After over 8 years on the road and 70 countries under my belt, I’ve gotten pretty picky about the travel tools I trust. Whether I’m booking a last-minute flight to Southeast Asia or searching for a boutique hotel in the Alps, there are certain sites and brands I come back to again and again.
In 2025, the landscape’s changed a bit…some platforms have seriously stepped up their game, while others I once relied on just don’t cut it anymore. The resources I’m sharing here aren’t just popular…they’re the ones I personally use to find the best deals, plan smarter, and actually enjoy the travel experience rather than stress over it.
From flight hacks and hidden gem stays to travel insurance that’s saved me more than once, here are the tools I swear by. Because when you travel as much as I do, only the best will do.
Booking Flights
Each of my travel adventures begins with a Skyscanner search. This flight aggregator app lets you to search thousands of websites and millions of flights for the cheapest deals.
My favorite features are the “Explore Everywhere” and “Best Deals by Month” options. Each allows you to find ridiculously cheap flights to pretty much anywhere in the world, as long as you’re flexible with your dates. Skyscanner rocks.
Google Flights is a simple and convenient tool for finding great flight deals. It also integrates well with hotels and other vacation packages.
There’s a feature showing what “typical prices” look like for your selected route, and where your flight price fits on the spectrum. I think it’s always a good idea to check Google Flights before booking your trip.
Booking Accommodations
This is my go-to site for comparing and booking accommodations. It’s super easy and efficient to use, and almost always comes in cheaper than Hotels.com.
Booking.com has more than 5 million properties worldwide. Its Genius Rewards Program is fantastic, offering discounts and late-checkouts at various properties. The free cancellation policy is also a major plus, making this one of my favorite travel resources.
Though not as “local” as it once was, Airbnb is still a solid accommodation option. I typically book it when hotel options are limited or over-priced in a certain area.
Airbnb is a great option when you’re traveling in a group and want a home or apartment rental. It’s often cheaper than hotels, especially if you’re splitting the cost with at least another person.
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This is my go-to site for finding budget accommodations. It has over 36,000 properties in 178 countries, including hostels, hotels, and bed and breakfasts.
Hostelworld usually has the most listings of any hostel-booking website, which is why I always start here before booking budget accommodations.
Booking Transportation
As its name suggests, Rome2Rio is a great travel resource for getting around Rome, Rio de Janeiro, and everywhere in between. It’s helpful for finding trains, buses, cars, ferries, and flights between destinations.
All you have to do is search where you want to go, and Rome2Rio will find you the best transportation options. It also works offline, a plus when you’re on the go.
Hertz always gives me peace of mind when I’m renting cars abroad. It operates in 150 countries, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a Hertz location in your destination.
Hertz has a stellar international reputation. I’ve personally had no issues, unlike my experiences with smaller “local” rental car companies. The chances of something going wrong (i.e. getting an old vehicle when you’re promised a new one, ambiguous rules, etc.) are much less than going with a local car rental. Just my experience.
Omio is one of the best travel apps for finding transportation in Europe. Since my study abroad semester in college more than 5 years ago, GoEuro (now Omio) has always had my back.
This app also provides live updates and customer service, which is particularly valuable when you’re backpacking around Europe’s best hidden gems. If you’re trying to get around Europe, Omio is always a reliable choice.
Booking Tours
Looking for things to do in a destination? GetYourGuide has got you covered. Its inventory includes more than 50,000 things to do in 150 countries around the world.
I always recommend this platform for booking tours, attractions, and other activities for day trips and weekend getaways.
Travel Blog Resources
I’ve been using Bluehost since starting my travel blog in 2017, and encourage new travel bloggers to do the same. At just $3.95/month, it’s affordable, reliable, and comes with a free domain name.
If you’re curious, here’s how to start a travel blog.
These blogging courses are run by the world’s most successful travel blogger, Nomadic Matt. It touches on all the key topics and best practices for those just starting out in the blogging world.
I met Matt at TravelCon last year, and I’m super impressed by the blogging empire he’s created. This guy’s the real deal, and Superstar Blogging is too.
Other Helpful Travel Resources
These have always been my favorite country and city guidebooks. Lonely Planet Guidebooks come in print, ebooks, mobile apps, and other digital formats.
I’ve always found that Lonely Planet has a special way with words, and inspires my next adventures.
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