How to Travel Practically Anywhere

368 Pages·2006·4.02 MB·English

by  Susan Stellin

How to Travel Practically Anywhere
The Ultimate
Travel Guide
Susan Stellin
Table of Contents
Title Page
Table of Contents
...
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Introduction
PART I
1. Researching Your Destination
2. Organized Trips
PART II
3. General Advice
4. Plane Tickets
5. Lodging
6. Cruises
7. Rental Cars, Trains, and Buses
PART III
8. Pretrip Preparations
9. At the Airport
10. What to Do If.
Acknowledgments
Index
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
BOSTON • NEW YORK
2006
Copyright © 2006 by Susan Stellin
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
For information about permission to reproduce selections
from this book, write to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Company,
215 Park Avenue South, New York, New York 10003.
Visit our Web site: www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stellin, Susan.
How to travel practically anywhere / Susan Stellin.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-618-60753-2
ISBN-10: 0-618-60753-6
1. Travel—Guidebooks. I. Title.
G153.4.S736 2006
910'.2'02—dc22 2005022728
Book design by Robert Overholtzer
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA QUM 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
THIS BOOK IS INTENDED TO PRESENT THE RESEARCH AND IDEAS OF
ITS AUTHOR, WHO HAS DONE HER BEST TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY
OF THE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION. BUT TRAVEL
POLICIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE, SO READERS SHOULD CONFIRM
THIS INFORMATION WITH THE TRAVEL COMPANY IN QUESTION, OR
SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PROFESSIONAL FOR GUIDANCE ON A SPECIFIC
SITUATION. THE AUTHOR AND PUBLISHER DO NOT ACCEPT RESPON-
SIBILITY FOR ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS RESULTING DIRECTLY OR INDI-
RECTLY FROM INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS BOOK.
To my parents, for staying put ... and for letting
me go when I first got the urge to wander.
Contents
Introduction [>]
Part I
PLANNING
1. RESEARCHING YOUR DESTINATION [>]
[>] SOURCES OF INSPIRATION
A week off and no idea where to go
[>] CHOOSING A GUIDEBOOK
Which series fits your style—and budget
[>] ON-LINE TRAVEL FORUMS
Advice from fellow travelers
[>] VISITOR AND TOURIST OFFICES
On the Web, a .com for every destination
[>] THE LOCAL PERSPECTIVE
When going to Rome, ask a Roman
[>] WHEN TO GO
Avoiding hurricanes, honeymooners, and holidays—or not
[>] GOVERNMENT TRAVEL ADVISORIES
Reading between the lines
2. ORGANIZED TRIPS [>]
[>] GOING WITH A GROUP
Tours aren't necessarily just for tourists
[>] GET OUTDOORS
Hiking, biking, and other active travels
[>] RELAX, ALREADY
Spa vacations and yoga retreats
[>] CULINARY ADVENTURES
When food is the focus
[>] VOLUNTEER VACATIONS
Trips that make a difference
[>] OPTIONS FOR SOLO TRAVELERS
Resources, trips, and travel companions
Part II
BOOKING
3. GENERAL ADVICE [>]
[>] THE TRAVEL MARKETPLACE
Everybody wants your business, but where should you buy?
[>] EVALUATING VACATION PACKAGES
When they're a bargain and when they're not
[>] MEMBER BENEFITS
When a discount isn't a deal
[>] TRAVEL INSURANCE
What it does and doesn't cover
[>] BIDDING AND BOOKING BLIND
How you can save with Priceline or Hotwire
[>] HELP FOR LAST-MINUTE PLANNERS
Options at the eleventh hour
[>] USING A TRAVEL AGENT
What an agent can do for you—and where to find one
4. PLANE TICKETS [>]
[>] WHERE TO RESEARCH FARES