Indispensable Web Sites for travelling?

[cove]

Are there web sites you consider totally indispensable in your travel plans?
Why?

 

[NM]

The Australian Frequent Flyer Online Community - The Australian Frequent Flyer or course

 

[Danger]

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....software/internet-tools-for-travel-10415.html

 

[kpc]

For those that use Flight Memory to log their flights, I found a great (much better, IMHO) site tonite called: OpenFlights.org: Flight logging, mapping, stats and sharing . If you already use Flight Memory, it is very easy to import all your flight data into OpenFlights:mrgreen:....otherwise, it could be a very, very long night!! You can compare both versions by clicking on each of the links in my signature below. OpenFlights has lots of cool features that FlightMemory hasn't. The best is that you can display all your flights on Google Earth (I think you have to create your own account; I don't think you can see mine, unfortunately)...it looks fantastic!!:idea:

 

[munitalP]

For me:

XE - The World's Favorite Currency and Foreign Exchange Site for currency calculations
www.expedia.com for comparing hotel costs (have often contacted accor regarding price differences and achieved a discount)
Online Hotel Discount Reservations Worldwide - Book Your Hotel With Agoda for very useful user comments regarding hotels (mainly Asia)
Cheap Hotels & Accommodation at AsiaRooms, the Last Minute Hotel reservations booking experts - same as above

and of course

The Australian Frequent Flyer Online Community - The Australian Frequent Flyer

munitalP

 

[blueflamenco]

Most of those above plus Reviews of Hotels, Flights and Vacation Rentals - TripAdvisor

 

[serfty]

• The Australian Frequent Flyer Online Community - The Australian Frequent Flyer

• www.checkmytrip.com

• Flight Availability | Upgrades | Frequent Flyer Information

• FlyerTalk - The world's most popular frequent flyer community

• Mileage Monkey

• Great Circle Mapper

• ba97.com | Travel Calendar

• Matrix - ITA Software

• Track Flight Status, Airport Delays and other Flight and Airport Information

• Discounted First Class and Flyer Talk Fares

 

[BVT]

Two stand out:

Trip Advisor and AFF!

 

[browski]

My top 5 are:

1. Wikipedia site for each airport - shows a listing of each airline that services the airport and their destinations - good for find obscure options like KUL-PEK on Air Zimbabwe like Kuala Lumpur International Airport - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2. ITA Software: Login - especially the classic version, not the latest one.
3. Travel: Cheap Flights, Hotels, Holiday Packages & Car Hire | Expedia.com.au - online price guide comparison
4. TripIt - Travel Itinerary - Trip Planner - online travel itinerary planner
5. Reviews of Hotels, Flights and Vacation Rentals - TripAdvisor for hotel reviews.

 

[wallacej]

For those that use Flight Memory to log their flights, I found a great (much better, IMHO) site tonite called: OpenFlights.org: Flight logging, mapping, stats and sharing . If you already use Flight Memory, it is very easy to import all your flight data into OpenFlights:mrgreen:....otherwise, it could be a very, very long night!! You can compare both versions by clicking on each of the links in my signature below. OpenFlights has lots of cool features that FlightMemory hasn't. The best is that you can display all your flights on Google Earth (I think you have to create your own account; I don't think you can see mine, unfortunately)...it looks fantastic!!:idea:

And it appears the flightmemory is not working ATM... can anyone else get on?

 

[cove]

As always I am so glad I asked.
Being a real creature of habit I realized I don't use the full power of what is out there.
My favourites are quite different so now I have a research file so thank you all for your contributions.

 

[Postcode]

Some great suggestions above and onya for posting them.

One that I use when travelling and using a variety of currencies is http://www.oanda.com/currency/travel-exchange-rates

Click on Traveler's Cheat Sheet and print up multiple copies. Then click ReverseFX Cheatsheet. So handy.

 

[wallacej]

As always I am so glad I asked.
Being a real creature of habit I realized I don't use the full power of what is out there.
My favourites are quite different so now I have a research file so thank you all for your contributions.

And your favourites are? Care to share?

 

[serfty]

Oops, I omitted XE - The World's Favorite Currency and Foreign Exchange Site

Good tools:

• XE - Universal Currency Converter
• XE - Credit Card Charges Calculator

 

[cove]

Today I am in Perth so I will do a post after the beach.
Please remember I am an FF Fiend and I think wholesale after a life as a wholesaler following a life as a tax accountant.
Please dont view anything I post as a brag as we have places in Sydney,Melbourne,Los Angeles and Perth and may get a place around Canary Wharf thanks to the Aussie dollar going zoom,zoom,zoom.....

 

[Hvr]

Lots of good sites already mentioned and I'll try to avoid doubling up:

The QANTAS Source - the independent, impartial guide to all things QANTAS.

https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/do/dyns/initialPointsEarned
Have to check to make those status runs are going to get me the SCs I need.

IHateTaxis.com: An International Travellers' Transportation Guide
Good as another check.

Listen to Live ATC (Air Traffic Control) Communications | LiveATC.net
To get a fix when I cannot fly.

http://www.canberraairport.com.au/air_toAndFrom/rate_cal.cfm
Should I drive or take a taxi?

 

[cove]

Here we go:
Australianfrequentflyer as it got me the TAX OFFICE lead for paying on a credit card back in April,2009.
Expedia.com.au great for hotel reviews and easy booking for US in fair $AUS.They have side offers that can be wonderful so it can be for a cheapie short haul,great hotel and then their side offers for tours,shows and tidbits
Wotif for hotels in OZ
Lasvegas.com for lining up what is on in Vegas and accommodation
comgateway.com for shopping to get delivered to Australia from USA
The big business hotel names for weekend rates starting Thursday night thru Sunday morning for those high priced cities like New York,San Francisco and so on. Four Seasons,Intercontinental,Fairmont and Omni are great hotels but their rack rates are like having a vacuum cleaner running full throttle.You can get these directly or thru Expedia or equivalent at a fraction on many weekends.
Obviously AMEX,WESTPAC KRIS,CITI SELECT and EVERYDAYREWARDS to run up zillions of points.
If we go to Sydney in J on QF ex PER return that is from 72k points costs $468 plus a booking fee (using points off paying taxes on Visa).Any Seat is a bit more but it gets you SC and points.You need Silver on QF or goodbye seat selection.
Qantas and Singaporeair have become a big part of the searching for one way at a time opportunities.Mrscove is a foundation shareholder of QF so she goes QF as first choice rather than SQ.
Stubhub for great sports tickets in the US.
Westpac for wiring funds with correct exchange rates to a $USD account.
Latimes and Newyorktimes for a quick check before heading in that direction.
Primetime for shuttle or a driver in Los Angeles.

 

[cove]

I left out Serfty's Arguscarhire for our American car travel.Only used it once so far but it is an instant favourite with everyone in our work place.It fixes a price with insurance so you don't get conned at a hire car desk.

 

[cove]

AAA.com is helpful for that "bucket list" help in doing a drive USA holiday.
The back of your RAC/NRMA card has your AAA co-membership number. Mine is 397 for the WA issued card.

 

[sr81]

I left out Serfty's Arguscarhire for our American car travel.Only used it once so far but it is an instant favourite with everyone in our work place.It fixes a price with insurance so you don't get conned at a hire car desk.

The only problem with Argus is that it really stuggles with locations other than airports.

I also use Kayak.com for checking fares on the road. I find that its Blackberry version is simple and fast.