Vacation Thread

[General_Failure]

I got mine expedited last year. It's worth it.

[Wingspan]

If you have a decent printer that prints nice photos, save yourself the time and take the passport photo yourself. (as long as it's against a light/white plain background, and 1"x1"

Not many people know you are allowed to do  that, but i did this, and it saves a trip and a wait in line.

[Cerevant]

If you put it off long enough, you can go down to Philly and file in person, and get your passport the same day.  Of course they charge you an arm and a leg for the privilege, but it is worth it, right?

Can someone help me figure this out - you can't pay for expedited service unless you are traveling within a certain window (I think it is 6 weeks), and you can't file in person unless there is even less time (2 weeks, I think).  So, what incentive do people have for doing it in advance?  Just $$$?

Its a scam, I tell ya.

[Beermonkey]

I promised the family that I'd take them to either Southern California or on a cruise this summer but ended up using the money to remodel our kitchen & downstairs bathroom instead. I'm now waiting for my kids to stage a protest in front of Home Depot while wearing "Don't Trust Whitey" t-shirts.

I'm taking my wife to New Orleans in 3 weeks for a few days, which will be our first vacation without kids in 11 years. We're going down for the Jazzfest, then driving up to St. Francisville, LA to stay one night at the Myrtles Plantation. The next weekend I have to go to a work-related charity event in NYC, so I'm taking everyone for the weekend.

Otherwise, we'll probably hit the shore for a few day trips, then spend a couple days down in Williamsburg, VA/Busch Gardens in late summer, which will probably farg with my training camp plans.

[phattymatty]

i went to jazzfest last year.  awesome time.  the food at the actual festival might be even better than the music.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Last I heard passports were taking up to 12 weeks to do.

That's my understanding, too. Get that application in ASA, Phreak!

I am going on Friday since I have no school. The post office only does apps from 1000-1400. A guy I know i going to Romania and his flight is supposed to leave on Sunday. He has no passport yet and applied for it in January.

Dio, yes they have it. It costs an extra $60. So on top of the regular $97 they charge I guess I will shell out the $60 too just to be safe. The Inky had an article a few weeks ago on this clusterfarg and they said that if you have a non-refundable ticket you can go to the main office in Philly for help. But I don't want to be standing in line for 8 hours a few days before the trip pissed off.

Wing, I had the photos done at Postman Plus...only a couple bucks.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Give me some of your Jew money, Billy Bob. I'm out $300 because some knucklehead decided to break my drivers side window and not steal anything. I mean, if you're gonna go to the trouble of breaking a window, at least take something.

You didn't have anything in there worth stealing. No one wants a Mike Lieberthal jersey and .53 cents.

[ice grillin you]

Otherwise, we'll probably hit the shore for a few day trips, then spend a couple days down in Williamsburg, VA/Busch Gardens in late summer, which will probably farg with my training camp plans.

if it happens to be your kids cup of tea take them to busch gardens for their halloween extravaganza...its dope as hell...and the weather down there is beautiful compared to the heat and humidity of summer...i went last year and it was great

[mussa]

I too am waiting on my birth certificates to get here for my passport to Canada.(haha, 1st year passports are a must to get back in to US) It's up to 12 weeks now? jesus fargin christ. my trip is the first week of september, so that gives me about 16 weeks, but still thats cuttin it close. i might as well pay the extra to make sure i can get it. yah homeland security!

anyway ive been going to this lake in ontario for almost 15 yrs now. fishing, relaxin, cliff diving, hiking, caving, etc...its a small mostly private lake

[Susquehanna Birder]

All these lake pictures make me want to rabbit punch James Gandolfini.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

My wife's company is sending us on an all-expenses-paid week to the Grand Wailea on Maui.

I just found out another detail:  daily food/drink allowance for the two of us?  $300.

[mussa]

just think of all the Qdoba you can eat then, colon boy

[Don Ho]

just got home from philly.  despite the cold and rain we loved it.  i am still on cloud nine after attending the phils game on saturday.  we were at the sixers game last night.  even with the sixers farm club on the court we had a blast.  we were very impressed with the food in the city.  we had some great meals.  this was my first trip back since 1994 and can't wait to get back.

off to vancouver b.c. in june for my companies annual meeting.

and you are all correct 10 weeks to get passport through normal channels.  my buddy went skiing at Whistler in February and he got his on the spot but did have to pay quite a bit more.  i was bumming out when they actually took my birth certificate and said "don't worry, it will be sent back with your passport"

[The BIGSTUD]

Good to hear Don Ho. What food did you have?

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

just think of all the Qdoba you can eat then, colon boy

Maybe if I ate $300 worth of Qdoba, my ass might explode.  You'd like that, wouldn't you?