Planning Your Dream Trip?: Essential Travel Planning Tools and Resources
Are you ready to embark on your next travel adventure but feeling overwhelmed by the travel planning process? We get it—travel planning can be stressful and confusing, especially with so much information out there. In the process of getting ready to travel fulltime we did a bit of research to find great travel planning tools. Or, ya know, a LOT of research. Many bunny trails are followed in the pursuit of miscellaneous and random knowledge. Sometimes I run across things that may be helpful and I’ve just been throwing links into a document I can refer to later…. until Sandra was kind enough to point out that some of things I stumble across may be useful to others. So, as fulltime travelers, who are still learning and exploring new resources, we’re compiling a list on this page of the travel planning tools, resources and insights that have been helpful to us. Whether you’re budgeting, choosing destinations, or booking flights and accommodations, we’re here to share what we’ve found useful. And as we continue our own journey, we’ll keep updating this page with new tips and resources we discover along the way.
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While some of our recommendations are specific to certain regions (like train travel in Europe), most are applicable wherever your adventures may take you. For more detailed, country-specific information, be sure to check out our destination pages and resources blog posts. There, you’ll find in-depth guides and local tips to enhance your travel experience.
Ready to start planning your dream trip? Dive into our resources and let the adventure begin!
Random Travel Info
- Visit a City’ app: (Things to do) Today I learned about the ‘Visit a City’ app and at first blush, I’m fairly excited about it. What started it, though, was that Sandra just randomly said “Cooking classes. We should see if there are cooking classes in the different places we’re visiting so we can get a better feel for the local cuisine”. So I went into one of the location-specific Facebook groups I follow to see what they might know about that sort of thing. When I searched for ‘classes’ I got a thread that started with basically ‘looks like the weather will be crap on a couple of days we’re there; what sort of indoor activities do you recommend?’ and one of the answers involved cooking classes which could be easily found on the app.
- Food. OMG, don’t you love to explore food when traveling? We have been accused multiple times of eating our way through a city because of our tendency to wander and snack. Plus, I’m far more likely to share a photo of the beautiful pastry I’m about to devour than the cool sculpture I just saw, LOL Sometimes, though…. Sometimes you are craving the familiar, the comforting, a taste of home so to speak. Well, if that describes you and a pastrami sandwich is your comfort, have I got a site for you to check out TJT’s Kosher Restaurants Directory 2023 Worldwide & NearBy It’s actually WAAAAY more than that but I found it because I was looking for a place that had a pastrami sandwich on the menu
Things you Should Know when planning to travel overseas
- 22” x 14” x 10” is max for carry on with many airlines. There are a few that go an inch or so beyond. There are a few regional carriers that may be as small as 16x12x8 and the Isles of Scilly Skybus says 12x6x6 (!) That’s basically a shoebox. Find details for your airline at Carry-On Luggage Size Chart for 145+ Airlines
- Most countries require that you have proof of onward or return travel in order to be admitted. Sometimes that proof will be required by your air carrier prior to departure. If you have a sort of indeterminate end date to your travels – or your next journey is via ground transportation where maybe it’s not convenient to buy a tickets 40 or 90 days in advance – there is a service called Onward Ticket that will sell you a legit short term reservation for a nominal fee. $14 gets a 48 hour hold which can be extended up to 14 days (I presume the extension costs extra but I didn’t go that deep into the process). I’ll try to remember to update this when we actually use it this fall.
- View our post on Dining Out While Traveling and more
Flight search engines
WayAway – Cheap flights with cashback. WayAway is a flight aggregator that provides travelers with the best rates on airline tickets. Its innovative search finds the best option for specific travel dates by comparing airfares offered by all major US and global airlines and agencies. Bonus: Displays final prices, without any hidden fees.
GET IT ON GOOGLE PLAY | DOWNLOAD ON THE APP STORE
Skyscanner – We love using Skyscanner because they have the “Whole Month” and “Everywhere” options.
Omio – Book train, bus, flight and ferry tickets – Travelers worldwide can easily explore Europe, the United States, and Canada, while comparing transportation options and finding the right price for their budget. Offers an Essential Workers Discount – DOWNLOAD THE APP
Accommodation booking platforms
Booking.com – online booking site for accommodations around the world
HostelWorld – a global hostel-focused online booking platform
Trusted House Sitters – take care of someone’s pet and house in exchange for accommodations! Jeff and I do this and it is so much fun!
VRBO – the world’s leading marketplace for vacation rentals
Transportation planning tools
Flixbus – offers safe and comfortable long-distance travel in Europe. Since its founding in 2013, FlixBus has created the largest transport network in Europe, covering 26 countries and serving more than 60 million passengers.
iMoova – Save on your travel by relocating a vehicle with Imoova. For as little as $1/day, you can explore the open road and discover the world around you. This website connects you with companies that need help moving their vehicles from one location to the next.
Omio – tickets for trains, buses, flights, and ferries, as well as car rentals and airport transfers. Travelers worldwide can easily explore Europe, the United States, and Canada, while comparing transportation options and finding the right price for their budget.
Onward Ticket – Most countries require that you have proof of onward or return travel in order to be admitted. If you have a sort of indeterminate end date to your travels – or your next journey is via ground transportation where maybe it’s not convenient to buy a tickets 40 or 90 days in advance – Onward Ticket that will sell you a legit short term reservation for a nominal fee.
RailEurope – helps travelers find their own path by guiding and offering tools and inspiration for traveling by train in Europe.
SEARADAR – professional concierge service specializing in sailing yacht rentals worldwide – ok, so we haven’t used this one, but a girl can dream!
Trainline – They work with over 210 rail and coach companies to help their customers travel to thousands of destinations across 45 countries.
Travel insurance providers
We wrote a blog post about the sticker shock of travel insurance and the resources we used.
Tour booking websites
GetYourGuide – booking platform that helps travelers find incredible travel experiences wherever they’re headed – skip-the-line tickets to the world’s most iconic attractions, walking tours by top local experts, immersive food and beverage tours, cooking and craft classes.
GuruWalk – an international community for pay-what-you-please walking tours that connects tourists with tour guides all around the world
TripAdvisor – connects people to experiences worth sharing
Viator -leading marketplace for travel experiences
Packing and Traveling Essentials
Carry-On Luggage Size Chart for 145+ Airlines
Lightweight Quick Dry Cargo Hiking Pants
Laundry detergent sheets (for sink washing)
Neck Headphones (these are our favorites!)
Multiple USB Wall Charger with travel adaptor
Radical Storage – provides travelers with luggage storage solutions so they can enjoy their holiday to the fullest, giving them the opportunity to eliminate problems with early arrivals or late departures from the home/hotel
Public Toilet Survival Kit (trust me on this!) – Buy Online or make your own with a…
- Small Pencil Pouch containing;
- Travel Size Sanitizing Wipes (do not flush!)
- Toilet Paper (enough for one or two uses)
- Small coins in local currency
Financial
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card – We’ve used nearly every travel credit card you can think of… none of them compare to Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Technology
Airalo eSim – esim solves the pain of high roaming bills – travelers can download and install a digital data pack for over 200 countries/regions and get connected anywhere in the world as soon as they land. I wish we had this when we went to New Zealand!
Bluehost – website hosting – just in case you want to start a travel blog too!
Blinq – digital business cards
Electronics – Adapting to your travel needs
Remember, while these tools and resources can significantly streamline your trip planning process, the joy of travel often lies in the unexpected discoveries and spontaneous experiences. Use these resources as a foundation, but don’t be afraid to deviate from your plans and embrace the adventure as it unfolds. Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or a first-time traveler, we hope these curated resources will inspire confidence and excitement as you plan your next journey.
Happy travels, and may your adventures be filled with unforgettable moments and new perspectives!