We've just launched Slow Travel's new header navigation! Hopefully, you will find it easier to use and, perhaps, even discover content you didn't know the site had!

Take a gander and poke around. If you encounter any bugs while you're at it, we'd really appreciate you posting any issues here on this thread so our tech department can monitor and fix the issues.

We think this is going to make it a lot easier for people to find all the good content on SlowTrav! It also provides an easy means for people to find the advertisers who support the site!

Please let us know what you think!

-- John

Just a couple of quirks that I notice:
~ There is a large empty space at the top right side of the page, beside the menu...is that staying empty, or is there going to be a variety of ever-changing classified ads in that area? The beautiful photo at the top right side of the page seems to be distorted or shrunken...can it be larger?

~ I find it a little disconcerting to hold the curser over a topic, watch the dropdown menu appear and then try to capture a link in that menu. Seems like I lose the whole thing and the page then reverts back to the home page format.
Any chance that can be changed to an easier and more user-friendly format?
For example, if I go to Vacation Rentals, then move the curser down the list in the dropdown menu and try to move it over the next subject, Hotel Dining, I lose the location and have to go back to that topic again to access it.

I liked the original format better, although I'll likely get used to this new look in time. Change is never easy!

"Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine." ~ Robert C. Gallagher
Brenda

Went to Spain, selected trip reports and a list of all the trip reports were listed, excellent. I also liked how the Travel resources gave maps of each region. I'm always googling the names as I read them. Now, I can use the navigation bar to quickly switch over to Travel Resources. Hotels & Dining and Vacation Rentals, travel services,Travelogues, also well done.

I'm not sure if I have any critiques yet, but so far I like it.

http://www.slowtrav.com/

I see what BGE means on the page I linked to above.
There is a list on the left side of the page and a huge empty space on the right hand side.
Also the beautiful photo at the top right of this page is too small or distorted.

Another thing I noticed...I could have easily missed the advertisers at the bottom of the page, as I don't usually scroll down that far. I often use the click thrus for hotel, car rental, amazon.ca etc. but they are much easier to find on the right hand side of the page. When I have to go searching for them, I will just leave the ST site and google them to do my bookings. J.

Hope this helps.

Brenda and Chiaro, do either of you know how to do screen prints? I'm not sure I'm seeing what you're seeing. Also what browsers are you using?

Thanks for the help - all good feedback!

Like this?

I saw it the first time I looked at the page, but when I did a refresh I got the real thing. (I'm on the latest Firefox by the way.)

No such problem with IE6.

Yes, Chris that is what I get too, every time I go to it.
I am on firefox too, on my new MacBook Pro.

So far, my main comment would be:
It is good to change and update and make better, however, the Forum link should be available from a screen independently, not hidden under a drop down menu...it is that important...just my opinion

Chris,
That's what I see, also.
I did a refresh and a lovely new home page came up! That looks like a new and updated page...very nice!

Why would I need to refresh every time I go to Slowtrav, my opening page when I go online? Is that a quirk of Firefox? I also have Firefox, latest edition.

Kim,
Screen prints...not known to this techno-dinosaur! I need to learn that! I know that Pauline explained it to me a few months ago, and I could not remember how when I posted last night.

"I still have a full deck. I just shuffle slower, now." ~ Unknown
Brenda

Don't worry Brenda, Chris has you covered.

It looked okay when I pulled it upon Firfox; I'm on version 2.0.0.9

I'm on 2.0.0.11. For me it was just the first time, which hints it may be something in the cache, or perhaps a script that isn't being loaded, but it was definitely there as you can see by the screen capture.

I saw it late last night when I finally got online. A refresh fixed me also. I'm running 2.0.0.11 Firefox. Slowtrav website was slow so I thought maybe it had something to do with the timing.

I also just checked a second account on this PC. I got the menu although there was a definitely delay at first displaying the full menu.

I see by looking at the source that it's a javascript. Perhaps those who can't see it at all are not allowing scripts to be run.

You are probably on to something. But I think that but Groupee uses javascript for the menu dropdowns and the message board is working.

We did have issues at one time with members being able to see the message board drop downs. It has been a long time since it came up but besides enabling javascript, I think we also look at firewalls.

I've had a similar issue with a javascript that I was looking at to display photos. It didn't work on IE but something magic happened one time (refresh?) and now it works fine. I wonder if it is related.

FWIW, I'm also on Firefox 2.0.0.11, and have never seen that blank space/funny layout. Maybe my cache is squeaky clean... (he says, not knowing in the least what he's talking about)

Jonathan

BTW, Firefox has an error console. I did notice a couple of errors on SlowTrav in the box. I don't know if they are coming from the javascript or something else on the page. These errors may also be unrelated.

Are you implying that my cache is not squeaky clean?

Ooh Chris, I couldn't possibly comment

Jonathan

Okay, I'm fine now. I no longer am getting the big space to the right.
I went to the blue arrow on the top of my computer and it said reload page...since doing this I am getting the correct version.

What about you BGE?

Yup, it's here!
So, this is a great looking home page...easy to navigate, good organization of topics in categories that make sense and a neat look to the whole thing.
Good job!

"After you've done a thing the same way for two years, look it over carefully.
After five years, look at it with suspicion.
And after ten years, throw it away and start all over." ~ Alfred Edward Perlman
Brenda

Hi, this is Nate, one of the Internet Brands tech people that helped develop the new menu.

You guys are right that the problem that people are having with an ugly list showing up on the left side of the page is an issue with browser caching. One refresh, and the problem should go away forever on that computer. Computers that have never visited Slowtrav shouldn't have that problem ever. Sorry if that problem has caused some confusion.

Orval, I hear what you're saying about the Forums link. We'll definitely take that into consideration as we think about how to improve things from here on out.

Thanks everyone for your comments, and we'd love to hear any other feedback you might have.

~Nate