When planning a trip , do you do a lot of research on the net.?

@suehan1 (4344)
Australia
February 28, 2011 3:41am CST
My daughter is planning a return trip to Los Angles in May this year, and I have done a lot of research about tours and attractions on the net and found that booking online can save you a lot of money. I came across a site called Trip Advisor and found it was good to get peoples views on hotels and attractions etc. You can even get questions answered from people who have traveled there. Have you used this site? are there any other sites like this around.? I think they have great advice. Cheers Sue
7 people like this
24 responses
@sweet_pea (3322)
• Philippines
2 Mar 11
I do. Although I only get to travel locally. But then, you are spending money here so you might as well get value for your money. There is a dependable local forum I am following where people who visited that place share their experiences, what places to see, contact persons for van rentals, feed backs on hotels, where are the best places to eat, what would you buy as souvenirs. They pretty much provided viable information for would be travelers like me. We usually travel when domestic airline companies offer seat sale fares. Sometimes, you only pay for taxes and that's it. Then we work our schedule on it. Then from insights on forums, we basically know what amount we would be spending for our trips. My cousin was really impressed when we had our trip together. She use to plan their trips overseas, when they got here, she was just so relaxed. I had all the activities laid for them. By far one of the best trips they had so far.
2 people like this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
2 Mar 11
It is nice when you have everything planned out for you. I always get my domestic fares when they are on sale here as well, so I can usually go interstate a few times a year and see my friend who lives near the theme parks . Cheers SUE
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
3 Mar 11
Yes every bit of extra cash helps on these trips. It is really amazing how much money you can save when the promotions are on, so long as you can travel when they are available. I have purchased airline tickets in advance and take my holidays then. Cheers SUE
1 person likes this
@sweet_pea (3322)
• Philippines
3 Mar 11
Every money you can save for a trip counts. You can use savings you get on airfares as pocket money on your trip. So, I always look forward when they go on sale or when hotels offer promos.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (157563)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Mar 11
Ofcourse I do! I think you really do yourself a disservice now days not to. There may be a new business or locality near where you are going that you could miss other wise. And, you never know the discounts and specials you might find out about if you do some research ahead of time. You just never know.
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
2 Mar 11
I really have found you get great discounts on attractions online.Even finding out about local eateries is a bonus. Cheers Sue
2 people like this
@celticeagle (157563)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Mar 11
THat is so true.
2 people like this
2 Mar 11
I only do a bit of research on the country I wanted to visit, for example, the landmarks, places of interests and hotel reviews. I also willl do some investigation on the country's culture, safeness and write down the emergency contact of the area that I'll be traveling. Cheers.
2 people like this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
2 Mar 11
Thats a good idea of writing down all the emergency contacts. Last time we traveled it was hard to even find a chemist ,so I am glad we never needed a doctor or have to find a hospital. Thanks Sue
• Philippines
28 Feb 11
I love Trip Advisor! I check it everytime I plan a trip and while I look for good hotels to stay.. They carry a lot of reviews from other travelers which is really really helpful, than just looking at the reviews on the site of the hotel, which tends to be really biased. Hehehe. I like researching in the net if I'm going on a trip, around 2 to 3 weeks before the planned trip, cause I want to know what to expect, where to go, and what to do. Plus, I get to read a lot of travel blogs, which are really really great.
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
28 Feb 11
YES I agree that some brochures or travel agents prefer to use certain hotels as they get commisions, I really like Trip Advisor as you can really get the lowdown on certain hotels and find out how close they are to attractions and transport. Where do you read the travel blogs? cheers sue
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
2 Mar 11
I am glad you enjoyed your trip and the budget was spot on. Cheers Sue
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
28 Feb 11
Yes, I research a lot. I've used Trip Advisor, too, and usually I read reviews on hotels. I go for economy with quality, so it takes a lot of research. Also, we usually tour on our own, so without tour guides we search which places to go to and how to get theres.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
28 Feb 11
I think it is good to get reviews of hotels and places to go, especially if your planing your trip on your own. People who review these places are really honest. I like economy with quality as well
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
28 Feb 11
Yes, besides I do like to plan my expenses ahead so that I can maximize whatever budget I have. This year, I have a lot of travels coming up, and if I don't manage my finances well, the last travels might be sacrificed. Yes, most reviews are honest, and it somehow prepares you for the places/hotels you're about to go to.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
1 Mar 11
I also like the fact that you can work out your expenses and you can pay for attractions and tours before you go..cheers sue
1 Mar 11
hi It looks nice for me that you are taking much time for planning a travel.It is a real fact that E-booking is cheaper than the counter booking,It means it will save money atleast via reducing the travel expenses made to reach the counter,as well as it will save time which in turn is money too in other words. For Me,I wont plan a lot on travels because I feel comfortable on the jeourney what ever the way it takes.Only matter is I will look for the ticket thats it Thanks and regards
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
2 Mar 11
That great that you can get that information on your phone now, I completely forgot that you have the net on the phones, I don't have it on my phone, but it may be a worthwhile investment to get an Iphone.Cheers Sue
• United States
1 Mar 11
E-booking is very good, because it is a cheaper and much more efficient way of researching and finding out about things on your laptop or your phone. What's great about that is when you travel, you usually will have your phone with you or your laptop on your hotel so when you do any research, you can actually check it right away. I always have some research articles or books on my Iphone so whenever I go to Asia, I know exactly where to go explore and more importantly, where to eat!
1 person likes this
@thaMARKER (2503)
• Philippines
1 Mar 11
well i'm not a traveler and to be honest i don't like traveling. ive been to places, i appreciate beautiful spots but the thought of sitting on a bus or private vehicle for hours is killing me already. hehehehe.. but i prefer not researching anything about the place except if it's dangerous or not. i like to see the place by/on my own. then ask if there's nothing to check once i get there. hahahaha.. well goodluck to your daughter's trip.. i'm planning to go to somewhere in May too since it's my birth month.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
2 Mar 11
I hope you have a great trip for your birthday, with many surprises.Cheers Sue
@dainy1313 (2370)
• Leon, Mexico
5 Mar 11
Hello Suehan1 yes!! I do a lot of trip research, I´m in Mexico, and next May, if God allows it, I´ll be at Fatima, Portugal... I´m planning this trip since 3 years ago... ups! I search everywhere, I booked online, I bought tickets online... I do a lot of research... the web is just wonderful, because the world is no longer unreachable.... =) Blessings to you and your daughter!... Dainy
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
6 Mar 11
Thanks Dainy .I hope you have a wonderful trip to Portugal. It sure pays to book things online and save money. I was in Mexico last year, I wished that I could see more than I did, but we were only there one day to do some shopping. Have a great trip. Cheers Sue
@brisk123 (2823)
• India
1 Mar 11
Trip Advisor is a very popular travel guide website though I have personally never use it before but it seems like they are good. It is always good to have some knowledge about the particular city where you are going to travel. It saves time and money.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
2 Mar 11
It sure does save you a heap of money and time as well. I hope you get you ahve a look at Trip Avisor when you next go away. Cheers Sue
• United States
1 Mar 11
Research is a must when planning anything. First I try to decide where I am going and what is around the area I am going. I plan on going to Las Vegas for my 25th birthday in June and I have been doing a lot of research on the internet about hotels, shows, and everything. I think the internet is real good because you can find out about certain things and it can help with planning on how much money to bring as well..
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
2 Mar 11
I plan to go to Las Vegas one day as well. It is good to search the net especially for tours etc as there are some awesome tours to the Grand Caynon from Las Vegas. I hope you have a great 25th birthday and remember 'what goes on in vegas stay's in vegas'.so I am told lol. cheers sue
@acer5540 (354)
• China
1 Mar 11
Yes, right, i have the habit of traveling on holidays and first of all, i will chose the destination online according the time i have.If i have a long holiday, i like to go far away from home, if it is short, i will go somewhere near my city. All this ,need i to do a lot of research on the net. It is very useful. There are many sites that give suggestions about the hotel, attractions and the most important, it can save money. There are many people like traveling through travel agency, and everything is arranged by them.I don't like that, it was lost the happy of traveling.It is the process that find the value by ourselves.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
1 Mar 11
I agree with you it is a great feeling when you can research and find yourself a few bargains online. I have already found a few great deals for the kids to do and that makes me feel good.Cheers Sue
@dheckerz (473)
• Philippines
1 Mar 11
Hi Sue, To answer your question, yes you need to do a lot of reseach if you are planning a trip especially if it's a foreign country and only few people speaks in English. You need to know the routes to and from your hotel and how to get to places you wanted to visit. Everytime i travel i always check the same site as mentioned, you get to know a lot of ideas, reviews and such. It's a very helpful website and I would surely recommend it to people who has not been to their site. They have great travel information.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
1 Mar 11
Yes the research before you travel is essential I wish we researched a lot more before we went overseas last years as I feel we missed out on a few things I would have liked to have seen. Cheers Sue
• China
1 Mar 11
I also do a lot or research on the net. First, I will see some posts. Second, I find which palces are worth travelling. Third, I will study the position of these places, including how to go there, surronding environment and so on. Fourth, I will booking tickets and hotels on line for saving money.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
1 Mar 11
Yes you can really save a lot of money when purchasing online I suppose you are cutting out the middle man and that puts money in our pocket when we travel. Cheers Sue
• Philippines
28 Feb 11
I'm not fond of doing researches on places we're planning to go to. It is my elder sister who will do the booking and researches on our destined place. Yeah, I greatly agree that booking ahead via online will help you save much more than have it over-the-counter. This is because there are a lot of promos that airlines offer online depending on the flight schedule. Since I only rely on what my sibling has researched, it is my first time to hear about Trip Advisor and would like to thank you for sharing it with us.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
28 Feb 11
You have a great sister to help you out. I hope you look into Trip Advisor as people will answer your questions, even if it is about how to get to one place to the other by public transport.Just type in your question.
• Philippines
2 Mar 11
Yes, she's responsible enough to do the researches. She enjoys doing it for having researches will help us gain a brief background of the place as where the beautiful spots are located. We usually travel on our own without hiring a tour guide so it's really helpful in saving up some money and just spend it on other stuffs. Thank you for the tip. We'll try this one next time.
@maximax8 (31055)
• United Kingdom
28 Feb 11
When planning a trip I am most interested in the cost of getting there like international flights, accommodation like guest houses and sightseeing opportunities. I look at Lonely Planet Destinations and the Thorn Tree for information. I check Flight Scanner to find affordable flights. I do an Internet search for the destinations that I am planning to visit. In addition I read travel guide books on my destinations. Sometimes I visit a few countries on the same trip. Sadly I did lot of research about Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island but then my flight got canceled. To make up for it I booked a trip to Vancouver and that airline kept having strikes. Therefore I didn't want to read too much about British Colombia just in case. I have seen the site called Trip Adviser. I have been to Los Angeles three times and think there is a lot to see there. I hope that your daughter will really enjoy her trip.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
28 Feb 11
Yes we all went to Los Angeles last year and we did miss out on a few things,so hence the research for her.I forgot about Lonely Planet and will have to look around that site.I think thing like how to get from point A to B in a place is great and these sites people tell you how to do it, they are great. Cheers Sue
@Sanitary (3968)
• Singapore
1 Mar 11
Yes, i have to do my research online since i'm not doing any bookings with travel agencies or joining any tours. Most of the time, i will be looking around for forums, tourist attractions for that country before going deeper into lesser known areas. Trip advisor is really a good site for information, but there's only limited sources when it comes eating and shopping or whatever. I only need to get the basics known, while rest of my journey shall be explored when i'm there physcially.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
1 Mar 11
I agree once you are there it is great to explore as well. I usually stop and speak to the locals and ask for good places to eat and what places of interest are around. Cheers Sue
1 person likes this
@NicoZieg (591)
• Denmark
28 Feb 11
Yes, sometimes I do. My family and I traveled to Tunisia last year. Before we planned that trip we made a lot research.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
28 Feb 11
Research is so easy now on the net and you do not have to rely on the advice of the travel agent alone.Cheers Sue
@doggydimon (1369)
• Philippines
28 Feb 11
I only use Trip advisor for the ratings of hotels. As for the tours and attractions, I usually visit the tourism board of that particular country to get some ideas and after that I search for travel agencies or tour operators to see who has the widest range of tours and who has the cheapest rates. And usually when I speak to the travel agents, I ask for tips and advises.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
1 Mar 11
Yes I talk to the travel agents as well, but some times they only promote certain tours etc, so I like to research and see what other people think. It is good to get the reviews of hotels. cheers sue
@FaniKaka (44)
• Pakistan
28 Feb 11
Yes I do and i learn this from bad experiences. Once i went to a hill station and on the same day I had to come back to my city to attend an important marriage ceremony at night but I wasn't aware of the weather situation over there and snowfall started and traffic blocked for 4 long hours! and at the end i missed the event. After a week or so a friend of mine told me about an alternative route which he found by reading a post on a blog and i felp pity for not doing research before going to the hill station.
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
1 Mar 11
Yes its good to read posts and blogs as it is surprising to find out about different routes and modes of transport around areas we are not familiar with
• United States
28 Feb 11
I do lots of research online when I go on a trip. In fact, that's the only type of research I do when traveling. The reason for that is the internet is the most up to date when it comes to finding out information on a destination or a hotel and it is also the best place to get reviews. Reading other people's reviews are most important when it comes to researching a location you are traveling to or a hotel you are staying at. You can also use Expedia for reviews and deals and travel information.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
1 Mar 11
Yes Expedia is another good source of information to check out.I think looking at what people say about a hotel is very important , as you are there for a whole and if you get stuck in a shoddy hotel there is not much you can do about it once you are there.Thanks Sue