Resources
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Flights
Highly customizable flight search engine with unique filters like the ability to see prices for a specific cabin (e.g., first class) and Wi-Fi-only flights
My favorite feature: 15 filters to customize your flight search and filter your results
Customizable flight search engine that uses price history to show how fares stack up and “Explore” tab to find cheap flights to anywhere in the world
My favorite feature: For flights with the price guarantee badge, get paid back the difference if the price drops after booking
Choose the best seat on a flight for your needs (note: SeatGuru does not have info on handicap seating and seat belt extenders)
My favorite features: Color coding to rate seats; info on legroom, seat width, ability to recline, floor storage, and more
Accommodation
My go-to for booking hotels and guesthouses around the world, available in 43 languages with 28 million listings
My favorite feature: “Genius” loyalty program rewards like free room upgrade or breakfast
I always check hotel reviews on Tripadvisor and use it to find the best room rate across sites
My favorite feature: Shows you room rates offered across the web so you get the best deal
Connects homeowners with guests looking for homestays
My favorite features: Book with a “superhost” for less risk, and filter by type of home (castle, treehouse, you name it!), and location (like island or farm)
Best site for booking hostels, with 13 million reviews to help you pick what you’re looking for
My favorite feature: Annual HOSCARs Awards showcase top hostels from over 180 countries
Tours
My go-to site for booking sightseeing tours and activities around the world
My favorite feature: Cancel for free until 24 hours before and “reserve now, pay later” options allow you to book activities you don’t want to miss without getting locked in
Unique activities hosted by locals, like designing a dress in South Africa and learning island survival skills in Puerto Rico
My favorite feature: Search for activities using accessibility filters for mobility (like no stairs), communication (e.g., sign language, deaf aware techniques), and more
Food
Global guides from the world’s top chefs, food writers, and industry experts for eating and drinking like a local in their city
My favorite feature: Showcases a city’s culinary landscape, from traditional dishes that represent the local culture to innovative modern-age cuisine
Discover Michelin-awarded and recommended restaurants in destinations around the world
My favorite feature: I always check which restaurants have received Michelin’s Bib Gourmand award, given for good quality, good value cooking (no hefty price tag!)
Apps
Before I go on a trip, I create a saved list on Google Maps and add the places I want to go. Then, on my phone, I search for my destination (e.g., Paris) and click “download offline map” to use the map without data
My favorite features: Create and share lists; offline maps that work without data; and Google reviews available for all places
Ride-sharing app used in many countries. I always use whatever ride-sharing app is most popular in other countries over taxis for safety and to avoid getting ripped off
My favorite features: Upfront price transparency; ability to share your ride with a contact for safety and follow along to make sure your driver is on the right track
Translates speech, text, images, websites, and documents. You can download a language to translate without data
My favorite feature: I love the image translation feature for translating museum descriptions and restaurant menus!
Inclusivity
Country reports with info on laws and safety considerations for U.S. travelers (check your country’s equivalent). Helpful pages for women, LGBTQI+, elderly, faith-based, people with disabilities, and other travelers
LGBTQ+ travel guides for 25+ countries and resources like LGBTQ+ Safety Guide and Travel Tips for Transgender, Genderqueer, and Non-Binary
Data for every country, contributed and verified by users, on LGBT rights, laws, freedoms, and public attitudes towards LGBT people
Leading annual assessment of LGBTI rights for 49 countries in Europe and Central Asia, giving you a sense of what it’s like to be LGBTI in Eurasian countries