Updated: Mar, 1st, 2023
The Beginning
Sooo…you know where you are going & have a good idea of the when & who with. If you aren’t sure yet, our article ‘Plan your next adventure‘ together with our FREE travel checklists will help you.
We want to help you, plan that awesome trip. Which is why we have put together some of our favourite travel planning resources. In the hope this will help & make it easier for you.
In the beginning your planning requires a few decisions that can be pretty specific. I am a bit of a research nerd & especially love to research just about ‘anything’ before we travel.
Whether its getting the best deal on insurance & transport, or finding that ‘just right’ for us accommodation. Additionally, I am seriously drawn to those unique or hidden areas of our chosen destination.
Whilst I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea, our favourite travel planning resources will get you started.
*Disclosure: We only recommend products we would use ourselves & any opinions expressed here are our own. We may have affiliate links with one or more of these companies & may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosures for further information.
Our Favourite Travel Planning Resources
The trip planning resources we recommend in this article are ones that we regularly use, know & trust. We have included some comments, providing pros & cons where available. Please be sure you have familiarised yourself with the companies, terms & conditions or product disclosure statements before booking or commiting. To ensure any of these companies are a good fit with your travel needs. Whilst these are our favourite travel planning resources, you need to make sure they are a great fit for you.
Insurance
Insurance is one of our first purchases once we know our dates, when planning travel. We do this to ensure all the things we book are covered under the insurance policy we choose. It is the best travel resource you can have.
For us this is more an essential investment whilst we travel, no matter where we are going. Still not sure we explain a bit more the why in Travel Insurance – Do YOU really need it?. When looking at insurance you need to decide on a couple of things. Do you want global health included & what inclusions best fit you & your travel style & budget.
It is recommended getting 2-3 quotes before making your decision. We have included the following companies in our favourite travel planning resources as these are the ones we generally use. We are providing you with a comparison of inclusions from the companies listed to assist you.
Pros
- Can purchase whilst abroad
- Coverage (see inclusions comparison)
- Has remote health policies
- 24/7 assistance
- Monthly payments*
- Covers up to two children*
- Visits home are covered*.
 Cons
- Minimum insurance of 5 days
- Age limited for cover (up to 69 years of age)
- Some pre-existing conditions not covered (Nomad Insurance)*
- Pre-existing conditions may not be covered (Remote Health)*
Pros
- Can purchase whilst abroad
- Coverage (see inclusions comparison)
- Has remote health policies
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance
- Compassionate emergency visit home*
- Donates to local communities.
Cons
- Age Limited for cover (up to 69 years of age)
- Some pre-existing conditions not covered*
Pros
- Coverage (see inclusions comparison)
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance
- Repatriation for medical reasons*
- Insurance plans for individuals 69-75 years.
Cons
- Some pre-existing conditions not covered*
- Restrictions on duration may apply
Travel Booking Sites
Expedia & Tripadvisor are definitely high on the list of our favourites planning resources. They are literally our go to, for initial research. We look at these so we can get a feel for our destination, the choices available & define our budget. These two sites also have reviews & ratings, which is fantastic for a guide on how others experience went. You are also able to add dates to get more specific. Expedia is also an excellent place to keep all your bookings together if you have a multitude of bookings.
Pros
- A variety of booking options in the one place:
- Transport
- Accommodation
- Activities
- Complete travel packages
- Reviews
- They pass on any advertised discounts
- You can register existing rewards programs & earn points*
- Offer rewards programs, to help you travel further.
Cons
- You are booking through a 3rd party
- Booking enquiries &/or changes must be made through the booking sites
- Some companies only offer you points on existing programs when booking directly
- You can’t use existing reward privileges e.g. upgrade, preferred seats etc
*Not all companies with rewards programs allow you to collect points & bonuses when booking through a 3rd party.
Transport
Flights
For flights we use Expedia as a base for cost comparison & budgeting. Their site allows you filter based on price or duration of travel. As well as allowing you to select your regular airline & their partner airlines for quotes. Before booking, enter all your rewards program into your profile, this allows you to receive reward points when booking.
Note: Whilst you are able to book & link through Expedia with your reward program. Review the rules for upgrading etc with your individual companies.
Trains, buses & ferries
Our experience using trains, ferries & buses has been limited to Europe. That said, the companies we use offer excellent services, some globally. We compare prices of single ticketing over train passes before booking.
If you are only going a few places it is often cheaper with single tickets.Â
A price comparison is recommended between sites. This can be done using our travel planning spreadsheet system.
Trains
Buses & Ferries
Accommodation
I am not going to lie for the most part we use ALL – Accor Live Limitless, this is partly due to our (paid) membership with them. It is one of our all time favourite travel planning resources. Although, the service combined with the friendly professional staff we have met around the globe make them hard to beat. However, on occasion we require a home base or can’t get an ALL – Accor Live Limitless in the vicinity. We will use one of the following sites, that we have experienced amazing service from over the years. If you have regular companies you use (not just accommodations) but don’t collect points our Points or Pay article may convert you.
We have included both the main hotel booking sites we utilise & those we use when looking for a house stay. Another source of accommodation we are looking to utilise is housesitting, which may include some pet sitting.
When looking to reduce your costs during travel we recommend you book with Trusted Housesitters. This company has been recommended over and over again to us, which we will also be recommending & using in the near future for stays. This is a great way to keep you budget down also.
Hotel Stay Sites
House Stay Sites
Tours
Our favourite travel planning resources & preferences is for tours that are small private tours.  These usually contain, 10-15 people or less, where available. There are a lot of hidden benefits to small group tours that we have uncovered for you.
Typically ours involve walking, food, wine, spirits & the odd high voltage display. Although I do have a secret love of hop-on- hop-off buses (or maybe not so secret). We have in the past sourced some of these tours directly from the companies. However over the last few years we have learnt to trust in the following sites.
Tip: Make sure you filter for private/small group tours, if you are also inclined.
Additionally, if you have a love for independent self-guided tours then the WeGoTrip: Mobile App is for you, we love it.
Almost free tours
In my opinion these are definitely at the top of our favourite travel planning resources. And not just because they are nearly free (tour for tip). We have had some amazing walking tours with local guides that have been at a pay-what-you-like rate. These two sites free tours by foot & freetour both offer wonderful knowledgeable people that show you around their local area. The guides we’ve had have all been exceptional with their knowledge & personalities that are full of life. In addition to often letting you in on your destinations secrets & more hidden gems.
I sincerely hope this list of our favourite travel planning resources, also becomes yours & helps in your travel planning. I would love for you, to let us know by leaving a comment. Alternatively, stay connected with our newsletter or social media sites.
I am always happy to reply to any comments, suggestions for next articles or a hello. You can contact me through our Social Media or at jeanine@letsgoawandering.com with any questions or comments.Â
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9 Creative Ways to Gift Fun Travel Experiences
Our Favourite Travel Planning Resources
From Bucket List to Destination DO List
11 Best benefits of small group tours – and why we love them
11 Easy Ways for Traveling more Sustainably
23 Great Sustainable Travel Essentials – it’s the little things
Travel insurance – Do YOU really need it?
The Points or Pay system when travelling??
6 steps to Create YOUR Perfect itinerary
9 Tips for YOUR Perfect Travel Plan and Budget
7 Essentials to Pack for Cold Climate Destinations
6 Luxury Accommodation Styles Pros and Cons
10 Essential International Travel Checklist Points – All you need to know
These travel resources are great! You have sparked something in me to plan a trip abroad. I am from South Africa and have never left the continent. I have traveled up in Africa but never anywhere else. So much I want to see. This is really great and will save this for when I finally make arrangements. Thank you.
So glad you liked it and thank you…I love this has sparked you to travel…
Thanks for introducing me to new travel resources. I had no idea about the ALL Accor Live Limitless, it looks interesting and the access to the airport lounges is a big plus.
I love the convenience that SafetyWing offers for nomads like me.
Thank you and you are so very welcome, I love ALL, the choice of hotels is amazing and suits all budgets…I do love Safety Wing also, especially the medical insurance
I really love this resource list. I am thinking to go visit Norway after my marage with my girl. So bookmarking this page. Thanks for sharing!
Oh Norway sounds exciting, would love to hear about it when you come back and I am so glad you found us to help you plan
What a fantastic list of resources, tools and suggestions all in ONE place for planning our next trip!
Thank you…I like to keep everything together and happy planning
This is really helpful! I love all the detail, especially the pros and cons info. What a wonderful resource! Thanks for sharing it!
Thank you so much…glad it you liked and I hope it was helpful
I love the pros and cons chart you put for some of the resources. Very helpful!
Thank you, I am glad you liked it and I like to look at both pros and cons when I can
Your article covers so many resources to consider when planning a trip. It gives good direction, especially now with all the changes in how we travel. excellent points and arguments!
Thank you I did try to give good direction, I am glad it came through as such. Travel at the moment is an everchanging fluid landscape, I believe we should be informed, prepared & flexible for all that may or may not occur.
This was really helpful. I’m going to use this to help with my next trip.
I am glad it can be of help in planning your next trip…I love the planning stage myself
Great resources! Thank you so much for writing this! I hope to travel with my husband and sons in the near future, this will be a very helpful resource. Thank you!
Thank you & you are welcome…I hope it helps & you have a fantastic trip.
Very helpful.
Thank it was the aim to help as many to resources that help plan independent travel.
Cookly sounds interesting. I’m gonna check them out. This is a great way to discover other cultures – through their food. Thanks for introducing me.
You are most welcome and for me food is the best way to discover other cultures & Cookly has some great options.
Thanks for sharing, great tips, I love Rome to Rio, even just to give you ideas of distance, very handy.
Thank you, yes I agree & not just the ideas of distance but all the ways you can get to your destination…
It’s a really nicely researched work! Great resources
Thank you glad you liked
This is so informative! So helpful for planning future trips 🙂
Thank you I wanted it to be informative & I’m also glad it will help you plan your next trip.