Nothing can ruin your vacation like being told you cant board the plane because you dont have the correct documentation. And as much as we all dream about packing it in and relocating to a tropical island, you dont want to discover at the airport that you cant return to the U.S. with just a drivers license. Once youve chosen your vacation itinerary, you should read up on the entry and exit requirements of each country you plan to visit.
As of January 1, 2007, all travelers to the Caribbean will need to carry a valid passport. Until then, some islands will allow you to enter with a birth certificate and a photo I.D.; just make sure the U.S. government will let you back in the country with those forms of identification. In addition, a passport that expires within six months is not considered valid by certain countries.
Technically, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are part of the U.S., so a drivers license should be sufficient. However, David Downing, columnist and editor of Fodors Travel Publications, reports being hassled on a trip to the USVI because he was not carrying a passport.