Travel Resources

With over a decade of travel and living overseas under my belt, I’ve had the opportunity to test a multitude of travel tools and services. From experience, I can attest that the right travel resources can significantly enhance the planning process and make your actual journey less stressful and much more enjoyable.

When it comes to travel resources, I prioritise flexibility, transparency and efficiency. Having travelled to over 20 countries across four continents whilst juggling full-time work or studies, I understand the importance of optimising limited time and financial resources.

Although I did some backpacking when I was younger, that style of travel no longer suits my current life stage. Now, my focus is on getting good value for money. Fortunately, there’s an array of excellent travel services available that can help achieve this goal.

Below, you’ll find a list of my top travel resources, ones I use regularly, to help you plan your next trip.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Please note, I only recommend products and services that I know and love. Read full Privacy Policy here.

Booking Your Accommodation

Booking.com – this is my favourite resource for booking hotels. I started using it over a decade ago and still think it’s one of the best travel tools out there. It offers flexibility around bookings and great rates.

VRBO – I use VRBO to book privately run accommodation. I’ve never been a fan of their competitor, AirBnB, because of their hidden fees. However, VRBO is up-front about the costs and offers good flexibility, so it’s made the cut.

Travel Resources: Flight Aggregators

Skyscanner – I always start my flight search with Skyscanner. It’s a great tool for finding the best routes, rates and flight times. After an initial Skyscanner search, I often end up booking directly with the airline though.

Tours and Experiences

Get Your Guide – a great resource for booking tours, activities and experiences around the world. I love that Get Your Guide offers flexible booking and cancellation policies. There is also an extensive range of activities on offer, from walking tours and river cruises to multi-day trips and tickets to major attractions.

Viator – an alternative to Get Your Guide for tours and experiences. They have a similar approach to flexibility and cancellations. I normally check both before a trip to make sure I find the right experience. However, you will find that there is occasionally some overlap between Get Your Guide and Viator suppliers.

Travel Resources to Maximise Your Travel

American Express – I am a big fan of American Express rewards credit cards and have held their Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card and British Airways Credit Card. Thanks to these I have collected a good stash of points to use for flights and hotel stays. Please note, this option is only for those who are comfortable dealing with credit.

Priority Pass – I’ve become a member of Priority Pass when I got my American Express Gold Card. However, you don’t need to be an Amex customer to join. For a reasonable annual fee, you can gain access to over 1,300 airport lounges around the world. This will elevate your airport experience, especially during layovers.