# Good travel forums? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 14, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-travel-forums/368732 "2006-08-14T22:26:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-travel-forums/368732/1 "2006-08-14T22:26:31Z")
I keep hearing that Lonely Planet’s [Thorn Tree Forum](http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/) is The Place to connect with travelers, backpackers, and the like online. My problem is that the navigation is so counterintuitive and the design is terrible – I can’t stand browsing there for more than fifteen minutes. Is there a cleaner, friendlier, dare I say Dope-ier travel forum out there that anyone can point me to? Lonely Planet can’t be the ONLY one. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-travel-forums/368732/2 "2006-08-14T23:00:30Z")
Despite frequenting the Thorn Tree, I agree it’s an infuriating place. [Fodors](http://www.fodors.com/forums/) is slightly better. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-travel-forums/368732/3 "2006-08-14T23:51:34Z")
I hang out and go to [www.virtualtourist.com](http://www.virtualtourist.com) Lots of knowledgeable people because they’re from all over the world–not just some guy form Wisconsin who happend to spend 2 weeks in Paris 5 years ago. They also have lots of meet-ups or Dopefests, if you will, in interesting places so you can see a city with a someone who knows it. If it’s flying or airline or airport related I use [www.flyertalk.com](http://www.flyertalk.com) Same thing there, they really know their airline related stuff. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-travel-forums/368732/4 "2006-08-15T00:39:02Z")
[Tripadvisor forums](http://www.tripadvisor.com/ForumHome) ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-travel-forums/368732/5 "2006-08-15T12:34:57Z")
[Backpatters](http://www.backpatters.com/forums/) Small, intimate forum, but a wealth of travel advice here. I also like VirtualTourist and TripAdvisor, although Tripadvisor is not quite as good in terms of budget travel. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-travel-forums/368732/6 "2006-08-15T15:34:06Z")
Try the boards at [www.bootsnall.com](http://www.bootsnall.com) and [www.eurotrip.com](http://www.eurotrip.com). (The latter is mostly for Europe, but has a forum for other destinations as well.) They’re both smaller and less trafficked than the Thorn Tree, but aimed at the same type of traveler, and I’ve found them to be friendly, helpful places. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-travel-forums/368732/7 "2006-08-15T16:35:55Z")
Yay! These are all definitely more along the lines of what I’m looking for. Thanks! I knew Thorn Tree couldn’t be the only one out there.