Traveling to Mexico? Be Sure to Understand the New Travel
Requirements
Jon Wuebben
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. 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.
- The Intelligence
Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 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 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 ht
tp://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!
About The Author
This article was written by Jon Wuebben, of Custom Copywriting.
Jon writes select pieces about travel in Mexico for the
CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort
Article courtesy of GoArticles.com
