Should I get a passport to go to Jamaica?

[Indolent]

I'm going to Jamaica for spring break at the end of February. I read that I can get through customs with a certified birth certificate and a drivers license but I've heard some people suggest getting a passport anyway.

Anyone have any experience with this?

edit* the reason I'm asking is that I don't want to spend the extra $100 if I don't have to

 

[captains]

with the way it is today
get a passport

 

[aiex]

Get a passport, you're going to have to at some point in the future anyway

 

[HarvInSTL]

I agree, just get the passport. Don't slack off and wait until the last minute or you will pay some hefty prices to get it expedited.

Your Friend!

 

[everman]

Yes you should get one, and do it asap because it can take a while.

 

[spidey07]

get a passport. It will make things so much easier for you.

You may have to put a rush on it though and that costs more.

 

[Baked]

*puzzled by why people don't have an US Passport in the 1st place*

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: Baked
*puzzled by why people don't have an US Passport in the 1st place*

I've never went anywhere that required one...

 

[HarvInSTL]

Originally posted by: spidey07
get a passport. It will make things so much easier for you.

You may have to put a rush on it though and that costs more.

It would depend on where he lives, when I got mine early this year it was sent to New Orleans for processing. My roommate got his a few weeks ago and it went somewhere else to get processed.

With overnight shipping there and back mine took approx 9 business days to get processed. but that cost me an addtional $35 on top of the $160 for the expedited fee's.

If he gets the forms and stuff sent in by the end of december there should be no reason why he doesn't have then back by the end of january.

Just an estimate though.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Indolent

Originally posted by: Baked
*puzzled by why people don't have an US Passport in the 1st place*

I've never went anywhere that required one...

even still, its a great document to have and everybody should have one.

Its the only federal document that shows your citizenship appart from social security card I believe.

 

[IrocZman223]

Jamaica is a very scary place if you wander off the beaten path

 

[purbeast0]

get a passport, it'll make stuff much easier.

and go to a nicer place than jamaice, like aruba, as seen in my sig

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: IrocZman223
Jamaica is a very scary place if you wander off the beaten path

Yeah, we're going to an all inclusive place. We don't plan on doing much outside of the resort.

Originally posted by: HarvInSTL

It would depend on where he lives, when I got mine early this year it was sent to New Orleans for processing. My roommate got his a few weeks ago and it went somewhere else to get processed.

With overnight shipping there and back mine took approx 9 business days to get processed. but that cost me an addtional $35 on top of the $160 for the expedited fee's.

If he gets the forms and stuff sent in by the end of december there should be no reason why he doesn't have then back by the end of january.

Just an estimate though.

Yeah, the passport site says 6 weeks. I plan on doing it early next week after I get my birth certificate from my parents house. That gives me 8 weeks before the trip so I'm thinking that should be fine.

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
get a passport, it'll make stuff much easier.

and go to a nicer place than jamaice, like aruba, as seen in my sig

Flights from Milwaukee to Aruba were sold out for the week. And that would be more expensive, we're just going to sit on the beach and get drunk. Don't need anything too fancy.

 

[HarvInSTL]

Yeah the sooner you get file the better. I was a lazy as$ and waited to file mine. I got it two days before I had to leave for Costa Rica. Talk about lucky, but then again I had to deal with some dumb as$ company on the internet to get my replacement birth certificate mailed to me over night.

Good luck and I'm sure you'll have fun. What resort are you staying at?

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: aiex
Get a passport, you're going to have to at some point in the future anyway

Why would you say that? I'm 23 and have never had a passport, and dont plan on ever getting one.

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: aiex
Get a passport, you're going to have to at some point in the future anyway

Why would you say that? I'm 23 and have never had a passport, and dont plan on ever getting one.

What a boring creature you must be.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: aiex
Get a passport, you're going to have to at some point in the future anyway

Why would you say that? I'm 23 and have never had a passport, and dont plan on ever getting one.

What a boring creature you must be.

Why would you say that? I've been to like 35 states, and stayed in about 20 for a week or longer. I've lived in 6 states so far. Heck, I've been to 5 or 6 countries.

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: HarvInSTL
Yeah the sooner you get file the better. I was a lazy as$ and waited to file mine. I got it two days before I had to leave for Costa Rica. Talk about lucky, but then again I had to deal with some dumb as$ company on the internet to get my replacement birth certificate mailed to me over night.

Good luck and I'm sure you'll have fun. What resort are you staying at?

Right now the plan is to stay at the Sunset Beach Resort in Montego Bay. We might still look at the Riveria Maya area in Mexico too. We should have it figured out for sure after talking to the travel agent again later this week.

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: aiex
Get a passport, you're going to have to at some point in the future anyway

Why would you say that? I'm 23 and have never had a passport, and dont plan on ever getting one.

What a boring creature you must be.

Why would you say that? I've been to like 35 states, and stayed in about 20 for a week or longer. I've lived in 6 states so far. Heck, I've been to 5 or 6 countries.

Because at the end of 2007 you will need a passport to go to Canada and Mexico, and everywhere else pretty much.

 

[Ameesh]

international travel is about a 100x easier with a passport. just get one, trying to use a birth certificate is about the easiest way to grief yourself and all the stupid airport employees.

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
international travel is about a 100x easier with a passport. just get one, trying to use a birth certificate is about the easiest way to grief yourself and all the stupid airport employees.

That's kinda what I figured. I just thought I would get ATOT's opinion.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: captains
with the way it is today
get a passport

:thumbsup:

anyone that is going outside the US, even canada , in my opinion, should get a passport

i need to get mine renewed, it expires in february!

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: aiex
Get a passport, you're going to have to at some point in the future anyway

Why would you say that? I'm 23 and have never had a passport, and dont plan on ever getting one.

You don't count, you're in the military.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Indolent

Because at the end of 2007 you will need a passport to go to Canada and Mexico, and everywhere else pretty much.

Yeah, but I have no desire to go to Canada or Mexico, or pretty mcuh everywhere else. There are so many great vacation spots here in the states, where I know the laws, customs, and language.