Talk travel on the best online forums
If you”re planning a trip or have recently been away, there’s nothing nicer than sitting down with some like-minded mates and a pint to shoot the travel breeze. The best online travel forums (sometimes called ‘boards’) take this concept and run with it (alcohol not included). You can ask advice and swap stories with thousands of people from all different countries and cultures, recommend places you’ve loved, warn against problems you’ve encountered, and even find a potential buddy to share your trip.
All you need to do to become a member of a forum is register for free and start contributing to the ‘threads’ (conversations). Browse the most recent topics to see if there’s anything of interest, search for a keyword you’re interested in, or start a whole new thread of your own.
There are a shedload of travel forums out there, and the ones below are simply the top three Si and I like to frequent - so do add any of your own suggestions in the comments underneath if you’ve found a friendly, footloose community where you love to reminisce about the time you danced til midnight under the moon with the ladyboy in Malaysia.
Lonely Planet Forum - one of the oldest and best known travel communities on the web, these popular boards always have a topic to tempt everyone - not only covering every continent and country you can think of (and a few you can’t), but also with threads for gay and lesbian travellers, older members, disabled members and parents as well as ocean lovers, bikers, sporting nuts and gadget geeks. An excellent, friendly place for a forum virgin. Visit here.
Travellerspoint - with 150,857 members from 244 countries, Travellerspoint offers travel blogs and tools as well as a buzzy forum. Recent chats range from flamesrock asking for help to plan the ultimate Amazon adventure to a discussion about what music you choose to accompany your journeys. Slick, sassy and on the ball. Visit here.
Gapyear.com - designed with the pre- or post-uni traveller in mind, this forum is also great if you’re older and employed but taking a ‘career gap’ to widen your horizons. Whether you’re thinking about getting paid work or volunteering abroad, taking a round the world trip or interrailing through Europe, this well-organised site is full of discussions about fundraising, insurance and accommodation as well as beer, beaches and bungee jumping. Visit here.
Comments
Good topic! I love forums as it is great to talk to others who have a passion for travel.
I am a member of two that you mentioned, but so glad that you mentioned gapyear as I had not heard of it.
My favs are Fodors, Bootsnall and slowtalk.
We are almost 2 years into an open ended trip around the world and forums have been a great resource for us and we also share what we learn with others.
Great resource!
Thanks and yes, it’s very cool to hear from other itchy-footed people…sounds like your family is pretty much living the dream! Will go and check out those other forums today.