Difficult circumstances experienced while traveling almost always boost my faith in humanity. In February 2022, I was quarantined in a barebones hotel in Tierra del Fuego while recovering from COVID and ran into an amazingly warm and caring hotel manager who did everything she could to make my stay, and that of my fellow inmates, far more pleasant than it might have been.
This weekend, I had the same experience in Paris while waiting for the US Embassy to open on Monday morning. The staff at the Queen Mary hotel was remarkable: genuinely friendly and caring and unfailingly helpful (particularly with my endless requests to print out documents I needed to get an emergency passport). The hotel itself is a gem, a few blocks from the Tuileries (and the Embassy) and reasonably priced, with cozy but well-appointed rooms.
I headed to the Embassy this morning and, after pleasant interactions with the efficient staff, walked out with my emergency passport a mere two hours later. Following a train ride with two connections, I made it to Les Eyzies by late afternoon, having missed only one day of my tour. I thank the Queen Mary hotel and the Embassy for making what could have been a nightmare, merely an inconvenience.
Having said that, here are some lessons learned:
- Always carry a copy of your passport’s photo and signature page.
- Check when the relevant Embassy opens for emergency passports. The US Embassy in Paris opens for general business at 9 a.m., but for passport and visa issues at 8. Don’t wait til 9!
- Get there early! I arrived at 7:40 a.m. and was sixth in line. By the time I left at 10 a.m., passport in hand, both waiting rooms were filled and there was a considerable queue of people outside.
- Fill out your forms ahead of time to save a few minutes. For a lost passport, the Embassy requires two forms, a DS11 and a DS64. They’re both easy to complete online.
- Get your passport photos ahead of time.
- Recognize that the embassy staff are doing a terrific job of helping often agitated travelers. I was truly impressed with their even demeanor and desire to help!
I’ll leave you with a few pictures from Les Eyzies.
PuffinlessTravel 