There’s many steps in planning a trip. In those steps there are many tools and apps that will allow you to do so. The apps that I mainly use to book a trip are Viator, Expedia, Bookings, Airbnb and Skyscanner. Each app plays a different role when planning a trip.
Viator
When planning your next trip, one of the main things to have in order is the things you plan to do while in your destination. So for that, I use a website called Viator. This website/app allows you to book pretty much any excursion your destination has to offer. What’s really sweet about Viator that separates them from the rest, is their “Reserve Now, Pay Later” option. This option allows you to hold your place for that desired excursion. Most of these excursions don’t have to be paid until 48 hours before ! I highly recommend using Viator for your next exploration it’s definitely worth it.
Expedia
Expedia is the main app I use when booking a trip. I love this website for the simple fact you can book pretty much everything that consist of in a trip. With booking pretty much everything, you also have the option to bundle these options and save. When booking, I mainly use Expedia for its option on flights and hotels. Depending on where your going, In my experience, Expedia has the best deals on flights or evenly matched with competitors. Besides flights, hotels is the next best thing Expedia has to offer. Expedia will give you the best rated hotels and even Villas for you to choose. I highly recommend using Expedia for its bundling option of Flights & Hotel option.
Bookings
Although there’s many websites or apps you can use to book a hotel, my personal favorite and go to website for that is Bookings.com. I love Bookings for the fact it gives you a detail map of where your hotel is and a detail description for amenities that your hotel has to offer. The biggest thing I love about Bookings is the ability to have the “reserve now, pay later” option when booking a hotel. This option gives you the ability to pay for your hotel the day you arrive to your destination. I love this option because it gives you a chance to start your planning of your trip without the worries of paying for your hotel upfront or losing that desired place you liked.
Airbnb
If your not interested in a hotel and still want to get away, I recommend using the app Airbnb. Some people have the desire to be secluded from the chaos a hotel can acquire and have more of a home style stay while away. My experience with Airbnb has always been a great one when I use them. Host who control Airbnb’s where you plan on staying, are usually on top of anything you need and answer all questions to make sure your stay is comfortable as you desire. I recommend Airbnb for more domestic and short stay travels within the states.
Skyscanner
Skyscanner is a simple app where it gives you options of flight, hotel, and cars. I use Skyscanner for simply the flight option. What separates Skyscanner from other websites, is the ability to plug in your desired dates of travel, put in airport you are departing from and if your indecisive on where your going put destination to “everywhere”. Once you do this, Skyscanner will give you the best flight options around the world for the time you plan on vacationing. I recommend Skyscanner for those who are indecisive on where to go because this website will allow you to narrow places down, especially based on whichever budget you plan on staying within.
Transportation
When booking a trip, not every excursion meeting point is walking distance from your hotel. If so, I recommend looking into transportation options for your desired destination. Sometimes depending on where you are going, online doesn’t have all transportation options that place has available. If online doesn’t have the answers you need on transportation, once in destination, majority of airports have transportation options or advice on how to get around their city or country the cheapest.
Travel Insurance / Covid Rules
Due to difficult times with Covid-19, travel insurance hasn’t been more important. I recommend always taking the travel insurance when booking because most places due to Covid-19, want a 72 hour test taken (even if fully vaccinated) before arriving to their city or country. Within those hours most hotels and flights are non-refundable if test comes back positive. If travel insurance was taken before booking, this will assure that your trip is 100% protected and the worry of losing all your money will not be an option. Always check your desired destination Covid-19 rules with any actions or paperwork that needs to be done before heading to the airport.
Exploration Wonders 