INTERNET RESOURCES

Travel on the Web

Sites to help you plan your vacation

by Brian Coutts

The UCLA Internet Re­ For the past four years I have offered a port 2001, published in hands-on community Internet workshop on November 2001, found travel. This guide has benefitted from the in­ that 72.3 percent of put and experiences of many who have at­ Americans were online tended these workshops. in 2001, up 5.4 percent from 2000. On the Where to go other hand, online • Concierge. If you’re trying to decide purchasing at 48.9 percent was down from where to go, this is an excellent place to be­ 50.7 percent the previous year. One of the gin. Sponsored by Conde Nast Traveler, a most popular things people buy online is popular travel magazine, the site lets you travel. The survey found that 11.6 percent of search by place, view poll results from the new users (online less than a year) made a magazine on the best destinations and hotels travel-related purchase in 2001 compared with or find a romantic getaway. For the winter 20.7 percent of experienced users (online five season, the site featured the “Top 50 Ski Re­ or more years). sorts in North America.” The well-heeled can With more than 1,000 commercial travel sites search the 2002 Gold List for the most elite and many more personal ones, it is sometimes a hotels, resorts, and cruise lines in the world. difficult task to select the best, reliable travel The rest of us can check out the 2001 Read­ sources. While the number of visitors to Internet ers’ Choice Awards for cities, islands, hotels, travel sites plummeted after the events of Sep­ resorts, small hotels, cruise lines, and services. tember 11, within three weeks, traffic at the three Access: http://www.concierge.com. largest commercial travel sites, , Trav­ • The Travel Channel. In addition to elocity, and , had already returned to pre­ serving as an online guide to the cable chan­ attack levels, according to one newspaper source. nel of the same name, this is a perfect site for On January 29, 2002, an undecided traveler. Click on “explore by reported that Expedia Inc.’s gross bookings destination” to plan a trip. Click on “explore rose to $704 million in the fourth quarter of by idea” for guides to beaches and islands, 2001, exceeding the $630.2 million of rival casinos and resorts, culture and attractions, and making it the top online travel and theme parks. You can even watch live agent. The company also reported its first cams in Las Vegas, Times Square, and South quarterly profit, $5.22 million. Beach. Access: http://travel.discovery.com/.

About the author

Brian Coutts is head of the department of library public services at Western Kentucky University, e-mail: [email protected]

C&RL News ■ April 2002 / 271 Travel guides • Maps.com. Founded in 1991, this site • Fodors. Launched in 1996 by the world’s offers a combination of content and commerce largest English-language travel publisher, you and attracts a reported 1.7 million users per can use this interactive site to create your own month. This is a one-stop site for maps of all mini-guide to 200 destinations worldwide, sorts from wall to digital. You can also use complete with recommendations on hotels the site for driving directions or to find an and restaurants, not to mention important sites address. Access: http://www.maps.com. to visit. Under “trip ideas” be sure to check out Fodor’s “10 Underrated Getaways.” Ac­ Travel information cess: http://www.fodors.com. • Tourism Offices Worldwide Direc­ • Frommere. Click a region under “des­ tory. True to its title, this site lists 1,445 offi­ tinations” or type in the name of a country, cial government tourist offices, convention region, state, or city to find information for and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, your next holiday. Then you can check out and similar agencies worldwide. Use the drop­ hotels, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife for down boxes at the top to search by country many popular locations. An added bonus at or state. Access: http://www.towd.com. this site is a daily newsletter and hot tips from Arthur Frommer himself. Check the “Block­ A ir travel buster Bargains” for info about discounted • AOW: A irlines o f th e Web. Developed packages, airfares, cruises, lodgings, and car by Marc-David Seidel, a University of rentals. Access: http://www.frommers.com. business professor specializing in Internet • Lonely Planet. This Australian travel marketing, this site allows consumers to shop guide publisher was founded in the early on more than 500 airlines worldwide. Click 1970s by Tony and Maureen Wheeler after on “cyberfares” to get the latest “hot deals,” an overland journey from London through or check out “air tips” to get the most out of Asia to Australia. Their first guide, Across Asia your travel. Access: http://flyaow.com. on the Cheap, became a bestseller. This site • Microsoft Expedia. One of the oldest, provides virtual travel guides, complete with most valuable travel sites on the Web. New gorgeous pictures, features include online maps and vacation for many tourist packages. Try their “express search” fare finder destinations. Click for a quick estimate on your next trip. You “worldguide” and can also check their “traveler tools” for spe­ find an interactive cial information. Access: http://expedia.com. world “destina­ • Orbitz. This is the newest of the “big tions” map. You can search by country or re­ three” travel Web sites founded less than a gion to find info about attractions, off the year ago by five airlines: American, Conti­ beaten track, history, environment, and get­ nental, Delta, Northwest, and United. You can ting around. You can even sign up for one of use the Orbot Quick Flight to book a trip, their several newsletters. They donate a por­ check out flight deals, and locate a weekend tion of their profits to organizations benefit- Webfare. They even give warnings about ting the people they cover. Access: http:// possible travel delays. Access: h ttp :// www. lonelyplanet. com. www. orbitz.com. • Travelocity. Now six years old, having Travel bookstores/maps merged with Preview Travel, Travelocity pro­ • Adventurous Traveler Bookstore. vides access to 47,000 hotels, 50 car rental Stocking more than 10,000 books, magazines, agencies, and 6,500 tour and cruise packages. and gadgets, this online store boasts one of A unique feature is their “fare watcher pro­ the largest collections for outdoor adventure gram,” which allows you to monitor changes anywhere. Use the drop-down menu on the in prices for selected destinations. Access: left to search for books or maps that are http:// www. travelocity. com. shipped from Burlington, Vermont. You can also check out their bargain basement sales. Train travel Access: http://www.adventuroustraveler. • Amtrak. Listing more than 500 destina­ com. tions available on Amtrak, this site allows

272 / C&RL News ■ A pril 2002 you to make reservations and purchase tick­ driving directions, locate addresses, and de­ ets online. Check “advertised specials,” “sav­ velop personalized maps. Access: h ttp :// ings and promotions,” or “rail sale” for bar­ www.mapquest.com. gain travel opportunities. This is a great place • Moto Europa. Provides a one-stop to browse if seeing the by rail guide to car travel in Europe with informa­ is your goal. A free password is needed to tion on highways, fuel costs, and road signs. complete reservations. Access: http://www. Under logistics check “documents and $$” for amtrak.com. driving particulars for each country. They also • Rail Europe. Provides information on promote short-term leases with Renault. Ac­ the 17-country Eurailpass, 5-countiy Europass, cess: http://www.ideamerge.com/motoeuropa. and Brit Rail passes, as well as single-coun­ • Rental Cars. Breeze.Net’s guide to try passes for France, Switzerland, and Italy. more than 90 major airport auto rental com­ From here you can book all types of Euro­ panies and franchises at more than 170 air­ pean rail passes and tickets online. For point ports. Look for the 11th Hour Specials if to point tickets, check out “fares and sched­ you’re hunting for a bargain. Access: http:// ules.” Access: http://www.raileurope.com/us. www.bnm.com. • Rocky Mountaineer. Billing itself as • Roadside America. From the world’s “The Most Spectacular Train Trip in the largest sycamore tree to a tour of the Crayola World,” this private railroad offers spectacu­ factory, you can find it here. Use the “electric lar trips from Vancouver through the Rockies map” to find the strange and unusual attrac­ to Alberta and back. The number of depar­ tions along the road for your next trip. Ac­ tures has grown from 40 to 148 in just 12 years. cess: http://www.roadsideamerica.com. Access: http://www.rockymountaineer.com. • VIA Rail Canada. With a motto of Hotels and motels “Discover Canada with VIA,” this is the • all-hotels. While the title of this site Web site for Canada’s national rail service, overstates its comprehensiveness, it does pro­ which operates 460 trains weekly serv­ vide links to more than 60,000 hotels in 9,600 ing 450 Canadian localities. Under “ways locations. Beautifully designed, this is one of to save” check out the very affordable the oldest online guides to hotels. Type in “CANRAILPASS.” Access: http://www. your location at the top and click “go.” Ac­ viarail.ca/enjndex.html. commodations are organized by price range from discount to luxury. Access: h ttp :// Buses www. a 11-hotels. com /hom e. htm. • Greyhound Lines Inc. This easy-to-navi- • AsiaTravel. Featured on the Singapore gate site makes it a breeze to book your next bus Stock Exchange, this is one of Asia’s largest trip. If you already know your destination, click Internet-based hotel reservations and travel on “purchase tickets” for fares and schedules. service providers. More than 5,000 hotels and Check out the “2 for 1 Companion Fares” or tire resorts can be previewed and booked from “Discovery Pass” for continental travel. Access- this site. Discounts of up to 75 percent are http://www.greyhound.com. offered for online reservations. They are now booking hotels in the Middle East and many Travel by car other parts of the world. Access: h ttp :// • MAPBLAST. After a free registration, this asiatravel.com. popular site provides users with interactive • HotelsTravel.com. Provides more than maps and driving instructions, as well as in­ 75,000 links to lodgings and travel resources formation on services and products near a worldwide. Click on “hotels” at the top. From user’s address or travel route. Be sure to tiy here you can click on “hotel chains” for one out their brand new “Line Drive Directions,” of the most complete lists anywhere. Access: which get you to your destination turn by http://www.hotelstravel.com. turn. Access: http://www.mapblast.com. • Lodging.com. This site was founded in • MapQuest. Originally founded by R. R. 1995 by two high school friends who were Donnelly & Sons in 1966 as a cartographic avid skiers in Boca Raton, Florida. Since then services division, this is one of the busiest the company has expanded to offer online info sites on the Web. From here you can plot for 5,000 U.S. cities. With more than 10,000

C&RL News ■ A pril 2002 / 273 bookings per month, tire company continues Cultural events to expand. Access: http://www.lodging.com. • CultureFinder. Planning a trip to New • PlacestoStay.com. A division of York? Want to check the availability of tick­ WorldRes.com founded in 1995, this Internet ets for the latest Broadway show? CultureFinder company lists more than 28,000 bed and is the place to do it. You can check out na­ breakfasts, ski resorts, inns, and hotels, includ­ tional tours, classical/opera, dance, theater, and ing many independents. Access: http://www. visual arts in 1,500 different cities. Access: http:// placestostay.com. www.culturefinder.com. • Roomsaver. If you’ve ever picked up those green traveler discount guide hotel cou­ Adventure travel/outdoor recreation pons at state welcome stations, then you’re • Away.com. With more than 5,000 trips familiar with Roomsaver. Now you can print offered by 200 adventure travel companies, your very own online coupon book for your this is a terrific site for the adventurous trav­ next trip, selecting from some 6,000 dis­ eler! Click on “trip finder” by region or activ­ counted hotel rooms. Access: http://www. ity to find out about super trips. You can sign roomsaver. com/roomsaver. up for one of their “daily escapes” to a for­ eign destination or subscribe to one of their Bed and breakfasts colorful newsletters about exotic locales. They • Educators Bed and Breakfast Travel Net­ even provide color calendar screensavers. work. This membership site covers 52 countries Access: http://away.com. where 5,000 educators share their homes with • GORP Great Outdoors Recreation Page. other educators inter­ Founded by Diane and Bill Geer in 1995, with ested in less expensive more titan 100,000 pages, GORP is the largest room and board. Mem­ Web site devoted to outdoor recreation and ad­ bers agree to provide venture travel. Click on your favorite activity to double accommoda­ locate interesting trips from biking to wildlife view­ tions for $32 or a $30 ing. Access; http://www.gorp.com. single. A current online directory lists homes Cruise travel available. Their newest • Cruise.com. Owned by Omega World feature is “home stays,” where members may Travel founded in 1972, this is one of the larg­ housesit for $40 a night. There is a $36 annual est travel agencies in the United State. Their membership and a $10 one-time registration fee. Web site, established in 1998, tells you just about Access- http://www.edubabnet.com. every thing you want to know about cruising • Internet Guide to Bed and Breakfast from “ship reviews” to “ship stats.” Cruise.com In ns. Tired of staying in hotels? This site of­ now claims to be the Internet’s largest cruise fers unique, comfortable, and often less ex­ seller. Access: http://www.cmise.com. pensive lodgings and dining opportunities. Online since 1995, this site links you to more Special deals than 6,000 bed and breakfast inns in North A. Airlines America and around the world. Phone num­ Most domestic and many international air­ bers, addresses, rate and availability are kept lines provide special weekend cyberfares. For relatively current. Access: http://www. most of these you must leave on a Friday or traveldata. com/inns. a Saturday and return on a Monday or a Tues­ day. These special offers can be e-mailed to Home exchanges you weekly. They usually arrive on Tuesday • International Home Exchange Net­ or Wednesday. w ork. Now in its seventh year, worldwide • Air Canada Websavers. Click on the hospitality listings offered at this site provide “websaver” box under “quick links” for week­ current opportunities to exchange residences end specials. Access: http://www.aircanada. at little or no cost to either participant. You ca/home.html. can list your residence online and search for • American Net SAAvers. Click on Net listings in areas you would like to visit. Ac­ SAAvers and special offers. Access: http:// cess: http://w ww. homeexchange. com. www.aa.com.

274 / C&RL News ■ A pril 2002 • Best Fares Online. This is the online measures. Access.- version of Tom Parson’s Best Fares Magazine. http://rcmtravel While the inside scoop goes to paid mem­ site.com/Travel bers, you can try out the “city low fare finder.” _Aids. Access: http://www. bestfares.com. B. Languages • Cathay Pacific. Click on • TRAVLANG. Provides information on “CyberTravelerProgram” for e-mail offers, 70 different foreign languages, including auctions, and the “All Asia Pass.” Access: guides to basic words, help on pronuncia­ http://www.cathay.ca. tion, etc. Access http://www3.travlang.com. • . Click on “vaca­ C. Festivals tions and specials” for their weekend spe­ • Festival Finder. Here you can find in­ cials. Access http://www.continental.com. formation on more than 2,500 festivals in • Delta Web Fares. From links on the North America. Click on your favorite genre left, click on “special offers.” Access http:// or locate festivals by date, location, perform­ www.delta.com ers, or festival name. Access http://www. • . Click on “deal and festivalfinder. com. promotions" for their weekly “CyberSavers.” D. Newsletters Access http://www.nwa.com. • This Week’s Top 20. This online news­ • Southwest Internet Specials. Unlike letter lists the top 20 travel bargains of the the other weekend specials, Southwest’s are week. Access http://top20.travelzoo.com. good anytime and offer huge discounts, which • Welcome to Igougo. A terrific site that must be booked quickly since they go fast! allows you to read travel journals written by Click on “systemwide fare specials!” for their other tourists or write one yourself. Be sure click “click ’n save specials.” Access http:// to check out their 30,000 photos. Access.- www.iflyswa.com. http://www.igougo.com. • . Click on “special deals” E. Senior Travel for domestic and international sales. Access • INTERHOSTEL. Now celebrating its http://www.ual.com. 22nd anniversary, Interhostel sponsors learn­ • US A irw ays. Click on “promotions” for ing vacations for adults over the age of 50. A this week’s “E-Savers.” Access. http://www. newer program, FamilyHostel is designed for usairways.com. families with school-aged children. Access.- B. Auctions http://www.learn.unh.edu/INTERHOSTEL. • Priceline.Com. A new innovation in F. Student Travel air travel. You name the price you’re willing • AESU Online. Since 1977, AESU has to pay for tickets and priceline finds a major offered special European travel packages for airline willing to release seats on flights where college students 18 to 35. Access.- http:// they have unsold space. Caution! Once your www.aesu.com. bid is accepted you are committed. You can G. TimeZones also bid for hotel rooms and rental cars. Ac­ • time and date.com. This is a great place cess.- http://www.priceline.com. to check world time zones and calendars. Ac­ • SkyAuction.com. This exciting company cess http://www.timeanddate.com. lets you bid on airline tickets, hotel stays, pack­ H. Travel Warnings ages, and resort vacations worldwide. Click • Travel Warnings & Consular Infor­ on “auctions closing soon” to watch closing bids. mation Sheets. Travel warnings are issued You can even check out deals by location. Be by the U.S. State Department to inform Ameri­ sure to add in their tax and service charge of cans that they should avoid travel to a certain $195. Access: http://www.skyauction.com. country. Consular Information Sheets locate U.S. embassies or consulates and describe M iscellany conditions in each country. Access.- http:// A. Travel Aids travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html. ■ • RCM Travel Site. Launched by a small mar­ keting company in Mississippi in 1997, the RCM See the full article on the Web at Travel Site provides links to currency converters, http://www.ala.org/acrl/resapr02.html map services, distance finders, and weights and

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