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.

RVer Alert: Border Crossings Tougher By Month's End

Despite Congressional action last month, it appears tightened restrictions on US land border crossings will go into effect by month's end. Don't get caught without the proper documentation, see the full story on our sister blog, RVing Canada.

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.