Getting in (and out) of countries can sometimes be a challenge. I once (a long time ago) took a . . . → Read More: Essential Documents]]>

Getting in (and out) of countries can sometimes be a challenge. I once (a long time ago) took a ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco (a 2.5 hour journey), only to be turned back as I tried to disembark and had to return to Spain.

The problem was a missing stamp in my passport which could only be obtained in the passport stamping office on the boat, and by the time I found this out the place stamping the passports had closed. Of course, nobody tells you this when you get on or while you are sailing, and I wasn’t the only one turned away that day.

Needless to say, I was at the front of the line on the boat the next day, got the stamp, and entered Morocco without any further problems. Of course, it may be different these days but I will know to check next time.

The moral of this story is, make sure you know before you leave what it takes to enter the countries you want to visit. This section lists a few things to watch out for when travelling around the world. Some may seem obvious (a passport, for example) but there are other less obvious things you have to look out for.

It is also a good idea to make sure you have these documents well in advance of your trip. For example, if your passport only has a few months before it expires then some countries will not let you in. It can take a few weeks to renew a passport (months at busy times of the year), and getting vaccinations takes time too (making appointments, taking a course of pills, waiting for them to take effect).

There are companies who can get passports in a hurry, for example,RushMyPassport.com can get your US passport to you within 24 hours.