I'm going to Italy for 12 days in October and I'd like to enroll in the Smart Travel Enrollment Program. I'm not sure if I should enroll as a guest or create an account. I don't travel internationally much so I'm thinking enrolling as a guest would be fine, but not sure if I'd be missing out on any necessary benefits by doing so. If there were some kind of emergency, would I get the same level of help/notification from the embassy or consulate? Any help here would be much appreciated.
Posted by
Indiana
1234 posts
From the official site:
https://mytravel.state.gov/s/article/what-is-the-difference-between-subscribing-as-a-guest-versus-creating-a-mytravelgov-account
It will probably take you an additional 15 minutes to set up an account. Is that amount of time worth it to you?
Posted by
41 posts
If you don't travel much internationally, register as a guest. We use STEP at least twice a year - so, we created accounts years ago. We appreciate receiving notifictions of scheduled protests in locations we are visiting. Helps us to understand what is happening on the ground before we arrive and while we are there.
Posted by
146 posts
I think I didn’t have to “create a new account” because I already had a login.gov account, through which you access your STEP account. Probably no worries in Western Europe but with volatile geopolitics and weather, who knows? I think guests only get placed on email list to receive public notifications regarding their country of travel, but the state department won’t have any of your specific travel or contact info to proactively reach out if there’s any “event”. If you already have a login.gov account then just sign up for the full subscription. Each subscription expires on last day of your entered trip (and supposedly isn’t saved).
Posted by
45 posts
I also created an account and add detailed information whenever I travel abroad. Having worked at the State Dept. for many years, I'm familiar with the important services an embassy or consulate can provide. They do way more than issue passports. With the increasing likelihood of natural disasters in Europe (fire, flood) I want someone in country to know where I am in case the worst happens. I usually provide the address of where I am staying and emergency contacts back home. I'm not sure how much it would help if the absolute worst happened. I figure that I would at least be better off than someone who didn't register at all. I look at it kind of like my travel insurance, better to have it and not need it.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
17338 posts
I agree with SQ. They combined all or most of the governmental agencies log ins recently so if you have a log in for another governmental account (SSA, Medicare, Global Entry, etc) you may be able to use that one.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thanks for all your helpful replies. I'll enroll with my Login.gov account.