Travel Planning
Whether a first time or seasoned traveler, the resources in this section will provide helpful information about preparing to travel, finding housing, and staying safe and healthy while abroad. In addition, we've compiled multiple web-based and app resources for your consideration. All links are provided for informational purposes only. Any fee-based services are not endorsed by the College of International Studies.
CIS Risk Management Resources
| Immunizations | Medications | Mental Health |
| Food Safety & Allergies | Housing | Driving & Transportation |
| Avoiding Crime | Traveling with Technology | Personal Travel |
| Checklist |
Web-based and App Resources
Country Information (U.S. Department of State)
Country Security Reports (Overseas Security Advisory Council)
Country insights (Canadian Foreign Service Institute) - Cultural insights on intercultural issues from a Canadian and a local point of view.
CIS Risk Management Resources:
Peer Institution Resources:
Travel Health Education Program (University of Michigan) - Informational webpages focused on student travel health.
More Resources:
International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT) - Travel health recommendations based on country.
Passport Health - Destination-specific tips regarding vaccination requirements, entry/exit requirements, travel health and safety, packing lists, etc.
CIS Risk Management Resources:
More Resources:
Traveling Abroad with Medicine (CDC)
SafeMedication.com (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists)
Travel with Medication Legally (NY Times)
Medicine Equivalency Guide (GeoBlue) - Register with Group Access Code: GHS9999AHPCO
10 Things You Should Know (Mobility International USA)
Mental Health & Self Care (CIS Education Abroad)
List of International Crisis Hotlines (Wikipedia)
Peer Institution Resources:
Resilient Traveling (University of Michigan) - Website to help students manage stress and enhance their experience abroad.
OU Passport Office - OU's official passport application acceptance facility.
Country Information (U.S. Department of State)
Passport Health - Passport and visa services
Travisa - Expedited passports, travel and business visas
LGBTQ+ Identities (CIS Education Abroad)
EqualDex - A collaborative LGBT knowledge base with information, data, maps, timelines, etc of LGBT laws by country, state, province and region.
GlobalGayz - A charitable, gay-owned site about gay travel culture, and les-bi-gay-trans LGBT life in over 190 countries, based on first-hand staff visits.
Transrespect versus Transphobia - Transgender support website with detailed maps on laws and attitudes toward transgender individuals around the world.
LGBTQ+ Study Abroad Resources - Created by the NAFSA Rainbow SIG, this list includes links that discusses trans students, LGBTQ+ travel blogs, mental health, region specific resources, and scholarships.
Please note, some of the following resources share content that depict accounts of physical or sexual assault.
A Little Honesty...On Safe Solo Travel for Single Women (A Little Adrift)
Solo Female Travel: Lessons Learned by 33 Expert Women Travelers (YoWangdu Experience Tibet)
Women Welcome Women World Wide (5W)
Women Travelers (U.S. Department of State)
Her Own Way - A Woman's Safe-Travel Guide (Government of Canada)
Dietary Restrictions (CIS Education Abroad)
Translation Cards (SelectWisely) - Helping people with food allergies, drug allergies, asthma, diabetes, latex allergies and other health conditions travel safely in foreign-speaking settings.
Kosher Travel (KashRut) - Providing information about kosher food including mislabeled products and useful information for the kosher consumer.
Flying With Allergies (Upgraded Points)
Food Safety Tips (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
Not On Our Campus (OU Institutional Equity Office) - Provides an overview of what sexual misconduct is, how to get help, where to report incidents, and campus or community resources.
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) - Carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
Packing Light (OneBag.com)
Healthy Travel Blog (Global Citizens Association) - Tips on being healthy while traveling the world.
Travel Tips (Travelzoo)
WhatsApp (Apple App Store) - Messaging and calling, available on phones all over the world.
Smart Traveler (Apple App Store) - Official State Department app for U.S. travelers, invites you to see the world with easy access to frequently updated official country information, travel alerts, travel warnings, maps, U.S. embassy locations, and more.
Sitata Travel Safe (Apple App Store) - Avoid tourist scams, quickly find hospitals, and stay up to date with real-time travel alerts.
Google Maps (Apple App Store) - Get around your city without data with offline maps, find public transit schedules, and star your favorite places.
Google Translate (Apple App Store) - Translations for over 100 languages via typing, talking and snapping pictures of signs in foreign languages - text translations available offline.
HappyCow (Apple App Store) - Find vegan and vegetarian restaurants anywhere in the world.
Safeture (Apple App Store) - Find the safety rating of any city anywhere in the world.
iTranslate (Apple App Store) - Translate text or websites, start voice conversations or lookup word meanings.
CDC TravWell (Currently Unavailable) - Build a trip to get destination-specific vaccine recommendations, a checklist of what you need to do to prepare for travel, and a customizable healthy travel packing list.
PackPoint (Apple App Store) - Organize what you need to pack based on length of travel, weather at your destination and any activities planned during your trip.
GeoBlue (Apple App Store) - With the GeoBlue® mobile app, world travelers have convenient access to local doctors, hospitals, and resources anywhere in the world.
Sickweather (Currently Unavailable) - Scans social networks for indicators of illness, allowing you to check for the chance of sickness as easily as you can check for the chance of rain.
TripWhistle (Apple App Store) - Dial local emergency police, fire, and ambulance phone numbers anywhere in the world with a single touch.
GPSmyCity (Apple App Store) - Explore self-guided walking tours in cities around the world, without data.
Headspace (Apple App Store) - A soothing guided meditation and mindfulness app.
mytaxi (Apple App Store) - Find, book, and pay for a taxi with this app anywhere.
Allergic Traveler (Apple App Store) - Translate your allergy & religious dietary restrictions to communicate your needs: 30 languages, no wifi needed.
Circle of 6 (Currently Unavailable) - Need help getting home? Need an interruption? Two taps lets your circle know where you are and how they can help.
WiFi Map TripBox (Apple App Store) - Find WiFi hotspots on a map that can be downloaded to save data.
FlightAware (Apple App Store) - Track flights online, see a live map, check delays and cancellations.
American Red Cross - Provides first aid instructions (off-line), checklists, and hospital search feature.
AirVisual (Apple App Store) - Tracks important air pollutants and provides air quality alerts.
