Planning a trip is exciting, but it can also feel a bit overwhelming with so many details to organize. Over the years, we’ve learned how to make travel smoother, more affordable, and more rewarding by using the right tools and resources. This page is your go-to guide for all our favorite travel resources—tried, tested, and trusted from our own adventures around the world.
From booking flights and accommodations to managing visas, tackling transportation options, and handling money matters, we’ve covered every step of the travel process. We’ve spent countless hours figuring out what works best, so you don’t have to. Whether you’re planning a short getaway or a long-term adventure, these resources will help you travel further, smarter, and with fewer headaches.
Every tool, app, and company mentioned here is something we personally use and recommend. By starting with the best resources, you’ll save time, cut down on costs, and focus on what really matters—enjoying your trip. So dive in, explore these tips and tools, and let’s get you ready for your next adventure!
* Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We will receive a small commission if you book through our links. This is at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we like and trust ourselves.
Finding cheap flights
Flights are often the biggest expense of any trip, so saving on airfare can significantly stretch your travel budget. That’s why finding cheap flights is always our first step when planning a trip. Sometimes, the destination itself comes down to where the best deals are! Over the years, we’ve discovered some reliable travel resources for booking affordable flights that we now swear by:
Our go-to platform for flight bookings is Skyscanner. This powerful tool compares flights across a wide range of airlines for any day of the year, helping you find the best route to your destination. You can search broadly—input your city or even your country as the departure point and the destination country to locate the cheapest city-to-city flights. One of our favorite features is the calendar tool. It shows the most affordable dates to fly, perfect if you have some flexibility in your travel plans. Skyscanner is also fantastic for multi-city trips, letting you book flights to multiple destinations in one go.
TIP: Download the Skyscanner app. It allows you to set up flight alerts, so you’ll never miss a price drop. The app also makes it easy to browse destinations when you’re dreaming up your next adventure.
Once you’ve identified the flight and dates that work for you, Skyscanner provides a list of booking platforms. We usually compare a few options. If Booking.com is listed, we often choose it because they typically offer competitive prices, especially when adding checked baggage.
While Skyscanner is our favorite, we always double-check prices on Google Flights or directly through the airline. Google Flights is an excellent tool for tracking prices over time. You can set alerts to monitor fare changes and decide whether the current price is a good deal or overpriced. Another handy feature is their map tool. If you’re unsure where to go but just want a good deal, it shows you the cheapest destinations from your current location.
Accommodations
Once flights are sorted, the next step is finding a cozy place to stay. For us, choosing accommodations is an exciting part of trip planning. Whether it’s a boutique hotel, a guesthouse, or a budget-friendly hostel, we’ve booked hundreds of stays over the years. These are the travel resources we rely on for booking accommodation:
Booking.com is our top choice for accommodations worldwide. From budget hostels to luxury resorts, they have it all. One feature we love is the Genius program, which rewards frequent users with discounts of 10-15% on participating properties. Their filters and map-search options make it easy to narrow down choices. For example, we often filter by price, reviews (we usually aim for 8+), and amenities like breakfast included or private bathrooms and air conditioning—especially for trips to Asia. Overall we prefer their interface, as it’s very user-friendly and not as clunky as some other websites. Other reasons why we love Booking.com is that for most accommodations they have free cancellation and the possibility to pay until the check-in date.
For trips in Southeast Asia, Agoda is another excellent platform. While we prefer Booking.com for its interface and features, Agoda often has better deals in certain countries, like Malaysia. We always compare prices on both platforms before booking to make sure we’re getting the best deal.
If you’re a budget traveler or backpacker, Hostelworld is the best platform for finding affordable and well-reviewed hostels. It’s especially great if you’re traveling solo and want to meet others. They also offer private rooms for travelers who want privacy but still want the hostel vibe.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance might not be the most exciting part of planning, but it’s one of the most important. We never leave home without it anymore. There were times when we didn’t bother, but after a few mishaps, we’ve learned the hard way.
Travel insurance is essential for peace of mind. It covers unforeseen issues like theft, medical emergencies, or trip cancellations. If you’re renting scooters or motorbikes, having the right coverage is especially crucial. Review the coverage and policy details carefully to align with your specific needs.
We highly recommend Heymondo for travel insurance. They offer flexible plans that can be customized to your trip and budget. Their app makes managing your policy and claims super easy—even through WhatsApp!
Coverage includes emergency medical assistance, stolen or damaged luggage, trip disruptions, and even cancellations. You can also add extras, like coverage for electronics or adventure sports. For long-term travelers, Heymondo’s Long Stay Insurance is an excellent option, covering everything from medical emergencies to general travel needs.
TIP: Use our link for 5% off your Heymondo travel insurance.
Tours & Activities
Even though we prefer independent travel over organized group tours, sometimes a tour is the best way to dive deeper into a destination. Whether it’s gaining access to remote spots, diving deeper into local culture, or learning from expert guides, tours can add tremendous value to your travels.
We always look for small group tours for an intimate and immersive experience. One of our favorite types of tours? Street food tours! They’re the perfect introduction to a country’s cuisine and often uncover hidden gems you’d never find on your own. Walking tours with local guides are also fantastic for discovering a city’s culture, history, and lesser-known treasures. Here are the travel resources we rely on for booking tours and activities:
Viator is our top choice for organized tours. Every tour we’ve booked on Viator has been a success! They offer a wide variety of options, from food tours to day trips and attraction tickets, often at competitive prices.
The platform makes booking super easy. Browse tours, pay online, and instantly receive your voucher. We also love Viator’s flexibility—most bookings can be canceled for free up to 24 hours before they start, which is perfect if plans change.
We always compare GetYourGuide with Viator, as they sometimes have unique tours not available elsewhere. It’s another excellent platform for discovering and booking activities worldwide. Their user-friendly interface ensures you can easily find something that suits your travel style.
Transportation
Getting around a country can be half the adventure. Whether it’s by car, bus, train, or ferry, choosing the right transportation is key. These are the travel resources we trust for booking transport around the world:
For Southeast Asia and beyond, 12Go is the ultimate platform. They cover all transport options—buses, trains, ferries, flights, private transfers, and minivans. Their app is intuitive and makes ticket booking quick and hassle-free.
For traveling in Europe, the USA, and Canada, we recommend Omio. It’s our favorite platform for booking trains, buses, ferries, and even airport transfers. Their app is perfect for finding deals on the go, and their customer service is reliable too.
When the trip calls for a rental car, Discover Cars is our go-to. They offer excellent options for exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations, giving you the freedom to travel at your own pace. It’s one of the easiest ways to see more during your trip!
Stay connected abroad
Staying connected while traveling is essential for navigating cities, booking transport, or simply finding the best places to eat. We’ve moved away from local SIM cards to eSIMs—a game-changer for hassle-free internet access abroad.
Airalo is the largest eSIM store, covering over 190 countries and regions. With Airalo, you can install an eSIM on your ESIM-compatible phone before your trip, ensuring instant connectivity upon arrival. Setup is straightforward: 1. Choose your destination (specific country or region). 2. Pick your data package. 3. Activate through your phone’s settings. Airalo’s app also makes it easy to top up if you need more data.
We currently have discount codes both for first-time users and existing users:
New users: 15% off your first eSIM purchase with code NEWTOAIRALO15
Returning users: 10% off your next purchase with code AIRALOESIM10
Protect your online privacy
Public Wi-Fi can be risky. That’s why we always use a VPN to safeguard our online activity. A VPN not only protects your privacy but also unlocks new travel possibilities, like accessing restricted apps or snagging better deals by changing your virtual location. Plus, a VPN lets you stream Netflix shows from any country.
We’ve relied on ExpressVPN for years, especially in Asia. It ensures secure, fast connections and works on virtually any device—phones, laptops, routers, and more. Key features: Lightning-fast servers in 105 countries, Works on up to eight devices simultaneously, A 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied.
Bonus: Get 3 months FREE with a 12-month plan using our link!
Visa assistance
Before you book your trip, check if you need a visa for your destination. Visa requirements vary depending on your passport and the country you’re visiting. Some require a visa application in advance, while others offer visas on arrival. Sorting this out ahead of time can save you stress and prevent unexpected delays. For tricky visa applications, use a professional service to streamline the process and ensure everything is in order.
iVisa makes getting travel visas and related documents simple and hassle-free. This one-stop platform helps with everything from visas to health declarations. It’s reliable, saves time, and ensures you have the necessary documents to explore the world worry-free.
Language
Depending on where you’re traveling, you might find that English isn’t widely spoken—except for the basics in some tourist areas. In our experience, learning a few simple phrases in the local language goes a long way. Even a small effort, like saying “hello” or “thank you,” can create a connection and is always appreciated by locals.
Lately, we’ve been loving the Ling app to learn the basics of the language before arriving in a new country. What’s great about Ling is that it focuses on less commonly taught languages, especially Asian ones. For example, you can learn Khmer, Vietnamese, or Indonesian, complete with native-speaker audio. The chatbot feature is a fun way to practice conversations, and it’s been super helpful for us to pick up key phrases. If you’re heading to Asia, this app is a gem.
We always make sure to have Google Translate downloaded before any trip. It’s incredibly handy when you’re struggling to get a message across. Just speak into your phone, and the app will translate it into the local language for you. This quick fix has saved us in so many situations!
Money Matters
Accessing and managing your money is one of the most important parts of travel. From sending and receiving funds to avoiding unnecessary fees, having the right financial tools makes a huge difference.
We only recently started using Revolut, and it’s been a game-changer. With this app, we’ve created multi-currency accounts, transferred money internationally, and even made payments to local businesses—all with minimal fees. Revolut’s virtual card feature is perfect for online bookings, like paying deposits to local agencies or small family-run accommodations. It’s modern banking designed for travelers.
ATM Fee Saver
If you’ve ever been frustrated by steep ATM withdrawal fees, this app will save you a lot of stress. It helps you locate ATMs with low or no fees, making it easier to manage cash while traveling. It currently covers over 30 destinations, with a strong focus on Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
Splitwise
Traveling with friends or a group? Splitwise is the perfect app for keeping track of shared expenses. It’s easy to use and divide costs fairly, from meals to transport. At the end of the trip, it automatically calculates who owes what, making settling up super easy.
XE Currency
Whenever we’re shopping or trying to figure out local costs, we rely on the XE Currency app. It’s simple to use, accurate and makes converting currencies a breeze. This app has definitely saved us from overpaying more than once!
Getting around
Navigating new destinations has never been easier thanks to modern apps. Here are the tools we always rely on to get from point A to B without stress.
Grab is our go-to for booking taxis in most Asian countries. It’s quick, reliable, and feels much like using Uber back home. Occasionally, certain destinations have their own local equivalents, and we make sure to mention these in our dedicated blog posts.
If we know we’ll be offline for long periods, we download Maps.Me for detailed offline navigation. Unlike Google Maps, it often shows hidden paths and natural features, which is great for hiking or exploring lesser-known areas. In some countries, we’ve even found it better for driving routes.
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*Save up to 20% available on new accommodation bookings at participating properties indicated by the “Getaway
Deal” badge on the search results and room selection pages. Savings vary dependent on the discount made available
by the property. Bookings must be made before 9:59 am CET on 30/09/25 for stays with check-in from 28/03/2025
and check-out on or before 30/09/2025. Discount applies to the cost of room only (excluding any additional fees or
taxes) and will be applied automatically at checkout. If you make any changes to your booking you may lose your
discount and be liable for the full amount. Discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion except
Genius discounts. Room rates labelled “Partner Offer” are excluded from this promotion. This offer is provided by the
participating property and subject to availability.