What are your other favourite message board sites?
 

What are Fodorites' other favourite message board sites and why? I came across the Fodor's message boards a couple of months back while researching a holiday and have found the quality of contributions to be excellent. Now I'm addicted, and also very curious - where do you guys do your e-hanging out the rest of the time? <BR> <BR>Sandra <BR>

Since you're on aol, I hope you've tried the AOL country-specific travel boards. The ones I've visited have lots of friendly and chatty posters.

Try Slow Travelers. It's the best! Ciao.

Hi Sandra, I like AOL's message board too. I don't have AOL, but my son does, and I try to log on when possible. <BR>Are you from the UK? Are there any boards that originate there? Love the UK and Ireland BTW. <BR>Judy :-)

I use http://www.lonelyplanet.com, then Thorn Tree, then WEast Europe and West Euerope. The foul language is terrible, but these young people reach parts of Europe that sedate members of Fodors seldom penetrate. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR>

theonion.com

Hi Judy, yes I'm from the UK. We love you right back - as our dear prime minister is seemingly at pains to demonstrate to anyone who will listen! I've only been to the US once but I can't wait to go back. <BR> <BR>I'm ashamed to say I'm not really aware of any majorly cool U.K. boards - but I guess they must exist. Maybe I'll do some more research on that. I like the "international" feel of Fodor's tho. <BR> <BR>Does anyone have any suggestions for non-travel boards too? Where are the best discussions to be found on life, the universe and such things? I don't want to turn into a complete computer nerd, but this is so much fun - and so much better than just coming home and watching TV isn't it? Or at least I like to persuade myself that it is.... And indeed, surely if one is going to be addicted, one may as well be addicted to the best quality boards? <BR> <BR>E-Sandra. <BR>xxx

If it's life, the universe, and everything that you're interested in, I suggest the following: <BR> <BR>http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/ <BR> <BR>http://www.douglasadams.com/ <BR> <BR>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/...00/1326695.stm

I'm a classical pianist so like www.pianoworld.com, they have a lot of good forums on piano issues (performance, construction, technical, repertoire, etc); and in French language, I like the Camus forum as he is one of my favorite French authors (webcamus.free.fr)

Sandra there is also ricksteves.com, patriciawells.com(but this site is on hiatus), getaway travel, independent traveller, but none are as active or knowledgeable as Fodors. <BR>I want to add that I miss alot of posters and hope you can benefit from them. Too many to name and don't want to miss naming one, but they know who they are. Please return soon.

Martha Stewart.com

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I like to read theknot.com - it's a wedding website. I'm getting married next year and there are all sorts of threads there giving great advice about the sort of thing only other paranoid brides give a sh** about. There are also lots of arguments, which is fun. <BR> <BR>P

A very big site I've found is <BR>http://www.virtualtourist.com <BR> <BR>Haven't spent a lot of time there yet, but it looks good. <BR> <BR>Doug

Forgot one of my very favourite message boards, Chowhound! <BR> <BR>http://www.chowhound.com

For travel in France, Bonjour Paris.com. Lots of interesting articles, photos, etc. And of great interest to me lately, every 2 or 3 days they offer a pretty in-depth news report from the Hexagon...good source for updates on strikes, demonstrations, French reaction to anthrax scares and other world events, etc. Strictly in terms of chat, can't hold a candle to Fodors, but lots of other fun stuff you can use. They also have a free e-mail newsletter. Enjoy!

Google groups have forums for just about every subject imaginable, including travel, plus they have the best search function ever. They also require users to register, which keeps away trolls. On the downside, it dosn't get as many visitors as this site, and when you post, it takes a few hours for it to show on the site. <BR> <BR>Go to: <BR>www.google.com <BR>Click on "Groups" <BR>Click on "rec" (for recreation forums) <BR>Click on "travel" <BR> <BR>Good luck!

Just checked out Virtualtourist.com and it looks really informative.

A "travel back in time" website that I enjoy is gradfinder.com <BR>A.M.

I have several pages on Virtualtourist -- as do other Fodorites -- you can post pictures with your travelogues. Over there I'm known as Radiomom...

I am like Sandra am new to the net and because of Fodors I would love to find a sight talking about life in general, people who love to read, love music, or just sights to find "friends" with things in common. No dating type sites. Live in a small town and would love to talk to others about our lives in general and how others are coping and or enjoying their world. Any serious suggestions. Thanks

For France and especially PARIS, I second Bonjour Paris at <BR>www.bonjourparis.com

Thanks for all your replies everyone. After all your great suggestions I fear I'm never going to see natural daylight ever again..... <BR> <BR>Cheers <BR> <BR>Sandra

Not a message board, but I think a good many of the people who post on this board would love mangiarebene.net--an Italian food e-zine that features (besides menu items from top Italian chefs) cinema recipes and cultural details about travel and eating in Italy.

These are quite special interest-y but I'll offer them in case they're of interest to anyone besides me: <BR> <BR> I like Beliefnet.com, which is a big spiritual site with many many discussions in its community section. Huge variety in kinds of spiritual interest & level of sophistication; I've liked the Anglican discussion group myself. <BR> <BR> I also liked Quitnet, which is for people involved in stopping smoking. Several message boards with different themes. <BR> <BR> Ivillage, a woman's site (if it still exists) has message boards, but they are very closely monitored so less interesting than these in my opinion. <BR> <BR> I look at the aol boards too. I've gotten helpful travel information from them, and found very kind people, but the discussions don't develop as interestingly as they do here, as a rule.

I'm a deals fanatic, so I love www.dealofday.com. Using tips from the people who share their knowledge, I've gotten a lexmark printer for 1.99, a visioneer 6200 scanner for free, a Canon multipass C530, printer/fax, copier and scanner for 64.99, a tv/vcr combo for 80.00 and various and sundry free coupons for food, blockbuster rentals, etc. So I'm truly dedicated! lol! Try funtasia.net and slickdeals.net too. <BR> <BR>I'm also a watergardening or pond addict, so I have to check out the pond forum (yes, one does exist!) whenever I can as I am expanding my current one. http://watergardening.infopop.net/3/OpenTopic <BR> <BR>Consumer Activism is near and dear to me as well and I count on our local hero, Clark Howard to keep me informed: www.clarkhoward.com <BR> <BR>Lastly, I love hgtv.com's message boards as well as diynet.com's.

In planning trips, I always turn to the Fodors board first, but after that I check chowhound.com. Apart from excellent restaurant advice given by people who know and care about food and wine, Chowhound's international board often includes trip reports with helpful recommendations on lodging and sightseeing. All interests and price points are covered in the dining recommendations, from high-end Michelin-starred places to off-the-beaten-track restaurants that cater to locals.

Another one here for chowhound. Sometimes you can read some really interesting and detailed reviews about restaurants or even one particular dish. You can ask also the most obscure questions about where to find certain foods - and get answers!

I do have aol, but am not sure what you mean when you talk about finding the AOL Country specific travel boards. I tried everything I could last night and didn't find an aol Itlay travel site board. How do you get in? I'm serious.Where are AOL's message boards? Is forty too old to be able to "drive" a computer? Thanks for your help.

How to find aol message boards: <BR> <BR>1. on top left of your screen, click on the thing that says "show channels" (this is for aol 6.0--in any case, get to the channel list). <BR> <BR>2. click on "Travel" <BR> <BR>3. Click on "News and Views" on the "Travel" page <BR> <BR>4. Click on "Travel Message Boards" <BR> <BR>5. you'll see a list of destinations, etc. <BR> <BR>good luck. I also remember not being able to find the message boards. I think the secret is they are tied to the channels. <BR> <BR>oh: 6: Bookmark anything you can find!!

TOPPING!!<BR><BR>Since my last post, I'm adding that I love the Trading Spaces board too at www.tlc.com....any other TS fanatics?? lol<BR><BR>Please add your own faves!<BR><BR>Renee

Can non-AOL subscribers reach AOL travel board - and how could I accomplish that ? Heard many good things about AOL message boards.

www.travel-board.com<BR><BR>Doesn't hold a candle to this forum, based on the number of questions and answers - - but a worthy fledgling alternative for some nice features: the ability to post a photo in your message or include a live link.<BR><BR>Moderated, unless the free-for-all here (which isn't always a bad thing).<BR><BR>Other (specialized) mentions should go to:<BR><BR>www.slowtrav.com for villa stays and other self-catering properties<BR><BR>and www.madridman.com - - not just for Madrid; covers all things Spain.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

For discussions on all sorts of topics, frivolous, serious, political, chatty - try nytimes.abuzz.com. The travel / vacation section is not as good, but there are some great threads. There are some trolls, too - but you can ignore them. Some threads, such as digressions, have a chatty, community feel. There are members from around the world.<BR>See you there.

pup it up<BR>

topping

Karen, Glyphs.com has a site called Readers Paradise for book discussions and a music forum as well.

www.lonelyplanet.com<BR><BR>The Lonely Planet's BB is called Thorn Tree. It's great but a bit more budget, less mainstream, travel oriented than Fodors.<BR><BR>Also several specific to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where I vacation most often.

Another Susan who likes the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree. I like to travel in Mexico, and there are a lot of posts on Mexico. I also like the fact that it's more budget oriented.

<BR><BR>Ah, Puerto Vallarta...be still, my corazon.