There is plenty of free advice for researching and planning travel available on the internet, if you know where to look.
This week I share some of my favourite websites, and I talk about house-swapping, working holidays and cruises.
When I’ve spoken to holiday makers, one of the most common mistakes is getting the weather wrong. Yes, the holiday is a bargain, but will you be staying inside the hotel during your stay and not on the beach?
You may already have your favourite weather forecast website, but I list a few that you may never have come across before.
With the fall in telephone call prices and the increase of travellers booking direct with companies in other countries, more and more people need to know the local time or the differences between time zones.
Some websites include a time difference calculator as part of their ‘package’, but there are sites that specialise in time difference, and can also include useful information such as dialling codes. I give some examples and explain how search engines can help with the time.
I also talk about weights and measures, money and how to tip.
There’s more to finding somewhere to sleep than hotels, camper vans and tents.
There are websites which can help you to find alternative places to lay your head, from swapping homes to sleeping on a spare bed, and from house sitting to a working holiday. Find out how you can find somewhere unusual to stay.
Cruises are now one of the most popular types of holiday (not with me, I've been put off for life). Once thought of as just holidays for pensioners, the average age of the passengers is dropping all the time.
Cruises can be researched just like other forms of holidays. You can find the best cruise for your plans, check all the itineraries to see what takes your fancy, check reviews on the ships, cabins and even the ports. I talk about the best cruise websites to help you plan your cruise.
