by Jayden Harlow

Created on: November 25, 2008   Last Updated: December 15, 2008

Using the Internet to plan your next trip can help you save both time and money by connecting you with the best deals and minimizing the time you have to spend calling vendors and visiting travel agents. However, if you haven't researched a trip online before, the process can seem overwhelming. For example, suppose you want to spend a week in Madrid. A Google search of the word "Madrid" will turn up more than 200 million web pages, with everything from a Wikipedia Madrid entry to a webcam of the city's skyline and that's just on the first page!

This article covers some of the common types of travel websites and how they can be used to help you find the best deals without wasting time digging through information you don't need or want.

INFORMATIONAL WEBSITES

Often connected to a particular destination, these websites help you decide where to go, how to get there, and what to do when you arrive. Many informational websites are run by local tourist boards. While this kind of government-run site will generally not try to steer you to particular vendors, it's important to remember that these sites are set up to bring in tourism dollars, so any negative aspects of the area, like high crime, are likely to be downplayed. For that reason, while tourist board sites are a great starting point, they shouldn't be your only source of information.

Other privately-run websites may be organized by a cooperative group of hotels, restaurants and companies offering activities for tourists. Often these sites provide much more detailed information than official tourism board sites. For example, this website for England's Peaks District has excellent maps and suggested hiking and cycling routes: http://www.cressbrook.co.uk/. It's important to remember, though, that you'll only see links for companies that have paid to be part of the group.

A third kind of informational website is the travel guide site. This is the online portal of a print travel guide, and it generally provides enough information about a particular location to whet your appetite for the printed book. Since different guides have different focuses, these websites can be a great way to shop around before spending money on a printed guidebook. For example, I enjoy Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com) travel guides because they offer a lot of budget options and offbeat itineraries. However, my parents prefer Fodor's guides (www.fodors.com), which are a little more upscale and give fewer, but well chosen, options for hotels

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>