Trip Planning Tools we use ALL THE TIME
Before you begin…
If you haven’t already, take the TRAVEL PERSONALITY QUIZ to discover what type of travel best fits you. Knowing this will help you plan a better trip and may help narrow down your options when you first begin to search. And remember, if this all seems too overwhelming, I can PLAN YOUR ENTIRE TRIP! As a travel advisor, I have access to more tools (in addition to below).
General Travel Tools
Google is where most of our trip planning occurs. We use Google Maps to explore destinations, map out transportation, find food and lodging, and more. We use Google Drive to keep all our travel notes. Google is how I find new travel blogs and travel sites. When I want travel advice on specific topics, I sometimes try TripAdvisor Forums, but most of the time a good Google search gives me what I need.
How to Find Places to Stay
AirBnB
We use AirBnB the most because it lets us stay in neighborhoods or unique places and we can get a kitchen (which saves on the food budget). Also love that you can book excursions through the site. Local residents have concerns about the affect on AirBnB in popular tourist areas, where they are turning cozy local neighborhoods into tourist blocks, but from the traveler perspective it’s very nice.
We’re following the rise of new Airbnb alternatives like Fairbnb and Ecobnb which offer similar services with stricter policies to ensure a better way of tourism for local communities. We also really LOVE the curated selection on Kynder.
Booking.com
We LOVE this site for both domestic & international trips because they have hassle-free cancellations, great prices, and a mix of hotels, B&Bs and small inns. Because of the free cancellations, we often book multiple lodgings a year in advance while we’re still planning our trip, then cancel the extras once we’ve narrowed down our final choice.
VRBO
Use this when you need a larger place for larger group OR for locations that aren’t in AirBnB.
Homestay
Similar to the others on this list but specifically focused on renting a room in someone’s home. If you’re looking for rooms with nightly rates in the $50 or less range and you like the idea of meeting new people all over the world, Homestay is a fabulous option!
MonasteryStays
This is your Airbnb for religious guesthouses, monasteries and convents. A quieter alternative to hostels and often in excellent locations, this is a great way to stretch your travel budget. Another excellent site is Monasteries.com where you’ll also find pilgrimages and retreats. If you’re visiting Rome, check out this Convent Accommodations page.
HelpX
Free lodging and meals in exchange for work (usually 4hrs/day or 20hrs/week). The options for location, type of lodging and work vary dramatically and it takes a bit of work to find the right fit for you, but we LOVE traveling this way because we get to meet fascinating people, learn new skills and experience “living like a local.” Great option for long-term travel on a budget. Workaway and WWOOF are similar options.
Region-specific Lodging
Look at lodging sites that focus specifically on your destination. Sites like Your Home in Japan (Tokyo), Look After Me (New Zealand), Paradors of Spain, Homestay Ireland are just a few!
When in doubt, use Google Maps — search around your location & find lodging options that way. Google Maps provides website links, contact info, reviews & more — AND it’s a great way to see how close public transit is.
How to Find Flights
When to book flights, that’s the #1 question I get asked when teaching my Travel Planning classes. In general, start looking 3-4 months ahead for domestic flights and at least 6 months ahead for international. Personally, I start tracking flights as soon as I know my destination and dates. When the price gets to my comfort level, I book it!
NOTE: Southwest Airlines and budget carriers aren’t always listed on search sites so you’ll want to go directly to their websites. Also look for websites that cover your home airport — we use EscapeHouston to get deal alerts.
Google Flights
Quickest way to search major airlines. Can view prices by the month to determine cheapest days to fly. Use their Explore feature to look at map if you don’t have a destination already picked out (LOVE THIS FEATURE!)
Skyscanner
Sign up for trip alerts to watch flight prices before you book. Search “everywhere” if you don’t have a destination in mind.
Flight Connections
We use this site when trying to determine who flies where, which can be helpful when picking a destination or planning complicated multi-destination trips.
AirFareWatchdog
Excellent site for money saving tips, industry updates and flight alerts. Can sign up for alerts from specific airports — perfect for those who are open to multiple destinations.
SeatGuru
Use this to pick your seat on a specific plane or when trying to decide which flight you prefer. Includes reviews and ratings based on seat pitch & width, proximity to restrooms, in-flight amenities and more.
Ground Transportation
Rome2Rio
Use this anytime you need to use public transit to figure out options for getting from Point A to Point B. It searches trains, buses, ferries, flights, taxis and more. Costs and time schedules aren’t always accurate so you’ll still need to visit transit sites directly, but this will get you started.
Turo
Turo is a car sharing app or website that allows you to rent someone’s vehicle. Think of it like an Airbnb for cars. They’re based in cities all across the US, Canada, and the UK. Prices aren’t always cheaper than traditional car rental agencies, it depends on where you’re going and what type of deals they’re running. What I love about Turo though is that you know exactly what vehicle you’re getting. If you only want a Subaru for your west coast road trip, this is a way to get that.
BlaBlaCar (Europe and UK)
Full discretion, we’ve never used BlaBlaCar but it’s not from lack of trying! We search this carpooling site every time we plan a trip to Europe, but our destinations are usually rural and this app is better for urban settings. There’s a similar ride-sharing app for Canada called PopaRide.
Byway
For train trips in Europe, this company will create an itinerary, book your accommodations and train tickets, and voila! They also include boat and bus so you have more destination options. We haven’t used them yet, but we love what they offer!
AutoSlash
Use this site to track car rental prices, even rentals that you’ve already booked. If prices drop and your booking allows free cancellation, then you can rebook under the cheaper rate.
How to Choose Trip Insurance
SquareMouth
This site allows you to search a HUGE database of travel insurance companies. You start by inputting information about a trip you already have planned and then you can filter by specific coverage, such as coronavirus pandemic, cancel for any reason, emergency medical, etc. Everyone has different reasons for needing travel insurance and it can change according to each trip, so don’t limit yourself only to the companies that you see on travel blogs. SquareMouth also has a great resource page for those who know nothing about travel insurance. Insuremytrip is another good option.
Let us save you time and headaches! We can help you choose an insurance plan that works best for you, it’s part of our Travel Planning Services.
How to Find Excursions or Fun Things to Do
Eat With
This one is for the epicureans and foodies. Includes dinners in private homes, cooking classes and food tours.
Culinary Backstreets
Specializes in immersive food tours that explore authentic local cuisine and culture in various cities worldwide. Offers multi-day trips and day tours.
Traveling Spoon
Online or in-person cooking classes all over the world.
Get Your Guide
One of the largest selections of day tours worldwide, offering everything from adventure sports, cultural exchanges, culinary & more! Comparable to Viator.
Tours By Locals
Search and book directly with private tour guides worldwide. Quality of tours is excellent but prices tend to be higher.
Viator
This is the Amazon of day tours (with a few multi-day tours), offering fun experiences worldwide in a wide-range of prices. I often use Viator when designing custom tours for our travel clients.
Other Useful Tools
CruiseMapper
CruiseMapper is a valuable tool for cruise enthusiasts AND people who want to avoid cruise ship crowds. We use it for port cities to see days and times that cruise ships dock, thus avoiding the most crowded times. It’s also helpful for finding a cruise ship for specific destinations, offers detailed itineraries and decks plans/cabin info.
Advice on Packing
People often say “pack light” but that can mean VERY different things to different people. For me, it depends on what kind of trip I’m taking. A road trip in my own car means I can afford to take extra shoes and food. A trip to Europe means I’m fitting everything into my backpack or carryon (shoes and all).