I love, love planning vacations. My husband hates it; all the planning makes him feel “stressed out” and he prefers for me to just go ahead and make arrangements and let him know when we’re there. He tends to be more comfortable flying by the seat of his pants than I am, whereas I often have to-do lists for my to-do lists. But I’m not alone: a 2010 study revealed that the weeks before a vacation are actually when people feel the most happiness– not the trip itself. So, for those like me who get their kicks in the planning phase, I offer a short list of online resources to help make your trip a success:
Transportation Security Administration (TSA): If you plan on flying, take a quick look here to find out what to expect when going through security, what can be brought onboard a plane, and what type of IDs can be accepted.
U.S. Department of State: Traveling abroad or thinking about it? This is where you can find out about passports or visas, currency exchange rates, travel warnings, and lots of other current information on traveling to a foreign county.
U.S. General Services Administration Domestic Per Diem Rates: Are you going on a work trip that you’ll be remibursed for? This page lets you know the current standard per diem rates: good to know if you’ll need to submit expense receipts.
Frommers.com: I was thrilled to learn that despite the news last week that there would no longer be print versions of this famed travel publisher’s wonderful travel guides, the original owner has bought back the company in order to keep the print run alive. I love taking one of the books with me on trips, but the website is also a phenomenal resource for those times when you’re trying to keep your suitcase under the weight limit by leaving out a few books.
-Irene
Eleventh Stack 