Q & A Tips
on How to Plan Your Vacation on the Web
Your
mother's friend's neighbor's dentist said he heard
of a great beach vacation spot. How do you pick what's
right for you, too? Now that a lot of travel booking
has gone cyber, there are new rules when considering
your choices - Which review sites offer the most unbiased
opinions on worldwide destinations? How do you know
which reviews to trust so you don't get stuck being
somewhere you don't want to be and doing things that
sounded good to someone you have nothing in common
with? IgoUgo,
one of the world's largest online travel communities,
answers five key questions to help you end up exactly
where you want to be.
Q.
Is there such a thing as reliable travel advice online, or do
you have to turn to a travel agent for it?
A. Travel agents are good source because they
often have in-depth knowledge of a product, and can put things
into perspective based on your tastes, whereas online perspectives
often get lost.
The
key to finding reliable advice online is knowing whose advice
you're actually taking. Community sites like IgoUgo, which have
full profiles with member's information and photos, make sure
you won't get stuck wondering if it's the reviewer's first international
trip, or better yet, they're the owner of the B&B telling
you how fabulous their fresh omelets are. You can also seek
out reviews from travelers like yourself so you won't be confused
that "great pick-up place" might have meant for a
65 year old retired carpet salesman.
Q. Is saving money always worth it?
A. Gotta get a deal? The hotel may be dirt cheap but if you're sleeping in dirty sheets, or saving $45 dollars on a hotel room to end up a $50 cab ride away, it might not be worth it. So find your safety net with travelers who are just like you, and find out whether that bargain of a lifetime really is a bargain.
Q. More reviews mean I'm getting a better picture, right?
A. Just because a site has 100 reviews of a single place or hotel compared to one that has three reviews doesn't mean that 100 are better. One carefully written and detailed review from someone who isn't anonymous could be more "right" than a slew of comments. The IgoUgo editors review each posting and rate it, so the review posted meets quality standards.
Q. Is it always "what you see is what you get" with online reviews?
A. Oftentimes online travel reviews leave a lot to be desired - a short one-off comment about a destination you're considering might peak you're interest, but leave you hanging when it comes to the details. On IgoUgo, you can ask members questions about any particular review. A lot of the members write about their hometowns, which great when looking for the locals' insider info when choosing a destination.
Q. Can my own experience help other travlers?
A. You can help people by showing them what you know and by adding your unique perspective to each travel experience. The trend of user-generated content encourages people like you to write reviews — not just guidebooks and magazines — and get to share your travel advice and expertise. IgoUgo thanks its members for their thoughtful journals and photo contributions by giving them "GO Points" — award points that are redeemable for frequent flier miles or gift certificates. Free stuff for doing something you love to do? That's almost as fun as planning your next vacation.
(Source: IGoUGo)
