Passport or no, here’s where to go wheels up this summer—and beyond.
Skipping Borders In a relationship with: our passports. All we need is a three-month vacation four times a year—really not asking too much. But until that happens, fun fact: It takes less time for these international direct flights from RDU to Europe than it does to travel to many indirect West Coast locales. So catch flights and feelings with these five destination hot spots worth digging out your passport for—or peep a trio of tropical hot spots you can go wheels up without the added paperwork—plus the hotels worth booking your vacation around. Once again, we rest our suitcase.
RDU DIRECT | Freeport, Bahamas| Our pick: Pelican Bay—Because it’s the “happiest hotel on Grand Bahama Island” duh. Where better to live out your White Lotus fantasy?! pelicanbayhotel.com
RDU DIRECT | Frankfurt, Germany | Our pick: Roomers—The swank, dark and seductive atmosphere makes for an ultrahip stay nestled between the train station and the Main River. roomers-hotels.com
RDU DIRECT | Paris | Our pick: Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile—Joie de vivre found atop Paris’ highest skyscraper hotel with nonparallel Eiffel Tower and City of Lights views. hyatt.com
Cancun | Our pick: Excellence Playa Mujeres—No bad rooms exist at this luxe adults-only 2022 “World’s Best Winner” (!) idyllic beachfront paradise that pretty much defines the bueno life. excellenceresorts.com
No Passport? No Problem Tropic like it’s hot at a trio of tropical destinations sans passport.
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands | Resort pick:The Fred—And we’ll never be royals at these adults-only King Frederik V-dubbed boutique beachfront digs inviting you to “sleep with Fred.” sleepwithfred.com
San Juan, Puerto Rico | Resort pick: Condado Vanderbilt Hotel—Nee 1919, PR’s first luxe hotel is an art deco beachfront haven for luminaries and wanderlusters alike. If it’s good enough for JFK… condadovanderbilt.com
Tumon Bay, Guam | Resort pick: The Tsubaki Tower—Dubai feels, but make it on a U.S. island territory towering over azure waters so vibrant you’ll have to squint to see it. tsubakitower.kenhotels.com
Handy Passport Hacks Need a passport—or yours expiring soon? Navigate “law & border” with our handy hacks.
Turns out, you can become a citizen of another country—but it’ll cost ya.
For those who have a little extra change to spare—anywhere from $100,000 to $1 mil—a new travel visa (ICYMI, see here) may be the last thing you have to worry about. While the extra step is being added for standard travelers, the wealthy have access to a one-way ticket to citizenship in ~22 countries. Enter, the “golden” passport.
The only commodity this (albeit extremely inaccessible and expensive) luxury calls for is an investment in property or a public benefit, a few background checks, and a short wait for approval. To wit, the holder isn’t even required to reside in the country of citizenship.
And the wealthy are jumping on this “golden” opportunity left and right. Harlan Crow, the billionaire Republican with the habit of gifting Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with expensive and secretive trips, won citizenship to Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2012. Meanwhile, Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel earned French citizenship with an exceptional mystery contribution because “he loves France.”
To many, these investments are worth it. The golden passport provides the ability of international travel without planning and without the disturbance of global catastrophes. Remember when your travel plans were ruined in 2020? Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt—who bought an EU passport while the rest of the world was on lockdown—can’t relate. So, if you have $1 mil or so and no use for it, make a contribution to the country behind your 300-day Duolingo streak for the ultimate leisurely jet-setting experience. (We heard Turkey is so hot right now.)
The REAL ID deadline for domestic flyers was delayed… again.
Great news for procrastinators! In case you missed it, the deadline to get your REAL ID—aka a driver’s license or ID card that also acts as a federally accepted form of identification—has been extended once again. Originally intended to be enforced starting spring 2023 (after being delayed about 15 years already), the requirement has been pushed back another two years to May 7, 2025. But, once we hit that deadline, it’s pretty much mando. While you will still be able to do some things without it (see below), jet-setters aged 18 and older will need that little star on their licenses (or another acceptable form of ID like a passport) for any in-country air travel—or to enter secure government buildings.
The extension, according to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas in a press statement following the announcement, “will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a Real ID-compliant license or identification card.” While the deadline may seem distant, we rec you get your REAL ID sooner rather than later. Here’s what you need to know in order to do so.
COST: $21.50: There is no added fee; it’s the same price as a standard driver’s license or ID card. If you get a REAL ID within six months of expiration, the cost equals that of a renewal. And if you get a REAL ID outside of the renewal period, the price equals a duplicate ($14).
WHERE: Visit your local DMV (appointments recommended).
BRING: You’ll need a few documents: One document (with full name) proving identity and date of birth; one document confirming Social Security number; two documents (with current physical address) proving NC residency; and one or more documents verifying any name change, if applicable.
WHAT YOU NEED IT FOR:Flying domestically; visiting nuclear sites, military bases, federal courthouses, federal prisons or other federal facilities
WHAT YOU DON’T NEED IT FOR: Driving, voting, applying for federal benefits (e.g. Social Security), entering a federal facility that does not require an ID (e.g. a post office), entering a hospital, participating in law enforcement proceedings or investigations (e.g. serving on a federal jury, testifying in federal court, etc.)
Sassool invites the city’s foodies to pick up a Triangle Food Passport and discover the joy of “traveling” to new local restaurants throughout the year.
Grab your passport (and my hand). … Sassool’s latest venture will take you on an international culinary journey—sans the long flight. Enter the North Raleigh Mediterranean market and resto’s recently launched Triangle Food Passport, a collaborative effort with 12 area restaurants, cafes and grocers designed to inspire diners to branch out and boost local small businesses.
Sassool co-owner Noelle Saleh says a lightbulb went off while gathering with fellow restaurateurs during one of their family dinners last year. “We were trying to think of ways that we could support each other as restaurateurs other than giving advice or lending an ear,” she says. “We wanted to find a way to cross-promote each other and get our customers to try out restaurants that we love but maybe haven’t tried yet.”
Together they launched the Triangle Food Passport, which boasts exclusive offers from local businesses including Sassool, Raleigh Rolls, Big League Waffles, Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, Bitten Bakery, Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken and more. Diners who purchase the $25 passport can visit each participating restaurant to redeem the offer in exchange for a “stamp,” making any midday coffee break or meal with friends suddenly feel like a jet-setting adventure.
“The passport came from the fact that many of our businesses offer food from around the world,” says Saleh. “We wanted to give people an opportunity to travel the world without leaving the Triangle.” Best of all, the new program further bolsters the food and beverage community by donating a portion of all proceeds to the Wake Tech Foundation to assist a full-time second-year student at Wake Tech with a culinary scholarship. What’s not to love?
Ultimately, the initiative offers a chance to have fun and explore by playing tourist in your own hood for a change. “Our greatest hope is that Raleigh diners discover their new favorite restaurant, bakery or food establishment,” says Saleh. “The Triangle is ripe with talent and hosts a super passionate restaurant community. We want you to experience our passion through our food.” Get ready for takeoff!
Access to international travel made easier in Wake County
Just in time for YOUR next adventure, the Wake County Register of Deeds added a new passport acceptance facility at the end of June. Those who’ve caught the travel bug can schedule an appointment in advance online to fill out the appropriate passport form(s) and get your photo taken in person, which will then be forwarded to the Passport Services section of the U.S. Department of State for issuance determination. Here, everything you need to know before you go…
Where: The Wake County Register of Deeds office is located on the first floor of the Wake County Justice Center, 300 S. Salisbury St., Ste. 1700.
When: Appointment times are available Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 3pm (excluding holidays).
Bring: Form DS-11, proof of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate, expired passport or naturalization certificate), proof of identity (driver’s license, military ID other government-issued ID), passport photo
