Welcome to

TRAVEL PLANNING Thursdays, November 29, December 6 & 13, 2007

SeniorNet Travel Class Joe Hesketh, Instructor Rev. 11/24/071

Instructor Joe Heskethcpjoehelen@aol.com 425-641-0278Assistants Helen Hesketh cpjoehelen@aol.com 425-641-0278

Anna Littlewood salterton@aol.com 425-454-9641

Jean Sturton sturtonjm@comcast.net 425-746-9899

Note: Most web sites can now be accessed without the www.

1-Plan a bus trip on Metro from Lake Hills to Ballard Lockstransit.metrokc.gov Click on Trip Planner, then Plan TripStart 156th Ave SE & Lake Hills BlvdEnd Ballard LocksWhen 12/2/07, 10 AM, ¼ mile, min. walk, FastestClick on Plan Trip - Look at the options

2-Plan a trip by Greyhound to Spokanegreyhound.comClick on United States-EnglishSelect Round Trip, then enter Seattle to SpokaneLeave 12/3 & return 12/5 - show All Times0 Adults-2 Senior, then continue

3-Plan an Amtrak trip to Los Angeles (with sleeper accommodations)

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amtrak.com (Caution spelling “amtrack” will take you elsewhere)

Plan one way, Seattle (SEA) to Los Angeles (LAX), Dec 9, 10 AM, 2 passengers, Super Liner Roomette, Senior Discount

4-Search Engines to Help along the wayask.comyahoo.comgoogle.commsn.comaol.comdogpile.com (searches many engines at same time)your home page Search feature

5-Plan a flying vacation to Maine google.com and type in visitmaine.comClick Where to Visit, then select Mid-Coastunder Featured Towns, select Boothbay Harbor Select Accommodations go down the list to Fisherman’s Wharf

and click on the link. Check out the rooms, restaurant, activities, etc.When is Windjammer Days? (June 24-25, 2008)

What is the weather like? weather.comType in Boothbay Harbor, ME, then click on Averages &

Records

OK now when shall we go and how do we get there:Go to dogpile.com, type Airports in Maine with Commercial

serviceClick on wickipedia and look at the listDecide on an airport (or check all out) - we will use Portland

(PWM)

Searching for Plane Schedules & Faresfarereport.com Click on Browse by City, select Seattle to Portland, MELook at Report then click on Compare Fares on this RouteEnter Round Trip, 2 TravelersSeattle (SEA) to Portland, ME (PWM)Depart June 19, Return July 3

Enter your fare search just once and search over a dozen major travel and airline sites at the same time to find the lowest fare. 

SeniorNet Travel Class Joe Hesketh, Instructor Rev. 11/24/073

Notes: Some airlines are not listed on most travel sitessouthwest.com

jetblue.comata.comairtran.comsuncountry.com

Consider alternate airportse.g. San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose Washington, DC (National, Dulles or

Baltimore)

How far is Boothbay Harbor from the Portland airport?Go to mapquest.com , click on “Directions”type in Portland, Me to Boothbay Harbor, MEMaybe we should stay in Portland for the night

Lets rent a carGo to yahoo.com. Type: car rentals in Portland, ME (Look at all of the options, select Orbitz and get a

price for your visit. Pick up 6/19 @ 5 PM, Return 7/3 @ 5

PM)

Find accommodations in Portland for first nightportlandmaine.com

Click on Linksthen Convention & Visitors Bureau, scroll down to Vacationing in Maine,Click on Visitors SectionSelect Lodging, then Hotels/Motels/InnsSelect Geographic Area,Select Near Airport and MallSelect Best Western Merry Manor InnClick on the word Website at bottom of listingExplore some of the possibilities

Alternates: Go to web sites for Hotel Chains (marriott.com, bestwestern.com, etc.) or search engines (Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia, Priceline, Hotels.com, etc

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Get driving directions from Best Western (700 Main St, So.Portland, ME) to Fisherman’s Wharf Inn (22 Commercial St, Boothbay Harbor, ME)

Go to google.com and click on Mapstype in 22 Commercial St., Boothbay Harbor, MEclick Directions to Here, then enter starting address.Look at Map & DirectionsClick on Find BusinessesEnter Churches under “What”, the click Search

businessesExplore Hybird and Satellite images

6-Plan a Cruisekeycruises.com

Click on CruisesSelect Alaska as the Destination in May 2008Depart from Seattle, sort by price (lowest to highest)Click SearchSelect one ship and look at Cabin types, Deck Plans, etc.

Other sites to look at:cruisemates.com (lots of info about cruising)icruise.com - click on Cruise Info then Live Ship cams mustcruise.comcruise411.com1-800-cruises.com7blueseas.comcruise.comcruisecompete.com (an on line “auction” service that asks

dozens of agents to quote on prices for the ship, travel dates and cabin category that you have chosen)

Check out web sites for individual Cruise LinesLocal cruising - wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

7-Overseas TravelGo to ask.com and type in ItalyScroll down the page, look at the optionsFind www.italiantourism.comLook at the drop down menus (Plan Trip, Special Interest, etc)See how to request a brochureFind link to St Peters and Vatican Museums

8-Tour Operatorsaffordabletours.comtauck.comcheaptravel.com

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globusandcosmos.comtrafalgartours.comoattravel.com (never more than 16 passengers in a group)gct.com (30-35 travelers per group)

9-Plan a road trip to Lava Hot Springs, IDlavahotsprings.comlavahotsprings.orgBy RV/Trailer – use Good Sam (goodsamclub.com)

FMCA (fmca.com) Happy Camper (camphalfprice.com)

By auto – AAA (if you belong), Microsoft Streets & Trips, We will use randmcnally.comClick on Plan a Trip at the leftName the Trip SeniorNet FunDates Check Not Sure Yet and Round Trip YesLeave from Phantom Lake School (1050 160th Ave SE, Bellevue)Destination-Lava Hot Springs, IDClick on Add a stopPlan stops in Toppenish, WA and Ontario, OR, (after Toppenish) before Lava Hot Springs, ID (after Ontario) and then Twin Falls, ID (after Lava Hot Springs) and Pendleton, OR (after Twin Falls) on the way home.After all stops are entered then click on ContinueScroll down to ToppenishClick on Add things to do, check all of the categories(When you find nothing use a Search engine and look elsewhere)First minimize the randmcnally screen or you will lose everythingGo to dogpile.com and type in Toppenish muralsScroll down and find the “best” site (#4 the Chamber of Commerce site)Click on attractions-select the ones you want to visitCheck out Where to Sleep (note Best Western is a choice)Restore up the randmcnally screenScroll down to the Toppenish page and select Enter own things to do and enter the ones you choose, one at a time, Murals, Hop Museum, Railroad Museum, Indian Cultural Center, etc.So much to do we better stay, at least for the nightMinimize randmcnally Go to Bestwestern.com and then Toppenish, WANotice references on the first page to wineries, casino, etc. If you wanted to add these to your Things to do you could.

SeniorNet Travel Class Joe Hesketh, Instructor Rev. 11/24/076

Restore randmcnallyLets scroll down to Ontario and do some of the same actions.Minimize randmcnally Go to msn.com and type in Ontario, ORScroll down the list and find the “best” site (Home)Try you luck on this site to find the Creek House Bed & BreakfastEnter it in Places to stay, including the address and phone number.

Restore randmcnallyScroll down to Lava Hot SpringsLook for Things to do,When the Hot Springs info comes up click on Add to my things to doSearch for Places to stay (Note Rand McNally says none)Minimize Rand McNallyGo to Lava Hot Springs.orgClick on Lodging, select one Restore randmcnally and add your to your trip

Scroll down to Twin FallsLook for Things to doPass on the two that come up and look for othersMinimize randmcnally Try twinfallsid.comTry twinfallsid.orgGo to Google.com (it’s the Home Page in the Classroom)Type in Twin Falls, IDLook for the Chamber of Commerce SiteSearch the site and locate the City of Rocks web site, note the address, Restore randmcnally and add it to your trip

Scroll down to Pendleton, ORSee what Rand McNally offers for things to do & places to stayAdd any of interest to your tripMinimize randmcnally Go to AOL.comEnter Pendleton, OR in AOL SearchFind City of Pendleton site and reviewFind Pendleton Chamber of Commerce site and find things to doAt the bottom click on Travel Oregon and review features

10-Other sites of Interest (in most cases the www. is not needed)www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic (Traffic Cams in Washington)

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www.portseattle.org/seatac/(SeaTac airport site)www.bedandbreakfast.com (find a B&B anywhere in the world)www.bbinnsofamerica.com (another B&B Site)www.bnbfinder.com (another B&B Site)www.evergreenclub.com (hospitality in private homes)www.iloveinns.comwww.resortsandlodges.comwww.historichotels.org (218 quality hotels over 50 yrs old)www.jul.com (underwater motel in Florida)www.redcaboosegetaway.com (B& B in a caboose in Sequim,

WA)www.lighthouse.cc (vacation at a lighthouse)www.dogbarkparkinn.com (B & B in a dog house in Idaho)www.houseboating.org (houseboat rentals across America)www.wigwammotel.com (spend the night in a teepee)www.theshadydell.com (spend the night in a vintage trailer)www.stoneschoolinn.com (sleep in a former schoolhouse)

Swap your house:www.homeexchange.comwww.homelink.orgwww.intervac.com

www.roadtripusa.com (cross country adventures on 2 lane highways))

www.roadsideamerica.com (Guide to offbeat roadside attractions)

www.milebymile.com (planned road trips in every state)www.traffic.com (current traffic conditions most major cities in

US)www.seeamerica.org (link to travel & touring sites)www.aam-us.org (find every museum in the US)www.museumsusa.org (links to 15,382 museums)www.factorytoursusa.com (factory tours in the US)www.touristrailways.com (links to 335 tourists railways)www.festivals.com (festivals & events) www.dinercity.com (pretty cool vintage diners)www.roadfood.com (memorable local eateries along hwys & back

roads)www.tripadvisor.com (unbiased ? reviews of hotels, resorts and

vacations)www.travelinformation.com (order free travel brochures)www.elderhostel.org (educational & travel opportunities for older adults)www.luxurylink.com (sells discount resort stays)www.expedia.com/lastminute (specify city & find bargains)www.seatguru.com (airplane seating plans)

SeniorNet Travel Class Joe Hesketh, Instructor Rev. 11/24/078

www.smartertravel.com/air/ (lots of links)www.specialtytravel.com (trips for teetotalers, vegetarians,

women, etc)www.whichbudget.com (lists budget airlines worldwide)www.applefares.com (budget airline fares in Europe)www.ryanair.com (deep discount European airline)www.easyjet.com “ “ “www.farecast.com (predicts when air fares will rise or fall)www.travelprice.com (leading European travel sites in English)www.triphub.com (planning a group getaway or family reunion)www.50states.com (quick link to lots of info)www.washingtopost.com/travel (read more than five years of

travel stories sorted by destination and topic)www.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/traveloutdoors/ (links to

lots of travel stories and information)www.king5.com/nwbackroads (lots of interesting local places to

visit)www.firestonelegendarydrives.com (“most scenic drives in the

country”)www.hopstop.com (shows you how to get around using public

transit)www.experiencewashington.com (lots of things to do close to

home)www.traveloregon.com

11- Go home and have some fun exploring Travel Info on the Web and then decide where to go on your next trip.

Please let me know of any interesting web sites you find that might be of interest to students in the next class so that it can be included on the next listing.

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SeniorNet Travel Class Joe Hesketh, Instructor Rev. 11/24/0711