The Travel Mavens recommend other web sites that provide reliable and credible information for travelers. The following listings are not ads, as these web sites did not pay to have their names listed. We will add topics and sites as they are reviewed by the staff.
Destinations and commentary
WorldHum: International travel dispatches with an entertaining twist and a well written travel blog. Winner in Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition, sponsored by the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation. WorldHum.com, founded in 2001, was bought by the Travel Channel in 2007. Founding editors Jim Benning and Michael Yessis continue to manage the site.
Budget Travel Magazine wins Lowell Thomas awards, because of its money-savings tips and short destination videos.
The Traveler's Journal One of the Internet's premier daily online travel resources, featuring free "audio postcards," travel articles, videos, press releases, and a bookstore.
Tripatini A forum for writers who travel, travelers who write -- a free web site to "mix it up with the experts."
Cruising, cruise ships
Cruise Critic: Popular interactive site for reading reviews of cruise ships by staff and by vacationers who comment in forums about experiences on their cruises. Staff asks and answers questions. Staff also writes news about new ships in the building stages and about cruising issues, such as which ship has the best specialty restaurants.
All Things Cruise: Bloggers offer fresh perspectives on cruise news and tips.
Expert Cruiser: Anita Dunham-Potter cruises often and gives her unique views on the quality and anomolies of vacations at sea.
USA Today: Interactive chat with reporter Gene Sloan about cruise news and cruise ships.
Peter Knego: Maritime Matters is the forum for Knego's cruise ship reviews and news from around the world, including looks at old ships and ocean liners.
Ralph Grizzle: Author, photographer and video guy, Ralph Grizzle usually is at sea. His Web site and blog is Avid Cruiser.
Fran Golden: A cruise and travel writer, Golden frequently is on the road, writing about her adventures. Get away with Fran.
Consumer tips and troubleshooting
Christopher Elliott's First aid for Travel: Entertaining Elliott will tell you how to get there, what to avoid and how to save money. Sign up for his free email weekly newsletter of travel tips and news. Elliott's Troubleshooter column began in 1999 as a question-and-answer feature for the Website Ticked.com. Now it is nationally syndicated.
Fun, fun, fun
Signspotting: Doug Lansky, editor of the book, "Signspotting," is a world traveler with a keen sense of humor. Signs are from Namibia, left, and Canada, right.
Lansky invites travelers to share the crazy signs they see around the world at his Web site, Signspotting.com. You may rate your favorite signs.
Lansky also edits the Titanic Awards for worst vacation experiences. TheTravelMavens editor David Molyneaux contributed his Titanic favorites.
New York
NewYorkology: Well researched and reported online travel guide to New York City. What's playing? Which subway routes have construction? A guide to restaurant week. Hotel deals. Are the Yanks in town? Winner of 2007 Silver, 2006 Bronze and 2005 Silver awards for Best Internet Publication/Web site in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition, sponsored by the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation. Editor: Amy Langfield. "I would not take a trip to New York City without stopping first at NewYorkology.com," says TheTravelMavens editor David Molyneaux.
Golf
Best Golf Resorts of the World: Links to top luxury golf resorts in the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe, as well as some nice pictures that may encourage you to take up the game because golfers always seem to get the best views. The site publishes a free online magazine and free email newsletter about developing luxury golf resorts. The site has more lists than reviews, but the magazine is well worth a read for serious golfers who travel, because the world of golf courses with luxury accommodations continues to expand. Contributors include golf travel writer Dale Leatherman and Ed Stone, editor of Go Golf and Travel, a good site for reviews of top U.S. golf resorts and courses that Stone has played.
Restaurants
Zagat: The famed guidebook series based on customer restaurant reviews operates an authoritative Website that has news and reviews about top restaurants around the United States and in many cities worldwide. You may subscribe to the free email newsletter Zagat Buzz that includes hot restaurant news and openings. From that newsletter, you can link to restaurant buzz in such cities as Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Or you may pay for a subscription that offers much more detailed information about specific restaurants.
Guidebooks
Lonely Planet and Frommers, both 2007 Lowell Thomas winners, provide travelers with expert guidance beyond the printed pages you see in the book stores.
Flying
Choose your airline seat at Seat Guru: The site shows every airline and every seat on every kind of plane, including the positives and negatives of each seat. SeatGuru.com may help you avoid that spot next to the lavatory.
Business Travel
Seat 2B is Joe Brancatelli's insightful business travel column in Conde Nast's Portfolio.com. Brancatelli, former executive editor of Frequent Flyer, edits a highly useful website, JoeSentMe, and writes a useful free newsletter, the JoeSentMe Executive Summary.
The Travel Insider is edited by David Rowell, formerly a corporate traveler and travel wholesale owner who writes and consults on the travel industry.
News
Slate: Daily magazine with analysis and commentary about travel, as well as politics, news, and culture. Click on Travel & Food. Slate.com, owned by the Washington Post, wins writing awards in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition.
For travel blogs, see Best Travel Blogs.
A good informative post and really appreciate your work.
Got to visit some good sites on travel.
Thanks for the list and keep sharing your information.
Posted by: Turtle Inn | January 20, 2011 at 01:36 AM