Travel sites are exploding - see the Ottawa Citizen guide to some of the best travel sites on the web.
Travel lingo explanation
Travel Information and Advisory Reports for Canadians (anybody, actually) from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)(04/02)
The Canadian Government has publications to help travellers. Bon Voyage, But... Information for the Canadian Traveller and Her Own Way: Advice for the Woman Traveller are two good ones in HTML and PDF formats
Authentic Ireland Travel offers some good tips for woman travellers in their "A Woman's Guide to Safe Travel"
EUROPE THE SAVVY WAY - Europe: A Savvy Girl's Guide (North Sky Press, $24.95) tells would-be wayfaring women the ABCs of travelling Europe, from what to pack and how to plan a budget, to how to obtain a new Canadian passport should theirs get lost or stolen.
The book is geared toward a younger demographic.
US State Department Travel Warnings
Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Countries where avoidance of travel is recommended will have Travel Warnings as well as Consular Information Sheets.
The US Government also has publications.
See the US Department of State's pamphlet, A Safe Trip Abroad, for ways to promote a trouble-free journey.
US Department of State Bureau of Counsular Affairs
The United Kingdom Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Travel Advice Notices
The World Health Organization (04/02)International Travel and Health - Vaccination Requirements and Health
Advice
Rick Steeves Europe through the back door is a wealth of information that everyone should read before traveling to Europe. For 30 years Rick Steves has taught smart European travel. This website — like his guidebooks, TV series and radio program — is dedicated to exactly that. He hopes the information there helps turn your travel dreams into smooth, affordable reality. The site includes valuable train tips, a graffiti board where travelers share their tips and experiences, a merchandise section, gude books for sale, a lot of free tips and a whole lot more.
CheckIn (04/02) claims to be the No. 1 source for tourism related addresses in the World Wide Web. It is their goal to provide you with all addresses in the Tourism Industry you may need.
Fieldings Danger Finder(04/02)lists places that are dangerous and tells you why. You can learn where to go if you want to get shot at - or where not to go if you don't.
This is Travel.com's advice bank. From taking toddlers abroad to safety tips for lone travellers, catalogue of advice is jam-packed with useful information to help you plan your perfect trip.
Learn how to say several words and phrases in hundreds of different languages at Jennifer's Language Page.
Destination guides provide information about what to do, what to see, where to eat, etc.
Weather information. WorldClimate.com(04/02) gathers in one place a worldwide range of climate data in an easy-to-use form. Climate data are historical weather averages, showing what the weather was typically like each month, averaged over a range of years. WorldClimate.com is designed for a general audience, for schools, families, travelers and others interested in the general historical weather patterns around their area and around the world. This is not a weather site. It has no information on the actual weather on a given day or month. It does not contain weather forecasts or reports.
AccuWeather is the World's Weather Authority. They provide local forecasts for everywhere in the United States and over two million locations worldwide. Their headquarters in State College, PA, is home to the greatest number of forecast meteorologists in one location anywhere in the world.
The Austin House Guide tells you everything you need to know about travelling to 220v countries with appliances ranging from hair dryers and irons to computers and modems. It's also written in an easy-to-read question and answer format so that you can quickly find the information you need.
The Kropla table summarizes information on the electrical systems in use in most countries of the world. Pictures of the plugs are included - a very useful feature
Currency Conversion? Try the Universal Currency Conversion: (04/02) Or the Travelocity (04/02) Currency Converter(prints cheat sheets): Or the Oanda Cheat Sheet (04/02) for Travelers.
ATM Sites
Money overseas? ATM cards and credit cards are best because they're based on the favourable wholesale rate offered by major banks. You save two to five per cent over what you'd pay to exchange cash or traveller's cheques, even with ATM transaction fees figured in. Warning! Some foreign machines require a six-digit personal identification number, not the usual four. Also some foreign ATMs limit transactions to the customer's primary account and withdrawal limits may be lower. Read the Smart tips(04/02) from Mastercard and Safe tips(04/02) from Visa for safe ATM usage
For a list of locations around the world go to:
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MasterCard/Cirrus (04/06) |
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Visa (04/06) |
The tipping page will help with gratuities, one of the trickiest parts of travelling
Travelocity. (04/02) Solid, mutipurpose planning tool with links to last-minute deals from Northwest, Hilton, Radisson and Avis. This site offers destination guides, airlines tickets, newsletter subscription, weather and more. Travelocity in Canada.
Expedia.com (04/02) is Microsoft's entry into the travel market and is the prettiest and most interesting of the big travel planners and.Expedia.ca for Canadians (in Canadian dollars)
The Compleat Carry-On Traveler. (04/02)A Compendium of Opinions and Ideas on the Art of Travel, With an Emphasis on Living Out of One (Carry-On-Sized) Bag
Tips 4 Trips (04/02) International Travel Tips covers it all, including a section Just for Women, (04/02)and another on general Safety Considerations.(04/02)
Lonely Planet (04/02) is decidedly off-the beaten-track and down-market. No direct bookings, but if you need the name of a good youth hostel in Rajastan, this is the place for you.
Epicurious(04/02 ) is the antithesis of Lonely Planet. This classy site run by Conde Nast Traveler magazine, is for those looking for the lap of luxury. Whether you need a recipe for Chinese almond cakes or want to get from the airport to downtown Shanghai, this is the right place.
Fodor's (04/02)is the largest publisher of English-language travel information in the world. Fodor's now publishes 14 guidebook series and more than 290 titles to destinations around the world.
Microsoft Expedia. (04/02) You can find almost everything you could possible want. There's an online travel agent where you an book flights and check out fares. You can plan your trip using a hotel directory and a 14,000 page virtual guidebook. There are also maps, an address finder and currency converter to help you with your planning.The site has the standard reviews, advice from so-called travel experts and a forum where travellers can swap war stories.
Online Newspapers of the World(04/02) is a point-and-click reference page to newspapers around the world. A great resource for entertainment and festival lisitngs.
Seniors tips are available at the Canadian Association of Retired Persons. Go to travel service and select "Travel Safety"
Priceline.com(04/02) is a consumer-oriented service that will let travelers name the price they are willing to pay for airline tickets aims to save leisure travelers on air fares and help airlines fill empty seats. It's simple, yet powerful. Priceline is a buying service that lets you name your price. Simply post your request 24 hours a day and guarantee your offer with a major credit card. Priceline then goes about finding a seller who decides whether or not to fill the request. With priceline, there is no auction, no bidding and no back and forth. Simply name your price and let priceline find a seller. Also works for hotel rooms.
QuickAID (04/02) is committed to providing the best airport information on the Web. They are leading the way in bringing public Internet access to airports nationwide, by means of QuickAID Internet Stations
Tourism Offices Worlwide Directory (04/02) is your guide to official tourism information, an index listing only official government tourism offices, convention and visitors bureaus, and similar agencies. No travel agents, no tour operators, no hotels.
Travel ASSIST(04/02) Magazine is a commercial Internet service from ASSIST Information Services that provides free articles on a variety of travel destinations and matters of travel interest. (includes over 750 bed and breakfast sites)
Want to take the kids on a holiday? Travelwithkids (04/02)offers tips about cruises, affordable travel with kids, what to take on an airplane, scads of links, suggested destinations - all relevent to travel with children.
Visit Europe. (04/02) This site is presented by the 28-nation European Travel Commission and is designed to help you begin making choices. Within each of these country pages, you will find information about where to go and what to see, things to do, and practical information about traveling in each nation.
Healthy flying with Diana Fairechild (21 years as a flight attendant) at FLYANA. (04/02) This website is the complete source for healthy, safe, and efficient travel information--your guide through air travel mazes and pitfalls: recycled air, lost luggage, unwholesome airline food and blocked ears.
If the thought of packing the kids into the car this summer for a long road trip is making you sweat, check out the Internet for travel tips. The Web is rife with advice on how to plan holidays. From babies to teenagers there's a strategy for every type of family travel.
101 Car Travel Games & Ideas for Kids MomsMinivan.com Planning a road trip? Traveling with kids? Need some games to play in the car? Ideas to keep kids busy in the car? Here's a part of your travel planning that you can't leave without! MomsMinivan.com has over 101 ideas for fun things for kids to do in the car, kids travel games, printable car games and activities, and road-trip tips. They are organized by age group, so have a look around - there's something for everyone!
The Rough Guide to Travel with Babies and Young Children - Rough Guides, $21.99
"Don't smack your kids in Sweden" could be the sub-title of this handy tome, filled with advice ranging from the hygenic (airports are filthy; bring wet-wipes) to the cultural (see above). The book begins with an exhaustive chapter on travel preparations, especially useful for long, overseas trips. It moves on to advice about overcoming the hassles of post-9/11 air travel with children, then continues with a section on keeping kids healthy and entertained while vacationing. The book finishes with practical and cultural tips from around the world. For example, hitting kids is illegal in Sweden but "moody or argumentative" children are "strictly dealt with" in Russia. Your destination -- your choice.
Disney's familytravel.com(05/98) is a comprehensive site that features articles that appear in Family Fun magazine. Among the selection for April 98 for example, was a roundup of circuses. From the Cirque du Soleil to The Big Apple Circus, the article offers a sampling of what's under the big top this season. One of the best parts of familytravel.com is a search engine where you can plug in your child's age and the type of trip you want to take, and get a long list of different vacations that might be suitable. There are pages and pages of articles on different topics and family destinations. There is also a list of games kids can play in the car and a place where you can read about road-tested family vacations, and post your own stories and suggestions.
The Mining Co.'s Travel with Kids (05/98) site is a great resource. There are lots of links and articles that are updated regularly. For example, April 98's month's stories included tips on taking kids on a cruise and how to afford to travel with kids. There is also a section on fun places to take children, RV travel and planning car trips.
The Family Travel Forum (05/98) offers readers a subscription to its newsletter ($48 U.S.), which is published lo times a year. Aside from that, there are some useful free things on this site, including a news section that has a calendar of family-oriented things to do every month. A listing of family-friendly travel agents is also provided.
Another good source for information is Parent Time's travel time. (05/98) There's a cute section called Kids in Tow where you can find articles on helping your little ones get over a fear of flying and making your hotel room a home. The Pam's Best Bets section lists vacation bargains and a destination and deal of the month.
For another good list of games kids can play in the car go to Time Warner's Kids Travel (05/98)
A good Canadian resource for family travel is Sympatico's offering: The Family Vacation. (05/98) It contains excellent links to other family holiday sites, discussion forums, destination suggestions and air-travel tips. You can also find a useful checklist and tips about flying with babies, toddlers and school-age children as well as advice on how to combat motion sickness and jet lag.
A good general family-travel site is the Parents' Plus Publishing travel page (05/98) site. Included on-line are a checklist to help you evaluate child care at resorts and tips for a saner Disney vacation. There is general information on camping, cruises, family attractions and resorts. A link off the site to Cybermom dot com offers parents an opportunity to chat with each other.
Another newsletter for travelling families is the "Have Children Will Travel" (05/98) group. The site only puts up headlines and excerpts to get the complete newsletter you have to subscribe at $39 U.S. Although it costs, the newsletters do have articles on some interesting topics.
How to travel with baby - tips from Lisa Kadane
Tilley Endurables (09/02 s)upply a line of high quality Travel and Adventure Clothing
TravelSmith aims to make sure at least one aspect of your trip is worry-free: your packing list. TravelSmith has developed a strict "travel gear philosophy" dictating that everything the company sells must be easy to care for, easy to pack, lightweight, versatile and durable.
Travel Information and Advisory Reports for Canadians (anybody, actually) from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
International Association For Medical Assistance To Travellers. IAMAT's aim is to make competent care available to the traveller around the world (even in many very remote places) by doctors who usually speak either English or French and have had medical training in Europe or North America.
Geographical Health Recommendations(4/99) from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Select Wisely offers travel translation cards for people with food allergies, sensitivities and dietary restrictions. These cards were developed after Jim Ahlberg's daughter took a trip to Europe and had no way to communicate her serious nut allergy.
Medical Must-haves for every traveller - Ottawa Citizen article listing Joanne Blain's top 10 essentials to pack in your personal first-aid kit. (see it without leaving this web site)
TRAVELLING WITH PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS - a brochure from the Canadian Pharmacists Association
WHEN NATURE CALLS IN THE CITY Mizpee.com is a useful website that tells you where to go when you have to go. Type in an address and the site will locate the closest public toilets, with distance, rating and whether a purchase is required. You can get the text messaged to you on your cellphone and add your own two cents by reviewing. For Europe go to www.mispee.eu.
Seattle Getaways(7/03)provides articles entitled Some common travel crime situations and how to deal with them. Travelers can be easy pickings for savvy criminals; Wealth of advice to foil thieves; and While you're away, your home needs to look lived in
Travel ASSIST Magazine offers an article on "Protect Yourself From Phone-Card Fraud(7/03) The Traveler is its most Lucrative Victim!"
In the hope of helping you avoid unhappy meetings with consular officers when you go abroad, Overseas Digest(3/06) provides tips for a safe trip abroad.
Randy's travel tips and safety rules (7/03)
And Darrel lists his travel security tips(7/03)
Roman Virdi offers a really good page of travel and security tips as well as a great Travelogues, Pictures and Ecards Site. (3/06)
Emergency Numbers (911 equivalent) in all countries
See separate pages about hostels
The Bed and Breakfast Channel(7/03) If you're looking for the most comprehensive information on B&Bs and Inns available anywhere in the world try this site.
Captain Sandy's Cruise Holidays
is one of the top twenty agencies in all of North America. Captain Sandy takes pride in the personalized service and superior organization we bring to all of our trip planning. This has led to the development of outstanding relationships with many satisfied clients over the years.
Since 1975, Bytown Travel Ltd. has provided a comprehensive suite of Corporate Travel Management services and Leisure Travel planning to the Ottawa region.
Treasure Tours A Canadian Tour Company providing quality land and cruise products to a North American clientele for over a decade.
Rozon Travel Plus has been in business for over 35 years, their success has been based on customer service. Their goal has always been customer satisfaction whether it be for personal vacation planning, corporate travel or group travel. They are proud members of the Advantage Travel T-Com Group with 250 Offices in Canada.
Handa Travel Since 1976 Handa Travel, a leading Canadian travel agency, has been providing high quality service in the Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto regions.
Thomas Cook (7/03)
Vantage Deluxe World Travel is a well-respected tour operator with over 20 years of experience in creating high-quality yet affordable travel programs for mature travellers.
Gutsy Women Travel is a Pennsylvania-based firm that specializes in travel geared to women. The company organizes tours in Asia, Africa, Europe and North and South America along a variety of themes, including adventure, holidays, culture, shopping, food and wine, and homes and gardens. For women who don't want to go too far afield, the company offers a number of tours in Canada. For example, it has a six-day tour in July of Toronto and Niagara-on-the-Lake ($2,899 U.S. per person, land only) or a seven-day tour of Calgary, Banff and Jasper in November that is meant as a prelude to Christmas ($2,689 U.S. per person, land only). Accommodation on these trips is high-end (the Fairmont Banff Springs, for example) and trips are planned with women in mind. See www.gutsywomentravel.com
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Travelocity.com |
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Travelocity.ca (Canada) |
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Expedia.com |
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Expedia.ca (Canada) |