Traveling is one of life’s greatest joys, but planning the perfect trip can be overwhelming. From choosing your destination to booking flights and accommodations, there are countless steps involved. However, with the right tools, you can make the process seamless and enjoyable. In this article, we’ll explore the best travel websites and apps that will help you plan your next adventure with ease.
Why Planning Your Trip Matters
If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that I geek out about planning travel. It’s kind of one of my favorite parts of the whole process. Of course, I love it when I’m finally on site and exploring all of the places I want to see, but finding those places before the trip is what gets me super excited about traveling.
The first part (and the hardest part for me!) is figuring out where you want to go. I have SO many places that I want to visit this year so it’s been hard to try to condense a list down to just a few places. But once you’ve figured that out, the fun begins.
I’ve created a FREE guide to show you different ways you can discover unique places to check out at your destination of choice. It’s tips and tricks on how I research destinations, and it hasn’t failed me yet! Just subscribe to my newsletter to get access to your FREE download.
But for this post, I want to talk about logistics. You’ve got your final destination, and you’ve compiled a list of places to visit while in the said destination, but how do you actually make it all happen, right?
Well lucky you! I’ve compiled a list of my favorite travel websites and apps that I personally use all the time when researching and planning a trip.
Top 7 Travel Websites and Apps for Planning Your Next Vacation
1. Hopper
Hopper is an app that I discovered last year and I’ve been using it ever since. In fact, I’ve even bought a few plane tickets by using Hopper, so it’s definitely a must-have for me. Basically, the app allows you to set alerts for destinations and it will send you notifications when prices on flights change. However, with its algorithm, Hopper will also tell you to ‘Wait’ or ‘Buy Now’ by suggesting that prices are likely to go up or down again soon.
I’m currently in the “logistics” stage of a trip, so even right now I have multiple travel alerts set and I’m reviewing Hopper alerts each day.
2. HotelTonight
HotelTonight is another app that I use for finding awesome travel deals on hotels. There’s a timing factor with the HotelTonight app, in that they only give you hotel deals about 20 days out from the present date. So, I’ll usually start looking at this app about a month before my travel dates. In fact, this app was super helpful when I was looking at hotels for my upcoming trip to LA!
3. Roadtrippers
If it’s not obvious by the name, Roadtrippers is a great site (and app!) to use when planning out a road trip. The interface is really nice and visual, making destination-to-destination mapping super easy. Plus, you can tell the map to pinpoint things like Accommodations, Attractions, Points of Interest, Vacation Rentals, etc., and it will map them along with your route.
4. Airfarewatchdog
Airfarewatchdog is another travel deal site that I use all of the time. Anytime I’m interested in a new place, I’ll set an alert on Airfarewatchdog. Then, all you have to do is sit back, relax, and review a daily email recap of travel deals based on your selected destinations.
5. Airbnb
Airbnb is a must for finding unique places to stay. On my last trip to Europe, my sister and I stayed in Airbnbs in every location: London, Nice, Positano, and Rome. I especially loved our finds in Positano and Nice. They were both very clean, had responsive and helpful hosts, and were close to areas we wanted to explore.
6. Kayak
Kayak is another travel deal site I use all of the time. I used to only use it for booking flights, but recently I’ve been checking it out for car rental and hotel deals, too. It’s connected with Booking.com and Priceline, so I feel like I always find great travel deals using Kayak.
7. Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor is important for checking reviews before you book a hotel. I’m particular about certain things (e.g., thin walls), so I like to read through guest comments before I commit. It’s the worst experience for me when you’re staying at a nice place, but you can hear guests below you, above you, or in the next room.
Additional Tips for Planning Your Trip
Once you’ve got the logistics figured out, the fun part of the planning can commence. If you’re like me, you love finding unique little spots for photo ops. In fact, on every trip I take, this is always a part of my research process.
And I’m happy to help you with this, too! For just $30, I’ll create a curated travel itinerary of cool places for you to check out in your destination of choice. Learn more about this service here.
Conclusion
Planning a trip doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right tools and resources, you can easily find the best deals on flights, hotels, and activities. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time adventurer, these websites and apps will help you make the most of your next vacation. So, start planning your next adventure today and enjoy the journey!
