Yes, its yet another online travel agency claiming to give "the best values anywhere." Don't forget, though, rates here are determined by days of travel, staying over on a Saturday, black-out dates for sales, and all of the other fine print. In any case, the prices I saw were cheap enough to raise a few hopeful eyebrows. Book air travel, hotels, condos, resorts, planned trips, and cruise packages specifically suited for families, honeymooners, nature lovers, gays, history buffs, gamblers, or Disney disciples. Reserving cheap airfare, however, can be a slow process when this site gets jammed with visitors seeking the same dealsafter all, who doesn't want to save pennies on their plane rides? - David Pescovitz
If youre looking for the best place to pitch a tent or plug in your RV, then hike on over to CampNet America. The handy Campground Locator is searchable by state within the U.S., but it also includes some helpful information on camping in Mexico and the Caribbean. You can connect with fellow campers in the Campfire Forum, swap tales of the backwoods in the Travelers Journal, and browse through the links to dozens of other online camping resources. Despite its ugly design, there's enough information at the site to make a person fire up the Winnebago, break out the kerosene, and strap on a backpack. - Emily Soares
There are a lot of great travel guides out there, so this may not be the most comprehensive and objective guide to the travelers world. But it is a contender. The A to Z Country Fact Finder steals the show here: just pick the country you want, and presto! You can choose from eight different categories of information, including climate, accommodations, night life, shopping, and even business. The guide also lists U.S. states, as well as such lesser known destinations as Bonaire. Its easy to use, slick, and definitely worth a visit. - Dorrit Tulane Walsh
Once known as the land of a million elephants, this diverse and oft-ravaged country is home to 68 different ethnic groups. This well-organized site offers an introduction to Laotian culture and customs; loads of travel-related information, including visa and transportation needs; and a tour through some of Laos most interesting attractions, complete with tantalizing photos. If youre just dropping by for tourist survival information, you can get what you need quickly, but its best to linger and visit the points of interest in this beautiful land of monasteries, waterfalls, and mythic history. - Emily Soares
Should I go East or West? How long can I afford to stay away? What about the weather? This text-only assemblage of links, archives, and how-to inspiration helps you answer the most ponderous travel questions. Start with a map of the world, cut it up, and choose your countries of destination. The rest is easy! The site provides route possibilities, suggestions for theme travel (want to trace the course of Western history? Egypt to Israel to wherever), and lots of advice on round-the-world ticketing. The resources here are truly amazing, the advice is practical, and the enthusiasm is infectious. Enter at your own risk. - Emily Soares
Find out how islanders spends their harried days and what you can do to help. This site is devoted to the leisurely possibilities of the Cayman Islands. Decide what accommodations suit your needs-you get descriptions, contact information, and a registration form for a variety of resorts, hotels, condominiums, and B&Bs. Then explore the areas rich culinary history, and decide what youll eat after a hard day at the beach. (I'm going to get the conch fritters and iced coconut soupyum.) Access helpful facts, island history, sightseeing and entertainment tips, customs and culture, and more. Theres even a section devoted to the cost of living just to dispel the myth that island life is always carefree.... - Emily Soares
You never know what youll find herea 17th-century Italian villa for rent, a Big Foot tour, a gay Caribbean cruise. Vacations, Inc. doesnt seem to seek out any particular type of travel product or exercise any discretion over the home rentals, hotels, B&Bs, tours, study programs, and cruises that appear hereapparently, anything a person or company pays to post goes. Many categories contain only a few listings, and theyre literally all over the map. This hodgepodge, combined with the lack of a search function and real home page (theres just a navigation bar), makes Vacations, Inc. an electronic grab bagit may yield gems, it may yield junk. - Sandra Stewart
This sitewritten with dry wit and genuine affection by a Montana exchange studentpresents a refreshingly candid glimpse into the realities of life in Russia. Russian Through a Montanan's Eyes, the sites highlight, consists of essays such as "Chillin' with Pizza Hut Guido," "5 Million People-All on Your Bus," and "Big Country, Big Dogs." Other sections worth checking out are Contemporary Russian Life, which contains brief synopses on the state of Russian political, economic, and social issues, and the Photo Album, which features an interesting daily travelog with links to some GIFs. The site has a lot to offer, not because it has great aesthetics or technical sophisticationit doesntbut because its a refreshing break from the hype of most "tourism" sites. - Rachel Saidman
Atevo wants to build the first community-based travel site where people with a common love of travel will gather to explore, inform, and plan." Despite some nice featuresincluding a pleasant design and a printable guide to each of the cities and countries profiled the site would be more effective with a narrower focus. In the highly competitive Internet travel industry, the sites that stand out are those that offer truly extensive resources, cover a city or region completely, or take an idiosyncratic or unusual approach. This site doesn't currently possess any of these distinctions. - Rachel Saidman
The Encyclopedia of the Orient was created by the Centre d'Information Arabe Scandinave, "a company that tries to give people interested in information on North Africa and the Middle East the most comprehensive Web sites covering every possible subject." Comprehensive is the key word here. Click on the letter R, for instance, and topics/people ranging from Yitzhak Rabin (deceased Israeli Prime Minister) to Riyad (Saudi capital) appear. Click on the word, and text explaining what it is and the words pronunciation will appear in a neighboring Frame. This site will remind you how little you know about the rest of the world. - David Pescovitz
The Caribbean, a lawn chair, and a pina colada not your thing? Take a Learning Vacation and get educated about wine, sailing, diving, cooking, golf, languages, and so on. This site will point you to the right "education as vacation" port of entry. Select what it is you'd like to learn, and browse a list of resorts, schools, facilities, and tours to match your interest. Monthly features on the likes of Space Camp or Saving Sea Turtles vacations will inspire you with vacation ideas. Alaska or Egypt? Hmm ... - David Pescovitz
Part of the WWW.Travelclub in the U.K., World Travel Net is a comprehensive guide to the data you'll need before exploring this planet. The site is divided into 28 sections covering everything from currency to theme parks and cruises, to hotels and apartments to casinos and golf courses. Search by city, country, or company name, and you'll be linked to numerous Web sites that feature the specific information you're after. Whether a Denmark cruise or a dive in Borneo tickles your fancy, there's a company somewhere on the Web that will get you there World Travel Net is the online tour guide to help you find it. - David Pescovitz