socialworker

In the last 24 hours I have had the opportunity to relive 2 of our most pleasant trips to both England and to Tuscany. I realized yesterday after I answered a query on St. Ives, that for at least 10 minutes after I signed off, that I was in a reverie of memories of a trip that happened 10 years ago, and I was feeling all warm inside.

I never thought of myself as especially well-traveled and I sought out Fodors for help, on a fluke, 4 years ago when we were in a quandary about a trip to France. I had multiple guide books including Michelin red books--in French when I don't even read French--spread out in front of me, and was looking up internet sites trying to cross-reference so as to figure out which town to go to, when I said to my husband, "It just occurred to me, I bet that there are websites that talk about travel." So I randomly typed in Fodors and sure enough, the "TALK" tab jumped out at me.

At first I laughed, saying to him. "You will not believe all these people having all these impassioned arguments/discussions about traveling!!" Some of the posts and replies truly made me laugh out loud.

However, that was then.....The help I got was invaluable and I thought that was that. We came back from our trip and just for the heck of it, I logged back on. Well, at first I was sporadic and it took a while to get hooked. Now I realize that it has enriched my everyday life as well as my travel life, b/c I get to re-experience trips over and over. What a gift!

traveller1959

My most impressive experience with this forum was when I posted a question about a taxi ride between Stansted Airport and the insignificant town named Saffron Waldon. Within two hours, I got detailed information on driving time, fare, taxi companies and links which saved my son and his friend 180 pounds.

This forum is amazing.

Nikki

I have learned more about travel from the people here than I ever did by reading guidebooks.

I have learned more about people than I ever would have without it.

I have learned the fascinating perspectives of people I would never have met, many of them living in places I have never been.

I have gone places I never would have gone, and met people I never would have met, and my life has been immeasurably enriched.

Sher

So many people have been helpful when I have planned trips for the last few years. It started with my first European trip to Italy several years ago.

I have met many of these same people and that is what has made posting here so valuable to me.

The advice is great, but putting a face to much of the advice cannot be measured. And some great friendships have formed which never would have been possible otherwise.

Thanks.

bratsandbeer

For our upcoming trip in 2 weeks, I copied all the suggestions that I liked from different posts and printed a sheet for each of the cities we will visit.
May not use those ideas but if we happen to see a restaurant that we might like I can check the sheet to see if anyone recommended it. Or just look at the sheet for ideas.

Thanks guys!!

travelchat

I, too, love this Forum. The first time I posted was prior to a planned tour for which I was arriving early to Berlin and had questions, and some trepidation. The prompt replies I received were very informative, helpful, and put my mind at ease. I was so grateful to find this source.

I've been able to answer a question here and there too, so feel I'm contributing as well as enjoying.

I look at the site daily for vicarious travel to places I've been and places I want to go. Fodor keeps my travel dreams going!
Travelchat

bozama

I like this forum very much, butI go on a few others I enjoy just as much or more...( I kind of like the ones that divide forums by country better)..

Travel forums are such a boon to travellers,, and NO guide book in the world can give you some of the detailed information you need.

I had to take a train to a relatives home in France this past summer. I looked and looked on the SNCF sites, the RER lines, everything,, my relatives gave me the name of the town, BUT I could not find it..

I posted on a board and within 15 minutes a local posted back, gave me the name of the STATION , which was not the towns name and she also posted which trains ran on which days at which time.. This was a tiny place in the middle of NOWHERE!! No guide book would have helped.

TRavel forums are wonderful!!! PS I also love reading trip reports, those are so fun..

mr_go

My LW and I have been regulars here on the Euro board for years now. But I posted for the first time on the Asia board just a couple of weeks ago with a general "how's this rough outline of a Bangkok itinerary looking to you?" inquiry.

Within a few days, we had over 40 helpful responses. Valuable info, from knowledgeable people.

Where else can you find that? Seriously.

StCirq

For most of my years on Fodors, I've been on the "giving" end, offering advice about Europe, mainly France and sometimes Italy.

Lately, I've been on the "receiving" end, getting information about the Bahamas and Switzerland and India. I'm amazed at how good the advice is here! My trip to the Bahamas (which is not a destination I would have chosen on my own, or even enjoyed) was a resounding success because of the input of several Fodorites, and actually changed my entire perspective on beach-type vacations.

I fully expect my October trip to India to benefit from the same amazing input.

mr_go

Hey, StC...speaking of your contributions to the Euro Forum, how's the rest of your fabulous trip report coming? We loved the first installments.

StCirq

Hi, mr go:

I'm doing two trip reports simultaneously (what was I thinking?): one here and one on the Caribbean Board. I'll get around to the next installment of the Dordogne one tonight, I promise!

mr_go

No pressure...no rush...no deadline. Take yer time. I'd rather have it good than fast!

carolyn

Just this weekend I found myself telling my niece, whose daughter wants them to go to London and Paris using the channel tunnel, to be sure to book ahead of time because the walk-up fares are much higher. Now, you understand I've never taken the channel tunnel to Paris!

I've been Fodoring since the 90s and am seriously addicted. When I needed to know how to get from CDG to my Paris hotel, I got explicit directions. When I needed walk info and a place to eat Sunday lunch after church at Westminster Abbey, no less than Ben Haines sent me a lovely private e-mail. Rex posted a great airfare to London that I was able to take advantage of. I've met several neat people at GTGs, both locally and in London.

Also, I can feed my travel fever anytime, both to places I've been and to places I'd like to go. Fodor's is great!

mariebut

I am only a relative newbie to Fodors, when recommended the site for planning our "family trip of a lifetime (we leave in less than two weeks!!!) Travelling with two adult children was always going to be expensive but due to the wise and invaluable advice from fellow fodorites I have been able to plan and save a lot of money.

Coming from Australia and our first Europe trip I would never had imagined I could confidently book everything myself but I have and feel very comfortable about it. I can't believe the amazing information I have found out.

I hope after our trip I too will be able to pass on some jewels of advice to others. Thanks heaps everyone.

isabel

As others have already said, the information - both practical and opinions - can not be matched by any guidebook. There's no way I could possibly count the times I needed some little piece of information and asked it here and got the right answer. Often times guidebooks are wrong, much more often than the answers that are posted here. Researching trips on this forum has saved me enormous amounts of time, money and frustration.

And because of that I've felt the need to give back so, as I travel more and more, I'm able to answer other peoples questions. And I've started writing trip reports because I've found other people's reports so valuable that I feel I need to write reports that hopefully help others.

And from that I've found I get a secondary benefit. As the original posted alluded to - when I answer a question, post a report or a link to an old trip report I wrote - I relive the experience. Many times I've enjoyed reading my own old reports - or looked at my photos again - just because I was directing someone else to them.

So the benefits are endless.

janisj

I've been on Fodors for 10+ years and it truly is an addiction

Most of the time I try to help on the Europe and US boards (mostly for the UK/Ireland and Calif/Nev/Ore)

In March I took my first trip to Hong Kong and a few fodorite Asia experts really REALLY helped me. I landed at HK around 11 PM - first time and solo. Thanks to amazingly detailed instructions I was able to catch the right local bus, get off in Kowloon, find the taxi stand and get to my hotel after midnight -- knowing <u>exactly</u> what/where to go. Like I'd been there before. The little/detailed tips like that, you can't find in guidebooks.

I've enjoyed meeting lots of other Fodorites at GTGs

sheri_lp

We totally rock. I loved unfolding Stu Dudley's suggested road trip in Tuscany along with my map and heading out - my mom and sister wondering what the heck was I doing and how did I know how to find this beautiful cafe in a tiny spot down the end of this dirt road road...yeahhhhh that's Fodor's guys!

JulieVikmanis

Ditto what so many of you have said. I've learned so much and had my travel enriched so much by the posters on this board, e.g. I'd never heard of Collioure and now I've not only been there, it's become one of my favorite places anywhere.

But the patient people on this forum have also taught me more than travel, e.g. how to do various things on the computer like bolding headlines and how to do boolean searches, and what kind of gps to buy, how to make your own lemoncello, and even new ways to view the candidates in the upcoming election--though the latter needs to be tempered with a grain of salt. It's a fun group that shares freely of their time, knowledge and sometimes comedic talents.

And Carolyn, thanks for a new contribution to my repetoire. Courtesy of you, I now have a short cut way of expressing my frequent &quot;well I went on Fodors and found...&quot; Hereafter I'll just say, &quot;while Fodoring...&quot; See, every day there's something more this site gives you.

LCBoniti

I have also benefitted greatly from Fodors in my (heretofor) limited travels.

What I especially have enjoyed are the trip reports. They give me a sense of the <i>feeling</i> of wherever I hope to go since it is usually a first-time visit for me. They are unique to each contributor with great information. Love them!