ZAT:About

From ZAT

What's ZAT?

There is lots of travel information on the Web, but finding the information you want is difficult. ZAT helps you find and share travel-related information.

You might say “but there are already (too many) Web sites with travel information!” — and that is exactly the point. ZAT is a search engine for finding travel information on the Web. Unlike a traditional search engine, ZAT lets you find travel information spatially (by location), so you can find a hotel near the sights you want to see or a special restaurant that is close by. Each location on the map has links to Web sites that have information about that place. So you won't be giving up your favorite travel-related Web sites, they will just be easier to find. And if your favorite place is not in ZAT, you can easily add it.

Places in ZAT are contributed by ZAT users like you; users also vote for (or against) places, and contribute comments to give you more information.

You can use ZAT like a guide book. But unlike a printed guide book, ZAT can tailor itself to your interests and tastes. Existing travel Web sites cater to mass-market travel, but we believe that each traveller should be treated as an individual, with their own interests and needs. Whether your interests include traditional ones like art museums, food, or shopping, or things like micro-breweries, scuba diving, knitting, swing dancing, old books, bicycling, bird watching, or anything else, you can find places that you will be interested in, and share your favorite places with others. A interest can also cater to special needs, like families with small children or senior citizens.

ZAT isn't here to sell you airline or cruise tickets; there are plenty of sites on the Web for that! We're for you — the independent traveler — helping you figure out where you want to go, what sights you are interested in, the perfect place to stay, the best places to eat, and so on. Planning your trip should be almost as much fun as the trip itself!

Who's ZAT?

We love to travel, just like you do. And like most independent travelers, we do a lot of fact-finding for our trips. Much of this information comes from the Web, but even more comes from our friends who love to travel. ZAT is here to make finding and sharing travel information easier and more fun — like talking to a friend.

We are inspired by websites like Craigslist and Wikipedia, whose primary goals are to create a useful service and to promote the sharing of information.

For behind-the-scenes information about ZAT, see our Weblog.

Why ZAT Name?

ZAT stands for Z to A Travel, but it is also a real word in several languages. For example, in Malaysian and Indonesian, it means “that in which a thing's special potency lies.” ZAT is also a word in a few other languages including Punjabi, Slovak, and (our favorite) Dutch. A truly international word!

We especially like the name ZAT because you can make so many puns with it, like ZAT's ZAT, ZAT's the truth, and ZAT's all she wrote. You can have a converZATion. When you look for travel information, you can do a ZAT scan. ZAT even supports improviZATion. It's a verZATile word.

People who use ZAT strive to be bodhiZATvas and attain ZATori. Or they attain orbit and become ZATolytes. We even have our own ZATgeist. And when we celebrate, we throw a ZATurnalia.

Have you had enough of ZAT? Are you ZATiated? Reached the ZATuration point? Been rendered insenZATe? Perhaps you've had enough of our ZATitude? Or are you inZATiable?

Don't settle for airZATs, when you can have ZAT which you desire. With ZAT, your ZATisfaction is guaranteed.

ZAT is where it's @.