Web sites every traveler should know

The Internet can smooth the journey with information on subjects as diverse as weather conditions and currency exchange rates.

By ROBERT N. JENKINS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 31, 2002

Terrance Zepke says her first big trip came when her parents took her, at age 3, to the Caribbean. Years later, having spent months backpacking through Europe and armed with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism, she moved to London. Zepke continued to travel the world, writing about stops on all the continents.

She is now a travel agent, living in North Carolina. She reports that her favorite places are eastern and southern Africa and anywhere along the coast of the Carolinas.

Zepke is the author of the just-published The Encyclopedia of Cheap Travel, from which the following article is excerpted. This is a list of the Web sites she considers essential for every traveler's electronic address book.

-- ROBERT N. JENKINS, Times Travel Editor

1. www.ResortVacationsToGo.com is a clearinghouse for all-inclusive resort vacations worldwide, including ClubMed, SuperClubs, Breezes, Allegro, SweptAway and Sandals. ResortVacationsToGo also offers up to 75 percent off last-minute cruises, hotels and vacation rentals, from the U.S. to the South Pacific.

2. www.Travelagentspecials.com has worldwide trips and cruises for all kinds of travelers, from singles looking for a relaxing cruise to families seeking soft adventures. The site discloses deals on sports-oriented travel, Disney vacations, beach resorts, ski vacations, last-minute specials and more. Enter the topic in the Search box to get the options. (Ignore "travel agent log in" request).

3. www.LastMinuteTravel.com has last-minute airfares, car rentals, lodging, cruises and tour packages. You can enter what sort of travel you are looking for, and an e-mail will be sent to you when that request is met. LastMinute also has information on exchange rates, weather, maps, city guides and FAQs.

4. www.travelroads.com lists more than 6,000 tours and cruises offered by about 400 companies, ranging from U.S. national parks trips to Antarctica cruises. Sign up for the electronic newsletter to be notified of specials.

5. www.site59.com has last-minute weekend getaways, fly-drive packages, sports adventures, resort stays and cultural excursions leaving from many major U.S. cities.

6. www.weather.com is the official Web site of the Weather Channel. Type in any city's name to get a weather forecast.

7. www.wtg-online.com provides facts and overviews on countries, their passport and visa requirements, public holidays and accessibility options. World Trade Guide also has city guides as well as information on skiing, airports, weather, tours, events and vacation packages.

8. www.freedomtrek.com offers maps, facts, tips, hostel information, rail-pass details, travel advisories, weather forecasts and information on work-study programs.

9. www.citysearch.com has specifics on restaurants, lodging, events and entertainment for numerous U.S. and international cities.

10. www.family.go.com/categories/travel is a terrific planning tool for those trying to coordinate family vacations.

11. www.flightarrivals.com allows travelers to enter an airline and flight number (or city and scheduled arrival time), and this Web site will state how far the flight is from the destination airport and its estimated arrival time.

12. www.roadsideamerica.com is for those looking for the out-of-the-ordinary in America. Just type in the state and watch what comes up!

13. www.travlang.com provides important phrases, with pronounciations, for many countries.

14. www.xe.net/currency/ shows you exactly what the dollar is currently being exchanged for in numerous other countries.

15. www.mapquest.com gives travelers door-to-door or city-to-city directions. Users can find everything from restaurants to ATMs.

Reprinted from The Encyclopedia of Cheap Travel: 1,000 Companies, Consolidators, Agencies, and Resources/2002, with permission from Terrance Zepke and Infinity Publishing. The 183-page paperback is $19.95 and is available from the publisher (call toll-free 1-877-289-2665), or order from the Web site www.buybooksontheweb.com, from amazon.com or at bookstores beginning in April.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright