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Researching transports, airlines, travel planners, travel blogs for your vocations and holidays is time consuming and frustrating

Cut out the dross and concentrate on the RECOMMENDED travel planner websites below

frontier airlines - 1It is an accepted cliché that travel broadens the mind.  Although, I do recall one wag suggesting that it had merely made him narrow minded about a broader range of issues. This whole debate around broadmindedness versus narrowmindedness is absurdly simplistic.  A broadminded person is someone who sees evil and sin in nothing; a narrow minded person is someone who sees evil and sin in everything: whereas, surely a wise man would avoid both these extremes and strive to be somewhat more discerning.

I love the story about one of the last Indian viceroys, Lord Curzon.  He was approached by a delegation of Hindu dignitaries who were organising the funeral of some recently deceased local worthy and asked if he would tolerate one of their religious traditions.  They then went on to explain that they wished to burn the widow on the funeral pyre alongside the deceased.  Lord Curzon responded that he was happy to accept their religious traditions if they would reciprocate by accommodating his.  Before agreeing to this, the Hindu delegation wanted to know more about the tradition to which Lord Curzon was referring.  He explained that it involved erecting a scaffold alongside the funeral pyre and hanging every man involved in the widow's death.  Lord Curzon's "narrow mindedness" is surely something that every civilised man would applaud.

To help make your online research considerably more productive and less frustrating, we have listed the best travel sites below under four convenient headings: travel research, tour operators and travel agents, flights and transport, and accommodation providers.

TRAVEL RESEARCH

The following can best be describes as the best of a fairly average bunch.  There is clearly room for a lot of improvements, nevertheless, the forums are excellent for asking lots of questions

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TRIPADVISOR.CO.UK Travel Planner - 1 transport - 1 travel channel - 1 Southwest Airlines - 1 Allegiant Air - 1 Apple Vocations - 1 Holi - 1 ttravel blog - 1 travels - 1 Sell off Vocations - 1 Kayak.com - 1 flight tracker - 1 Orbitz - 1 Zoo Travel - 1 bus travel - 1 Kayak - 1 Late Rooms - 1 Mango - 1 travel - 1 72%

TOUR OPERATORS AND TRAVEL AGENTS

Saga  gave a great deal of information on all of their holidays and were very reliable

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SAGA.CO.UK     holidays - 1flights - 1Transports | airlinestransports - 2 Frontier Airlines - 2 Spirit Airlines - 2 Westjet Vocations - 2 travel planner - 2   77%
TRAILFINDER.COM transport - 2travel channel - 2Southwest Airlines - 2Allegiant Air - 2Apple Vocations - 2 Holie - 2travel blog - 2travels - 2Sell Off Vocations - 2Kayak - 2 flight tracker - 2 Orbitz - 2 Zoo |travel - 2 bus travel - 2 Kayak - 2 Late Rooms - 2 Mango - 2 travel - 2 holidays - 2 flights - 2|Transports | airlines 73%
POCRUISES.COM Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines 72%
HOLIDAYEXTRAS.CO.UK Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines 69%

FLIGHTS AND TRANSPORT

Virgin Atlantic are easy to navigate and the prices shown are what you pay - none of those add-ons scams.

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SAGA.CO.UK     Transports | airlinesTransports | airlinesTransports | airlinesTransports | airlinesTransports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines   77%
TRAILFINDER.COM Transports | airlinesTransports | airlinesTransports | airlinesTransports | airlinesTransports | airlines Transports | airlinesTransports | airlinesTransports | airlinesTransports | airlinesTransports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines 73%

ACCOMMODATION

Hotel Price Comparisons

Travago is uncluttered and easy to use.  Hotel details are shown in brief, but expand when clicked.  You can view several hotels without jumping between pages.  You won’t find detailed information or reviews here.  It is designed for quick and straightforward bookings and does this very well.

thomas cook it

Inexpensive Options

Hostelworld is one of our favourites.  It is an excellent place to look for inexpensive accommodation.  Many hostels now days offer private rooms and facilities, but hotels, B&B, apartments and even campsites are included.  If you are open to more options than just conventional hotels, this is the site for you.

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Luxury and Boutique Options

I-escape puts you in touch with unique and luxury accommodation.  It sends its own staff to evaluate properties, so the reviews tend to be comprehensive, covering pros and cons, rooms, outlook, facilities and local activities.  It is for those seeking something different, but with plenty of modest priced options.

thomas cook it

Unique Heritage

This directory is dedicated to heritage accommodation in the UK and some European countries.  If you never thought of staying in a castle or one time prison, this site just might temp you.  New content is regularly added, so it worth revisiting.  If you enjoy history and something different by way of lodgings this could be your site.

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Hand Picked and Quirky

This site hand picks local and independent accommodation.  The selection ranges from self-catering, B&B, hotels, tree house and yurts in the UK and some European countries.  Sawday uses it own reps to evaluate properties.  People looking for something with plenty of character, may find this site just what they are looking for.

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Home from Home

This is a unique concept where travellers stay in one another’s homes.  It has properties in 192 countries!  Airbnb is a good choice if you want to live as the locals live, but you need to be prepared for quirkiness mixed with the charm.  Guests are encouraged to leave feedback and this is very helpful when trying to evaluate an option.

thomas cook it

 

It is worth searching expedia when planning to go somewhere to get an idea of where the hotels areand the prices to expect.  One will often find better prices here than elsewhere, but it is wise to check the hotel's website also.

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The reviews make good reading and tell you more about the places than just basic details and facilities.  If you are looking for boutique hotel, you won't go far wrong with this website.

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One can get a pretty good idea of an hotel from the feedback left by guests.  Even if it looks brilliant in the glossy brochure, check Tripadvisor to see what recent guests have to say.

thomas cook it

 

 

Premier Inn has easily understandable information but was difficult to find the advertised special offers.

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PREMIERINN.COM Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines 66%
BOOKING.COM Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines 65%
VENERE.COM Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines 65%
HOLIDAYINN.CO.UK Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines 64%
ICHOTELSGROUP.COM Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines 64%
MARRIOTT.CO.UK Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines Transports | airlines 63%


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