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E-information isn't always EASY

© Diane Goldberg under the original topic name

Web travelers can easily be snarled in the 'Net. The waves of data on destination, flotsam on fares, and the sheer number of travel web pages can leave you crouched in front of the monitor with no time left to ride the rails, fly the slightly friendly skies or hit the open road.

Travelers who want to know before they go can 'Net smooth sail if they start with 'Net surfing. The key is knowing which sites have the sort of information you're seeking out of the ever-growing mass of web pages. Running a search for travel can pull up everything from a student's semi-naked photos of his fellow party animals on the last lager-lout expedition to Spain or South Carolina to the commercial sites offering cruises, package tours and bargain breaks. It's easy to get lost in cyberspace.

Most searches aren't sophisticated enough to run a search for: sites where I'll find stuff for former back-packers who still like to travel independently but want to sleep somewhere quiet. Finding suggestions for a five-person family with two typical teens and a last-minute toddler who don't like long car trips isn't that easy either.

I've already admitted that I am a travel information addict. What I've found is that different 'zines suit different folks . . . So, let me make it just a tad easier on you, especially since for those of us in the northern hemisphere it's just about summer, prime time to head 'em up and move 'em out.

For 20,30, and 40-something independent travelers, particularly those with a fascination with cultures and customs other than their own http://www.iagora.com is a great place to visit -- you may even want to live there. Iagora is a net-based international community with a web home in four languages. The message boards provide a forum for differing points of view on regional and international issues.

Iagora's articles are subjective, quirky, and very personal. Readers of the print magazine Big World will recognize the back-packer chic style. This is an excellent place to get a feel for a destination, get personal recommendations from recent travelers, or ask questions about a place. Regular resources include views on food, sports, humor, and Americana. The site will also help you master local lingo wherever local happens to be at the time.

For the "married with children" who want to avoid the fate of "harried with no vacation" without taking out a second mortgage http://www.destinationmag.com is a welcome web page. The web sister of Nova Destination the web page presents readable articles with up-to-the-minute information on family-friendly destinations throughout the USA. The family focus does not mean avoiding adventure or trekking to theme parks. The web site maintains a mix of outdoorsy, entertainment-oriented, and city-slicker spots with a common theme of helping families plan affordable vacations. It is a great place to start your search if you want to go to that vague place called somewhere and haven't a clue where that might be on your budget.

The copyright of the article E-information isn't always EASY in Traveling on a Budget is owned by Diane Goldberg under the original topic name. Permission to republish E-information isn't always EASY in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.