OnYourMark, LLC Blog

This month’s pro discusses how to use the Internet for travel planning.Planning a trip today is easier than ever. With access to the Internet, you can plan a trip around the world in 30 days… the planning takes just hours. Granted, you would be quite exhausted, have spent quite a bit of money, spent most of your time at the airport and probably not seen too much in the process, but it is now possible! Here are a few helpful steps you should take when planning a trip online.

Decide where you want to go:
The first thing you need to do is decide where you want to go. The world is a very large place, and you can go just about anywhere you heart desires. There is no time like the present. Travel agency websites such as Travelocity and Expedia are good staring points in helping you choose a destination.

Searching through Google, as well as other search engines and online forums, can provide you with limitless information on places you can go, and things to do while you’re there.

Verify your travel documents:
It is very important to make sure that all your travel documents are in order if you are traveling out of the country. Passports are almost always required for entry and exit from each country, and in some instances, vaccinations are needed. The U.S. Department of State website offers scores of information on passports.

No airline, hotel, or tour company will refund your money if you don’t do your homework. More important, if you leave the country without the correct documents, you may not be able to get back in, particularly if you aren’t a U.S. citizen.

When traveling abroad always verify whether or not you need a visa or a passport, and don’t rely solely on a travel guide or a magazine article for information. The requirements can change at the drop of a hat. Always double-check your passport if you are traveling abroad to make sure it expires at least 6 months after you return; this will meet the guidelines of the more stringent countries.

Create your own guidebook:
Now that you have decided where you want to go, and verified your travel documents, it is a good time to create our own guidebook.

The Internet is a limitless resource and all that information is at your fingertips. There are several well-established guidebook companies with websites. Some of the most notable are Lonely Planet, Fodor’s, and Rough Guides. With these sites, you can find information about your destination, and compile a list of places and things you would like to see.

A few of the helpful tidbits these guides and travel magazines can help you learn when you are creating your guidebook are:

• Traveler facts
• When to go, including weather stats
• Events
• Money & costs
• Attractions
• Things you can see “off the beaten track”
• Activities
• History
• Culture
• Environment
• How to get there… and away
• How to get around

These sites also provide additional resources to help you learn about your travel destination.

If you are taking a road trip through the USA and looking for bizarre roadside attractions, a visit to Roadside America will help you find attractions like the Worlds Largest Replica Cheese, in Neillsville, Wisconsin, or Dinosaur Park, in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Make your reservations:
After choosing your destination, you need to get there. You can use the Internet to examine airline fares and schedules through an online travel agency. There are several online travel agencies on the web such as Travelocity, Priceline, Hotwire, Expedia, and Apple Vacations.

These online travel agencies will provide you with prices, schedules, as well as options to purchase plane tickets. Hotel rooms and rental vehicles are among other features these sites offer.

Most online travel agencies compare prices from several vendors and sites to provide you with the lowest rates possible. Often rates posted on the web are discounted more than booking directly through the airline, hotel or vehicle rental agency itself. This type of information was once only available to travel professionals. Only recently has it been made available to the public through the Internet.

Sometimes it is best to contact the airline, hotel or vehicle rental company directly. This would especially be advised if you have frequent flier miles, discounts, coupons or special arrangements with one of the companies through an employer.

In the end, it all comes down to you. Where you want to go, what you want to do, how much are you willing to spend and how much time you have are all questions that you need to ask yourself!.

Links Mentioned in this Article:

- travelocity.com
- expedia.com
- google.com
- travel.state.gov/passport/index.html
- lonelyplanet.com
- fodors.com
- travel.roughguides.com
- roadsideamerica.com
- roadsideamerica.com/map/wi.html
- roadsideamerica.com/
attract/SDRAPdino.html
- priceline.com
- hotwire.com
- applevacations.com

What would you like to ask the pro? Email your questions to askthepro@OnYourMark.com!