Following the Equator

Student travel guide from State Department

As we were surfing for passport information, we discovered a new website from the U.S. Department of State devoted to student travel.

Launched in March, Students Abroad offers all kinds of helpful information about international travel for students, parents, educators and schools.

The new site is primarily geared toward college students traveling and studying abroad, but there is a lot of information and tips for all students traveling internationally. Plus, it helps navigate the State Department's official travel site.

U.S. unveils new passport card

The U.S. State Department is beginning to produce new U.S. Passport Cards, but they're only good for land and sea travel in North America.

The new cards will not be valid for international air travel. So, if you're planning an educational tour or just traveling abroad, you'll still need the regular U.S. passport book.

The pocket-sized cards are aimed at helping U.S. travelers re-enter the country from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. It seems the new card is only useful for people who regularly cross the border, such as business travelers.

Passport potpourri

One of the initial thrills of planning your first trip abroad is getting your first passport. Unfortunately, the process sometimes can seem like a hurdle.

Luckily, with all of the recent changes regarding U.S. passports, there has been a lot written on the topic. We've already had a couple of posts about passports, and we've recently come across more tips, questions and suggestions regarding passports.

One of the best sources of advice and information has been the Los Angeles Times, which just answered a question about passports that are starting to fill up with stamps. The Times suggests adding blank pages to be on the safe side, and offers tips on how to go about that. The Times also wrote about some new, discreet holders to keep your passport secure.

More passport info

Getting a U.S. passport for the first time (or even renewing an expired one) can seem like a giant hurdle as you plan your educational tour.

Last year's changes in the law created a huge backlog in processing passports at the U.S. State Department—and a lot of headaches and worries about passports in general. Fortunately, the backlog has dissipated, but new changes this year have created a new round of questions.

We wrote last week about passport fees going up and directed travelers to the Los Angeles Times' online guide to passport rules. This week, the Washington Post wrote a Q&A about passports: "How to Make Sure Your Papers Are in Order."

The most important piece of advice: Apply for your passport as soon as possible. Read the Times and the Post for some other helpful tips. And visit the official State Department website: travel.state.gov.

Passport fees go up Friday

If you haven't applied for your U.S. passport yet, you can save $3 if you do it before Friday.

The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that passport fees are going up to $100 on February 1. The U.S. Department of State is raising the cost of an adult passport from $97 to $100 and the cost of a child (under 16) passport from $82 to $85. Passport renewals are going up from $67 to $75.

The Times also pointed out another important change that takes effect in two days. For children under 16, both parents will be required to appear in person (or one parent with required documentation) to apply for a passport. Currently, the age cutoff is 14. This is particularly important to know for underclassmen who are planning to travel this year or next.

You can get more information in the Times' recent Q&A, "Everything you need to know about U.S. passport rules," and at the official State Department website: travel.state.gov.

If you have any other passport questions, post your comments below, and we'll do our best to find the answers.

Travel Tidbits: Can you spare $10 million?

Think the U.S. economy is problematic? It's nothing compared to the economic crisis in Zimbabwe.

Inflation is so bad—believed to be 50,000 percent annually—that Zimbabwe's central bank just began issuing notes worth 10,000,000 Zimbabwean dollars. Yes, 10 million bucks. That's the equivalent of 100 of the bills pictured.

Ten million dollars is believed to be the largest denomination of any currency in the world, but don't get too excited. At the current rate, it could be worthless in a few weeks. According to the BBC, one $10 million note (or bearer cheque, as its called) is worth less than $4 U.S. on the black market. That means the $100,000 cheque pictured is worth less than 4 U.S. pennies.

Gadling pointed us to a blog that describes Zimbabwe's rampant hyperinflation. The writer reports that the new $10,000,000 bill is the same color, layout and design as an old $20 bill (which expired in July). Fifteen months ago, that $20 bill was worth $0.025 USD; that same bill is now worth $0.00000005 USD. Hence, the $10 million note.

To illustrate what that means in daily life, here's how much it cost to buy a beer back in December.

Now, on to more Travel Tidbits …