COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF TRAVEL RESOURCES
From planes and trains and automobiles to boats, buses, bikes and everything in between. This is a full and comprehensive list of the travel resources––including all the companies, websites, and apps––I use and recommend when I do any trip planning. I use these to plan, book, and while on my trips, because they always deliver the good deals, provide reliable services, and make travelling better and more simple. No matter where you are going, let this be your ultimate travel resource guide!
These are the trip-planning workhorses i use to plan and book my dream trip!
Please note – this site participates in affiliate advertising programs. At no extra cost to you, I earn a small commission on bookings and purchases made through partner links which allow me to maintain this website and provide readers with up to date guides and stories. This may inform how and where links are displayed but I assure you, all the companies I recommend are ones I personally use and trust because they actually make my travels better. Please reach out if you have any questions.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodation options from budget dorms to luxury villas
Booking
By far the best place to book accommodations worldwide is through Booking.com. They have a huge selection of places to stay, from boutique hotels, luxury resorts, budget-friendly hostels, or complete apartments you can find it all on Booking and always at the best prices. I’ve seen the exact same place on Booking and other sites for literally hundreds of dollars less. Whether you’re looking for accommodation in the biggest city in the world or on a little island in the Pacific, Booking will have great listings with the best prices. I’ve used Booking for nearly every single accommodation I’ve stayed in on every continent.
The site has a very clean interface and is simple to use. You can get granular with specificity in your filters to find exactly what you’re looking for. There is always an option to book with free cancellation (a godsend when your plans change! and super easy to process). As you accrue points through their loyalty system they will give you some great additional discounts, throw in free breakfasts, and give you money credits to apply.
Expedia
Another one of the most trusted platforms for trip bookings is Expedia. My mum loves Expedia, and I know other moms do too. It is a user-friendly platform that makes all aspects of trip booking easy. With a huge variety of options that will fit everybody’s preferences and handy tools for building Vacation Packages, Expedia is a great resource for booking your next getaway!
I should say… I generally find I can get better hotel deals on Booking.com but every once in a while Expedia swings in with an outstanding deal. What Expedia excels in, however, is booking nice, quality Vacation Packages.
Hostelworld
If you’re exclusively looking for hostel stays this is your best resource. Hostelworld has the biggest inventory and availability. I love to read the reviews on here because it is exclusively hostel travellers sharing their experiences and giving insights into the quality of the place as well as the social scene, all very important elements of a hostel stay.
If you book a bed you can also see the profiles of other travellers who have booked into the hostel at the same time as you, and message in a group to meet others. Hostelworld also lists the social events the hostel schedules and you can join these linkups through the app. Super convenient if you’re like me and like to know (ahead of time) what kind of group events get hosted.
- It does feel a little illegal to mention this tip, but I would browse Hostelworld for the top places, real all the hostel-specific reviews and then check to see if Booking had a better price. The majority of the time Booking came out cheaper for the same place. While you lose some of the social elements of the Hostelworld app by doing it this way, you always can join the excursions and hostel group chats upon arrival. If you save enough by booking your stays this way you can eventually spend those savings on a private room – oh what a luxury!
Worldpackers
Before I began travelling every travel girlie I saw on TikTok was praising the unique volunteer experiences they had through Worldpackers. In exchange for a few hours of work every day/week you can stay at hostels, homes, farms, and eco-projects around the world for free – sometimes they even include meals!
Worldpackers is reliable and legitimate. They verify all the hosts on the platform, and have a safeguard in place in case your volunteer experience is really not what you expected. In addition, you can read the reviews from other volunteers who have spent time volunteering at the same stays you’re interested in.
You can browse all the unique volunteer experiences with an account, but to pursue an experience you need to subscribe for $49 USD/year.
Trusted Housesitters
If you’re looking for a slower pace of travel with the conveniences of living at ‘home’, plus the company of a furry friend, then I would recommend checking out Trusted Housesitters. Connecting you with homeowners who are looking for someone to care for their pets and homes while they are away. In exchange for looking after pets you get free accommodation around the world.
With background checks and other housesitter reviews to go through, it is a trusted platform. Similar to Worldpackers, you can browse the vast variety of housesit opportunities around the world but to purse you need to subscribe for $129 USD/year.
FLIGHTS
Top flight booking options for cheap airfare
For any trip, International or Domestic, airfare often comes with one of the biggest price tags so travellers are always looking to score a good deal. I’m sure you already know this and are so sick of hearing this, but the number one way to find the best flight deals is to travel with a flexible schedule. Jumping on a good deal can save you hundreds of dollars, but sometimes even just a single day or two can be the key difference in some huge savings. Here are the travel resources I use for all my flights.
Skyscanner
I would probably go as far as saying that when I am booking a flight, 100% of the time I am using Skyscanner. It is truly the best of the best in flight deal search engines. If you are using Skyscanner you can feel confident that you are finding the lowest prices for your search. It is a simple site that is easy to use, it has consistently reliable info, and it lays out for you all your different options so you can make informed decisions.
You can filter by price, number of stops, time of departure or landing, and even filter by airline (if you are a loyal customer). There is a calendar view to see the cheapest dates, with the option to have a broader search for the cheapest month. You can search one-way, round trip, or multi-city (and I must say, it pulls super affordable open jaw flight deals if you are looking to fly into one place and out of another).
And for the travellers booking on the go, the mobile app is just as user-friendly as their desktop site. Many, many flights were booked using Skyscanner on my iPad in bars and cafes around the world.
Google Flights
Just because I rave about Skyscanner doesn’t mean I don’t regularly turn to Google Flights in my planning. Google Flights is great tool to use to get a sense of flight routes and what destination options are out there. They have a super user-friendly calendar view showing days with better deals, and unique price grid to see what dates are best to book within a week period. For Gmail users they have an excellent feature that can track prices for specific destinations and email you when there is a significant price drop.
Goolge Flights soars in it’s unique ability to Explore. Based on your budget, travel dates, and selected departure city you can search to go Anywhere. This feature is extremely unique and really opens up new ideas and possibilities with your travels. If you have an open mind and a bit of flexibility you can see somewhere different and maybe even save a few dollars. It is by far one of my favourite tools while trip planning, and trip dreaming…
Daily Drop Pro
Don’t you wish someone else could do the research to find you the best travel deals? Well, Daily Drop Pro will spare you the disappointment of searching (only to be met with $$$$) and send ALL the best deals right to you!
Daily Drop Pro is for any travellers who want to land tons of amazing flight deals, and have them sent to you in real time. Pretty much daily I wake up to an email with a deal, or will get an unreal price drop notification while I am doom scrolling (now that is one way to lift me from that funk).
You can select your home airport(s) and choose which regions of the world you want to visit, and they will do all the work in sending amazing flight deals aligned with your preferences. You can specify the price range you want to receive deals in and the currency, as well as some dreamy lie-flat business class deals.
Aside from the alerts you can also use the Daily Drop Pro app or site to do select searches to check in on deals for potential routes you’re eyeing and compare prices throughout the year. To make the most of Daily Drop Pro it’s best if you are flexible with your dates and open to ideas for destinations. You can land some really amazing deals with huge savings!
Travel Insurance
Best travel insurance options for international travel
safety wing
I find insurance to be one of the most confusing things to understand and differentiate so I basically went with the first company I saw travellers and digital nomads talking positively about, and I too was very pleased.
The insurance I use is Safety Wing. It is a travel and medical incident insurance company built specifically for digital nomads / long term travellers. You can buy your coverage (or extend it) while you’re already abroad and you can set specific dates while you’re abroad or travel with their affordable monthly plans. They give you loads of flexibility and ways to make the insurance work best with your plans. It is also super reasonably priced – as you increase in age the cost does go up, but even my 60+ year old dad was surprised by how affordable it was for him as well.
Some things to consider with travel insurance: What is the excess? Will it allow you to add countries if your plans change? Will it cover you for extreme sports or activities (like bungee jumping, motorbiking, surfing, etc.) or can you add additional coverage for that? Can you extend your trip past the original end date?
Ultimately, in my travels I needed to file a claim with my travel insurance a grand total of… 0 times — which I am very happy to report! And you might think now I am just going away for a couple weeks or for spring break, do I really need travel insurance? And the answer is still a big ol’ yes.
Other Options
Safety Wing offers robust coverage but they are not necessarily the most comprehensive insurance. If you are looking for something more extensive you can review some other strong companies is the travel insurance game.
Hey Mondo, World Nomads, or your existing travel credit card are some other ways to access reasonable travel insurance. You also can check out InsureMyTrip as a resource for comparing plans, prices, and coverage so you can get the right plan for you.
Esims
Top eSIM providers for data on the go
Airalo
I certainly will never travel Internationally without an eSIM ever again. Before I set out on my travels, instead of actually finishing up at my job I was talking with my bestie about my plans, and she recommended Airalo to me. Before that, I had never heard of it or frankly any eSIM card and had just been using physical SIM cards (so annoying) and worse yet, my phone carrier’s International roaming plans (big yikes!) on previous trips abroad. She explained how she used it on her last trip and how simple it was and I was convinced.
Airalo offers affordable eSIMs that provide instant data access in over 190 countries. You can leave your SIM card in your phone and follow the simple steps to activate your data. In the easy-to-use app you can browse for regional or country-specific plans, see how much data you’ve used, and top up your plan as needed. I especially love Airmoney, the credit system where you earn money to apply towards future eSIMs with every purchase you make on Airalo. I’ve saved probably over $100 just with Airmoney by buying an eSIM I was always going to buy.
Having that data right at your fingertips makes finding the best restaurant recommendations, city navigation, and spontaneous bookings so easy and you can be connected wherever the adventure takes you. I honestly can’t imagine being a backpacker in the 80s…
Nomad
Similar to Airalo, Nomad offers reliable eSIM cards for countries and regions globally. Surprisingly, when I was in Singapore, Airalo was saying they were “sold out” of eSIMs for Singapore… do I understand how an electronic product could possibly be sold out no, not at all, but I was not about to start spending $16/day on International roaming costs while already spending a pretty penny just to be in Singapore for 3 days.
Fortunately Nomad came in to save the day and was not “sold out”. I was very pleased with my Nomad eSIM and continued to use Nomad for data coverage around the world.
- I’ve found the prices to be fairly comparable between Airalo and Nomad. If you are savings-minded, any time you need to download an eSIM definitely check which is offering the better price for the data and coverage you’re looking for because every once in a while they will offer deals to stay competitive!
Transportation
Top transportation services for travellers
Bookaway
Where would I be without Bookaway? Probably stuck somewhere tbh. Bookaway is a platform with global routes on buses, ferries, trains, and notably also private transfers. You can book reliable transportation around the world (that’s clutch!) on Bookaway – but note, I’ve noticed there is a small markup compared to booking the routes right through their source (probably most sites are like that, I just used Bookaway enough to notice). But sometimes the simplicity and security is worth a couple extra bucks. Generally, when I was making arrangements on Bookaway it was for either private transfers or small group transfers via minivan and those were always safe and simple.
FlixBus
FlixBus is a coach bus service that offers affordable bus trips all throughout Europe, as well as in the United States and Canada (lol RIP Greyhound), and is continuing to expand into other countries. The buses are comfortable and convenient and you can easily book your bus journeys with flexibility.
Omio
Omio is a great all-in-one tool where you can search, compare, and book trains, buses, and flights, primarily in Europe but also some routes in the US and Canada. It has one of the cleanest interfaces of any of the route planning/booking apps, and has gives you real time information and prices. I used Omio for some train tickets in Europe and trained my way all over with no problems. Even if you don’t book any of your tickets through Omio it is a super useful tool to check on to view journey schedules and compare your options for your next Euro girl summer!
rentalcars.com
Sometimes the most convenient or most affordable way to get from one place to another is to just drive yourself. It opens up tons of possibilities on your vacation because you can get around quickly and easily and make choices about what you see, where you go. Every once in a while I love a good road trip! I’ve rented a car to drive the Great Ocean Road in Australia, the Mae Hong Son loop in Northern Thailand, to self drive with the lions and elephants in Kruger National Park, South Africa, and to get around Costa Rica. RentalCars.com is always the best at finding the good deals whenever you need to rent a car.
Rome2Rio
If you’re looking to get a general sense of how to get from point A to point B, then Rome2Rio is a good site to use. It is a travel planning tool that gives you route suggestions between any two destinations worldwide. It gets a lot of stuff right, and can give you useful journey information via plane, train, or bus but I do find sometimes it likes to take the route less travelled, or at least suggest it as if it would be at all sensible. Check it out for yourself, but if you start thinking to yourself “how would that be faster or a good route” maybe that should be your sign to do another search for a different way there.
Uber
I hate to say it, but don’t sleep on Uber when you’re travelling! Although it is not available everywhere, when a city has Uber, I am using it. It offers unmatched convenience for getting from place to place, has transparent, cashless pricing; offers real time tracking; has emergency services built in. You can’t underestimate the value of being able to commit to a price ahead of time and share your live location with the in app security features.
With sincerity, I am not trying to paint taxi drivers with broad, negative brush strokes but tourists are prime targets to get ripped off (especially at the airport) and I generally will do my best to try and avoid falling prey. You’ve just gotten off a long flight, you don’t know the currency or standard rates, and you’re trying to figure out your options while standing there with a glowing sign above your head saying I’m a Tourist aka a Target. What do you think is going to happen? To avoid that glowing sign I like to check the price of an Uber from the baggage claim (behind the wall that separates you from the wild west. Even if you haven’t yet booked a ride you can always use the excuse that you already booked on Uber and are waiting for your driver. If you do want to take a taxi you can leverage Uber’s prices to negotiate an amount you feel confident about paying.
My favourite feature on Uber, beyond the pricing or the safety features, is the ability to schedule a ride. If I have a super early morning flight and do not want to be wandering the streets at 4 am, I pre-arrange my ride. It costs a fraction more but I can actually get a bit of sleep knowing I have someone who has already agreed to come pick me up at a time that will get me to the airport on time. Maybe I am too anxious about missing my flight but I do not want to be messing around, hoping that someone is awake and out doing pickups on a Tuesday at 3AM in Bogota. I’ve used this feature many times and it gives me such peace of mind!
Tour Companies
Best tour operators for unique travel plans
Get Your Guide
For tours and activities globally, GetYourGuide is among the best. They offer a huge selection of experiences all over the world, from guided city tours to delicious food classes, to unique local adventures. You can reach reviews, book right away with instant confirmation and free cancellation, and even plan ahead by saving activities to a wish list.
As with all activities, if it is a hot ticket be sure to plan your time accordingly and book ahead. I am famously guilty of looking waaaaay too last minute for tickets and tours. My dad and I had to visit the Vatican and Sistine Chapel an hour and a half apart. Thankfully, when everything else was coming up with zeros, GetYourGuide stepped up had those (very) last min tickets for us! I sure didn’t mind waiting in the Vatican courtyard sipping on a cappuccino in the sun… there are worse ways to spend an hour.
Viator
Another leader for tours and activities globally is Viator. It has a huge range of adventurous activities and guided sightseeing tours, and offers a wide range of options, from sightseeing tours to adventure activities, with easy booking and real-time availability. Discover and book memorable experiences effortlessly, all backed by user reviews and flexible cancellation policies.
They offer a huge selection of experiences all over the world, from guided city tours to delicious food classes, to unique local adventures. You can reach reviews, book right away with instant confirmation and free cancellation, and even plan ahead by saving activities to a wish list.
FreeTour
For budget travellers who want to plan on doing a free walking tour, FreeTour is the place to look. You can often just stumble upon free walking tours as you are out exploring, but if you have limited time, want to do a walking tour with a specific focus (the ghosts of Edinburgh) or in other languages it is ideal to look ahead.
While free walking tours don’t have an upfront cost, they rely on tips to compensate the guides for their time, expertise, and entertainment. You are encouraged to give a pay-what-you-want tip at the end of free walking tours.
Trip Advisor
A leading platform full of honest reviews and real recommendations, Trip Advisor also boasts an extensive list of tours and activities. Travellers using Trip Advisor can book confidently knowing they are making an informed decision about the best activities and dining experiences around the world.
Banking and Budgets
Manage your expenses and budget effectively
Travel Spend — for Budgeting
If you are keeping to a strict budget on the road or simply want to generally keep track of what you’re spending, I recommend the free app Travel Spend. On it you can track and analyze your spending to avoid overspending, monitor your daily spending.
You can also be reminded that you spent over $500 on coffees and pastries over the course of two months in Europe, hiding and warming up in cafes from the cold chill of Winter.
Xe — Currency Converter
My dad is really good at mental math, but that is apparently not genetic so I struggle sorting out what something is going to cost me in another currency. That is when I whip out XE Currency Converter. It is a live currency converter that shows you the latest rates when comparing your currency with rates around the world. Very handy to have on your phone as you’re slapping down your credit card for dinner or gently haggling for the best deal at markets.
Western Union — Cash Transfers
Maybe I am uniquely unlucky but I seem run into trouble with my credit cards getting locked or my debit card gets eaten by ATMs more often than I would ever wish upon anyone… The first time it happened to me as a little bright eyed and bushy tailed 18 year old on her first solo trip to NYC after moving away for University and I felt like the ‘greatest city in the world’ was collapsing around me. There are no branches of my Canadian bank in the US after all. When I called my bank trying to mend the situation of my locked card, they coldly told me there was nothing I could do until I got back but recommended having someone transfer me money. I didn’t know what that mean or how to do it — if only I knew then how simple it could really be using Western Union. That was the first time that happened but it surely wouldn’t be the last.
Western Union is an incredibly reliable way to keep your options open in case of a minor (or not so minor) money emergency. With tons of pick up locations all around the world and a user friendly app, it provides a quick, secure and convenient way to send or receive money transfers, giving you peace of mind while abroad.
If you send $100 or more using this link you’ll get a $20 Amazon e-gift code.
Misc Others
Streamline your trip planning with these sites
TripIt — Itinerary Organization
I have never, ever seen TripIt recommended anywhere else and it is my ultimate travel app. Truly, I will never take another trip and not use this whether it’s 2 days away or I’m gone for 3 months, my itinerary will be in TripIt.
TripIt centralizes all your itinerary details into a easy to follow timeline, with flight details, hotel check-ins and check-outs, car rentals, dinner reso, and way more! Simply forward your travel confirmation emails right to TripIt and they do the work of keeping things organized and create the plan. No more crawling through my messy inbox looking for my trip info.
Sherpa — Travel Requirements and Visas
Sherpa is a super easy to use portal that gives you up to date entry requirements and Visa information for International travel. Simply select your Passport and punch in your destination and Sherpa will list out all the essential information required to travel to into that country, including Visa regulations and timeliness (eTAs, VOA, how many days), any mandatory forms to complete, if there is a proof of onward travel requirement, and even some of the recommended medications (Malaria, Altitude Sickness, etc.).
The way Sherpa compiles all the recommendations and regulations into a simple list makes it a great tool for hassle-free planning.
Fit For Travel — Travel Medicine Info
For an extremely comprehensive list of travel health advice I turn to Fit For Travel (provided by the NHS — the UK healthcare system). Although I am not a UK citizen, my doctor in Canada recommended this site to me as a reliable resource for recommended or required vaccinations as well as information about potential health risks, for destinations globally.
I have found it especially useful for the Malaria maps — indicating what regions there is elevated risk of Malaria and therefore whether or not you should be travelling with antimalarial tablets.
Fit For Travel is regularly updated and has very thorough guidance for all sorts of potential medical risks while abroad. If you visit this site for information, I just recommend you be prepared to see a long list of health risks and diseases, but not don’t get scared off by it. Bring any questions or concerns to your doctor or to a travel clinic and follow their recommendations for vaccinations and medications.
Happy trip planning!
From one traveller to another, I hope this travel resources guide was helpful for you as you make your plans and set out on your next adventure!
If you read through this entire travel resource list and are feeling overwhelmed on where to start or what is a good deal or not… fear not because I can still help! I have a personalized trip planning and advice service available to all Everywhere Travel Club readers. I’d love to chat for an hour with you and help answer any questions you’re working through, share fun ideas, and help bring your big trip into reality! For more info about the one one-on-one call for advice check out the details of my Personalized Travel Planning Sesh.
Let me know what you think about this guide or if it helped you – I’d love to hear from you! You can find me everywhere on the Everywhere Travel Club Instagram, TikTok or Twitter!