1. Initial Google Search: travel ideas

Go World Travel
www.goworldtravel.com
Site shows list of countries:  click on country scroll down for info.

Times Online
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel
has travel destination search to find your type of holiday.

Adventure Smith Explorations
www.adventuresmithexplorations.com
Adventure travel around the world

Lonely Planet.
www.lonelyplanet.com
Travel advice and information on the best holiday destinations from around the world.

Started with a young couple 30 years ago when Tony and Maureen Wheeler who wrote
“Across Asia on the Cheap”     first travel guide.

Fast-forward over 30 years.

As Lonely Planet became a globally loved brand, Tony and Maureen received several offers for the company. But it wasn't until 2007 that they found a partner whom they trusted to remain true to Lonely Planet's principles. In October of that year, BBC Worldwide acquired a 75% share in Lonely Planet, pledging to uphold Lonely Planet's commitment to:

independent travel, trustworthy advice and editorial independence.

Today, Lonely Planet has offices in Melbourne, London and Oakland, with over 500 staff members and 300 authors.  Offering wonderful info on places to go

On the Lonely Planet site don’t forget click on “travel services” on the menu, (adventure tours, travel deals, airlines, rail, insurance, hotels etc all here)

Sign up for lonely planet news letter

If you have an interest, you are sure to find a travel company that has a travel package for it.
i.e. food, wine, archeology,  art, music etc.

2. Google Earth.

Planning a trip in Europe??
Use Google Earth (download from google.com)

Use direction search box: put in from destination and to destination,
map appears and will show you the route and also give detailed driving instructions.
All can be printed out.

If not driving Google Earth can take you to any part of the world and show the map of the area. The map can also give info i.e. hotels, places of interest, restaurants etc.  
all maps are printable.

3. Airlines:

Compare Airline Prices
www.compareairlineprices.net
There are many price comparison sites but this one compares the comparative sites.

4. Rail, Coach, Ferries:

http://www.renfe.es/horarios/english/index.html - Spanish railways in English
http://www.rail.co.uk/ - UK Railways
http://www.eurotunnel1.com/direct/booking/journey.asp?lang=en – Eurotunnel booking
http://www.poferries.com/tourist/index.html  - Ferries between  Bilbao & UK
http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/home - Ferries between Santander & UK
http://www.directferries.co.uk/routes.htm - All European ferry routes
http://www.nationalexpress.com/Airport/index.cfm - UK Coach bookings
http://www.alsa.es/portal/site/Alsa - Spain Coach bookings

5. Cruises:

eWaterways - your small ship cruise experts

http://www.ewaterways.com 
Search online for river cruises, hotel barge trips, expedition voyages, coastal cruises and sailing and yacht journeys. With hundreds of itineraries worldwide, from leading cruise companies, eWaterways will help you find the perfect small ship cruise holiday.

Small Ship Cruises

http://www.smallshipcruises.com

Find crusies by interest:
luxury
sailing
river cruises
diving/scuba
wine/culinary
golf
whale watching
classical music
freighter cruises

Adventure Smith Explorations

http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com
The world's finest small ship cruises and adventure travel. Enjoy a new style of cruising that combines small ships and yachts with outstanding guides to explore nature and wildlife up close. Find your next expedition cruise or wilderness adventure here then call our expert crew

Noble Caledonia

http://www.noble-caledonia.co.uk/sections/small_ship_cruises.asp
Small Ship Cruises
This category of cruising offers comprehensive itineraries, normally concentrating on a particular area or theme. The itinerary is paramount and the small size of the vessels means that you will be able to visit places that larger vessels cannot go.

6. Hotels:

http://www.booking.com/ - Hotels throughout Spain, Europe & the world
http://agencia3.bancotel.com/bancoteling/servlet/hrsv001_c - Low cost hotels in Europe (Purchase vouchers in advance)

7. Car Hire:

http://www.car-hire-centre.co.uk/ - Compare & book car hire anywhere in the world
http://www.anycarhire.com/car-hire/spain.htm - Cheap car hire in Spain brings up best price for each model of car.

8. Set up a blog:

Though Picasa you can set up an ongoing blog with day to day details of your trip and upload photos to it.  All your friends can follow it.

9. Photos.

On returning home if you have PhotoStory software from Microsoft you can turn the photos of your trip into a DVD with music, voice over, panning and dissolves just like a video.

The DVD is a great gift for friends and a remembrance of your trip.

Researched trip to Galicia:

We started to investigate a 2 week trip to Galicia in August.
Started with Google Earth, got map of the area.
Decided to travel by train.
AVE from Malaga to Madrid. (renfe.es)
Few days in Madrid. Researched and chose Hotel. (bookings.com) Saw pictures of the hotel and location on google maps.
Overnight train from Madrid to Ourense. (also renfe.es)
Car hire from Renfe station. (car-hire-centre.co.uk)
2 nights in a lovely small hotel recommended by friends. Restaurant supposedly superb.
6 nights Galicia. 2 hotels also recommended by friends
Drop car off in Ourense.
Train back to Madrid. (renfe.es)
Change trains to Malaga

Made an excel spreadsheet with costs, places, time schedules, arrival times, departure times etc.

Over all cost of trip calculating for food over 3,000 euros for two.

We are rethinking it!!
Train travel is expensive!!