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Travel Planning

Overview

You joined the armed forces because you love an adventure, but getting from point A to point B doesn’t happen automatically. Military OneSource is here to point you to resources that can assist you with your travel planning and help you make the most of your excursions, whether you book a cruise in the Caribbean or venture a few miles outside of your neighborhood.

Consider Space-A Travel

Service members and their families can use Space-A flights to travel. Though sometimes unpredictable, military flights are perfect for families with flexible plans and limited travel budgets. You can sign up for a Space-A flight through a military terminal up to 60 days in advance.

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Air Mobility Command Travel Site

The Air Mobility Command Travel Site contains valuable information for official and space-available travel. Visit their site to find useful content when planning your travel with AMC. The travel site also provides information for traveling with your pet on the AMC Patriot Express flight or with one of their commercial airline partners.

The AMC team strives to provide a wide variety of information for their travelers to use while they’re making their travel preparations for either a PCS/TDY — or to just get away to relax and unwind.

Take some time to explore the AMC Travel Site. If you don’t find what you’re looking for or have questions concerning travel with AMC, contact your nearest AMC Passenger Terminal for additional assistance

Take advantage of TSA Precheck®

Service members and their families can take advantage of TSA Precheck to expedite waiting time at the airport when flying commercial. Simply use your Defense Department ID as your known traveler number. You’ll bypass long security lines without removing your shoes or jacket or having to take your laptop out of your bag.

Tickets & Tours

Whether you want to take a day trip or a full vacation, your local Information, Tickets and Travel office has the discounts. Your local ITT office provides one-stop shopping for savings on the following and more:

  • Special events
  • Area attractions
  • Hotel reservations
  • Cruise bookings

American Forces TravelSM is the online version of MWR’s brick-and-mortar ITT office. This joint service initiative offers military discounts and helps fund other current and future MWR programs.

Get military discounts through American Forces TravelSM

Eligible members of the military community can use American Forces Travel℠ to book leisure travel online. The one-stop travel booking site is a joint service initiative that offers discounts on airfare, rental cars, cruises, hotels, travel packages, events and more. You can use the website to book your next trip while helping to fund other current and future MWR programs.

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Get vacation discounts.

Military families can get vacation discounts through MWR’s American Forces TravelSM.

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Book hotels, cars, flights, cruises and vacation packages with American Forces TravelSM.

Visit the American Forces TravelSM website to see if you are eligible. Eligible service members include active military, Guard, reserves, U.S. Coast Guard, retired military and all eligible MWR patrons.

Save money with a staycation

A staycation is a vacation where you discover your local area while avoiding the time, hassle and expense of travel. Consider these benefits: sleeping in your own bed, not needing to pack and spending your money on fun activities in your own community. Your MWR program can help you find the best local activities.

Image of Savings Piggy Bank

Have Big Fun on a Small Budget.

Trimming your budget doesn’t mean doing away with fun altogether. Listen to this podcast to find out how your local MWR department is full of options that won’t break the bank.

Places to stay

Military families can enjoy affordable and convenient lodging options tailored to their unique needs. Whether traveling for leisure or official purposes, service members and their families have access to a range of accommodations that provide comfort and value. These options are designed to make travel more accessible and enjoyable, ensuring a welcoming place to stay wherever duty or adventure takes you.

With 89 locations worldwide, Air Force Inns’ mission is to ensure the resilience of their guests by providing a clean, comfortable room to guarantee a good night’s rest and a pleasant stay. Air Force Inns welcome active duty, retirees, NAF or DOD civilian employees, and sponsored guests.

Air Force Inns also offers the convenience of other base amenities, such as the Air Force Exchange, discounted tickets for area attractions, swimming pools and golf courses, as well as many great MWR activities right outside your door.

 

Navy Gateway Inns & Suites offer great accommodations and savings, worldwide for eligible service members and sponsored guests on temporary duty travel, or TDY.

Coast Guard MWR operates lodging, camping and recreational vehicle sites throughout the United States and Puerto Rico on Coast Guard installations. Coast Guard Lodging helps authorized patrons by providing an outlet for recreation and by saving patrons money through discounted lodging costs. Authorized patrons can learn more about available facilities through the Coast Guard Lodging website.

 

Department of Defense Lodging provides lodging options for the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Department of the Air Force. Options include guest rooms worldwide, as well as inns and suites. You can find lodging available for active-duty, retirees, DOD civilians, sponsored guests and more. DOD Lodging is located on or near U.S. military installations and is owned and operated by the federal government. Eligible guests can book rooms for travel, temporary duty or for use during a PCS move.

Armed Forces Recreation Center hotels and resorts around the world offer a variety of vacation and recreation opportunities for eligible service members and sponsored guests. They offer eligible service members and sponsored guests quality accommodations at affordable prices. For more information about Armed Forces Recreation Center hotels and resorts, visit their website.

Use the Best Kept Secrets – Recreational Facilities Locator to find accommodations and amenities at great rates across the United States.

Other things to do

Service members and their families can access programs that provide discounts on travel, outdoor recreation and cultural experiences. These resources make it easier to explore new destinations, enjoy nature and discover educational attractions.

America the Beautiful passes offer eligible service members and families lodging discounts and access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas across the United States. Use the Find a Park locator tool to find a park by state or browse a list of Trip Ideas Across the Country. For more information about America the Beautiful passes, visit the Plan Your Visit page.

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families — in collaboration with the Defense Department and more than 2,000 museums across America. Through the Blue Star Museums initiative, free museum admission is offered to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and reserve, each summer from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day. Find participating museums near you or along your summer travel route. Make it a blockbuster summer by seeing how many Blue Star Museums you can explore. And stay up to date on the Blue Star Museums program by checking out the National Endowment for the Arts website.

 

By visiting the Plan Your Visit page, you can find more information about entrance passes that cover entrance fees at lands managed by the National Park Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service. A pass covers the pass owner and all occupants in a personal vehicle at sites that charge per vehicle or, the pass owner and up to three additional adults (16 and over) at sites that charge per person. Children age 15 or under are admitted free. You can also find information about annual passes, military annual passes, military lifetime passes and more.

Travel benefits for college students

Military family members enrolled in colleges away from an active-duty parent’s OCONUS duty station are eligible for travel benefits. The government will pay for one round trip each fiscal year for college students if they meet certain requirements. This travel benefit must be authorized through the service member’s command and be completed through the military travel office.

Image of Deployment Backpack

Use travel benefits for college students who are military family members.

Military family members enrolled in colleges away from their active-duty parent’s OCONUS duty station are eligible for travel benefits. Read the article above for more benefit information.

ARTICLES FOR TRAVEL PLANNING

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Hobbies Hobbies are a great way to relieve stress, learn something new and spend quality time with friends and family.
Fun & Fitness Check out Military OneSource resources that can help keep you fit and healthy while having fun with friends and family.

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