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Air Travel Tips Did you know that, on large modern planes, the pilots can circulate more fresh air in the cabin if they want to, but they often don't: they recycle the air in order to boost the fuel economy. However, if you complain, there is a chance they will increase the fresh air for you. Now that's what I call a travel tip, and there's plenty more where that came from. Web:
Airline Flight Tracking So your friend Ron is flying in to visit you. Very nice, but when should you go to the airport to meet him? If you go on time, you may end up waiting for hours if his flight was delayed. Instead, before you leave, check how late Ron's flight is really going to be. After all, you can't get there at the last minute unless you have accurate information. (Hint: If you are stuck at the airport waiting for a late flight and the airline employees won't tell you what's happening, call a friend and have him check the Net for you.) Web:
Airline Information Pick an airline, any airline, and I'll guess what it is. Ready? Hmmmm... United Airlines. Pretty good, huh? Sorry, I can't tell you how I do it, or it wouldn't seem like magic. Want some more magic? Use the Net to find the phone number and Web site of any airline you can imagine (and some you can't). Web:
ATM Locator What happens if you are thousands of miles from home and you encounter a financial emergency? No problem. Call a friend back home and have him pull out a copy of this book. (All your friends have this book, don't they?) Tell him to look up the ATM Locator resources, connect to the Net, and find the ATM closest to you. Of course, you could always just ask someone where the closest ATM is, but that's no fun. Web:
Budget Travel When I traveled in Europe, I had a small budget, a Eurail (train) pass, and a book on budget traveling. In my experience, traveling inexpensively can be a lot of fun, but to be as comfortable as possible, it helps to do some research before you leave. To help you, here are some resources with tips, techniques and information you won't find on the beaten track. Web:
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Hostels Hostels are inexpensive places to stay, offering basic accommodation for informal travelers around the world. Many hostels are only for people below a certain age (youth hostels), but some are open to anyone. When I was younger, I stayed at a lot of youth hostels, and most of the time it was just fine. Hostels are usually centrally located and are great places to meet other people. Web:
Packing Tips When you travel, packing well can make a big difference. On a long trip, I like to travel with a single, large backpack. It's practical and easy to carry. However, as you get older, the backpack will get shoved in the corner of the garage, and you'll find yourself traveling with a couple of suitcases. (You'll see.) Still, knowing what to pack and how to do it well is a skill we can all use, even when we start to travel like adults. Web:
Personal Travel Planner This Web site is presented by the people who produce Fodor's travel guides. My favorite resource is the one that lets you create your own travel planner. You specify where you want to go and select various choices from menus. You will then be presented with a personalized travel guide, based on information from their database. To test it, I created a planner for a trip that I had already taken. The results were so good, I wished I had done it before I took the trip. Web: Railroad Travel You're all ready for a fabulous time at the annual convention of the International Order of Loyal Raccoons. This year, the convention is in Minneapolis. Your bags are packed, and you and your best friend make it to the train in plenty of time. You board the train and start unpacking the joke and novelty items you're going to use at the convention. But you wonder, where are your wives? They were supposed to meet you on the train. The train starts rolling, and the conductor comes by. Oh, no! He tells you that you are on the wrong train. This one is going to Norfolk, Virginia, not Minneapolis. But what about your wives? They're on the right train, because they checked all the details on the Net before they left. Web:
Recreational Vehicles Recreational vehicles (RVs) are self-contained mobile living environments. People love RVs because, once you have one, you can drive wherever you want and never worry about finding a place to sleep or eat. If you're spending much time in your RV, using the Net is one of the best ways to stay in touch with the rest of the world. Not only can you send and receive email, but there are some great RV resources available to help you find campsites and exciting places to visit. In addition, you can join the many RV enthusiasts who participate in Usenet discussion groups. Web:
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Ship Travel Taking a leisurely trip on a cruise ship can be a great experience. There is a lot of cruise information available, but much of it is commercial pap. To help you find out what you really need to know, I have found the places on the Net where real people talk about their cruise experiences and their interests. If you have questions about cruising, you'll find these resources especially useful. I have also included a cruising FAQ (frequently asked question list), as well as some info about traveling on a freighter. Web:
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Speedtraps A speedtrap is a police setup designed to catch drivers who exceed the speed limit. Since citations for such an infraction generate income for a town, state or province, it is not unheard of for police to place speedtraps in places where they know out-of-town drivers are likely to be tempted to drive too fast. At the very least, if you are a stranger to an area, it helps to know the places where the local police are looking for speeders. This Web site serves as a speedtrap registry for people driving in the United States, Canada, Australia and some European countries. Before you drive in a strange area, check here to make sure that you know where the speedtraps are. Even better, check for speedtraps in the town where you live. You may be surprised. Web: Subway Navigator You will never have to get lost on the subway system again. No matter where you are, you can find your way home as long as you have your Internet connection with you. This site will compute subway routes in many major cities around the world. I computed a lengthy subway route in Helsinki and I don't even speak Finnish. Web:
Tourism Offices If you are planning your vacation to some exotic country (or some country that you wish were exotic), don't go jet-setting off without being fully prepared. At this Web site you can enter in the name of the country you are going to visit find a list of all the tourism offices in the area. Web: Travel Health Advice If you are planning a trip, you must take a look at some of the resources on the Net devoted to travel health advice. You can find information about particular countries you are going to visit, the hazards specific to that country, listings of immunizations you need, and potential diseases you can bring home as unique souvenirs for you or your friends. While you are planning ahead, take a look at the tips on how to stay healthy while flying. You can learn about air quality on planes, what food to avoid during flights, how to prevent dehydration, and much, much more. These sites will give you what you need to plan for a healthy vacation. Web:
Travel Marketplace Upgrades, frequent flyer plans, hotel discounts, travel guides -- the longest journey begins with but a single step into Usenet's one-stop travel marketplace. Buy, sell, beg, borrow, steal -- then go! Usenet:
Travel Reservations That dream trip to North San Diego County, to go surfing at Tabletop and eat burritos at Roberto's, might be a lot more affordable than you think. Use the Net to make reservations and, if there's a way to get there, you'll get there. (Don't forget the sunscreen.) Web:
Travel Resources One time, I went to the British Virgin Islands and when I got there, I started asking around for the best places to snorkel. It wasn't long before I found out that most of the natives don't snorkel -- it's a tourist activity. Boy, it sure would have been handy to have had a laptop and a wireless modem so I could have connected to the Net. When you need information, don't assume that it's going to be there when you arrive. Better to check on the Net ahead of time and get everything you need before you leave. Web:
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Travel Resources for Women Wherever you are, that's where you are. But what if that's not where you want to be? These travel resources can help you make sure your trip runs smoothly. That way -- while you are traveling -- you will be free to concentrate on the three Ss: safety, shopping and you know what. Web:
Travel Stories I have a friend, Kenn, who went on an extended trip to Europe. Kenn took a computer with him, and along the way, he wrote about what he was doing and emailed the stories to his friends. If you enjoy reading travel stories, take a look at these Web sites, where people all over the world write about their trips. Even better, if you are going on a trip, why not write you own stories and share them with everyone else? Web:
Travel Talk and General Discussion Travel is a lot of fun and -- as they say -- broadening. And, while you are traveling there is no substitute for inside information. These Usenet groups are for discussion of specific aspects of travel or particular locations. If you are going to visit a new place, I suggest reading the appropriate group before you leave. If you have any questions, post them in advance of your trip and you may get some useful answers. For general travel discussion, use the rec.travel.misc group. Usenet:
Travel Tips Don't let your excitement about your big trip get in the way of being organized and careful about planning the details. You may end up stranded in a tiny country known for political unrest and lack of Internet access. Get tips on packing, passports, air travel -- and don't forget to send your favorite Internet author cool postcards from exotic lands. Web:
Traveling Alone Rudyard Kipling said, "He travels the fastest who travels alone." I say, "He who travels alone, travels by himself." My mother used to say, "If you are going to travel alone, be sure to have extra underwear." Take your pick. Web:
U.S. National Parks The United States has a vast number of parks, many of which are managed by the National Park Service (NPS), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The NPS alone administers 400 parks containing an aggregate of over 83 million acres. Some of these parks are well known, such as Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. However, most of the parks are less known and are wonderful places to explore. For example, do you know anyone who has been to Piscataway Park or Timpanogos Cave? If you like the outdoors and you live in the U.S. (or will be visiting), these Web sites provide you with the information you need to find and visit a park (including making reservations if necessary). Web:
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U.S. State Department Travel Information The U.S. State Department has extensive information on current and past travel advisories for those interested in traveling abroad. Each factsheet contains the addresses and phone numbers of American consulates, as well as passport, visa and government information, and crime data. Web: World Guide to Vegetarianism Vegetarians, you no longer have to worry about traveling around the world and not being able to find good food that will fit in with your dietary lifestyle. This site has a listing of vegetarian restaurants, natural food stores and vegetarian organizations around the world. Web: |
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