Up until the last decade, finding and booking holidays, or any travel abroad, usually meant visiting the High Street Travel Agent.  Using their experience, they would assess your needs, guide you through the various options, help you avoid the pitfalls, keep an eye on your budget, remind you to insure against the worst, and eventually find you a suitable 'package' in the sun.  You were comforted by their advice, your holiday was protected, and the experience was mostly painless.

A changing industry
In the last 10 years, how we book holidays and travel has changed beyond recognition (see "How the web has transformed travel").  The explosion of the Internet, containing thousands of web sites offering Travel, not just from the original Tour Operators, but from new "low cost" airlines, online "bedbanks", attractions, excursions, car hire, travel insurance, etc. has given us too much choice!   Add to this the volumes of 'helpful' travel advice from hundreds of other web sites, and it is difficult to know where to start.

More "lookers" than "bookers"
As an illustration of this, Google's own research has shown that the average online holidaymaker has visited 22 different web sites over a period of 29 days, and performed 12 searches on each, before finally making a booking.  More time looking than spent on holiday!  In fact, the average travel web site has a "conversion ratio" of between 0.3% and 0.5% - that's 200 to 300 visitors to every booking.

Danger!
One other point to bear in mind; because the Web now offers so much choice, there are some serious dangers that now exist when researching and buying online.  Do you really know who you are buying from?  Is your money safe?  Are you protected against airline failure?  What if you have problems whilst you are on holiday ... who will help you?   The Web has created huge choice, but the fragmentation of the industry has also left the consumer exposed.  More on this in another blog, coming soon.

The new "Travel Collective"
So, back to our question, where to start?  In our view, there is nothing more valuable than the advice and views from someone who has "been there, done that".  A collection of travellers, sharing their experiences, coupled with access to helpful resources, such as our Travel Directory.  All in one place on the Web.  Welcome to AwayWorldwide.com !  

We want to bring all your experiences together, to help one another make more informed decisions about your next holiday.  Let's face it, your holiday is probably the biggest annual purchase you will make (outside of your mortgage), so it's important to get it right.  Please join in and help us, and yourselves.