Due to the record-high demand for passports and the State Department's backlog in passport issuance, US officials have announced a temporary passport reprieve for the summer months for travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and South and Central America. The reprieve will end on September 30, 2007. Until September 30, you can take advantage of this reprieve only if you have a receipt from the State Department showing that your passport application is being processed, along with a government-issued ID, such as a driver's license. You just might be able to make some of those great summer St Barth beach festivals!

Update: The reprieve for Americans waiting for their passports only applies for exit and reentry into the US or nations/islands that do not require passports. It has no effect whatsoever for the entry requirements into St Barts (for which a valid passport is required to enter). US citizens arriving on St Barts without a passport will be sent back to St. Maarten!!!