Articles of Interest to American Travelers

How to avoid a passport nightmare.  Richard Deitsch struggled through several days of denial before facing the fact that he was thousands of miles from home and he had no idea where his passport was.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/traveltips/03/02/passport/

Top ten tips for preparing for a business trip abroad.  Traveling abroad for business can be exciting, but you should leave yourself plenty of time to prepare before your departure. We’ve compiled a list of things to do before you leave.
http://www.nydailynews.com/money/business_travel/2009/03/03/2009-03-03_top_ten_tips_for_preparing_for_a_busines-3.html

New U.S. passport rules begin June 1. If you'll be entering the U.S. from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean or Bermuda on June 1 or after, or need a passport this year, read on for new passport and other travel document news and tips.
http://www.mlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2009/03/new_passport_rules_on_the_hori.html

Travelers encouraged to heed alerts about Mexico, other destinations.  As members of the campus community make plans for international travel in the coming weeks and months, university officials are encouraging travelers to be aware of security concerns that may arise in certain destinations.
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/march11/travel-alert-mexico-031109.html

When traveling, it pays to plan for the worst, too.  Stuff happens. What you never know is when.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/travel/thisweek/stories/DN-precautions_0322tra.ART.State.Edition1.4ab624c.html

It’s time to prepare for new border crossing rules.  And starting on June 1, visiting some of our closest neighbors—including Bermuda and most Caribbean countries, as well as Canada and Mexico—will become much more complex with the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. In fact, if you haven't applied for a passport yet, it may be time you give it serious thought.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/mcgee/2009-03-25-border-crossing-rules_N.htm

Canceling trip? Tell money 'hasta la vista.'  I am a 22-year-old college student who decided it would be wonderful to go to Cancun, Mexico, for spring break. In light of the recent events (kidnappings and murders), I have since decided that Cancun is not the ideal destination and have begun the process of canceling this trip. I would love a refund for my airline ticket. How do I do that?
http://www.baltimoresun.com/travel/bal-tr.travelq29mar29,0,556544.story

Will you need a passport for US Virgin Islands travel? Headed to the US Virgin Islands for spring break? They're US territories and you won't need a passport, but note that you will need id (like a driver's license) and a birth certificate if you don't have a passport (more details below).
http://studenttravel.about.com/b/2009/03/31/will-you-need-a-passport-for-us-virgin-islands-travel.htm