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Chapter FourOnline travel research portalsJohnny Jet
This internet travel page is little more than a listing of links — but it's probably the most relevant and well-organized list of topical travel resources online. Links to air travel, weather, money, travel warnings, insurance, packing, guidebooks, and dozens of other specialty topics. BootsnAll.com
Billed as "the ultimate resource for the independent traveler," this online travel community features trip planning advice, advice from regional "insiders", a useful message board to post and answer travel questions, and a fine collection of travelogues from everyday vagabonders. A recommended resource in planning and researching your travels. I Go U Go
Another dynamic online travel community, featuring message boards, photo galleries, and "travel journals" to over 2000 destinations worldwide. Travel-Library.com
One of the oldest homegrown travel sites on the Internet. Features travel news, destination guides, travel advice, links, and one of the best collections of personal travelogues online. A good starting point for general trip research. WorldSkip.com
News, information, and services from every nation on earth. Excellent country-by-country tipsheets that link to relevant local newspapers and magazines, arts and music sites, tourism tips, economic statistics, and cultural information. A great starting point for specific country research. World Travel Guide
Basic travel information on destinations worldwide, including city and country guides that you can download to a handheld computer.
General travel planning guides online How to See the World: Art of Travel
Twenty-five well-organized chapters about all aspects of budget travel, including passports, visas, accommodation, transportation, hitchhiking, and equipment needs. Round-The-World Travel Guide
A popular section within Travel-Library.com, this online guidebook was originally written by vagabonder Mark Brosius, then updated with suggestions from travel newsgroup participants. In addition to sound travel advice, it contains good tips on financial planning, as well as the practical considerations you must attend to before you leave home. Vagabond Globetrotting
A full online version of Marcus Endicott's 1989 travel guidebook, including tips on money, gear, food, transport, health, accommodation, and overseas work opportunities. Brief introduction by Ed Buryn.
Online government travel resources Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. State Department
Link page of official travel information for U.S. citizens. Canadian Consular Affairs
Link page of official travel information for Canadian citizens. Passport Services, U.S. State Department
Everything Americans need to know about applying for and receiving a passport. Canadian Passport Office
Everything Canadians need to know about applying for and receiving a passport. Foreign Entry Requirements
A U.S. State Department tipsheet listing entry and visa requirements for Americans traveling to nations worldwide. Your Trip Abroad
An extremely basic tipsheet from the U.S. State Department, listing passport and visa needs, immunization tips, health and money matters, safety information, and general tips. CIA World Factbook
A database of basic political, geographical, demographic, economic, communication, transportation, military and transnational statistics about every country in the world.
Guidebook publishers Lonely Planet Publications
Australia-based Lonely Planet is the biggest and most well known franchise in the budget travel world. These well-researched and well-organized travel guidebooks cover every region of the world — and the series also includes language phrasebooks, trekking guides, wildlife viewing guides, travel health guides, international food guides, maps, atlases, and travel videos. The Lonely Planet website is a great portal for travel research, with basic tipsheets for every country in the world, columns from travel experts, an online health guide, "Theme Guides" to give you travel ideas, international news, and the massive "Thorn Tree" message board, where you can post and answer questions about all manner of travel. Moon Handbooks
Based in the USA, Moon Handbooks are an excellent resource for destinations in North America, Mexico, Central America, and some Asian regions (including Southeast Asia, South Korea, and the authoritative Indonesia Handbook). Let's Go Publications
Updated yearly by Harvard students since 1960, Let's Go guides have a young emphasis, and address the basics for beginning travelers. Strong on European and North American destinations. Website includes travel articles, links, and a message board for destinations and specialty concerns (older travelers, gay and lesbian travelers, etc.). Footprint Handbooks
Footprint's South America Handbook (now in its 78th edition) has been considered the authoritative independent travel guide to the continent since the 1920's. Excellent individual guidebooks for Latin American countries, as well as destinations in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. Emphasis on cultural and historical information. Website includes basic travel tips on all countries and regions covered by Footprints books. Rough Guides Travel
England's answer to the Lonely Planet, with an emphasis on Europe, Asia, Central America, and North America. In addition to guidebooks, Rough Guides Travel also produces phrasebooks, world music guides, and reference titles regarding travel health and women's travel. Website includes a "Travel Talk" message board for questions about destinations worldwide, "Travel Journals" by everyday vagabonders, and "Spotlight" articles on various regions of the world. Bradt Travel Guides
Literary British guidebooks, with excellent coverage of Africa and South America, as well as unusual destinations like Iraq, the Arctic, and the Falkland Islands. Travelers' Tales
This series of destination guidebooks and literary anthologies doesn't give much practical travel advice. Rather, its various volumes are lively collections of stories from travelers (famous and otherwise) worldwide. Good inspirational and informative reading before you start your travels.
Travel idea books Wild Planet! 1,001 Extraordinary Events for the Inspired Traveler, by Tom Clynes (Visible Ink Press, 1995).
A thorough listing and description of festivals, cultural events, and holidays spanning the globe, from the Swedish Crayfish Festival to Thailand's vegetarian monkey feast. 100 Things to Do Before You Die: Travel Events You Just Can't Miss, by Dave Freeman, Neil Teplica (Taylor Publications, 1999)
More travel-event ideas, from Australia's Nude Night-Surfing Contest to Oklahoma's World Cow Chip Throwing Championships. Companion website.
International information and news The Economist
This London-based magazine offers the best international reporting of any major English-language newsweekly. Widely available overseas. $129 for a one-year subscription. World Press Review
Drawing on newspapers and magazines around the world, this monthly magazine examines international issues often overlooked by the U.S. media. $27 for a one-year subscription. Many articles available online. World News
A network of online newspapers and radio stations covering all regions of the world. OnlineNewspapers.com
Database offering quick access to online newspapers from countries worldwide. DailyEarth.com Newspaper Directory
Quick links to online newspapers from countries around the world.
Independent travel magazines Outpost Magazine
Toronto-based magazine written by adventurous independent travelers. $20 for a one-year (six issues) subscription. Many articles archived online. Tales from a Small Planet
Homegrown online travel 'zine featuring book reviews, "trip reports", message boards, and resources for expatriates. Wanderlust
UK-based magazine for the independent traveler. 21 British pounds for a one-year (six issues) subscription. World Hum
This online magazine features first-person literary travel tales, comprehensive links to other online travel publications (including newspaper travel sections), and the best travel-oriented weblog in cyberspace.
General travel magazines Conde Nast Traveler
Well-written stories with a strong emphasis on upscale and luxury travel. $12 for a one-year (12 issues) subscription. Website features photos, travel advice columns, and contests. Islands
Stories by top writers about travel to the islands of the world. $20 for a one-year (8 issues) subscription. Some features archived online. National Geographic
This classic, beautifully photographed magazine has probably inspired more vagabonders from childhood than any other American magazine in the last 100 or so years. One-year (12 issues) subscription costs $34 and includes membership to the National Geographic Society. Interactive website features archived photos and stories, as well as resource links for international issues. National Geographic Adventure
Travel and extreme sports reporting from America's top adventure writers. $12 for a one-year (ten issues) subscription. Website includes online features, discussion forums, and travel advisories. National Geographic Traveler
Travel stories and tips for North American and world destinations. $15 for a one-year (eight issues) subscription. Website contains exclusive online features and discussion forums. Outside Magazine
Travel and adventure writing with an emphasis on outdoor sports. $18 for a one-year (12 issues) subscription. Website features online articles and advice about travel destinations and gear. Travel & Leisure
An American Express publication with an emphasis on luxury travel. Well-written articles on foreign cultures and destinations. $30 for a one-year (12 issues) subscription. Travel advice, classifieds, and some features available online.
Student travel resources Student World Traveler Magazine
Magazine designed to motivate and prepare students to travel around the world. Excellent coverage of relevant travel destinations and issues. $15 for a one-year (12 issues) subscription. Website contains useful links for student travel research. Council Travel
Catering to student travelers since the 1940's. Formed "to help individuals gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and multi-culturally diverse world." Discounts, insurance, and help for students wanting to travel, work, volunteer and study abroad. Student Travel Association
Specializing in travel discounts and overseas work visas for students.
Bargain air travel information Fly Cheap by Kelly Monaghan (Intrepid Traveler, 1999)
Strategies and contacts for saving money on airfares. Monaghan also runs a companion website at Intrepidtraveler.com. The Travel Detective: How to Get the Best Service and the Best Deals from Airlines, Hotels, Cruise Ships, and Car Rental Agencies, by Peter Greenberg (Random House, 2001)
Entertaining guide for saving money on travel arrangements, though the emphasis is on vacation (as opposed to long-term) travel. Lots of air travel advice. Consolidators: Air Travel's Bargain Basement, by Kelly Monaghan (Intrepid Traveler, 1998)
Consolidators, who unload extra seats for airlines at prices over 50% off normal fare, offer great air bargains to travelers. This book contains tips on buying tickets from consolidators, and a comprehensive directory of consolidator companies. Airline Ticket Consolidators and Bucket Shops FAQ
Online tips on finding cheap air tickets, from air travel "guru" Edward Hasbrouck.
Online air ticketing services Cheap Tickets EconomyTravel.com Expedia Travel Hotwire LowestFare.com Travelocity.com
Other online air ticket resources Air Hitch
A cheap system for finding last-minute airline seats, primarily to European destinations. Air Tech
Offers a discounted, standby-style "FlightPass" service for travelers with flexible plans. Priceline.com
Name-your-own-price style bidding system for air tickets and other travel services. SkyAuction.com
Bid on available air tickets to destinations worldwide.
Travel insurers Highway to Health, Inc. 1-888-243-2358 Insurance Services of America 1-800-647-4589 Specialty Risk International, Inc. (SRI) 1-800-222-4599 Travel Guard Group, Inc. 1-800-826-4919 Travel Insurance Services 1-800-937-1387 WorldTravelCenter.com 1-800-786-5566
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