News From the Front

We've moved to your TV! Our own Editorial Director Josh Glenn hosted an eight part series on CNNfn's IT'S ONLY MONEY. The Tripod segment was called "News From the Front."

Tripod's own Emma Taylor (she's so sassy) gives you the skinny on how to travel well and travel smart.

Empower Yourself: Use the Internet to Travel Smart

Planning a trip? The Tripod philosophy of smart travel says: The guerrilla traveller knows how to travel cheaply (that's a given), but he or she also knows how to get all the best, most up-to-the-minute info on every detail of the trip. And while you can't actually travel on the Net (yet), you can use the Internet as a great resource for cheap, empowered, and truly personalized travel. Once you've decided upon your destination, find first hand reports on the Web: Have the locals guide you on where to stay and use newsgroups to discuss everything from the weather, currency, and dress of you destination to its political climate.

Every trip requires three important decisions: Where do you want to go? How do you want to get there? And how can I be smart about packing and finding cool things to do once I arrive?

1. Decide Where to Go

You're determined to outdo your coworkers' vacation stories, but where should you go? A great launch pad to all things that are travel related online is Rec.Travel Library. This is huge list that is constantly updated and organized by category. Hop to the regional section at Yahoo! (a site which is both a search engine and directory for what is on the Web) to find a complete listing of countries and U.S. States. To get a personal account of somebody's trip, go to the Web Wide Links site of Travelmag, "The Magazine for Independent Travel on the Internet," and click on the section called Travel Diaries. Even better road warrior reports are in the travel 'zine The Connected Traveler, "for those flung far."

Suppose that you want decadence and delight--fast! How about Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Go to Yahoo! and search under New Orleans. Microsoft Network's Expedia, which features travel forums, current weather, news, and exchange rates, a guidebook to more than 250 destinations, and a virtual travel agent, has good information as well.

2. Plan How to Get There

If you're going to drive down to New Orleans from New York City, MapQuest is the place to go. You can get driving directions, personalized maps, and use their interactive atlas to find any place in the world!

Wanna' look into cheap tickets to fly down South? A tremendous advantage of the Web is the ability to subscribe to e-mail lists which alert you when airlines are offering low rates for a particular route you're interested in. Expedia Fare Tracker is one such service. You should also check the sites of particular airlines (like US AIR) where you can not only find flight schedules, but e-mail lists. Just as Expedia enables you to search for, and reserve tickets, Travelocity allows you to make airline bookings too. In addition, the site features tourist information, maps, and photographs of over 15,000 destinations.

3. Learn What to Pack and Do.

Packing appropriately is a function of understanding the climate you're traveling to. A great site to learn the weather anywhere in the world is Intellicast.

Packing comes next. Go to the Universal Packing List for a detailed list of essentials for any trip which was compiled by good-hearted travelers. Epicurious, the Web site by Condé Nast with links to its travel and food magazines, also has a good section complete with a Traveler's Checklist.

Okay, you've mapped you're driving route and packed. Now you're down to the big question: What are you gonna do? Laying on the beach, sipping a martini is all well and good, but Mardi Gras is about partying and livin' it up. Once again, Yahoo! is a good resource. Check out Boulevards for a great alternative guide using local newspapers from cities around the world. It's information on New Orleans, including the local papers' activity calendars should help you find the ultimate Mardi Gras celebration that will put your coworkers to shame.

Additional Links to Help You

General Travel

Travel Related Sites: is a useful index of exactly that.

Virtual Tourist II: "Virtually Tour" the World, and find general information, tourist guides, and pictures for thousands of places.

U.S. Department of State: features current travel warnings, passport and visa information, and links to travel health information at The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.