September 5, 2025 • 10 mins
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the No Before You Go travel show show
where we share all the latest travel tips, tricks and
insights to make your next vacation the best one. Yeah,
so sit back, relaxed, grab a cocktail and enjoy the
show with Pennac Travels, George Pennyac and our senior travel
consultant Janet Begnac.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
What is that everybody?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Hey?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Everyone, Happy hump Day or whatever day it is.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
With usually put these out midweek, but we are back
for anothergition of the note before a travel show.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
We've got a show for you today. It is Travel Tip.
I don't know when.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
We're putting this out midweek Tuesday, Thursday, Travel Tip hump
Day and we are here for your midweek dose of
travel knowledge. Here with the Caribbean Queen herself, Janet Pennac,
owner of Pennac Travel, and I'm George Panyac. And if
you're new, we do a really little brief, little midweek
tip and then we do a lot of long form content.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
On the weekends.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
We put out thirty forty five hour minute long episodes
where you guys can enjoy listening to resort reviews, a
bunch of travel tips, a lot more long form content.
If you like that kind of content, subscribe to the
channel and you get the short form or the long
form or both, whatever you want. So we are here
with another travel tip. What are we going to talk
about today?
Speaker 4 (01:10):
We are going to just do a quick discussion on
the differences of your a passport book versus a passport
card and then also passport validity. So when you're looking online,
say you're applying for a passport for the very first time,
you're going to see that there's an option to buy
(01:31):
just a passport book, there's an option to get just
a passport card, and or there's also an option to
buy both of them. The passport card, in my personal opinion,
is essentially useless, so I don't recommend buying it at all. Basically,
you can only use that to get on cruises and
(01:51):
then at land border crossings, so like into Mexico and
into Canada. So if you have a passport you can
just or a regular passport book, then you can use
that no matter what. Plus it's good for flying internationally.
So there's really no point in my personal opinion, for
(02:13):
a passport card. Wouldn't you agree?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, the passport card is not valid for really international flight,
air travel. Yeah, and it's I mean I view it
as it's comparable to like an ID, you know what
I mean, Like it's it's an identify. It it's an
official government identification. But it's if you're going to travel
or travel even if just travel more than once, going
to get the passport book, you're safer. It is widely
(02:35):
identified as or wighly recognized internationally as you know, citizenship
for the United States, And if you're ever in a pinch,
you're definitely gonna want that with you.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
So yes, yeah, absolutely. Now talking about passport validity, so
you need to check and make sure that your passports,
if you do have an upcoming international trip, that it
does not expire within six months of your return day home.
So today is we're in the middle or early September. Okay,
So let's say if my trip is planned for I'm
(03:07):
going to return back to the United States on October
the first, then you would want to make sure that
your passport does not expire before April first of twenty
twenty six.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
And that's okay.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
See, that's a thing that I think of the common traveler.
That's a people don't understand that, like they're like, well,
if it hasn't expired yet, it hasn't expired. Yeah, that
is true as maybe a form of ID, but when
you travel to other places, they can have completely separate
regulations on you know, if it's within a window of
the lapsing of the validity of it, they may say
(03:42):
it's not good for them. Yeah, and that's because I
think there's a lot of there's been passports that have
been stolen, or they don't want you to get stuck
in their country and then the passport expires and you're
stuck the other passport. So there's a lot of reasons
why they do it. Yeah, but trust me, check all
of that before you travel, because there aren't they're so different.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Yes, now, most Caribbean and Mexico places do not follow
this rule, but the Dominican Republic has started enforcing it.
So you definitely want to make sure, especially if you're
traveling to the Dominican Republic, that that's not an issue
for you at all. Now, you I get asked a lot, well,
(04:22):
you know, I'm going to say, Cancun and my passport
expires two months after I get back, will I be okay?
I can't guarantee it. I have actually traveled like that
to Mexico and not had an issue. But the problem
that you can run into is sometimes airline gate agents,
you know that that can be an issue with them.
But look, if you go on like the travel I
(04:45):
think it's travel dot State, dot gover or whatever that
website is, you can put in the country that you're
going to and then it will actually list what the
passport validity requirement is, so it will say just valid
for at time of entry or valid for must be
like three months. Europe is another designation pretty much all
(05:06):
countries in Europe where they do require to six months.
So just double check it and if you know it
is going to expire within that timeframe, even if you're
going to technically a place that doesn't have that rule,
just get it renewed to be on the safe side.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
And this is a great travel tip because I think
people just get so busy with life, and you know,
you you guys are the average travelers, not the travel professionals,
so they're not thinking about it. They just think, oh,
I got my passport in May of you know, twenty
twenty two, so it should be you know, just always
check and then I mean, you know, if you're in
a book internationally, book a PENNAC Travel will help you
(05:42):
and make sure that you're here, will remind you to
make sure your.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Passport is good. Check it, check it, check it. But
you'd be.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Surprised some people that they pop up last minute like
oh my gosh, I thought it was good. Now it's
not good, right, and then they have to rush to
either drive to a passport office nearby, which could be
Atlanta or you know, it could be hours away, or
you pay to expedite it. Now you're waiting on the government.
It just just check it and it's going to simplify
your life, honestly, check it before you book something.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Yeah. So a couple other like little tips that popped
into my mind too. So yeah, if you do need
an emergency passport, like you're leaving in a few weeks
and your passport's going to expire, you can get appointments
if your travel is within two weeks at different passport
offices around the US, like the closest one for US
is Atlanta. Those can be very tough to get. There's
(06:31):
also several companies online that you can pay for expediting
services like this so one that I have had clients
use on several occasions. It's called CIBT visas dot com.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
They're not affiliated with us.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
They're not affiliated with us. Yeah, it was just you.
I've had people use.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
It.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Is very expensive though, like six hundred dollars.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Where because what they're helping people in a pinch.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
And you don't then have to go like to Atlanta,
you have to drive. Yeah, like you do everything, fill
out the paperwork, you do everything at home, and then
like overnight, you ps it to them and then you
can get it back like in a day.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
So we're here to help you don't get in the pinch.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
So a couple other things though too. With your passport,
you want to make sure you have a blank page
because a lot of countries require that that you must
have at least one blank page in your passport. And
then make sure it's not like ripped or falling apart.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Because take good care of your passports people.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Yes, if it is or if it's torn up, if
your dog ate it, it will not be accepted.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
It can get denied.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Yeah, So just double check the quality and make sure
it's not falling apart too.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, And passports are pretty cool because, like I think
some many people keep them like close to the You know,
it's a special thing because you can look back at
your passport and all the places you've traveled, So take
good care of it.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
They are made out of some pretty good material.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Well yeah, now the new ones are even like more sturdy.
Really yeah, right, the new ones look weird. I don't
even think you've seen what a new one looks like.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Here I am given out the information I don't even
know in my podcast, my podcast, My passport expires.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
Yours expires in twenty thirty one.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Look at you. Oh, I've got plenty of top of good. Yeah,
but so many people think that.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Though so many people think, oh I got plenty of time,
it's like no, no, no, yeah. And again, guys, the
reason these countries enforce it is because they don't want
you to get stuck there, and they have their own policies.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
And just because it's not expired.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Yet, that's what we're assuming.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, well, it doesn't mean that you could. It's going
to be accepted somewhere. And yeah, if you want to
use it as a form of ID in the United States,
then it's good till it expires. But that doesn't mean
that other countries in Europe are the Caribbean are just
going to accept it when it's that close to expiration.
And passport theft is a real thing. So I think
there's a lot of reasons why they just want you
to have that buffer. I personally think they just they
(08:35):
don't want you to run the risk of getting stuck
in the country for whatever reason, and then you're stuck
without a passport.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
And also this may sound like an obvious thing, and
you might wonder why is she even mentioning that, But
I have had this asked to me numerous times. I
can't even tell you. Yes, babies do need a passport
to travel internationally.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Yeah, there you go.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Just make sure that if you are traveling with an infant,
they do have to have a pass It's.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
That baby a passport.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Yes, that's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Do do they need the monk shot? Yes, they put
the that's awesome.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Yes, and again passport card. I think it's useless, not
worth buying. Just do the passport book.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
So what a cute family photo that would be is
like you get the baby a passport and then before
you travel, the baby's holding.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
The passport and take a little picture of it just so.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
You think about though, Like the baby's like as an infant,
and then you know it's good for what five years,
and then by the time it's like three, it's gonna
look totally different.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yeah, walking and talking and everything.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
Yeah, but anyways, all right, so that sums up our
quick travel tip for the week. We hope you enjoyed it.
If you want more information, slide into our DMS god
Depending on travel dot Com click request to quote comes
directly to us or give us a called oney hundred
six seven four three two seven eight. Again, we are
a zero feed travel agency. We do not charge anything
(09:51):
for our services and we would love to work with
you on planning your next vacation to wherever that may be.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Yeah, we love you guys, have a great rest of
the week and we will see you next time the
pod see you next time.
Welcome to the No Before You Go travel show show
where we share all the latest travel tips, tricks and
insights to make your next vacation the best one. Yeah,
so sit back, relaxed, grab a cocktail and enjoy the
show with Pennac Travels, George Pennyac and our senior travel
consultant Janet Begnac.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
What is that everybody?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Hey?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Everyone, Happy hump Day or whatever day it is.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
With usually put these out midweek, but we are back
for anothergition of the note before a travel show.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
We've got a show for you today. It is Travel Tip.
I don't know when.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
We're putting this out midweek Tuesday, Thursday, Travel Tip hump
Day and we are here for your midweek dose of
travel knowledge. Here with the Caribbean Queen herself, Janet Pennac,
owner of Pennac Travel, and I'm George Panyac. And if
you're new, we do a really little brief, little midweek
tip and then we do a lot of long form content.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
On the weekends.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
We put out thirty forty five hour minute long episodes
where you guys can enjoy listening to resort reviews, a
bunch of travel tips, a lot more long form content.
If you like that kind of content, subscribe to the
channel and you get the short form or the long
form or both, whatever you want. So we are here
with another travel tip. What are we going to talk
about today?
Speaker 4 (01:10):
We are going to just do a quick discussion on
the differences of your a passport book versus a passport
card and then also passport validity. So when you're looking online,
say you're applying for a passport for the very first time,
you're going to see that there's an option to buy
(01:31):
just a passport book, there's an option to get just
a passport card, and or there's also an option to
buy both of them. The passport card, in my personal opinion,
is essentially useless, so I don't recommend buying it at all. Basically,
you can only use that to get on cruises and
(01:51):
then at land border crossings, so like into Mexico and
into Canada. So if you have a passport you can
just or a regular passport book, then you can use
that no matter what. Plus it's good for flying internationally.
So there's really no point in my personal opinion, for
(02:13):
a passport card. Wouldn't you agree?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, the passport card is not valid for really international flight,
air travel. Yeah, and it's I mean I view it
as it's comparable to like an ID, you know what
I mean, Like it's it's an identify. It it's an
official government identification. But it's if you're going to travel
or travel even if just travel more than once, going
to get the passport book, you're safer. It is widely
(02:35):
identified as or wighly recognized internationally as you know, citizenship
for the United States, And if you're ever in a pinch,
you're definitely gonna want that with you.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
So yes, yeah, absolutely. Now talking about passport validity, so
you need to check and make sure that your passports,
if you do have an upcoming international trip, that it
does not expire within six months of your return day home.
So today is we're in the middle or early September. Okay,
So let's say if my trip is planned for I'm
(03:07):
going to return back to the United States on October
the first, then you would want to make sure that
your passport does not expire before April first of twenty
twenty six.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
And that's okay.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
See, that's a thing that I think of the common traveler.
That's a people don't understand that, like they're like, well,
if it hasn't expired yet, it hasn't expired. Yeah, that
is true as maybe a form of ID, but when
you travel to other places, they can have completely separate
regulations on you know, if it's within a window of
the lapsing of the validity of it, they may say
(03:42):
it's not good for them. Yeah, and that's because I
think there's a lot of there's been passports that have
been stolen, or they don't want you to get stuck
in their country and then the passport expires and you're
stuck the other passport. So there's a lot of reasons
why they do it. Yeah, but trust me, check all
of that before you travel, because there aren't they're so different.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Yes, now, most Caribbean and Mexico places do not follow
this rule, but the Dominican Republic has started enforcing it.
So you definitely want to make sure, especially if you're
traveling to the Dominican Republic, that that's not an issue
for you at all. Now, you I get asked a lot, well,
(04:22):
you know, I'm going to say, Cancun and my passport
expires two months after I get back, will I be okay?
I can't guarantee it. I have actually traveled like that
to Mexico and not had an issue. But the problem
that you can run into is sometimes airline gate agents,
you know that that can be an issue with them.
But look, if you go on like the travel I
(04:45):
think it's travel dot State, dot gover or whatever that
website is, you can put in the country that you're
going to and then it will actually list what the
passport validity requirement is, so it will say just valid
for at time of entry or valid for must be
like three months. Europe is another designation pretty much all
(05:06):
countries in Europe where they do require to six months.
So just double check it and if you know it
is going to expire within that timeframe, even if you're
going to technically a place that doesn't have that rule,
just get it renewed to be on the safe side.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
And this is a great travel tip because I think
people just get so busy with life, and you know,
you you guys are the average travelers, not the travel professionals,
so they're not thinking about it. They just think, oh,
I got my passport in May of you know, twenty
twenty two, so it should be you know, just always
check and then I mean, you know, if you're in
a book internationally, book a PENNAC Travel will help you
(05:42):
and make sure that you're here, will remind you to
make sure your.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Passport is good. Check it, check it, check it. But
you'd be.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Surprised some people that they pop up last minute like
oh my gosh, I thought it was good. Now it's
not good, right, and then they have to rush to
either drive to a passport office nearby, which could be
Atlanta or you know, it could be hours away, or
you pay to expedite it. Now you're waiting on the government.
It just just check it and it's going to simplify
your life, honestly, check it before you book something.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Yeah. So a couple other like little tips that popped
into my mind too. So yeah, if you do need
an emergency passport, like you're leaving in a few weeks
and your passport's going to expire, you can get appointments
if your travel is within two weeks at different passport
offices around the US, like the closest one for US
is Atlanta. Those can be very tough to get. There's
(06:31):
also several companies online that you can pay for expediting
services like this so one that I have had clients
use on several occasions. It's called CIBT visas dot com.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
They're not affiliated with us.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
They're not affiliated with us. Yeah, it was just you.
I've had people use.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
It.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Is very expensive though, like six hundred dollars.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Where because what they're helping people in a pinch.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
And you don't then have to go like to Atlanta,
you have to drive. Yeah, like you do everything, fill
out the paperwork, you do everything at home, and then
like overnight, you ps it to them and then you
can get it back like in a day.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
So we're here to help you don't get in the pinch.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
So a couple other things though too. With your passport,
you want to make sure you have a blank page
because a lot of countries require that that you must
have at least one blank page in your passport. And
then make sure it's not like ripped or falling apart.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Because take good care of your passports people.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Yes, if it is or if it's torn up, if
your dog ate it, it will not be accepted.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
It can get denied.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Yeah, So just double check the quality and make sure
it's not falling apart too.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, And passports are pretty cool because, like I think
some many people keep them like close to the You know,
it's a special thing because you can look back at
your passport and all the places you've traveled, So take
good care of it.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
They are made out of some pretty good material.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Well yeah, now the new ones are even like more sturdy.
Really yeah, right, the new ones look weird. I don't
even think you've seen what a new one looks like.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Here I am given out the information I don't even
know in my podcast, my podcast, My passport expires.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
Yours expires in twenty thirty one.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Look at you. Oh, I've got plenty of top of good. Yeah,
but so many people think that.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Though so many people think, oh I got plenty of time,
it's like no, no, no, yeah. And again, guys, the
reason these countries enforce it is because they don't want
you to get stuck there, and they have their own policies.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
And just because it's not expired.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Yet, that's what we're assuming.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, well, it doesn't mean that you could. It's going
to be accepted somewhere. And yeah, if you want to
use it as a form of ID in the United States,
then it's good till it expires. But that doesn't mean
that other countries in Europe are the Caribbean are just
going to accept it when it's that close to expiration.
And passport theft is a real thing. So I think
there's a lot of reasons why they just want you
to have that buffer. I personally think they just they
(08:35):
don't want you to run the risk of getting stuck
in the country for whatever reason, and then you're stuck
without a passport.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
And also this may sound like an obvious thing, and
you might wonder why is she even mentioning that, But
I have had this asked to me numerous times. I
can't even tell you. Yes, babies do need a passport
to travel internationally.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Yeah, there you go.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Just make sure that if you are traveling with an infant,
they do have to have a pass It's.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
That baby a passport.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Yes, that's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Do do they need the monk shot? Yes, they put
the that's awesome.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Yes, and again passport card. I think it's useless, not
worth buying. Just do the passport book.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
So what a cute family photo that would be is
like you get the baby a passport and then before
you travel, the baby's holding.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
The passport and take a little picture of it just so.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
You think about though, Like the baby's like as an infant,
and then you know it's good for what five years,
and then by the time it's like three, it's gonna
look totally different.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yeah, walking and talking and everything.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
Yeah, but anyways, all right, so that sums up our
quick travel tip for the week. We hope you enjoyed it.
If you want more information, slide into our DMS god
Depending on travel dot Com click request to quote comes
directly to us or give us a called oney hundred
six seven four three two seven eight. Again, we are
a zero feed travel agency. We do not charge anything
(09:51):
for our services and we would love to work with
you on planning your next vacation to wherever that may be.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Yeah, we love you guys, have a great rest of
the week and we will see you next time the
pod see you next time.
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