This is a most enjoyable chat site. <BR>Are there others like it? <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR> <BR>Gerry K

Gerry--- if you are ever planning to go to Spain, specially if thinking about spending some time in Madrid, then you definitely need to also check madridman.com. This site specializes in Spain travel and the guy who maintains it is very knowlegeable, helpful and very courteous. The thing I like about their forum is that it seems to be visited by a lot of independent travelers to Spain, in all age ranges and travel styles. There is always something new to learn. I am heading there on Wednesday by myself and was glad to read on good safety advice from many other experienced solo female travelers. <BR> <BR>Other than that, this site was selected the NUMBER ONE travel site (100 Annual Best List) by PC Magazine. Enough said.

I don't know if your question is serious or sarcastic. Some people make the allegation that this board functions like a chat room, and maybe if you didn't know what a chat room really is, you might think that some messages here are rather chatty. <BR> <BR>So, if you ARE serious (and mistaken about calling this forum a chat room), I will gladly spell out the ways that this place is NOT a chat room. <BR> <BR>1. Chat rooms are real time. I type something, then you type immediately back to me, and so on, just like real time conversation. The "message screen" often scrolls at a fast rate - - from dozens of lines per minute to hundreds. <BR> <BR>2. Chat rooms typically list everyone who is "there" at the time, and participants have the option of "chatting" in "the room" openly, or in private mode to one (or more) specific individual(s). <BR> <BR>3. Chat rooms are not archived, nor do they have "search" capability (though it can be argued whether this forum has a search engine or not). <BR> <BR>There are literally thousands of chat rooms; the best-known (to me) is a spin-off from Yahoo! the search engine itself. And because Yahoo! has a specific version for France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Norway and Sweden (just to mention the non-English speaking countries of Europe), you can find chat in those languages also. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Maira, I have seen that claim before, but when I tried to verify once on the internet, I could not even find www.fodors.com listed. Was it only in the print edition? <BR> <BR>And by the way, when I was looking for this "News and features" story about flirting, I discovered all kinds of info (stories) that I never knew existed on the Fodor's front page. I look at www.frommers.com pretty much every weekday for news, and certain newspapers most every week, but I feel stupid that I didn't realize "we" had our own newsmagazine right here! <BR>

Gerry K, You didn't say what your focus was for a forum or chat. Two forums that answer questions about travel to Ireland are <BR> <BR>http://www.irelandyes.com/forum.html <BR> <BR>http://www.irelandexpert.com/forum_intro.htm <BR> <BR>I enjoy checking in with both of them daily since my interest is in the Old Sod. They are both moderated, too, unlike many of the others out there - and that makes a big difference if you have a knowledgable human that actually answers!!! I'm sure others will post there favorites here too. Cheers! George <BR>

Lonley Planets Thorn Tree is brill. <BR>Check out http://www.irlguide.com/

Truly try Lonely planet.com. T

Rex .You should really do something about that anal retentive thing that you do.Nevermind

But ya gotta love him... He's so thorough!

Huh? <BR>

Rex--- I subscribe to the magazine, so I actually saw the article (Vol. 20 No.6; March 6, 2001). Another poster found the article on their website and pasted it on a reply. The top best travel sites were, in order: Fodors, Travelocity, Biztravel, Expedia, iExplore, Lonely planet, mapBlast, site59, and Smarter Living.

When I find Fodors boring - and, very sorry, but it is sometimes - I switch over to Virtual Tourist: www.virtualtourist.com which is my favourite travelboard actually. This is no offense, just my personal opinion!

If a message board dealing with France in depth interests you, try www.delphi.com/PBProvence/Start

Rex, there really is no need to be sarcastic and rude. Some people may not be as computer savvy as you, so give them some slack for calling a "forum" a "chat" There's a much nicer way to say what you said without insulting anyone. Sometimes you do have insightful information, but your attitude leaves a lot to be desired.

There's a Rex on every message board. I hope he's happy in the knowledge that he serves a sort of timeworn cultural purpose on our board - one that was properly served by the mayor of the village in many a tiny town such as Flavigny-sur-Ozerain (or any other town in any other country in Europe) in the movie "Chocolat," i.e., the person who responded immediately to any question and who had a set ideal and who responded instantly to any question....actually, when I visualize Rex I visualize this mayor of Flavigny..it seems so perfect......

Rex is not "rude"; he's pedantic. (OK, very, VERY pedantic, so pedantic that he might accidentally come across as a little obnoxious.) There's a big difference. Rudeness might merit some hostility in return; pedantry should not. So please be more tolerant of someone who just happens to be different from you. If you find him annoying, try laughing. So what if he posts a lot and enjoys spending much of his time here and takes himself and this site too seriously. He is not a mean person and does not deserve meanness directed at him. It is no more appropriate to constantly verbally attack a stranger's personality on the internet than it is to verbally attack your neighbor or your co-worker in person. People who do so should be ashamed. By the way, I notice that people keep taking pot shots at Rex, but he remains relatively civil nevertheless.<BR><BR>I've been wanting to say this for a long time. (I feel better now.)

Observer I'm with you. (What he said.) <BR>

Anoth Forum devoted just to France is ShareFrance at www.rescuefrance.co.uk.<BR><BR>Its greatly underused but the contributers are mostly Brits (one or two Americans pop in) who own holiday homes in France and their knowledge of their respective regions is pretty impressive.<BR><BR>Have a peek.

StCirq,<BR><BR>I hate to shatter any illusions, but I didn't wake up this morning, hung over, in the front window de la chocolaterie - - despite the celebratory mood I felt when I went to bed last night!<BR><BR<BR><BR>Bisoux, bisoux...<BR>

Thanks, Myriam<BR><BR>I loved http://www.virtualtourist.com. Especially the awesome postcard of David