Traveling in South Africa (Useful websites) (Part 2)
Continuing from (Part 1)
Via Michelin
In my opinion this is the premier site before heading on a trip, as it is the most comprehensive and informative of all the sites. It contains a lot of information and works for any country in the world. When I was traveling in Europe last year, we used this site to see where we would be going and to find directions and it works great. Even if you just want to brush up on your geography, there is a large interactive maps section as well.
Getting started
To check a route though, first enter the departure and destination details in the top left section of the page. In the example I used, I left the street names blank and simply entered Pretoria as the departure city and Port Elizabeth as the destination city, obviously with specifying ‘South Africa’ from the drop down box. As an interesting side note, you can ask the site to plot a route for you from one country to another. The page then calculates the route and shows the findings. You are initially presented with a small map and various details, including the specific directions you will need to follow.
Results returned
The blue circles with the numbers inside are then also represented on the map, showing how the trip would pan out along the way. When entering your destination and departure locations, you can also specify if you would like the site to calculate the quickest route, viaMichelin’s recommended route, the scenic route and other options.
Added to the information shown is the time the trip would take, the distance from departure to destination and finally the cost of the trip. The cost is based off the current petrol price, but is unfortunately listed in Euros. The cost of the trip also excludes toll gates as the site seems unable to determine the toll gate costs for South Africa. I assume for Europe the toll prices will be listed. If you need the current toll prices for a trip from Johannesburg to Durban, check back to this blog post.
While the image of the map might seem identical to the one presented from Travelmath, the map on viaMichelin is completely interactive. You can re-plot your route as you go and make changes as you see fit.
Extra information
Further adding to the wealth of information provided by the site is the option to find car rental and hotel accommodation once you have reached your destination.
The site has a database of hotels in any destination. Each links to a page providing information about the specific hotel. There is a small write-up on the hotel as well as a number of pictures showing the hotel from the outside and some of the rooms. To the right of that is a zoomed in map showing the street that the hotel is located on and the surrounding area so you can find the place.
I have only listed a few basic areas of the site, it is truly huge and as comprehensive as can be. You can check on the weather of a specific area, lots of tourist spots and information and restaurants, to name but a few. Spend some time on the site and get a feel of everything it has to offer.
Next time your going on a trip, give these websites a look-through first, you will be surprised at how informative and helpful they can be and how much time they can potentially save you.
