These are the travel resources I use myself when planning my trips. They’ll help you with all the planning steps– from dreaming to packing– so you can head out on your trip completely prepared.
Exploring
🗺️ I love Google Explore for figuring out where to go. Just put in where you’ll depart from, leave the “to” blank, put in a timeframe, and it will show you all the places you can go within your parameters. It’s my favorite way todream about travel.
💵 Budget your Trip will help you figure out average costs for different countries. Take it with a grain of salt, however. I traveled in Spain for much less than it says is average there and Japan cost me a little more. But it does give you a general idea.
And read my post on How to Create a Trip Budget with a downloadable Trip Budget Calculator to help.
Flights
✈️ You can purchase flights directly from the airlines (use Google Explore or Google Flights), but sometimes I can find some really good deals through Booking.com or Expedia that makes it worth booking through them instead.
Travel Insurance
⛑️ I didn’t used to buy travel insurance but the older I get and the instability in the world led me to start. I purchase a yearly plan through Insure My Trip. It gives me peace of mind that’s with the cost so I can relax on my vacation.
If you’re not sure if it’s right for you, check out my article Do I Really Need Travel insurance? to help you decide (sometimes you don’t).
Hotels & Rentals
🏨 Booking.com is great for finding a place to stay. If you book often enough (like I do) you get a discount that’s sometimes lower than booking directly from the hotel (saved me $75 a night in Boca Raton). They have everything from resorts to guesthouses to apartments to hostels.
Another great option for hotels is Expedia. Or try Agoda if you’re in Asia.
🏠 VRBO is my favorite for finding rental houses– whether it’s for a weekend or for a month. They have places to rent all around the world.
Transportation
🚉 Check out Omio to book trains and buses all over the world, including Europe, Asia, and the United States.
In Japan, all your trains can be booked through Klook (or Omio now has some trains now too) instead of trying to get them from all the different train companies. They make it so much less complicated.
🚗 For rental cars, use Discover Cars to compare all your options (and don’t forget insurance like I did in Ireland! A very expensive mistake.).
🚕 You might want to book a taxi in advance–especially if you are arriving late at night or early morning. For this, I suggest Kiwi Taxi for prearranged rides in 100+ countries.
Activities
💃 Get Your Guide and Viator are the go-to place to find tons of activities from dinner & flamenco in Madrid, to a private Uffizi Tour in Florence, to group hiking tours in Albania, to kimono experiences in Japan.
🚌 My family and I bought tickets for the Big Bus Tours hop-on, hop-off bus in London and it was hands-down the easiest way to see the city. They have buses in lots of other places too- like DC (where I live).
Food
🥘 I love using Taste Atlas to find out about all the delicious foods to try in my destination.
🍽️ If you’re looking for the best restaurants, check out Michelin or Trip Advisor for great places to eat at your destination.
Packing
I have lots of packing guides on the blog that can help you figure out what to bring (and what not to) depending on when and where you’re headed. Here are some of my most popular packing posts:
- 👜 My Favorite Anti-theft Purses for Travel
- 👟 The Best Shoes to Pack for Europe
- ⛩️ What to Wear in Japan in Autumn
Travel items I bring on every trip:
For the Flight
- A Turkish Towel (in warm weather) or Blanket Scarf (in cold) to use as a neck pillow and/or blanket
- A Kindle is much lighter than a bunch of books in your suitcase
- My noise-cancelling AirPods let me sleep on long flights or listen to a book on Audible
- I wear Compression Socks so I can arrive feeling good.
- A Reusable Water Bottle is a must for me because I hate having to wait until drinks service.
Tech Items
- Even at home, I carry this small Portable Phone Charger in my purse so I never run out of battery. I love it because you don’t need to mess with cables.
Safety Items
- I just started using a Phone Lanyard because it’s new target of pickpockets.
Clothing Items
- My New Balance Sneakers always travel with me.
Miscellaneous Items
- I bring this lightweight Packable Backpack for day hikes, picnics, or to bring home souvenirs.
- I have an AirTag in every single bag- my suitcase, my personal item, and my purse. They helped my mom figure out where her suitcase went when it never arrived- I’m glad I gave her a set for Christmas.
- Waterproof Tape has many uses including stopping blisters when I’m sightseeing.
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