Researching Your Destination(s)

 

 

There has never been such a large and sometimes daunting amount of information to sift through when it comes to your potential destinations.  Aside from finding out information on the fun aspects of a trip there’s always the nuts and bolts information on travel health and safety, visa issues and costs to consider.  The trouble can be finding independent information… we can help.

On the travel safety side of things always check www.smartraveller.gov.au for up to date safety advice for any potential destination.  You can also check out the on the  road pages and Dr. Adam’s travel health section on this site for more information on staying in one piece.

Some potential questions to ask yourself and others while planning your trip might be..

• What do I actually want to do? – A beach holiday doing nothing or something more adventurous? A bit of both?
• What time of the year is best? (will it be hot/cold/overcrowded)
• When is peak time? (when there will be the most tourists and higher prices)
• Are there any immunisations or other travel safety considerations I need to be informed of before I go?
• What sort of costs are involved in getting there and around?
• How long is enough in the one place?
• Visas? Working or volunteering? Is my passport up to date?
• Are there any cultural considerations I should be aware off ?(solo women especially)

Some potential sources for answering these questions…

The Internet

Googling your destination is an easy way to start, though you will probably just end up at sites with the biggest advertising budgets…

Aussie Travel Advice (www.aussietraveladvice.com).  As our humble site grows there will be more and more destination specific information.  The sections on pre planning, insurance and flights will help save you time and money before you go.  The site has come about as a result of wanting specific resources in one place rather than spending too much time looking around; we hope you get something from the site! Check out the Destination tips section and see what’s there.

Tourism websites are a popular source of travel information.  Though if you believe everything on these sites you might end up expecting the most untouched paradise on earth (even if you are going to Bonnie Doon).  Check out the site Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory (www.towd.com) for a list of most tourism offices worldwide.

The Qantas website (http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/destination-guide/global/en) has a good destination guide section.

The CIA Factbook (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html) has a technical approach (stats on population ect) for every destination.

Lonely Planet Thorn Tree (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/index.jspa) is a great resource for tips from other travellers who have been there or are there and perhaps a little bored.  Just sign on and maybe give our site a mention!

Unesco (www.unesco.org) has a list of world heritage sites.

Google Earth can be a great way to get your head around the location of any country, city town or even village you have your eye on.  If you don’t already have it download it here (www.earth.google.com/).  Clicking the options for surf spots, features (mountains, waterways etc.) and tourism info can be a great source of information.

Travel Blogs

Internet travel blogs can be a great source of inspiration for your trip and are typically online posts from authors on extended trips around the world.  Check out our travel blog or have a look at the travel links section for more people blogging there way around the world.

Newspapers

The weekend travel section of the weekly papers can be a helpful, as can their online counterparts.  Just be careful of the bombardment of advertising at every page turn or click.  There are some great writers who occasionally feature there, but it’s a better spot to look for package deals than for independent travel advice.

Guidebooks

Guidebooks like the Lonely Planet and the Rough Guide have become the ubiquitous travel accessory, and for good reason.  They make travel around a country much easier process, giving you reviews of transport, accommodation and activities.  The downsides to these books are that they can often be 2-3 years out of date by the time they hit the shelves.  It’s always a good idea to check on local conditions from other sources before you go.

The second downside is the so called ‘lonelyplanitisation’ effect these books have had; travel circuits have formed around most parts of the globe and if it’s in the guidebook there is little chance of solace away from hordes of other travellers, if that’s what you are after.

Travel agents

Travel agents will usually be happy to share their knowledge of a specific destination with you; just be aware that agents work on commission and the more unscrupulous will be happy to point you to whatever product or destination makes them more money.  Have a read of Travel agents: Am I being ripped off? before you use one. There are far more independent sources of travel advice out there; just don’t rely on an agents opinion alone unless you have full confidence in them.

Online Travel Agencies

Sites such as Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity all have destination guides that can be useful.  Both local STA and Flight Centre websites have similar guides; just watch for the hail of advertising pushing you towards their tours ect.. again, not an independent source of travel information and advice.  For round the world ticket information try our RTW section rather than the highly biased agent sites!!

The site Trip Advisor (www.tripadvisor.com) is a good source of traveller reviews that will give you an idea of where or where not go go/stay while you are away. Its highly subjective but a usefull resource.

Books

Once upon a time people actually went to the library for research.   It can still be a great place to stock up on inspiration and travel advice for your trip.  Local council libraries will often have big selections of lonely planet guides to borrow, saving you heaps if you are using them to pre plan.  Older tales of exploration from well before the advent of Jetstar can be great to get your imagination going; especially if you are heading off to some off the beaten track destination.

There’s a good list of inspiring travel books at; (http://www.abebooks.com/blog/index.php/2009/03/06/20-most-inspiring-travel-books/)

SBS publishes a great world guide that you can find online or at any decent bookshop. Now into its 16th edition it has facts and useful info on every country in the world. You can buy it at (http://www.sbs.com.au/shop/product/category/Books/79/SBS-World-Guide-Sixteenth-Edition).

Travel Magazines

There are plenty of magazines dedicated to travel.  Try these for a dose of inspiration:

Conde Nest Traveller: A glamourzine dedicated to unaffordable travel experiences (for most).  Perhaps best left out on the coffee table of an inner city apartment.

Wanderlust: A U.K travel magazine that is probably the best of its kind for independent travel information.  You can buy or subscribe online, or it may be available in some newsagents.  Well worth checking out.

National Geographic: Still one of the world’s best magazines.  Not solely dedicated to travel but has the best photography and always gives you a sense that adventure is still out there to find.  A bit bland at times but still always worth a read.

This site will provide you with a great place to start planning your holiday.  We have sifted through heaps of the best resources for you. Have a good look around!

Next up: Be your own agent

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