Have you ever applied for a passport or has it been awhile since you last traveled out of the country? If so, look no further than this post. It’s easier than you think to get a passport in the United States!

1. What you need to apply for a passport:
   1. Application forms (unsigned)
   2. Proof of identity document and a photocopy of the front and back (e.g. driver’s license, birth certificate, etc.)
   3. Proof of U.S. Citizenship document and a photocopy of the front and back (e.g. driver’s license, birth certificate, etc.)
   4. Passport processing fee:
      1. If applying in person at the post office you may use just about any form of payment
      2. If applying to the Department of State you will be limited in your form of payment to money order or check. They do not allow payment via credit or debit card.
      3. The cost for a passport is currently $110 and will last 10 years before expiring. Getting your passport expedited typically costs an extra $60.
2. Make sure you apply for a passport several months in advance of traveling outside of the country. Processing a new passport can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months. Expediting a passport is also costly.
3. You can apply for a passport at your local post office, but make sure you check that they will process passports for you or that they can direct you to a post office which processes passports. You may have to make an appointment.
4. Application packet Form D2-11 (for first time applications) should include:
   1. Application form (unsigned – the postal office employee must witness you signing the document)
   2. 2 passport photos (use an online passport photo service to save cash and print them yourself)
   3. A photocopy of your proof of identity and U.S. Citizenship documents (front and back)
5. Once you have applied for your passport you can check your application status 7-10 business days after applying at https://passportstatus.state.gov/
6. Happy traveling! Owning a passport opens up the world to you!

Every country has different regulations on vaccinations. Make sure that your normal vaccinations are up to date with your doctor and ask them if there are any vaccinations you should be aware of when traveling. Your doctor should be able to tell you which vaccinations you may need in addition to what you already have in order to travel safely.

A few examples of different vaccinations you may need are below:

• Typical vaccinations for developing countries include Hepatitis A and B, influenza and typhoid.
• Make sure you are up to date on regular vaccinations such as tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and measles.

Also, make sure your health insurance will cover you while you are away. If you are doing more adventurous traveling, like difficult or dangerous hiking, you may want to considering buying travel insurance for the duration of your trip to cover any emergencies. I have used World Nomads as a travel insurance option in the past. They cover a vast majority of problems you might encounter and are fairly cheap.

Flights are easier than ever to book online, unless you prefer a travel agent (often more expensive). I used a travel agent for several years while I was living in Kenya, and they managed to get me some great deals when I spent a summer in Europe a few years ago. Now, though, I prefer to find and book my own flights, using Kayak, Google, Skyscanner, and others.

There are several ways you can search for flights.

1. Have your city of origin and destination at hand.
2. Decide if you want a round-trip or a one-way ticket. Round trip tickets tend to be cheaper and will often be the same cost as a one-way ticket!
3. Pick your travel dates. Being flexible with your dates can give you some significant discounts depending on the day of the week you want to fly. Some sites have a flexible date option you can choose.
4. Set an alert for cheaper fares if you have some time to book your ticket.
5. Consider where you are flying and how often you will fly and decide which airline you would like to try and “be loyal to” based on this. For years, I was loyal to Delta/KLM because they had the cheapest flights from Kenya to Michigan, but now that I live in Berlin it is more cost effective for me to be loyal to Lufthansa. Being a loyal customer gives you some nice perks if you travel a lot, including being one of the first travelers to board the plan, access to a lounge, and upgraded seats.
6. Decide if you want to buy flight protection in case you need to cancel or change your flight. This is always a good option to choose.
7. Book your flights!

Finding a place to stay gives you a lot of options, including but not limited to the following:

• Resorts
• Hotels
• AirBnB
• Hostels
• Camping
• Couch Surfing
• Staying with friends

The prices of all of the above vary from place to place, but if you are trying to be budget conscious, the free or almost free options will be slightly risky but friendly for your wallet. The older I get, the more I enjoy having freedom and security. I tend to see if I have any friends or friends of friends who are living in the place I want to visit who I might be able to stay with first, then I search AirBnB’s before trying other options. I like having my own place because it gives me the freedom to do my own cooking if I want, which is a great way to save more money!