The advent of online travel diaries and online travel journals has made it possible for travelers to record their journeys from anywhere at anytime. All that is needed is access to the internet, a platform on which to record your information, and a desire to keep up with your travels in diary form. In this article I briefly discuss criteria you should use in choosing the online travel journal provider which best suits your needs.

I have checked out over a dozen online journals and diaries comparing the pros and cons of each and specifically how they related to what I needed for my chronicling of my travels. I have my preferences but this article is about you, so I am providing you with criteria which allow you to evaluate the available travel journals.

There is much overlap in what each one provides. Each generally have a “free” version, and the more comprehensive sites also have an upgraded “fee” version with more features or more storage space. Most individuals can get by with the “free” version. If you find you need more space or more features, you can always upgrade to the “fee” version at a later time.

I have divided my lists of features into two categories: (1) “must-haves” and (2) “bonus features. I consider the first group as indispensable. It a provider does not have all of these features available, I move on to the next provider.

What are some of the “MUSTS-HAVES”?

1. FREE is always good.
2. Service must be ACCESSIBLE by internet from anywhere.
3. The journal must be EASY TO USE. NO CODING SKILLS needed.
4. PHOTO UPLOADS have to be available. Preferably compressed.
5. There should be an option to keep your diary PRIVATE.

Other Bonus Features To Look For. These are features that some providers have and others don’t. You may find that the additional feature will be the deciding factor as to which online journal provider you choose.

1. ROUTE MAPPING of your trip.
2. UNLIMITED photos uploads.
3. UNLIMITED blogging entries
4. MAP of countries visited
5. VIDEO UPLOADS available, preferably unlimited.
6. SEVERAL LANGUAGES availability and support.
7. YOU MAINTAIN COPYRIGHT over all your materials.
8. MOBILE PHONE updates.
9. CONNECT to social sites like FaceBook.
10. EMAIL updates to family and friends
11. RSS FEEDS
12. DIFFERENT TEMPLATES

There can be other features as well, but these should give you a good basis on which to decide which online journal is best for you. No endless email repetition! No notebooks to carry around! You do it once, give everyone the URL of your journal and they can follow you to “the ends of the earth”. And, with most of the services that provide these resources, you can also upload endless numbers of photos. What a way to record your travels for posterity!

Lamar Ross is an author, educator, photographer, internet entrepreneur, and international traveler. He has a special interest in training individuals for expatriate living and providing information on unique travel destinations .

Years ago I remember going to the travel agent to plan my vacation, never even considering an online travel agent. But nowadays it’s the other way around, and most people don’t even give a thought to planning a trip without a computer. But the fact is you can often get a better discount by using an online travel site. Here are 5 travel tips to keep in mind.

1. Find great travel reviews online. You can check what people have to say about these sites and be sure you are not getting a shady deal or traveling at the wrong time. People will also chime in and let you know where the best discounts and freebies are. You can find out what the locals are saying too.

2. Locate fabulous deals. By far the best reason to do your travel deal shopping online is to get all the best deals. By scouring the travel websites online you can put your vacation together as you please by comparing different prices. For example, maybe you find a super vacation package one-way to your destination with one airline, and then you find a great deal on the way back with a separate air carrier. Go for it! Mix and match. You’ll save a ton of money with this method.

3. Different times equal different prices. Last time I planned a vacation I checked airline prices multiple times a day on every day of the week. It was a lot of fun actually because the prices changed all the time. It was almost like playing a game, click on the price now and see what it is! Maybe cheaper, maybe not. But one thing to keep in mind is if you happen to stumble upon a fantastic travel deal (and you will at some point), snap it up because you may never see it again. That’s what happened to me a few times. I debated and didn’t grab the excellent deal and it was gone, never to be seen again.

4. Sign up for email alerts. Go to all the major travel sites and get on an email list for travel discounts to be emailed to you. You should probably create a special account just for this so that you won’t have them all going into your main account. Sure, you are going to get lots of stuff you can’t use but every now and then you will receive that gem of a deal. But check your mail daily and go immediately to check out anything that looks promising.

5. Buy travel insurance sometimes but not always. So you’ve found your fantastic and amazing vacation deal and now you are wondering, should you spring for insurance as well? Yes you should if you are going on a cruise or traveling with a tour group or paying megabucks in advance for your trip. These policies are an added expense, sure, but the peace of mind is worth it.

Planning for a holiday tour and being confused where to go then the online travel guides can be a great help to you before you even think of packing your bags and heading out for the destination. It offers you a wide range of services whether you’re looking for a city break in London, Paris, Edinburgh or New York; a cruise, beach or ski holiday; want to check the weather forecast or our airport guides, hotel, cost, commuting, places of interest and safety you will find it all here, and more.

It is accessible over the net from anyplace in the world. They offer almost every service a tourist might need for his or safe and enjoyable travel. One simply needs to log on the website and put in the details of the destination place. One can get all the details about how to approach and possible ways of going there, booking tickets, hotel, accommodation and fare, city guide and maps, places of interest, weather, security services and additional necessary information such as about currency and embassy services. There are variety of services provider like hoteliers present on the website of the online travel guide, one can simply compare and book his or her reservation at the cheapest rate possible. Moreover travel guides can also suggest pre programmed tour packages at discounted rate so that you don’t miss out the fun, for which you are moving out, moreover it is cheap and best, since one gets to meet people from different destinations visiting the same places.

Online travel guides are also specialised to suit the interest of the costumers. They have separate websites or web-pages like for pilgrimage, honeymoon, adventure or family tour to major cities etc. However before opting for any online travel agent one must confirm the genuineness of the services and safety from the embassy of his or her country. Also insurance and medical immunization and other precautions must be taken in to account apart from budget management. And then have a happy travelling!!

Are you curious about planning a trip within the near future? If you are and if your trip will need airline reservations, you may wish to checkout on-line travel websites. Online travel web sites are a superb method to rapidly make travel arrangements, as well as favorable method to compare costs.

One of the most commonly asked questions, concerning online travel sites, is which web site is the best. Prior to focusing on ways that you can discover respected, reliable, and respectable online travel web sites to do business with, it is first essential to know what to look for. To begin with, you’ll would like to search for great rates. Online travel sites are designed in a fashion that you ought to save cash, so never pay more than what you need to.

You will also wish to look for on-line travel web sites that partner with most major airlines. When you search for flights on a travel web sites, you need to be present with several various options. In addition to various times, dates, and layovers, you ought to also be present with flight quotes from various airlines. This is likely to improve your prospects of truly finding the best deal.

Depending on your travel needs, you may also want to look for online travel web sites that offer vacation packages. For example, are you searching to book a flight to California, rent a automobile, and remain at a California hotel? If your, you should have the capacity to discover a vacation package that fits your requirements. Vacation packages are a nice method to make travel arrangements, as you may have the capability to save both time and money.

Ease of use is also essential, when searching for the best on-line travel websites to do business with. When producing important travel arrangements, like airline reservations, you don’t would like to be confused. Under the circumstances, all travel web sites that you use should be easy to navigate and understand. Tough to navigate internet sites can results in you making errors with your travel arrangements or you may even fail to spot the best deals.

The previously referred to features are all features that you will wish to search for in online travel websites. As for discovering the best travel sites, like ones with great reputations, you’ve numerous various options, beginning with your self. You are in a position to effortlessly test out numerous online travel sites to see what they’ve available. These web sites could be discovered with an ordinary web search. Take into account low rates and ease of use. Be mindful of any websites that are hard to navigate and look out for fares that appear beyond regular.

You are in a position to also discover more about the best on-line travel web sites to do business with by asking those that you know for recommendations. Over the past few years, online travel sites have raised in popularity and numerous people use them. Ask any buddies, relatives, neighbors, or coworkers in passing if they have ever utilized an online travel site to book a holiday prior to. If they have, which one did they use and would they suggest it to others? This approach is nice, as it needs little research on your part.

You are in a position to also use the web to research online travel websites to find the greatest ones. You can do this by performing a common internet search, with an expression like “best travel websites.” You may find company articles where the top on-line travel internet sites are listed. You could also be connected to on-line message panels where travel alternatives, such as online travel internet sites, are being talked over. This is a fantastic way to get ratings and reviews.

The previously referred to approaches are all great ways to go about learning more about online travel websites. Performing so can help to make sure that you’re doing company with an on-line travel web site that will offer you with the very best deals, also as the best quality of service.