THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601190127
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E6 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TRAVEL-WISE
SOURCE: STEPHEN HARRIMAN
LENGTH: Long : 140 lines
IF YOU'RE PLANNING a trip abroad this year, or even think you might travel to another country, now is the time to begin the paperwork.
The U.S. State Department is encouraging travelers to apply for new passports or renewals now rather than waiting until spring, when there's a surge of applications as people prepare for summer travel. The department expects to issue a record 5.6 million passports this fiscal year, exceeding a record 5.3 million in the fiscal year that ended in September.
Already there is are problems.
The government's shutdown also suspended passport and other consular services. More than 200,000 Americans were left waiting for passports, the largest such backlog in the State Department's history.
``It's unfortunate that American citizens are put in the situation of having to beg for passports, because passports are an entitlement,'' said Mary Ryan, the assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, who handled some of the calls. ``It's disheartening to listen to people cry on the phone and not be able to do what they want, when it is not anything out of the ordinary.''
Passports are good for 10 years and cost $55 for adults; people under 18 receive a five-year passport for $30; and all first-time applicants pay a $10 ``execution fee.''
A passport may be renewed at any time while it is valid and for two years after it expires. The State Department warns that many countries will not admit holders of passports with less than six months to run.
Renewals: The best way to renew is by mail. Under normal circumstances in January and February, the process can be completed in two to three weeks.
A basic requirement for renewing by mail is submitting an earlier passport, which must have been issued no more than 12 years ago to a citizen older than 18. The applicant must be using the same name as on the old passport, or must be able to submit documentation of a name change by marriage or court order, with an official seal on it. The form for mail renewal is DSP-82, a white sheet with reddish printing that is available from clerks of the court, certain post offices and regional passport agencies.
Information on where forms may be obtained is available from the toll-free federal information number, (800) 688-9889. This has an automated system with general information for callers using Touch-Tone phones. Live information specialists are on this line from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. These employees will give out phone numbers for the nearest passport office, where automated lines give addresses for nearby courts or post offices. People unable to go out and get the forms may order them at the 800 number.
First-timers: Citizens getting passports for the first time cannot do it by mail, because a personal appearance is required for ``execution'' - taking an oath and signing.
All citizens, even babies, must have their own passports and may not be included in a parent's passport. The oath-taking and signing may be carried out before a court clerk or at some post offices as well as at a passport office.
Nationally, 2,500 courts and 900 post offices handle passports. The form for a first application is DSP-11, which is tan. YOUR MONEY'S WORTH
FYI, 70 percent of millionaires fly coach, and 52 percent of them look for flight discounts, according to a survey by Warbucks Marketing. Here are some deals that would make them happy:
Icelandair has ``Two-for-One to Europe'' fares to nine European cities from New York. Fares for two people start at $418 to London and Glasgow; $458 to Reykjavik and Luxembourg; $558 to Amsterdam; $568 to Hamburg, and $608 to Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. All flights stop in Reykjavik.
The fine print: Tickets must be purchased by Jan. 31 for departures until March 15. No returns will be permitted from April 1 to 15. Full-paying passengers must be members of the line's Frequent Flier Club at the time of travel; sign-up at the airport prior to departure is permitted, and there is no charge. The lowest fares are nonrefundable, are good for travel Monday through Thursday, must be purchased seven days in advance of travel and within 48 hours of the reservation, and do not include airport taxes and fees. There is a minimum stay of seven days, a maximum of one month (two months in Scandinavia). For more information or reservations: (800) 223-5500.
For a copy of Rick Steves' free 1996 Guide to European Railpasses, call (206) 771-8303.
Going down under? Both Qantas Airways, the Australian flag carrier, and Air New Zealand are holding what they call the biggest sale ever. Tickets are on sale through Jan. 26 for departures from April 10-May 31; travel must be completed by June 26. Round-trip tickets for travel between California and cities in Australia are $798. Air fare to New Zealand is $698. The air add-on from East Coast cities is $350 round trip. A combination ticket between Australia and New Zealand is also possible.
Very tempting is a do-it-yourself hiking vacation in Switzerland. At a beginning rate of $1,594 per person (double), hikers get an apartment for two weeks in the medieval Oberland town of Thun, air fare from New York, a Swiss rail pass and Idyll's detailed Swiss hiking guidebook. You map out your daily hiking routes, taking advantage of the Swiss aerial lift system. There are other unstructured tours available. Info: Idyll Ltd., P.O. Box 405, Media, Pa. 19063; (610) 565-5242. FAIR AIR FARES
``Fly for Less 1996'' by Gary E. Schmidt includes invaluable information on just about any air-ticket consolidator you'll come across. Consolidators are basically companies that sell tickets the airlines can't sell for prices they don't want the general public to know about. Like so many commercial fields, particularly young ones, the consolidating business has some fly-by-nighters mixed in with the solid, reputable operations.
Schmidt gives the names of the owner and general manager, staff size, date originated, annual sales figures, accreditation, travel agent ratings, whether frequent-flier miles are offered, as well as destinations and airlines used. Though many of the listings note that information wasn't provided about bond coverage, escrow or security, such omissions can tell you something, too. The paperback is $19.95 at bookstores or $22.75 from Travel Publishing Inc., (800) 241-9299. ANOTHER OPTION
Starting March 1, Continental will join the small handful of airlines (American, United and British Airways) that offer eastbound trans-Atlantic flights during the day. Flights will leave Newark daily at 9:30 a.m. and arrive at London Gatwick at 9:20 p.m., meaning you can start your vacation thoroughly rested - rare after an overnight flight.
Why aren't there more daytime flights? Tour companies like to promise American travelers as much sightseeing time as possible abroad and morning flights do kill a day. Also, planes that arrive in Europe in late evening usually have to lay over until the next afternoon because few passengers want to arrive in New York in the middle of the night. ROUGH ROADS AHEAD
For the fifth year in a row, Pennsylvania's roads were declared the nation's worst by truckers responding to a survey in Overdrive magazine.
New York, Illinois, Louisiana, Arkansas and California were in a five-way tie rounding out the states deemed to have the next-poorest highways.
The top three worst roads were I-80 (Pennsylvania), I-80 (Illinois) and I-95 (New York, including the Cross-Bronx Expressway).
Best roads, according to the truckers, were I-70 in Indiana, I-80 in Ohio, I-75 in Georgia and Florida and I-95 in Virginia.
Hmmm, I've driven I-95 in Virginia since it was invented. It may be wonderful for truckers, but it's terrible for auto drivers except for speedway racers. Makes me wonder if this whole survey isn't skewed. MEMO: Travel-wise is compiled from wire-service reports, news releases, trade
journals, books, magazines and the deepest recesses of the writer's
mind. Send comments and questions to Travel-wise, The Virginian-Pilot,
Norfolk, Va. 23501-0449; phone (804) 446-2904. by CNB