Destination Spotlight: Australia

G'day mate!

Our first country spotlight is going to focus on Australia since it is the place where Jerri and I first met! We were both college students on a study abroad program with Northern Kentucky University and instantly became friends! It's definitely a trek to get there but, trust us, it is worth it!

During our trip we visited Sydney, Cairns, and the Daintree Rainforest area. The highlights for me were scuba diving and snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef and spending relaxing days in Sydney. The Australian Outback is another unique experience - check out Ayer's Rock (also called Uluru). Whether you opt for a group trip or an independent holiday, you're bound to have a great time!

If you're interested in planning a trip to Australia, check out the links below:

• Contiki is a great tour company to look at if this will be your first time out of the country or if you prefer a more structured environment. Their group tours are reasonably priced and are targeted towards travelers between the ages of 18-35.


• If a more independent vacation is your style, take a look at the air specials from Qantas Airlines. They fly direct from San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York to Sydney and offer a program called the Aussie AirPass which includes your international airfare as well as three domestic flights within Australia.

If you have follow-up questions on Australia, please post them in the comments section and Jerri and I will post a reply.

Before we can go anywhere, you need a passport

Before we get you all excited about traveling, you need one key document: a passport! It can take a few weeks to get one, so keep that in mind when planning a trip. If you're under age 18, you may need parental consent.

FIRST TIME APPLICANTS:
If you will be getting a passport for the first time, you will need to visit one of over 9,000 Passport Acceptance Facilities. When you have your appointment, you will need to bring:

• Application for Passport, Form DS-11


• Proof of US Citizenship (original birth certificate works great)


• Proof of Identity (ex. driver's license)


• Application fees (note what type of payment the office you are going to accepts beforehand--some only take check or money order, some take credit card too)


• Two 2" x 2" photos

You will also need to have your social security number handy for the application. Please reference the US Department of State website for detailed information and a further explanation of the items mentioned above. The website can also answer questions about current processing time.

Once you have your passport, it will be valid for ten years. And trust us, the renewal process is much easier!!

Welcome to our site!

Thank you for checking out Do It While You're Young! This site was created by Jerri Stephenson and Kristina Wegscheider, two young women who LOVE to travel!

At the present time, we have been to over 60 countries on all seven continents. Everywhere from Antarctica to Japan to Peru to Zimbabwe! We hope to share our travel tips, post travel-related news, and open forums for us and readers to discuss new destinations to explore.

Get your passport ready because the journey is about to begin!