Lynn

Fodor's is my favorite travel site, expecially the forums, but when I am on here, it drives me crazy at the time it takes for it to load, open and close pages. I don't think it's my computer because we have a larger CPU and I experience this on many other sites. Anyone else have this problem?

Karen

YES!!!

jj

It's been slow for me the past week, and I have 200 mg and a 56K modem.

Charlie

YES ,YES ,YES ever since last week when they had a problem (down and all posts disappeared for a day or so)the response time is enough to drive me to Lonely Planet!

Lynn

Thanks--just checking to make sure it wasn't just me. I noticed it has been slower lately, but this site has ALWAYS been slow to a degree. I know what you mean about the lonely planet, though, because when I try to post here or open other posts, I usually go do some incidental chore, like brush my teeth or dry my hair, and check back periodically to see if it's opened yet!

joan doyle

YES! I attributed it to their popularity (it's one of MY favorite sites too and I too have a new and more powerful CPU and a 56 bps modem). How about it, Fodors? Can you make your Departure Lounges more efficient? Your fans will appreciate it.

Charlie

Let's see today is Friday the 16TH and I will attempt to define "SLOW" ------SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW !!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW I FEEL A LITTLE BETTER .

Celeste

It's not just slow, sometimes it locks up on me completely. I know it's definitely driving me away.

Polly

If I didn't enjoy the dialog so much and gain so much information from it, I would go elsewhere. I have same computer/modem as described by 2 others above and am getting the same results. I really hadn't thought about brushing my teeth while loading though...should have plenty of time!

Polly

If I didn't enjoy the dialog so much and gain so much information from it, I would go elsewhere. I have same computer/modem as described by 2 others above and am getting the same results. I really hadn't thought about brushing my teeth while loading though...should have plenty of time!

Polly

Those last 2 posts should be evidence enough. I gave up the first time; pressed stop; then post my message...Wallah! Twins! What about it webmaster?

Tricia

I wrote to fodor's via their e mail because it too was driving me away it was so slow!! They quickly responded and said they were aware of the problem and very unhappy and would be working on it- that's when it shut down. It seems better now tho, no?

bobbi

Frustratingly slow, as others have found. I also will be writing to Fodors. At this rate, it is easier to go the library or Barnes and Noble and get the hard copy Fodors for information!

ANN

I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE FODOR'S SITE WHEN PLANNING MY TRIP TO LONDON IN NOVEMBER, AND ALTHOUGH THE TRANSITION TIME FROM TOPIC TO TOPIC WAS SOMEWHAT SLOW, IT WASN'T UNBEARABLE. NOW THAT I'M PLANNING A TRIP TO ALASKA, I FIND THE TRANSITION TIME TO BE MUCH LONGER AND WONDERED IF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE DESTINATION, (EUROPE WAS MORE EFFICIENT THAN THE USA DESTINATION) FODOR'S PAGES ARE SET UP MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY AND MORE CONVENIENTLY THAN ANY OTHER SITE ON THE NET. I HOPE YOU CAN REMEDY THIS SITUATION SO YOU DON'T LOSE YOUR FANS!!!!

M.M.

No Tricia it has not gotten any better . Early morning is'nt bad but afternoon & evenings are maddening aarrrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhh !!

Jon Phelps

Fodor's problem seems to me to be with their servers. They can't handle the volume of requests in a timely fashion.

I'm evaluating the site for my Designing and Developing Web Content Class and one of the items I'll be pointing out is that this discussion group seems to be a perfect tool for Fodor's Tech Support to present info on why the site is slow and what is being done about it. Is anyone from Fodors out there?

This is a really excellent site in terms of its information. However if the info takes forever to be received then you're going to lose a LOT of surfers who don't have the patience to continue to wait for pages to load (and it is not a modem issue here...I'm on a T-1 line).

Also, the "Post MY Message" button should be underneath the form.

Lynn

Well, the troubling part about the site being slow is that the site isn't going to work effectively for Fodor's, because I for one, as I'm sure many of you, now pick and choose which topics to respond to and/or read. Those people looking for information are unlikely to get the realm of answers that is possible on this forum since many will be too impatient to post. Oh well, what I am learning more about is time management since Fodor's has given me time to do other cleaning while I wait for my posts to load and other posts to open. And I agree--why isn't that darned "Post My Message" button at the bottom?? Furthermore, if Fodor's is working on this site, for heaven's sake--shut it down, work on it, get it fixed and don't bring it back up until it is working. That's what the other websites do--just put it "Under Construction".

Glen

Yes, damned slow! I'm a regular Fodor's cruiser, over here in Perth Western Australia. The response time has become much slower over the last few weeks. I'm using the page when the United States is asleep and it makes no difference. Like many others, if I didn't enjoy the info so much I wouldn't visit anymore. Fodor's you've got your hooks into us all, but please improve the situation and make our visits less frustrating. I must say I enjoy Polly's input, you must either be a Travel Agent or someone that has travelled a lot! Keep it up.

Chelsea

here's the scoop: First off, we're so very sorry for all the delays lately, and we really appreciate your patience and concerned emails. We're experiencing a surge in traffic that, in lay terms, is melting down our servers. At this very moment, we're in the process of moving our site to hefty new machines, but it's going to take some time. All we can do is ask that you bear with us.

In better news, regarding your quite justified complaints about the position of our posting button: We're working on a rather swanky new version of the forums -- sensible posting pages! a reply page where you can see the thread you're replying to! full text searches! regional keyword searches! frames, so you can browse message titles while messages load! archives of past hosted forums! archives of all the old regional posts, separated into loadable chunks!

In any case, we're very excited. We're still weeks away from being ready, but we hope that when it goes up, the new design will provide an appropriately superb environment for the really great material that all of you contribute. Until then, we can only ask that you send warm thoughts in the direction of our engineers.

Chelsea

Editor, Fodor's Travel Online

Donna

Near death, actually. This is my very favorite "travel board". But, is there anything more discouraging than carefully composing a response and having it "hung" until you just can't stand it any longer??? With all due respect to the "Fodor's" response, if there is such a SURGE, why aren't there noticably more posts? How do they explain far fewer? They may be "excited", but obviously someone on their end has messed up BIG TIME! A "reply page" and "threads"??? Have you folks at Fodor's checked over at AOL message boards lately? They "enhanced" and "improved" the message boards and there is a widespread REVOLT going on there. Oh, please - "if it ain't broke - don't FIX IT". If you'll pardon my humble opinion, FRAMES SUCK (and I NEVER use that sort of language!). Whoever convinced Fodor's that frames are "state of the art" has no clue! Anyone else out there HATE FRAMES??? "Warm thoughts in the directions of our engineers"??? You MUST be joking!!! Does anyone else HOPE AND PRAY the Departure Lounge just returns to THE WAY IT WAS??? Here's hoping "Post My Message" will "take". Oy vey! And, I'm not Jewish, either. Just a perfect expression of my exasperation!