So you know you want to travel out of the country, but don’t have a passport. Stress not, we’ll take you step by step to obtain your passport. We have come up with things you will need and steps on how to get there. What you need: Proof of Citizenship (Birth Certificate) Completed Passport Application 2 Passport Photos Acceptable Photo ID (valid driver’s license, government id, or military id) Money for fees ($110 if you are over 16, $85 if you are under 16)

Step 1:

Birth Certificate. If you were born in the US, you’ll need to find that birth certificate. It may still be at your parents’ house (I know mine was). Make sure you have an original copy, certified by the city, state or county where you were born. If you don’t have a copy, you’ll need to contact the city, state, or county government office where you were born to get a new, certified copy. Please note, that if you’re from a small city, it may take longer, so be patient.

Step 2:

Get your passport photo taken. I would recommend going somewhere that has an official passport photo service. I found it easiest to go to my local Walgreens, Rite Aid or CVS, and they will get you right together. Side note, I have yet to see a cute passport photo. The lighting isn’t great, but at least it will pass the Passport Photo Requirements. I went to the Rite Aid, and was in and out in 5 minutes, and it only cost me 5 bucks!

Step 3:

Gather your funds. Now getting you passport is not cheap, so that’s why it’s important to gather your coins before you start the process of booking your flight. There is a $110 fee for your first passport. For standard processing there are no additional fees (6-8 weeks). You don’t need a passport card. Passport cost. If you need your passport in the next 2-3 weeks you’ll have to pay a $60 fee that will expedite the process.

Step 4:

Fill out the application. You’re almost done!! You will have to fill out the application yourself. Once you print it off, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE wait to sign and date it once you apply in person.

Step 5:

Handing in your application, money, photos and birth certificate. Aaaat Laaast! *in my Etta James voice* Take your completed application, payment, 2 copies of your passport photo, acceptable photo ID and birth certificate to your Local Passport Acceptance Facility. Most places require you to make an appointment.
When you go to the passport facility, be prepared for them to keep your birth certificate, etc along with your application. You will be without your birth certificate up to 8 weeks. Not to worry, they will mail it back along with your passport. Once you’re done, all you have to do is wait… At this point you have no choice but to wait. However once you get that big envelop in the mail, you are free to travel the world!!

Flights, Lists, Tips, Travel Tips, Uncategorized

Top 5 Flight Deal Sites

By Jerrell J on

February 19, 2020

- Flights, Lists, Tips, Travel Tips, Uncategorized

When it comes to finding flight deals online, there are quite a few places to look. I’ve narrowed my favorites down to the top 5 sites I tend to use more than any others. When I say there’s an art to this, I mean it.

The key is to figure out which site to use at the right time. This decision is solely up to you, that is if you’re open to traveling to locations you may have never considered before. But there will indeed be situations where you have the opportunity to book a cheap flight to one of your highly sought after spots as well. Check out the list below and let us know if you have any other sites that you think work just as well if not better than these.

Airfare Watchdog

This site is a prime example of considering destinations that you hadn’t thought of before. If you are dead set on a particular location, the very top of the page will let you set up email notifications that will keep you updated on your desired flight prices.

We’ve found Airfare Watchdog to be very helpful when we just want to get away for a short or spur of the moment trip.

The Flight Deal

As you can see from the image above, The Flight Deal constantly finds great prices on flights around the world. Keep in mind that the deals include a variety of destinations, airlines, travel windows and more.

For example, you may see a flight from several different departure cities in America to Paris on Delta from mid-January through late March, and another deal may feature a United Airlines trip from Denver to New York from early September through late December. You must make sure to check back often. You may be surprised by what you can find.

The Fare Deal Alert

The Fare Deal Alert is a sister site of The Flight Deal. The Fare Deal Alert provides additional coverage for cities including Atlanta, Las Vega, Houston, Charlotte, and more.

A few things to keep in mind; 1. these fares don’t last long. (Each deal includes a warning that if the posting is more than 2 days old, it’s most likely gone.) 2. If you want to stay updated, check out the Twitter page of both sites. You can even set up alerts to notify you when they send out a new tweet.

Secret Flying

The key to Secret Flying is visiting the site at the right time. It’s somewhat similar to The Flight Deal in terms of departure and arrival locations – they’re random, so keep an eye out. Don’t let that discourage you though, they’ll surprise you with some amazing deals on flights and hotels.

Skyscanner

Skyscanner is another great flight aggregator that includes hotel and car rental search capabilities as well.

Simply search for your desired destination and Skyscanner searches over 20 airlines to provide you the cheapest results. It gives you the ability to filter out whichever airline you like. They’ve even created a convenient app so you’ll never miss out on a great deal.

Whatever you do, check back early and often. You never know which of these sites will have the perfect deal for you.

Tips, Travel Tips, Uncategorized

Step by Step Guide to Getting Your Passport