This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Travel planning can be an intimidating task. Knowing where to find the best prices, accurate information about destinations, and the best websites to book your trip can leave any traveler feeling overwhelmed and confused. As a result, I created this resource page to easily list recommended services, products, and companies that I use and/or those I know are valuable. This way you can quickly find great products and services all in one place. You can save thousands of dollars all from one page!

Disclosure: There are some affiliate links below, but these are all products I highly recommend. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used.

Flights

Kayak: Kayak is always my first stop when it comes to travel planning, as it has great filter options and a large search span. The ‘predication graph’ is a great tool, telling you whether you should buy now or wait. 99% of the time it is really accurate!

Skyscanner: A great flight search engine that will consistently find you the cheapest airfare. Skyscanner can search by country or even ‘anywhere’. They compare millions of flights from all airlines to get you the best overall price.

Southwest: By far my favorite domestic airline, I find that Southwest’s prices and customer service are second to none. The Southwest website is almost always my first stop when searching for flights.

Lodging/Accommodations

Booking.com: Over the years, Booking.com is the site that I have used most often for my lodging needs. With this website, you can find affordable hotels, resorts, apartments, and more to stay at on your next vacation.

Airbnb: A great way to travel if you want to stay in homes or apartments instead of hotels & hostels. Airbnb vacation home rates are usually comparable or cheaper than a hotel, provide the comforts of home, and the chance to stay in a non-touristy area. Click here for $35 off your first stay!

Trivago: A metasearch engine that compares lodging from all the different booking platforms. Trivago has a neatly arranged interface, quick filter options, and the possibility of searching a whole region.

Hotel Tonight: HotelTonight is easily the best service for the last minute traveler. Everyday at noon, the HotelTonight app shows a list of discounted quality hotels for a growing list of cities. Use promo code CHCAROLLO to receive $25 off your first booking!

Hotels.com: With a clean & easy-to-use interface, it’s easy to see why Hotels.com is an obvious choice when searching for accommodations. They also offer a loyalty program in which you can receive 1 free night after you have stayed 10 nights.

Travel Planning

TripAdvisor: My travel planning almost always begins with a “Things to Do” search on TripAdvisor for the destination I plan on visiting. This will be a great start for getting ideas of what you’d like to see and do in a new place.

Expedia: One of the biggest online travel brands in the world, Expedia is a logical choice for travel tips, inspiration & deals. Very reliable in terms of customer service, Expedia is a great option if you’re looking for a well known, trustworthy brand.

National Park Service: The America the Beautiful Pass is one of the best travel purchases I’ve ever made. For only $80, the pass will cover entrance fees at all 59 National Parks and over 2,000 federal recreation sites. Click here to purchase your Annual Pass!

CityPASS: A fantastic option for the traveler who wants to visit all the iconic spots in a destination, but also likes to save money. A CityPASS booklet can save you up to 50% on top attractions and experiences in 12 cities across the United States.

Lonely Planet: Guidebooks are a great resource when travel planning – and Lonely Planet leads the pack. While chock-full of helpful info and a good place to start, guidebooks sometimes aren’t fully up to date. So make sure you do a little more research on your own!

Transportation

CarRentals.com: CarRentals.com compares 33+ rental car companies to consistently find the cheapest rates for your road trip needs. Want to be notified when prices fall? Set a price drop alert and get an email when prices are low for your location. I have used CarRentals.com for about 90% of my car rental reservations!

Uber: If you are looking for a cheap taxi ride, I have a coupon for $20 off your first ride through Uber — a very convenient service that I use when visiting major cities. Use the Uber coupon code JJYI9 to get $20 off your first ride.