Once you've settled on a trip, you'll need some travel gear to aid you in your journey: The most important "gear' you'll need is travel documents, particularly if you plan to travel outside your own country. As soon as you determine that you're going to take a trip, it's a good idea to get started on obtaining them. The below web sites will help you plan and be well prepared for your trip. They include Travel Documents, Cool Tools Online to Help You Plan Your Trip, Maps, Travel Advisories, Language Help and Travel Savvy: How-To Information for Travelers.

Travel Documents

Among the most important  travel documents you'll need if you travel abroad are a passport from your own country, a visa (if needed) for the country or countries you plan to visit, perhaps a certificate of vaccinations if you plan to travel to countries with special health problems, and perhaps international health insurance if your regular health insurance doesn't cover you in other countries. Another document that you may find useful is an international driver's license (particularly for non-Western countries).

Traveler's checks also are advisable when carrying large amounts of money and generally for travel in other countries. You can get them from your own bank, as well as American Express and the UK-based  Thomas Cook Travel, two companies that have tourist offices around the world at major travel sites. These companies also provide currency exchanges, mail drops and other services. You can check with your bank to see if it has branches or affiliates in other countries, in which case, you may be able to use its services while overseas. Most major banks will arrange large transfers of funds from your home bank for a fee.

In-depth information on what documents to obtain is at the web site What Documents You Need on a Trip. A helpful site to guide you in filling out applications for passports and visas is Travel Document Jargon. Below are sites with specific information on travel documents -- some allow online ordering of documents. Below are sites with specific information -- some allow online ordering of documents.

Passports

  • Passports & Customs -- How to apply for a US passport and useful customs advice for returning U.S. residents.
  • US Passports: Applying for Them the Easy Way -- From the US Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs. How, when, and where to apply for U.S. passports. Includes information on fees.
  • World Government Listings at Yahoo.coms -- If you are not a US citizen, find out how to obtain a passport in your country by clicking on your country at this site and then the appropriate national government link.

Visas

Other Documents

Cool Tools Online to Help You Plan Your Travel

Maps

Language Help

Travel Advisories

  • Fielding's Danger Finder -- Complete on-line edition of  Fielding's The World's Most Dangerous Places."
  • Health Advisories -- US Government Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides the latest health information for travelers.
  • U.S. State Department Travel Warnings -- Information on unsafe travel conditions in various countries due to political unrest, criminal activities, natural disasters or weather conditions.

Travel Savvy: How-To Information for Travelers

by FM