I cant believe I am asking this question...AGAIN!! Is anyone positive we US citizens dont need passports for travel to Aruba in April 2006? I know we dont, but, a coworker of mine claims her airline tickets for September states she has to have one!! UGHHHHHHHHHH !!

meme...you will need them after 12/31/06. the ruling was extended but i would suggest that you really get one soon. there will be a big rush for them. remember that they are good for 10 years.

I'll be there from April 20-29! Should be another fun BB party on the 24th at Amsterdam Manor's beach bar!

__________________
~Amy~®

26th trip to Aruba: April 2012
27th trip to Aruba: Sept. 2012

We'll be there April 2-9! Wish we had timed it better Amy! Would have loved having a cocktail or two, or three, or four with you!

As far as the passport, we'll I'm expecting my new one tomorrow and I can't wait for the smiley guy to stamp it again!

Going to miss you by just a couple of weeks!

__________________
~Amy~®

26th trip to Aruba: April 2012
27th trip to Aruba: Sept. 2012

I'll miss you too Cathy! Maybe next year!

I'll be there April 22-29!

__________________

Hello,we had hoped to meet all of you wk 16. April 22-29th.But we are letting our Son & Daughter inlaw use that week at ABC.We will take care of our beautiful 3 1/2 yr. old Granddaughter.We will be at the CDM, May 11-20th.Some day we will meet up.Have a great vacation everyone in April.Paula & Al Newcomb.

Sorry we'll miss you, Al! You are a good grand-dad!

__________________

You must have a passport. I was just there and if you don't - you can't go. New law posted Dec 31 I believe

I disagree - while it's highly recommended that you use a passport, I believe it is still possible to travel with a birth cert.

__________________

According to the U.S. State Dept.'s website (see below) the passport requirement for the Caribbean does not take effect until 12/31/06. So you can still travel to Aruba this year with a b/c and photo ID.

December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

__________________
~Amy~®

26th trip to Aruba: April 2012
27th trip to Aruba: Sept. 2012

Well, I was quite misinformed

we'll be there April 8 to 15th. Our tickets do not say that we need a passport. That is required 1/1/07.

My sister-in-law and I just went to Aruba 2/19 to 2/26. I have a passport, she DOES NOT. Her birth certificate with raised seal and her photo driver's license where accepted without any difficulties from her departure from Philadelphia and her departure from Aruba.

My passport expired a real long time ago and I've been travelling without one for years now. Raised seal BC and picture ID is good for now, but only for now! My friend is leaving for Cabo in 1 week and had to spend over 100 dollars to renew his passport (Rush) because it expires in 6 months and apparently you can't travel with a passport if it expires within a 6 month period...but your also not alowed to renew your passport more than 6 months before it expires...so he was doomed! Anyway that's Mexico and I think they went into effect 1/1/06. I would go and get your PP's now because i also heard the prices are going to skyrocket!

__________________
"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa

Nope, Mexico is the same as the Caribbean so you don't need a passport to MX until 12/31/06.

December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

__________________
~Amy~®

26th trip to Aruba: April 2012
27th trip to Aruba: Sept. 2012

I have to tell you Amy...I argued with him about that, but he insisted and said he has it in writing (I didn't see it) and when he went to the County Clerk last week they said yes and made him get it RUSH cause he's leaving in 1 week or so.

Oh I don't know!! Going on hearsay again (his). All I know is mine is so expired that it can't be renewed by mail, bummer! I have to go in person and of course they are only opened during my working hours! They have a kiosk in one of the local malls but I never get there either!

__________________
"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa

I think somebody gave him the wrong information! And to not be able to travel within 6 months of expiration? That's true for some countries (we're going to Brazil in Dec. and that's a requirement there) but it's definitely not a requirement for Mexico....especially when you don't even need passports there until 12/31/06. Think he spent alot of money (expiditing) that he didn't need to. All of this info is on the U.S. State Dept.'s website.....

Is your passport older than 15 years old? Because if it's under the 15 year mark you can still renew without going through the "new" process all over again.

__________________
~Amy~®

26th trip to Aruba: April 2012
27th trip to Aruba: Sept. 2012

elisabeth, are you saying that his passport doesn't expire for 6 months but they wouldn't accept it? that is impossible if that is what you mean. that is the purpose of an expiration date. you can use it until it expires. otherwise, an expiration date would be totally useless. now, your friend may mean he thought he could travel with it until 6 months after it expired. foolish of him but that certainly makes more sense than the other way.

no matter which, get your passport before next year or you will be staying home, lol.

Some countries do require that - like I said, we're going to Brazil in Dec. and their requirements are: Passport with minimum validity of six months and visa required.

Of course, Mexico does not require it though.

__________________
~Amy~®

26th trip to Aruba: April 2012
27th trip to Aruba: Sept. 2012

Hey, thank you all!! We have all our required info..r/seal b/c, drivers license,school pic ids, and marriage certificate....lol...thank you all,,,,thats one less thing to worry about!!

Unfortunately, this IS true. It's the rule of the other country, not ours. I'll see if I can find a link to the site that states it. There was a discussion on TUG recently about this exact thing.

Found it!! From the US State Department:
On the other hand, my boys' passports arrived this week. Yay! Anyone going mid-August?
Cathy

__________________
In memory...Virginia Tech...4/16/2007

me!! me!! murray and i get to aruba 8/10 and slowly crawl back into the crying room on 8/25.

Bucuti 4/26-5/3. With passports in hand!

We were all joking about the 6 month rule the other day....what's the sense of having an expiration date if its not good 6 months before...this does not make sense to me!!! But as you can see by what Hokie found...guess its true. My friend said he had it in writing!

P.S. Yes Amy my 2nd renewal was issued in 86 I think...so I only had till 2001 to renew it by mail. Now I have to physically go to have it renewed, Bah Humbug!

__________________
"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa

Bowmarh - maybe we'll see you at the Bucuti's Sandbar at Happy Hour! We'll also be at the Bucuti from 4/14-4/28!!

__________________
-Amy B.
www.inaruba.homestead.com

Yay Sherry! Hopefully we'll meet at the DC BB party at the end of this month and then again under the warm Aruban sun at the Monday evening BB parties. We'll be there from 8/11 to 8/25 too!
Cathy

__________________
In memory...Virginia Tech...4/16/2007

cool cathy, we'll chat at dinner and figure out logistics for aruba.

Looking forward to seeing you guys later this month, and I'm only missing you by a couple weeks in Aruba (we go in early Sept).

__________________

Yes, its looking like the MD/VA/DC BB party will be at the end of the month and I think that the Rockville, MD area is going to be the most central location. We'll choose somewhere that is easy to access via 495.

Now I just need to get everyone to switch their Aruba times to the Spring instead of the Fall...

__________________
-Amy B.
www.inaruba.homestead.com

I'll see you at the BB Party on the 24th, Amy!

__________________

We get to see Amy at the end of March for our DC BB party, along with Sherry and Jimbo and Cathy, so nyaa nyaa

Isn't Jimbo Jones the character on the Simpsons that's always laughing at everyone? Ha ha!

__________________

Hey! That's not nice! Is it time to make fun of those Red Sox fans again?

Wait, are there 2 Jimbos???

__________________

I've solved that problem by going twice - once in April and once in Sept!

But this will probably be the last year for that since we have other trips in the works....then it'll be back to Sept. trips only for Aruba.

__________________
~Amy~®

26th trip to Aruba: April 2012
27th trip to Aruba: Sept. 2012

We got our renewal passports this week and it only took 3-1/2 weeks but I can see it backing up as the year progresses.

__________________
It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere

Oh, thanks, Amy leave me next April with just my daughter and her friend!

__________________

You could alway change your trip to Sept!

Who knows though....my girlfriend may try to drag me to Aruba again in the spring for another girl's only trip. And of course I'll go kicking and screaming!

__________________
~Amy~®

26th trip to Aruba: April 2012
27th trip to Aruba: Sept. 2012

Corrine - you still have us next April! That's when we usually go and we're looking forward to the big Amsterdam BB party on 4/24.

And Kevin, we are also really looking forward to our March BB party - although it will be in dreary DC-Metro instead of sunny Aruba.

As for the Simpsons, it's Nelson who says Ha Ha.

__________________
-Amy B.
www.inaruba.homestead.com

OK, at least I should have one Amy next spring! I have gone 2 years now w/o Jamie my daughter, but she is begging to go back, so I promised her I would next year. I'll probably have to go at Easter though.

Amy (arubaamy) - Do you know yet if we are going to have dinner at Passions the night of the BB Party??

__________________

It was something I was thinking about.....let me work on it in the next couple of weeks and I'll let you know what options I can work out for our group and you can tell me what you think.

I swear every time I eat at Passions though it's WITHOUT my husband! Not very romantic for me....LOL!!

__________________
~Amy~®

26th trip to Aruba: April 2012
27th trip to Aruba: Sept. 2012

Amy B.,

We are scheduled to arrive on 4/26 at 2:45 PM. After customs, picking up the rental and checking in at the Bucuti, we will be at the Sand Bar for happy hour to kick off our third stay at the Bucuti! Hopefully by 4:00 PM.

You're right - it's Jimbo that wears the cap, he also stole Bart's girlfriend/babysitter. I can't believe I had to be corrected on Simpson's trivia

__________________

I acquired the nickname (which I'm sure is not original) back in collge around 1977 - well before the Simpsons were stick figures!

__________________

Corinne, hello!! What is so bad about going to Aruba for Easter? I know stores, at least I understand, until Tuesday morning....we have kids in school..9th and 5th...whom dont want to miss more than a day or two of school!! Boy are they different from how I was!! lol

Mem- It is not that bad at all, I just must I didn't think it was when Amy usually goes.

Remember food stores will be closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday. Try to shop around that. If you can't, no big deal, the resorts have mini-marts open for necessities. Most restaurants and activities are still a go. It is cool to see the locals camping on the beach grounds at this time!

__________________

And isn't Jim Jones the guy that made everyone drink that stuff to die????

__________________
"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa

Correct - the Guyana kool-aid trick

btw - one of our favorite restaurants is in your town - Capt. Ed's - have you been there?

__________________

Are you kidding...I love that place. I can see it from where I'm sitting...its just down the street from my job (lawyers office). I wanted to go this weekend but neither one of us were feeling well. I have a gift certificate (mom gets us some every x-mas) and its burning a hole in my pocket.!

Maybe we can go this w/e...I don't eat meat on Friday's during Lent...so it will have to be Sat...of course their busiest night! hour to hour 1/2 wait if you don't get there early! OOps actually going to Europia South on Sat. night with friends. Still extending my birthday celebration...great Sangria...have you been there?

__________________
"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa

We stumbled upon it last year when we had an appointment with a wedding photographer - just down the street from his home.

Are you going to be in Aruba at the end of the month? - seem to remember something about that.

We'll be in your area on Sunday to finalize details of the wedding with the Caterer.

__________________

Funny you shoudl ask...just got hubby to agree (at lunch) and I booked my tickets...now desperatly waiting to hear from the guy with a room...he was holding it for me...then I declined...then I accepted all in a matter of 3-4 hours. So he will either not rent to me cause he thinks I'm a nut or just hasn't gotten my new e-mail yet! But he did repost them for rent on our BB so I know its still available. Dates are 3/25-4/3!!! If you go to Cap't Ed's right when they open on Sunday...you always get a table right away. They open at 4:30!
If you have a lucid moment on your honeymoon...maybe we can get together for a celebration drink!!! My husband is a Bergen County guy. Loves old Blues and Southern Rock and dropped out of medical school to PARTY!!! I could be married to a doctor!!!! And heck us Long Islanders (or at least NYers) always get along (right Corrine?)!!!

__________________
"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa