Anne Newman’s holiday cruise from Baltimore to the Bahamas on the Carnival Pride got off to the worst start possible when two members of her party — her brother and father — were left standing at the dock because of a paperwork problem.
passport
When Doris Lemonovich booked a vacation package for two to Costa Rica through Gate 1 Travel, she thought the passport requirements were clear: All she needed was a passport that wouldn’t expire for the next month, according to the State Department.
Port separation anxiety is a term I use to describe the sudden decision some cruise passengers are faced with when a member of their party has to be left behind — usually because of they don’t have a passport or the right kind of birth certificate.
Less than one-third of Americans have passports, compared with more than half of Canadians. And if you’ve ever wondered why, then it’s probably been a few years since you tried to get one. I applied for three passports yesterday, and I’m here to tell you the real reason why most Americans lack a passport.
Jim Kohlman almost lost his entire vacation on a technicality. And he would have, were it not for the help of a hotel that understands the hospitality business.
Given the current state of the travel industry, no one should be surprised, that more people are heading to court to settle their differences with an airline, car rental company or hotel. In this week’s MSNBC column, I break it down for you. Don’t forget to check out the blog posts on a wide range of fascinating topics, from fax scams in Cancun to Yellow Fever-induced paperwork problems.
Elliott is consumer advocate 
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