Planning a trip, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a globetrotting adventure, can be an exciting yet daunting task. With so many details to consider, having the right travel resources at your fingertips can make the process smoother and more enjoyable.
Here’s my list of essential travel resources to help you plan your perfect trip!
Finding Flights
There are a couple of sites I default to when searching for flights. I use them as a starting point to help me find the best route with the best price. You can book through the website, but I usually go and book directly with the airline. If issues arise with my flight, I can deal directly with the airline instead of the third-party website.
Google Flights – My favorite feature of Google Flights is that I can put in my starting location and just leave the destination blank, and it will show me where I can travel to, on what airline, and at what price.
Skyscanner – Skyscanner works a lot like Google Flights but will sometimes pick up flights that Google doesn’t. It’s worth checking both sites so that you are covering your bases.
Accommodation Resources
Booking.com – This popular site offers an extensive selection of accommodations, from hotels and hostels to vacation rentals and more.
Hotels.com – Hotels.com offers a vast selection of hotels, from budget to luxury, and often includes member rewards and deals.
Experiences and Things to Do
Viator – Viator is owned by TripAdvisor and includes options for guided tours, sightseeing trips, cultural experiences, outdoor adventures, and more.
GetYourGuide – GetYourGuide offers tours and excursions, activities including cooking classes, and tickets to tourist attractions.
Airbnb Experiences – Airbnb Experiences operates the same way as Airbnb for accommodations. The experiences are hosted by a local and you don’t even need to have an Airbnb reservation to sign up for one!
GPSmycity – GPSmycity has thousands of self-guided walking tours, travel articles, and offline city maps in 1,500+ cities around the world.
Travel Insurance
With any insurance make sure you read the fine print and you know exactly what situations are covered and what the process is to file a claim.
World Nomads – World Nomads specializes in travel insurance and offers coverage for various adventure activities.
Allianz Travel – Allianz offers a range of travel insurance plans, including coverage for trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and more.
Visa and Vaccination Information
Travel.State.Gov – The official US government website. Just enter in your destination and you’ll see visa requirements, recommended vaccinations, and any travel advisories or alerts.
Language Apps
Google Translate – This app can translate text and speech into multiple languages, making communication in foreign countries more manageable.
Duolingo – If you want to learn some basic phrases in the local language before your trip (and you should!), Duolingo is a fun and free language learning app.
Transportation
Uber – For on-demand rides in many cities around the world, Uber offers a convenient and efficient transportation option.
Grab – Grab is Southeast Asia’s equivalent of Uber. Grab in Thailand also has a feature where women can book female drivers!
Rome2Rio – Rome2Rio is a fantastic resource for planning your route and finding the best transportation options, whether it’s by plane, train, bus, or other means.
Travel Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa – This is the best travel credit card for most people. It has a large sign-up bonus and the points never expire!
Additional Travel Resources
MyTSA – If you’re traveling to the US, the MyTSA app provides information on what you can and cannot bring in your carry-on and checked luggage.
Seat61 – The most comprehensive site out there for information on train travel in Europe, Asia, the US…and everywhere else!
FlightsFrom – Enter in any airport and instantly see a list of places you can fly non-stop to. It’s great for plugging in the airport for your destination and then seeing which airports in the US will have a direct flight.
Sleeping in Airports – Because you may have that long layover and you don’t want to pay for a hotel. This is where you’ll learn the ins and outs of getting some shut-eye.
10X Travel –My go to site for learning about credit card points and miles. They even have a free course!
Is there something I missed or something that you’re curious about? Let me know in the comments below!
