Plan your holiday with help from the internet

To get the most from the site you need to register as this means you can post in the forum and save details of places you have already visited as well as planning future trips.

The Traveller Network section can be used to stay in touch with existing friends as well as people found on Trip Advisor ­ providing a means of swapping hints and tips and asking questions.

One of the most useful aspects of a user account is the Trips section, which makes it easy to plan every aspect of a future trip online.

Head to the Trips section of My Trip Advisor and click the ‘Create trip folder’ link. After entering a suitable name for the folder, click Save and then it’s time to start creating a trip plan.

Notes for personal reminders and memos can be added, and by clicking the ‘Add hotels, attractions, & restaurants’, it is possible to search for accommodation and other places of interest ­ complete with links to reviews.

Anything that is added to a trip folder will be saved for easy access in future, and can be printed out or emailed to travel companions using the buttons at the top of the section.

Swap tips
The highlight of Trip Advisor has to be its array of forums. You can access these by returning to the home page and clicking the Forums link in the ‘Plan the Perfect Trip’ box.

As well as country-specific forums, there are also boards dedicated to particular areas of interest such as advice for disabled travellers and recommendations for the more adventurous holidaymaker.

This is one of the best ways to get advice from others who have experienced holiday destinations first-hand.

On a more light-hearted note, head to the Fun & Games section for a travel quiz, applications to share details of travel plans on Facebook, a range of travel widgets and Ollie the Owl’s (the Trip Advisor mascot) blog which includes holiday horror stories.

Whether your idea of the perfect holiday is a trip to the British countryside, sunbathing on a Mediterranean beach or travelling a little further afield, Trip Advisor is a great resource that makes it easy to home in on the best experience while avoiding dodgy deals.