Julie7963

I don’t know about you, but I have hundreds of travel bookmarks that I reference when I am planning a vacation. And when I find a new website referenced on this forum, I add it to the mix.

As I sorted and updated my bookmark folders, I mused about what content my perfect travel web site would include -- destination information, air and hotel prices, reviews, historical information, travel blogs… all in one easy resource! Eureka.

I became curious about how the experts on this forum might answer the question.
So Fodorites, what would the ideal, one-stop travel website include?

vcrew

Hmmm, I'm thinking that I would include this one>
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2

nytraveler

How about one that doesn;t break down every other week?

(Frankly there are tons of places to get specific info on sights, hotels etc - what is of true value are the message boards - and this one is getting VERY short shrift - considering it's paying for the entire site.)

IrishEyes

I would have photos, a forum, info and tips that were well organized and hard to find all in one place (except for my travel website)! I would find a niche and not compete with the huge websites that try to cover it all.

Since I am not rich or part of a multi-national conglomerate, if I had a serious travel website I would have to pay for it somehow. I would need to sell things to do that.

What sort of things do you purchase from travel websites? Or do most people just use the free info and never support a website that they like? Would you support a small "Mom & Pop" website over a big one with money behind it?

Julie, thanks for the thought-provoking question.

Julie7963

Thanks for the interesting replies.

nytraveler, you're right about the reliability issues - I've experienced that too.

IrishEyes, I'm not a multinational either, so I guess I'll have to be content with musing about this, rather than doing anything about it!

J

SAnParis

Real live names, w/real live e-mail addresses to keep out the riff-raff.

carylspall

I would start with What to do when you collect your baggage at your destination - the easiest/cheapest way to get to your hotel. Where to buy the bus ticket and so on.
Just cause we used to waste a lot of time at the airport and get ratty! We are wiser now though!

sandi_travelnut

vcrew...were you meaning to reference a specific post? I clicked on the link you provided and it didn't open a particular thread.

Michel_Paris

I'd like restaurant reviews with dates, so I could know how recent they are. Photos of the place (& menus) could be useful. A link to articles with recommended places to eat.

Hotel recommendations along with web links to hotel/booking sites. My one issue with hotel reviews is that it is so dependent on what the traveller's expectatins were (large bathroom, big elevator, no noise, AC)...if you could somehow filter reviews by "first time to Europe", "regular", "high maintenance "... that would help.

Public transport info would be useful. Bus roues, metro routes, ticket options, pictures of the different types of passes, interchanges between different modes of trasnport,etc.

Events...info on what is happening when I am there. Market days, concerts, sporting events, exhibitions, etc.. so I can plan ahead. Web sites for buying tickets.

Map and guides. Either ability to purchase (link to Amazon?) or PDF. I'd also like good maps to show hotel/restuarant locations, where bus/metro stops are. How about a way for people to create their own maps (e.g. putting Degas Walks of Paris on to a plan of Paris). For the die hards who would take the time, I would appreciate having something I could print out and follow.

Airport information. Where things are, where flights land, transfer times (estimation of course!), links to city (list of shuttles, where to get a cab).

Cultural information. I'll skip over the "what to wear" and look for things like...people eat dinner at 8, never order coffee with meal, always say hello when you enter a store, don't pick your own fruit from a stall...

Nearby attractions. What day trips can I do? Whast festivals are going on outside of the city that I could take a train and go see?

Car rental info...where, how much, GPS, avoid driving in...watch our for (sheep in Ireland?), insurance....

Political situation. Anything I should know about?

Tours...bus, walking, outside of town, etc..

Shops...if there are interesting places to buy local goods, I'd like to know.

Special Spots..where to go for a picnic, where to propose, most romantic xxx, best waterfall, etc...

Sports...how can I rent a kayak to go down XXX river, where can I get rollerblades, I'd like to watch a game of boulles, like to go work out at a gym, jooging areas...etc..

And so much more...someday if I have time I'd take a shot at creating one.

suze

As much as I enjoy this and several other travel forums for getting new ideas and gathering general information, I don't bookmark or rely on any website to actually map out my trips.

Other than a plane ticket and hotel reservations, I don't plan things ahead, so really wouldn't have use myself for the kind of website you're envisioning.

suze

sandi_travelnut- i believe vcrew just meant that this one (Fodor's forum Europe) was the ideal website.

Julie7963

Suze, someday I'd like to try traveling your way. I take the trip spreadsheet route and plan months ahead.

Your approach makes me ponder the financial benefits of last-minute versus early booking...

J

missypie

I'd like the editors' personal opinions on the best areas of town in which to stay, and what other areas are safe and acceptable for the budget traveler.

suze

Julie- Actually I don't book last minute. I do the plane ticket and hotel well in advance. But beyond that I wait and figure out what I want to see & do after I arrive.

I know some people like to have daily itineraries, purchase rail tickets ahead, research restaurants, check museum admission and schedule, etc. ahead of time, and even enjoy the planning. It would just give me one big headache.

Julie7963

Thanks for your responses -- maybe someday we'll all find the ideal mix of web content to make our travel planning easy. Until then, I'll maintain my bookmarks!
J