Travel Resources

Over the years, we’ve discovered a variety of websites, programs, and products that have made our travels smoother, more enriching, and more enjoyable. From essential planning tools to gear we swear by, we’re sharing our favorite resources here in the hopes that they’ll enhance your adventures, too!

Air Travel

Google Flights: Any time we fly, Google Flights is our starting point when it comes to booking. Google offers a simple yet powerful flight search tool that helps users find, compare, and book flights. You can track flight prices, search for flexible dates, and filter searches based on a variety of flight preferences.

Thrifty Traveler Premium: Need some travel inspiration? Let flight deals be your guide! This subscription service provides instant email alerts for cheap domestic and international flight deals, including award flights and discounted business class fares. You can customize alerts based on your typical or preferred departure airports.

The Platinum Card by American Express: Don’t let the annual fee deter you. If you cash in on their endless list of credits, the card pays for itself! Plus, you earn 5x membership points on flight bookings, which can be used within American Express, or transferred to a variety of airline partners. This credit card also gets you 10 entries per year into Delta airport lounges, unlimited access to Escape lounges, and a Priority Pass membership (see below).

Priority Pass: Priority Pass is a global airport lounge membership providing access to 1,500+ lounges worldwide. Members enjoy amenities like Wi-Fi, food, and drinks, with different membership tiers offering varying levels of free visits. Tip: get a travel credit card that includes a Priority Pass membership!

Accommodations

Airbnb & Vrbo: For stays longer than a few days, we love booking apartments through Airbnb or Vrbo. Having a kitchen and a washing machine gives us the freedom to settle in, save money, and stretch out comfortably. We usually choose listings with free cancellation for extra flexibility in case plans change.

Booking.com: When we’re staying just a few days or want the convenience of hotel services, we book through Booking.com. They offer competitive rates and a rewards program that lets you earn perks the more you book.

Connectivity

NordVPN: Use your devices with peace of mind with NordVPN’s online privacy and security services. It encrypts internet traffic, hides IP addresses, and protects against cyber threats, ensuring secure browsing, streaming, and data protection worldwide. Bonus: watch all your favorite home-based programs while you’re abroad by connecting to a US server!

Nomad: Nomad is a reliable eSIM provider that offers affordable mobile data in 200+ destinations worldwide, including both regional and global plans. We’ve personally used it across Europe and Asia with great success. You can choose the plan that fits your trip length and data needs, topping up is quick and easy, and they have very reliable customer service.

SIMO Solis Lite 4G LTE WiFi Mobile Hotspot: We’ve used our Solis all over the world! This bright little device is a 4G LTE global Wi-Fi hotspot, offering fast, secure internet in over 135 countries. It has great battery life and connects up to 10 devices. Flexible data plans are available based on your travel needs. This is a great alternative (or supplement) to an eSIM.

Helpful Apps

TripIt: If you’re anything like us, trip planning includes keeping track of a seemingly endless list of bookings. We love using the TripIt app to organize and consolidate trip details into a single itinerary. This is especially helpful when there are multiple groups in your party, so everyone knows what’s happening and when.

AllTrails: We use AllTrails all over the world to find and navigate hiking trails! In addition to their website, AllTrails has an app that you can download to make it easy to identify and follow trails on the go.

Google Translate: Any time we’re in a country where the native language isn’t English, we’re constantly using Google Translate for quick translations. It’s also incredibly help if you’re trying to have a conversation with someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you. Just type what you’d like to say, show them, and then let them reply, right in the app!

Guidebooks & Travel Reading

While we share lots of personal tips here on the blog, having a trusted guidebook can be invaluable – especially for offline maps, deeper cultural insights, and practical advice when you’re exploring new places.

For Europe travel, we’re unapologetically partial to Rick Steves’ guidebooks. From classic all-rounders like Best of Europe to guides focused on specific locales, they’re well-researched by on-the-ground experts and incredibly reliable.

In addition to guidebooks, Rick Steves has written some great travel-inspired books, including Travel as a Political Act and, most recently, On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer (we actually met him on his book tour for this one!).

For destinations beyond Europe, we often turn to Lonely Planet for its comprehensive global coverage and practical tips.

Adventure Travel Gear We Love

Every trip we take involves outdoor adventure of some type, which means packing with a little more intentionality. We look for lightweight, versatile items that don’t take up too much space in our bags. Most of the time, this takes us to REI, our favorite store for adventure gear.

Check out our list of favorite adventure travel essentials here: Essential Adventure Travel Gear: 10 Must-Haves for Your Next Trip.

🏖️Headed to the beach? Check out our favorite water shoes here. Super affordable, and over 9,000 5-star reviews!

Got questions about adventure travel gear? We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note.