4 Best Places to Travel Without a Passport

16.08.2023 - 19:51 / cntraveler.com / Isla Verde

Unfortunately for American travelers looking to go abroad, passport renewals and first-time applications are still experiencing serious delays. Current processing times—which have stretched as long as 13 weeks for routine applications and up to nine weeks for expedited service—are not expected to get back to normal any time this year, the State Department told CNN.

So, if your passport is currently caught up in the bureaucratic tangle, international travel could be off the table until 2024. But that doesn’t mean you have to stash away your suitcase—there are plenty of destinations that don’t require a US passport and still offer a much-needed escape from the daily routine.

It's always important to verify with your airline what travel documents are required before booking tickets and certainly before showing up at the airport. Entry requirements can vary for US territories especially, and it can get confusing. American Samoa, for instance, is a US territory that does require a passport—even for visiting US citizens—while other territories listed below do not.

Here are our favorite four destinations that don’t require a passport, but still feel a world away.

The US territory of Puerto Rico doesn’t require passports from US travelers. All you need is a valid government-issued ID like a driver's license. And with a head-spinning array of both urban pursuits and outdoorsy endeavors, this tropical paradise located about 1,000 miles southeast of Florida beckons no matter what’s on the itinerary (or how long your passport will be held up in processing). San Juan has long drawn a young crowd for its lively nightlife, especially in the Isla Verde area, where beach bars, casinos, and hip hotels set the vibe (a new municipal code that limits the sale of alcohol past certain times doesn’t apply to hotels and their guests). History buffs, meanwhile, will love exploring the island’s capital via colorful Spanish-colonial architecture and imposing, ancient fortresses like La Fortaleza and El Morro.

For nature-based itineraries, the island of Vieques off Puerto Rico’s eastern coast is a must-visir. Hop in a kayak to catch a glimpse of the enchanting, blue-green glow of the aptly named Bioluminescent Bay (which claims to have the brightest bioluminescence in the world), sunbathe on Vieques’s pristine beaches, or simply marvel at the wild horses that roam around the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge, which preserves much of the island’s landscapes.

Like Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands do not require a passport from American citizens visiting from the US or Puerto Rico. However, you still must show proof of US citizenship, like a raised-seal birth certificate, along with a valid government-issued ID like a driver's