Travel Preparation

[Nicki Laycoax]

Before you plan a trip, how do you plan?

If you are going outside the country and/or to a foreign language speaking country, do you do extra research or try to learn basic terms in that language?

If you are an online researcher, what are your favorite sites to look at?

Have you used forms of social media to help you make the best decisions for your trip?

[Eric Froehlke]

Traveling to a foreign country is a great time to learn some useful phrases in the native language. You don't have to over do it since odds are that they will speak pretty good English in the well populated areas, but everyone appreciates a legitimate effort on your part to speak locally when you can. Even if it's a greeting, it sets a proper tone and not one of "I'm American, I expect you to speak to me in English".

Online researching these days stars with wikipedia.com. More and more it seems to me that there is nothing the Wickens don't know. :) Usually there will be some additional links in there to set you down a more detailed search path. For country specific stuff, many cities now have their own webpages that you can reference so you might look for those.

As for social networking, I've not use any specific sites for this purpose, but definitely try to talk to someone who has been there before or talk to the person you are going to see about the best place to stay and some possible events that will be going on in the area. I tend to like to leave myself with some opportunity for impromptu country wandering though...too much planning in life can be confining.

[Nicki Laycoax]

Thanks Eric!

Where is the last place that you traveled that you used Wikipedia to research?

[Scott Semester]

I totally think it's just basic courtesy to familiarize yourself with local language and customs. I agree with Eric -- I've found folks in other countries to be exceedingly friendly and accommodating, but they've shared their appreciation when I've known, for example, what to say in greeting or which hand to eat with, etc.

If I'm traveling internationally to anywhere except Canada, Mexico, or Western Europe, my first stop is http://travel.state.gov. The US State Department's country-specific information is super-helpful in getting the logistical details (visa requirements, currency exchange, medical/healthcare info, whether or not you're out of your mind for even thinking about going there, etc.) and embassy contact info.

Another handy online resource is Lonely Planet, with great formal write-ups of places all over the world, as well as a pretty expansive forum community where people can post their own information.

I haven't used social media to travel, but one of the organizations I volunteered with (Cross-Cultural Solutions) has a Ning community set up for its past, present, and future volunteers.

[Nicki Laycoax]

Thanks for those resources, Scott. I'll check out Lonely Planet. I was not aware of it. You are right about http://travel.state.gov being a great site. Where is the last place that you've traveled?

[Scott Semester]

I went to Liberia and Sierra Leone on a mission trip in 2007, and my last big trip was to India, in January of 2008. I'm feeling the itch to do some more traveling, but haven't made up my mind where, yet. :) Probably somewhere safe and fun, not third-worldy and dangerous.

[Nicki Laycoax]

I am shocked about what's going on in Mexico. I really want to head south sometime soon, but I don't think it's the safest time... Keep me posted on your travels!

[Theresa Browning]

Nicki - I would be skeptical of using social media for travel recommendations unless the source had credentials I could verify or otherwise trust. Yet I have used passive media - web sites, travel books and government web sources. It's ironic isn't it that I would trust passive sources over active sources like social media? One would think I would evaluate each by level of credibility (who's to say the government's web site is more credible than the recommendation of a local?). Just like any media, I guess my skepticism gets in the way though I'd like to think I use a variety of sources to evaluate and make my own decision.?

[Nicki Laycoax]

Would you consider using Smaller Indiana for travel recommendations?