For travelers who have a passport that expires in 2016, the United States Department of State is urging people to renew them now in order to avoid congestion later in the year. According to  Julia Preston of the New York Times, the State Department explained that it expects a rush of people to renew their passports over the next two years, a decade after the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative went into effect. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative allowed the department to issue 10-year passports, and there was a serious backlog when they were first handed out in 2006 and 2007. Now, 10 years later, the State Department believes the rush will once again be huge as millions of travelers attempt to renew their passports. According to Bureau of Consular Affairs press officer Beth Finan, it will take roughly six weeks for a passport renewal, which is two weeks longer than the process took last year. You can also request an expedited passport, which will take three weeks to process and cost an extra $60 on top of the standard $110 renewal fee. Ask your Protravel agent about our in-house Visa/Passport services.

Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates served over 78 million passengers in 2015, securing its spot as the world's busiest airport for international passengers.The No. 2 airport for international passengers-London's Heathrow-only totaled 69.8 million customers in 2015. One of the main reasons for the increase in numbers at Dubai's airport was the success in the India market.

Not many stand-alone bars can match the luxuriant sophistication found in a nice hotel bar, traditionally a glamorous mingling spot for well-heeled travelers, high-end locals and mission-critical intimate corporate get-togethers. Here are a few of our favorite hotel bars in the city. As always, book the hotel through your Protravel agent for VIP amenities.