The good news, you can do much of your homework without ever setting foot on a plane--and it is not only cost-effective but also wise to do so.

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By using social tools and lightweight Web apps, travel companies have moved toward a model that lets consumers experience their trips before setting foot in a plane and use discovery rather than search to make their trip, their trip, not a trip.

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Traveling is about more than booking a plane ticket and setting off.

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