TRAVEL RESOURCES
Over the years, I have explored a variety of resources for travel planning, photography, and gear. My goal has been to travel smarter, lighter, and with a lower environmental impact. This is a collection of my top travel resources for transportation, accommodations, travel insurance, tours, and more.
I only recommend options that I have personally used. Here we go!
Airlines
Skyscanner for airline ticket research.
Skyscanner is where I like to start my flight search. It has one of the largest airline databases, with up to 1,200 carriers. It will show you what time of the month is the least expensive to travel, which can help if your itinerary is flexible. I then typically book directly through the airlines.
Kayak for airline pricing and alerts.
I like Kayak for its tools that let me check which months are best for travel to various destinations. It's also great for setting price alerts.
Trains
Omio for train travel.
Although many countries require you to go through their own websites, Omio is a good platform that brings together more than 1,000 transportation providers offering tickets for trains, buses, flights, and ferries, as well as car rentals and airport transfers. Travelers worldwide can easily explore Europe, the United States, and Canada while comparing transportation options and finding the right price for their budget.
Rental Cars
DiscoverCars.com for rental cars.
DiscoverCars is an Award-winning car rental comparison website (World Travel Awards, Financial Times 1000, Inc. 5000). Customers can find, compare, and rent a car globally. They have over 1 million in user traffic during the high season, and very high customer reviews on Trustpilot.
Hotels
Booking.com for hotels.
Booking.com is what I almost always use to book my hotel accommodations. I like that all my trip reservations are in one place, and that they have a great selection of hotels. It's a good interface, usually with low prices and no fees.
Booking Activities
Viator for day trips, activities, and more.
Booking.com is what I almost always use to book my hotel accommodations. I like that all my trip reservations are in one place, and that they have a great selection of hotels. It's a good interface, usually with low prices and no fees.
GetYourGuide for day trips, activities, and more.
Booking.com is what I almost always use to book my hotel accommodations. I like that all my trip reservations are in one place, and that they have a great selection of hotels. It's a good interface, usually with low prices and no fees.
Booking Tours
Odynovo Travel for custom, private, and group tours.
I have used Odynovo Travel for several private tours in Southeast Asia and Africa. Their prices, customer service, guides, and tour flexibility are among their strongest attributes. Odynovo is an award-winning tour operator company and has taken clients to 80+ destinations in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania.
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing for long-term travelers and digital nomads.
Global medical and travel coverage for when you get sick or injured abroad, for nomads and remote workers. Choose essential or full health coverage. Buy anytime, anywhere. GREAT FOR BUDGET TRAVELERS!
World Nomads for mid-range travelers.
World Nomads is popular for independent travelers and families.
InsureMyTrip for travelers over 70.
InsureMyTrip is easy to use, and you can get an instant quote. A great website to compare travel insurance plans.
Other Helpful Travel Sites
TripAdvisor for customer reviews.
Travelers around the world use the Tripadvisor site to discover where to stay, what to do, and where to eat, based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than one billion reviews and opinions of nearly eight million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants, and discover great places nearby.
Expedia is a full-service travel planner.
Expedia is one of the world’s leading full-service online travel brands, helping travelers easily plan and book trips with the widest selection of vacation packages, flights, hotels, rental cars, rail, cruises, activities, attractions, and services.
Trip.com for one-stop travel planning.
Trip.com is another site to visit if you are looking for one site that does it all.
Money While Traveling
Wise for all nationalities sending/receiving money.
I have used Wise on several occasions. Wise is excellent for saving money on international currency transfers and spending, offering real mid-market exchange rates with low, transparent fees. It is ideal for expats, digital nomads, and freelancers needing to receive, hold, or send money in 40+ currencies across 160+ countries.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa for travel credit card.
Charles Schwab for Americans.
If you're an American who travels frequently, Charles Schwab offers a great debit card. They refund all ATM fees at the end of the month (including pricey international ATM fees), and they don't charge foreign transaction fees.
Navigating Travel Points
This is a great resource for navigating the world of earning free travel through points and miles. The Points Guy offers information on credit cards, airlines, hotels, and more. The site also tends to report deals before anyone else.
Sustainable Travel Resources
Ecobnb for travelers looking for eco-friendly accommodations.
This is a great platform for navigating sustainable travel options, especially in Europe. It features over 3,000 verified listings that meet strict, audited environmental criteria—such as organic food, renewable energy, and car-free accessibility—making it a strong alternative to mainstream booking sites for eco-conscious travelers.
Sustainable Travel International for tourists and tourist companies.
This organization offers guidelines and resources for travelers and travel companies seeking to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable living. It's a great site for calculating your own carbon footprint with their carbon calculator.
Rise Travel Institute for education in sustainable travel.
I have taken courses and attained certification from Rise Travel Institute. This organization offers classes and courses on travel ethics and social justice. It's a great resource for global conscious travelers.
Note to readers: Some of these resources contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you click and purchase, at no extra cost to you. It simply helps me to keep my blog running.
