IV-E. Travel Planning on the Web

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  1. Deciding Where to Go and What to Do

    1. There are many web sites related to travel planning. A good place to start is Trip Advisor where you can link to information sites and travel literature for thousands of destinations
    2. Two other popular sites for obtaining information about travel destinations are Travelocity and Expedia. Both provide search capabilities to help find just the right vacation for you.
    3. On-line travel guides like Lonely Planet and Frommers will also prove useful
    4. If you are interested in cruises, a good place to start is Find Travel Information's Cruise Directory
    5. And for those who like camping or trailering, there's Woodall's Campground Directory
    6. Web sites like Roadside America, "your on-line guide to offbeat tourist attractions" and National Scenic Byways Online can also help you plan an interesting and different vacation
    7. For more information, see General Travel Links

  2. Getting There

    1. By Air

      1. You'll find a listing of all the airlines and their toll-free numbers here
      2. And you can check flights, arrival and destination times, and prices at Orbitz
      3. For the lowest airfares, check out Priceline, Hotwire or Qixo
      4. You can also use the Web to check out Airport Maps, Airline Seat Maps, Information on flight status and the rules regarding carry-on and checked luggage
        5. And, if you need a rental car at your destination, has a reputation for finding the best deals

    2. By Auto

      1. You can get maps and driving directions for any location in the US or Canada at Mapquest or Rand McNally
      2. For information on road closures and weather and traffic hazards along way, go to US Road Conditions
      3. To avoid speed traps, use Speed Trap Exchange

  3. Lodging and Meals

    1. Travel Guide provides a listing of the 800 numbers and web sites of all the major hotel and motel chains
    2. For discount hotel rates, try Hotel Discounts, Priceline and A-1 Discount Hotels
    3. The Internet Guide to Bed and Breakfast Inns can help you find a cozy, quiet place to stay, if that's your preference
    4. Finding a good place to eat is probably best done by asking the hotel desk clerk or using the local yellow pages, but the Zagat Restaurant Survey and Restaurant Row can be helpful when you want to do some advance planning

  4. Health and Safety Issues

    1. The Center for Disease Control and the State Department both provide up-to-date information on where it is unsafe to travel, what immunizations are required, etc.
    2. You can learn the rules about passports and visa as well as apply for or renew a passport online at Passport Services
    3. And you can use a specialized search engine to find the location of ATM's anywhere in the world

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