropolitan areas). If you have the time, shop around for the best exchange rate. Make sure you get enough money to last for dining expenses, tipping, riding in taxis and other public transportation. Ask for a breakdown of large and small bills, as well as an appropriate amount of coins.

How can I check for required vaccinations or other health related information?

The Advisories section of the Resources library includes information about health notices and the CDC's recommendations for vaccinations before traveling abroad. Travel-related diseases include altitude illness, diarrhea, hepatitis, Lyme disease, malaria, small pox, and typhoid. The Center for Disease Control also includes a map where you can select the destinations of your itinerary and get specific information about prevalent diseases, outbreaks, and other advisories by country.