Five sites to watch in 2003
Want to go to Switzerland by train, inspect a first-class cabin on a South African train, or find out which Havana-Santiago service is usually cancelled? The exceptionally well-informed Mark Smith ('the man in seat 61') has compiled what no single company could: a highly readable, well illustrated and independent guide to rail travel all over the world. He will even answer your queries by email. An absolute goldmine for rail travellers.
Is Bulgaria the new Croatia? Ryanair may not be flying to Sofia just yet, but that's part of the attraction. Not many people know about the rose-picking season near the Sredna Gora mountains, the sandy beaches on the Black Sea coast, the Russian Orthodox cathedrals, the cheap skiing and cheaper Bulgarian food.
I used to think Lastminute would go under when the dot.com boom came to an end. Thankfully, I was wrong: in the past 18 months, it has been getting better all the time. Lastminute is in an excellent position to take advantage of the backlash against (increasingly costly) low-frills flights.
Proof that there is life after insolvency. The Swiss site is a joy - clear, fast and usually cheaper than the easyJet route to Geneva. The timetable shows you how full your flight options are at the time of booking, so finding the cheapest time is easier. The site will also text flight updates to your mobile between one and three hours before departure. And I was touched to receive the unexpected gift of an Interflora voucher worth €7 when I booked.
uruklink.net/tourism/eindex1.htm
Yes, the Iraq Tourist Board does exist. But will it still be there at the end of the year? A fascinating curiosity, with especially interesting sections on history and 'Accommodation and Feeding'. One day, perhaps, Baghdad will seem as accessible a destination as Istanbul is now. For more from the 'axis of evil', visit Iran's rather more ambitious tourism site at itto.org. We're still waiting for North Korea's contribution.
hotel-caribbean.com/redirect/page.pl?url=/maps/maps.html
An insider's tip: this site is intended for the use of travel agents, but anyone can visit it. Pick a Caribbean island and location and explore it in Quick Time. Not recommended for dial-up connections, but barely dreamt of back when travel planning was all about brochures.
