Insider Travel Tips
Let's be real: if you want true "insider travel tips" from an expert, in most cases you're going to need to pay for them. Otherwise they're free and open to the public and are not "insider" anymore. So you buy a good travel book, you subscribe to a newsletter, or you download a report to learn more than the masses about where you are going or what you're doing when you get there. There are some advertising-supported freebies out there (take this web site for instance), so those are listed below as well.
Insider Travel Tips for a Fee
Most of the valuable tips in printed form have been around since the newsletter days. The Internet hasn't killed them off because they have a reputation for delivering what you can't find elsewhere.
International Living for advice on moving/living abroad.
Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report for lesser-known hotels that are special.
TravelSmart for well, traveling smart--plus an honest view of the industry.
Transitions Abroad magazine for living/working/studying abroad.
International Travel News for the lowdown on intl. group tours.
LuxuryEscapes gives insider tips on scoring deluxe travel for less.
Passport Newsletter is one of the original insider guides, around since 1965.
BestFares is not as relevant as it used to be before airfares became so transparent, but they still get access to members-only deals sometimes.
EscapeArtist.com and International Living both offer very specific country reports and e-books written by expatriate locals in the region.
The best insider advice often comes from books: a lot more time and effort has gone into researching a book than writing a magazine article or web site page. After getting your copy of Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune, check this page for some good ideas on general guides that will save you money.
And whatever you do, pick up a good guidebook before you plan your trip, not two days before you take off. That one step will save you a lot of money and frustration. Your local library might even have a stack of them you can check out for free.
Travel Blogs, Web Sites, and Message Boards
These days, some of the best insider advice comes from free web sites--you just need to know where to look. In some ways blogs have taken the place of newsletters, but for every great one there are thousands of worthless ones. Check our our travel blogs page for good ones that have stood the test of time and built up an audience.
There are a few web sites that stand above the rest in terms of providing useful info that will give you a leg up on most travelers.
SmarterTravel for all kinds of articles and tips.
FlyerTalk for frequent flyer and points advice.
Budget Travel Online for the magazine's useful web site.
Travelzoo for occasional bargain-basement and last-minute deals.
Sherman's Travel's newsletter for the same.
Mr. Five Star gives the lowdown on notable upscale travel options.
Message boards at Lonely Planet, BootsnAll, and Fodor's.
