You know, doing all this sitesurfin’ can really wear on a person. When that happens, it’s time for a vacation. Thankfully, I surfed across TripAdvisor. Now I can get the inside scoop on what’s really going on at my coveted travel destinations.TripAdvisor.com claims to be the largest travel community in the world, with more than 20 million unique monthly visitors worldwide (source: comScore Media Metrix, July 2006).
TripAdvisor’s advantage over other sites is that it features real advice from real travelers. More than 5 million unbiased reviews and opinions, covering 220,000+ hotels and attractions can be found on the site. Sounds like more information overload? Actually the TripAdvisor breaks the material down into very manageable bites.
Start by clicking on a particular region of the world. Next click on a particular country on that region’s map. After that take advantage of a new “Inside” TripAdvisor feature. It’s a wiki , ( A collaborative website whose content can be edited by anyone who has access to it) where contributors offer essential information usually known only by natives or by veteran travelers. The three major “Inside” categories are Background, Things to Do, and For Foreign Visitors. Background gives perspective on that country’s history, an overview of it, the country’s weather, and the best time to travel there. Things to Do is self-explanatory. For Foreign Visitors has vital information including important phrases to know in the local vernacular, how to access banks and money, crossing the border, and what to do in the case of an emergency.
If you’ve had enough of screechy TV commercials, loud direct mail pamphlets and pushy travel agents, then TripAdvisor.com is a great spot to stop, breathe and research your next and future trips at a leisurely pace.
