It’s July, and recession or not, summer travel season seems to be peaking.  Every click I make lately has me counting down the days until my next weekend getaway. Here’s a quick overview of online resources to check out before you leave on your next trip.

Getaway Gear

• Have you seen InStyle’s recommendations on your must-have travel items under $20? The straw fedora is definitely in my future.
• Before my last trip I couldn’t help but treat myself to a new set of luggage I found on Overstock.  They have really affordable deals for all your travel needs, and if you sign up for their e-newletter, those deals are delivered weekly right to your inbox.  
• A killer playlist is always a must-have before any trip.  I love the new iTunes Genius feature to do the work for me.

Sumer Vacation Social Networking

• If you’re currently planning your next trip, you’ll want to read this article on Top 4 Travel Social Networks to help with recommendations destination research..
• Once you depart for your trip, or upon your return, be sure to leverage your existing online identities to share your experience (Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, foursquare).
• According to Travelocity’s recent poll, more than half of travelers share vacation information via Social Media. Be sure to check out their tips for safe travel sharing.

Best Travel Sites

• Some of my favorite travel sites filling up my RSS feed include Gadling, Travel & Leisure, Jet Set Girls (they let me guest post) and Glam Globetrotter.
• But when looking for a good deal, my go-to sites include Kayak, Vegas.com, TravelZoo and the Twitter feeds for Jet Blue or my favorite hotels.

Bonus Tip: Don’t forget to stay on top of your frequent flier miles or hotel points for free stays/travel, too.

With so much information at your fingertips, it’s hard to imagine how people planned trips before the Internet.  Happy travels!