If a last-minute getaway to a foreign country is what you want, there are several things that need to be kept up-to-date to expedite travel plans.
Passports: Everyone who flies internationally needs a valid passport. New and renewed passports can be expedited, but the cost is high. But, before you can get a passport, you need two identical 2-by-2-inch color photographs in which the size of the head in the full-face portrait is between 1 and 1 3/8 inches measured from the chin to the top of the head. If this is your first passport, you will also need proof of your U.S. citizenship and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver's license. Renewals can be obtained using the old passport. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of State's Web site at www.travel.state.gov/passport.
Visas: Information on which foreign countries require visas should be obtained from the appropriate foreign embassy or consular representative. Some countries process visas by mail; others require travelers to apply in person.
Immunizations: Certain immunizations require multiple doses, and a series may not be available within a short time frame. Detailed health information may be obtained from your local healthcare provider or by contacting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at (877) 394-8747 or www. cdc. gov.
Last-minute Web sites
Last Minute Travel (www.lastminute.com) has packages that include airfare, hotel and extras.
More Last Minute Travel (www.lastminutetravel.com) offers destination-specific getaway plans.
Smarter Travel (www.smartertravel.com) has weekend getaways and last-minute packages as well as travel tips.
11th Hour Vacations (www.11thhourvacations.com) has both local and foreign last-minute deals including cruises.
Sky Auction (www.skyauction.com) provides an auction forum to bid on cruises, air tickets, vacation rentals in domestic and foreign locations.
Travelocity (www.travelocity.com) has a special section for weekend and last-minute trips.
Last-minute tool kit
Compare prices: Check newspapers and magazines for regular prices.
Read carefully: Check the small print for restrictions on travel dates, refunds, fees, taxes, departure airport and other potential pitfalls. Be fully informed on what you are buying before you pay.
Use a credit card: Credit cards have built-in protections that are especially handy if you want to obtain a refund or find yourself involved in a scam.
Be flexible: The more willing you are to travel on a variety of dates and airlines and to stay in different hotels and destinations, the more options will be available.
Hot destinations
Larry Virgilio, a home-based travel planner with 15 years of experience, says that some of the best exotic destination deals this summer can be found in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
“Acapulco, once the place to go in Mexico, has been replaced by Puerto Vallarta, so you can get a lower price on an Acapulco vacation,” he said.
Virgilio also suggests Cancun, the Riviera Majan south of Cancun and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic as other great last-minute best bets; the latter two are experiencing major expansion.
Don't have a passport? There are plenty of deals within the U.S. Try Miami Beach, New Orleans, Atlanta, Memphis or Charlotte, N.C.
Pamela Ferris-Olson writes for the Dayton Daily News.
