Google Flights is one of the top websites for travel planning. Not only does it have all the standard search features, but it also allows you to filter by airline alliance if you want to earn or redeem with a specific mileage program.  Additionally, you can filter by bag allowance which updates all prices to include additional carry-on or checked bag fees.  This means no surprises during check-out.  If you prefer access to more advanced options such as choosing codeshare partners, you can use the Google’s ITA Matrix.

Momondo not only searches airlines but also other travel booking sites which means it often finds the more obscure deals.  It also allows you to filter results on alliance, layover times, and aircraft.  The best thing about Momondo is the ability to select a departure airport and then view all applicable deals.  You can choose to view everything or narrow it down to a specific region or month.

Scott’s Cheap Flights has saved me thousands on airfare over the last couple of years.  It sends an e-mail notification when there is a sale or mistake fare departing from your airport or region.   While there is a paid subscription, I recommend starting with the free version.  Just remember the prices go up as more seats sell so, if you see a destination you are interested in, you need to act fast.  If you are in select cities, you also want to follow Escape Flights.

Let’s face it, flying is uncomfortable and it is even worse when your seat is broken or has limited features and recline. Seat Guru ensures you get the most comfortable seat for the class you select.  All you have to do is input the date, airline, and flight number to view the seat map with annotations about leg room, recline, defective entertainment systems, and more.  

If you have time off but you haven’t decided where to go, Skyscanner has a really cool “Undecided” feature that allows you to explore by map. Input your departure city, select a travel month, and it will show pins on the map with the best prices.

Airbnb is my go-to site for finding accommodation.  It connects you with locals that have a room, flat, or home for rent at affordable prices.  It’s less expensive than staying in a traditional hotel and offers the conveniences of home such as access to a kitchen and laundry.

Booking.com is similar to Airbnb in that it allows you to book many different types of properties such as flats, resorts, and even glamping tents.  This is generally my backup search engine if I don’t want to stay in a hotel.

Hotels.com searches for exactly what it says – hotels.  I’ve found that it is frequently priced lower than booking directly and offers two significant perks.  Not only do they price match, they have a rewards program which functions like a punch card.  After you stay 10 nights at qualifying hotels, you get 1 night free.  

If you need a house sitter to care for your home or pets, or if you would like to exchange this service for free lodging, Nomador is a very useful company.  It helps connect homeowners and house sitters.  Another excellent company to find a sitter or home is TrustedHousesitters.   

Workaway helps travelers find free lodging in exchange for work.  The site has opportunities world wide with jobs ranging from farm help to language tutoring.  

The World Wide Organization of Organic Farming is very similar to Nomador and Workaway with the exception that it focuses solely on farm stays.  You can exchange your services on the farm for room and board.  

Believe it or not but Airbnb is on e of the best websites for planning travel activities. Using the same peer-to-peer marketplace as its lodgings, hosts can now offer a wide variety of online and in-person experiences. As a traveler, you can easily search for unique things to do ranging from tours, to family dinners, and gin making all offered by local hosts. The small group settings make it a great way to connect with locals and discover what they love about their city.

When you travel it is important to see the key historical and cultural attractions that interest you, but I often find that visiting quirky or lesser known sites can be extremely rewarding. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find those places if you do not know any locals. Atlas Obscura is a great resource for finding places you might not encounter elsewhere during your search.  

If you are traveling to a city with an archeological or historical background that interests you Context Travel is the tour company to look at first.  The tour prices are sometimes a little higher than others but they are led by PhDs in disciplines such as history, archeology, and art history. Their in-depth knowledge and storytelling abilities mean you will get a much richer understanding than a typical tour.

The EatWith booking company connects you to locals offering different culinary experiences.  You can find in-home cooking classes, food tours, or even dining experiences.  

As you can see there are a plethora of activity planning websites.  The thing you will love about Get Your Guide is that many of the tours and activities are GYG Originals which are created and operated by the company.  These activities have a money back satisfaction guarantee.  The site is also an authorized ticket seller for many venues and has third party tours that have been GYG certified. 

Klook can almost be used as a one stop shop.  Not only can you book tours and activities, you can also pre-purchase SIM cards, reserve wireless hotspots, and purchase train tickets or travel passes.  The majority of their offerings are in Asia making them one of the best travel websites for planning trips to that region.

With Locals is one of my favorite companies right now.  It allows you to select the activity and the host.  How does it work?  Each host has a profile with a brief description and video.  This allows you to pick a local that fits your personality.  Also, because it is a private tour, your host can modify the itinerary for truly bespoke experiences allowing you to have more enriching travel while directly contributing to the community.  The price varies by number of participants.  Another site for private group tours is ToursByLocals.

There is no better way to connect with a culture than through language and food.  The Traveling Spoon provides travelers the opportunity to find and share private meals or cooking classes in the homes of locals.  This is the type of experience you never forget.  

I frequently consider Viator when planning a solo trip and need contact with other people as the group tours consistently offer good value for the price.  Keep in mind, however, that they are a brokerage and do not operate the tours themselves so you don’t know who you will be going with until it’s booked.  The good news is that their customer service is excellent.  Once I accidentally overslept and they allowed me to join a similar tour the following day free of charge.

You may not be aware but there are laws that help protect passenger rights.  While the USA has few protections, Europe favors its customers.  Anytime you have issues associated with your flight due to delays, denied boarding, luggage loss, etc you should visit the AirHelp website to see if you are due compensation.  Additionally, if you need to file a complaint, you can fill out the DOT Air Service Complaint form.

Anytime a flash sale comes up for a destination that you have never visited before, you should use Budget Your Trip to investigate the average trip cost. It will give you the typical cost for a 1 week, 2 week, or a month long stay for one person and a couple based on their travel style (cheap, midrange, or luxury).

World Trip Travel insurance offers several  emergency medical and dental plans.  You can select the amount of coverage up to $2,000,000.  They are usually lower than their competitors but if you want to lower the price you can opt to have a deductible.  They do cover some sports activities but be sure to read the details to see if yours is covered.

I have used T-mobile for years and would never consider leaving at this point.  Most of their plans include unlimited international data and text messaging for free and international phone calls from 25¢/minute.  This is cheaper than buying a local SIM or paying a daily fee that many providers charge.  

TripIt is one of the most useful websites for travel planning because it allows you to stay organized and keep track of your reservations and notes for free.  All you have to do is forward your hotel, airline, tour, dinner reservations etc. to their e-mail and it will automatically build your itinerary which can be shared with travel companions or as emergency contact info.  

World Nomads provides travel insurance designed by travelers.  They aren’t always the least expensive option but they cover a wide variety of sport and adventure activities in their standard policy that may not be covered with other companies, like  bungee cording and skydiving.

Nannybag is a left luggage service that partners with local businesses such as cafes, restaurants, and hotels worldwide so you don’t have to tote it around all day.  They have a flat rate per item for 24h storage which includes €1000 insurance.  

While sleeping in an airport is not ideal, the Sleeping in Airports website provides you all the information you need to know.  You can find the airport hours for each terminal, details on facilities like showers and lounges, as well as the best places to sleep.  

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program allows American citizens to register a trip and receive real time travel alerts for the destination.  It also ensures that the U.S. Embassy has contact information in the event that there is an emergent situation, such as a natural disaster.  

The IATA Travel  Centre is a single location to check current VISA, passport, and health requirements needed for your destination.  It uses information gathered from Timatic, the database used by airline agents, so you can be confident that the information is accurate and up-to-date.  

Auto Europe is my favorite search engine when looking for a rental car.  It finds the best prices and shows you a comparison between different companies.  The price always includes the VAT so there are no hidden fees. When using Auto Europe you will need to pay at the time of booking but they do offer free cancelation 48 hours before pick-up.

Most people may not think of Costco Travel when looking for travel planning websites but it is not to be overlooked. Rental care bookings made with your Costco membership automatically includes a second driver for free.  Also, you pay at time of pick up which means you can easily cancel and even continue to monitor prices.  If you have multiple associations (i.e. loyalty programs, warehouse club, etc.), you may also want to check out Auto Slash which compares coupon codes to find the best deal. 

Man in Seat 61 is an exhaustive resource for traveling worldwide by train.  In addition to current timetables, there are complete descriptions on everything from sleeper trains to showers, toilets, and pets.  You can use RailEurope to book tickets.

Rail Europe is a booking site for train tickets and Eurail passes to be used throughout Europe.  

Rome2Rio is a great tool for finding routes and methods of transportation between locations.  So if you need to travel from one city to another, but are not sure which way is best, this website will show you all the different travel options, travel times, and prices.