Scuba (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) was invented by Jacque-Yves Cousteau and a partner back in the 1940s. Since then, SCUBA tourism has taken Americans to some of the most beautiful places on the planet.
The highest percentage of underwater species is found around the island of Borneo, decreasing as you get farther away. The U.S. has only about 250 species, Hawaii about 450, Indonesia about 2500. There is much talk about where the best dive sites are. There is always a hard-core crowd that will invariably travel to the next best place. I was on Sipadan in Sabah, Malaysia, during the early years, and it was spectacular. At that time, they were busy creating a new dive site in Indonesian Borneo-Kalimantan. Now that Sipadan is known worldwide, there are many more dive sites waiting to be discovered in Indonesia. The best dive sites in the world for pure color and variety are in Indonesia, followed by Thailand, Malaysia and then the South Pacific and the Red Sea. The adventurous will choose the Sea of Cortez for its amazing proliferation of large fish; others prefer wreck diving in Truk or even the frigid waters of the Inside Passage in British Columbia. Having dived from the Seychelles to Hawaii, my personal preferences are the island of Sipadan and live-aboards in the remote Nusa Tenggara islands of Indonesia. The more adventurous claim that Papua New Guinea has much to be explored and that the Galapagos is the next big place. The top dive sites are Indonesia, Micronesia, Truk, Bajal, Australia, Hawaii and Papua New Guinea.
As you probably already know, you need to be certified to dive (although I was on a dive trip where Mexican dive masters certified the rookies with about 90 seconds of boat-side instruction). Most dive tour companies will link you up with the dive site of your choice. Don't hold high hopes for luxury or gourmet food.
Many people can't decide whether to bring all their shiny new gear or to rent. If you just spent $3000 on all the gear, then you are more than likely going for one reason, so bring the whole kit. Many airlines offer extended luggage or weight allowances if one of your bags is dive gear. If you are going to bring your gear, take a small tool kit, including spare O-rings, straps and batteries.
My experience is that, at a minimum, it is best to bring your mask along with octopus, regulator and gauges. The next level would be booties and BC. Pack your dive knife, tanks, flippers and wet suit for warm water dives. Photographers will want to bring their certification card, logbook, camera, film, flash, batteries and maintenance pack.
There is a caveat. I ran out of air at 90 feet below in the clear waters of the Cayman Islands. The reason? The vibration from the plane flight had loosened my regulator, and, I went through 3000 psi of air in about eight minutes. Speaking of close calls, there is also divers insurance that will make sure you get repatriated or flown to the nearest decompression center. Contact Divers Alert Network, (800) 446-2671, or Divers Security Insurance, (800) 288-4810. Remember to wait that extra day to fly home after diving. To start planning your next great dive trip, contact the following:
615 Crescent Avenue
Avalon, California 90704
(800) MR-SHARK, (310) 510-1225
All types of diving adventures are offered here, from introductory to instructor level. An all-day shark diving adventure costs $250 per person, which includes transportation, tanks and food.
860 de Lima Paz, Suite D3
Pacific Palisades, California 90272
(310) 230-3334
This company offers intense shark diving experiences in the world's largest cage, plus the opportunity to assist university researchers with a shark tagging program. Day and night shark tagging and research expeditions are offered, with student prices from $79, adults $99 and special rates for groups. The expeditions to see kelp forests, sea lions and sharks are led by former Cousteau Society team member and documentary film producer, Yehuda Goldman. Programs are also offered for children, snorkelers, nondivers and even nonswimmers.
13393 Sorrento Drive
Key Largo, Florida 34644
(800) 833-SEAS, FAX: (813) 596-3891
A 20-plus year old dive travel agency that can get you deals as well as great dive sites. Micronesia is a specialty.
7887 Katy Freeway, Suite 105
Houston, Texas 77024
(800) 346-6116
Specialists in the Western Caribbean.
P.O. Box 881037
San Diego, California 92168-1037
(800) 888-SD-SHARK,
(619) 299-8560If you've seen Blue Water, White Death or Jaws, it might interest you to know that you can dive with live sharks and experience the same feeling as a worm on the end of a hook. The place is called Sharksville, and it's about 20 miles off the coast of San Diego, California. After a rolling, choppy boat ride, you get to sit in a 16' x 8' shark cage about 10 feet below the surface while they throw chum in to attract sharks. The chances are good you will see blue sharks ranging in size from five to eight feet. You may also see mako sharks and albacore tuna. The water is cold, so bring a wet suit. Tough guys get to go outside the cage for more adventurous escorted shark dives. Those with a more scientific bent can take part in a blue shark tagging program. The San Diego dive master also has a chain mail arm that he lets the sharks chew on while you get some great photos.
3770 Highland Avenue, Suite 102
Manhattan Beach, California 90266
(800) 821-6670, in California (800) 262-6670
An agency staffed by divers that can set you up in Asia, the Caribbean, the South Pacific and the Middle East.
50 Francisco Street, Suite 205
San Francisco, California 94133
(800) 348-9778, (415) 434-3400
A good choice for more exotic and far-flung dive trips. See & Sea has an excellent selection of live-aboards.
Arguably, safaris were the first adventure or ecotour. Back then, travelers would save wildlife by collecting samples for museums by shooting and mounting them. Now, all you hear is the clicking of cameras and whirring of videotapes. Most safaris in Africa today are nothing more than small tours conducted via zebra-striped buses carrying tourists in floppy bush hats brandishing new auto-everything cameras.
Masai Mara and Krueger Parks are glorified zoos without bars. The sight is still spectacular, and the photographs make everyone feel like they were the first one to set eyes on a lion kill or multihued African sunset. Despite the rampant commercialism, there is still a primitive joy in drinking a bloody Mary while watching the sun go down in Africa. I also enjoy the raw fear of camping without a tent in hunting areas of Tanzania and listening to the lions coughing and roaring at the intruders.
It is quite easy to fly directly to Nairobi or Dar es Salaam and book your own safari. You can also rent your own four-wheel-drive vehicle and stay at the various game parks or campsites. In fact, Fielding's Guide to Kenya, the most complete guide to homestays, game lodges and campsites, will show you how easy it is.
The best safaris in the world are private tented safaris to the lesser-visited areas of Africa's parks. In terms of wildlife, South Africa has an overabundance of it, along with clean, efficient facilities. Kenya has the creaky colonial ambience many people expect, and Tanzania is the stronger and more realistic of the two. My personal favorite is the rugged and remote Ruaha in Tanzania.
If you want to get your money's worth, the best way to get around is by air. That way, you can hit as many regions as you want and get a good grounding in geography as you bump and shudder through the hot African sky. Masai Mara has the most wildlife per square foot but has an equal number of tourists. Northern Kenya is plagued with bandits but has more dramatic scenery. Tanzania can be tedious (Selous) or dramatic (Ngorongoro Crater) but is what most people expect Kenya to look like. The Okavongo Delta and Namibia are becoming ideal second safari areas, and regions in Uganda, once the most beautiful country in Africa, are supposed to be coming back slowly. If you want to set up a safari in Africa, we recommend these groups:
1520 Kensington Road,
Oak Brook, Illinois 60521
(800) 323-7308, (708) 954-2944
The most famous African Safari and adventure tour operator does tours on the "cushy side" but the Kents run a first-class show. They also can put together custom expeditions, since they know most of the major ground operators on every continent.
Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, New York 10024
(800) 462-8687, (212) 769-5700
One of the best sources for high-end natural history tours. Although the tours are set up using a variety of ground operators, the museum provides stimulating guides and guest lecturers.
5516 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55419
(800) 843-0602, (612) 824-4415
A ground operator who specializes in Tanzania.
Box 41822
Nairobi, Kenya
(254) 2 556466
The classic tented safari is the specialty of this group of independent outfitters and former big-game hunters.
8762 South Morning Dove Lane
Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80126
(303) 791-9959
http://www.globaladventures.com
Here's a company that can arrange Ranger Training, Motorcycle tours from Capetown to Cairo, white water rafting and more.
Post Office Box 247
West Chesterfield, New Hampshire 03466
(800) 766-9199)
3516 Northeast 155th
Seattle, Washington, 98155
(800) 345-4453
This is the most laid-back method of travel. You will meet people, get healthy and presumably do most of your travel in the world's most beautiful places. There is some danger of kidnapping and robbery as well as the usual penalties caused by tripping, falling and general wear and tear. Most trekkers hire porters and spend the evenings in small huts or villages. Trekking does not have to be set up from home, since most countries that are known for trekking supply the manpower for tour packagers overseas. Make sure, however, that you bring all the camping do-dads and clothing you will need.
The most popular trekking sites are Annapurna in Nepal, Zanskar in Ladakh, Bernese Oberland in the Alps, the Milford Track in New Zealand and Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand.
(800) 341-4341 ext. 6666
Hands-on instruction and wilderness trips for beginners and experienced outdoor enthusiasts. Good preparation before you tackle more adventurous treks outside the United States.
1 -5 Wandsworth Road
London, SW8 2XX, England
A group that can advise you on where to hike in Britain and set you up with the resources you might need for a European walking holiday. As you may have guessed from the name of this group, their members are not triathletes or mountain climbers. For actual tours, contact Rambler's Holidays below.
6420 Fairmount Avenue
El Cerrito, California 94530
(800) 227-2384
The IBM and GM of adventure tours can send you anywhere that's worth trekking to. Although their expertise is really rafting and climbing, their trekking expeditions make use of many of the same contacts and guides.
P.O. Box 43
Welwyn Garden City, England AL8 6PQ
[44] (707) 331133
A British group that can set up walking tours in Europe and Britain.
730 Polk Street
San Francisco, California 94109
(415) 776-2211
One of the better sources for trekking, hiking or climbing trips around the United States and the world.
Rafting has captured the imagination of Americans. In fact, when you ask most people what adventure is, they will reply, "a rafting trip on the Colorado." The truth is that rafting is among the safer aquatic sports. Bobbing like a cork on thundering white water, large flexible rafts carry thousands of people a year down the nation's major rafting rivers. As a method of travel, rafts, canoes and kayaks are a pain. They must be trucked in to the river and trucked out, and you are always wet and soggy and cold. But rafts and canoes provide the best way to see a lot of the primitive world. I have traveled by canoe in Africa, North America and Asia and found that the purity and simplicity cannot be beaten for communing with nature. I also have despised the primitive method of transportation after carrying a water-logged six-man canoe across the nine-mile Grand Portage.
The top domestic rivers for white-water rafting are the Tatshenshini in Alaska, the Colorado in Arizona, the Chiclo/Chicoltin in British Columbia, Canada, and the Upper Youghiogheny in West Virginia. Internationally, there are many rivers yet to be run, among them the upper reaches of the Mahakam in Borneo, the Bio Bio in Chile, the Obihingo in the CIS and the Zambesi in Zimbabwe.
To find out where you can eat H2O, contact U.S.A. Whitewater at (800) USA-RAFT for a selection of outfitters in the U.S.
In this country, these two international outfitters stand head and shoulders above the rest:
6420 Fairmont Avenue
El Cerrito, California 94530
(800) 227-2384
The granddaddy of adventure tour companies, Sobek joined Mountain Travel to create the Thomas Cooks of ecotourism. I once stayed with a remote tribe in Borneo who used the word "sobek" to ask for money. They explained that an American rafting expedition had been through and when the natives said the word "sobek," the rafters gave them money. Such is ecotourism. MTS has specialized in Asia and Africa and are really the only sources for reliable rafting trips in Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia and Borneo.
Post Office Box 1574
Provo, Utah 84603
(801) 224-6797
The master of the Yangtze in China, Curry also provides expertise in Latin America and the Soviet Union.
51 East 42nd Street
New York, New York 10017
(212) 697-1700, FAX: (212) 697-1005
Geoffrey H. Perry has about 40,000 avid readers who need to know facts, not gushy descriptions of the world's regions. The magazine can be counted on to provide on-the-ground information, comparative charts and travel tips that are always useful. A year's subscription is $29.97. Single copies are $3.
9560 S.W. Nimbus Avenue
Beaverton, Oregon 97008
(800) 285-5951
Definitely on the fluffy side, an adventure magazine in the genre of: "Oh Muffy, won't we look so butch in hiking boots!" This is the latest in the wave of new ecozines that channels college guilt into politically correct travel experiences. This bimonthly lacks the veracity of Escape but does cover faraway regions. I can't help feeling like I'm being scolded on proper etiquette for scuba divers ("Get involved in local environmental issues"). There are lots of "I was there and this is what I did" articles for the politically correct and ecologically aware. On the positive side, there are lots of local getaways, plenty of pictures and, of course, lots of ads. A subscription to EcoTraveler costs $11.97 for a year (six issues), or you can buy it off the rack for $3.95.
P.O. Box 220822
Chantilly, Virginia 22022
(800) 648-5168
A newsletter that covers museum-sponsored tours, learning vacations, cultural tourism and more for $65 a year. A little stuffy but a good source for unusual travel opportunities.
3205 Ocean Park
Santa Monica, California 90405
(800) 738-5571
An outdoor/adventure/world music pub that features a good mix of Third World adventure stories with practical info. The editor/founder, Joe Robinson, has a good eye and ear for real adventure and you never know what will crop up in this quarterly magazine. Escape also covers world music and sociopolitical issues in between stories about blisters and leeches. Good stuff and available at major bookstores or by subscription.
5915 West Boulevard
Vancouver, British Columbia
(604) 257-2040
A magazine that gets down and dirty with firsthand information on trips by its readers to exotic places. The magazine is tough to find but worth it for the up-close info it provides.
25 E. Mason
Santa Barbara, California 93101
(805) 965-4402
One of the best sources for maps from around the world. Call for a free catalog.
400 Market Street
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
(505) 989-7100, (800) 678-1131
Created by Jann Wenner who founded Rolling Stone, Outside is now published in New Mexico by Mariah Media, Inc. The monthly magazine includes colorful features on destinations and activities for outdoor-loving travelers. Off-the-beaten-path places are spotlighted, along with profiles of adventurers. Departments include travel tips, environmental news, sports reports, and consumer reviews of travel gear, including apparel, camping gear, mountain bikes, etc. A yearly subscription is $14.97.
Lima Clubhouse
Avenida Portugal 146
Brena District
Lima, Peru
Mailing address:
Casilla 3714
Lima 100, Peru
U.S. Associate address:
126 Indian Creek Road
Ithaca, New York 14650
(607) 277-0488
Books, maps, trip reports, rain-forest advice.The main clubhouse in Peru has an excellent library of maps and other helpful publications. Membership is open to all and includes their magazine: The South American Explorer.
Travel guides are an odd source of travel information, more for what they don't tell you than what you can find inside. Most travel writers write champagne tour guides on beer budgets. Budget guides tend to stick to inner cities, known hiking trails or tourist ruts (even though they profess not to), simply because they avail themselves of the local tourism industry to get around. The other problem is that the data can be horribly outdated or wrong. Check the copyright in the front of the book, get to know the writer, and get at least a couple of opinions before you go.
308 South Catalina Avenue
Redondo Beach, California 90277
(800) FW -2 GUIDE,
FAX: (310) 376-8064Internet: http://www.comebackalive.com
Temple Fielding got his start writing disinformation pamphlets for Tito while in the employ of the OSS in World War II. After that auspicious beginning, he also wrote one of the wittiest, right-on travel guides to Europe back in 1947. Carrying on that tradition, Fielding guides continue to focus on the unusual, the unknown and the unique. Our web site features the entire text of Worldwide Cruises and The World's Most Dangerous Places, as well as the largest travel links on the web.
Embarcadero West,
112 Linden Street,
Oakland, California 94607
(415) 893-8555
Web site: http://www.lonelyplanet.com
The '70s and '80s bible of adventure travelers and expats. Plenty of good practical info served up with a sense of juvenile naivetÈ. The books are worth it for the maps alone. Most of the 190-plus books are updated on a two- or three-year cycle, so check the copyright date. Tony and Maureen Wheeler built Lonely Planet from the kitchen table to a $12 million publishing business. Their recent shot at guides to civilized countries falls well short of the standard they set for Third World countries. Their web site contains book excerpts ideal for getting an overview of a country and some old but useful updates from readers.
722 Wall Street
Chico California 95938
(800) 345-5473, (916) 345-5473
Web site: http://www.moon.com
A company launched by their flagship book on Indonesia by founder Bill Dalton. Moon is quietly building a following and slowly building a library of good, comprehensive, intelligent books on the world. Well researched, well written and very practical, they cover domestic locations very well and are updated when needed. Web site features Road Trip USA.
1 Mercer Street
London WC3H 9QJ
[44] (71) 379-3329
Web site: http://www.wired.com
A new in the U.S. but over in Europe, Rough Guides have out-lonely planeted Lonely Planet by emphasizing detail, attitude and opinions as well as facts. They tend to dwell on places you have no intention of going, and their information is lacking on anything above backpacker budgets. Better written than most books. Their web site features an ever expanding offering of book content and a few links.
6 Riverside Court
Lower Bristol Road
Bath BA2 3DZ
[44] (225) 469141, FAX: [44] (225) 469461
www.footprint-handbooks.co.uk
Among the most compact and well-researched travel guides to the world's remote regions. These tiny, expensive travel bibles contain phone numbers, maps, sidebars, intros and just about everything needed for reference. They are thin on accommodation reviews. They began at the turn of the century with their South America guide and have expanded into Asia, the Caribbean and Africa.Not much on their web site other than a slow loading catalog.
http://www.comebackalive.com
http://www.fodors.com
www.footprint-handbooks.co.uk
http://www.gayot.com
http://www.globe-pequot.com
http://www.hayit.com
http://www.insiders.com/explore/
http://www.moon.com
http://www.lonelyplanet.com.au/
http://www.mcp.com/
http://roughguides.com
http://www.karenbrown.com
http://www.letsgo.com
http://192.190.21.10/gnn/bus/oratt/index.html
http://www.ricksteves.com
http://www.epicurious.com
ttp://pathfinder.com/Travel/TL/index.html
http://www.dc.enews.com/magazines/travel_h/
http://www.neo.com:80/Monk/
http://members.aol.com/travbkrev/tbrintro.html
http://www.traveler.net/two
http://www2.globaldialog.com/~tpatmaho/index.html
Post Office Box 1143
Lewiston, New York 14092
(905) 946-0407, FAX: (905) 946-0410Founded in 1970, the New Internationalist "exists to report on the issues of world poverty and inequality: to focus attention on the unjust relationship between the powerful and powerless in both rich and poor nations." Well, you get the point. This rather biased magazine does provide a good second look at the world's people and has some interesting things to add to any cocktail political discussion. A good source for folks looking for information to make their case against the world's military/industrial complex. Subscriptions are $35.98 per year, with corporations being dunned $60 (as you would expect from these folks).
New Internationalist
55 Rectory Road
Oxford OX4 IBW
(0865) 728 181, FAX: (0865) 793 152If the New Internationalist magazine is a little too strident in its bashing of the U.N., big business and First World countries, at least you should own its most illuminating product, a fascinating annual called Third World Guide. This unusual guide covers 173 countries, is put together by researchers, journalists and academics in Third World countries and provides information on arms, housing, aid, refugees, food and country profiles on newly formed nations. The 630-page '93/'94 issue covers 30 emerging nations and has 55 maps, 780 diagrams and 6800 references. The full-sized book will set you back a hefty $38.95, plus $3.95 shipping and handling. Now in its ninth edition. Stick this hefty guide next to your CIA handbooks and you have a fairly balanced portrait of the world.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10016
(212) 889-5155
The World Press Review consists of material excerpted from the press outside the United States. WPR is a nonprofit organization/educational service and seeks to foster the international exchange of information. The magazine does a good job of providing updates on news from various countries but, more importantly, showing the variety of responses on global affairs, whether it is the U.S. invasion of Haiti or what the rest of the world thinks of Saddam Hussein. Their choice of news sources is quite good and varied. The leaning of the publication is noted before the clip (pro-government, centrist, liberal, conservative business, etc.). The Review also makes good use of political cartoons from around the world. Subscriptions are $24.97 for 12 issues.
111 West 57th Street
New York, New York 10019
(212) 541-5730, (800) 456-6086, FAX: (212) 541-9378The granddaddy of world mags is devoid of the cheesy stereo ads of the New York Times or the "grow new hair" ads found in Time and Newsweek. Their readers just don't have time to read the ads. In fact, the Economist probably has the most time-starved readership of all the news magazines-a blue-chip collection of world leaders, policy makers, big business, etc. If they get something wrong, chances are the person that they are writing about will contact them to correct it. Their lofty and somewhat ludicrous goal is to "take part in a severe contest between intelligence which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress." I suppose they mean that their subscription drives are hampered by stupid people who don't see the value of paying $125 a year (for 51 issues) to bone up on global and financial news. The magazine's easy-to-use format and impressive attention to facts before opinions make this a must-have for globally aware readers. Their special sections are packed full of first generation information, and they even throw in charts, graphs and other helpful graphics. If you can't get enough, the Economist also puts out quarterly indexes and some very impressive year-end wrap-ups in book form.
Post Office Box 425
Woking GU21 1GP
(0483) 724122, FAX: (0483) 776573A surprisingly intelligent magazine that explores adventure, science, politics and geography. A monthly published for the Royal Geographic Society. Very little posturing, long on facts, with maps and research; the magazine provides coverage other magazines can't deliver. Definitely a recommended publication for adventurers. $57 for an annual subscription or $5.50 on the newsstands.
Sales Sections
2 United Nations Plaza
Room DC2-853, Department 403
New York, New York 10017
FAX: (212) 963-3489The United Nations provides an enormous amount of important information on the world and its people. The first step is to send away for their catalog of publications. Their rather dry but informative publications cover narcotics, disasters, agriculture, economics, hunger, poverty, war and just about anything else of interest. They range from thrilling books like ESCAP Atlas of Stratigraphy IX: Triassic Biostratigraphy and Paleography of Asia-Mineral Resources Development Series and Stratigraphic Correlation Between Sedimentary Basins of the ESCAP Region to Urban Crime Global Trends and Policies.
P.O. Box 577
Hinesburg, Vermont 05461
(800) 282-3963
http://www.gorp.com/atbook.htmMore than 3000 books and maps for hiking, biking, kayaking, snorkeling, fly-fishing, trekking and general travel worldwide. Call for a free catalog or find it on the World Wide Web.
12 -14 Long Acre
London, England WC2E 9LP
[44] (71) 836 1321, FAX: [44] (71) 836 0189Also at
156 Regent Street
London, England W1R 5TA
Billed as the world's largest map and travel book shop, this is a great source for hard-to-find maps and books.
We recommend buying travel guides from travel specialty stores because they actually use and read the books. Don't be shy about calling the publishers direct if you have more specific questions. Borders and Barnes & Noble carry a good inventory but shy away from the esoteric titles. Amazon.com is a good tool for searching (www.amazon.com).
AAA600 S.W. Market Street |
Adventure 16 (chain)4620 Alvarado Canyon Road |
California Map Center3211 Pico Boulevard |
Complete Traveller199 Madison Avenue |
Rand McNally (chain)8255 Central Park Avenue |
Travel Books & Language Center4931 Cordell Avenue |
Travel Emporium20010 Ventura Boulevard |
Travelfest Superstores1214 W. 6th Street |
Traveler's Choice Bookstore Inc.111 Green Street |
Voyager's Travel Store19009 Preston Road #300 |
Distant Lands56 South Raymond Avenue |
Nations502 Pier Avenue |
If you spend much time with your computer on the Information Superhighway, otherwise known as Cyberspace, you may want to check out some of the travel information sources listed here. As the World Wide Web grows, more and more companies are creating their own Web Pages. You can access information ranging from State Department Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings to foreign exchange rates and which immunizations you need for traveling to New Guinea or any other destination in the world. To access these sources, you'll need a computer, modem and communications software and membership with an on-line service like America Online, (800) 827-6364.
http://www.discribe.ca/other/bluep.htm
This on-line warehouse of adventure titles will have you considering travel to countries you never knew existed. The catalog of 2200 titles can be accessed through keywords and handy indexes. You can order choices, access phone numbers or download an order form on-line. A hot list includes new titles and additions added weekly.
http://www.city.net
Tourism and cultural information on cities worldwide.
http://www.comebackalive.com
If you're enjoying this book and website, you'll want to check out Fielding's catalog of other travel guides. The Fielding Web Site includes excerpts from bestselling travel guides, such as Fielding's Guide To Worldwide Cruises, DP, sample maps, photos and charts, plus news on upcoming travel guides and itineraries for adventure-oriented travelers.
Internet: http://www.dna.lth.se/cgi-bin/kurt/rates/
This site lists current exchange rates and helps you do the math to find out how much your dollar will buy in countries around the world.
Internet: http://insti.physics.sunysb.edu/mmartin/languages.html
How do you say "Where is the bathroom?" in St. Petersburg? This site helps travelers learn rudimentary phrases in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Dutch and Polish. The site includes basic phrases and links to dictionaries and sound.
Internet: http://www.who.ch/Travelandhealth/home.html
The World Health Organizations's Web site issues bulletins on malaria, vaccination requirements and other health topics grouped by region.
CompuServe: gomagellan
This collection of on-line maps shows 500 regions. You must read the licensing agreement before accessing the maps, but if you accept the agreement, you can download the world.
Internet: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/Map-Collection/
This huge map collection includes satellite maps of the planet, islands, oceans, countries, national parks and a variety of other topics.
Internet: http://www.digimark.net/rec-travel/rtw/html/faq.html
Along with general information on a plethora of places, this guide offers information on offbeat travel options, such as freighters that book passengers. Topics such as Transportation, People, Money Matters, Communications and Major Decisions help on-line travelers plan the perfect trip.
Internet: http://hibp.ecse.rpi.edu/cgi-bin/tzconvert
Type in a date, time and two cities, and get back the time for each. This site can be very helpful for planning trips, booking flights and scheduling long-distance phone calls.
America Online: keyword travel, traveler's corner
Weissman Travel Reports hosts forums and provides short summaries of national and international destinations. Helpful information includes safety tips, restaurants, hotels and costs.
Internet: http://www.yahoo.com/Recreation/Travel/
You can book a plane or train ticket, check rental car rates or find a bed-and-breakfast in England at this site. If travel information exists, you're likely to find it here.
A word of caution: Unless a web site is developed by a known provider of content, be somewhat skeptical of the veracity or purpose of the content. Also, there is more change than Las Vegas odds in the web business, so don't be surprised if some of these folks vaporize.
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discussed in this site. This site is intended for background information
only. ©1998 Fielding Worldwide, Inc. All rights reserved. This
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