Here you will find all of my favorite travel and photography resources. Basically, everything that makes my life a whole lot easier when planning and preparing for a trip. I have included the best ways to find affordable flights and accommodation. As well as itinerary planning resources, discount codes, and my favorite photography gear.
Disclaimer: This article might contain affiliate links.
Accommodations
- Booking.com: Booking.com is an excellent way to find hotels and condominiums at a great price. This is always a site I visit when I am looking for a hotel.
- Airbnb: Airbnb is great, it’s affordable, there are many different options, and booking is incredibly easy. Get up to $50 off your first stay with Airbnb by clicking here.
- Hostel World: If you are traveling solo or want to meet new people, hostels are the way to go! During my time abroad in Thailand, hostels were always my first choice. Hostelworld is my go-to site to find amazing hostels at an incredible price.
- Expedia: Expedia is another site I check out when trying to find a hotel. You can find great deals on Expedia.
Flights
- Google Flights: Google Flights is usually my go-to for finding cheap flights. Normally, you will find the best deals here.
- Skyscanner: Skyscanner is a site I check if it seems like I can find a better deal than Google Flights.
- Hopper: Download the app, Hopper, to see when the best days to fly for the cheapest deals are. If you are booking last minute, I find that Hopper is a great way to purchase flights.
- Student Universe: If you are a student, Student Universe is always worth checking out. Especially if you are looking for a long haul flight. Sometimes their deals will be unbeatable.
- AirAsia: If you are booking flights in Asia, AirAsia is the best airline to book with. They offer excellent deals and there are always many flight time options. Their refund policy is also much better than most other Asian airlines. I found this out the hard way when I had to cancel multiple flights due to COVID-19.
READ MORE: My Favorite In-Flight Essentials
Travel Insurance
Transportation
- Uber: Uber works great in almost every city you find yourself in. It’s simple to use, and efficient!
- Grab: If you are traveling around Asia, this is the app you need to download. Grab is basically the same thing as Uber. Most cities in Asia don’t have Uber, so you will need to have Grab.
- Waze: Waze is great for directions if it is offered in the city you are visiting. My favorite time to use Waze is on road trips.
- Google Maps: Google Maps is a must when traveling. Almost every city in the world is on Google Maps and it’s even extremely helpful when using public transportation. In many cities that have an underground transit system, Google Maps will have the routes so you will know exactly which lines to take and stops to get off at.
Tour Companies
- EF Ultimate Break: I travel to Europe with EF Ultimate Break and it was absolutely incredible. I highly recommend this tour company for anyone ages 18-28 years old. I will have a whole blog post up soon reviewing this company.
Travel Planning
- My Blog: I share lots of travel tips and city guides on this platform! Check out my blog to see if I have an article on your destination!
- Pinterest: Pinterest is a MUST when planning anything. You will find the best inspiration on Pinterest. When I’m in the process of planning a trip I always go to Pinterest first.
- Instagram: Another great resource for inspiration. I will scroll through hashtags or blogger’s pages to save trip ideas.
- Road Trippers: If you are planning a road trip and you don’t have road trippers, what are you doing? You need this app asap! It’s an incredible road trip planning resource that really has it all. The app will give you site suggestions, gas prices, and total mileage. Enjoy 30 days free of Roadtrippers plus here.
- Off Track Planet’s Travel Guide: You guys. This book is incredible, I highly recommend grabbing a copy if you are even thinking about planning a trip. The book is so helpful with a lot of great information!
Activities
- Get Your Guide: Get your guide is a great way to find activities in the city you are visiting. You will find everything from guided tours to museum tickets and everything in between. Most activities are reasonably priced and you have access to the reviews, which is extremely helpful!
Travel Apps
- Google Maps: A necessity when traveling.
- International SOS: This app is important because it has pre-travel information, health information, travel safety education, and assistance services while abroad.
- What’s App: In Europe, instead of texting, most people communicate through What’s App.
- Line: This is like What’s App, however, it’s used throughout Southeast Asia.
- Been: Been is a fun app where you can enter every state and country you have visited! I love seeing where I have been, and where I want to go next.
- Road Trippers: I touched on this earlier, I love this app.
- STEP: The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program is another safety app to have when traveling. It keeps you up to date with what is happening in the country you are in and more.
Electronics
Below are links to my favorite electronics to travel with.
