Here are some internet sites that help you be a better traveler.
- From checking the latest arrival
and departure times, to
- Making sure your baggage isn’t
over weight, to
- Getting weather reports world-wide,
to
- Seeing what shots you’ll
need, to
- Learning what Visa requirements
the country you want to visit has
- And more!
Track Flight Arrivals and Departures
Looking for arrival or departure information for a flight
whose number you don’t know? Flight Arrivals
(http://www.flightarrivals.com/) is the one-stop spot
to get real-time arrival and departure data for flights and
airports around the world (although not every airport is listed).
Choose an airline and airport, and get data on flights in
your specified time frame. The site’s info is updated
every 4 minutes. Wireless access will be added soon.
Learn the Baggage Rules for Your Airline
Every airline has different policies for baggage limits, lost-luggage
reports, and itinerary changes, but the details are often
buried in small print on a Web page or an airline ticket.
One Travel’s “Rules of the Air” (http://www.onetravel.com/
click on “Rules of the Air”) tool provides a place
to get all that info quickly. The site lists only U.S.-based
carriers, so not all airlines are covered, but the tool is
simple to use and the data is easy to read.
Reserve Airport Parking in Advance
Book discount airport parking before you arrive at a terminal,
by using the DiscountAirportParking site
(http://www.discountairportparking.net/). The parking lots,
at many U.S., Canada, and UK airports, are located a few blocks
or a few miles from the terminals but offer shuttle service.
A recent search found parking for a three-day weekend at San
Francisco airport lots for $37 to $52.
Find a Radio Station for the Road
Why waste time scanning the radio dial for your favorite tunes
while you’re on the road, when Radio-Locator (http://www.radio-locator.com/)
can help you find a station that plays music you like? You
can search for stations throughout the United States or the
world by geographical region, radio call letters (in the U.S.),
or format (pop, heavy metal, talk radio). Find internet streaming
radio or even world radio. You can also download a list
of stations for any region to your PDA, using the free AvantGo
software.
Get Weather Reports Worldwide
Weather.com (http://www.w3.weather.com/common/welcomepage/world.html)
can deliver travel weather information for most world cities.
Just enter your US Zip code, or choose a world wide city and
get the current conditions!
Look Up What Shots You Need
Before embarking on a trip to another country, get health
information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(http://www.cdc.gov/travel/) . The CDC lists needed vaccinations,
water precautions, and other health advice you should consider
before you depart.
Obtain Foreign Visas
Travisa’s online visa application page (http://www.travisa.com/visa1b.htm)
can help you obtain visas to more than 160 countries and expedite
your passport renewals. Not every country will let you apply
online, but the site provides a postal address and phone number
for embassies that require conventional mail or in-person
applications.
And a few more:
- ATM locator: MasterCard/Maestro/Cirrus
ATM Locator. Pinpoints ATMs worldwide; www.mastercard.com/cardholderservices/atm.
- Cybercafe: Cybercafe Search Engine. Online
since the mid-’90s, it gives directions to more than
6,000 cafe around the world: www.cybercaptive.com.
- Foreign tax refund: Global Refund. VAT
procedures explained: www.globalrefund.com.
- Tourism offices: Tourism Offices Worldwide
Directory. Links to more than 1,200 bureaus and chambers of
commerce: www.towd.com.
- http://www.voltagevalet.com/country/all.html
has a nice table of all the plugs and outlets in the world
by country (plus the voltage; freq.Hz; and even the type of
phone adapter!
If you happen to know the exact plane you will be flying in,
go here to see what seats you can ask for: http://www.seatguru.com/sitemap.html
