May 22, 2009, 10:22 AM — Memorial Day Weekend traditionally marks the beginning of the summer vacation season. Let's assume that you're not going to spend the next few months chained to your servers or your IDE -- and that, despite the economic downturn, you've got a steady paycheck that can fund travel. You don't want to vacation like your parents, with nothing but a beat-up guidebook and a ill-folded map to get you on your way. In the futuristic year 2009, we may not be taking vacations on the moon, but we can at least mix a little tech in with our travel plans.
Getting there is half the fun
The most fascinating thing to watch about the airline industry over the past 15 years is how ticket reservation Websites have become increasingly abstract. It seems that every travel season, there's another site that is collecting from a larger and larger pool of data to find the cheapest fare. The current king of the hill in this category is Kayak, which scrapes its way over the travel clearinghouses, the various airline direct-sales sites, and numerous travel sites in its quest for the best fare. There's a hypnotic progress bar to watch as it searches, and if you're stuck for ideas on where to go, you can check out other users' saved trip itineraries. Enjoy it in the summer of 2009, because by 2010 someone else will probably have built a better mousetrap that drives down fares further. (And we wonder why they're charging us for pillows now?)
Maybe you're going to drive instead of fly. Why not rediscover a little bit of America while you do it? The Interstate system is great for getting you from place to place quickly, but the view from just about any highway in the country is more or less the same. Taking the scenic route can be as simple as planning your trip with Google Maps -- but choosing "Options" and then clicking the "Avoid highways" checkbox. It'll take you longer, but you'll see all sorts of things you'd have missed whizzing by at 75 miles an hour.
Of course, lengthening your drive makes for more money spent on gas. You may have spent some quality time overclocking your PC, so why not turn that hacking aesthetic onto your car? Hypermiling techniques -- little tweaks you can make to your driving style -- can improve your gas milage dramatically. Get tips and swap ideas at the Hypermiling Forum.
Staying connected
Let's admit it: you're a true geek, and you've become accustomed to having Internet access at all times. If you do manage to leave the confines of your office and home with their high-speed connections to the Net, you're going to want to know where you can get your fix. Fortunately, there are ways to scout out your destination for connectivity.
JiWire, a Google Maps mashup site shows you free and paid Wi-Fi spots pretty much anywhere on Earth. Scout out those cafes and public places where you can break out the laptop for a quick surfing session.
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