SeatGuru
www.seatguru.com
You ask for an aisle seat and get it, too. It’s only when you board the aircraft that the trouble starts. Your seat is right next to the washroom! Or, worse, you get a seat that doesn’t recline properly. SeatGuru is an excellent information resource that prepares you on what to expect vis-a-vis aircraft seating plans, in-flight amenities and other information about an aeroplane—for almost all major airlines. The site features detailed seating map graphics along with comments denoting seats with limited recline, reduced legroom, misaligned windows, etc. Colour-coding helps distinguish superior and substandard seats, as well as facilities such as in-seat power ports. And, of course, it’s complete with galley, exit, closet and the all-important lavatory locations. So, the next time you are flying the Thai Airways Boeing 777-300 or a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380-800, you can be specific and ask for seat 44A without any fear.
World Wi-Fi guides
www.travelpost.com/airport-wireless-international.aspx
TravelPost’s definitive Wi-Fi guide will help you home-in on 80 major international and 219 US airports that offer wireless Internet access. From major hubs such as JFK in New York to Charles de Gaulle in Paris, or the busy Denpasar-Ngurah Rai in Bali to Chhattrapati Shivaji in Mumbai, you’ll get to know about the available service providers, access options, pricing (or free Wi-Fi), exact hot spots and coverage areas at a glance.
To locate public Wi-Fi hot spots in various cities across the globe, log on to the popular Jiwire (‘www.jiwire.com’) or the lesser-known and more US-centric AnchorFree (‘www.anchorfree.com/hotspot/finder’) (for details on Jiwire, see Mint, 13 June 2007).
World electricity guide
http://kropla.com/electric2.htm
On the face of it, why would you need to know about the electric power situation in a country you are packing your bags for. But, if you are one of those who believe in complete planning, this one is for you. This website is all about details of power in various countries—from varying voltage and fluctuating frequencies to disparate plug prongs. It has everything.
Another invaluable Web resource for globetrotters is the “Stay Plugged in While Traveling” guide (‘http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Stay_Plugged_In_While_Traveling ’). It has all the information you need to know about adapters, voltage converters, surge protectors and the like to keep your gear, gizmos and gadgets beeping, blinking and beaming when you’re in a foreign land.
TripIt
www.tripit.com
Have you planned an elaborate travel itinerary and are now finding it difficult to manage? Even if it is not complicated, you may have too much on your mind to keep track of your travel diary and end up with dates in disarray.