Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Travel: Websites & Resources

Even if you love planning like us, it can be overwhelming figuring out every detail of a trip. It’s why a lot of people hire travel agents. If you are like us and want to plan on your own or if your wondering how we learned about all the fun things we do this is how!

We follow these businesses to stay on top of the latest travel news and deals in order to provide the best information. We have broken it into categories:

Favorite Overall Vacation Planning Websites

Looking to plan your next vacation? Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or embarking on your first adventure, having the right resources can make all the difference. These top vacation planning websites offer everything you need to create unforgettable experiences:

1. Viator (www.viator.com): If you are going to book tours, Viator is a great place for booking tours, activities, and experiences in destinations around the world. Whether you’re interested in cultural tours, outdoor adventures, or food and wine tastings, Viator offers a wide range of options to suit your interests. They are really great about using local companies and ensuring things go as planned.

2. Culture Trip (www.culturetrip.com): Culture Trip provides curated guides and articles that highlight local gems and cultural hotspots, often focusing on unique, authentic dining experiences and activities.

3. Yelp (www.yelp.com): Yelp is a crowd-sourced review platform that covers not only travel-related businesses but also local restaurants, shops, and services. It’s a useful tool for finding hidden gems and must-visit places in your destination. The DINKs are huge fans of Yelp not just for travel but in every day life.

4. Frommer’s (www.frommers.com): This is an oldy but goodie. Frommer’s offers a wealth of travel guides, articles, and recommendations authored by experts in the field. Whether you’re planning a solo adventure, a family vacation, or a romantic getaway, Frommer’s guides provide valuable insights into various destinations.

5. Fodor’s (www.fodors.com): Fodor’s is another well-respected travel resource that offers a range of travel guides and content. Their guides cover destinations worldwide and provide in-depth information on attractions, hotels, restaurants, and more.

6. The Crazy Tourist (www.thecrazytourist.com): The Crazy Tourist is a travel blog that features lists and guides on destinations, attractions, and travel tips. It’s a great source for unique travel ideas and off-the-beaten-path experiences. We just find that we like their stuff so we added them to our list.

7. Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com): Lonely Planet is a renowned travel guidebook publisher with an online presence offering travel advice, inspiration, and practical information for travelers. Their website includes articles, travel forums, and destination guides.

8. Google Maps (www.google.com/maps): Google Maps is an essential tool for navigation, offering directions, real-time traffic updates, and information about local businesses and points of interest. It’s a handy companion for exploring unfamiliar places. You can download offline maps and also map out stops in advance and save them. It’s really helpful to group activities together when planning based on their location.

9. Tripadvisor (www.tripadvisor.com): Tripadvisor, Parent company of Viator, is a comprehensive travel website that provides user-generated reviews, ratings, and recommendations for hotels, restaurants, attractions, and more. It’s an invaluable resource for travelers looking for trusted advice and insights from fellow explorers.

10. Time Out (www.timeout.com,) offers comprehensive city guides, reviews, and recommendations, making it easy to discover popular eateries, local attractions, and hidden gems.

With these travel websites and resources, you can plan your trips, discover new destinations, and make the most of your adventures with ease. Whether you’re seeking recommendations, booking experiences, or simply exploring the world from your computer, these platforms have you covered. Happy travels!

Favorite Restaurant Websites

Yelp: http://yelp.com A review website for everything from home repairs to dentist really made it’s mark with restaurant reviews. Users can rate and write reviews for businesses, upload photos, and check-in to share their experiences. They do a good job of trying to keep the reviews real and they have amazing coverage in the US.
- TIP: You can bookmark places and create folders. I do this by location so I never forget where I ate for when I return or if people ask for recommendations.
Culture Trip (www.culturetrip.com): The provided guides and articles often highlight local culinary hotspots, often focusing on unique, authentic dining experiences. A lot of the hidden gems we find come from this website.
TVFoodMaps: https://www.tvfoodmaps.com/ I found this site while looking for restaurants that were on Drivers, Diners and Dive’s TV show. It compiles a database of restaurants that have been featured on popular television food shows like “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” and “Man vs. Food.” Users can search for restaurants by show, location, or cuisine, making it easier to plan culinary adventures inspired by their favorite TV food programs.
- TIP: It has a really neat road trip function where you can put in your start and end point as well as how far off the path you are willing to go.
Foodie Pie: https://www.foodiepie.com/This doesn’t seem as complete to me as TV Food Maps but it does a better job telling you what menu item was featured. I’ve never had a bad meal when I have ordered exactly what was featured on the show but I have heard from several people who have order other things not featured & ended up disappointed.
Thrillist: https://www.thrillist.com/ We use this site for restaurant and other travel recommendations. We have just really enjoyed things we have found on it. So you’ll see a lot of places on our list on their lists.
Tripadvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ TripAdvisor is a renowned travel and restaurant review platform that helps travelers plan their trips by offering reviews, ratings, and recommendations for hotels, restaurants, attractions, and more. It’s a go-to platform for travelers seeking insights and feedback from fellow tourists, making it easier to make informed decisions when planning vacations.
Google: https://www.google.com/ Google Reviews, in particular, allows users to rate and write reviews for businesses, including restaurants, providing valuable insights for others looking for recommendations. Whether you are using it to search “Restaurants Near Me” or plug in “restaurant” into the search while in Google Maps. This is something I use often when looking for places to eat.
Time Out(www.timeout.com,)Similarly provides city guides, reviews, and recommendations, making it easy to discover popular eateries, trendy spots, and hidden gems.

Favorite Discount Travel Websites

Finding the best deals on travel websites can greatly enhance your travel experience while saving you money. Here are some top discount travel websites known for offering competitive prices on flights, hotels, vacation packages, and more:

TravelZoo: https://www.travelzoo.com/ TravelZoo is a trusted online platform that offers discounted travel deals, including hotel stays, vacation packages, flights, cruises, and more. It provides curated lists of top travel deals based on user preferences and offers a wide range of options for various destinations worldwide. While this amazing website use to be free, they started charging a subscription fee in 2024.
The Points Guy (TPG): https://thepointsguy.com/ The Points Guy is a popular travel website that focuses on maximizing travel rewards and points to help travelers save money on flights, hotels, and other travel expenses. It provides tips, guides, and reviews on credit cards, loyalty programs, and travel strategies to help users make the most of their points and miles. They often post deals on their social media sites, so we follow them to get a jump on deals.
Cheap Caribbean: https://www.cheapcaribbean.com/ Cheap Caribbean specializes in affordable vacation packages to popular Caribbean destinations. It offers discounted rates on all-inclusive resorts, hotels, and vacation packages, including flights, accommodations, meals, and activities. The website features deals on beach vacations, cruises, and romantic getaways to destinations like Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic. We love that you can add on airport shuttle and get everything needed in one place for a relaxing all-inclusive vacation.
Google Flights (www.google.com/flights): Google Flights is a powerful tool for finding cheap flights. It allows you to explore destinations, compare prices, and set price alerts for your preferred travel dates. It also offers insights into the best times to book based on historical data. We always use this to search for flights but also use Google’s hotel as well.
Google Hotels is a powerful tool for finding and booking accommodations. It allows users to search for hotels by location, dates, and preferences, providing a comprehensive list of available options. You can narrow down results by price, amenities, guest ratings, and more. It includes a visualize hotel locations on a map to find the best fit near your points of interest. The best part is it allows you to compare prices from different booking sites to ensure you get the best deal.
Booking.com (www.booking.com): While primarily known for hotels, Booking.com also offers flights, car rentals, and vacation rentals. It provides competitive rates, free cancellation options on many bookings, and a loyalty program (Genius) for frequent travelers. I find more and more recently that their prices on hotels are slightly lower than other sites and have a great reward program as well.
Priceline (www.priceline.com): Priceline allows you to bid on hotel rooms, flights, and rental cars to potentially get lower prices than listed. It also offers “Express Deals” where you can book hotels or flights at a discounted rate without knowing the exact details until after booking. When we have had issues with our bookings they have done a decent job in being fair in resolving the issues.

Favorite Tour Websites

Planning your next adventure involves more than just booking flights and accommodations; it’s about finding unique experiences that enrich your journey. Here are some of our favorite tour websites that cater to different travel styles and preferences:

Viator (www.viator.com): Viator is renowned for its extensive selection of tours, activities, and experiences worldwide. Whether you’re drawn to cultural excursions, outdoor adventures, or culinary delights, Viator collaborates with local operators to offer a diverse range of options. From guided city tours to adrenaline-pumping activities like skydiving or snorkeling, Viator ensures seamless booking and memorable experiences.
Tripadvisor (www.tripadvisor.com): As a comprehensive travel platform, goes beyond hotel reviews and restaurant recommendations. It’s a hub for travelers seeking insights from user-generated reviews and ratings on tours and activities. With millions of opinions and perspectives, Tripadvisor helps you make informed decisions about which tours align with your interests and budget.
GetYourGuide (www.getyourguide.com): GetYourGuide excels in providing curated tours and activities in destinations worldwide. Known for its user-friendly interface and real-time availability, GetYourGuide offers a wide array of experiences—from skip-the-line museum tours to day trips exploring natural wonders. Their flexible cancellation policies and customer support ensure peace of mind when planning your itinerary.
Rick Steves’ Europe (www.ricksteves.com): Rick Steves’ Europe isn’t just about travel advice and guidebooks; it also offers insightful tours and experiences through its website. Known for its cultural immersion and educational tours led by knowledgeable guides, Rick Steves’ tours focus on authentic travel experiences that delve into local history, cuisine, and customs. His free audio guides and podcasts add an extra layer of depth to your journey.

Summary

Conclusion

For comprehensive travel planning, our favorite overall vacation planning websites are invaluable, offering a seamless experience from booking flights to accommodations. To discover top dining spots, we rely on restaurant websites that provide detailed reviews and recommendations. For budget-friendly travel, discount websites help us secure the best deals on flights and hotels. Lastly, for memorable activities and tours, our preferred tour websites offer a range of exciting options. These trusted resources ensure our trips are well-planned, cost-effective, and full of enriching experiences.

Doubletake Travel

The Ultimate Guide: Websites and Resources for Planning Your Travels