I had used the Germany forum in the fall for a last minute trip to Germany and now I wanted to see if there was a way to "search" the topics so I am not asking a question someone may have asked a few weeks ago or 3 months ago. Is the only way to scroll through and read each Topic post? Or am I missing something? I am at the beginning stages so have a lot of questions and don't want to ask a question that is continually asked. :) Thanks!
Posted by
Washington DC
28697 posts
If you're reading the forum on a PC, look for the magnifying glass at the top of the screen. Type your Search topic in that box and click Go.
On the next screen choose Travel Forum under "Filter by Type" and a time frame under "Filter by Date" so you don't get results from many, many years ago.
It's not the best Search function out there, but those steps will make it more useful.
Posted by
OP
Texas
40 posts
aCraven- And there it is! Why did I look everywhere on the right side and not on the left side? That is what I needed! You are awesome! Thank you!
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
15095 posts
I'll add that while I love this forum, the participants and the IT team, the search feature is not very good. You may find what you are looking for but if not don't feel bad about asking something you might feel is basic.
Posted by
OP
Texas
40 posts
Pam,
Thank you for offering that solution as I may be doing just that in the coming months before my trip!
It did take me a minute to figure it out, but thankfully, it worked just like was suggested. I didn't want to be "that person" that was asking a question that is posted every few months. I had scrolled through questions all the way back to October and didn't find what I was looking for but the search as described, while, as you say, was less than stellar, it did help narrow me down and answered a question I was just about to post it and thought I should ask first. I always tell my students the only stupid question is the one that you don't ask and is never answered.
Posted by
OP
Texas
40 posts
P.S. I also wish there was a "like" feature so that I can review comments that I liked later and also thank the person or "upvote" their comment. TripAdvisor doesn't have this either and they have probably a budget 10xs what this website has so a wish but still totally satisfied with the forums here!
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
15095 posts
While the "like" is not an option here, it actually is available on TA although it's slightly hidden...just like the forums are!
On TA you click the profile of the author if a comment. Scroll down their list of contributions to the appropriate post and you have an option to mark it as "helpful".
Posted by
OP
Texas
40 posts
Pam! What is this sorcery? I have never known this. I have used TA for years and never knew this. There are some people on there that I actually seek out advice from on trips and places we both frequent so this is good news. Thanks for this tip, too!
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
15095 posts
It just tells you how much time I spend on forums! I'm ashamed to admit how many posts I have "over there", lol. I'm glad you find the TA forums helpful and some people specifically. Some forums there can be a little less civil than the folks here!
Posted by
OP
Texas
40 posts
Pam- You said a mouthful there! Last year, I was planning this same trip (it was cancelled last minute due to a death in the family) and the London forum there was so awful that I made ONE post and never did another. It wasn't just my experience. I noticed it was on quite a few other poster's as well, so I decided to just wing it without advice and wish now I had known about this site. I have used TA for years for every other place we have traveled and never had any negative experiences but that one. I didn't know about this forum on Rick Steve's at the time or I would have used this one. I was kind of glad that my trip last summer was canceled though because this time I scheduled an additional 3 days as well as I am hoping to squeeze in a lot more than I thought I would last year.
Posted by
Louisville, Ky
222 posts
While you cannot "like" a comment or thread to come back to as you've described, you can do what I do and that's email to yourself the link to the thread you like or that contains the comment you like.
That link is a living thing and every time you check back on it, any new comments will appear there.
I also send all my emailed links to a mail folder "ENGLAND NEXT" or "ITALY NEXT," etc., then I can find all my pertinent links in one place and reference them for what I can fit into my itinerary on the next trip. Even if something doesn't fit, it remains in the NEXT folder for the next trip.
Posted by
OP
Texas
40 posts
ribaholic60- Why didn't I think of this one? I usually cut and paste the information in an email body and send THAT to myself then put that in a folder for that vacation in my email but never thought of the link. I don't know why I didn't but yours makes more sense than mine. Mine I have a screen shot and could come back to it (now that I know the search function) but yours I would just click the link.