7. HostelBookers.com has added more than 100 videos to its accommodation reviews, so users can try before they buy, as it were. The videos have been shot and edited by the hostelbookers team on a mobile phone, but the quality is better than you might think.

The music is a little nauseating, as is the onslaught of 360 degree panoramas, but its helpful content nevertheless. The site has also teamed up with Tripadvisor to offer the videos on its site, and will invite user review videos soon.

8. Whether you’re a greenie, you’re feeling the pinch, or you’re fed up with airports, it’s worth checking out the flight-free option for your next break. There are plenty of website dedicated to just that, but one that’s appeared on our radar recently is www.Noflights.com, a UK-based company that launched in February.

What makes this site interesting, is that it’s not just selling Eurostar tickets to Brussels and the ferry to Calais – you can get to California or Beijing without boarding a plane. There’s even a round the world itinerary. The site is a little scruffy but the globe icon is fun and there’s plenty of photos and itineraries to inspire.

50 best travel websites of 2007

Another year of innovation and refinement as travel websites continue to become more niche, focussed and useful

BACKGROUND

• The 10 hottest travel websites to watch

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Times Online's top 100 travel websites

Once again, we've crawled, clicked and crashed our way around the world of internet travel to bring you our top 100 travel websites in 2009

9. Spare a thought for those poor souls at the front of the aircraft – not only are they saddled with the burden of champagne at ungodly hours, but they are also robbed of traveller camaraderie over queues at the overpriced airport coffee shop.

Instead they reside in the serenity of a private lounge, where the newspapers are free and the drinks plentiful. If that doesn’t get you reaching for the credit card, check out these temples to luxury travel – the most impressive airport lounges around the world.

10. It's not only the new sites we look out for, but also those learning and evolving, so good to see Caribbean Connection among established holiday firms upping their game. The site relaunched last month with late deals, guides and a spotlighted hotel added.

But it also has split the content into types of hotels, and built a series of dropdown menus to help identify the right hotel for the traveller. It's not yet able to book all hotels online (although 80 per cent are bookable), but I hear that's the intention for a new Mauritius programme on the way.

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