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Want Better Answers to Your Travel Questions? Please Read This...
Greetings! There are always new posters on travel forums and most of us are very excited to share your enthusiasm for your new adventure. I thought this post might help those people get their questions answered more clearly.
-I notice that a lot of people just post "Help Please" or "Check My Itinerary". You would probably receive more replies if you specify in the title which country or which city you want info for. -Once you have your post titled, provide a little of info about yourself so we know what your interests are. Let us know if you are an adrenaline junky and outdoor adventurer who is not interested in museums. We will be able to guide you towards activities and places that are more suited to your taste and style of travel. -A little research goes a long way. Pick up a good guide book or browse some good websites for info about where you are going. Once you have done this you will know a little about the beaches, the scenery and the major sites. We know how difficult it is to choose between all the amazing beaches and islands in Thailand but rather than post "What is the best beach?" it would help if you narrow down your choice to a few places and ask us to help you decide. Same goes for hotels and guest houses as there are hundreds to choose from. Here are a few guide book recommendations: Fodors Frommer's Lonely Planet Rough Guide FootPrints DK Publishing - Eyewitness Travel Here are a few travel related websites, some directly related to Asia: www.lonelyplanet.com www.travelfish.org www.virtualtourist.com www.tripadvisor.com www.talesofasia.com www.bootsnall.com www.nancychandler.com (great maps of Bangkok and Chiang Mai) Hotel Booking Sites: www.asiarooms.com www.sawadee.com precisionreservation.com Please keep in mind that it often takes longer to get a confirmation email from some places in SE Asia. In order to make reading your post easier, please use paragraphs as they make it easier on our poor eyes. Also, typing in all capitals is considered yelling. I know there are more books and websites out there but these are the ones I use most frequently. I am sure other people will recommend others. Planning a trip is part of the fun! I hope this info assists you in getting the answers you need. Happy trails! |
I forgot to mention the "search" function here on Fodors. Before posting a question like "Best Bangkok Hotel" you may want to try the search function on this site. You will be able to read previous posts that contain hotel info that may help you out.
Sometimes the search function doesn't work so well but it is worth trying. Cheers! |
Good suggestions, Tamara.
Another guidebook series I like is Insight Guides. Also, when you ask for hotel or guesthouse recommendations, please give us a rough price range. "Mid-range" means different things to different people. |
Thanks Kathie. You make a good point, too. "Budget hotel" could mean $15 for some and $80 for others.
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Several other helpful items would be:
1. How long are you going to be staying in Asia? For example, a two wek trip from the US is usually 12 days on the ground. 2. Be specific about your interests, e.g., sightseeing, shopping, beach, etc. 3. Dietary constraints/favorites. This forum is replete with advice about food. 4. Age range-For example, Bangkok is an entirely different city to someone in their twenties than it is to someone in their sixties. |
I'm quite new to this forum and I have noticed that some expect fellow fodorites to plan their holiday! I usually do a lot of research myself being very fussy about accommodation. No regrets becoming a Fodorite but I think I have to start weaning myself off this forum as I am spending too much time here!
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good post eurotraveller,
I tend to ask the "poster", what price range of hotel they can afford and what their interests are but I and other who ask narrower questions usually don't get a response. I think it would also help if the poster added what country they are from. espcielly on a post regarding airfare Most of us fodorites tend to asume everyone comes from the USA. |
Sorry to spoil the fun here, but unless this thread is topped frequently, "newbies" to this forum are going to miss it. That being said, I've seen many posts where the OP does not even both to read any of the most recent threads before posting.
One feature that would be helpful here that I have seen on other forums such as Flyertalk and Thorntree is the "sticky" - a thread or threads with answers to to frequently asked questions which just stays ("sticks") at the top of the page. |
Well Craig, I guess we are just going to have to top this post frequently then. :-)
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Craig, I was thinking the same thing. I wonder if the editors would be willing to make it a "sticky" as they have on Thorntree. Otherwise, as Tamara says, we can do it ourselves.
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Topping
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Topping...unfortunately we'll never be able to stop those people who choose not to read any of the earlier responses to a thread and repat the same information...but better too much I suppose than not enough.
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thank you for this posting eurotraveller, Katie, Gpanda, Celia-tay, orgy7 etc..
I am in the middle of planning my big, much waited for Asian vacation for May/June 2007. I have alot of questions and have already received alot of answers by peeking in every once in a while. I am anxious to post my actual itinerary and my plans for your opinions but I still have to wait a little bit longer until I have it better organized. Thanks for helping me not blunder as a "newbie" |
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You are welcome Chucho! We look forward to helping you fine tune your trip!
Thanks for the correction on the Nancy Chandler website Alan! Cheers! |
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What a waste! This board can be much more helpful if Fodor's decides to upgrade this ancient bbs. There are so many knowledgeable and seasoned Fodorites who are eager to help & share their travel experiences with anyone. Thus, I created a forums and put all the useful info there. you are welcome to join http://www.hngweb.com/asia_travel/index.php
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ttt for Claire.
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