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How to plan a vacation
Get outta town

You're way too busy working to even think about a vacation. With all the downsizing your company's been doing, the place would absolutely combust if you weren't in the office 24 hours a day.

So after you burn out -- while you're resting comfortably in the asylum -- perhaps you can find some Net access (ask the nurses nicely) and plan a little time away for when you get back on your feet. Not only will it save you time, but using the Web to plan your itinerary is so convenient and easy, you can even do it while you're sedated.

Whether you want to swank or slum, you've got bazillions of choices online. Budget travel sites have bred like bunnies. Luxury resorts are a dime a dozen ... well, not really a dime, more like a quarter. And at least 100 airlines are now online, along with most every hotel chain and car rental company.

If you're completely clueless about where to go, many online travel mags will give you the lowdown on global hot spots, as well as directions on how to get there.

Once you know where you want to go, you can make airline, hotel, and car reservations, and buy tickets and travel insurance. You can also find out about the unit of exchange (lira or sheep?), the weather forecast (lion or lamb?), and even the political climate (elephant or donkey?).

You can also prep before you go by learning a foreign language online, scouting the area attractions, and locating the closest tourist office. Imagine arriving in Papua New Guinea, already knowing how to ask where the nearest beer is. Paradise!

If you're a rather cranky person and none of your friends would even entertain the thought of traveling with you, you can find a travel partner through the numerous travel newsgroups. While you're at it, check for tips from the countless globe-trotters, who are just frothing at the mouth to share QuickTime movies of their trip to the Great Mall of America.

If you're in the mood for a "staycation," try looking up your own town at your favorite search engine. Most major cities -- and many minor ones -- have a Web presence listing events and attractions. How often do you really get to see what's going on in your own backyard? Did you know a new restaurant just opened in your town? It's true -- it's right down the street.

So if you haven't made your summer vacation plans yet, do it now. Promise yourself that you'll take some time off in 1997.

-- M. Trouble Sample

Here's How - Click for more!
Click for more!


Here's How - Click for more!
Kathryn M. McGrail tells how
to get it done on the Net:
How can the Web help me plan my vacation?
How do I get flight information and reservations?
How do I rent a car?
How do I find and book hotels?
How do I make bus and train reservations?
How can I find camping, hiking, and adventure travel information?

Snappy Picks

Travel megasites and resources
rec.travel Library
TravelFile
Travel Page
World Travel Net
Epicurious Travel
Fodor's
Globetrotting
Travelocity
HotWired's Rough Guide

Tickets and reservations
American Express Travel
eTravel
PCTravel
Air Travel Pro
CARS--The Charter Airline Reservation System
Online Airline Reservation System
Reservations.com
WebFlyer

Lodgings
All the Hotels on the Web
TravelWeb
Aaron's Catalogs
The Hotel Guide
Hotels and Travel on the Web
Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers of Colorado
Bed and Breakfast International
The Stash Tea Co.'s Bed and Breakfast Guide
Bed & Breakfast Inns Online
Sunny Oasis Cottage Country Locator

Rental cars
Alamo Rent A Car
Automotive Rentals Inc.
Avis Rent A Car
Dollar Rent a Car
Hertz
Rent-A-Wreck
Thrifty Car Rental

Swanking it up
Anthony's Key Resort
Northern Sky Luxury Rail Charters
The Plaza
Princeville Resort
QE2
The Regal Biltmore
The Resort at The Mountain
The Ritz Hotel
Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
Swept Away Resort
Wild Dunes

Living low on the hog
Shoestring Travel
Travel Discounts
Student and Budget Travel Guide
The Internet Guide to Hostelling
Consolidators and Bucket Shops FAQ
The International Association of Air Travel Couriers
Rent-A-Wreck
Super 8 Motels Inc.

Handy pix
AutoPilot
Intellicast
MapQuest! Travlang
Trip Doctor
Trip Finder
The Universal Currency Converter

Newsgroups
alt.travel.canada
alt.travel.road-trip
alt.vacation.las-vegas
rec.outdoors.rv-travel
rec.travel.africa
rec.travel.air
rec.travel.asia
rec.travel.australia+nz
rec.travel.bed+breakfast
rec.travel.caribbean
rec.travel.cruises
rec.travel.europe
rec.travel.latin-america
rec.travel.marketplace
rec.travel.misc
rec.travel.resorts.all-inclusive
rec.travel.usa-canada


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