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Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): Security & Information Alerts for the Savvy Traveler

Imagine a worst-case scenario: you’re in a foreign country and disaster suddenly strikes. Like the Bastille Day attack in Nice earlier this summer, or the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, two catastrophes that majorly affected U.S. citizens travelling abroad. It’s difficult to plan for these kinds of situations, or even to believe they’ll ever happen to you. Harder still can be knowing what to do if you do find yourself in trouble outside of U.S. borders. Fortunately, there’s an app for that. The U.S. State Department offers a free service called the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, that allows U.S. citizens traveling or residing abroad to register with the[…]

TSA Precheck Centers Can Now Be Found at the DMV, Concerts and Other Facilities

TSA Precheck centers are now available in many unexpected places, expanding the opportunity for more travelers to take advantage of this time saving feature. Precheck stations allow frequent travelers to get through security quicker. The process is quite simple. Upon application some basic information must be provided along with an $85 registration fee. Once clearance is received, it’s good for 5 years. The program is being endorsed by several large corporations, including American Express, JetBlue and Hilton Honors, and each of these companies are rewarding their members who complete the process with a reimbursement or some other type of incentive. The TSA is now focusing on getting even more[…]

Real ID Delayed for Air Travel Until 2018

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh C. Johnson announced in early January 2016 that the enforcement of the REAL ID Act has been delayed until January 22, 2018. The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, went on to be enacted as a result of the 9/11 Commissions recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of services of identification, including drivers’ licenses”. The REAL ID Act essentially puts the onus on each individual U.S. state and U.S. territory to provide state-issued drivers licenses or ID cards that are compliant with Federal standards. The purposes of the REAL ID Act are for: Boarding federally regulated[…]

The Mobile Passport App – Saving You Time at Customs

After a long trip home on an international flight, the last thing any traveler wants is to wait in the dreaded U.S. Customs line. But for a few pro travelers, dealing with the U.S. Customs Bureau has never been easier or faster. Now you can join them in cutting the Customs line on your next return flight into the USA. Their tool is called the Mobile Passport App. Global Entry, while different requires you to apply every 5 years in addition to getting fingerprinted is a completely different option for expediting your customs experience…. but let’s talk cellphone apps for a minute. Mobile Passport was developed by Airside Mobile[…]

Got a Passport? Visit Some of These Amazing International Parks

Tips on finding and traveling to the best national parks overseas Which parks are the best national parks to visit overseas? Well, it’s a big world out there and you will certainly start a Grand Canyon of a discussion when you try to narrow down the top national wonders to explore. Several sites have created lists of what they consider to be the top parks. Perhaps one of the best strategies is to compile a conglomerate of those lists based on your preferences. You can Maybe you like to hike in the mountains. Or love to sit under a waterfall. Perhaps you are a beach person. Maybe you like[…]

Expedited Customs & Border Protection Travel Programs – Summer 2014

If you have ever traveled internationally, you are familiar with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). All visitors are screened upon arrival from international departures, long lines happen and will continue to happen in the future. There are several programs intended to pre-screen travelers and ease lines. CBP is an agency that was formed in March of 2003, and it falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security. Having taken over some of the responsibilities of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Customs and Border Protection’s main mission is to manage the integrity of the borders of the United States and its entry ports. During the[…]

Category: Travel