RSSTop 10 Travel Resource Websites
I know that travel planning can be daunting, especially when it comes time to make a purchase, but it doesn’t have to be. Check out my top ten favorite travel resource websites (in no particular order) for yourself and you’ll see what I mean.
1. Sidestep
Sidestep.com and Kayak.com used to compete over which was to be the most user-friendly travel site with the best hard to find travel fares. Each were designed independently to be go-to websites for travelers to search all the others, comparing prices and eventually deciding what and from where to buy. Now the two have merged, and with their travel search technology combined, they make a formidable team. Searching for low fare flights is easy with Sidestep’s makeshift matrix at the top of the results page, displaying the best prices from over 200 sites and 600 airlines. If your travel dates are flexible, then you can simply use this matrix to determine what days are the cheapest to travel and book accordingly. It’s easy to use, and you’ll find the best deals available!
2. Expedia
Everyone knows of Expedia.com, and while it might seem like “too mainstream” of a travel planning website, the fact that nearly everyone has relied upon it to book their trips at some point or another proves its legitimacy. I like that hotel deals are offered in addition to flights, and when you purchase packages you do save a lot in time (hotel searching and booking) and money. If you’re ever unsatisfied with a hotel for example, Expedia encourages you to provide feedback, which keeps their customer satisfaction high.
3. Travelocity
Similar to Expedia, Travelocity.com offers great hotel and vacation packages as well. Although one isn’t necessarily preferable to the other, it doesn’t hurt to use both websites to find the optimal travel packages for your needs and budget.
4. Lonely Planet
Besides publishing helpful and renowned travel guides, invaluable travel advice can also be found online at LonelyPlanet.com. Just about anywhere you can think of visiting has its own page filled with travel advice and ideas as well as tried and true tourist attractions and must-sees. For those who want to stray off the beaten path, insightful blogs provide personal anecdotes and experiences for you to emulate—or avoid. I personally never book anything without checking LonelyPlanet first.
5. Priceline
If you’re more of a flexible flyer, then Priceline.com is likely the site for you. You get to name your own price for flights and hotels, and Priceline will find a travel plan to match your needs. The only catch is that beyond the price you set for yourself, you don’t have any say with booking. Again, if you’re flexible and that kind of system doesn’t scare you away, then Priceline.com is a fantastic money saving travel website.
6. Venere
Venere.com isn’t your average hotel searching website. While mainstream, well known hotels are great for business trips and short stays, you deserve something more original like a quaint B&B or private guest house for your vacation. Featuring over 500,000 reviews, Venere is the most honest way to find and book your home away from home.
7. Bing
Bing.com’s travel page makes use of Farecast technology, to find out when airline prices will rise or drop so you can purchase at the right time. A third-party audit of the Farecast technology found Bing to be 74.5% accurate in its predictions. Not bad, and definitely worth a shot if it means knowing when to buy your next plane ticket!
8. TripAdvisor
It’s always a good idea to get the inside scoop about somewhere you’re thinking of visiting and all its various accommodations and attractions. That’s why 25 million people, including me, use TripAdvisor.com as a primary go-to source for researching their upcoming trips. You can also search for flights and hotels in addition to reading honest customer feedback.
9. Home & Abroad
HomeandAbroad.com is, quite simply, “vacation planning made easy.” If you’re fresh out of ideas but know you want to take a trip somewhere, Home & Abroad makes it easy for you to brainstorm with browsable vacations and trip themes. Once you’ve selected your destination, you can plan your itinerary and print all the information you need to stay organized—all on one website. Goodbye file folders with pages of dates, destinations, hotels and flight info; Hello simplicity!
10. FareCompare
With FareCompare.com, you won’t have to waste time checking back on a daily basis to see if flight prices have changed, you’ll get emails in real-time to notify you of price drops. This, quite simply, is a huge stress reliever, and you’ll be able to continue with your daily routine and stop obsessively worrying about missing the best plane fares.