Just because you have a valid US passport does not mean you're ready to travel out of the country! Unless you recently renewed your passport, you will want to check the expiration date ASAP. Airlines will not let you board the plane if your US passport expires within three or six months, depending on the foreign entry requirements [1] of the country you plan to go to. You also need to keep in mind that your passport needs to be valid beyond your intended travel dates, also.
Check out a list of countries (not all are included) that enforce these travel requirements. If you've realized that you need to renew your passport, see the instructions here [2].
Countries With the 3-Month Rule [4]:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Countries With the 6-Month Rule [5]:
- Angola
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Cambodia
- China
- Ecuador
- Ghana
- Honduras
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Laos
- Mexico
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Saint Lucia
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
Keep in mind that many of these countries also require a visa.