April already? No kidding.
We know it’s just the end of March, but we can’t help but think about our summer travel plans. If you haven’t gotten around to renewing your passport, we’ve got other ideas for where to go without it. Keep reading to hear more about those destinations and catch up on this week’s travel news.
Trending travel
Here’s what’s trending and how it can help you make the most of your trip.
Summer travel, sans passport.
Gentle reminder: The State Department advises that processing times for passport renewals are still about 8-11+ weeks (5-7 weeks if you pay an extra $60). So for travelers who’ve run out of time but still want to travel out of the States, here are 4 destinations that feel international but don’t require a passport.
Oh, and here’s our advice on what to do if your passport needs to be renewed. So get on that.
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
Median airfare to relaxing and historic PR this summer is $429* and US citizens need a gov-issued photo ID – proof of vaccination isn’t required. - Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands
Median airfare for hiking and snorkeling in Saint Croix this summer is $618* and US citizens need a gov-issued photo ID, proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID test. - Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Median airfare to watersports-heaven in Saint Thomas this summer is $604* and US citizens need a gov-issued photo ID, proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID test. - I Fadang, Northern Mariana Islands
Median airfare to adventurous I Fadang this summer is $2,114* and US citizens need a gov-issued ID as well as a negative COVID test.
The pre-check
With a new flight to New Zealand, paying for trips with crypto, travel changes for Indonesia and thoughts on when to check in for your flight, here are this week’s travel stories.
- Next stop: Auckland.
With NZ reopening to US travelers,Air New Zealand recently announced it would be launching a new 17-hour non-stop flight to Auckland out of New York City. - Oh, the places you’ll go with crypto.
For those who dabble in crypto, this digital currency offers a new way to pay for travel. Here are some tips for booking your next crypto-trip. - Another destination rewriting the rules.
After a two-week trial run of quarantine-free travel in Bali, Batam and Bintan islands, Indonesia has decided to lift quarantine requirements for foreign visitors. - Why you should check in to your flight ASAP.
Putting off that 24-hour check-in notice? Here’s why you shouldn’t wait until the airport to get the process started.
Tricks of the trade
Where we share stories, tips, or hacks that might’ve been missed in your usual content feed.
Your new favorite travel tool.
One of our colleagues recently fired up our Explore tool to find a summer trip for the fam. Here’s how she hacked it:
“We want to go somewhere in July, so I kept my dates flexible and adjusted the filter for 4-6 days. Then, I chose to fly from a smaller airport instead of a larger hub to see how that would narrow my choices. And there it was – the trip I didn’t know I was looking for. Now the 3 of us are headed to Iceland for well within my summer trip budget.” – Rebecca, Marketing
Head to our blog to learn how to use this hidden-gem feature.
Social shoutouts
These vibrant spring colors are giving us life – shoutout to @kendallmehta for this snapshot of Palm Beach, Florida.
We love to see where KAYAK takes you, use #KAYAKPicks when you post to be featured.
Links in this Newsletter are for informational purposes only, and there is no affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement by or with KAYAK Software Corporation whatsoever.
*Methodology: Median airfare based on round trip flight searches conducted on KAYAK US to each destination with search dates 09/28/2021 – 03/28/2022 and travel dates between 05/27/2022 – 09/05/2022.
