Online

• When planning your route on a PC, there are a number of websites, travel wikis and other resources available online for free which can help you plan your route. Websites that help you plan your trip's route include Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, Mapquest and MSN Maps. However, the information contained on these websites is not guaranteed, so if you are using online websites to plan your trip, it is best to check a backup map program or get a second opinion on your travel route before committing to a plan based on information online.
  
  

Software

• If you prefer to plan offline, or don't have access to the internet on your home PC, there are a number of software suites built for PC that are designed to help plan your route on a trip. Microsoft offers a travel planning software suite called Streets and Trips 2009, but many other software companies offer software fine-tuned to the type of route you might be planning, such as software geared specifically toward outdoor adventure trips. See Resources for links to software that you can use on the PC to help plan and organize your trip's itinerary.
  
  

Services

• Check your local travel services organizations' websites for information on your destination. You can also check with consolate, embassy or tourist information centers at your destination to get more information about travel options. Some travel service organizations, such as AAA, will supply their members with a complimentary itinerary of their planned trip. These itinerary packages will often include information and discounts for local dining, lodgings and entertainment.
  
  

Travel Conditions

• Make a last-minute check on travel conditions and the status of any flights or train trips you may be taking. Anticipating problems early allows you to make changes to your trip that may save a lot of time in the case of a setback. See Resources for a government website that reports traffic conditions within the U.S.
  
  

Warning

• Take care to ensure that the information you receive is accurate and up-to-date. Last-minute changes such as construction, flight or trip cancellations, or inclement weather can cause delays in your trip that will cost you time and money. It is important to research possible problems, changes and delays so you can be ready to plan an alternate route if your original route becomes impassable.