They say success is 80% planning, so make your next adventure a successful one with the collection of online resources I’ve used to plan all of my overseas trips in the last few years.Â
Itineraries
Google Drive— This massively underrated service from Google allows you to easily create documents, pinned maps and budget spreadsheets, and share them with relatives, friends and travel agents.
Google MapMaker – So those pinned maps I was talking about? Google MapMaker lets you create your own custom map to find and organise destinations you want to check out.
Airfares
skyscanner.com — Cheap airline ticket search engine.
Kayak.com- Compare cheap flights across all the other websites out there, giving you the best deal possible.
seatguru.com — This site helps you choose the best seat on your plane through community reviews, plane maps and more.
sleepinginairports.net — Have you got a 12 hour layover? Find out some pro tips for getting a bit of rest at your stopover airport.
Accommodation
booking.com — Over 800 thousand properties and 20 million rooms at your fingertips.
tripadvisor.com — Read community reviews of accommodation and activities
couchsurfing.org — Find hosts willing to give up their couch or spare room, and maybe even make some local friends
Hostelbooker– Find cheap hostels, hotels and more with this awesome budget travel site
airbnb.com — Unique rentals across the globe, from spare rooms in New York apartments, to boat houses on the coast of Thailand.
STA Travel: If you’re lucky enough to be a young person in one of the countries where STA operates, it’s worth checking out their cheap flight, accommodation and tour deals.
What to do
yelp.com — Find reviews for the best food, shopping, events, and more anywhere in the United States.
atlasobscura.com — Find out about weird, unusual and unique hidden treasures from other travellers.
Getting Around
rome2rio.com — This easy-to-use website shows you how to get from A to B, be it by train, plane, car or ferry! It’s always interesting to see the alternative ways to get around.
The Man in Seat 61 — Awesome advice about train and ferry journeys across the globe, from regional services to international journeys.
uber.com — The world’s famous taxi alternative
Blablacar- Connecting travellers looking for a free car ride with drivers that have empty seats.
Language help
World Nomads Travel Language Guides– Learn basic phrases before you go with these free guides, offered in 25 languages.
Memrise– a free online tool for learning any language
Some brilliant articles to read before you go
Dr Fiona’s Street Food Survival Guide: How To Eat Street Food and Stay HealthyBefore I went to Thailand, I read every word of this article to make sure that I knew some expert tips to prevent a delicacy becoming a disaster. Dr Fiona offers some great advice, drawing from her own experience in the field of microbiology AND her extensive travels.
How to pack for every kind of trip This article has some genuinely useful tips for what kind of bag to choose for your trip, and how to cram all your stuff in there in an organised way.