My Favourite Travel Resources: The Websites I Use to Plan and Book Trips
Planning a trip can involve opening far too many browser tabs. Flights, hotels, trains, car hire, travel insurance and activities all need to be researched—and it is not always easy to know which booking sites to trust.
Over the years, I have settled on a small collection of travel websites that make planning my trips simpler. These are the resources I personally use when travelling around France, Japan, the UK and further afield. Some help me compare prices, while others make it easier to book transport, find an interesting place to stay or plan what to do once I arrive.
I have gathered them all on this page so you can bookmark it and return whenever you are planning your next trip.
My travel resources at a glance
| What you need | Resources I use |
|---|---|
| Comparing and booking flights | Google Flights, Skyscanner and Trip.com |
| Flight-delay compensation | AirHelp |
| Trains, coaches and European transport | Omio |
| Hotels and private accommodation | Booking.com, Agoda and Trip.com |
| Car hire | Discover Cars |
| Tours and attraction tickets | GetYourGuide, Tiqets, Tripadvisor and Viator |
| Self-guided audio tours | WeGoTrip |
| eSIM for mobile data | Airalo |
| Travel insurance comparison | VisitorsCoverage |
Finding and booking flights
Flights can take a large chunk out of a travel budget, so I nearly always compare options before booking. My usual starting points are Google Flights, Skyscanner and Trip.com .
Google Flights is particularly useful when my dates are flexible. Its calendar and price graph make it easy to see whether flying a day earlier or later could reduce the fare. I also use it to explore alternative airports and set price alerts when I am not ready to book immediately.
Skyscanner is another favourite for comparing airlines and routes in one place. I find it especially helpful for checking low-cost carriers and seeing a wider range of possible connections. If I have not decided where to go, the “Everywhere” search can also provide a little inspiration.
I also use Trip.com to compare and book flights. It is useful for bringing different airlines and routes together, particularly when I am planning a journey with several possible connections or combining flights with accommodation. As with any booking platform, I check the fare conditions, luggage allowance and final price before paying.
Once I find a suitable flight, I check the final price carefully, including luggage and seat-selection fees. I also compare it with the price offered directly by the airline before deciding where to book.
When a flight is delayed or cancelled
Unfortunately, even a carefully planned journey can go wrong. If a flight is significantly delayed or cancelled, I use AirHelp to check whether I may be eligible for compensation and to help manage a claim.
Eligibility depends on factors such as the route, the length and cause of the disruption, and the applicable passenger-rights rules. AirHelp charges a fee if a claim is successful, so it is worth reading its current terms and comparing this option with submitting a claim directly to the airline.
Booking trains and transport in Europe
Train travel is one of my favourite ways to explore Europe. It takes you from city centre to city centre, there is no airport-security routine, and watching the landscape change is part of the journey.
I now use Omio most often to search for and book journeys around Europe. It lets me compare trains, coaches, flights and ferries in one place, which is particularly helpful when a destination can be reached in several ways or when I am planning a multi-city trip.
I sometimes use Trainline, especially for rail journeys in the UK and Europe. It brings routes from multiple rail operators together and makes it easy to compare departure times, journey lengths and ticket options.
Whichever platform I use, I check the operator, transfer times, luggage conditions and any booking fee before paying—particularly for tickets that cannot be changed or refunded.
My tip: European rail tickets are often released a few months in advance, and cheaper fares can sell out. If your dates are fixed, it usually pays to look early.
Finding the right accommodation
The place I stay can shape the whole feel of a trip. Sometimes I want a characterful boutique hotel in the centre of a city; at other times, I need an apartment, a quiet guesthouse or somewhere practical for an early train.
My main accommodation resources are Booking.com, Agoda and Trip.com. Together, they give me a broad choice, from affordable stays and private homes to more luxurious hotels.
Booking.com
I often start with Booking.com because its filters make it easy to narrow down a long list of properties. I can search by neighbourhood, price, review score, facilities and accessibility requirements. The map view is especially useful because a hotel described as “central” is not always close to the places I actually want to visit.
Agoda
Agoda is another site I compare, particularly when travelling in Asia. Prices and availability can differ between platforms, so comparing a few options can reveal a better room, rate or cancellation policy.
Trip.com
As well as flights, I use Trip.com to search for accommodation. Having flights and hotels available through the same platform can be convenient when I am comparing the overall cost of a trip. I still compare the room type, cancellation policy and final price with my other trusted booking sites before making a decision.
Before booking accommodation, I always:
- Check the location on a map rather than relying only on the description.
- Read recent reviews, including the less positive ones.
- Look at the total cost after taxes and local charges.
- Check whether breakfast is included.
- Read the cancellation and payment terms.
- Confirm practical details such as lifts, stairs and step-free access when accessibility matters.
Comparing car hire
I love travelling by train, but a car is sometimes the best way to reach rural areas, small villages and remote landscapes. For road trips and destinations with limited public transport, I use Discover Cars to compare rental options.
The website brings offers from different car-hire companies together, which makes it easier to compare prices, vehicle types, deposits and collection arrangements. I have also had a positive experience with its customer service.
The cheapest headline price is not always the best deal. Before confirming a rental, I check:
- The fuel policy.
- Mileage restrictions.
- The security deposit and accepted payment cards.
- What insurance is included and excluded.
- The excess payable if the car is damaged.
- Whether the collection desk is inside the terminal or reached by shuttle.
- Charges for an additional driver or crossing a border.
- The company’s recent customer reviews.
I also photograph the car carefully at collection and return, including any existing marks, the fuel gauge and the mileage.
Booking tours, experiences and attraction tickets
Although I enjoy wandering independently, the right tour can add context that I would miss on my own. A knowledgeable local guide can bring a neighbourhood, historic site or food culture to life. Tours can also make complicated day trips much easier to organise.
I usually compare experiences through GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Tripadvisor.
GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide is useful for finding guided walks, food tours, day trips and activities in popular destinations. I like being able to compare the itinerary, duration, group size and recent participant reviews before booking.
Tiqets
I use Tiqets for attraction and museum tickets, particularly when timed entry or booking ahead is recommended. Having the ticket on my phone can save time and makes it easier to keep everything together while travelling.
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor is helpful when I want to compare a wide range of activities and read traveller feedback. As reviews are subjective, I focus on recent comments and look for repeated themes rather than relying on a single opinion.
Viator
If you prefer to compare another platform, Viator is a useful alternative for guided tours, day trips and activities. I have included it as an additional option rather than one of my core personal recommendations, so you can compare availability, reviews, cancellation terms and prices before choosing.
WeGoTrip for exploring independently
If you prefer to explore alone or want more flexibility, WeGoTrip offers self-guided audio tours and excursions. This is a good middle ground between joining a scheduled group tour and walking around without any background information. You can usually start at a convenient time and move at your own pace—something I particularly appreciate when I want to stop for photographs.
Whichever platform I use, I read the inclusions carefully. A listing may describe a landmark without including its entrance ticket, transport or hotel collection.
Staying connected with an eSIM
Having mobile data as soon as I arrive makes travelling much easier. I use it for maps, train times, translations, hotel directions and checking booking details while I am out exploring.
I have personally used Airalo to buy an eSIM before travelling. An eSIM can be installed digitally, so there is no need to remove your usual SIM card or find a mobile-phone shop after landing. Depending on your phone, you may also be able to keep your normal number active while using the eSIM for travel data.
Before buying, I check that my phone is unlocked and supports eSIMs, then compare the destination coverage, data allowance, validity period and whether the plan is data-only. I normally install the eSIM while I still have reliable Wi-Fi and follow the activation instructions carefully, as some plans should not be activated until arrival.
My tip: Download offline maps and save important booking information before departure as a backup. Even with an eSIM, coverage can be limited in rural or remote areas.
Choosing travel insurance
Travel insurance is one of the least exciting parts of planning a trip, but it is also one of the most important. I always travel with insurance because unexpected medical treatment, cancellations, delays or lost belongings can be extremely expensive.
VisitorsCoverage allows you to compare travel insurance policies and choose cover suited to your trip and circumstances.
The lowest-priced policy is not automatically the most suitable. I look at:
- Emergency medical and repatriation cover.
- Trip cancellation and interruption.
- Baggage and valuable-item limits.
- Excesses and exclusions.
- Existing medical-condition rules.
- Cover for planned activities.
- Trip-length and destination restrictions.
Always read the full policy wording and confirm that the cover fits your individual needs. If you have a medical condition or are unsure about a policy, speak directly with the insurer before buying. Travel insurance terms vary, and this page is not financial or insurance advice.
A few final tips before booking
Comparison websites save me a great deal of time, but I never book based on the headline price alone. Before paying, I check the final total, cancellation conditions and exactly what is included. A slightly more expensive flexible rate can be better value than a non-refundable option, particularly when booking far in advance.
I also keep confirmation emails, insurance documents and essential booking details somewhere I can access offline. This is especially helpful when mobile reception is poor or an airport Wi-Fi connection refuses to cooperate.
These are the travel resources I return to because they make planning easier and help me spend more time thinking about the enjoyable parts of a trip: the neighbourhoods I want to explore, the food I want to try and the photographs I hope to take.
Bookmark this page for your next journey, and check back occasionally—I will update it when I discover another genuinely useful resource.
Please note: Prices, availability, policies and booking conditions can change. Always check the provider’s latest information before making a purchase.
Related Posts:
