If you like to plan your own itinerary, I can recommend my favorite travel sites and platforms I use every time I plan my trips.
After visiting over 50 countries and backpacking through many, I’ve tested many travel websites, credit cards, and transportation. Now, I only stick to the following: they offer the best value and comfort.
My Favorite Travel Platforms
These are the platforms I use every time I book my trips:
Accommodation
π BOOKING.COM – If I don’t book AirBnB, I book my hotels via Booking.com. After I’ve gained the reward Genius 3, I found out it has the best accommodation deals. I like comparing room rates on platforms like Priceline or Expedia, but I always stick to Booking.com.
π HOTWIRE – Sometimes, I also use Hotwire to get a great room rate in fancy hotels. I have a hack to get the best deal and know which hotel it is. If you’d like to know it, write me an email.
Flights & Airport Transfer
β SKYSCANNER – As with hotels, I also like to compare flights in different aggregators. Skyscanner shows me the best flight deals on flexible dates.
β GOOGLE FLIGHTS – I prefer using Google Flights to find my flight as it shows me all the prices in a calendar, which gives me a great overview.
π WELCOME TRANSFERS – I like booking airport transfers and a private shuttle via Welcome Transfers. They offer affordable transfers from the airport to your hotel with English-speaking drivers in any destination.
Transportation: Car Rental, Trains & Buses
π DISCOVER CARS – I love road-tripping, and it’s often how I explore new countries. It gives me flexibility, and I can travel anytime, anywhere I want. Discover Cars offers the best car rental deals – but check the company’s rating via Google.
π TRAINLINE – When I go backpacking or travel between major cities in Europe, I love to stick to train travel. Trainline is my n. 1 website for booking train tickets. They have the cheapest tickets, and sometimes it comes in handy, especially in Switzerland where trains are double the expensive.
π BUSBUD – If I need a bus, I search for bus connections via Busbud.
Activities & Tours
π GET YOUR GUIDE – For activities and tours in each place, I love using Get Your Guide. Whether a food tour or a boat trip, they have amazing tours with local and knowledgeable guides. Even though I love exploring places on my own, sometimes joining other travelers is handy.
π FREE WALKING TOURS – My n. one activity when I come to a big city is joining a free walking tour. It’s a great way to get to know the city, learn about its history, and get tips from a local guide.