We have pulled together the resources we trust most — from official government travel tools to practical planning aids — so every trip you take is better informed, better prepared, and a lot less stressful from start to finish.

Start Here — From Don and Diana

Free tools and resources from us directly

Free Travel Packing Checklist

Our free packing checklist covers every category — carry-on essentials, documents, toiletries, tech, and clothing — so you never leave home without something important again.

Download Free

Don and Diana’s Favorites

Our hand-picked collection of travel essentials and helpful resources we have found genuinely useful across years of personal and professional travel.

See Our Favorites

Plan Your Next Trip With Us

Ready to start planning? Send us your travel inquiry and we will help you build a trip that fits your style, your budget, and your travel goals — with personal support every step of the way.

Plan Our Escape

Flight Information and Tools

FAA Flight Delay Information

The Federal Aviation Administration’s live map shows current flight delay conditions at airports across the United States. An essential first check on any travel day to know what you are heading into before you leave the house.

Check Flight Delays

TSA — What You Can and Cannot Bring

The official TSA guide to permitted and prohibited items in carry-on and checked bags. Check this before every trip so nothing gets confiscated at the security checkpoint — especially for unusual or oversized items.

View the Full List

SeatGuru — Find the Best Seat on Your Flight

Look up your specific flight and aircraft type to see a detailed seat map showing the best and worst seats, legroom measurements, and which seats to avoid. Invaluable when choosing seats after booking.

Check Your Seat

Luggage Free — Ship Your Bags Ahead

Luggage Free lets you ship your bags directly to your destination so you travel completely hands-free through every airport. A game-changer for long trips, cruises, and complex international itineraries.

Learn More

Passports, Documents, and Entry Requirements

Get or Renew Your U.S. Passport

The official U.S. State Department portal for passport applications and renewals. Check current processing times, find an acceptance facility near you, and download the forms you need — ideally well before your departure date.

Passport Services

State Department — Document Requirements

Official guidance on all travel document requirements for U.S. citizens — including what is required beyond a standard passport for various destinations, visa documentation, and entry forms by country.

View Requirements

International Travel Information by Country

Country-specific entry requirements, visa information, and current travel conditions for every destination worldwide. Always check your specific destination here before booking any international trip.

Look Up Your Destination

U.S. Embassies and Consulates

The official directory of all U.S. embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions worldwide. Save the contact details for your destination country before you travel — essential if anything goes wrong while you are abroad.

Find an Embassy

Travel Safety and Health

U.S. State Department Travel Advisories

The most authoritative source for current safety conditions at every destination worldwide. Advisories are updated regularly and cover political instability, crime levels, natural disaster risk, and health concerns. Check before every international trip.

Check Advisories

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

A free service that registers your international trip with the nearest U.S. embassy. In an emergency abroad — natural disaster, civil unrest, or a personal crisis — the State Department can locate and assist you much faster when you are enrolled.

Enroll Free

CDC Travelers’ Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s resource for international travel health — recommended vaccinations, health precautions, disease outbreak notices, and destination-specific health advisories for every country.

View Health Guidance

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Current alerts and guidance from U.S. Customs — including what you can and cannot bring back into the United States, duty-free allowances, and entry requirements for returning travelers from international trips.

CBP Official Site

Tips for Traveling Abroad — State Department

Practical, official advice for U.S. citizens traveling internationally — covering keeping copies of documents, staying safe in unfamiliar environments, avoiding scams, and what to do if something goes wrong while abroad.

Read the Tips

Allianz Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance plans covering trip cancellation, medical emergencies abroad, lost or delayed luggage, and flight disruptions. Travel insurance is the one thing most people skip until they wish they hadn’t — worth reviewing before any significant trip.

Explore Plans

Planning Tools and Calculators

XE Currency Converter

The most trusted currency conversion tool for travelers. Get live exchange rates for every currency pair in seconds — bookmark it on your phone for instant reference at markets, restaurants, and ATMs while traveling abroad.

Convert Currency

OANDA Currency Cheat Sheet

Create a printable pocket currency conversion reference for your destination. Enter your most common amounts and print it out — useful for markets, tipping, and anywhere you need a quick conversion without reaching for your phone.

Build Your Cheat Sheet

World Time Zones — Time and Date

Check the current time in any city worldwide, calculate time differences between destinations, and see which countries observe daylight saving time. Indispensable for multi-time-zone itineraries and scheduling calls home while abroad.

Check Time Zones

Metric Conversion Calculator

Convert between metric and imperial measurements instantly — temperatures, distances, weights, and volumes. Essential for destinations that use the metric system, especially for road trips, packing weight limits, and cooking while abroad.

Convert Measurements

Weather Underground — World Forecasts

Detailed weather forecasts for destinations worldwide including historical weather data, hourly forecasts, and local condition reports. More detailed than most forecast apps — especially helpful when packing for destinations with variable or unpredictable climates.

Check the Weather

Google Maps — Offline Maps

Download your destination’s maps to your phone before you leave so they work without data or Wi-Fi. Street View lets you preview your accommodation’s neighborhood and walking routes before you ever arrive. One of the most used travel tools in the world.

Open Google Maps

Rome2Rio — How to Get from A to B

Enter any two places in the world and Rome2Rio shows you every possible way to travel between them — flights, trains, buses, ferries, and driving — with estimated journey times and rough costs for each option. Great for planning multi-stop itineraries.

Plan Your Journey

Google Translate — Offline Languages

Download language packs before your trip so the translation app works completely offline. The camera translation feature reads signs, menus, and printed text in real time. One of the most genuinely useful tools any international traveler can have on their phone.

Open Translator

GasBuddy — Cheapest Fuel Near You

Find the lowest gas prices along any road trip route in real time. GasBuddy is community-updated so the prices are current — helpful for planning fuel stops on longer drives and avoiding overpriced stations near major attractions or highways.

Find Cheap Gas

Travel Inspiration and Discovery

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The official list of the world’s most culturally and naturally significant sites — over 1,100 locations across 167 countries. A powerful starting point for building a bucket-list itinerary around the most remarkable places on earth.

Browse Sites

National Park Service

The official resource for all U.S. National Parks — reservation systems, permit requirements, current alerts, trail maps, and visitor guides. Essential reading before any domestic outdoor adventure in the United States.

Explore National Parks

Ready to Book Your Next Trip?

All of these tools help you prepare — but when it comes to actually booking the trip, we are here to make that part easy too. Tell us where you want to go and we will take care of the rest.

Plan Our Escape Book A Trip

Love Travel? Make It Your Business.

We are home-based travel agents with Evolution Travel, and we help passionate travelers turn that love into a flexible, rewarding income. If becoming a travel agent sounds like the right next step, we would love to show you how it works.

Become An Agent

Disclaimer

The resources listed on this page are provided for informational purposes only. Don and Diana’s Travels is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or availability of third-party websites. External links are provided as a convenience and do not constitute an endorsement of any third-party product, service, or organization. Travel requirements, advisories, and regulations change frequently — always verify current information directly with official sources before travel. We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance for every trip.