What others have said about travel.state.gov:

Government Executive Best Feds on the Web: "This site is a must-visit for Americans traveling to foreign countries.…Information is detailed, easily located and current. An e-mail service provides subscribers with new information as soon as it's issued, and the crisis page provides continuous updates when major catastrophes occur abroad."

Galaxy Top Ten Travel Web Sites: "So, you're planning to take a trip far, far away. But wait-you don't have a passport? Aren't sure of possible government travel restrictions? Want to make sure you follow the rules? Or maybe you want to know what to do if a travel crisis strikes while you're away from home? Relax, your Uncle Sam has got you covered…Download a passport application. Check out children's travel issues. Get really important phone numbers like Overseas Citizens Assistance. Learn about visas and where you'll need one. You can link to other great resources too, like information for students traveling, travel health information from the Centers for Disease Control and more."

Fielding: "The single most useful tools for us are the Country Information Sheets and the Daily Incident Reports supplied by the U.S. State Department."

The Great American Web Book: "perhaps the finest source of international travel information to be found
anywhere on the World Wide Web."

Be prepared:

If you have loved ones living/working/studying abroad
If you have your eye on a bargain airline fare or vacation package
If your employer might want you to travel on short notice…

See "Traveling with out one or both Parents