Is it expired? The one passport rule most Americans miss
General
Airport prevention strategies
Is it expired? The one passport rule most Americans miss
As you get ready to travel, it is easy to focus on the big things: flights, hotels, and what to pack. But the small documents can cause some of the biggest problems. Checking your passport expiration date, entry requirements, and medication prescriptions before you leave can save you a lot of stress at the airport. Here are ten travel documents you won’t want to forget.
Your passport expiration date
Some travel problems are easy to avoid if you catch them on time. Check your passport’s expiration date as soon as you start planning your travel. Some countries, especially in Europe, may require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months after your travel dates. In most cases, adult passports last 10 years, but children’s passports expire after only 5 years, so it is best to be aware.
Entry requirements besides the visa
Some trips require a few extra papers besides a visa. Depending on the country, you may need an electronic travel authorization, blank passport pages, proof of a return ticket, health documents, or entry forms.
The easiest place to start is Travel.State.gov, where travelers can search each destination and check its entry, exit, and visa requirements. It is worth doing this before you leave, because some places may also ask where you are staying or whether you have enough money for the trip.
Medication paperwork
This is one of the easiest travel details to take for granted. Some common U.S. medications, including certain ADHD drugs, pain medicines, sleep aids, decongestants, and CBD products, may be restricted or even illegal in other countries.
Keep medicine in its original labeled package, carry a copy of the prescription, and bring a doctor’s note when needed. Otherwise, you may have to leave it at the airport, even if it is legal back home.
Kids authorizations
No one wants to arrive at the airport and find out their child needed one more document to travel. If a child is traveling without one or both parents, check the destination country’s embassy or consulate before the trip.
You may need custody documents or a notarized permission letter from the other parent, usually prepared with a notary and signed before travel. This can apply even when one parent is on the trip, so it is better to ask early than find out at the airport.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is one of those things you hope you won’t need, but you'll be glad to have in case you need it. The U.S. government doesn’t pay medical bills or unexpected travel costs for Americans abroad, and Medicare or Medicaid, U.S. government health insurance programs, will probably not cover care outside the country.
So, the best advice would be to check your health plan and consider travel medical insurance, emergency evacuation coverage, and even international car insurance if you plan to drive. And don’t forget to read the policy carefully, so you know what is actually covered.
International Driving Permit
A U.S. driver’s license does not work the same way everywhere. Some countries may require an International Driving Permit, especially if you’re planning to rent a car. This document doesn’t replace your actual license, but it helps explain and certify your license information in other languages. Countries like Mexico and Canada don’t ask for it, but others like Austria and Spain do.
Make a copy of your documents
Originals may seem enough, but travel documents are worth backing up in more than one way. Make copies of your passport, visas, insurance details, and reservations, and keep one set away from the originals. Also, leave another set with someone you trust back home, just in case something gets lost or stolen. Photos on your phone can help too, but a paper backup can save you when your battery dies or Wi-Fi is not working.
Have hotel and address info nearby
When you land, officials may ask more than just how long you are staying. You may need to give the address of your hotel, rental, or the person you are visiting. Keep your booking confirmation and full address easy to find, either printed or saved on your phone. It is a small detail, but it can make the arrival process much smoother.
Vaccination records on date
Are your vaccinations up to date? Vaccination records are really easy to forget, but some countries can ask for proof of certain vaccines, such as yellow fever.
The CDC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says some destinations require this proof from all arriving travelers, including places like Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Bolivia, and French Guiana. This proof may need to appear on an International Certificate of Vaccination, so it is better to be informed before starting your trip.
Pet travel paperwork
If you are traveling with your pet, do not leave the paperwork for the week before your trip. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, says each destination can have different pet entry rules, including vaccines, tests, treatments, and a USDA-endorsed health certificate. A regular vet visit may not be enough, so contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian early.
The world's tallest filing cabinet and 9 other bizarre attractions
Landmarks
Bold choices
Giant carrots and pierogies: 10 weird monuments to everyday objects
You’ve seen countless noble, serious statues of presidents and war heroes —but if you know where to look, you’ll discover monuments made in tribute to inanimate, everyday objects. Think giant paper cups, pierogies, carrots, and more. Here are 10 of the strangest monuments to add to your bucket list.
Giant wool wagon, Australia
In the town of Kojonup, residents wanted to honor the industry that built their town, so a massive wool wagon sits proudly as a tribute to the sheep farming that once fueled the local economy. It’s a full-scale monument that commemorates the days when wool was king.
World’s largest watermelon slice, Iowa
The city of Muscatine decided that a standard fruit display simply wouldn't do. Living by the "go big or go home" mantra, they installed the world’s largest watermelon slice in Riverside Park. This vibrant, 40-foot-long monument celebrates the town’s rich agricultural heritage in the brightest way possible, serving as a giant tribute to the local melon industry.
Huge paper cup, California
You know how people say everything is bigger in Texas? That may be true, but other states are certainly giving the Lone Star State a run for its money. Take Riverside in California, for example, where you can find a 68-foot "paper cup" monument. The towering tribute stands to honor the local disposable cup industry, which was once a powerhouse of the city's economy.
Chest of drawers, North Carolina
High Point in North Carolina shows off with the world’s largest chest of drawers. Standing nearly 40 feet tall, the dresser even features a giant pair of socks dangling from one of its drawers, a whimsical nod to the city’s hosiery industry. Only natural to have a monument of this kind in the city that is the "Furniture Capital of the World," right?
World’s largest ball of paint, Indiana
In Alexandria, Indiana, what began as a standard baseball has been covered in tens of thousands of coats of paint over the years. Visitors can even add their own layers to the ever-expanding sphere. Today, the ball weighs over 11,600 pounds and has over 30,000 coats of different colors. It holds an official Guinness World Record and continues to grow daily, one colorful coat at a time.
Giant pierogi, Canada
If you’re a pierogi lover, you need to put this on your bucket list. In Glendon, Alberta, there’s a massive tribute to the Polish dumpling, a 27-foot-tall fiberglass sculpture that weighs approximately 6,000 pounds. The roadside landmark honors the region’s deep Eastern European roots and proves that even comfort food deserves its own monument.
World’s largest spool of thread, Missouri
Outside the Missouri Quilt Museum in Hamilton, there’s a spool of thread with more than a million yards wrapped around it. That’s enough thread to circle a few small towns, and it’s a nod to the quilters everywhere who know that big projects must start with one small stitch.
17,400-pound ball of twine, Minnesota
The town of Darwin takes the twine very seriously. One local man spent 29 years rolling it into a 12-foot-wide, 17,400-pound giant ball. While it’s hard to imagine the dedication required for such a feat, you don't have to; pay a visit and see for yourself!
Filing cabinet, Vermont
Anyone who has spent their career in an office knows how useful filing cabinets are. Denizens of Burlington, Vermont, consider them so useful that this office staple has been elevated to an art form. And so they’ve installed a 38-drawer filing cabinet that claims to be the tallest on Earth.
Carrot monument, New Zealand
As we’ve seen, some food items are so special that they must be honored. Ohakune in New Zealand felt that way about carrots, given that they have a long and proud history of farming the vegetable. As a result, now you can visit the largest carrot model in the world.
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