How I Plan My Trips: Travel Resources I Actually Use

Please note: some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you book through them. I only recommend companies I actually use myself.

Planning a trip does not need to feel overwhelming. These are the travel tools I personally use as a solo traveller to book flights, hotels, tours, insurance, and everything in between.

I’ve used these companies across trips to Japan, South Korea, Bali, Greece, Spain, Turkey, and more, and they’ve genuinely made travelling easier for me.

Step 1: Book Your Flights

Skyscanner

Skyscanner has been my go-to flight comparison website for years. I use it to compare airlines, flexible dates, and nearby airports quickly, especially when I’m trying to find the best route for a solo trip.

→ Search flights on Skyscanner

Kiwi

Kiwi can be useful for finding cheaper route combinations and multi-stop itineraries that don’t always appear elsewhere. I especially like using it when I’m flexible with dates and destinations.

→ Compare flights on Kiwi

Trip.com

Trip.com is useful if you want to book multiple parts of your trip in one place, especially flights, hotels, and trains in Asia. Just make sure you always double-check the fare conditions and cancellation policies before booking.

→ Book with Trip.com

Step 2: Book Accommodation

Booking.com

This is still the platform I use most for hotels and apartments. The filters, reviews, map feature, and Genius discounts make it easy to find accommodation that feels safe, convenient, and worth the money as a solo traveller.

→ Find accommodation on Booking.com

Luxury Escapes

Luxury Escapes is worth browsing if you love boutique hotels, luxury resorts, and good hotel deals. They often have discounted packages that include extras like breakfast, spa credits, or late checkout.

→ Browse Luxury Escapes

Marriott Bonvoy

If I book directly with a hotel chain, it’s usually Marriott Bonvoy and their partner brands. Their rewards programme is genuinely useful if you travel often and want to collect points for upgrades and future stays.

→ Explore Marriott Bonvoy

Step 3: Travel Essentials

SafetyWing Insurance

I genuinely do not understand travelling without insurance. Delays, cancellations, lost baggage, and medical emergencies happen more often than people think, especially when you travel frequently. SafetyWing is one of the better-known travel insurance companies within the travel industry and a flexible option for long-term travellers and digital nomads.

→ Check SafetyWing Insurance

Airalo

Airalo has made travelling so much easier for me. Instead of dealing with physical SIM cards at the airport, I can install an eSIM before landing and have data almost immediately.

→ Get an eSIM with Airalo

Discover Cars

This is the first website I check when comparing rental car prices. It’s easy to compare companies, pricing, and insurance options across different destinations.

→ Compare car rentals in Discover Cars

Step 4: Book Tours & Experiences

GetYourGuide

This is usually the first platform I check when booking tours and experiences. I’ve used it for food tours, day trips, attraction tickets, and activities all over the world. I also like that they have flexible cancellation policies and plenty of solo traveller-friendly experiences.

→ Browse GetYourGuide tours

Klook

Klook is especially useful for booking attractions, transport, airport transfers, and activities across Asia. I’ve used it multiple times for things like train tickets, theme parks, and travel experiences because the prices are often better than booking directly.

→ Explore Klook experiences

Go City

If you plan to visit several attractions in one city, Go City can actually save you quite a bit of money. Their city passes bundle attractions, tours, and activities together, which makes planning easier and more affordable.

→ View Go City passes

Viator

Viator is another reliable platform for finding tours and activities worldwide. I usually compare both Viator and GetYourGuide before booking to see which has better reviews, prices, or availability.

→ Explore tours on Viator

Eatwith

Eatwith is such a fun way to experience local food culture while travelling. Instead of just going to another restaurant, you can join cooking classes, dinner parties, and local dining experiences hosted by people in their homes.

→ Discover Eatwith experiences