Post summer vacation linkage
Forgot to post this - these are the helpful links I used when planning my Europe trip. Maybe it'll come in handy for someone out there.
MOST IMPORTANT TRAVEL WEBSITE
Trip Advisor. You can look up hotels and read reviews of hotels before you book them - plus they have all sorts of useful information on public transportation, restaurants, crime, etc. Then there're message boards where you can read advice and ask questions from locals before you go.
PLANE FLIGHTS
When booking the big flight, check them all - Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz. By the hour, things would change. When I was researching, Travelocity had by far the most expensive flights. It wasn't even close. Then when I went to buy the tickets, for some reason, all of a sudden Travelocity was a $400 cheaper than the others. So do your homework - check all three.
For cheap local flights around Europe, try Skyscanner and Kayak. Skyscanner is only for European flights, so it was a bit better than Kayak - but if it lists a cheap flight, check the website of that airline. I found a few times that the rates on the airline website would be cheaper.
CELL PHONE
If you're visiting just one country for a while, then just buy a cell phone when you get there. You can get a cheap pay-as-you-go phone and you're all set. Or if you're renting a car, many places will let you rent a cell phone with it.
But I needed a cell phone that would work in multiple countries, so I got a Mobal cell phone. Cost me $49 and worked in every country I was in. No extra fees - I was only charged for the calls I made ($1/minute). And it's mine to keep - I can use it when I travel again.
HOME EXCHANGE
I tried the home exchange thing and it worked out great. I used Home Exchange to list my place and find a family to trade with. Though, before you first exchange, if you're like me, you'll be TERRIFIED that something will go wrong. For that, the Home Exchange Travels Blog was jammed with lots of valuable information.
AND FOR FUN
Watch Rick Steves' travel show on PBS and read his blog. I don't really dig his books and it took me a while to warm up to his show, but the guy has oodles of useful travel information.
MOST IMPORTANT TRAVEL WEBSITE
Trip Advisor. You can look up hotels and read reviews of hotels before you book them - plus they have all sorts of useful information on public transportation, restaurants, crime, etc. Then there're message boards where you can read advice and ask questions from locals before you go.
PLANE FLIGHTS
When booking the big flight, check them all - Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz. By the hour, things would change. When I was researching, Travelocity had by far the most expensive flights. It wasn't even close. Then when I went to buy the tickets, for some reason, all of a sudden Travelocity was a $400 cheaper than the others. So do your homework - check all three.
For cheap local flights around Europe, try Skyscanner and Kayak. Skyscanner is only for European flights, so it was a bit better than Kayak - but if it lists a cheap flight, check the website of that airline. I found a few times that the rates on the airline website would be cheaper.
CELL PHONE
If you're visiting just one country for a while, then just buy a cell phone when you get there. You can get a cheap pay-as-you-go phone and you're all set. Or if you're renting a car, many places will let you rent a cell phone with it.
But I needed a cell phone that would work in multiple countries, so I got a Mobal cell phone. Cost me $49 and worked in every country I was in. No extra fees - I was only charged for the calls I made ($1/minute). And it's mine to keep - I can use it when I travel again.
HOME EXCHANGE
I tried the home exchange thing and it worked out great. I used Home Exchange to list my place and find a family to trade with. Though, before you first exchange, if you're like me, you'll be TERRIFIED that something will go wrong. For that, the Home Exchange Travels Blog was jammed with lots of valuable information.
AND FOR FUN
Watch Rick Steves' travel show on PBS and read his blog. I don't really dig his books and it took me a while to warm up to his show, but the guy has oodles of useful travel information.
posted by Eugene at 10:18 PM
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