Resources to book a trip

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Whenever I plan a trip, my focus is on making the most of my limited time there at the most reasonable cost. The resources I recommend here are resources that I have used before. If you are planning your next trip, use these resources to book your trip for the best experience!

Resources to book a trip

Book your trip: Flights

Flights can be one of the most expensive items of any trip. I try to always save as much money on the cost of my flights as possible without taking the longest flights I can find. Although I don’t mind a long layover during the day, I don’t like long layover overnight as I cannot explore the layover city at all. In booking flights, I usually check these sites out first. Once I find a flight with a good cost and duration, I may have a look at the specific airline’s website to see if they offer the same deal. I prefer booking with the airlines themselves if the price is similar to another site because any flight changes are easier since you can deal with them directly.

I always check Skyscanner and Momondo first. Their search facilities are great and they cover most airlines. I also try Google Flights and Kayak.

Once, for a trip to Washington, I found a superb price for flights on Expedia that I could not get for the same price anywhere else.

Book your trip: Accommodation

Accommodation is another costly item for any trip. There are many choices when it comes to accommodation options when you book your trip!

I have booked most of my accommodation with Booking.Com. They have a range of hotels, bed and breakfasts and even self-catering options in most towns and cities around the world. Their prices are reasonable and their customer service is wonderfully responsive. They also have a genius loyalty program if you book through them often.

I always compare the places and prices I find on Booking.com with Hotels.com and Agoda. Tripadvisor is useful in this process since they aggregate results from all these sites.

I often book through AirBnB as I enjoy having a place with a kitchen and, where possible, a washer. I also enjoy feeling like I am living like a local.

Book your trip: Transportation

To find transportation options in destinations, I like using the following websites:

  • 12go.asia for all transport options in South East Asia. This site covers buses, ferries, flights and railways.
  • In Europe, I mostly travel by train using Rail Europe.
  • If I need a car, I like to use RentalCars.com.
  • For bus tickets in 80 countries, try Busbud.

Book your trip: Travel insurance

For travel insurance, World Nomads is the best. They may not always be the cheapest, but their service is excellent.

Tell us your travel details
1. What are your travel plans?
e.g. Thailand, Vietnam

Travelling already?

If you've already started travelling when you buy your policy, waiting periods apply in most cases before cover begins.

2. Who is traveling?
e.g. Australia
3. Get a quote

Multiple day tours

Although I have taken none of their tours, friends and family have recommended the tours offered by the following companies:

Day tours

Once I get to my destination, I love booking shorter tours using Get your guide. Here is an example of some tours they offer. Definitely consider them when you book your trip! 

Another site I like to use for day tours and city passes is Musement.

Book your trip: Guide books

I love Lonely Planet’s guide books. I used them to plan my trips for Zermatt, Jungfraujoch and my layovers in Madrid. They provide real value for money, especially when they have their 3-for-2 sale!