Travel guides
Straight answers for smarter travel.
90 answer-first guides from four decades of planning corporate and leisure travel — each one starts with the short answer, then the detail.
Corporate Travel
Corporate Travel
What Is a Travel Management Company (TMC)?
What a travel management company does, how TMCs get paid, how they differ from booking sites, and when your business is ready for one. A practical guide.
ExploreCorporate Travel
Corporate Travel Program Checklist: Policy, Suppliers, Duty of Care and Data
A practical corporate travel program checklist: policy and approvals, negotiated fares, payment, unused tickets, duty of care and reporting, step by step.
ExploreCorporate Travel
Business Travel Etiquette Around the World
Business etiquette for international trips: greetings, business cards, meetings, dining, gifts and holidays in Japan, China, the Gulf, Europe, India and beyond.
ExploreCorporate Travel
How to Reduce Corporate Travel Costs Without Hurting Your Travelers
How to reduce corporate travel costs: booking windows, negotiated fares, hotel programs, unused tickets, smarter policy and data, without burning out travelers.
ExploreCorporate Travel
How to Plan an International Company Offsite
Plan an international company offsite: when to start, choosing a destination, hotel contracts and attrition, group air, visas, duty of care and budget.
ExploreCorporate Travel
How to Handle a Cancelled Business Flight
What to do when your business flight is cancelled: rebooking fast, refund rights, EU and UK compensation, hotels, expenses and how a travel advisor helps.
ExploreCorporate Travel
Per Diem Explained: How Business Travel Allowances Work
What per diem means for business travel, how GSA and State Department rates work, the tax rules, first-and-last-day rules, and setting a company per diem.
ExploreCorporate Travel
Sustainable Business Travel: How to Cut Emissions Without Cutting Results
How companies cut business travel emissions: measuring Scope 3, trip purpose, nonstop flights, cabin choice, rail, greener hotels, SAF programs and offsets.
ExploreCorporate Travel
How to Choose a Travel Management Company
How to choose a travel management company: the service, technology, duty-of-care and pricing questions to ask, the red flags to avoid, and how to compare TMCs.
ExploreCorporate Travel
Corporate Travel RFP Guide: How to Run a TMC Request for Proposal
How to run a corporate travel RFP: the data to gather, questions to ask, a sample scoring model and timeline, and the mistakes that derail TMC selections.
ExploreCorporate Travel
Managing Unused Airline Tickets: How Companies Stop Losing Credits
How to manage unused airline tickets: what happens when a business trip is cancelled, why credits expire, how to track and reuse them, and rules that help.
ExploreCorporate Travel
Booking Group Air for Events: Group Fares, Event Discounts and Manifests
How to book group air for corporate events: group contracts vs event discount codes vs individual tickets, timelines, attendee data and avoiding empty seats.
ExploreCorporate Travel
Business Travel Insurance Explained: What Employers Should Cover
Business travel insurance explained: accident, medical, evacuation and crisis cover, the gaps in domestic health plans, and what employers should check.
ExploreCorporate Travel
ATA Carnet Guide: Taking Equipment and Samples Abroad Duty-Free
ATA Carnet guide for U.S. businesses: what it covers, how to apply through USCIB, how customs stamps it at each border, and mistakes that lead to duty claims.
ExploreCorporate Travel
Business Visa Invitation Letters: What to Include and How to Get One
What a business visa invitation letter must include, when countries require one, how to describe your trip’s purpose, and how to time it with your visa.
ExploreCorporate Travel
Traveler Tracking Explained: How Companies Know Where Their Travelers Are
How traveler tracking works: itinerary data, risk alerts and check-ins, why leakage breaks it, privacy considerations, and what happens when an incident occurs.
Explore
French Polynesia
French Polynesia
Best Time to Visit French Polynesia: A Season-by-Season Guide
When to visit French Polynesia: the dry season from May to October, the warmer wet season, whale season, festivals, shoulder months and when prices peak.
ExploreFrench Polynesia
How to Get to Tahiti from the U.S.: Flights, Routes and Connections
How to fly to Tahiti from the U.S.: nonstop flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco, flight times, arrival times and connecting to Bora Bora and Moorea.
ExploreFrench Polynesia
French Polynesia Island Hopping: The Best Island Combinations
How to island-hop French Polynesia: how many islands to visit, getting between them, and the best pairings, from Moorea and Bora Bora to the Tuamotu atolls.
ExploreFrench Polynesia
Overwater Bungalow Guide: How to Choose the Right One in French Polynesia
How to choose an overwater bungalow in French Polynesia: bungalow types, views, lagoon depth, location, kids, meal plans and which islands to consider.
ExploreFrench Polynesia
French Polynesia Honeymoon: How to Plan the Perfect Trip
Plan a French Polynesia honeymoon: how long to go, which islands, overwater bungalows, romantic experiences, when to book and a sample 12-night itinerary.
ExploreFrench Polynesia
French Polynesia Entry Requirements for U.S. Citizens
What U.S. citizens need to enter French Polynesia: visa rules for short stays, passport validity, return tickets, why ETIAS and Schengen don’t apply, customs.
Explore
Africa
Africa
Your First Safari: How to Plan an African Safari
Planning your first African safari: where to go, how long to stay, lodges vs tented camps, what a safari day looks like, packing, health and tipping.
ExploreAfrica
The Great Migration: Where to See It, Month by Month
Where to see the Great Migration month by month: calving in the southern Serengeti, Mara River crossings from about July to October, and Kenya vs Tanzania.
ExploreAfrica
Best Time for a Safari in Africa: Country by Country
The best time for an African safari by country: dry-season game viewing, green-season value, the Okavango flood, Victoria Falls and gorilla trekking.
ExploreAfrica
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda: What to Know
Gorilla trekking explained: Rwanda vs Uganda, permits, fitness, the one-hour visit rules, what to wear, the best time to go and how far ahead to book.
ExploreAfrica
Safari Health: Malaria, Vaccines and Staying Well in Africa
Safari health essentials: malaria prevention, yellow fever rules, recommended vaccines, malaria-free safari options, evacuation insurance and bush health tips.
ExploreAfrica
Luxury Safari Lodges: What to Expect
What to expect at a luxury safari lodge: what’s included, guiding, rooms, Wi-Fi, children, safety after dark, what to wear, tipping and lodges vs tented camps.
ExploreAfrica
Cape Town and Safari Itinerary: 12 Days in South Africa
A 12-day South Africa itinerary combining Cape Town, the Winelands and a Kruger-area safari, with timing, flights, malaria notes and optional Victoria Falls.
Explore
Planning
Planning
Why Use a Travel Advisor? What You Actually Get
Why use a travel advisor? See what a good advisor does that booking sites can’t: expert planning, hotel perks, and real help when travel plans go wrong.
ExplorePlanning
What Is Virtuoso? The Luxury Travel Network Explained
What is Virtuoso? Learn how the luxury travel network works and the hotel perks you typically get, like breakfast for two and upgrades when available.
ExplorePlanning
How Do Travel Advisors Get Paid?
How do travel advisors get paid? Learn how supplier commissions and planning fees work, and the questions to ask before you hire an advisor for your trip.
ExplorePlanning
How Far Ahead Should You Book International Travel?
How far ahead should you book international travel? See ideal lead times for Europe, French Polynesia, safaris, and holidays so you get the rooms you want.
ExplorePlanning
Travel Insurance Explained: What It Covers and When to Buy
Travel insurance explained: what trip cancellation, medical, and evacuation coverage includes, how Cancel For Any Reason works, and when to buy a policy.
ExplorePlanning
Honeymoon Planning Timeline: When to Book Everything
A practical honeymoon planning timeline: when to choose a destination, book flights and overwater villas, buy insurance, and sort passports and name changes.
ExplorePlanning
Multigenerational Family Travel: How to Plan a Trip Everyone Enjoys
Plan multigenerational family travel that works for every age: the best destinations, rooms and villas, pacing tips, documents for kids, and fair budgeting.
ExplorePlanning
Traveling With Pets: Flights, Paperwork, and Pet-Friendly Stays
Traveling with pets? Learn airline cabin rules, international paperwork like microchips and health certificates, CDC dog import rules, and how to find hotels.
Explore
Documents & Entry
Documents & Entry
US Passport Renewal Guide: How to Renew, Costs, and Timing
US passport renewal made simple: who can renew by mail or online, 2026 fees, processing times, and when to renew before international travel to avoid problems.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
REAL ID Explained: What You Need to Fly in the US
REAL ID explained: since May 7, 2025 you need a compliant license or other accepted ID to fly domestically. See what qualifies and what happens without one.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
TSA PreCheck Guide: Cost, How to Apply, and Whether It’s Worth It
TSA PreCheck explained: how expedited screening works, 2026 enrollment costs, how to apply and renew, rules for kids, and when Global Entry is the better buy.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
Global Entry Guide: Cost, Interview, and How It Works
Global Entry explained: the 2026 fee, what’s included, how the interview and Enrollment on Arrival work, and whether it’s worth it for international travelers.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
Mobile Passport Control: The Free App That Speeds Up US Arrivals
Mobile Passport Control is a free CBP app that speeds up US arrivals. Learn who can use it, how to submit, where it works, and how it compares to Global Entry.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
EU Entry/Exit System and ETIAS Explained for US Travelers
EES and ETIAS explained for Americans: how Europe’s biometric Entry/Exit System works at the border, and where the ETIAS travel authorization stands in 2026.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
UK ETA for US Citizens: Cost, Validity, and How to Apply
US citizens need a UK ETA to visit Britain. See the 2026 cost, how long it’s valid, how to apply on the official app or GOV.UK, and when transit needs one.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
The Schengen 90/180 Rule Explained for Americans
The Schengen 90/180 rule explained for US travelers: how the rolling window works, which 29 countries count, how to count your days, and what overstays risk.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
Visa Basics for US Travelers: Visas, eVisas, and Travel Authorizations
Visa basics for US travelers: the difference between visas, eVisas, and travel authorizations, which popular destinations need one, and how to apply safely.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
Passports for Minors: How to Get a US Passport for Your Child
Passports for minors: how to apply for a child’s US passport, the two-parent consent rule and Form DS-3053, rules for teens 16 and 17, and when to apply.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
Name Mismatch on a Plane Ticket: How to Fix It Before You Fly
Name on your plane ticket doesn’t match your ID or passport? Which mismatches matter, how to correct a ticket, and what to do after marriage or a name change.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
Traveling With Dual Citizenship: Which Passport to Use and When
Traveling with dual citizenship: why you must use a US passport to leave and enter the US, which passport to show abroad, booking flights and consular limits.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
Business Visa Basics: When US Travelers Need One
Business visa basics for US travelers: what counts as business versus work, where meetings are visa-free, which documents to prepare and how far ahead to apply.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
Traveling With Medications Abroad: Rules, Documents and Packing
Traveling with medications abroad: how to pack prescriptions, which documents to carry, countries that restrict common medicines and bringing medicine home.
ExploreDocuments & Entry
US Customs When Returning Home: What to Declare and Duty-Free Limits
US customs when returning home: the $800 duty-free exemption, alcohol and tobacco limits, what to declare, restricted items and how to clear customs faster.
Explore
Air Travel
Air Travel
How to Choose a Business-Class Seat on Long-Haul Flights
How to choose a business-class seat: check the aircraft, understand 1-2-1 and suite layouts, pick the right seat for solo or couple travel, and avoid bad rows.
ExploreAir Travel
Airline Alliances Explained: Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam
Airline alliances explained: who belongs to Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam, how elite status and lounge access work across partners, and how to use them.
ExploreAir Travel
Flight Delay and Cancellation Rights: What You’re Owed
Flight delay and cancellation rights explained: US DOT refund rules, what airlines owe for delays, EU261 and UK compensation, and what to do if flights cancel.
ExploreAir Travel
How to Beat Jet Lag: A Practical, Science-Based Plan
How to beat jet lag: shift your sleep before you fly, use light and meal timing to reset your body clock, and recover fast after eastbound or westbound flights.
ExploreAir Travel
Long-Haul Flight Tips: How to Arrive Rested and Ready
Long-haul flight tips that work: choose the right seat and flight, pack a smart carry-on, reduce blood-clot risk, and sleep better so you arrive ready to go.
ExploreAir Travel
Airport Lounge Access Guide: Every Way to Get In
Airport lounge access explained: how premium tickets, alliance elite status, airline memberships, and credit cards get you in, plus guest rules and time limits.
ExploreAir Travel
Lost Luggage: What to Do When Your Bag Doesn’t Arrive
Lost luggage? Learn what to do at the airport, what airlines owe for delayed or lost bags, claim deadlines, bag-fee refunds, and how to protect yourself.
ExploreAir Travel
Airline Stopover Programs: Add a City to Your Trip
Airline stopover programs let you add Reykjavík, Lisbon, Istanbul, or Dubai to your trip, often at no extra airfare. See how they work and how to book them.
ExploreAir Travel
How to Get Upgraded on a Flight: What Actually Works
How to get upgraded on a flight: paid upgrade offers, miles and co-pays, elite upgrade lists and fare rules, plus the upgrade myths that waste your time.
ExploreAir Travel
Basic Economy Explained: What You Give Up and When It’s Worth It
Basic economy explained: what the cheapest airline fare leaves out, from changes and seat selection to upgrades and bags, and when it’s worth the savings.
ExploreAir Travel
Airline Elite Status Explained: How It Works and Whether It’s Worth It
Airline elite status explained: how qualification works, what each tier usually includes, how alliance status carries to partners, and when it’s worth chasing.
ExploreAir Travel
Seat Selection Strategy: How to Pick the Best Seat on a Plane
Seat selection strategy for every flight: aisle vs window, exit rows and bulkheads, seats to avoid, checking aircraft type and when to re-check your seat.
ExploreAir Travel
Flying With Kids: Practical Tips From Booking to Landing
Flying with kids made easier: lap seat or own seat, car seat rules, sitting together, TSA rules for formula and baby food, carry-on essentials and documents.
ExploreAir Travel
Connecting Flights: How to Book Smart Layovers and Make Every Connection
Connecting flight tips: how much layover time you really need, why one ticket matters, how bags and customs work on international connections, and what to do.
ExploreAir Travel
Missed Your Connecting Flight? What to Do Right Now
Missed your connecting flight? What to do first, what airlines owe you in the US and Europe, what happens on separate tickets, and how to protect your bags.
ExploreAir Travel
Airline Credits and Vouchers: How to Use Them Before They Expire
Airline credits and vouchers explained: how they differ, when you’re owed a refund instead, and how to track expiration dates and use credits before they lapse.
Explore
Health & Safety
Health & Safety
Travel Health and Vaccines: How to Prepare for an International Trip
Which travel vaccines you may need, when to see a travel clinician, how yellow fever certificates work, malaria pills and taking medicines abroad.
ExploreHealth & Safety
U.S. State Department Travel Advisories Explained
What the four State Department travel advisory levels mean, how the risk letters work, and how advisories affect insurance, company approvals and your plans.
ExploreHealth & Safety
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): What It Is and How to Enroll
STEP is the State Department’s free program that sends U.S. travelers embassy alerts and helps them reach you in an emergency. What it does and how to enroll.
ExploreHealth & Safety
Travel Safety Tips: How to Stay Safe Abroad
Practical travel safety tips for international trips: preparing, arriving, hotels, money, phones and Wi-Fi, scams and what to do if your passport is stolen.
ExploreHealth & Safety
Altitude Sickness Guide: Prevention, Symptoms and High Destinations
Altitude sickness guide: who gets it, how to prevent it with a gradual ascent, warning signs that mean descend now, and how high popular destinations are.
ExploreHealth & Safety
Preventing DVT on Long Flights: Blood Clot Risks and Precautions
Preventing DVT on long flights: who faces higher blood clot risk, in-flight habits that help, when to ask about compression stockings and warning signs.
ExploreHealth & Safety
Health Insurance Abroad: Does Your Plan Cover You Overseas?
Health insurance abroad: what US plans and Medicare cover overseas, why hospitals may want payment up front, and how travel medical and evacuation cover help.
ExploreHealth & Safety
Travel First Aid Kit: What to Pack for Trips Abroad
Travel first aid kit checklist: the medicines, wound care and tools to pack, add-ons for safaris, islands and treks, and how to carry it through security.
ExploreHealth & Safety
Food and Water Safety Abroad: How to Avoid Getting Sick
Food and water safety abroad: when tap water is risky, the safest drinks and foods, street food and ice, and what to do if travelers’ diarrhea strikes anyway.
ExploreHealth & Safety
Emergency Abroad: What to Do and Who to Call
Emergency abroad? Who to call first, local emergency numbers, what the US embassy can and can’t do, and how to handle medical crises, theft and disasters.
Explore
Hotels & Luxury
Hotels & Luxury
How to Get Hotel Upgrades: What Actually Works
How to get hotel upgrades: elite status, Virtuoso amenities, booking channel, timing, special occasions and paid upgrade offers, and when to just book the room.
ExploreHotels & Luxury
Choosing the Right Hotel Room: Views, Beds, Floors and Fine Print
How to choose the right hotel room: what category names mean, ocean view vs oceanfront, floors, connecting rooms, club level, accessible rooms and hidden fees.
ExploreHotels & Luxury
Villa vs Resort: Which Is Right for Your Trip?
Villa vs resort: compare privacy, space, service, dining, cost and family needs, when a resort villa is the answer, and what to check before renting a villa.
ExploreHotels & Luxury
Private Jet Charter Basics: How Charter, Jet Cards and Empty Legs Work
Private jet charter basics: aircraft sizes, on-demand charter vs jet cards vs fractional ownership, empty legs, and how to check a charter is legal and safe.
Explore
Money & Tech
Money & Tech
Using Credit Cards Abroad: Fees, Currency Conversion and Safety
Using credit cards abroad: avoid foreign transaction fees, always pay in local currency, get cash safely, protect against fraud and manage hotel deposits.
ExploreMoney & Tech
Tipping Around the World: A Region-by-Region Guide
Tipping around the world: typical customs in the U.S., Europe, Japan, Mexico, French Polynesia and on safari, plus how to tip in cash, on cards and on cruises.
ExploreMoney & Tech
International Phone Plans and eSIMs: How to Stay Connected Abroad
International phone plans vs travel eSIMs: how each works, which phones support eSIM, how to set one up, avoid roaming charges and keep getting 2FA codes.
ExploreMoney & Tech
Travel Cybersecurity: Protecting Your Devices and Data on the Road
Travel cybersecurity: prepare devices before you go, use public Wi-Fi safely, avoid public USB charging, understand border searches and protect work data.
Explore
Special Trips
Special Trips
Planning a Destination Wedding: Legal Requirements, Guests and Timeline
How to plan a destination wedding: legal vs symbolic ceremonies, marrying in French Polynesia, choosing a place guests can reach, room blocks and a timeline.
ExploreSpecial Trips
Accessible Travel Planning: Rights, Flights, Hotels and Practical Tips
Accessible travel planning: Air Carrier Access Act rights, TSA Cares, wheelchair tips, finding truly accessible hotel rooms, cruises and ground transport.
ExploreSpecial Trips
Traveling Solo: How to Plan a Safe, Rewarding Trip on Your Own
How to plan solo travel: where to go first, how single supplements work, staying safe on your own, dining alone, and mixing independent and guided travel.
ExploreSpecial Trips
Planning a Babymoon: When to Go, Where and What to Check
How to plan a babymoon: the best time to travel in pregnancy, airline and cruise rules, choosing a safe destination, comfortable flights and insurance to check.
Explore
Ready when you are.
Tell Gigi where you're headed — she responds personally within one business day.