OUR TRAVEL FAVORITES

TRAVEL TOOLS WE ACTUALLY USE

After six years of travel across 47+ countries, these are the booking tools, apps, and services we consistently rely on to plan better trips and travel more easily.

Flights

Places to Stay

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Flights

Going: We use Going to keep an eye on flight deals from our home airport. They send alerts whenever there’s a great deal, so you don’t have to constantly search for flights yourself. We’ve found that it’s one of the easiest ways to discover cheap flights and often get ideas for our next trip based on what’s on sale.

Google Flights: We use Google Flights 90% of the time. They have a great aggregate of the top airlines around the world and offer easy ways to search for the best dates. We often use the Explore feature to find the best deals on flights around a certain date or time frame. This is basically how we choose where we are traveling, whatever’s cheapest.

Seats.aero: This is one of our favorite tools for booking flights with points. It shows real-time availability for flights on programs like Air Canada, United, and Avianca, which we use a lot. It’s super helpful to see where your points can take you and which airlines will have the lowest possible rates for your route of choice.

Accommodations

Booking.com: When we are looking for hotels or have a short stay, we always look for our hotels on Booking.com. I personally love the filters available (private bathroom, 9 stars) and the map is always easy to use. Genius Level 2 has gotten us tons of discounts, free upgrades, and complimentary breakfast.

Hilton.com: We are Hilton loyal, so we do get some awesome benefits (points, breakfast, upgrades, etc.). The best way to book Hilton hotels is always directly with their price match guarantee, and you’ll always earn points to use on future free stays. Plus, with our favorite travel credit card, you get automatic Gold Status, which means free breakfast at most of the brands in the portfolio!

VRBO: For a more homey stay while traveling, we have recently switched to VRBO from Airbnb (too many quality assurance issues). So far, so good! There are great options worldwide, making it perfect for trips with our friends and family to have a larger place with living areas and kitchens (sometimes even a private pool).

Trusted House Sitters: If you know us, you know we LOVE animals. We always name the strays we find and will make any doggo a friend. I’m mad we didn’t know about this earlier, but we’ve finally discovered TrustedHousesitters and it’s a game-changer. It connects travelers with pet owners who need someone to care for their homes and furry friends while they’re away.
- Use code TPC25 for 25% off your membership!

Transportation

Discover Cars: Road trips are our favorite way to explore a new country. We recently found Discover Cars, and it has been a GAME CHANGER. They have the best prices, a huge selection, reviews of the rental companies, and a comprehensive insurance plan. We’ve used them multiple times now and they are my go-to for car rentals

Omio: Our go-to for all our European train, ferry, and bus travel. Super easy to use and find the right options. Plus, you can get the QR code as your ticket right in the app.

12Go.asia: They have a huge selection of transportation options for Asia. We’ve used them a ton in Southeast Asia since booking in-person or on a local website can be really difficult in some countries. Also, you can use credit cards (more points!).

Welcome Pickups: This is the best service for airport pickups. They track your flight, have a sign at the departures exit, and always have water in the car for you. It’s a private, easy way to get to or from your hotel when traveling.

Activities & tours

Get Your Guide: This is usually our first search for activities. They have a large selection of options and a great user interface to make it easy to find what you’re looking for. They also have a great refund policy and customer service!

Klook: One of our favorite apps for finding easy ways to get around, whether it’s airport transfers, train tickets, or even local tours. It’s super convenient for booking things in advance (and sometimes at a discount), especially in places where it’s tough to figure out on your own.

Tiqets: The best site for booking tickets to museums, landmarks, and attractions. It’s great in big cities so you don’t have to wait in line or book a guided tour like with the other apps.

Viator: Great for finding tours, activities, and unique experiences wherever you’re headed. It’s especially helpful if you want something a little more organized, like day trips, food tours, or small group adventures. You can filter by reviews, price, and duration, which makes it easy to find something that actually fits your travel style.

Welcome Pickups: They actually offer guided private tours too, not just airport rides. It’s a super chill way to explore with a local driver who knows the area, and it’s all private, so you can go at your own pace. We did one with our family and it made sightseeing way easier (and more fun).

Esims

We’ve used eSIMs in 40+ countries over the last two years, and they’ve completely changed how we travel. With instant setup, affordable data, and no need to swap SIM cards, you can get online as soon as you land. Below are our go-to eSIM providers, plus discount codes to help you save (especially if it’s your first time using one!).

Airalo: Offer a loyalty program, allowing you to earn up to 10% back on every purchase, depending on your usage frequency of eSIM cards.
- New Users: 15% Off with NEWTOAIRALO15
- All Users: 10% Off with AIRALOESIM10

Yesim: Offer data plans with a built-in VPN to protect your data automatically, even while abroad.
- New Users: 20% Off with SUMMER20

Saily eSIM: Saily offers unlimited data plans in many destinations for great rates, all from one easy-to-use app.
- All Users: 5% off through our link

Travel Insurance

SafetyWing: A flexible travel health insurance that works for both long trips and quick vacations. You can book it for specific dates or let it roll month-to-month if your plans are open-ended. It includes coverage for unexpected medical expenses, travel delays, lost or delayed baggage, and even pandemics. We’ve been using it for 4 years and love how easy it is to manage, especially given how often our plans change on the road.

Travel Gear

Misc. Travel Recs

Sherpa: A fantastic service for travelers looking for a quick and easy way to check visa and entry requirements before traveling internationally. You can easily see the latest travel requirements for your destination and apply for eligible travel documents online, saving you time and eliminating the guesswork. Their simple platform and up-to-date information make preparing for international travel stress-free, so you can focus on planning your trip with confidence.

Fluent Forever App: A fun way to learn the basics of a different language before your trip, especially if you want to feel a little more confident with local phrases. The app focuses on pronunciation and memory tricks to help things actually stick, so even just a few minutes a day can make a difference.
- Get 25% off the monthly plan (for LIFE) with our link

Radical Storage: Perfect for when you have a few hours to explore but don’t want to lug your bags around. With thousands of drop-off spots in cities all over the world, it’s easy to find a safe, affordable place to stash your stuff, whether you’re waiting to check into your Airbnb or killing time before a flight. Book and pay online for around €5 per bag (all day).

TravelSpend: A simple way to keep track of your travel expenses while you’re on the road, especially if you’re traveling with a partner or group. It makes it easy to log what you’re spending, split costs, and stay on top of your budget without having to think too much about it.
- Use code PASSPORTCOUPLE for 50% off your first year.