Travel on the web

[Bulldog]

Jan 13, 2009 08:20 PM
 
Serena Willoughby
thestar.com staff

While many of us rely on the web to make our travel plans it can be difficult to sift through all the different sites and features within the sites. Competition is fierce between travel sites, with each vying to establish a niche and consumers can be easily overwhelmed by what is out there. The key is finding which site caters to your particular needs.

Here are some sites I've discovered that help make sense of all that the web has to offer for travellers.

Trip advisor: I never book accommodation without at least taking a look at what people have to say about the place. The reviews aren't written by travel writers, just regular people, so it's important to try to read between the lines to determine whether the reviewers critique has to do with a particular establishment or whether they are venting after a generally bad trip. I do try to read as many reviews as I can and bear in mind that some people have unrealistic expectations, especially when it comes to budget travel, ie. don't expect the Four Seasons for $10/night. Also, sorry backpackers but trip advisor doesn't list hostels.

Partner site, Cruise Critic caters exclusively to cruises.

The man in seat 61: I heard about this one while travelling in the U.K. but it offers information on train and boat travel routes in many different countries. The man, also known as Mark Smith, also offers tips on unique journeys.

A Canadian affair: Cheapest flights to and from the U.K. but beware of the dreaded baggage allowance on the budget flights, if you exceed it you could end up paying more than your flight cost in the first place. For the best price search closest to your date of travel.

Sell off vacations: King of the sunny vacation package. If you're looking for a beach and a swim up bar, chances are you'll find the best deal here.

Gap adventures: If you're looking for more of a Bill Bryson-type experience, Gap specializes in the road less travelled and their commitment to sustainable travel will appease your inner granola.

Priceline: Despite the cheesy William Shatner adverts, there are great deals to be found on Priceline, especially if you book well in advance. Just be sure about your plans, as cancelling a booking can be a bit of a pickle.

Megabus: For bus travel in the U.K., U.S. and Canada, the prices are unbeatable. However you have to book in advance.


Gridskipper: A great site if you're planning a trip to a major urban centre. It has lots of tips on restaurants, shopping, and other more cosmopolitan pursuits. The blog also pulls in travel stories from many different media sources.

Uptake.com: This is a kind of database of information, it pulls in information from travel review sites, budget travel sites and general information. While pulling information from a number of sites has obvious advantages, it can be a very random. For example my search for things to do in Red Deer, Alberta brought up, amoung other things: John Wilson Elementary school.

http://www.thestar.com/Travel/article/562557