During my years of traveling, I have found one thing very helpful along the journey, and this is travel blog sites. What I like about travel blogs is that they give you comprehensive tips on all aspects of traveling, and they give you a personal perspective of what worked, and what did not. Here are some things I myself have picked up from travel blog sites.
First, look into alternate methods of transportation! Many US travelers are so accustomed to using a combination of planes and cars that it is difficult to consider anything else. Many other countries, however, have superior public transport systems. In Europe, for example, it is often possible to travel from city and city and country using train systems that might only cost a few Euro per adventure. In this case, traveling with several people can often alleviate travel sites. In Southern Germany, you can use a Bayern group pass which allows you to travel hours away, even to Austria, for only nine euros to get there and back.
Second, soak in the local culture and engage in nontraditional tourism! Whenever I got to a new location, I would use search engines to find what travel sites recommended as day trips. Had I not done this, I never would have thought to go to Montserrat, a mountain location located a few hours away from Barcelona. Visiting centuries old religious retreats high in the mountains was an unforgettable experience.
Third, travel blog sites can give you good tips on where to find the best food. When I was traveling with friends in Prague, one of them checked out online travel reviews of local restaurants. We ended up going to a restaurant that served traditional, inexpensive Czech food, and was also modeled to look like a dungeon.
Fourth, use travel blog sites to make yourself aware of local dangers and potential iffy spots. Other travelers are often aware of and can advise you about questionable places and things to look out for.