Best Resources for Travel Planning

As wanderlust sets in, and I decide where my travels will take me next, these are the travel resources that you can find bookmarked on my computer. When it comes to travel planning, it’s always good to have a diverse set of resources to refer to throughout the process. If I’ve learned one important thing from years of traveling, it’s that no one resource has all the answers. That being said, you should also allow yourself enough time in your itinerary to explore, and discover your own favorite places. During the travel planning process, as I’ve outlined in 5 Easy Steps to Plan Your Next Trip, these are the resources you can find open on my browser.

BEST TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES

FLIGHTS –

As far as airfare goes, I begin by checking a few online resources to gauge price points and find the best deals. Although, I never actually book through any of these third-party sites. I solely use them as a research tool. Booking direct is the best advice I can give you because if for some reason your flight is canceled, or your ticket is not valid, the airline is not obliged to assist you since you did not purchase the ticket through them.

Skyscanner.com–

This is my first point of reference when researching flight prices. You can easily play around with flight dates and see how they change on a day-to-day basis on their pricing calendar. Not only that, but you can opt-in for flight deal email alerts.

The Points Guy–

For those of you wanting to utilize your miles and points in the most effective way. Or are curious about how to accrue miles and points through travel. The Points Guy is one of the best online references.

ACCOMMODATIONS –

The first stop to finding where to stay is to decide whether you want a hotel experience or not. If the answer is no, then head straight to Airbnb. If the answer is yes, there are a few resources that I take advantage of to find the best options and rates. Though, keep in mind, that a lot of hotels offer better rates if booked directly, so always check on the hotels site after doing your research on third party sites.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith–

For those of you looking for a more luxury and boutique travel experience, the curated hotel lists on this site are absolutely amazing and provide a reasonable price range in term of luxury travel.

Booking.com–

Airbnb–

TRANSPORTATION –

After booking your flights and accommodations, your next move should be to determine your in destination transportation methods. Whether it’s simply getting to and from the airport, or you’re embarking on a week long road trip, these are some great resources for research, directions and booking options.