99 Ways to Use the Web to Travel Like a Ninja

Photos: ToastyKen as great as TheAlieness GiselaGiardino / Mashup: Sarah Park

Links to each tool youll need to devise your outing from start to finish.

THESE DAYS YOU CAN TRAVEL though leaving your armchair. We explored how in posts similar to Paris 26GigaPixels: A Virtual Tour, Google Tourism: Is Nothing Sacred Anymore?, as great as Virtual Travel: Nothing Like the Real Thing.

When we want to do it right, though, the Internets additionally money to devise as great as research. Who needs the ride representative nowadays? Especially when youve got websites similar to these during your fingertips.

The Internet age is the age of the ride ninja.

Finding the Cheapest Flight

Should we buy the craft sheet now? Or wait? Microsofts Farecast has great report upon many of the vital American routes, as great as for Europe,Vuelings Price Calendar competence save we the little euros.

For students as great as any one under 26, StudentUniverse has the little of the lowest prices around as great as the great flexible planner. And as fallbacks, standards similar to Kayak, SideStep, as great as EuroCheapo trawl the opposite airlines to have certain youve found the lowest price out there.

Photo: autumn_bliss

U.S. travelers, dont forget to have make use of of this airline baggage fee chart to take in to account charges not reflected in the price of the ticket.

Alternatively, have make use of of SeatGuru choose the airline upon the left as great as afterwards click the Baggage tab.

Once youve got your confirmations, plug them all in to your profile during Tripit for an easy approach to keep track.

Finding the Best Flight

Its not regularly about the sheet price, especially upon prolonged hauls. E! nter sit es similar to SeatGuru, which assistance we find the seats with the many legroom as great as snazziest personal entertainment system.

Recently launched HasWifi will additionally let we know if we can expect Web access en track (they usually cover 7 airlines so far, though give them time.)

Matador has info upon The Worlds 10 Most Technologically Advanced Airport Terminals as great as The Worlds Worst Airports. And for astonishing layovers, theres the classic Sleeping in Airports, as great as the Budget Travelers Guide to Sleeping In Airports.

Ground Transportation

Once youve landed, youll need to know how to get around. Use ToAndFromTheAirport.com to find your elite method of getting in to the city, as great as behind to the airfield when its time to go.

Photo: Ben Fredericson (xjrlokix)

Or, have make make use of of of World Taxi Meter to find out how much your taxi will price anywhere in the world.

Traveling overland? There have been ways to do it for giveaway or for the little gas money.

PickUpPal.com matches up drivers as great as passengers. Dont overlook online classifieds similar to Craigslist.org (worldwide), Kijiji.ca (Canada), Gumtree.com.au (Australia), as great as Gumtree.co.nz (New Zealand). Go to Rideshare under the Community section.

HitchWiki is the beam for hitchhikers, giving country-specific report about this age-old practice. Its the great apparatus for travelers brand new to hitching, with reserve tips as great as alternative info to assistance have the knowledge smoother.

Tim Patterson has his own tips in The Hitchhikers Guide To Hitchhiking.

Renting the Car

You can find the little flattering honeyed deals using VroomVroomVroom.com, as well as there have been no extra fees to book through them.

Once we get upon the road, youll want to know what trade is similar to where youre head! ed. Chec k the trade function in Google Maps or try Traffic.com.

Dont get destitute for lead foot. Find speed traps during Trapster. And when its time to fill the tank which we should really do prior to we lapse it check out GasBuddy to locate the cheapest fuel in the area.

We have utterly the few road trips mapped out upon the Road Trips Focus Page. For American drivers looking for the little track inspiration, myscenicdrives additionally has the little suggestions.

Photo: Ian @ ThePaperboy.com

Cycle Touring

Bike paths have been great to have make make use of of of in cities; have make use of of Bikely or MapMyRide. For longer tours, we can find giveaway place to live or just the place to purify up during WarmShowers.

If youre starting to be cycling in Europe, download the giveaway European Cycling Lexicon (pdf) for bike parts as great as word translations in 22 languages.

And have certain to read up upon 8 Steps for Successful Self-Supported Bicycle Tours prior to we go.

Other Transportation

If youre planning any sight travel, the idealisation online apparatus is The Man in Seat 61. Thats all there is to it.

Fancy boat folks can find report upon as great as book marinas during PortBooker. The reduction whim competence enjoy guidance How to Travel by Cargo Ship.

Accommodations

We certitude we know the common sites for engagement hostels as great as hotels, though for loyal deals how about the little gambling? At Off & Away we can win the luxury room in the New York (or alternative U.S. destination) hotel for the price of the customary room. Here have been the little utilitarian bidding tips.

Photo: MmMmMmMatt

Our Hostels apparatus page has copiousne! ss of ti ps youll want to know (like where to have sex).

And in case we dont similar to engagement blind, there have been resources similar to TripAdvisor, Lonely Planets Thorn Tree forums, as great as Matadors own ride forums where we can read/post reviews as great as ask questions of those whove been before.

Not meddlesome in profitable for lodging? Thats alright. Besides the uber-popular Couchsurfing.org, youve got HospitalityClub.org as great as GlobalFreeloaders.com to find the giveaway place to stay. 10 Ways to Improve Your Couchsurfing Odds is precious if youre brand new to this.

Just remember, its never usually about the giveaway accommodations the real takeaway is cultural sell as great as broadening your perspectives.

Packing

Weve lonesome this emanate super in-depth during Matador. All we need is upon the Packing Tips Focus Page.

Photo: CarbonNYC

Staying Connected

Search JiWire to find wifi hotspots around the world. That approach we can start or keep up your really own ride blog as great as let everyone behind home know what youre up to. Beats promulgation postcards.

Unless which postcard is sent from your iPhone.

Phone calls can be the bit harder to work out. Country Calling Codes will assistance we put together the disaster of digits youll need to dial internationally. CountryCode.org is great too, as great as has alternative utilitarian destination information.

Also, European travelers competence benefit from guidance How to Buy, Set Up as great as Use the Cell Phone in Europe.

Staying Safe

Travel reserve is #1. SquareMouth compares opposite ride word policies so we can choose whats best for you. TravelInsuranceFacts should answer any subject we competence have about ride insurance.

For solo womanlike travelers, check out Journeywoman.com for resources created specifically for wom! en. Herm ail.net is the office where we can connect with alternative womanlike travelers.

A lot of Americans hatred upon the State Departments ride advisorieswith great reason. But if we similar to the idea of Uncle Sam meaningful where youre during as great as shooting we updated warnings, we can register here.

Recreation

Through Whatsonwhen, we can search by city, date, as great as category to find parties, festivals, as great as alternative events taking place during your destination.

There have been copiousness of specialty sites (far more than we can list here) which we can have make use of of to find specific activities/opportunities which appeal to you, similar to hiking trails, stone climbing gyms, hauntings, giveaway guided on foot tours (Europe), audio city guides, disc golf courses (U.S.), cooking classes, Irish pubs, Hash House Harriers, geocaching,

For reviews of restaurants as great as more, its Yelp (in the U.S., Canada, as great as the UK currently).

General Destination Info

There have been copiousness of online alternatives out there to the traditional guidebook. Wikitravel is, obviously, the Wikipedia of travel, with all the intensity as great as pitfalls of which system.

The destination pages during Lonely Planets site have been great for the ubiquitous logistical pass to place facts similar to weather/seasons, ride info, as great as visa fees have been covered. You can additionally download pdfs of their guidebooks, by chapter.

Project Visa has more visa info than we ever longed for to know, upon what looks similar to each country in the world.

Photo: tolomea

Dont grill your laptop! Find out what voltage as great as pin pattern your destination uses. Again, CountryCode.org is the great apparatus for this, as is ElectricalOutlet.org as great as kropla.com.

No make the difference where yo! ure goin g, Localyte lets we put questions to internal folks. As of this writing, the user whod created in Looking for the great beach locale near Rio had received 20 responses in 2 days.

Road Junky can assistance we devise your budget with their Country Cost Comparison Tool. And dont forget the plastic: Best Credit Cards For Travelers.

Fodors has the little really simple though additionally really giveaway denunciation lessons. You can even print out the pdf of pass difference to carry around with you.

And for everything Southeast Asia, we cant go wrong with Travelfish.org.

Post-Trip

Matadors got we lonesome when we get back. Read about How To Reconnect With Your Friends After The Journey, 6 Simple Ways To Beat The Post-Travel Blues, as great as Facing Off Against Reverse Culture Shock.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

For each website listed here there have been probably the dozen weve missed. What have been your favorite sites to have make use of of when ride planning?