Make trip planning easy with my favourite travel platforms and websites
In this guide, I’ll share the essential tools and websites I rely on to seamlessly plan and book my travels. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned globetrotter or setting off on your first journey, because these trusted travel resources will help you navigate every aspect of your trip.
Get ready to discover the best platforms for booking flights and hotels and securing travel insurance. But also for arranging transportation, and uncovering unforgettable tours and activities.
What travel resources are you looking for?
Select one of the categories and discover the travel resources that I recommend to plan your next trip!
Disclaimer: Some of these travel resources are affiliate links. This means that if you click on them and make a purchase I might earn a small commission.
But don’t worry, it comes at no extra cost to you. With the income I can keep my website afloat and keep on creating new and free travel content.
Accommodation
Travel resources to find the best hotel deals
When you’ve decided where you want to go, you also want to find a suitable place to sleep. The following travel resources are amazing for comparing hotels, resorts and apartments in line with your budget.
Booking.com
My go-to website for researching best places to stay is without a doubt booking.com.
As you navigate this website you’ll discover that the amount of resorts, hotels, apartments and even hostels is almost overwhelming.
However, if you use the handy filters you can easily find and book the accommodation that suits your style and budget.
Tip: You can also find the best car rental deals on booking.com.
Car Rental
The best travel resources for Car Rental
Renting a car gives you the ultimate freedom in getting around your destination. Europe and the Americas have some fantastic countries where the car is simply the best way to get around and enjoy the countryside.
Rentalcars.com
Rentalcars.com is where I usually start my research and where I end up renting a car, such as for road trips around Patagonia, the Balkans and Slovenia.
The website makes it easy to compare hundreds of cars from many international and local car rental companies. Don’t forget to add car insurance right away and you’re all settled.
Day Tours & Activities
Day Tours & Activities Travel Resources
Part of trip planning is deciding on what you want to do in the time that you have. You can read a guide book, or my travel blog, but there are more resources to get inspiration from. And if you find what you like, then book your activity right away.
GetYourGuide
Part of trip planning is learning about what you can see and do at your destination. A great travel resource for that is GetYourGuide that offers activities and tours in almost every corner of the world.
I like the flexibility of GetYourGuide, where most tours can be changed or cancelled. On top of that you can keep track of all your booked activities in one app.
Manawa
One of the newest kids on the block is Manawa. They’re different in the way that they only offer outdoor and adventure activities. They linked together over 8,000 experiences, many of them unique. So check them out if you’re looking for something different on your next trip.
Viator
Another favourite travel resource for tours and activities is Viator. Want to do a balloon flight or check out an attraction that’s harder to get to independently? Then check out what you can find on Viator.
Most activities on Viator don’t need to be prepaid and can be cancelled to adjust to your travel plans.
Flights
Find the best flights to your next destination
Nobody wants to pay too much for their flights. But do consider that low fares don’t always turn out cheaper in the end. With extra fees for hand baggage, checked baggage and seat reservations those low-cost airlines can turn out more expensive than traditional carriers. So do compare your options with the travel resources below.
Google Flights
The best travel resource out there for finding flights is Google Flights. Select your departure and destination airports and your travel dates to find out which flight connections are available.
If you’re flexible, then use the calendar to find cheaper travel dates and times. And if you prefer to include or exclude certain airlines or alliances you can do that too.
Once you’ve selected your flights, Google Flights gives you options on where to book your flights. My personal preference is always directly with the airline, but sometimes I’ve used another reputable brand, such as booking.com.
Jack’s Flight Club
Oh, how I love Jack’s Flight Club! Their mission is to get around the world cheaper. They send out price alerts for special deals and error fares so you can also fly cheaper.
You can sign up for their weekly alerts for free, or you can subscribe to a premium membership. With the premium membership you receive 6-12 price alerts in your mailbox every week.
Jack’s Flight Club is a great way to score cheap flights. And with some flexibility who knows where you’ll end up?!
Money Matters
Money Matters
A good credit card can save you tons of money if you travel frequently. You don’t need to take large amounts in cash and some cards even offer extra benefits such as travel insurance and frequent flyer miles. And surely bring your debit card for cash withdrawals, but choose one where costs are low or none at all.
American Express
My favourite credit card is my American Express platinum card. Why? Because it comes with a lot of perks, such as travel insurance and rental car insurance. On top of that you can collect frequent flyer miles to get flights cheaper.
So check out the American Express website in your country to see what benefits the card can offer you.
Tip: If you’re living in the Netherlands, check out what the referral offer is for signing up through my link. Usually there’s an offer for extra Flying Blue Miles, extra XP or a discount on the card fee.
Staying Connected
Best Travel Resources to Stay Connected
It’s great to be away, but also lovely to stay connected to your loved ones and followers on social media. And not just that, but being online is kind of essential nowadays to keep track of your bookings, finding your way on google maps and so on. Check these travel resources to stay connected safely and avoid roaming costs.
Saily
Of course you can get a physical SIM-card by lining up at the airport when you land. But why not purchase an eSIM and enjoy a lot of benefits?
No more swapping of SIM cards, you can get it before arrival and it works as soon as your plane touches the ground at your destination! Oh yeah and the best benefit of all: No more exorbitant roaming charges.
Saily is my preferred eSIM choice. Why? You only ever have to install an eSIM once and then you just top it up with country plans as you go. Super convenient and easy. On top of that their prices are very competitive.
Tip: Sign up to Saily with my referral code MARTIN84627 and get $5 off your first purchase.
Airalo
At Airalo you can purchase eSIM’s for 200+ countries and regions. I’ve already used Airalo in about a dozen countries successfully and find eSIMs an essential travel resource.
Tip: Sign up to Airalo with my referral code MARTIN6157 and get $3 off your first purchase.
NordVPN
When travelling abroad, a VPN is one of the smartest tools you can pack. Not every country has a fully open internet, and some websites or apps you use daily at home may be restricted.
With NordVPN, you can browse securely on public Wi-Fi (like in airports, hotels, or cafés) and keep your data safe from prying eyes. It also lets you access your favourite content and services as if you were back home, making travel both safer and more convenient.
Also read: Best Travel ESIM | Saily Vs Airalo Vs Holafly Compared
Small Group Adventure Tours
The Best Small Group Adventure Tours
You can travel the world solo or with you partner or friends, but sometimes it’s just more fun, or more practical to join an adventurous small group for a tour through a country or region. When you book a tour with one of these travel resources you will be in for an unforgettable adventure.
Nomad Africa Tours & Safaris
If you want to join a small group adventure tour in an overland truck in southern or eastern Africa, then look no further than Nomad Africa Tours & Safaris.
This Africa based company was founded back in 1997 and ran with just 1 custom build overland truck. Fast forward to their current operation with 40 vehicles.
Want to know what it’s really like on the road with Nomad Africa Tour & Safaris, then read my review of their Victoria Falls to Cape Town trip.
G Adventures
G Adventures offers small group adventure travel for 30+ years. The only way to get there is by listening to customers and giving them what they want: flexible itineraries, freedom to explore, smaller groups, safety and peace of mind, and locally based guides who show you your destination in a way you’d miss travelling any other way.
Overlanding West Africa
Overlanding West Africa was the first commercial truck based overland company to ever run trips through Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone back in 2012-2013. Needless to say they’ve now gained plenty of experience traversing one of the least visited regions in Africa and in the world.
Overlanding West Africa visits countries and places that few other overland operators venture to, while taking their time to explore and travel off the beaten track.
Dragoman
Dragoman can be considered the original custom build overland truck company. They ran their first tour in 1981 and have been going strong since Covid hit in 2020.
After a few years in hibernation they are now back with a new range of epic overland expeditions and small group adventure tours to Africa, South America, Asia, Iceland, the Far East and the Middle East. Including trips to countries you won’t tell your mom about until you’re back home.
Transportation
Best Transportation Platforms and Websites
Anyone who has ever traveled through Europe knows that you can get almost anywhere by public transport. The problem, however, is to find the right connections from A to B. And then to buy tickets for that, because you may need a different ticket from a different provider for each part. Try the travel resources below that try to find a solution for this problem both in Europe and Asia.
Omio
Omio combines air, bus, rail and ferry journeys for routes both big and small. They work out the total travel time and cost, making it easier for you to plan and budget for your trip.
If you get your tickets in the mobile app, then all your tickets will show in the ‘your bookings’ section. No more losing your tickets in your mailbox, because they’re all stored in the app on your phone.
Tip: New to Omio? Sign up using my referral link and we’ll both get €10 off towards our next booking!
The Trainline
The best app to use for train travel in the UK is the trainline, that is now also expanding in Europe and other destinations around the world.
Sometimes you can find even better deals in the trainline app than with Omio, so do compare these apps.
12go Asia
12go Asia provides all travel services on a single platform for comparison and interline ticketing. To provide the best results they connect directly to supplier systems.
12go Asia is the best method to find transportation within Asia. So start planning your trip to Southeast Asia, Central Asia and India with this travel resource.
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. Honestly, it might sound cliché, but I firmly believe it’s true. Travel insurance gives me peace of mind, because if something happens I don’t have to worry about expensive bills.
Heymondo
Under 50 years old? My recommendation is to check out Heymondo Annual Multi-Trip travel insurance that covers all your trips for a year up to 60 days per trip.
You can also get insurance through Heymondo for trips with specific travel dates.
Tip: As a reader of Next Journey Ahead you get 5% off your Heymondo insurance through this link.
World Nomads
50 years or older? Older than 49 and travel a lot? Then you want to check out World Nomads travel insurance.
World Nomads offers annual travel insurance, but you can also insure trips with specific travel dates.
Disclaimer: We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
Safety Wing
Digital Nomad? If you’re always on the move then I recommend checking out the Nomad Insurance from Safety Wing.
Safety Wing is an insurance company – by travellers, for travellers – that offers subscription based insurance.
Subscription based insurance means it renews every month until you cancel. Perfect! But you can also insure specific travel dates.
Travel Gear
Travel Gear
To make your trip a success travelling with the right gear is essential. The travel resources below take you to my favourite websites to find travel bags, photography gear, hiking shoes, water bottles etc.
Amazon
Basically the one-stop-shop everyone already knows. Amazon is great for finding basically everything you need to prepare for your trip.
Order your hiking shoes or boots, your water bottle, suitcase and all those other travel essentials easily through Amazon and embark on your next adventure.
Langly
If you love to discover and explore your surroundings through the lens of a camera, then check out Langly’s camera bags that protect your gear with style and ease.
Langly creates camera bags don’t look like camera bags though, so nobody will suspect the value you carry around. Find out what camera bags they offer on Langly’s website.
Useful Websites
More travel resources to make trip planning easier
Check out below travel resources for more travel inspiration and ideas on how to get around easily on your trip.
Lonely Planet
Who doesn’t know Lonely Planet? Really, I think there’s literally no-one that needs an introduction to this company that has been creating guide books for decades.
I love their guidebooks and occasionally buy one on their website or through Amazon in preparation for my next trip. The newest editions offer more pictures to get an even better idea of where you’re going.
Tip: Use my coupon NEXTJOURNEYAHEAD10 to receive a 10% discount on your next order.
Google Maps
I always use Google Maps on my trips. Not just to get around, but also to find hotspots near me.
Another way I use Google Maps is to save every interesting place, coffee shop, restaurant, museum etc. that I come across in everyday life. That way if I’m at my destination I already have a bunch of cool places highlighted on my map.
Tip: Save a local map to your phone before you start your trip to save on data.
Wanderlog
I started using the wanderlog app recently and I like how it allows me to create beautiful maps for my blog.
You can also create super handy travel itineraries on Wanderlog where they help you to create the perfect route for visiting all the selected attraction you want to visit.