While AirTreks may be in the business of expertly assembling your complicated multi-stop trip, we normally reserve the "where to go" decision-making for our clients, letting them choose where their fancy takes them. With so many amazing places in the world and the many different kinds of people out there, it's tough for a travel consultant to decide your route. We might suggest overland routes or stopover opportunities but the meat of your decisions are typically left up to the you, the traveling public!
We never said it'd be easy—we know how agonizing travel planning can be. Making good choices about places you've never been can be a truly hand-wringing proposition. Fortunately there are multifarious resources out here in Internetland at your disposal, each one vying to be the best and easiest of them all. But believe me, there are a LOT—blogging sites both professional and amateur, booking engines, social networks, home pages, forums, all clogging up the atmosphere.
To help seperate the chaff, I've created a list of some of the best sites to help maximize the fun and enlightenment along your crazy international journey. And don't forget, once you've determined where you're going, run your route through Trip Planner to make sure it fits in your budget.
Happy planning!
Planning Assistance
Joobili - silly name, super cool site that lets you find out what's happening in a spot over a certain time period (eg, when you're there!). You can search a selection of event types and categories such as arts, music, sports, celebrations, etc. This site couldn't be more handy.
101 Holidays – lets your mind's color palate choose your tack for you. Their homepage offers a rotating selection of thumbnail pictures you can mouse over to inspire you, then click to delve further. UK based.
Come Walkabout – if Australia is on your global radar this will help you decide what to do there – A great flash powered travel site. Slow internet connections beware.
Gecko Go! – A little clunky but overall a great planning site with lots of reader submitted suggestions.
Travel Blogs
BootsnAll – In my opinion one of the overall best all-around travel blogs available. Done with finesse, great writing and a variety of sources.
World Hum – a great travel blog written with personality covering a wide variety of subjects and by a selection of authors.
Rick Steves – I hate to use the phrase but where Europe is concerned Rick Steves is the proverbial "travel guru". He's spent the last 40 years discovering and 30 years documenting the European continent. His site has gotten a lot better over the last few years so now, really, there is no better source for info from the world's most visited countries.
Matador Network – a great, quirky site with commentary and reviews covering nearly all subjects travel related. Pieces submitted by readers and established writers alike.
Reviews and Info
Lonely Planet and Thorn Tree Forums – Lonely Planet is consistently one of travel's best with their guidebooks crushed into backpacks and suitcases the world round. The Thorn Tree travel forum should be your source if you have an unanswerable question about pretty much any destination you can think of. Written by travelers who have been there already and know the answer.
Traveldudes – Informative destination info with quick, easily digestible reviews on hundreds of destinations worldwide. A great place for key details.
World Reviewer – a complete and comprehensive site that gives you a thorough list of activities in a huge list of places. From ballooning to surfing to arts & crafts and from culture to adventure activities. Well laid out for the easily distractable.
Trip Advisor – The original, number one travel component review site online. Literally thousands of hotel and restaurant reviews. And now with a trip ideas section that is pretty nice. A few to many ads however to make browsing a truly pleasurable experience.