After more than 25 years of travel, I have learned the best places to go for travel planning and booking.
Here are my favorite travel resources that I use regularly.

If you think something’s missing, please email me and I’d be glad to look into it! I always love finding great new travel resources and want to share out the best ones.

Disclosure: Some links in this article may be affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, I receive a small commission. This will never cost you extra and I appreciate your support! As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Travel Planning

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor is my first stop when planning any trip to get the highlights of where to go and what to do.

Lonely Planet

I often go to Lonely Planet for travel tips and inspiration. And when I want to bring a guide book or phrasebook with me, I turn to them.

Tripit

Keep all of your travel reservations in one convenient place. This app has an easy-to-use interface that synchs across all of your devices.

Accommodation

TripAdvisor

Tripadvisor is my go-to site to find the best accommodation based on traveler reviews. I always start here when planning a trip if I want to stay at a hotel.

Booking.com

Booking is great for finding accommodation in developing countries and has some fantastic rates around the world. It’s easy to book and no money is required up-front.

Vrbo

Vrbo is a popular site for vacation homes and apartments. Collaborate easily with travel companions and book at unique places all over the world.

Airbnb

If you’re looking to rent a room or an apartment directly from homeowners to get a great local feel during your travels, this is the site for you. Get up to $65 off your first booking!

Flights

Kayak

Kayak is my go-to for booking airfare. It has flexible search parameters that let you specify what you are looking for and lets you set price alerts.

Skyscanner

This flight aggregator site shows all flights in and out of airports, so it has the most comprehensive list of carriers. I often start with Skyscanner to see what airlines are options.

Momondo

This is a great flight search engine that finds some really good deals on airfare. I don’t always start with this site, but I do check it to make sure I’m not missing a deal.

Google Flights

Enter your departure airport and see flights going anywhere to find the most affordable destinations. Use it to get a feel for fares, routes, and connections.

Transportation

Uber

I love Uber and generally use it over taxis. Book through your phone and get the fare up-front with no fumbling for cash as the charge goes directly to your credit card.

Rome2rio

This site is amazing for finding transportation options including by plane, train, bus, car, or ferry. It includes costs and a Google map.

Rentalcars.com

This site makes renting a car a snap! Find a great rate for your road trip from over 60,000 rental locations.

Rail Europe

Traveling by train is an amazing way to see Europe. Rail Europe makes it a breeze.

Tours

Get Your Guide

Book your tours, excursions, and attractions with a great price guarantee. And, they offer more than 30,000 activities in 7,500 destinations.

Viator

Viator offers more than 345,000 things to do! So if you don’t find what you’re looking for on Get Your Guide, check out Viator. You won’t be disappointed.

G Adventures

If you’re going to take a small-group tour, this is the company to do it with! I loved my trip to Morocco and can’t wait to go on another adventure with them.

Eatwith

Eatwith offers a unique culinary experience online and in-person in over 130 countries. What better way to immerse in culture than while enjoying an amazing meal.

Travel Needs

REI

REI is a great store for your travel needs. You can get your clothing, backpacks, footwear, and travel accessories all in one place.

Amazon

Who doesn’t know Amazon? If it’s not at REI, it’s available on Amazon. Get your travel needs and even those last-minute items here.

Eagle Creek

Eagle Creek offers a range of innovative and lightweight travel gear. From suitcases to duffels, backpacks to organizers, they have it all.

Unbound Merino

Unbound Merino offers high-quality and comfortable performance wool that’s perfect for traveling. You’ll never want to wear anything else!

Safety

World Nomads

I have gotten most of my international travel insurance through World Nomads. Their policies are easy to understand and comprehensive.

Allianz

Allianz is the carrier I have used to cover some domestic U.S. trips. They offer some great coverage options.

Honeymondo

International travel insurance you can tailor to meet your needs. They offer coverage for single trips, long stays, and annual trips. 

insuremytrip

For those 70+ seeking international travel insurance, this is the go-to company to price out options.

SafetyWing

Get comprehensive travel insurance with a brand you can trust. They even offer nomad insurance that protects you on short trips to your home country.

Medjet

One in 30 trips ends with a medical emergency. Don’t be a statistic—get the protection you need with Medjet.

NordVPN

NordVPN is the service I use for safe internet browsing to ensure my privacy. It’s a great way to stay connected safely.

Photography

Lightroom

Not all photos come out as perfectly as you remember. I use Lightroom to touch up my pictures, so the location really shines through.

SmugMug

SmugMug is what I use to organize my trip pictures. It’s easy to use and has a lot of flexible options for organization.

iPhone Photography School

This in-depth class will teach you how to use your iPhone to take better pictures! I have been using my iPhone for years, and now I know what I’m doing!

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