Hello folks,
We're real busy here getting EuropeTracker ready for summer 2006. A few updates:
1) We're always adding tons of data to the system. We've recently added connections for another 45-50 cities, including Hamburg, Lyon, Geneva, Hanover, Lille, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Genoa, Torino, and several towns and islands in Croatia. The connection DB is about 12000 records long now and should be about 15000 by summer. The vast majority of larger and more popular European cities are in the system now, and we're trying to fill in gaps with smaller places. If you don't see a city that is important for your itinerary, let us know and we will add it for you. Otherwise, please be patient as we get our arms around this massive amount of info. For most of you, your complete itinerary can be built using current data. For a few of you with missing cities, patience is a virtue!
2) We're adding a bunch of new discount airlines into the system, including Virgin Express, Transavia, Volare, and more. We've also added the flights for the existing no-frills airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Germanwings, Wizzair, and about 4-5 more) when we add new cities into the system. For example, when we added Hamburg as a city, we added the many Germanwings flights that go to/from Hamburg (Intl Airport) and Hamburg (Lubeck Airport). The growth of these discount airlines is phenomonal and you really should consider using a discount flight or two on your trip.
3) We've added a ton of Bus connection data (especially for Northern Europe) but, due to its size and reseach difficulty, this will not be completed for a few more months. However, there are already 1000+ Bus connections in the system, so you might find one for your trip. Consider using the bus at times when trains get too expensive.
4) You no longer need to login and build an itinerary to view the EuropeTracker connection data. The new QuikConnect page lets you do a fast search for the A to B connection you need info for. Modesty aside, our Europe transportation connection data is the most comprehensive such collection of information in the world, and it's free for you to use.
5) We're eliminating remaining bugs with the system as testing concludes. There are still a couple issues but 99% of you will never see these or have a problem. If you see something wrong, let us know so we can fix it.
6) Our permanent design will be released shortly, around the middle of February, and replace our current temporary design. EuropeTracker will look and work as smooth as you expect.
7) If you need in-depth help with planning a trip to Europe this year, consider signing up for our Paid account (only 15 euros for one year, soon to be 20 euros when the new design is finished). We are experts in European travel and, by knowing how to use EuropeTracker and its very useful itinerary-building process, we'll help you build your perfect itinerary. Others would charge 10x as much for the same service, but since we love helping people travel Europe, we'll do it for a low enough price to cover our time spent.
8) Even if you don't want or need a paid account, please consider using EuropeTracker for your bookings (railpasses, hotels, hostels, activities, discount flights, etc). We'll get a small commission from the suppliers, and your support this way helps keep EuropeTracker free for all to use. We're not Expedia or Travelocity, so every booking helps us continue to build the system for the benefit of all independent travelers.
9) Don't forget about our original site, One Summer in Europe, to help you plan your Europe travels. It is one of the most comprehensive backpacking Europe sites on the net.
10) If you have any comments or questions about EuropeTracker, let us know!
Happy Travels...
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