The Ultimate Travel Resources I Rely On

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These are the travel resources I personally use to plan every trip—accommodations, flights, apps, social tools, and gear that actually make travel easier. If it’s on this page, it’s typically something I’ve used, loved, and trust to help you plan smarter and wander better. I do offer a few recommendations as well.

Travel Resources I Trust

These are the tools and services I rely on for every trip—trusted platforms for booking accommodations, finding flights, planning routes, and staying organized from start to finish.

Accommodations

Finding the right place to stay can make or break a trip. These are the hotel programs and booking platforms I trust for great prices, flexible options, and reliable stays.

Hotel Rewards Programs

• World of Hyatt – Hyatt offers some of the best elite perks and award rates in the industry. Their properties feel consistently high‑quality, and points stretch surprisingly far, making this program a favorite for travelers who value comfort and great redemption value.
• Hilton Honors – Reliable, consistent, and easy to use. Hilton Honors gives you great redemption value, tons of mid‑range and upscale options, and some of the most flexible ways to earn free nights—perfect for both quick getaways and longer trips.
• Marriott Bonvoy Rewards – With one of the largest global footprints, Marriott Bonvoy makes it easy to find a hotel almost anywhere. The variety of brands—from budget‑friendly to luxury—means you can match your stay to your trip style while earning solid points along the way.

Hotel & Rental Booking Platforms

• Airbnb – Great for longer trips or when you want a more home‑like setup. Airbnb is my go‑to for unique stays, extra space, and locations that feel more local than hotel‑heavy areas.
• Booking.com – A reliable, easy‑to‑use platform with tons of options and helpful filters. I use it to compare prices quickly, check real reviews, and find stays that match my travel style without digging through multiple sites.
• Vrbo – Perfect for family trips or group travel when you need multiple bedrooms, a kitchen, or extra room to spread out. Vrbo focuses on whole‑home rentals, which keeps the experience simple and consistent.

Flights & Transportation

Finding the best flights and getting around once you arrive doesn’t have to be complicated—these are the tools Chris and I trust for comparing prices, tracking deals, and navigating new destinations with ease.

Flight Search Tools

• Google Flights –  Our first stop for almost every trip. Google Flights makes it easy to compare prices, track fare drops, and see flexible date options so you can find the best deal without digging through multiple sites.
• Skyscanner – Great for broad searches when you’re flexible on dates or destinations. Skyscanner pulls in deals from tons of airlines and booking sites, making it a solid tool for spotting budget‑friendly options.
• Kayak – A reliable comparison tool with helpful filters and price alerts. Kayak is especially useful when you want to check multiple booking platforms at once to make sure you’re getting the best rate.

Booking Directly with Airlines

Booking directly with an airline is often the simplest way to manage your trip, earn miles, and get better customer support when plans change.

• United Airlines – United is the airline we use most often for checking flights and booking trips. Their site makes it easy to compare dates, track prices, and manage your reservation all in one place. Plus, booking direct helps you earn miles, choose seats earlier, and get better support if you need to change or rebook your flight. If you haven’t already signed up to earn reward points with the MileagePlus program, now is the best time.

Ground Transportation

• Rentalcars.com – A simple way to compare rental car companies and find the best price. I use it to check availability, filter by car type, and avoid surprise fees at pickup.
• Uber / Lyft – Perfect for quick, reliable rides in most major cities. These apps make it easy to get around without renting a car or navigating public transit right away.
• Rome2Ri0 – A great tool for figuring out how to get from point A to point B anywhere in the world. It shows buses, trains, ferries, flights, and driving routes all in one place.
• Trainline –  Trainline is our go‑to tool for booking trains when traveling in Europe. It makes it easy to compare routes, check schedules, and buy tickets across multiple rail companies—all in one place. It’s especially helpful when you’re hopping between countries or navigating unfamiliar rail systems.

Travel Apps & Planning Tools

These are the apps and tools Chris and I rely on for planning trips, organizing details, and staying on track while we travel.

Navigation & Planning Apps

• TripAdvisor – A research tool as you plan for things to do, research attractions, and read reviews.
• Yelp – Reviews for restaurants, local services, and attractions as you travel.
• Google Maps – My go‑to app for saving places, building custom lists, and navigating cities on foot or by car. Chris and I both use it to mark restaurants, viewpoints, hikes, and anything I want to remember for later.
• Rome2Ri0 – A super helpful tool for figuring out how to get from point A to point B anywhere in the world. It shows buses, trains, ferries, flights, and driving routes all in one place, which makes planning so much easier.
• Trainline – Our favorite app for booking trains when traveling in Europe. It makes it simple to compare routes, check schedules, and buy tickets across multiple rail companies without switching between websites.

Communication & Connectivity

• WhatsApp – Perfect for messaging with hotels, drivers, and tours.
• Google Translate – Language help for navigating menus, signs, and conversations in other languages.
• Instagram – Great for saving travel inspiration, researching destinations, and bookmarking photo spots.
• Facebook – Helpful for joining local travel groups, checking updates from tourism boards, and messaging small businesses that don’t use email regularly.
• Pinterest – Perfect for collecting travel ideas, saving itineraries, and organizing inspiration boards for future trips.
• Flipboard – A great app for discovering travel inspiration, saving articles, and curating your own digital magazines.
• Airalo – A popular eSIM option that lets you stay connected abroad without hunting for local SIM cards or paying high roaming fees.

Safety & Travel Utility Apps

These apps keep important details organized, help us stay prepared on the go, and make travel smoother and less stressful.

• Wise – A secure and affordable way to send money, receive payments, and convert currencies at real exchange rates. It’s especially helpful when traveling internationally or paying for tours, apartments, or services in different currencies.
• TripIt – A simple way to keep all your travel plans organized in one place. Forward your confirmation emails and TripIt builds a clean, easy‑to‑read itinerary you can access offline.
• Apple Notes – My go‑to app for quick lists, screenshots, and saving important trip details. It syncs across my devices, so everything is easy to access whether I’m on my iPad or iPhone.
• Google Keep – While I personally use Apple Notes, Google Keep is a great alternative for anyone on Android. It’s simple, free, and works well for quick lists, reminders, and saving important trip details.
• Weather App (Apple or Android) – A basic but essential tool for checking daily forecasts, planning outfits, and timing outdoor activities. I check it constantly when we’re hiking or exploring new cities.
• XE Currency Converter – A reliable app for checking exchange rates and converting prices on the fly. It’s especially helpful when traveling through Europe or countries that use multiple currencies.
• MyRadar – A great real‑time radar app for tracking storms, rain, and weather patterns. Chris uses it on every trip to keep an eye on changing conditions—especially helpful for hiking days or road trips.

Travel & Photography Gear

Travel is a lot more fun when your gear actually works with you instead of against you. These are the backpacks, chargers, cubes, and camera tools that keep us organized, powered up, and ready for whatever adventure shows up next. Think of this section as the “what we actually pack” list—tested, loved, and used on every trip.

Luggage & Packing Essentials

• Briggs & Riley Luggage – Lightweight, durable bags that make airport days easier and keep your essentials within reach.
• Carry‑on travel backpack – Having a reliable backpack makes every trip smoother.
• Packing cubes for organization – A simple but game‑changing way to organize outfits, separate clean and dirty clothes, and maximize space. We use them on every trip because they keep everything tidy and easy to find.
• Hanging toiletry and makeup organizer – Small pouches and zip bags that corral all the little things—chargers, toiletries, meds, and travel‑day essentials—so nothing gets lost at the bottom of your bag.
• Cross body messenger bag – I love my cross body bag for travel. It has great safety features, keeps essential travel items close at hand, and has lots of pockets for organizing.

Travel Tech & Gadgets

Not only travel tech and gadgets essential for travel, but they also make great gifts! Discover my favorite travel tech & gadgets to simplify travel.

• Portable charger or power bank – A must‑have for long travel days, hikes, and road trips. Keeping your phone and camera charged means you never miss a moment.
• Universal travel adapter – Essential for international trips. A single universal adapter keeps all your devices powered without carrying multiple plugs.
• AirTags – Helpful for keeping an eye on checked bags, backpacks, or anything you don’t want to lose. They add peace of mind on busy travel days.
• Multi-port power strip – A tool to keep our devices powered up, connected, and prepared for anything. These are the little lifesavers we never travel without.
• iPhone – Our lifeline to home and travel with the bonus of an awesome camera.

Photography Tools & Editing Apps

From cameras to accessories to the apps we use to capture and edit our favorite travel moments. Whether you’re shooting on a phone or a full camera setup, these tools help bring every adventure to life. Want to know what’s in my camera bag?

• DSLR Camera body – Whether you prefer a mirrorless camera or stick with your phone, having the right setup makes a big difference.
• Favorite travel lens – Reliable gear for everything from landscapes to low‑light shots.
• Lightweight travel tripod – A compact, lightweight option that make it easy to take steady photos, long exposures, and group shots—no need to ask strangers.
• SD cards for storage – Extra memory and backup drives to keep your photos safe and organized while traveling.
• Photography basics course – Learn the basics of how to take pictures, use light, compose shots, and more.

Explore all of our favorite gear in one place. Click “Take a Look!” 👇

Tours & Experiences

Planning a trip is so much easier when you know which tours are actually worth it. These are the experiences Chris and I book for ourselves—from paragliding and audio tours to river rafting adventures and day trips that take the stress out of planning. Each one adds something special to a destination and helps you make the most of your time.

Audio Tours – Self-guided tours are one of our favorite ways to explore—especially on road trips. We use GuideAlong Audio Guides because they’re easy to follow, packed with local insights, and make the drive way more fun. You just download the app, pick your route, and let the guide do the storytelling while you drive.

Explore our favorite GuideAlong tours 👇

Rick Steves Audio Tours – A fantastic free option for exploring Europe on foot. Rick Steves offers self‑guided walking tours of major cities, packed with historical context, cultural insights, and practical travel tips. Just download the audio, pop in your earbuds, and explore at your own pace. It’s an easy way to learn more about the places you’re visiting without booking a formal tour.

Viator Tours – When Chris and I want someone else to handle the logistics, we book through Viator. From food tours and day trips to skip-the-line museum tickets, Viator makes it easy to find experiences that actually fit your travel style. We’ve used them in cities around the world and always find something unique.

Browse top-rated tours on Viator 👇

Money, Safety, & Travel Logistics

Travel feels so much easier when you have the right tools to handle money, stay safe, and navigate the little details that come with being on the road. These are the apps and resources we rely on to manage currency, protect our information, keep important documents organized, and make every trip run smoothly from start to finish.

Money & Currency Tools

Managing money on the road doesn’t have to be stressful. These are the tools we use to convert currency, avoid unnecessary fees, and keep spending simple while traveling. From international money transfers to quick exchange‑rate checks, these apps help you stay organized and make smarter decisions wherever you go.

• Wise – My go‑to for sending money internationally and paying in local currencies with low, transparent fees.
• XE Currency – A quick way to check real‑time exchange rates so you always know what you’re actually spending.
• Your bank’s ATM locator app – Helpful for finding fee‑free or partner ATMs abroad so you can avoid unnecessary withdrawal charges.

Safety & Security

A few smart tools can make a big difference in how safe and confident you feel while traveling. These are the resources we rely on to protect our data, stay aware of our surroundings, and keep important information secure. They’re simple to use and give you peace of mind no matter where you’re headed.

• NordVPN – Protects your data on public Wi‑Fi so you can browse securely while traveling.
• Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (U.S. State Department-app available) – Gives you official travel advisories, safety updates, and embassy information for your destination.
• FindMy (Apple) – Keep track of your devices and share your location with trusted contacts for peace of mind. Life360 could also be an option if you don’t use Apple devices.
• 1Password – Stores your passwords and sensitive information securely so you can access everything you need on the go.
• AirTags – Discover why I recommend this tiny but mighty travel hack that helps you keep an eye on your luggage, backpacks, and gear throughout your trip.

Travel Documents & Organization

Keeping your travel details in one place makes every trip smoother. These tools help you organize passports, reservations, confirmations, and important documents so you’re never scrambling to find what you need. They’re also great for planning, storing itineraries, and staying on top of the little details that make travel easier.

• 1Password – Stores passports, IDs, credit cards, and travel logins securely so everything is accessible on the go.
• Apple Wallet – Keeps boarding passes, event tickets, and some transit cards in one easy‑to‑reach place.
• Google Drive – A simple way to backup copies of passports, itineraries, and reservations.
• Apple Notes / Evernote – We keep all of our shared itinerary details, confirmations, packing lists, and planning ideas here—Apple Notes for me, Evernote for my husband—so everything stays organized and easy to access while traveling.
• Airline & Hotel Apps – Essential for mobile boarding passes, check‑ins, and real‑time updates.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is one of those things you hope you never need—but you’re always glad to have. You should look for policies that cover medical emergencies, trip interruptions, trip cancellation, evacuation, lost or delayed baggage, and unexpected delays so you can travel with confidence. There are many reputable options out there, and coverage varies widely, so it’s important to research policies carefully to find the one that fits your trip, budget, and comfort level.

• SafetyWing – A budget‑friendly option popular with long‑term travelers and digital nomads.
• World Nomads – A popular choice for adventure travelers, offering flexible coverage for medical emergencies, trip protection, and gear.
• Allianz Travel – Offers single‑trip and annual plans with strong medical and trip‑cancellation coverage.
• Your credit card’s built‑in travel insurance (if applicable)