Mexico Travel? Passport Card Cheaper Than Passport

The US government announces they've finally made less expensive "Passport Cards" available to the American public. Check out the full story on our sister blog, RVing Mexico.

Los Algadones Report: Prepare for Long Lines

Your roving reporters returned yesterday night (late) from a Mexi-Trip to Los Algadones, the favorite Mexico stopping spot for Quartzsite visitors. If there was a question as to whether the seeming low-turnout of snowbirds would have an impact on Mexico visitation, here's the short answer: Nope!

A couple of days after Christmas and Los Algadones crawls with touristas and gringo dollars. And getting back out has become a bit of a nightmare. We're used to the little frontier town looking like a ghost town at 4:30 in the afternoon. When we walked up to the border crossing at a 5:00, the pedestrian crossing line was would around the corner and out of sight. We took refuge in a nearby cantina to "wait it out," and finally gave in at about 6:00. Our crossing took nearly an hour and a half.

To say this was uncomfortable is high comedy. Norte Americanos wearing shorts a t-shirts stood shivering like huddled masses yearning to be free. Mexican blanket vendors did a bang-up business with folks in the long line until the tourist police came and ran them all back to the town center--apparently it's illegal to "vend" too close to the frontier.

At the end of January it could get worse. At that time, U.S. Homeland Security reminds border crossers that returnees will need to show proof of citizenship. That is, bring a passport, or a birth certificate and government issued photo ID. If the border guards scrutinize birth certs, you can bet the wait will get much longer. Bring your long-johns, folding chairs, maybe a pillow would be in order.

Oh, and by the way, when President Bush signed the budget bill earlier this week, he also signed off on yet another extension of passport (or passcard) requirements for Mexico/Canada/Caribbean travel. It appears you'll have until the summer of 2009 before you'll need the latter to make crossings back into the US from these areas.

Mexi Bound? Bring Papers!

It's inevitable: If you come to Quartzsite, sooner or later you've got to go to Mexico. Whether it's the lure of the low-cost prescription drugs, the twang of a sore tooth, or the growling of a stomach thinking of fish tacos off the cart, there's a certain draw of Los Algadones.

Traveler beware: The US Border Patrol folks will be happy to see you when you return. But at the end of December, they'll want documentation: No, you don't need a passport or a passcard--not until summer--but you will need documentation of your US citizenship. What passes? A birth certificate or certificate of naturalization. And you'll need valid, government-issued, photo identification. For most of us a driver license will meet that requirement.

Vat vill happen if you turn up vithout zee pay-pairs? Expect that it will take you a while longer to get back across into the U.S. while you'll be flooded with questions and thoroughly run the computer. And oh yes, they will probably ask you about your prescriptions and your liquor. It may not be such a bad idea to carry a U.S. doctor's prescription for what you bring home. They don't often ask to see one, but if they do and you don't have those papers, your drugs go back to Mexico.

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