I frequently receive questions about the websites and apps I use to plan our travels. I’ve already written a few posts about my methods for booking trips, but this time, I decided to put everything in one place. In this post, you’ll find my favorite websites, apps, and tips to help you plan your trip simply, conveniently, and more affordably.
Hotel Search
Pruvo – A free service! After booking your hotel, send your confirmation email to box@pruvo.net. If the price of your room drops, you’ll receive an alert so you can rebook at the lower price or request a price match from the booking site (most sites offer a best price guarantee).
Booking.com – One of the leading hotel booking sites. I’ve personally booked through them many times. A great perk is that after staying at a few destinations, your account automatically becomes Genius, giving you 10% off selected hotels.
Airbnb – Perfect if you prefer an apartment over a hotel. Airbnb is the leader in this space, but Booking.com also offers apartments at great rates.
Tip: Cross-reference reviews from Google and Booking.com to get a reliable picture of the hotel. Filter through the negative reviews to see if recurring issues like poor maintenance, cleanliness, or service come up.
For Unique Stays:
During our trip to Romania, we wanted to stay in unique places like cabins or guesthouses. I searched Google images using terms like “special cabins in Romania” and clicked on the ones I liked. From there, I found the hotels’ websites. One place I loved was in a local village about 45 minutes from Brasov. I contacted them directly to check rates and ended up booking a night. It was an unforgettable stay!
Car Rental Abroad
I always recommend using search engines that compare prices across rental companies. It’s the easiest way to find the cheapest rates without much effort.
My favorite search engine is Paapm Paapm.
Car Rental Excess Insurance: I recommend using carinsurent to get coverage for rental car excess fees.
Tip: Paapm Paapm isn’t just a search engine—it also helps lower your car rental cost, similar to how Pruvo works for hotels. After booking a cancellable car rental, send the confirmation email to box@paapmpaapm.com. If the price drops, you’ll get an alert, and you can cancel and rebook at the lower rate.
Tip 2: If you’re traveling to Cyprus and plan to rent a car, I highly recommend the local company Cosmos Car Rental, which offers rentals across Cyprus. Don’t forget to use the coupon code trvbox for a discount!
Finding Cheap Flights
Skyscanner is a great site for searching cheap flights. It allows you to easily find the cheapest flights to any destination, even if you’re flexible on dates.
Tip: Always compare the prices you find on Skyscanner with those directly on the airline’s website. Sometimes, airlines offer better deals or added perks when booking directly.
Attractions & Tours for Your Trip
Tiqets – A fantastic site for booking attractions, tours, and experiences at attractive prices. Don’t forget to use the 5% discount code: TRVBOX5.
Other great sites for tours and activities: GetYourGuide and Viator.
Sandemans – They offer many city tours, including free walking tours (tip-based). We’ve done several of their free tours worldwide, and they’ve always been great.
Likealocal – This site shares insider tips from locals, helping you find hidden gems like cozy cafés, authentic restaurants, and unique attractions.
Instagram – Use hashtags to search for inspiration! For example, search #berlincafe to find photos and videos of cafés in Berlin, then look up more info about them on Google.
SIM Cards for Traveling Abroad
I highly recommend using an eSIM (a digital SIM card), and my go-to provider is Airalo. I was really pleased with their user experience—their setup videos are super simple to follow, and everything worked perfectly.
Exclusive for my readers: Get 15% off your Airalo eSIM purchase using this link—the discount is already applied and will show at checkout.
Important: Some devices don’t support eSIM. To check if your device is compatible, click here to see the list of supported devices.
Travel Apps
How to Plan an Itinerary for Your Trip
1. Google Smart: Focus on specific interests so you don’t get overwhelmed. For example, search for “hotels with water parks in Italy” or “best vineyards in Tuscany”.
2. Search for Recommendations: Look up itineraries like “Italy 2-week itinerary” to see routes others have taken and what they recommend. Official tourism boards also offer helpful guides.
3. Dive into Travel Blogs: Many travel bloggers share their exact routes and tips. Google “Italy travel blog itinerary” or check your favorite bloggers’ posts.
More posts I wrote on that
How to find cheap car rentals
How to book your hotels in the cheapest way
Your complete guide to Airbnb
Free traveling apps you should know about
List of websites, apps and tips that’ll save you money for your next trip
Travel tips during pregnancy: Before the trip, during the flight and on the trip itself
Top tips for travelling the US on a budget
The complete guide to real estate investments in Cyprus