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Using TWEnJ
Think of TWEnJ as a "starter kit". At Trip Tips and Tools you'll find an extensive array of planning tools, useful whatever your destination: planning, best books, currency exchange, budgeting, packing ... lots more. We'll get you started with planning planning your trip, and our pages on Rome, Switzerland, Bavaria and Colorado will give you a good grounding on those destination if they're in your itinerary. With few exceptions, though, you'll want to add other resources to your planning kit. Each of the destinations has an extended section of Internet resources, as well as a suggested reading list. No single source we've seen completely covers all the questions we have when we plan a trip. There are other sources on the web able to do a much better job than we in many areas (e.g. official railroad sites, hotel sites). As well, the web just isn't a suitable place to stuff all the information one might need. There's still a need for books.
You'll find only information about the places we found to be the most interesting and worthwhile, after 40+ years of travel. That includes more than 80 trips to Europe, though none to other continents. We've also included a few articles from friends, though they're mainly about the places we love, or are close to them. That's not to suggest you shouldn't go to London or Paris. They're fine cities. For us, having been there and elsewhere, we'd rather spend our time in Rome or Switzerland than anywhere else in Europe. Hopefully you'll have many opportunities to travel to Europe. If you won't, or may not, keep Switzerland and Rome in mind as places you really ought to be sure to get to. They're very, very special. If you're going elsewhere you'll find far better information than we could offer, in books and other websites.
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Travel publishers manage to make almost every destination sound equally interesting, almost every hotel charming and cozy. Websites of national tourism organizations can't show favoritism and treat the banal equally with the superb. Privately published information, similar to ours, whether on websites or in Internet forums, almost always represents the opinions of people who have not traveled extensively or widely. Often you'll read about their first and only experience. While respecting their opinions, you'll see that they probably have little perspective on what's truly excellent and what's to be found time and again elsewhere. Admittedly some of our coverage is a bit unique. Some of the Rome information is not commonly found (e.g. Ostia Antica) on the web or even in many guidebooks. Ouray and the San Juans are almost unknown, and certainly covered poorly on the web, even in Ouray's own pages.
There's special category of information we've largely avoided: current and often variable facts.
Looking for maps? We don't really think they're appropriate for our site, or for the web for that matter. Want to know when major public holidays occur in Rome? We provide a link to a good source. Specific direction to sights? Guide books are indispensible. The same is true in most every other category. We've provided links to the best sources we've run across. Weather information, exchange rates, train schedules ... for the most part we don't try and do it all. Rather, we hope we can get you pointed in the right direction so you can finish planning your trip easily.
Despite the wealth of information on the web, everything is not here, certainly not when it comes to travel. Our most useful travel planning resources continue to be books. We're mildly amused by folks willing to spend, say, $5,000 on a European vacation but won't spend $20 for a guide book. For each of our four favorite destinations you'll find at least one and usually several guidebooks suggested. In addition, for Rome, Switzerland and Ouray you'll find several books that provide background and insight into the city or area. There's nothing on the web that can replace these, or the best of the guidebooks, dictionaries, phrase books or Green Guides.
Wherever you go, you'll find most of the information in Trip Tips and Tools will give you a head start on planning a top notch experience. Then, even if you're not considering our favorite destinations, at least skim a page or two of our information on Rome, Switzerland, Bavaria or Ouray. Hopefully we'll get you thinking about a visit, someday, whether this summer or ten years from now, to the most delightful spots we've found in 40 years of travel. We think they'll top your list of favorite spots as well.
Our Favorites Copyright © 2000-2001 E.J. Gehrlein Traveling
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ur pages are meant to be a resource, not the
resource. And they're meant to be opinionated. We don't spend a lot of time on the
ordinary ... just what we think merits special recommendation.
e're
not trying to cover the world, or even Europe or all of Colorado with these pages. 
lmost unique in what you find here, though, are clear opinions
based on extensive travels.
ou will find, though, more extensive sources
than ours for hotel listings and current prices, for example, as well as many other common
information. We don't try to repeat what's already available in good form. In fact you should
go to the horse's mouth before you make a final hotel selection. We just suggest
properties that have satisfied us, and others about which we have reliable almost
first-hand information.
ore important than website links, we've provided
extensive book lists. Four years ago the web had little useful information. Today most of
us are disappointed, if not annoyed, when we can't find everything here.
o, enjoy your vacation, but first enjoy
planning it! That's part of the fun of travel for us, the planning.