We've compiled all of the practical information you'll need to plan your trip in advance -- airline information, what things cost, a calendar of events, and more.
Online Traveler's Toolbox
Veteran travelers usually carry some essential items to make their trips easier. Following is a selection of handy online tools to bookmark and use.
Airplane Seating and Food. Find out which seats to reserve and which to avoid (and more) on all major domestic airlines at www.seatguru.com. And check out the type of meal (with photos) you'll likely be served on airlines around the world at www.airlinemeals.com.
Foreign Languages for Travelers (www.travlang.com). Learn basic terms in more than 70 languages and click on any underlined phrase to hear what it sounds like.
Intellicast (www.intellicast.com) and Weather.com (www.weather.com). Get weather forecasts for all 50 states and for cities around the world.
Mapquest (www.mapquest.com). This best of the mapping sites lets you choose a specific address or destination, and in seconds, it will return a map and detailed directions.
Subway Navigator (www.subwaynavigator.com). Download subway maps and get savvy advice on using subway systems in dozens of major cities around the world.
Time and Date (www.timeanddate.com). See what time (and day) it is anywhere in the world.
Universal Currency Converter (www.xe.com/ucc). See what your dollar or pound is worth in more than 100 other countries.
Visa ATM Locator (www.visa.com), for locations of PLUS ATMs worldwide, or MasterCard ATM Locator (www.mastercard.com), for locations of Cirrus ATMs worldwide.
