ricksteves.com- You may know Rick Steves from his show that airs on PBS. He's been traveling to Europe for over 25 years now, and has made a living out of teaching folks how to travel on the jib (cheaply). Although his "back doors" (small out of the way places that are supposedly hidden from the usual tourist groups) are no longer hidden--thanks to Steves' own exposure--there are mountains of information and lessons about European travel you can learn from him. Two of the most useful tools on his site are a pricing table and breakdown of European rail passes, and the Graffiti Wall, where travelers can post stories and tips from their travels overseas.

Air:

aa.com, usair.com, delta.com, united.com, nwa.com- the official sites of some of the US's major airlines. Most folks don't realize that these sites offer Internet fare specials every week, many of which are better deals than you can get from any travel agent. Keep in mind, a few of these specials have travel restrictions, some of which may not be conducive to taking longer trips. Northwest's CyberSavers, for example, require you to depart Thursday or Friday, and come back the following Monday or Tuesday. Still the best place to look for cheap airfare. Reportedly, you will be able to scour all of the major airlines' deals at orbitz.com, debuting in June, 2001. It has yet to be seen whether the same savings will truly be available at this site though...

aircourier.org- Few travelers know about air courier services, but they offer some of the best savings on airfare around. Being an air courier involves escorting cargo on a commercial airliner to and from a particular destination, with a specified window of time in between flights to enjoy your overseas surroundings. You don't have to worry about carrying anything but a voucher for the cargo you're accompanying, and there are restrictions on your own luggage, but it's perfectly legal and legitimate. Best of all, the airfare on your one week-3 month stay is severely discounted, maybe even free! In addition to regular courier flights, the Air Courier Association offers cheap "space-available" flights to Europe, the Caribbean and Hawaii. I took advantage of this deal and flew from Seattle to Paris for $475 in the peak summer travel season. Definitely worth a gander, especially if you have a flexible schedule that allows you to travel often or at the last minute.

skyauction.com- Bid on your airfare. Similar to eBay, and lacking the annoying unknown of bidding with Priceline, skyauction offers a professional product. Though it's tough to find good deals here, due to other participants who constantly overbid, there's the occasional hidden gem. Skyauction.com deals with the major airlines, and make sure you watch for the restrictions on departure and arrival locations, travel dates and taxes. Also offers deals on resorts and lodging.

travelteam.com- Edmonds, WA-based Travel Team handles Rick Steves' travel arrangements, but that's not all they do. If you're forced to look to a travel agent, try these guys, at the very least because they're nice and accommodating, unlike say... Council Travel. Their site lists their year-round fares. I've never actually booked a ticket through these guys, but they're always the first travel agent I go to because I know I'll be dealing with friendly professionals who don't think that I'm doing them a favor by calling.

Electronics:

transadapt.com- If you're not the type who likes to rough it or you're traveling for business, you might need help from Transadapt. They'll help you with your electronic needs. From adapting your devices to work in foreign countries, to helping you plug in your modem overseas, they've got the parts for you.

Entertainment:

fabriclondon.com- this is the Web site for Fabric, the club we visited in London.

mylittletony.com- have British Prime Minister Tony Blair answer all your important questions with amazingly thoughtful answers, provided you can get this site to work on your computer.

punchbaby.com- Compiled by some bloke in the U.K., this may be the best archive of humorous video clips on the net. Contains anything that can be classified as amazing, bizarre or humorous, and is one of the best ways to waste countless hours at work.

timeout.com- the online version of Time Out, London's weekly entertainment guide. If you can navigate the site, you might actually find something useful. Good luck.

Lodging:

hostelwatch.com- features links to Europe's "Famous 10" hostels, including St. Christopher's and the infamous Pink Palace on Corfu.

st-christophers.co.uk- the online home of our hostel in London. Visit any of their locations, take a virtual tour, get all the info you need. The maps they provide are a bit dodgy, so make sure you get proper directions if you stay at one of their locations. Online booking system has been known to be a bit unreliable, but it worked for us.

Rail:

railtrack.co.uk- if you have difficulty planning your train travel despite help from your guide book, you may want to try this site. It offers information on the U.K.'s major train stations, and provides maps, timetables and oh, so much more!

Soccer:

georgeanddragonpub.com- where to find (occasionally inaccurate) TV schedules for the best place to watch soccer in Seattle.

icons.com- features the personal Web sites of several European soccer stars, including Man United's Ryan Giggs and Jaap Stam.

manutd.com- the official site of the Manchester United Football Club

soccernet.com- started in the mid-90's by a 12 year old who sold it to ESPN for $60 million or so. I'd say he made out okay. Now home to ESPN.com's extensive English football coverage.

soccertv.com- an extremely useful site, which lists the television listings for any international soccer imaginable, on any channel imaginable in the US and Canada.

sports.com- The best source for English football (or cricket, if that's your cup o' tea) news and info. They also have limited European coverage, including tables, scores and recaps from the continent. Partnered with CBS Sportsline in the US.

The tube:

thetube.com- all you need to know about the tube!