Use Helipad To Manage Your Next Vacation

When I’m researching and planning a trip, I need a place to keep all of my notes and information. I’ve tried Word, paper, and several trip planning applications. For now, however, the one that works best for me is Helipad.

Let me start by saying that there are more sophisticated and powerful applications for group trip planning. Two I’m familiar with, and have used are, I’m in! and TripHub. These applications include many features. With them you can create a trip home page, send invitations, share and discuss plans, see each other’s itineraries, and much more.

When I’m planning a vacation alone or with one or two others, Helipad is easier to use than other applications. It’s simple, works great and there’s nothing to learn. It is similar to how I previously used Word documents for trip planning, but it works infinitely better.

Helipad is a web notepad or streamlined wiki. It is a collaborative tool that has many other uses. Here’s why I like using Helipad as the repository for my trip plans:

• Includes a “To-Do” list plugin.
• Puts an end to frustrating email-based planning.
• Serves as a one-stop repository for all trip documents and planning.
• Provides access to trip information wherever there is Internet.
• Easily moves items between other applications and Helipad.
• Offers a variety of fonts and styles for printing.
• Formats notes for your cell phone.
• Automatically saves and backs up notes and is secure.
• Option for notes to be private, shared via password, or public.
• Offers custom note themes.

Here’s how I use Helipad.

1. Create separate notes for:

• Airline, hotel and car rental planning and reservations.
• Restaurant possibilities.
• Various categories of things to do while on the trip.

2. As I make reservations or find useful articles and ideas on the Internet, I paste them (or their URL) into my Helipad note. I collaborate with my travel partners by sharing the same notes.

Helipad started in 2006, is based in the UK and free to use. Give it a try and let me know what you think.