Having taken my first international trip almost 20 years ago (and now I feel old!), I’ve definitely picked up a few good travel resources. On this page, I wanted to share some of the resources I rely on when planning a trip, to provide you with some ideas for your next adventure.
How to Decide Where to Travel to on Your Next Big Adventure
What are you looking for
Flights
The first thing you want to do when it comes to planning a trip is to find out where you want to go and how much it’s going to cost. Obviously, this will depend on budget but I’ve found that there are some amazing flight deals out there if you’re flexible with your dates or time of travel.
Skyscanner is a website where you can compare and book flights, using pretty much every airline you can think of. What I love about Skyscanner is the multicity feature where you can search flights going across a multitude of destinations. Perfect for that round the world trip!
If you’re flexible with your timings and dates, you’ll be able to find fantastic deals using Skyscanner.
Google Flights is my go to when I want to search flights and timings, etc. It’s a great way to find flights for your upcoming trip.
You can search for flights by destination and date, and you can also compare prices between different airlines. Google Flights also offers a price alert feature, which will notify you when the price of a flight you’re interested in drops below a certain amount.
When it comes to booking flights, Expedia is one of the most popular options. The website offers a wide range of flights from different airlines, and you can easily compare prices and find the best deal for your needs. Plus, if you’re looking to book a trip, Expedia also offers a variety of travel resources to help make your planning easier.
Scott’s Cheap Flights is a newsletter resource where you can get deals sent directly to your inbox by signing up.
There’s a free and paid version and they offer up to 90% discounts on flights and upgrades!
Seat Guru is a website with user reviews of airplane seats. It was created to help travelers choose their seat for flights, and has grown into one of the most popular travel resources on the internet. Seat Guru provides photos and comments from users about their experiences in different seats during flights, which allows you to pick your perfect seat before booking your flight
Accommodation
Next, you need to sort out your accommodation. The main options include staying in a hostel, an apartment or booking a hotel – I find that it’s best to compare hotel prices for different areas/distances from your location; this will give you an idea of how much it will cost for you to get from the hotel to local attractions and restaurants etc.
When it comes to finding a place to stay while on vacation, Booking.com is one of the best resources available and where I go 90% of the time to book accommodation.
The website offers a wide range of hotel accommodation options, from budget-friendly to luxurious, and makes it easy to compare prices and read reviews from other travelers. Plus, by becoming a member and using the website’s online booking system, you can often get even better deals than what’s already on offer.
Vrbo is another vacation rental site which is similar to Airbnb. One major difference is that they offer only entire properties and not rooms or house sharing (which suits me as I don’t really do sharing!).
It’s often seen as an ethical alternative to Airbnb and their customer service is way better, with direct support rather than just online robot chatting.
The offer the usual apartment accommodations, as well as funky tree houses and luxury chalets.
Hostelworld is a website and app that helps travelers find accommodation when travelling. Whether you’re looking for hostels or affordable hotels, this site will help you find what you’re after.
There are over 12,000 reviews from previous guests to help make your decision on where to stay. Hostelworld has over 17,000 properties in 178 countries worldwide so it’s not hard finding a bed wherever your destination may be. And if there’s a problem while travelling then they have a 24/7 customer service team who speak more than 19 languages so no need to stress!
One of the best ways to save money while travelling is to use Couchsurfing to book your accommodation. This way, you can stay with locals who are happy to have you in their home, and you can explore the city or town like a local. In addition, using Couchsurfing allows you to meet new people and make new friends.
Full disclosure, I have never used Couchsurfing myself. But it’s certainly something I’m ready to experience!
Group Travel
Group travel is an excellent way to travel if you don’t have travel companions and you don’t fancy travelling alone. They’re a great way to find new friends and meet locals along the way.
These groups are typically designed for people who want company while they explore their destination but still like some autonomy when it comes time for activities or other decisions during their stay.
Flash Pack is a solo travel group aimed at like minded travellers in their 30s and 40s. They veer towards a more luxury style adventure travel, which is my kind of travel!
I thoroughly enjoy my trip with Flash Pack in early 2020 and can’t wait for my next trip with them.
Intrepid Travel is a company that offers amazing travel experiences all over the world. They have a wide variety of trips available, from cultural tours to adventure treks, and they are always looking for new and interesting ways to explore different destinations.
Intrepid takes a unique approach to travel, combining adventurous activities with cultural experiences and learning opportunities. This allows travelers to really get under the skin of a destination and learn about the people and culture there. Intrepid is also committed to sustainable tourism, ensuring that their trips have as little negative impact on the environment as possible.
G Adventures is a Canadian-based tour company that offers adventure tours all over the world. From hiking in the Himalayas to snorkeling in the Galapagos, G Adventures has a tour for everyone.
What sets G Adventures apart from other tour companies is their emphasis on small groups and sustainable tourism. All of their tours are led by local experts, and they work with local organizations to make sure that their impact on the communities they visit is minimal.
Activities
Whether you’re already on the road or planning your epic adventure,
If you’re looking for a comprehensive resource to help plan your next vacation, Get Your Guide is the website for you! With an extensive catalog of activities and attractions to choose from in destinations all over the world, Get Your Guide makes it easy to find what you’re looking for and book ahead.
Plus, their customer service is top-notch, so you can rest assured that any questions or concerns will be taken care of.
Viator is a resource for finding and booking travel activities. Whether you’re looking for a city tour, tickets to a show, or a day trip out of town, Viator has something for you. They have an extensive selection of tours and activities, and their customer service team is available 24/7 to help with any questions or concerns.
Travel Insurance & Visas
No one expects to get sick or injured while traveling, but the fact is that it can and does happen all too often and healthcare costs can quickly add up, especially if you are not covered by insurance. That’s why it’s important to have travel insurance before you go.
Travel insurance will help to cover the cost of medical care if something happens while you’re away. So before you hit the road, be sure to purchase travel insurance so that you can relax and enjoy your trip without worrying about the potential cost of a medical emergency.
Arranging visas for a trip, especially if you’re going to be heading to multiple countries, can be very stressful if you have to do it all yourself. And sometimes it’s not always clear what the exact requirements are. Outsourcing to an external visa company means that you can rest assure you’ll have all the documents you need for your travels.
There was a time I never bought travel insurance when going on a trip. To be honest, I didn’t even know it was a thing! And then I met someone while travelling who had been hit by a motorbike and was spending the rest of her trip in a full leg cast…
It made me realise that anything can happen at any time without warning and what would I do if I were stuck abroad in hospital with no way to pay for it!
Since then I always, without fail, use World Nomads to protect myself before going on a trip.
