Getting ready to really travel this summer?

The travel season is upon us and after two and a half years of staying home, people are lining up to leave. <br><br>The government says passport applications are up, and as News on 6 consumer reporter

Wednesday, March 3rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The travel season is upon us and after two and a half years of staying home, people are lining up to leave.

The government says passport applications are up, and as News on 6 consumer reporter Rick Wells tells us, travel experts say reservations are up to almost everywhere.

Larry Bartley: "We're so excited we can't, you know, wish it was next week, but we have to wait for a few months." Larry Bartley is going to northern Europe this summer. He's talking to his travel agent Brenda Gierhart at Journey House Travel, about some of the stops along the way. Brenda: "You want to do one to Berlin." Bartley: "Yes, definitely that was gonna be a highlight.â€

Last summer he was a homebody, took a driving vacation. â€œPart of the reason was the war in Iraq. That was a concern and just travel in general. The perception I had of the difficulties and hassle of air travel."

This year's different, the security procedures, he says, have had some time to sink in and become second nature. His travel agent agrees, people are going again. Brenda: "Travel is up all over to practically every destination." Something else that's up, applications for passports. Brenda: "Going through security it makes it faster if you have a passport."

The US State Department says this could be a record year for passport applications. Now, not all destinations require you to have one, but more are, and if they can make travel easier, you might want to get one.

"I have a page of instructions and the actual application." Deputy Court Clerk, Paula Maxville: "In order to get the passport you have to have your certified birth certificate, 2 passport photos, driver's license a check for $55 and a check for $30."

Those are for processing, the passport will arrive in about 6 weeks and it's good for ten years. Then you can head out on a really cool vacation like Larry Bartley.

Looking for more information on travel and how to get a passport? Check out these web sites...Bureau of Consular Affairs and JOURNEY HOUSE TRAVEL INC.