Tips on paperwork

Paperwork:

Nowadays, if you ever plan to leave the continental US for a destination that accepts a government photo ID and a birth certificate (such as Mexico or the USVI), I highly recommend you invest in a passport. Airlines and crusielines and border checks are sometimes sticklers about the government ID matching the birth certificate. To make this happen, you may need to carry your marriage license (or two or three), name change papers, etc. to satisfy a grumpy agent. Travelers have been denied boarding because of mismatched names. Most of the times it is the women. Wouldn't you hate to watch your husband and children board that ship without you?

Make sure your passport is valid for 6 months after return from your trip - this is a requirement for traveling to many countries.

Carry a copy of any important papers (passport, birth certificate, drivers license, prescriptions, etc) in a separate place from the originals in case of theft or lost baggage. You can also leave a copy with someone at home who can fax it to a consulate or embassy should the need arrive. A note of caution - copy in black and white as a color copy may be construed as an attempt at a forgery.

Double check at least 6 weeks prior to foreign travel for required documents, vaccinations and hazards. Things change quickly in this world.

Always give a travel agent or airline reservation agent your name as it appears on your passport and/or drivers license. For most airlines, only a matching first and last name is necessary. For many other things, such as rail passes, visa, etc, an exact match with the passport is required for use.