Let’s face it, travel planning can be quite daunting. I’ve put together a carefully curated list of free travel planning resources for all types of travellers since it’s been requested for some time and it’s about time I get my resources all in one page!
From figuring out transportation, accommodation, foreign currency, and that’s only after you’ve successfully booked your trip. How do you find good flight deals or sales? What site is best when it comes to safely booking that too-good-to-be-true sale?
The Free Travel Planning Resources
If you haven’t already, subscribe to our Wanderluster List which provides exclusive access to a carefully curated list of travel deal and flight sale sites!
Find Cheap Flights & Booking Sites




Hopper’s algorithm analyzes billions of flights to help you find the best deals and the best times to fly and buy! I love the calendar view which shows when the low/shoulder seasons are so you can easily see what times of the year are best to travel. The app allows you to track the destinations and their push notification are great reminders to see when flights are cheap enough to buy.

You can also track your flight searches and be notified directly every time you open a new tab.



SeatGuru is a crowd-sourced site that provides reviews on various seat options according to how travellers have rated them. It’s a good way to identify what seats would be perfect for your next flight.

Accommodation

I’ve had only the most pleasant encounters with my hosts, and I enjoy learning the local customs, and living like a local. Airbnb experiences can be hit or misses but as long as you are respectful of your hosts and their homes, you’ll have a great time!
I’ve written about the few things you should do to ensure a great relationship with your Airbnb host.
If you use my Airbnb referral code you can also save $50 on your first booking!

They have over 35,000 properties in 170 countries so you definitely plenty of options to choose from.
What I appreciate about Hostel World is you don’t have to pay the full amount right away in case of itinerary changes (you can hold your room for 10% deposit at the time of booking) and the rest upon your arrival. You can opt for insurance to protect your booking for a few bucks more.

look no further than Yotel. Their rates are often cheaper than airport hotels and you can check in at any time of the day. Essentially you only pay for the hours you stay. You can book for any time lengths but must be 4 hours at minimum. Yotel caters to everyone from solo traveller to business travellers as well. I’ve stayed at the London Heathrow Yotel location several times but Yotel is becoming more and more available in other major airports.


Pro Tip: Booking.com provides the best prices mostly in Europe or the Middle East. If searching for Asian countries, I recommend using Agoda.

Transportation Planning




Trip Planning & Tours

In addition to the free walking tours, you can also join their pub tours or other interesting tours. I love joining these free walking tours as you can get a really good sense of the city and also make new friends. This is how I met different people whilst travelling solo and I remain friends with a lot of them today!

and general activities in different cities. I have never booked their tours (I prefer booking directly rather than through middle-man) but I use the available day tours to get a sense of itinerary and available offerings. Their prices are also helpful so I know whether I’m paying a fair price for that particular activity or if I’m getting ripped off.






Insurance



Travel Points and Miles
AwardWalletIf you are a member of multiple airline reward programs, it can be extremely tricky and difficult to keep track of them all. AwardWallet is like a supercharged Excel file – it automatically updates your points information and program status with a click of a button. In order for the program to do this, you have to provide your login information and authorize each account. Once the program is authorized, AwardWallet allows the users to track their frequent flyer miles all in one place which makes it easy to book reward flights.
The Points GuyThis blog is run by an expert frequent flyer and miles collector. Through his blog, you can find all sorts of interesting information, hacks and tricks that you can learn to take similar trips. Definitely keep an eye out on his blog for travel deals and the occasional credit card sign-up bonus.
Travel Blogging


