Are you planning a vacation or a road trip and overwhelmed by the number of travel brands, deals and destinations? Donโt worry – Iโve been there! After years of careful research and planning my own trips, Iโve compiled a list of reliable travel brands, travel planning resources, and tools that I use to organize and book my trips.
On this resource page, Iโll share recommendations on how to research and plan a trip quickly, efficiently and stress-free while saving you money. Iโll also share sites I use to find the best deals on flights, hotels and insurance, as well as my top picks for reliable travel gear I don’t leave home without.
Armed with all this information, you can have the trip of your dreams without breaking the bank! So, if you’re ready to explore the world and save money while doing it, then read on!
Disclosure: There are some affiliate links below. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post, but these are all products I highly recommend. I wonโt put anything on this page that I havenโt verified and/or personally used.
Why Should You Trust my Travel Planning Resources & Recommendations?
In case we haven’t had the pleasure of connecting yet, I want to assure you that I come with a wealth of experience in the travel industry. I’ve worked with travel agents, tour companies, and even tourism boards for the past 10 years. And for the past four years, I have been fortunate to work remotely from various corners of the globe. This blog initially came to life during our epic two-year journey, where we immersed ourselves in the vibrant cultures of Europe and Australia.
Rest assured that these travel planning resources and travel gear I enthusiastically endorse are not simply random picks. They have been meticulously tested and proven invaluable during our own adventure. I wholeheartedly stand by their quality and effectiveness.
So, whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or embarking on your first excursion, I’m here to share my expertise and assist you in making your travel experiences unforgettable. Let’s embark on this journey together! And if you have any questions on any of these travel planning resources, feel free to ask them in the comments below.
Travel Planning Resources: Booking Your Accommodation
Book with Hotels.com to Earn Free Nights
Do you like staying at hotels for free? Who doesn’t! Well something a lot of people don’t know, is that Hotels.com has a Book 10 nights, get a night for FREE program. Yes, you heard that right. I’ve used Hotels.com for years now, and have earned and redeemed multiple free nights on trips throughout the world. For your free night, they take your average price you spent on the past 10 nights. And then you get that as a credit towards a hotel stay of your choosing. I highly recommend using them if you book work trips, and then you can use your free nights for personal travel.
Booking.com
One problem with Hotels.com is they don’t have nearly the amount of properties Booking.com does. So when I can’t find the property I want on Hotels.com, my second favourite booking engine is Booking.com. They have over a million different accommodations, and great reviews, making it a reliable source.
VRBO
Has anyone else found that Airbnb has gotten really expensive with booking fees? That is why we’ve switched to VRBO. It’s an excellent alternative. Especially for those who work remotely and seek apartment-like accommodations with essential amenities like a kitchen and laundry facilities. Another difference between VRBO & Airbnb is that VRBO only lists entire apartments or homes. So you don’t need to worry about accidentally booking someone’s couch or spare bedroom for your stay. With VRBO, you can easily find and book vacation rentals that offer the comfort and convenience of a home away from home.
Book Flights & Hotels with Kayak
Kayak is a great travel site to use for booking your flights and hotels. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive search options, it makes it easy to find the best deals on your accommodations and flights. Thus, saving you time and money for your next trip.
Travel Planning Resources: Book Tours, Activities & Insurance
Get Your Guide
Get Your Guide is an excellent travel site to use when planning your next adventure. How about a traditional cooking class or sunset sail?! With a vast selection of tours and activities in destinations around the world, it’s easy to find unique and exciting experiences to add to your itinerary. I have used and recommended Get Your Guide tours to many friends and family and always get raving reviews.
Safety Wing
A travel and medical incident insurance built specifically for digital nomads. Safety Wing can be purchased while already abroad, covers home trip visits and operates like a monthly subscription โ COVID-19 coverage included.
Travel Gear I Recommend
Travel Roll Up Compression Bags
I recently picked up this tip before leaving on our two year trip to Europe & Austalia, and itโs now one of my favs! Pack your items in these Travel Roll Up Compression Bags on Amazon. They say it saves you up to 80% storage space, but I would say it is more like 50%. Either way, we travelled with these bags for 2 years, and they were a game changer!
They work similar to a packing cube, however, these bags allow you to release any access air by rolling up the bags (without a vacuum) to save space in your suitcase. This not only lets you pack more, but also allows you to be more organized when you unpack. Since these bags are transparent, itโs easy to see all your clothes when you pull these bags out of your suitcase.
Compression Packing Cubes
However, now the packing gods have recently come out with a combination of a compression bag and a packing cube. That’s right – a compression packing cube! The perfect companion for your packing journey. I have to admit that I just discovered these, so I haven’t tried them for myself, but the reviews are so good that I just ordered some for my next trip. They say that they save 60% of luggage space. This is 20% less than the travel compression bags I’ve used in the past, but still impressive. The biggest difference between the two is the travel compression bags are bigger and clear (which makes it easy to see what you packed in each bag), whereas these compression packing cubes are not; however, they look more chic and classy.
Travel Backpack
If you are looking for a great travel backpack that can replay your carry on luggage, I recommend this handy pack. Not only does it has a lap top compartment, but it also has a waterproof shoe pouch, and a tons of space for clothing. If you are travelling for a short period of time, this backpack can act as your carry-on. And if you are travelling for a really long time, I would pair this backpack with the split roller bag below.
Dakine Split Roller Travel Bag
When we went travelling for TWO YEARS across Europe and Australia, I travelled with this Dakine Split Roller Suitcase. Why you may ask? It holds up to 110 litres, it has two wheels (so it rolls), and has tons of compartments on the outside and inside (I love being organized. Plus, it is a soft shell, which means you can normally fit more in it. After 4 years of travelling with it a LOT, it hasn’t steered me wrong, and it is still fully intact. Overall, I found the compartments helpful for separating shoes, toiletries/accessories, and clothing. Plus, I loved the outdoor pockets to store jackets, dirty clothes or a change of clothes that was easy to access. If you are looking for a bigger bag, or travelling for a long time, this is definitely the bag I recommend for the job.
Eco-Friendly Travel Gear
Life Straw Water Bottle
Staying hydrated is essential when you’re travelling, especially when you’re exploring new places and activities. However, constantly buying bottled water can be expensive and environmentally damaging.
This is where the built-in filter life straw water bottle comes in handy.
The LifeStraw water filter is known for its award-winning design and powerful two-stage filtration system. It uses a special membrane to remove bacteria and protozoa from water without chemicals or batteries. Additionally, an activated carbon filter reduces odour and chlorine, providing clean and great-tasting water. With an impressive removal rate of 99.99% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoan parasites, the LifeStraw filter is a reliable and safe option for water purification.
Plus, since it’s reusable, you’ll be reducing your plastic waste significantly. Not to mention, it will save you money in the long run, since you won’t need to buy bottle water.
Collapsible Coffee Cup
I’m absolutely in love with my collapsible STOJO reusable coffee cup! It’s perfect for hot takeaway drinks. Unfortunately, most takeaway coffee cups are terrible for the environment, as the plastic-lined cardboard cups often can’t be recycled. However, with my cup, I can enjoy my coffee guilt-free, and know that I am doing my part for the environment. The best part is that it collapses, taking up minimal space in my backpack. I always carry it in my daypack, just in case I need a caffeine fix. It’s a game-changer!
Rice Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
Save room and weight in your bag, AND avoid single-use plastics, sounds like a win-win to me! I’ve been using these Rice water Shampoo & Conditioner Bars for years and love that they are compact, plastic-free, and help my hair get thicker and longer. They are lightweight, and if you keep them in these travel soap bags, they are easy to transport, and last months!
Quick Dry Travel Towel
This micro-fiber travel towel is an essential item for travellers due to its lightweight and compact design. It absorbs moisture quickly, dries fast, and takes up minimal space in your luggage, making it perfect for beach trips, sailing trips, camping, or any adventure where a regular towel would be inconvenient to carry. Plus, they come in super cute colours and fun designs. We bring these ones on all our Australia and Europe adventures, since we are always swimming and surfing, and hotels don’t always offer beach towels.
Travel Entertainment
Kindle E-Reader
If you’re a traveller who loves to read, the Kindle E-Reader is a fantastic investment. It allows you to bring multiple books with you without taking up any extra space or adding any extra weight to your luggage. Not only does this save you from having to choose which book(s) to bring, but it also ensures that you always have something to read, no matter how long your trip is.
In addition to being a space-saver, the Kindle e-reader is also great for travelling because it has a long battery life. You can go for weeks without needing to charge it, so you don’t have to worry about finding a power source while you’re on the go. Plus, it’s the perfect way to entertain yourself during long flights or train rides.
Travel Games
Games are a great way to meet people or appearing more approachable when travelling. My husband and I always travel with a few games, and when we bring them out at a bar, restaurant, or hotel pool we always seem to attract new friends that want to join in. Plus, it’s a fun way to enjoy time with your travel buddy.
Our current favourite card game is Monopoly Deal. It’s small and compact for travelling, quick to play, and seriously addicting. Some other travel friendly games we always have on us include:
- Uno Cards: Everyone knows how to play this one, so it’s a great one to make friends with if travelling solo.
- A normal deck of cards
- This adorable Mini Backgammon board (we bring this to the bar, on the plane or to the beach).
- Banana-grams (a bit on the heavier side to pack)
Apple Noise Cancelling Airpods
If you’re a frequent traveler, you know that noise can be a big distraction during long flights or train rides. That’s where Apple Noise-Cancelling Airpods come in handy. These headphones use advanced technology to block out external noise, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your music or podcast. They can also help reduce fatigue and headaches caused by prolonged exposure to noise. Look for noise-canceling headphones that are compact and portable, so they don’t take up too much space in your carry-on bag.
With noise-canceling headphones, you can create a peaceful environment wherever you are and focus on relaxing or getting work done.
Photography Gear
Camera
If you want to capture stunning photos and videos of your travels, the Canon PowerShot G7 X is a worthy investment. This camera packs a punch with its high-quality image sensor and fast autofocus system. You can take it with you on-the-go thanks to its compact design and user-friendly interface. But, it’s not just for professional photographers. With its easy-to-use features, anyone can capture beautiful shots of their adventures.
Tripod
Whenever Ben and I travel, we always come home with a ton of great photos, but hardly any of the two of us together. To avoid this, I bought a lightweight trip-pod that packs up super small, and is compatible with an iPhone or android. Plus, it has a remote control which makes taking group or solo photos a breeze. This tripod is also great for vlogging!
DJI Mavic Mini Drone
The DJI Mavic Mini Drone is the perfect addition to any traveler’s gear collection. This compact and lightweight drone can capture stunning aerial photos and videos, showcasing the beautiful landscapes and cityscapes of your destination from a unique perspective. With a maximum flight time of 30 minutes, you’ll have plenty of time to capture the perfect shot. Plus, the Mavic Mini’s foldable design makes it easy to pack and bring with you wherever you go.
GoPro Hero 9
If you’re someone who loves to document their travels on social media or just capture personal memories, the GoPro Hero 9 is a must-have gadget for your trip. This versatile camera is perfect for adventurous activities and lets you capture every moment in stunning detail. Whether you’re surfing, skiing, or just taking a scenic hike, the GoPro Hero 9’s waterproof design and image stabilization technology ensures that your footage is always steady and crystal clear.
Digital Nomad Travel Gear
For all my digital nomads, here is a few extra things we don’t travel without. And if you are wanting inspiration for your next working remote location, read this post on 11 top places for digital nomads.
International Plug Adapter
An international plug adapter is a must-have item for anyone travelling abroad. Without one, you may find yourself unable to charge your electronics or use your hair dryer. This simple device allows you to connect your devices to foreign outlets, ensuring that you’re never without power.
But beyond just powering your devices, an international plug adapter can also help you stay connected while you’re on the go. This adapters come with not 1 but 4 USB ports, allowing you to charge your phone or tablet directly from the adapter. This means you won’t have to worry about finding an available outlet or carrying multiple chargers.
Pocket-Size Portable Battery Pack
The pocket-size iWALK portable charger for iPhones is a must-have for travellers! Especially if you are like me and constantly snapping pictures and videos of your adventures, or using Google Maps. These activities always drain the battery. This charger can fully charge an iPhone X once, ensuring you stay powered up throughout your journey. Its ultra-compact size, similar to a lipstick, allows you to conveniently slip it into your pocket or purse, making it easily accessible whenever you need a quick charge. Since my husband and I both work remotely, and are constantly on our cell phones, this portable battery has saved us so many times! It is a travel must, but we also bring it with us everyday.
Apple Airtags
When you’re travelling, it’s essential to keep your belongings safe and secure. Losing your luggage or camera can be a nightmare, which is why Apple Airtags are a must-have for any traveller. These small, round tags use Bluetooth technology to help you locate your lost items quickly. Simply attach an Airtag to your luggage or camera, and you can track its location from your iPhone or iPad.
But Airtags aren’t just for finding lost items. They can also help keep your belongings safe from theft. Set up an alert on your device, and you’ll receive a notification if your Airtag moves out of range. This feature is especially helpful if you’re travelling through busy airports or crowded tourist spots. And after COVID-19, lost baggage seems to be a common occurrence, so these Airtags will help you be one step ahead.
Electrical Cord Carrier & Organizer
Do you hate having a bunch of loose cords, battery packs, and sim cards in your bag. Then I highly recommend this Electronics Organizer Bag. Keep all your charging cords and small electronics together in one handy pouch.
Thanks for Reading!
Is there any travel planning resources or essential travel gear I missed that you recommend? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below. And if you loved this post, be sure to share it with your family and friends! Happy travels.
