Click here to see the Times Online selection of the top 100 travel websites. Don't agree with our choices? Know of one that merits inclusion? Let us know

WHERE TO GO

www.straightuptraveler.com
Despite the US spelling, this site has broad good international appeal. It'll save your inbox from RSS overload because it lists the latest travel features from esteemed travel publications such as ourselves, plus the likes of Gridskipper, Globorati and National Geographic. Great for inspiration and research.

www.101holidays.co.uk
Sunday Times’ travel writers, David Wickers and Mark Hodson's have pooled their experience to pick the best tour operators and holidays so you don't have to wade through websites and brochures. There's a good spread of destinations and holiday types that you can select from a block of images or you can use the dropdown.

www.worldreviewer.com
Contributors are both travellers and travel professionals from around the world. The homepage is a bit "busy", but skip to the Travel Guides section and you can search the extensive archive by destination or activity.

www.aito.co.uk
The Association of Independent Tour Operators website includes more than 150 operators and a database of holidays of all types, searchable by destination and/or interest. Also see www.aitoagents.com.

www.flickr.com
Let other people's holiday snaps be your inspiration. Search the Flickr Map for places, activities or points of interest. Also try www.photographysites.com, which has a large travel listing and links to dozens of sites where you can learn how to improve your technique.

www.whatsonwhen.com
This exhaustive global events guide is still yet to be bettered. It covers just about all conceivable forms of entertainment, from music in all its forms to sports, shopping, family entertainment and obscure festivals in all corners of the globe. It's just as useful for telling you when to go somewhere, as when to avoid a place - accommodation is cheaper when there isn't a festival in town.

www.stanfords.co.uk
Buy online from the UK’s best-known map and travel bookshop.

www.timeout.com
Website of the worldwide listings magazine that includes potted online city guides and events, plus restaurant, bar and attraction listings.

www.visitbritain.co.uk
If you're looking for events, attractions or itineraries for holidays around Britain, this is the best place to start. There's a heap of video and audio content plus pictures, practical information, user reviews and links to regional tourism websites.

www.economist.co.uk/businesstravel
This part of the site is free - and jam-packed with audio and video business guides to cities around the world. It's great for brushing up on etiquette, banking some conversation starters and getting the basics on getting around. "The world next week" is also handy for up update on the news agenda - particualry good for getting you up-to-speed after a holiday.

www.goodbeachguide.co.uk
A Marine Conservation Society site with in-depth information on recommended beaches around the UK. Easy to use with interactive maps and plenty of advice on the best beach for you.

Also see the best travel blogs

WHERE NOT TO GO

www.fco.gov.uk/travel
The latest official travel advice. An essential first port of call to stay safe around the world — and check that your travel insurance will be valid. Links to the Department of Health for information on vaccinations.

www.comebackalive.com
Whether you take this as a red or green light depends on your definition of "adventure"... Robert Young Pelton is your guide to the world's most dangerous destinations. Some interesting information — and plenty of disclaimers.

www.travelwatchdog.com
A dogs dinner of a site but there's some useful stuff buried in its pages. The site logs complaints and problems with travel companies, from hire cars to timeshares, and has advice on things like insurance and legal issues. Warning: If you want advice from the site because you believe that a travel agent, tour operator or other travel related company has failed you, the site requests a £5 fee before it will issue advice promptly (except where your case involves accident or illness abroad). Also see Holidays Uncovered and Holiday Watchdog, although these are not independent - they are owned by TUI and Expedia respectively.