Tips for Planning a Trip Online

Treat yourself.

MPL Reference Librarian Mary Pelton had a program earlier this week that offered tips for those who are planning a trip online.

In addition to compiling several helpful links, she also had a few suggestions.

For example, the more flexible you are on time and destination, the better your chances of finding a great deal.

Consequently, you should search for dates up to three days before and after your ideal travel dates, within a selected month, or on upcoming weekends.

Also, fares from smaller airlines—Southwest, Allegiant, etc.—may not appear on bigger search sites such as Kayak and Bing.

Without further preamble, here is Mary's helpful compilation of links:

Booking Sources & Search Engines
All-in-One Travel ·         Bing.com/travel ·         CheapTickets.com ·         Expedia.com ·         FareCompare.com ·         Hipmunk.com ·         Hotwire.com ·         Kayak.com ·         LastMinuteTravel.com	·         Priceline.com ·         Opodo.co.uk ·         Orbitz.com ·         SkyScanners.com ·         Travelocity.com ·         Travelzoo.com ·         TripAdvisor.com ·         Vayama.com

Transportation and Accommodations
Airlines ·        AirfareWatchdog.com ·        GetGoing.com ·        Google.com/flights/ ·        RouteHappy.com ·        SeatGuru.com ·        Southwest.com ·        WhichBudget.com (Overseas flights) ·        Yapta.com	Buses & Cars AutoEurope.com Breezenet.com GasBuddy.com Kemwel.com LakefrontLines.com (groups) Megabus.com ViaMichelin.com (route planner)
Accommodations ·        BedandBreakfast.com ·        Booking.com ·        DealBase.com ·        DudeRanch.org ·        HistoricHotels.org ·        HomeAway.com (for groups) ·        Hostelz.com ·        Hotels.com ·        lhw.com (luxury hotels) ·        Quikbook.com (boutique hotels) ·        TheInnKeeper.com (bed & breakfasts)	Rail ·        Amtrak.com ·        BritRail.com (Britain) ·        Eurail.com  (passes) ·        RailEurope.com  (tickets) ·        Seat61.com (train & ferry) Cruises ·        Cruising.org  (cruise lines)

Travel Guides and Commentaries
Travel Guides ·        Concierge.com ·        Fodors.com ·        Frommers.com ·        LonelyPlanet.com ·        TheTravelInsider.com ·        TripAdvisor.com ·        TripInfo.com ·        TripSpot.com ·        ViaMichelin.com ·        WorldTravelGuide.net	Special Interests ·        AARP.org ·        AmericanPresidents.org ·        Byways.org ·        FactoryToursUSA.com ·        Gorp.com  (outdoor/adventure travel) ·        MuseumStuff.com ·        MTSobek.com  (outdoor/adventure travel) ·        PreservationNation.org ·        RoadScholar.org ·        SpaFinder.com
Travel Personalities ·        BurtWolf.com ·        Elliott.org ·        PeterGreenberg.com ·        RichardBangs.com ·        RickSteves.com ·        RudyMaxa.com	Tourism Offices ·        DiscoverAmerica.com ·        Towd.com

Government Websites
·         cdc.gov (Center for Disease Control) ·         cbp.gov (Customs & Border Protection) ·         ftc.gov (Federal Trade Commission)	·         nps.gov (National Park Service) ·         tsa.gov (Travel Services Administration) ·         state.gov  (State Department)

Travel Tools
Theater and Show Tickets Applause-Tickets.com KeithProwse.com (Europe) Playbill.com TicketMaster.com	Miscellaneous Tools ·        ElectricalOutlet.org ·        InsureMyTrip.com ·        Maps.Google.com ·        Mapquest.com ·        OneBag.com (packing tips) ·        Weather.com ·        xe.com (foreign currency)