Traveling is no doubt my favourite hobby, but there is no denying that planning a trip from scratch can be overwhelming! Where should I go? What’s the best way to get there? I’ve compiled a list of my favourite travel resources to help you tackle these questions and more.
Whether I’m planning a trip to a brand new destination or re-visiting a previous favourite, I frequently use all of these websites.
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Accommodations
Booking.com is my go-to for booking accommodations throughout Europe and beyond. The large inventory, flexible cancellation policies and competitive rates makes for a great one stop shop for hotel needs. The convenient app also allows me to track all of my stays in one spot.
VRBO is one of the best places to find accommodations for a group trip. The large network of unique homes means that you can find a place for every trip type. I’ve used VRBO for family holidays, group trips with friends, and for longer trips where I want my own kitchen and a home-y feel.
Transportation
Rome2Rio is the easiest way to figure out how to get between locations while on holiday. Especially in Europe, trips often times will include multiple (hopefully new) cities. All you need to do is input your departure and arrival destinations, and Rome2Rio will show you the various transportation options and estimated costs. Though the cost feature sometimes shows a wide range, this site is a great starting point when planning a multi-destination trip!
Omio is the best way to map out the cost, duration, and transportation methods between destinations in Europe. It is very similar to Rome2Rio but only includes locations within Europe. Not only is it a handy tool for planning your trip, but the ability to book tickets directly from the site makes it one of my most used travel resources.
Hertz has served me and my husband well in multiple countries! We can always expect the same standard of car and care, and feel comfortable renting through Hertz in a new location. While I love trains and other public transportation methods, sometimes a car is easiest to travel at your own leisure!
Airfare
Google Flights is the first place I search when looking for flights. You can filter results by price, number of stops, and even to or from multiple airports. If you’re flexible on which airport you can fly from or to, this last feature will come in handy! Google Flights also allows you to see the cheapest dates to visit your chosen destination, which is another favourite feature if you are flexible with dates.
Kayak is the second place I search when looking for flights. Similar to Google Flights, Kayak will aggregate data from different airlines so that you can easily find the best flight options for you in one spot. Once I have found the cheapest flight options on Google, I usually double check with Kayak in case there are better or different options. Kayak is also a great option if you don’t have a specific destination in mind! Their search anywhere feature allows you to put in your desired travel dates and get results for the cheapest destination(s) during that period.
Tour Companies and Local Experiences
Tripadvisor is a great way to find activities, tours, and restaurants in your destination of choice. As the world’s largest travel site, you will no doubt find helpful information on any given destination. I often use Tripadvisor when deciding between two destinations, as it is helpful to see the number of notable sights and activities, and other people’s reviews of each destination. When it comes time to book a tour or other activity, however, I will use its partner site, Viator.
Guruwalk is easily my favourite way to see a new city. One of my first activities in any new destination is to take a guided walking tour to learn about the history, food, culture, or architecture. Guruwalks offers a wide range of tours to select based on your own preferences. One of my favourite and most entertaining tours was a “politically incorrect” tour in Copenhagen. The guide added a funny twist to the historical facts he told us along the way. Another unique feature is that rather than paying to book a guided tour, Guruwalks allows you to sign up, take the tour, and at the end you decide and pay what it was worth to you.
GetYourGuide is where I go to book entrance tickets for various attractions, day trips, and unique experiences. Some of my favourite GetYourGuide activities have included a cooking class in Hoi An, Vietnam, skip-the-line tickets for the Duomo in Florence, Italy, and a day trip to Capri, Italy.
Happy Planning!
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