travelinggirls

The brand new Passport Card is a handy little credit card sized passport.  It’s not good for travel everywhere, but it streamlines travel to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean when traveling by land or sea.  It is not acceptable for air travel.  It was created as a less-expensive and easier to carry form of identification for those living in border communities. 

Here are the differences between a Passport book and the Passport Card:  Passport Book:
Can be used for air, land, and sea travel, worldwide

$100 for adults

$85 for minors

$75 to renew

Passport Card

Can be used for land and sea crossings to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the
Caribbean only.

Wallet size (like a credit card)

$45 for adults

$35 for minors

$20 to renew

They are both good for 10 years for adults, 5 for minors (under 16). 

Now my own personal views. . . I’m sure that’s what you’ve been waiting for!   I’m not sure it’s worth it.  Why go through all the trouble to apply for a passport card when you can just get a passport?  I can see where it would be easier to carry, but is it that difficult to carry a passport book?  Where I can see it being useful is for those who it was intended for.  If you live in a community close to the Canadian or Mexican border, and you cross that border regularly, it would be useful.  Yes, it would be quite a bit easier to just stick a passport card in your wallet and have it handy for those trips across the border.  If that’s the reason for getting it, great, that makes sense. 

If you are planning on cruising to Mexico, Canada (all Alaskan cruises make a stop, start, or end in a Canadian port), the Caribbean, or Bermuda, you have the option of using a passport card.  I wouldn’t bother.  If you are 108 years old and this is the last trip you are ever going to take, maybe I’d suggest the card.  If you are 50 years old and you swear you are never going to go to Europe, Asia, or anywhere outside of North America, I don’t believe you.  Don’t ever give up the idea of traveling.

The card isn’t even good for air travel!  If you have to fly into Vancouver to catch that Alaskan cruise, you’ll need a passport book.  If you want to fly to Mexico to spend the weekend drinking margaritas in Cabo, you’ll need a passport book.  I suppose that I don’t see the point in spending $45 on something that really doesn’t get you anywhere.  That’s only my opinion of course.  I’d love to hear yours! 

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