Travel Information

Travel Brochures

In business for over 20 years, and online since 1996, TravelInformation.com was one of the first travel resources on the Internet. It's also refreshingly different from any other travel-related site I've seen. Instead of trying to sell you airline tickets, hotel rooms and rental cars, this site offers free Official Tourism Guides and kits from tourism bureaus & cities.

Browse through descriptions of the most popular vacation destinations in the USA and Canada, select up to 25 vacation guides, maps and travel planning kits, and they'll be mailed to you at no cost. Most of the kits include detailed descriptions of vacation areas, attractions, and lodging, with four color pictures and toll-free phone numbers. Some include state maps, calendars of events, lists of B&Bs, suggested itineraries, beaches, ski areas, trails and other info that will help you plan a great getaway.

You might think it strange that I'm recommending an offline service for travel planning, but in my experience the good old-fashioned color brochures you can feel and touch offer a higher quality of information with less hassle. Once you've decided where to go, some of the other sites in this article may help you find additional info and some good deals on reservations.

Other Travel Sites

Whenever I write about travel, a bunch of people will email to ask why I didn't mention their favorite online travel or reservation site. Well, yes, there are a bunch. There's Travelocity, TripAdvisor, Expedia, Orbitz, CheapTickets, Hotwire, Priceline and more. Slap a dotcom on any of those and you'll end up at their website. Try 'em all, and stick with the one you like best. In my experience, there is very little difference in pricing across the board.

I think Travelocity is one of the best, but you can find LOTS more related sites by starting at Yahoo Travel or Google Travel. You'll find links for everything from Backpacking to Virtual Field Trips. Enjoy your trip, whether it's real, virtual, or a little of each.

Online Maps

But before you head out, make sure you plot your course. These online map services will get you from point A to point B. MapQuest provides free easy-to-read online maps, driving directions and destination info you can view, print, or download to a wireless device. The RoadTrip Planner also helps travelers find restaurants, ATMs, entertainment and attractions along the route. Google Maps offers a similar slate of features, including online maps, and point to point driving directions. Interactive maps allow you to pan and zoom for detail on any portion of the trip. The total distance and approximate travel time are also displayed. You can even view satellite imagery superimposed on your street-level map, which is VERY cool.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane?

If you're going to be travelling by air, the Internet can be a big help. My related article Airports, Airlines, And Airplanes will help you find find airports, get airline information, estimate airport wait times, and view real-time flight tracking data.

Got any travel tips to share? Post your comments below...