Travel Resources

A curated list of tools, websites, and practical tips I personally use when planning trips—city breaks, long-distance travel, and national parks road trips. These are the resources that consistently save time, money, and stress on the road.

Tip: You can bookmark this page and return to it before every trip. I update it as I discover better tools.

✈️ Flights & Transportation

Skyscanner – Compare airlines, routes, and dates quickly.
Google Flights – Best for flexible dates + price tracking.
Rome2Rio – End-to-end routing (train/bus/ferry/car/flight).
Rentalcars.com – Easy price comparison for car rentals.
FlightAware – Real-time flight tracking and delays.

Best for: finding deals Best for: flexible dates Best for: routing

🏨 Accommodation

Booking.com – Hotels/guesthouses with strong filtering + reviews.
Airbnb – Great for longer stays, kitchens, unique places.
Hostelworld – Budget-friendly hostels and solo travel stays.
Google Hotels – Fast map-based comparison (great for “best area” decisions).

Best for: quick booking Best for: longer stays Best for: budgets

🗺️ Travel Planning Tools

Google Maps – Save pins, build lists, plan routes, download offline areas.
TripIt – One itinerary from all confirmations (email forwarding works well).
AllTrails – Hiking trails, reviews, elevation profiles (perfect for national parks).
Weather Underground – Local forecasts and radar.
MAPS.ME – Offline maps and navigation (useful when signal is weak).
OpenRailwayMap – Railway infrastructure map (useful for train nerds + planning).

💳 Money, Cards & Exchange

Wise – Great exchange rates + multi-currency account.
Revolut – Handy for travel budgeting + FX.
XE – Exchange rate checks.
Visa Travel Support – General travel tips and card acceptance info.

Pro tip: use bank ATMs Pro tip: keep backup card

📶 Connectivity (SIM/eSIM + Wi-Fi)

Airalo – eSIMs for many countries (quick setup).
Nomad – eSIM alternative (often good deals).
Speedtest – Check your connection speed anywhere.

If you rely on data for navigation, download maps offline before you land.

🛡️ Safety, Visas & Insurance

Travel.State.gov – U.S. travel advisories + entry information.
IATA Travel Centre – Passport/visa/health requirements by route.
CDC Travelers’ Health – Vaccines, outbreaks, and health guidance.
World Nomads – Travel insurance options + safety guides.
STEP – Free U.S. traveler registration for alerts and support (recommended).

🏞️ Outdoors & National Parks

NPS.gov – Closures, safety, permits, and official updates.
Recreation.gov – U.S. campsites and permits.
America the Beautiful Pass – Annual pass (worth it if visiting 3+ parks).

📷 Photography & Gear

Sony Alpha (Mirrorless) – My primary travel photography system.
GoPro – Action/adventure shots.
Peak Design – Bags/straps for carrying gear comfortably.
Lightroom Mobile – Quick edits before posting.
AeroLOPA – Accurate aircraft seat maps (great before choosing seats).

✅ Practical Pro Tips (Make Travel Smoother)

Documents: Keep a photo of your passport/visa/insurance on your phone and in cloud storage.
Backups: Carry 2 cards (stored separately) + a small emergency cash stash.
Arrival day: Screenshot hotel address + booking details (works without internet).
ATM rule: Prefer ATMs attached to major banks (avoid standalone machines with high fees).
Health: Pack a mini kit: pain reliever, band-aids, blister care, antihistamine.
Power: Bring a power bank and a universal adapter; charge everything every night.
Security: Use a crossbody bag in crowded areas; keep phone out of back pockets.
Road trips: Take photos of the rental car at pickup and return (all sides + inside).
Jet lag: Get sunlight early, stay hydrated, and avoid long naps on day 1.
National parks: Book popular campgrounds early; check closures the morning you drive.
Connectivity: Download offline maps + language packs before flying.
Money: Set a daily budget limit in your banking app to avoid surprise spending.