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Getting a passport in the United States is not difficult. You will need to provide proper documentation and pay an application fee, but other than that it is just a waiting game.

First you will need to go to the Post Office and obtain an application for a passport. You also have the ability to get this online. Fill it out in its entirety. You will need to know your parents birth places as well.

Next go to your local photo shop and get two passport photos taken. If you ask for passport photos then they will automatically include two anyway. They know that you need them. Also remember not to smile, apparently happy travelers set off red flags.

After you have your application and your photos you will need to drop off the two along with the current passport fees to the post office. The will ask to take your birth certificate in order to mail it in with the application.
Once this step is completed then all that you need to do is wait. It will take six to eight weeks in order to get your passport in the mail. You will also receive back you birth certificate.

That’s it, easy huh? Like I said all that you really need is information, money, pictures and time. Make certain that if you are planning a vacation out of the country that you get the passport taken care of in time. The fastest that you can get one is two to three weeks if you pay for expedited services.

Depending on where you are going will decide what type of documentation that you need. If you are leaving the country you will need to have a passport. A passport identifies you as a citizen of the country you reside. In the United States you can obtain an application for a passport from your local post office.

You will be required to fill out an application and submit it with a passport photo and an application fee. You will also need documentation to prove who you are. A birth certificate and social security card are the most likely items that you will need.

Children and adults traveling to and from a foreign country need to have valid documentation. If you are traveling to an area that requires immunizations, proof of those immunizations will also be required as part of your documentation. Passports are valid for a few years and renewing one costs a bit less than the initial application.

Traveling with a passport makes it much easier to identify you and if you do not have one you can and will be turned away by customs while traveling. It used to be that if you were a resident of the United States that you would not need a passport to travel across the Mexico border. As or 2008 everyone needs a passport in order to travel to Mexico. Some people still get away with a birth certificate and a drivers license however this lax rule will be changing once everyone has had sufficient time available to apply for and receive a passport.

I have traveled a few times with my two children and have found that they really do not require too much. I used to pack all kinds of things, just in case I needed them. I found that more time, than not, I did not need most of the items that I packed. I have come to realize that they just need a few extras, and a handful of tips to make the travel go better for me and my husband.

• Take Snacks
• Favorite Pillow or Blanket
• Go Potty First
• If possible Travel At night, unless the children will be sight seeing
• Do NOT over pack, just the necessities
• Maybe a DVD or Child Friendly CD

That’s it not too much. These things have kept my children entertained for a ten hour car ride to grandmas or a three hour flight for a vacation. I personally like to travel in the very early morning so that the kids will be asleep for part of the ride. Once they wake up, we stop for breakfast and are on our way again.

Small children need you to help them stay entertained more than kids that are a bit more mature. You can do this with games such as I spy and Simon says. Those are our two favorites. As children get older activity books and music will keep them occupied for long periods of time.

The best advice that I can give is not to overstress. Plan for what you can, pack for what you need, and enjoy everything else as it comes at you.

Is there such a thing as kid friendly travel? Of course there is. You can travel with your children to almost any destination that you yourself would travel to. You need to make certain of a few things before planning your trip though. Is the hotel that you want to stay at child friendly? Do they welcome children as well as possibly have activities for children of certain age groups? Many hotels are child free zones, or at least boast a few floors that there are no children allowed on.

Also take the term “less is more” to heart. Over packing for a trip with children actually can make the trip rougher on you. Worrying about excess baggage and the charge that comes with them can be an extreme head ache. Choose to pack only what is needed to cloth the child and find out if bulkier items such as strollers or pack and play cribs are available at the hotel. This will save you time and patience that can be better used while on vacation.

Remember to take a couple of snacks with you if you will be on the road for a while. It will never fail that your child will be hungry in the middle of nowhere or where there is no food readily available. Grumpy, hungry children do not travel well.

By keeping these few tips in mind as well as preparing in advance for everything then you will be sure to enjoy your travel time with the kids.