Welcome to Travel News Articles, a great source of travel news and ideas for stress-free travel. There are three parts to this website.

1. The travel directory on the left has many interesting websites for you to check out. Website owners, why not advertise your site here.

2. The buttons above take you to a variety of travel articles written by people who have "been there done that".

3. The news feed at the bottom of this page features the latest travel news from around the world.

Preparing to Travel

The world has changed a lot in the past century. Thanks to the invention of airplanes and high-speed trains, today's world is wide open to travel. In a day's time, we can travel to the other side of the world without using our entire life's savings. We also have a number of options open to us to help us plan our travels, and choosing wisely can help save time and money.

1. travel Agents

Many people have the misconception that using a travel agent entails paying a fee. Nonsense. In actuality, most travel agents receive commissions from the vendors (airlines, hotels, tour agencies); they are the ones paying the fee, not you. A travel agent has access to deals that often are not available anywhere else. He or she can help take the headache out of planning, allowing you to sit back and relax while the logistics are plotted out. Another bonus is that travel agents often include travel insurance in their packages, to ensure that you are getting what you paid for.

2. Internet

With the widespread use of the world wide web, travel prices have gone down considerably. Using travel sites like Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity, buyers can find lower rates than ever before for airfares, hotels, and package deals. The downside? Truly finding the best travel deals often requires a lot of time and patience as you compare rates with other sites and with direct booking. Another downfall is that you can't always find availability at these lower rates, but it is nice to plan right at home.

3. Guidebooks

Tried and true, travel guidebooks are a traveler's best friend. Seasoned travel writers research and compile guidebooks based on their own experiences, and who better to give advice than someone who's been there, done that? Depending on your preferred level of luxury, you are sure to find a guidebook to meet your needs. Best of all, travel guidebooks are often available at your local library-for free!

4. Booking Direct

Sometimes travel companies will offer special deals to customers who book directly. This is especially true with tour and cruise companies who advertise travel deals to repeat customers. You can often find rates as low as half-price (or lower) if you book at the last minute. If you have the flexibility and the determination, this may be the way to go.

5. Travel marketing blog

There is much useful information available to those marketing a travel website at etravel.success a blog providing information on travel website marketing.

LATEST TRAVEL NEWS

Student Rates Available to Nonstudents
Even if your college days are a distant memory, it?s possible to travel on a student discount over spring break this year.

Frugal Traveler: Q&A: Shirley Tafoya, President of Travelzoo North America
Ms. Tafoya talks about what makes Travelzoo tick, how it refreshes its inventory of deals and why subscribers trust it.

United Tastes: Tacos in the Morning? That?s the Routine in Austin, Tex.
When it comes to breakfast tacos, which are stuffed with fillings like eggs and bacon, Austin, Tex., trumps all other American cities.

New York Is Finally Taking Its Coffee Seriously
Dozens of new cafes and coffee bars treat coffee making like an art, or at least a high form of craft.

Surfacing: In Mexico City, New Life on an Old Street
In Mexico City?s historic district, Calle Regina?s mezcalerías and bars are luring visitors after dark.

On the Road: Airplane Exit-Row Seats, Once a Perk, Now for Sale
Selling exit-row seats to all comers raise questions about whether all buyers are suitable to perform emergency evacuation procedures.

Personal Journeys: Visiting the Remote Tribal Lands of the Dogon in Central ...
A growing number of Western tourists are traveling to West Africa to experience the rituals of daily life in the Dogon cliffside villages.

Visiting Tuscany Without the Crowds
With few tourists, the dead of winter is the time to visit Tuscany, when the landscape is bright green, locals fill the cafes, and the cuisine is at its best.

Weekend in Palm Beach, Fla.
This tiny island, north of Fort Lauderdale, boasts dreamy estates and wide, uncrowded beaches.

Choice Tables: Vegetarian Restaurants in Buenos Aires, for Those Who Shun Steaks
A cluster of recently opened restaurants in the Palermo Hollywood neighborhood are serving tasty and fresh vegetarian fare.

Bites: Restaurant Review: Whiskey Soda Lounge in Portland, Ore.
This stand-alone bar-restaurant does double duty as a boozy waiting room for Pok Pok?s patrons.

Check In, Check Out: Hotel Review: Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas
This 61-story hotel is huge, but thanks to thoughtful design, it also feels luxurious and, at times, even cozy.

Paddleboarding in Hawaii: Who Cares About Surf
Paddleboarding while upright means venturing far and wide without having to hunt for waves.

The Falcon: A Jazz Haven in a Hudson Valley Hamlet
Away from Manhattan?s urban frenzy, one man?s hospitality has created an intimate stage for top-tier musicians.

Frugal Traveler: Snow Boots to Sockless, Briefly
The Frugal Traveler finds a cheap flight to Miami and spends one day escaping New York City?s frigid slush.

Paddleboarding in Hawaii: Who Cares About Surf
Paddleboarding while upright means venturing far and wide without having to hunt for waves.

The Falcon: A Jazz Haven in a Hudson Valley Hamlet
Away from Manhattan?s urban frenzy, one man?s hospitality has created an intimate stage for top-tier musicians.

Breaking Ground: Sound-View Homes in North Carolina?s Waterfront
A waterfront second-home community in Merry Hill, N.C.

From Frozen Vines In Ontario, a Sweet Specialty: Ice Wine
The Niagara Peninsula in Ontario is ground zero for ice wine, whose grapes are ready for harvesting in the middle of winter.