Putting the best foot forward while traveling

OK that you have made up your mind to travel , the next big question now pops up is about knowing what the destinations is like so as to double the pleasure of traveling. This can be achieved by only doing an in-depth research of the places. So what are the options available to you. As you are reading this article online, I would assume that your source of information would be the worldwide web as it the best possible medium with a most up-to-date data resource. This article traces some of the online tools available to get you to the truth.

Travel Guides: This is perhaps the best possible source offering useful planning information. You can get a complete information on the overview of a place, how to reach, attractions, excursions, must do activities, important distances under a single source. The scene of online guidebooks just got very competitive after some of the big names from the publishing world and travel agencies (OTAs) have come out with their own set of travel guides covering all parts of the globe.

Well, these guides are wonderful and really worth for those short in time, but there are some follies associated with them also and following them like a holy grail is not always the best way to discover a place. Guidebooks especially those related to traveling in the Indian subcontinent do provide some sections which talks about the dangers and follies while traveling. This can range from a series of stern to subtle warnings related to single woman travelers, going paranoid over the luggage, intentions of the average people on the street and a vast range of 'dos and don't s' which sometimes border on outright comical and instigating panic. All these and much more are encapsulated under the "Dangers and Hazards" section of the guidebooks.

While there is no denying the fact that whatever they say must have been true to some people, but the problem arises when everyone starts to follow this wholly and truly. Bad and awful things do happen but not all the hazards, problems or crimes occurs to someone all the time as they want us to believe. India for most parts is safe and exercising a prudent judgment is often the solution to problems in the course of journey, while following a guidebook as an unyielding authority is not. Remember journey for a greater part is also a discovery.

Personal Blogs: The travel Blogs has now evolved as a highly popular source for getting authentic as well as unusual and sometimes very personal information, strangely enough for all their valuable content they are more often than not an overlooked resource. Blogs with a combination of relevant images, audio content (podcasts) and videos (vlogs) can become a highly effective travel resource.

Zeroing on the places of your interests along with the author credentials is a great way to do research of the blogs. As blogs are similar to journal or a diary it would be best to read the most recent entries. It may not be of the same week or a month before but gleaning over the most up-to-date information is preferable. Travel Blogs can sometimes give you a rare insight which is beyond any guidebooks. Sometimes the authors can seem to be a bit more adventurous than you usually are or the language is too personal or flowery but then these are some of the things which give the blog its inevitable spin. The best way is to search for at least 5/6 blogs on a single place and watch out if there is any trend emerging.

Travel Articles: Article is another great way to scout information about various locations. However credibility of the author and the source is vital.

Forums: Forums are a platform by the travelers for the travelers and of the travelers. That is the best way to describe a forum. There are plenty of forums you just need to find them in your favorite search engine to make them work to your needs. It is a favorite of the traveling community and a place that sees everybody agreeing or even agreeing to disagree. The members in a forum are a helpful bunch of people who incase do not have the answer to any particular question would direct you to someone who knows that. Information is mostly unbiased. Forums talk of the distances, driving directions, safety considerations teal by actual people who have been to there. You can continue the thread by asking relevant questions after someone else's post. However, to reiterate, the last word is better to gain a multiple set of opinions to see if there is a general consensus or trend emerging before concluding.

AK Roy is a freelance journalist and travel enthusiast. He is writing extensively for publications and websites from India and UK including IHR a prominent online travel agency and hotel booking engine. Experience of 15 years in writing about travel and travel related issues. Published more than 10 books and research journals on or related to travel.