Wikivoyage
Wikivoyage

Wikivoyage is the latest site to arrive on the growing scene of travel information. Wikivoyage (not to be confused with Wikitravel – a rival company) was launched by Wikimedia, the parent company of Wikipedia. Got all of that!?

Whether you are a regular traveler, or just compiling a destination wish list, this is a great resource that offers one stop shopping for some basic location and travel information. Here are the best ways I’ve found to incorporate Wikivoyage into my travel planning:
1. Become familiar with the site. Take a few minutes to explore Wikivoyage so you are familiar with what it offers.
2. Create a book. I use this feature to plot out future destinations. As I search countries on my wish list, I have the option to save that information into My Book (a great feature on the site) so I don’t have to worry about finding it again later. Once My Book is compiled, I can download it or print it.
3. Trip planning. Use this site as another resource to help you plan your next trip online. You can plan your itineraries, review destinations and even make reservations.
4. Create travel guides. This is cool. I am a huge fan of mini travel guides for quick reference while traveling. Wikivoyage offers a one-page quick guide for many countries that highlights the best things to see and do and best places to eat and sleep.
5. Article printouts. I am a big fan of traveling light so I don’t utilize this feature often, but you might love having a clearinghouse for your information that you can print and take with you. Better yet, I recommend saving your documents on your mobile device for quick access to your research on restaurants, museums, night clubs and other points of interest at your destination.
6. Off-line use. Perfect for travelers who only have off-line availability.
I believe travel information should be collected from a variety of sources to make up the best qualified information for your personal use. In fact, Wikivoyage is designed to do just that– to be a supplement to your collective travel research, providing practical use information. While it hosts great point-of-interest information and articles, it is not a travel magazine or advertising venue which makes it a great resource.