BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR RESERVATION: 

 kayak.com

Jean's personal favorite to find out which airlines are flying nonstop to a given destination.  You'll quickly find out which airlines are flying (except Southwest which doesn't list on this site) there and the cost.  This site has been very accurate and reliable, and it's very easy to use. 

www.flightstats.com Want to find a flight with a good record of being on time?  Go to www.flightstats.com for information.

airsafe.com   This link will help you check the safety record of almost any airline you are considering for a flight, including flight overseas on airlines you may never have heard of. 

FARES:  The Washington Post recommends 2 sites where you can sign up for fare alerts:

www.airfarewatchdog.com and www.smartertravel.com

Farecast.com:   find out cheapest round-trip flights for your destination.  This site will also tell you when is the best time to fly over holiday times.  If possible, plan ahead so you aren't flying on the highest peak days.  You'll be glad to avoid the crowds and delays that can result.

Travelocity, CheapTickets and Orbitz are all good sources for information on flights, rental cars,etc.

Need to find a place to stay?  tripadvisor.com is great!  Whether you want to find a charming small inn or an inexpensive airport hotel, this website is invaluable.  Reviews are available for places to stay almost anywhere in the world where you might want to travel. You'll often find listings here that you'd never find in even the best guidebooks.

Tripadvisor reviews are posted by travelers themselves, are often very detailed and informative.  A really user-friendly site, just enter the name of a city or town where you might want to stay.  Or, if you've read or heard about a place to stay, check it on tripadvisor.com before you make you final decision.  Some of the recommended places to stay could be hard for you to contact yourself, but along with reviews, you can just click on one or more links (e.g.hotel.com) to make your reservation at the best price.  

www.parksleepfly.com is recommended for locating an airport motel.  Especially if you're flying out early, this is ideal for leaving your own car at the motel and taking the motel shuttle over to the airport.  The cost of leaving your car is included in the overnight fee and you can sometimes find a place that will include over a week's free parking. This will save you a lot of time and worry in the morning.

Get your tickets as far in advance as possible if you want a low fare.  Remember that these go fast and likely won't be available if you wait.  Think you may forget to book early?  Send yourself a reminder to do so at www.futureme.org.  ( You can also use this to remember the birthday of someone important to you!)

The Washington Post travel section on Sundays is an excellent source of information.  Their articles and tips for handling difficult situations that others have encountered are invaluable.    And please send us or call us with your tips for helpful websites. 

                HOPE THESE LINKS HELP YOU HAVE AN EASIER TRIP!