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.
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.
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. Sometimes cheaper with less fees than 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.
Region-specific Lodging
Look at lodging sites that focus specifically on your destination. Sites like Agoda (Asia hotels), 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
NOTE: Southwest Airlines and budget carriers aren’t always listed on search sites so you’ll want to go directly to their websites.
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
Equally as good as Momondo so use both and see which one gives you better routes/prices. Can sign up for trip alerts to watch flight prices before you book. Search “everywhere” if you don’t have a destination in mind.
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.
Skiplagged
I hated this site a few years ago when it first launched but now I LOVE it! It’s considered the best site for finding the cheapest flights, especially those involving multiple stops. But it’s not for beginners, as you need to have a good understanding of airports and airlines.
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.
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.
How to Find Excursions or Fun Things to Do
EatWith
This one is for the epicureans and foodies. Includes dinners in private homes, cooking classes and food tours.
Traveling Spoon
Online or in-person cooking classes all over the world.
AirBnB
Yes, they also let you book excursions and what a diverse assortment they have!
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).
My best advice is to PACK LIGHTLY. This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort or fashion and it’s easier than you think. I guide you through some of the steps on Good Things Come in Small Packages. If you’re unsure of what to pack, send me a question and I’ll answer to the best of my ability. Or, take a look at these sites that I’ve always found useful:
The Savvy Backpacker
Travel Fashion Girl
The sites mentioned above are all tools that I personally use when planning trips, but there are TONS more out there that may fit your needs better. And they’re constantly changing.