Web-based services I might pay for

I've just come back from holiday; lots of sun, superb food and wine etc. and, of course some sightseeing in a foreign place. We've been to the area before so knew quite a lot about it, how you might get to some places, and where to go to get boat/bus timetables, tickets and so on.

Some things would have saved us time or reduced anxiety:

What would our hotel room really look like - and out to?
What exactly were the baggage limits?
Exactly which area of the airport car park had spaces?
Was our plane due to leave on time?
Which gate was it likely to leave from?
Which was our driver for the hotel transfer?
When and where from did the hotel courtesy bus collect from the town centre?
Where was the bus timetable for services to ...?
What exactly is the Italian for "two tickets to ..."?
What exactly is the Italian for "where does the bus for ... leave from"?
Where was the boat timetable for services to ...?
What exactly is the Italian for "where does the boat for ... leave from"?
And numerous more things.

No big deal that a phrase book, friendly natives, and a bit of patience cannot sort out, I agree; but many of these could create a service opportunity.

But you did not witness the near panic in the departure area when passengers anxious to get on their flight home discovered that the queue from passport control was hardly moving as a single diligent border guard struggles to check documentation without the aid of his computer. Several hundred people speculating - as a group - on what would happen if they missed their flight made for a potentially ugly situation.

The airline probably knew there was a problem when more than half their passengers did not turn up for boarding and, with hundreds of bags on-board, would wait, albeit impatiently.

Airports / airlines don't help in these circumstances by announcing "final call" when they are closing their check-in desk; and "boarding" when they are just calling you to the departure gate.

Wouldn't you pay to know that your aircrew knew there was a problem and were looking out for you?

There must be a load of "big deal" services that I would pay for; and many more "smaller deal" ones from the first group that I'd consider paying for.

Maybe I have to wait a little while for MyGuardianAngel.com to come along?

Frank (Frank@vecta5.com)