Below are just a few of my favorite Web sites that I like to use when planning and booking my adventures. I have many more favorites that I use as references, but I probably use these the most. Please feel free to add to this list by entering your favorites in the comment section.
When I travel, I never leave home without a Lonely Planet guidebook. The guidebooks are incredibly comprehensive for all types of travel to places all over the world and they are imperative for trip-planning as well. So, it is only natural that I often refer to the LP Web site for additional, up-to-date information. You can find updates for guidebooks, get the scoop on hotels and hostels, and read interesting front page features on destinations. LP's Thorn Tree Forum is great reference section for all things travel. It allows you to search by region, country, and topic. Plus, you can post specific questions or simply search for answers.
If I don't have a Lonely Planet or I'm just looking for a place to stay, I tend to look at hotels.com. The site generally offers even lower rates than posted on the hotel's home page. Additionally, I was able to book a room $40 cheaper on hotels.com even though the hotel's home page said no rooms were available. It is easy to navigate - simply type in the city where you want to stay and a slew of options pop up.
Although I typically book flights straight with Air Tran or Frontier (Web sites), I always check out orbitz.com to make sure I am receiving the best deal. For the most part, Orbitz offers the lowest prices compared with its counterparts like Expedia. Plus, the matrix comparing prices over several day options is also helpful if you are flexible with your days.
Taking the flight/hotel search a step further, Smarter Travel's Web site compiles airfares and hotel prices from major travel search engines like Orbitz, Expedia and Cheap Tickets. It will also send you email updates based on your destination.
This site lets you search for adventure and experiential tours to meet your specific criteria from over 130 tour operators. Enter in as much information a you want for region, country, type of activity, length and price range, and you will get a list of tours to choose from. It was rated the top Web site for Adventure Travel by a slew of popular magazines.
