Information Please
Making travel plans? Be sure to check the Web. Per diems and other rules are constantly changing, so it never hurts to check out the various government and other travel Web sites, even if you travel to the same places over and over. Links to many of these sites are at http://www.govexec.com/travel.
GENERAL FEDERAL TRAVEL
http://fss.gsa.gov/citypairs
This site offers everything you could ever want to know about the government's low negotiated airline fares, including links to related sites and to a handy "fare finder." The 5,000-plus routes offered cost 72 percent less than comparable commercial fares, on average.
http://www.grad.usda.gov
The Agriculture Department's Graduate School offers three travel courses: Civilian Travel Regulations, FTR; Defense Civilian Travel Regulations, JTR, Vol. 2; and Military Travel Regulations, JFTR, Vol. 1. USDA offers the courses in more than 20 cities.
http://www.gsa.gov
The Federal Supply Service has moved information to this site. FSS awards the government's services contracts, including those for fleet purchase, the leasing and shipment of household goods, and the travel card. The site lists vendors, a search engine and links to pages on FSS schedules, the Customer Supply Center, environmental programs, and travel regulations and information.
http://www.gsa.gov/travel
The General Services Administration's travel site is a jumping-off point for most civilian travel information. It includes details on per diem rates, the Federal Premier Lodging Program, federal travel regulations, state tax-exemption policies and many other topics. You can even download domestic per diem rates at http://policyworks.gov/org/main/mt/homepage/mtt/perdiem/travel.shtml.
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/content
GSA's Travel and Transportation Training site provides schedules and registration information for courses on everything from conference planning to guidance for approving officials.
http://pub.fss.gsa.gov/services/gsa-smartpay
Everything you ever wanted to know about travel and fleet card contracts is at this site. It includes links to training and support programs for GSA's SmartPay system.
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/hotel
This U.S. Fire Administration site lets you search by state for lodgings that meet the requirements of the 1990 Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act. It includes information on what agencies must do to comply with the law and provides a list of fire-safety tips.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
http://www.state.gov/travel
The State Department's main travel page features everything you need to know before traveling overseas. Its many useful links cover visas, living overseas, airline on-time statistics and currency exchange rates. Check out the travel warnings link to make sure that your destination is not on the list. You can search for overseas per diem rates at http://www.state.gov/m/a/als/prdm/2002.
http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/howdoi/inspass.htm
Start here if you want to get on board with INSPASS, the high-tech INS program that lets frequent travelers zip through checkpoints when re-entering the United States. Download the enrollment form at http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms. Note that you must appear in person with your valid passport at an INSPASS Enrollment Center for a decision on your application.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
http://www.defensetravel.com
Information on this site is central to Defense's travel re-engineering project, the Defense Travel System, which the department says will be in place worldwide by 2006.You can read regular updates and other information on the project at www.dtic.mil/travelink, the home page for the DTS Project Management Office.
http://www.dtic.mil/perdiem
The home page for the Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee includes per diem rates, overseas allowances, the full text of the Joint Federal Travel Regulations, and lodging and dining information.
http://www.dfas.mil
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service site provides facts on travel and transportation pay, including information on travel cards and travel advances. Click on "Money Matters."
-Caroline Polk contributed to this report.