1. Trip Insurance – Trip insurance can cover the costs of prepaid and non-refundable expenses in the event of unforeseen circumstances that prevent you from departing such as the death of a family member or an illness.
2. Vacation Rental Insurance – Coverage for vacation dwellings such as villas, condos or cottages is available through many traveler’s insurance companies to cover your personal effects in the event of natural disaster or the cost of securing other quarters if the property you originally rented is damaged before your arrival.
3. Travel Medical Insurance – Because most health insurance plans provide extremely limited or non-existent coverage during foreign travel, it might be a good idea to secure travel medical insurance in the event of an overseas injury or illness.
4. Work-Related Cancellation Insurance – Work-related cancellation insurance plans can provide protection from the loss of prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses in the event of a trip that’s cut short or canceled altogether because of unexpected employment or business conflicts.
5. Lost or Destroyed Luggage Insurance – Many insurance companies now offer policies that cover luggage in the event of loss or destruction. Anyone who travels frequently knows that this is coverage will eventually be needed, as baggage will inevitably become lost or damaged at some point.
6. Inclement Weather Insurance – If your vacation lodgings or destination becomes uninhabitable due to inclement weather, there is insurance coverage available to offset the cost of a spoiled vacation.
7. Accident and Emergency Travel Insurance – In the event of a life-threatening accident or emergency, specialized travel insurance can cover the cost of medical transport back home and cover the loss non-refundable vacation expenses. Emergency medical transportation can be financially devastating for foreign travelers, so this might be a good investment.
8. Embassy Visa Insurance – Some foreign embassies require that visitors from abroad obtain a certain amount of travel insurance to secure a travel visa. For minimal coverage to maintain compliance, many insurance companies offer no-frills packages designed to keep you eligible for your travel visa.
9. Trip Interruption – Expensive vacations that are interrupted by travel complications, inclement weather or other factors out of your control can be extremely frustrating, to say the least. Purchasing trip interruption insurance can reimburse a sizable portion of your lost investment under these circumstances.
10. Cancel For Any Reason Insurance – For especially cautious vacation planners, there are insurance policies in place that will cover any non-refundable expenses you incur for a trip that is canceled for any reason at all, no questions asked.

There are combination plans available that offer facets of each of the above-mentioned plans under one policy to varying degrees; doing a bit of research can help you get a great deal on coverage that will protect you from the hazards of frequent travel.

One of the best things about reading local blogs before you go on a trip is that you can get a perspective that you won’t find in your guidebooks. You’ll be able to find that special café, that hidden courtyard, that magic “je ne sais quoi” because you’ve done your armchair travel ahead of time. Or, if you can’t go on vacation, reading these blogs just might be the next best thing. Enjoy!

General

• Heather on Her Travels provides some really useful information about a variety of places and adventures, from camping to castle-hopping.
• Robin Locker’s My Melange will have you booking a ticket to Europe in no time—and finding the most lovely sights imaginable while you’re there.
• Slow Europe will help you relax and really see the sights; no quickie tours here, just lots of pointers to locales with good vacation rental options.
• Europe A La Carte will send you to delightful, off-the-beaten-path experiences, like the best places to find flying cow sculptures or divine banana cake.
• The Soul Travelers 3 offer much inspiration to any traveler, but especially to families.
• Follow the journey of the Traveling Scholar across Europe and beyond.
• The fabulous Global Grasshopper covers more than just Europe (as its name would suggest) but we figured you would really enjoy this. Are you reaching for your passport yet?

France

• The Paris Blog is a fantastic, frequently updated view of the City of Light from an expat perspective.
• My Secret Paris by Lisette offers a personal view into the hidden gardens of Paris, as well as favorite bistros and shops.
• Paris Through My Lens is a charming photo blog with insights into the city and its people.
• Be Paris Wise for an injection of cultural savvy about all things French.
• Invisible Paris is a must-read. Be sure to check out the free walking tours.

Germany

• Evocative pictures abound at Berlin Reified, with its focus on Berlin’s food scene, design, and events in the city.
• SlowTravelBerlin will help you take your time to enjoy the city.
• Berlin 101 offers more than just an introduction to this buzzing metropolis.
• Mostly Berlin offers you a personal and thoughtful perspective on Berlin’s many offerings.
• Take a peek at Munich Daily Photo to get a sense of Bavaria’s capital.

Italy

• Ever wanted to live in a certain boot-shaped country? You’ll gain some good insights on its highs (and lows) From Australia to Italy.
• Feed your fantasies of running of to Tuscany to become an artist with Have Dogs, Will Travel.
• Learn all about Moving to Italy from a retired IT consultant (and expat) with this thorough and helpful blog.
• Living Venice gives you a perspective that goes beyond canals and campaniles.
• Check out the Rome Photo Blog for some sights (and insights) you probably won’t find in your guidebook.
• Don’t miss My Bella Vita—you’ll be in Calabria faster than you can say “Buonissimo!”

Spain

• Explore Barcelona’s wonders and events with Barcelona Sights, and you’re sure to find something new no matter how many times you’ve been there.
• The Barcelona Photo Blog does a good job capturing the wonders of this amazing city.
• Follow the Tortuga Viajera (Traveling Turtle) and discover daily life as an American expat in Spain.
• Get crazy with La Vida Loca in Spain. Crazy in a good way.

Netherlands

• One Year in Amsterdam: a picture really is worth a thousand words.

Greece

• Ah, Greek Islands. Need we say more?
• If you’re in search of city life, get your Daily Athens photo fix.

Eastern Europe

• Life in Slovenia provides excellent insight into Slovenia’s history, culture, and daily life.
• Visit Prague and beyond with Florin at Exploring Europe…enjoy!
• Great Britain & Ireland
• Mind the London Underground Tube Diary for a hilarious glimpse of everyday life on London’s transit system.
• You’ll be able to find A Good Place for a Cup of Tea and a Think with these reviews of London’s various cafes.
• Get a Bloody Brilliant take on life in London from a Jersey girl. (That’s Springsteen Jersey, not the Channel Islands Jersey.)
• 40 Shades of Life is a friendly and insightful introduction to Cork, Ireland’s second-largest city.
• Scott Ramsay will take you to the Edge of Britain and back during his month-long roadtrip.
• I Eat My Pigeon is a humorous take on expat life in Dublin (click on “About” to see how this awesome blog got its name.)

Switzerland

One Big Yodel discusses life and culture in Switzerland with cheer and good humor.

Scandinavia

• Pack your warm clothes and discover Life in Northern Sweden.
• Sneak a peek at the gorgeous Oslo Daily Photo blog.

Budget Travel

• EuroCheapo isn’t just for frugal folks—it has great tips that people at any budget level can leverage.

Culinary Travel

• Parla Food brings you to Italy and elsewhere with mouthwatering photos.
• Enjoy the Flavors of Abruzzo to learn about home cooking and life in Abruzzo.
• Get your stout, hefeweizen, and pilsner fix at Boaz and Bailey’s Beer Blog, which covers mostly European beers and pubs.
• Piacere will make you very, very hungry, probably for some homemade pasta with artichokes or ricotta torta.
• Londonlicious covers London’s restaurant scene. In case you haven’t noticed, the Brits have learned how to cook. (Yes, things besides tea and scones.)
• My Kugelhopf covers, among other delights, Swiss chocolate. You’re welcome.
• Peek in the Traveler’s Lunchbox for your next great meal.

Adventure Travel

• Climb mountains with Ryder-Walker Alpine Adventures—or at least take a look at their fabulous blog.
• The Bike Hippies blog is worth it for the beautiful pictures as well as the tales of cycling adventure.
• Can you recommend any other great European travel sites?

Bored with ordinary hotels? There’s no shortage of wacky and wonderful offbeat hotels, no matter where in the world you may be. Some are luxurious; others are rustic; all are unforgettable.

Doing Time
If you’ve got a hankering for thick stone walls or the knowledge that you’re sleeping in a former prison cell, you’ve got choices in England, Switzerland, and Australia, ranging from very un-prisonlike luxury to more Spartan (and wallet-friendly) digs.

Recycled Rooms
Some innovative hotels and smaller bed and breakfasts have done amazing work to repurpose vehicles or buildings that would otherwise be defunct. For instance, you can stay in a cute tugboat bed and breakfast, a covered wagon, or a train car. Repurposed buildings include a windmill, a lighthouse, a grain silo, a water tower, and even a nuclear bunker. If that’s just too ordinary, you can stay in a section of drainage pipe, a former wine cask, or a floating pod that used to be part of an oil rig. If you’d like a sense of control as part of your hotel stay, there’s a crane out there for you.

Ice, Ice Baby
There’s more than one ice hotel out there, with two of the best known being in Sweden and in Quebec, Canada. In addition to being able to say that you’ve spent the night (snuggled with your honey, we hope!) surrounded by ice, you’ll be blown away by the sheer skill that it took to build these.

In the Treetops
If that treehouse you had as a kid never quite lived up to your wildest dreams, try Safariland Resorts, Ariaua Amazon Towers, or the Wild Canopy Reserve. Not only will you be staying in the treetops, but you’re sure to get great views of some truly interesting wildlife.

In a…What?
If you’ve ever wanted to stay inside a giant dog statue or huge boot, you’re all set.

It’s Art
Want your lodging to walk the fine line between art and life? You can enjoy some very unusual rooms at Propeller Island, stay in a museum, or visit an old opera house for some extra culture along with your stay.

Underground
Find your inner caveperson in Arkansas, Cappadocia (Turkey) or New Mexico.

If that’s not enough, maybe an old mine will do the trick.

Themes
Many hotels cater to the kid in us (or to actual kids) with fun themes. You can pretend that you’re a hobbit. Want to return to the 1950’s or to medieval times? No problem. Can’t get enough of the Beatles? There’s a hotel for you too. You can also find hotels themed around philosophy or famous detectives. At the Madonna Inn or the Fantasyland Hotel, each room has a different theme. Go ahead, pretend you’re in an English manor or an igloo or ancient Rome.

Uncategorizable…
No matter what kind of experience you seek, there’s a hotel or bed and breakfast somewhere for you. Need gothic witchiness? A haunted plantation? Over-the-top ornate décor? Giraffes? Something…else? You got it.

Built Out of What?
Luckily, these hotels built of sand and salt are more stable than they sound! If they’re a little too gritty for you, maybe you’d like to stay in a house of cards. Key cards, that is—this temporary hotel was built by a professional card stacker for Holiday Inn as part of a promotion. (How do you get to be a professional card stacker? Just wondering.)

Underwater
For a little underwater novelty, try the Utter Inn, the Jules Underwater Hotel, or the Poseidon Undersea Resort, opening in 2010. If you’re a little more of a landlubber, there’s a hotel for you too, complete with a waterfall cascading down the front of the building. Need some rotation with your flotation? The Hotel Marmara in Turkey has a place for you.

Geek Out, Inside
Stay at the Hotel Sidi Driss, where part of Star Wars was filmed, or come to the dark side with a visit to this “Death Star”-shaped hotel. More space age lodging awaits, or, alternatively, your own galactic suite. Or, stay down to earth with a magnificent view of the stars at the Astronomer’s Inn.

Ohhhhh….kay
Want to live like a hamster? Now you can.

Take Me There Now, Please.
In the mood for serious relaxation? Try a hotel focused on hot springs, or a luxury villa in Barbados complete with gourmet chef. Ahhhh. Where’s that suitcase?

Amazingly, this list only scratches the surface. We’re sure that somewhere there is a hotel constructed from junked cars, or one inside a former insane asylum or a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex. If you know of more unique hotels, we’d love to hear about them in the comments!

Extreme sports are great for the thrill seekers but can also offer a unique experience for the general traveler.  These 30 blogs cover many different types of extreme vacation ideas whether you are looking to do some bungee jumping, cliff diving, or just be one with nature.  We hope this list helps you fulfill your quest for the thrill of a lifetime.

General Extreme Vacationing Blogs and Info

This group of sites contain all kinds of general information regarding exciting adventure travel excursions worldwide:

• ACTIVITOURIST – The Worlds Best Activity Travel Destinations
• Amazing Tours
• Wild Junket: A Rollercoaster of Adventures Around the World
• Vacation Tour
• Madventures from The Travel Channel

Bungee Jumping/Skydiving

For the true hardcore adrenaline junkie here are some nice resources for Bungee Jumping and Skydiving, proceed at your own risk!

• Places to Bungee Jump Around the World
• Bungee Jumping FAQ
• World’s Wildest Bungee Jumping Locations
• The Worlds Highest Bungee Jump
• 5 Perfect Places to Bungee
• Accelerated Freefall
• Just Skydivers
• Skydiver Network
• Skydive Chick
• My Skydiving Club

Hiking/Mountain Climbing/Backpacking/Camping/Biking

You do not need to be as much of a daredevil for these extreme trips, but they can certainly help you get closer to nature!  You’ll find no room service here:

• Backpacker Magazine
• Trek Life
• On the Road – Camping and Hiking Tips
• All Climbing
• Mountain Insider
• Triple Blaze – Camping and Hiking Resource
• ABC of Hiking – Complete Hiking Portal
• Trails – Your Complete Trail Resource
• Northern Camping – The Camping and Outdoor Adventure Blog
• Single Tracks – Your Biking Resource

White Water Rafting/Kayaking

Extreme watersports are also very popular and can help the quench that need for excitement.  Here’s what we’d recommend:

• The White Water Rafting Blog
• Rafting America
• Kayak Adventures
• Kayak Quizotica – Huge List of Kayak Related Sites
• Water by Nature – Whitewater Rafting Worldwide

1. SNACKS

You can come up with better snacks, but you get the idea.

You might have seen our other post on the Perfect Guide to Snacking while traveling, but this just goes to drive the point home.  If you’re going to be in the car for hours it’s always a good idea to make sure that you’ve got your munchies covered.  If you’re going to be traveling on the highways and byways of America it’s important to remember that any gas station that is convenient for you to stop at is going to have jacked up prices. The same things holds true for Fast Food joints too.  While a Big Mac might cost you $1.99 at your favorite Mickey D’s, it’ll probably run you closer to $5.00 off the highway.  Make sure to have all your snack food bases covered; get yourself something salty and something sweet.  Also make sure that you have a variety of drinks available to wash down your munchy goodness.

2. TUNES

Whether it be an amazing mix cd that a friend illegally downloaded from a P2P site, or bringing along your iPod (assuming that your vehicle has an MP3 adapter)  having the right tunes for your road trip is absolutely essential.  Most road trips are momentous events in a persons life.  Something that you can look back on when you’re much older and fondly recall the whimsy and carelessness of youth.  As such, and like any good buddy comedy, it’s important that you have the right soundtrack.  Imagine your road trip is a movie or a sitcom.  How would the score sound?  If it’s a trip to go see you’re long distance love be sure to have lots of “Journey” and “Chicago.”  If you’re on your way to a WWE event have lots of “Metallica” at the ready.  I’m not trying to tell you what to listen to but rather to make sure that whatever it is that you’re into you’ve brought along.  One rule of thumb is that you can never have enough music.  Road trips usually take longer than you imagine they will and you’ll find that you can listen your way through 4 or 5 cds in no time at all.

3. GAMES

For some people this might be as simple as a good game of Punch-Buggy (no punch-backs).  But for others, you might want to supplement your gaming pleasure for those long trips.  No matter who you’re going with, ultimately, someone is going to get tired of talking to your ass or vice versa.  When the time comes for all to be quiet, it’s important that you have something to take your mind off the monotony of passing guard rails for hours at a time.  Save for sleep, it’s always helpful to have a good gaming system to keep you occupied.  Of course Nintendo’s Gameboy has been the predominant system for many years and rightfully so.  But in the past few years both the PSP and the iPhone (or iPod touch) have come roaring onto the road trip scene.  They benefit of both is that in addition to having a full platform of games they are both capable of internet connectivity and watching movies or tv shows as well.  Perfect for late night boredom on I95.

4. PILLOW BLANKET

Shit, you can throw a snuggie in here if you want to as well.  The important thing is that you’re taking care of your sleeping needs for the trip.  Eventually the time will come where everyone in the car abandons the driver to all go to sleep, leaving him or her to drive great distances in dark silence while everyone else enjoys a good nap.  When it’s your time to nap you’ll quickly realize how difficult it is to get comfortable in the back of a Toyota Prius.  Having a nice blanket or pillow can help you make the best out of a cramped situation.  It also allows you to regulate your temperature for when the driver decides to blast the AC in futile attempt to keep themselves awake while no one is up to talk to them.

5. EMPTY WIDEMOUTH BOTTLE

Ok, I toyed with whether or not I should include this one (bad taste?) but then I recalled an episode of “The Office” where Dwiight Schrute employed this principle of proper Road-Tripping.  Perhaps this is only apros pro of trips with all male companions, but it certainly is applicable.  Depending on everyone’s tolerance of the situation (germs, public nudity, general uncomfort) having a bottle along for the ride can cut down on wasted travel time.  There is nothing worse than having to hold your pee because you’re the only one who has to go..   Strike that, there is nothing worse than having someone in your car who is always complaining because they have a tiny bladder and they’re begging you to pull over.  If you figure that every rest stop adds something like 15 minutes of stop time to your travel, you can see that 4 stops equals a full hour.  If you can limit your rest stops to food and gas only you can make your road trip that much more efficient.

If you’ve ever traveled any fair bit of distance, whether by plane, train or automobile you know that what you have to snack can make the difference between joy and misery.  Having the right snack on a 26 hour car ride to Disney or a 14 hour flight to Hawaii can be that little bit of happiness in an otherwise miserable travel experience.

We’re not here to tell you what you like.  No one knows your tastes better than you… obviously.  But what we’d like to do is help you follow some of the rules of convenience and comfort helping you make the best snack choices that for your travel experience.

1.  CONVENIENCE IS KEY

There are few foods in this world that I enjoy more than St. Louis style BBQ Ribs.  The succulent pork drenched in bbq sauce practically falling off the bone.  I can almost taste them right now.  But as much as I might love Ribs, it doesn’t change the fact that they do not make for a good travel snack.  I know that this example might be guilty of being too obvious but I feel that it helps me illustrate the point.  When choosing your travel snack, convenience is key.  There is nothing more frustrating than making it a process to enjoy a snack while traveling.  You’re frustrated enough as you make your connections or hold your bladder until the next rest stop, why make it worse by having to fumble around your snack?  Bring along things that are pre-wrapped, easy to open and dispose of and are handy sized.   If you really want your ribs, then shave the pork off the bone dice it into bite sized pieces and put it in a tupperware container.   Just a thought…

2.  STAY AWAY FROM TOO MANY DRINKS

There is nothing, and I mean nothing more irritating that having a bad case of the wee-wee’s whiel you’re traveling.  If you’re in a car it’s tantamount to hell having to wait 45 minutes for the next rest stop.  That kind of agony can make a minute last a lifetime. It’s not only a discomfort to you but also a significant waste of time.  Each restroom stop tacks on an additional 15 minutes to your travel time.  4 stops alone adds a full hour to your trip.  And there are few things less comfortable or convenient than an airplane bathroom.  Having to get up and get by a number of seats and passengers to use an airplane bathroom can make for a long flight.  With that being said make sure that while you’re bringing yourself a drink to wash down your treats be certain not to overdo it.  This is especially important when dealing with the lemon sized bladders of children.

3.  FILL ‘ER UP

When choosing your snacks it’s a good idea to think of snacks that are both satisfying to your taste buds and will hold you over for a while.  While chocolate and candy bars make for a wonderful treat, they don’t really do much for satisfying hunger.  At least not in the long run.  Not to say you can’t enjoy a good Snickers bar, but be sure to supplement your snacking situation with something substantial.  Sandwiches are convenient and filling.  The idea with noshing is to get yourself from point A to B without being hungry the entire time.  Bringing something with you that helps you feel full is a great way to do that.

4. SALTY AND SWEET

Sometimes you might feel that you could really go for a bag of potato chips while the idea of a Reese’s Cup does absolutely nothing for you.  Transversely, there are times when all you want is a 3 Musketeers and you have no interest in Frito’s.  The idea is that basically there are two driving and predominant food groups for noshing; salty and sweet.  It’s best to have both your bases covered here because you never know when your particular hankering might call for.   Having representation for both the houses of Salty and Sweet in your repertoire will make sure that you’ve got your noshing whims can be satiated.

5.  DONT OVERDO IT

I can recall onetime on a trip from upstate New York  to Virginia, a friend and I decided to stop at a Roy Rogers on the way down.  We were starving and it was very late.  The guy manning the cashier told us that the register was closed but was extra gracious with us.  Instead of throwing out all the chicken he basically made us a smorgus borg on the spot.  We went on a 20 minute binge of fried chicken, biscuits and macaroni.  It was wonderful.  What was not wonderful were the noises and cramping created by our collective stomachs on the road about 35 minutes due South.  We had come to the realization that we over did it.  As hungry as we were, we should have made the realization that due to the car ride we shouldn’t have gone to town as whole-heartedly as we did.  When snacking during travel it’s always best to make sure to keep your noshing to a minimum.  Just enough to satisfy your hunger but not so much as to gorge yourself.

Here, you’ll find the top sites for everything from packing light to traveling smart to archiving your memories when you get home. We’ve sorted them by category so that you can zero in on what you need instead of having to sort through a long list.

Inspiration

Even if you don’t need any more incentives to travel (most of us have a lengthy list of places we’d like to go) it’s always fun to read about other people’s adventures. You can discover amazing new destinations (or new ways of looking at places you’ve already been) at sites like Worldhum (affiliated with the Travel Channel), UNESCO’s World Heritage list, Perceptive Travel, or Vagabondish. Need more armchair travel? Get ideas for your reading list or take a look at blogs from other travelers. If you’re into art and design, been/seen offers travel information from an aesthetic standpoint. Or, check out GoNomad for well-written guides to everything from Parisian walking tours to Finnish sweat lodges. Similarly, BootsnAll, which is especially popular with around-the-world voyagers, provides independent travelers with dozens of ideas for getting off the beaten path. The Sherman’s Travel blogs can give you the scoop on unusual hotel amenities, new restaurants, and up-to-the minute travel deals, while TravelMuse offers automatic, personalized destination recommendations. With I-Escape, the name says it all—you’ll find many locales to fill your dreams at this comprehensive site for hip hideaways. Joobili offers suggestions for trips based on when you want to take your vacation. Triporati is another great tool for finding what to do—and what to skip—at any given destination. SeeBeforeYouDie.net allows travelers to rate sights so that you can prioritize (although, really—Disney? Is that actually the best sight in the U.S.?)

Get Visual

Images really are worth a thousand words, whether you’re trying to figure out where to go or looking back on places you’ve been. Find outstanding examples at National Geographic’s photo galleries, Webcams.travel, or Flickr (where you can also, of course, upload your own images.)

Get Gear

Get practical gear–find the perfect compact raincoat, the right daypack, or a set of electrical adaptors at Magellan’s or TravelSmith before you take off. Travel books and all kinds of maps can help you plan or dream about your next trip. Learn to pack it all so that it won’t slow you down at OneBag.

Booking and Planning

Find it all in one place at Kayak.com or SideStep.com, which act as search engines to find deals and discounts from multiple other sites. Check TripAdvisor for detailed reviews from other travelers before you book. Log into Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree forum for tips and advice from other travelers who have been there and done that. Search the Travel section of the New York Times for excellent information on almost any destination you can imagine, or get advice on Dopplr. Connect with Viatribe and get the lowdown on your next destination from others on the site, or browse Wikitravel for information. Extravigator focuses on luxury travel experiences, as does AndrewHarper.com.

TripIt helps you organize and share your travel plans, while Offbeat Guides offers personalized travel guides with a focus on up-to-the-minute recommendations. Additional notable resources include Concierge.com, RealTravel, WorldBy, The Backpacker, IgoUgo, IndependentTraveler, and UpTake. Sites like Rick Steves, Frommer’s, and Fodor’s offer excellent online resources as supplements to their traditional guidebooks. Check the weather before you book your tickets so that you don’t visit India during the monsoon season, unless you like that sort of thing.

Sleeping

Although it’s not usually part of the plan, you may find yourself sleeping in airports when your travel plans go awry. If you plan ahead a little more, you might find a friend through Servas or maybe engage in some couchsurfing. You can also find unusual hotels that might be carved from ice or built underwater, or boutique hotels or places where pets are welcome. Traveling on the cheap? Find yourself a decent hostel, or split your lodging with friends and family when you get a vacation rental. Or, find a hotel that suits you, whether it’s boutique, luxury, or budget-friendly. Roomorama offers a user-friendly booking service for individuals looking to host a traveler or find a homelike place to stay. Additional useful sites for finding lodging include Venere and TravelZoo.

Transportation

Sign up with AirFareWatchdog to keep an eye on promotions for airline tickets to places you’re interested in. Learn how to upgrade or figure out if your flight is likely to be late, or even whether or not a cheaper ticket might be available soon. You can also select the perfect seat or find serious deals on Hotwire or Last Minute. Got serious cash? Why not charter a plane?

Get reviews of cruise lines, ships, and more at sites like Cruise Addicts, Cruise Critic, and Cruise Reviews. Charter your next yacht or find a good sailing destination. Tripharbor offers forums and blogs about cruise vacations. Visit Seat61 for the scoop on train travel.

Safety

The U.S. State Department website offers up-to-date information that includes details on criminal activity, political tension, traffic safety, and visa requirements for U.S. citizens. The Bedbug Registry can help prevent you from booking a hotel where you might pick up unwanted six-legged hitchhikers, at least in the U.S. and Canada. Road Junky fills you in on travel scams, among other things, while the Travel Detective provides updates on travel safety news. Journeywoman provides advice for women traveling solo.

Working and Living Abroad

You can find a student internship at iAgora, au pair and teaching positions at Working Abroad, or international job listings at Transitions Abroad. Be sure to brush up on your foreign language skills ahead of time.

Making a Difference

Many people enjoy traveling through various volunteer opportunities—it’s a way to get more of an “inside” look at a culture or region, while making a positive difference in the world. Organizations like Earthwatch or Global Volunteers allow you to get much more involved with a locale than you otherwise might, whether you wind up participating in an archaeological dig, studying an endangered species, or helping to build a school.

Dining

Zagat offers full functionality for paid members, but other travelers can still find good information on restaurants in the US and multiple international locations. Foodies will also want to check out TravelByFood for a sneak preview of street food across the globe. TripAdvisor, mentioned earlier, is also an excellent resource for restaurant reviews from other travelers.

Activities

No matter what kind of traveler you are, you can put a spin on your foreign adventures that will give you a different perspective. Travel like an insider with event guides from TimeOut, What’s On When or EventsWorldwide. Get a fish’s eye view with DiveHappy, get out your skis, or bike the back roads, depending on what your interests are. When you’re finished showing off your athletic abilities, head on out to one of the world’s top nightclubs. Can’t get enough of your favorite author? Head on over to LiteraryTraveler.com to get ideas for book-centric tours and travel. If you’re more of a thrill seeker, pursue your daydreams at Incredible Adventures—they can help you pursue your daydreams, whether they involve skydiving Mount Everest or swimming with sharks. Foursquare offers an interesting system for finding likeminded friends as you explore a city.

Planning a trip should be fun; these sites can keep it from becoming overwhelming while helping you have the time of your life. Bon voyage!

I remember the first time I saw “Pulp Fiction” in the theater.  I was 17 years old and I was blown away. It was my first Quentin Tarantino experience.  The thing that I took away from it most of all was the conversational dialogue, most notably the “Amsterdam” conversation between John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson.  I was floored.  “If you get stopped by a cop in Amsterdam, it’s illegal for them to search you… that’s a right the cops in Amsterdam don’t have.”  I couldn’t believe it.  Was it really true?  And hence, my love affair with Amsterdam was born.

Regretfully, 15 years later, I’ve still never been.  Now I have a kid and a mortgage so the window of opportunity for me to really experience the city has probably passed.  But my need to satisfy my curiosity with city has not.  I’ve done a fair bit of research and I’ve tried to differentiate the facts versus the fiction.  Most people who travel to Amsterdam want to know about 2 things, prostitution and pot.  So I now present to you a breakdown of what you can, and more importantly, what you can’t get away with when you travel to the city of legal sin.

1. PROSTITUTION

Red light's aren't great for illuminating the street....

De Wallen is the name of the famous “Red Light District” in the heart of Amsterdam.  It is a veritable shopping mall of the sex trade.  Visitors there can have a virtually limitless pick of a smorgus borge of willing prostitutes representing nearly any taste in looks, ethnicity and experience.  Walking through the streets, it’s impossible to ignore the red-fringed windows where prostitutes attempt to entice and beckon passer-bys.

LEGALITY

So is it legal to procure a ‘lady of the night’?  Yes.  In the late 20^th century there is no active pursuit for the legislation or enforcement of prostitution.  It wasn’t technically “legal”, but you certainly were not going to be arrested for it.  That changed on October 1^st, 2000 when legislation was passed that made brothels fully legal and licensed business establishments.

WHERE TO GO IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT TO AMSTERDAM?

Nevada is the only U.S. state with legalized prostitution.  If you turn on HBO late at night, you’re likely to see the show “Cathouse” which is filmed inside of Nevada’s most profitable and famous brothels, The Bunny Ranch.  While it’s not a picturesque European seaport, if you’re looking to legally pay for sex, it’s your best bet.  If that’s your bag.

2. COFFEE HOUSES

Decaf or regular?

If you’re not into paying for sex, and you’d rather relax the ‘herbal’ way, then you’ll be looking for one of Amsterdam’s many fine Coffee Houses.  The term Coffee House refers to an establishment where one can procure either Cannabis or Hashish.  In such an establishment, one could purchase cannabis or hashish either by itself, or baked inside of a product (usually a cookie or brownie).

LEGALITY

So is it legal?  Kind of.  The Dutch have a term called “Gedogen”, which roughly translated means “Illegal but not punishable.”  That is to say that you are perfectly within your rights to walk into a coffee house and buy whatever you’d like and enjoy it without fear of being arrested.  Additionally, you’re welcomed to go ahead and roll a joint or pack a bong and smoke to your heart’s content within the confines of the establishment.  The coffee houses themselves are subject to some enforcement, namely limiting their abilities to advertise and the limits placed on the quantity of product sold.  But you as the consumer are free and clear to enjoy.

WHERE TO GO IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT TO AMSTERDAM

Many consider Vancouver in British Columbia on Canada’s west coast to be very much the North American Amsterdam.  Don’t be entirely fooled though.  While there is a somewhat lenient stance on possession of pot in Vancouver, it is important to note that it is still illegal.  There are a number of “420 friendly” establishments some feel you can safely enjoy smoking.  However, there is nowhere you can legally purchase your pot.

So there you have it.  A quick rundown of what you can and can’t get away with while traveling to Amsterdam.  If you’re looking for a nice vacation that isn’t to Disney Land, and Vegas just doesn’t do it for you, then maybe check out Amsterdam.

All pictures are protected under the creative commons license and are credited to the following:
Amsterdam – http://www.flickr.com/photos/amagill/516615830/
Red Light District – http://www.flickr.com/photos/keepwaddling1/3122920097/
Coffee shop – http://www.flickr.com/photos/spaceageboy/3083540517/