Do your holiday research ONLINE...

There is no denying that technology is here to stay - namely internet  - one of the key ways of giving and receiving informatiion for travellers . With just a few keystrokes and a clicks  - information is instantly available . But amidst all the cyber clutter , how do we ensure that we find and receive reliable information to help us plan our travels ?


> Tripadvisor :
One of the favourite sites and possibly the most comprehensive traveller review site available is tripadvisor.com . While the site provides helpful traveller reviews and first hand information on hotels , destinations and tips , be sure to read between the lines and ask yourself if the reviewer shares the same mind set as you . Also , if you come across any negative reviews , check the date it was posted . Sometimes the establishment are quick to change, move or close . Look for reviews which include pictures that are taken by other travellers . They can help give you a better picture of the place that you are reading about . You can refer to my reviews under the member name of  " wazaruha " as a start .


>Bloggers :
Gone are the days of writing about your travels in journals . Today , every major city has a smorgasbord of travels bloggers waiting to disseminate valuable travel tips and advice to anyone who's willing to read it . A great way to source for blog sites is to use Google Blog Search and key in your destination . Once you have read the information on the site , go the extra mile and contact them for personnel recommendation of what interest you . Like my two blogs  , "  albumoflife-wazaruha " and " albumoflife-wazaruha1 " , I am happy to share with uols ...........

>Travel Forums :
While travel forums are not exactly the most popular choice amongst online researchers today , there are some excellent sites that can get you credible information . Try checking out sites from brands that have a long standing history of providing excellent travel information such as LonelyPlanet.com , Fodors.com or RoughGuides.com . Fodors can sometimes lean towards older , slightly affluent users , while LonelyPlanet might be more suitable for younger travellers who are ready to rough it out .

>Social Networking :
One of the best ways to get first-hand information about a specific travel destination is to update your facebook , twitter or whatsapp status . Ask your friends for suggestion or recommendation of places to visit at the destination you are visiting . You know that you are getting trustworthy information because they are coming from your own friends .