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Blog: Simplify Your Life
 Simplified Travel Planning Using The Internet
Travel planning can seem a bit
overwhelming -- especially when you're visiting a new city and know
nothing about the area. However, it's much easier for do-it-yourselfers
to find both the fun activities and the deals by harnessing the power of
the internet. Let's take a step-by-step look at everything that has to
happen for you to plan a safe, successful, and technologically-advanced
trip.
Planning Your Itinerary
The days of pulling
out the road atlas to figure out where you want to go are over! Now you
can use the web to plan your route with just the click of a mouse. And
the nice thing about the internet is that it allows you to move beyond
the typical tourist attractions. I've got nothing against theme parks
and beach resorts, but it's nice every once in a while to get away from
the crowds. The web can point you toward some amazing places that most
of the rest of the world ignores -- if you know where to look. Cool
little towns that have managed to stay free from chain stores and
corporate corruption, beautiful natural areas where you won't see
another two-legged soul for miles, artist colonies filled with funky
galleries and hip cafes -- I just love it!
Frommer's, Lonely Planet, and Fodors all offer free
websites based on their popular travel guides. Search for trip
suggestions by location or type of activity, read other users' reviews
of local hotels and restaurants, and sign up for email notifications of
special deals. These resources will help you find those sightseeing
destinations that best suit your family's tastes -- they also provide
lots of free general travel advice from the leading experts. You might
also check out a few of the more popular travel "portals" -- such as Johnny Jet and Find Travel To --
filled with links to a variety of travel-related websites.
Piling Into The Car
If you are
planning on hitting the open road (literally), the next step is to
decide on a route. The good news is that you've got lots of options,
depending on your travel needs. Members of AAA can use the company website to create
TripTiks® (that show the best route and possible road construction
issues), view online TourBooks®, and have maps to be delivered directly
to their door. Online services like Yahoo Maps, Google Maps, and MapQuest will help you arrange your
road trip so you never miss a rest stop or fast food joint along the
way. And websites like Free
Trip also offer online travel planners that create a detailed
itinerary -- complete with lodging and restaurant suggestions, local
attractions, and even travel advisories.
I personally believe that traveling the country via
interstates should be considered a cardinal sin -- get off the main
thoroughfare and see some of the real America! You can search for National Scenic Byways along
your route -- take the road less traveled and you are guaranteed a more
interesting and aesthetically pleasing driving experience. Roadside America
and Road Trip
America are wonderful resources if you like those odd, unusual, and
off-the-beaten-path attractions (I'm talking about things like the
world's smallest
post office or a giant sculpture of a pink
elephant with glasses). And if you are concerned about the current
cost of fuel, check out Gas
Buddy -- a service which allows you to find the lowest prices in
your area, no matter where you are traveling in the U.S.
When
Traveling Overseas
I love road-tripping
across America -- but there is nothing (and I mean nothing!) like
overseas travel. Immersing yourself fully in a completely foreign
culture, eating foods you would never have a chance to try in this
country, shopping in open-air markets, learning the customs and the
language -- meeting amazing people, visiting exotic cities, having
once-in-a-lifetime experiences -- I could go on all day! Some folks are a
bit apprehensive when you suggest that they pull out the old passport.
But heading overseas is no more dangerous or challenging than driving
across town -- as long as you do your research in advance.
Take a
minute to find out what to expect (and what will be expected of you)
while you are abroad. The U.S. Department Of State website posts
warnings, entry requirements, and customs regulations for all parts of
the world. You may also download a passport application and requirements
at the same time. But be sure to apply for your passport early -- it
takes 6 weeks to process unless you pay for expedited service. You
should also take a minute to get your medical records are in order for
your trip. The Centers For Disease Control
website includes information about required immunizations, outbreaks,
and health concerns around the world. Finally, determine what currency
you will need and how much using XE.Com's real-time currency rates and a
free currency converter.
Find The Best Deal
These days,
great bargains are available for the asking on the internet -- you just
have to know where to look. You can go to individuals websites like Travelocity, Expedia, and Orbitz to search for the
best rates on hotel rooms, airfare, rental cars, cruises, vacation
packages -- or you can visit Kayak to compare results from numerous
travel searches side-by-side. However, be ready to purchase before you
start checking fares. Some websites only honor the offered rate for a
limited time (usually 30-60 minutes) -- and then require you to wait at
least 24 hours before re-submitting your request if you miss that
window.
Hotwire
has some of the best prices on the web, but they require a bit of
flexibility on your part. You can't choose the time of day that you fly
(only the date) -- and you aren't told which airline you will be flying
until you purchase the ticket. If you are willing to travel any time
between 5 AM and 10 PM and are not monogamous to one particular airline,
you can save a lot of money using Hotwire. But if you need to arrive at
a specific time or absolutely have to fly Delta, try another travel
site.
Beware of sites like Priceline.com that require you to
"name your own price" for a hotel room or airline ticket. You can waste a
lot of time trying to find an acceptable "bid" -- and you will often
discover lower rates at other sites. You can get better deals at
websites like TravelZoo,
4 Vacations, and Value Voyager --
which advertise special travel packages that don't require any bidding.
Many
people simply don't want to spend time searching the web for travel
deals -- they would rather let a professional do the work for them. But
how do you find an agent you can trust? The American Society Of Travel Agents boasts
a strict professional code of ethics, and their "find an agent" feature
will help you locate a travel professional in your area. Another
wonderful resource is The Association Of Special Fares Agents
-- offering discount fares and consolidator rates that are lower than
are normally available. Finally, The Travel Institute
(formerly known as the Institute Of Certified Travel Agents) is a
nonprofit organization that publishes an online directory of certified
travel professionals.
Getting The Low-Down
There is nothing
worse than arriving at your destination and wearily trudging to your
hotel room -- only to find that the place which sounded so great in the
travel brochure is a complete dump. But how can you accurately judge the
quality of your accommodations without a first-hand visit? Websites
such as Trav Buddy
and Trip Advisor
offer unbiased reviews of hotels, package tours, and transportation
companies around the world -- as well as photos of the rooms, the
grounds, and the common areas. With travel planning, seeing truly is
believing!
As a last precautionary step, be sure to double check
all of your reservations, hotel accommodations, and other travel
arrangements before you head out for your trip. Seat Guru will help you choose the
best seat on any plane. Log in to your airline's website and check in
online befofre you leave for the airport -- the ability to print out
your a boarding pass from your home computer is a huge timesaver! You
can also check Flight
Arrivals.Com to see if your plane is running early, late, or on
time. Happy travels!
posted on: 6/22/2010 11:30:00 AM by Ramona Creel
category: General Organizing Tips
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Simplify Your Life
by Ramona Creel
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About Ramona:
I have been a Professional Organizer for more than 10 years, I am a NAPO Golden Circle member, and I was the original founder of OnlineOrganizing. I have worked one-on-one with scores of clients and have trained dozens of newbie organizers as they got started in the industry. I provide both hands-on and virtual coaching to help clients improve their organizing skills and simplify their lives. I invite you to visit my website at http://www.RamonaCreel.com, and I challenge you to find one new idea that you can put into practice in your life, to help you become better organized, starting TODAY! I am passionate about coaching folks toward a more balanced, productive, and enjoyable life -- and I firmly believe that if I can do it, so can you!
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