No matter how hard I research my trips using books and travel guides, nothing can substitute for first hand knowledge and insider advice. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to meet other people in the travel community (many of which run excellent blogs and helpful websites). These sites have helped me so much, and I’ve compiled a list of the best here:
Africa Guide: A complete and comprehensive guide to every country in Africa with essential travel information and 100′s of tours and safaris, hotels and car hire throughout the continent
Netflights: On this site you will find a selection of useful travel articles, tips and advice provided by Netflights.
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms: Designed to help cross-cultural exchange, this site helps place travelers with local families, where you can work in exchange for free food and accommodation.
Backpacker Guides: A pretty awesome website, if I say so myself!
Couchsurfing: A place to find friendly hosts, all over the world.
Designer Clothes:Shop online for a wide selection of designer clothes and fashion accessories at low internet prices and fast home delivery service.
Man in Seat 61: An exhaustive, and extremely helpful guide to world-wide train travel.
Women on the Road: My bible to traveling solo.
Beautiful Places on Earth: A place to plan your perfect trip!
Off Track Planet: This website is a complete information source for all people looking to backpack (especially you young folk, like me!). Founded to help inspire people to travel, it truly is a great resource.
Globe Diva Travels: Monica shares advice/tips/thoughts about her travels through Europe, and offers pertinent and up-to-date travel advice.
Lenguajero: A free community where you can find English and Spanish language partners!
Singles by the Bay Travel Club: The best FREE Singles travel Club!
Travel Notes: Photo travel journals from different parts of the globe.
Travelspecs Online Travel Guide: The Travelspecs site is a great online travel guide with pretty much any information you need to plan a fantastic trip!
PhotoFly Travel Club: Adventures for culture & Photography lovers!
Pommie Travels: Follow Victoria as she travels around the world!
OneStep4Ward Travel Site: Johnny uses his blog to talk about lifestyle design and to show people how easy it is to travel. He’s been on the road since ’06, over 50 countries in!
Aussie on the Road: Good blog about an Aussie Guy (Chris, if you’re interested in his name!) traveling around the world!
Bali Travel Guide: Everything you need to know about traveling to Bali.
Hotel Machu Picchu: Thousands of hotels to choose from in Peru! Discount rates and easy online booking.
i Backpack Canada: The name says it all – friendly guy too!
Malaysia Asia: David Hogan´s pictures, stories, and tips from his experiences in Asia.
Sanibel Hotel Guide: A complete list of short-stay hotels on Sanibel Island, Florida.
NicaGuide: Environmentally friendly tours of Nicaragua!
Pesona Jarkata: A complete Jarkata tourist guide.
Traveling to Indonesia: Just what the name implies!
Border Jumpers: Bernard and Danielle are traveling around the world…their posts about Africa have been especially helpful! 
Daily Propaganda: Kurt Wahlgren’s travel thoughts, pictures, and stories.
Everything-Everywhere: One man’s continuing travels around the world!
Fox Nomad Travel Site: Travel information for world-wide backpackers.
Itravelnet.com Travel Blog: Travel news, views, and notes from the road.
Nomadic Notes Travel Blog: Travel blog of James Clark.
Travelocafe: informal notes on how to travel on a shoestring.
Two Go Round-the-world: Two Go Round-The-World preserves the observations of Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip set to depart Toronto, Canada in July 2011.
The Backpacker Daily: Lindsey and Blake are planning (and will soon start) their RTW trip! With lots of videos and blog posts, this is a great place to get first hand information about RTW planning in general.
Seat of Our Pants: A young couple currently on an around the world trip!
Sensible Traveling: Travel tips and adventures from a well-traveled teacher.
Vagablonding: Follow this travel budget girl as she vagablonds around the world!