International Travel Resources:
 Everything You Need to Plan, Book,
 and Enjoy a Perfect Trip Abroad

People who plan to travel often scour the internet for websites that can help them find current destination information, the best deals, tips, recommendations, reviews, and any other resource that can let them travel cheaper, longer, safer, or better.

Whether you plan a trip for business, leisure, or any other purpose, there’s always a lot of research and preparation that needs to be done before and during your journey.
As the old saying goes, “knowledge is power,” and knowing what to look for and where can save you lots of money, time, energy, and potential frustration.

But… Where do you start?
Well, if you’re an independent traveler who wants to make your own travel arrangements, fasten your seat belt, sit back and prepare for takeoff.

This comprehensive page includes a long list of travel inspiration, planning, and booking resources, including many useful websites, services, tools, and mobile apps that can help you save money, stay organized, and arrange every aspect of your trip, so you can achieve your goals.

Destination Information

Travel information websites, visitor guides, and fast facts can help you discover new countries and cities, plan when to visit, and get suggestions on what to see, do and experience on your next trip.

Travel Forums

Ask questions and get help from fellow travelers about any issues, ranging from trip-planning strategies, deal-hunting tactics, and destination tips to activity ideas, budget hacks, and general assistance.

Passports & Visas

Be fully prepared for your trip and ensure that you obtain all the necessary travel documents well before your departure date, so you will not get turned away at the airport or an international border for failing to have the proper documentation.

U.S. Passports

Make sure your passport hasn’t expired or is close to expiring. Many countries require that visitors must have a valid passport for at least six months after their intended return date.
Also, ensure that your passport has enough blank pages for entry and exit stamps.



Private U.S. Passport Expediting Services



Visas

Before traveling to a country, learn its entry requirements and check whether you need to obtain a visa in advance.



Embassies

  • EmbassyPages – Information about embassies and consulates around the world.

Health & Safety

Staying healthy and safe when you travel abroad requires thorough planning. Before you go, get Informed about health conditions, security alerts, embassy location, local laws and customs, emergency phone numbers, and medical care options in the countries you are visiting.

Destination Weather

Tracking the weather at your destination can help you pick what to pack and wear during your trip and alert you about expected road conditions, potential flight delays or cancellations, and the ability to enjoy outdoor activities.

Flights

Commercial aviation is the strongest driving force behind the global travel industry.
Every day, millions of passengers hit the sky and fly to a wide range of destinations all over the world.

Cheap Flight Deal Alert Services

These services constantly monitor the best flight deals that depart from your closest airport (including mistake fares). Whenever a cheap, heavily-discounted flight pops up, you’re notified.

Since these deals generally don’t last very long, this service is best suited for people who can act fast once receiving an alert for a bargain.



Flight and Airfare Comparison Tools

Flight comparison sites aggregate airfare data from many different sources simultaneously: airlines, booking services, and online travel agencies and thus, making it easy to find the cheapest websites for domestic and international air tickets.



Flight Booking

Online travel agencies are a popular choice for finding and booking flights, hotels, car rentals, and other services.
Since these platforms are the biggest distribution channel of airlines, you can often find exclusive deals, discounted travel packages, and other money-saving perks.



Flight Disruption Compensation

If your flight to or from Europe was delayed, canceled, overbooked, or missed (due to a problem with the airline), you could be eligible for financial compensation of up to €600 (per passenger) under EU law.

If the airline is not being cooperative and refuses to pay you unjustly, you can either sue them independently or, alternatively, use a flight compensation claim company that handles the entire process on your behalf (including taking the airline to court, if necessary).

These companies work on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis – meaning you pay them a success fee only if they win.

Accommodation

Choosing the best accommodation is a critical element of successful trip planning. It depends on countless factors, such as your travel style, goals, budget, and location.
Whether you’re planning to spend your stay in a hotel, Airbnb property, hostel, or elsewhere, you can find a wide range of options to meet your needs anywhere in the world.


Hotel Comparison Sites

Hotel aggregators gather and display hotel listings and pricing details from a variety of travel-related websites across the web and let users find the best room rate from all these sources.


Hotel Booking Sites

Hotel booking services enable travelers to search, find, and reserve accommodations anywhere in the world, both well in advance and at the last minute.
The biggest and most active platforms offer a convenient way to compare properties, room options, amenities, guest reviews, and prices with advanced sorting and filtering tools.



Major Global Hotel Chains

The world’s largest hotel chains operate a variety of economy, midscale, upscale, and luxury hotels and resorts – suited for every taste and budget.
Most chains offer rewards through their free-to-join loyalty programs in the form of special rates, room upgrades, free nights, or other exclusive benefits.

  • InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
    Popular brands: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, etc.
  • Accor
    Popular brands: Sofitel, Swissotel, Novotel, Mercure, ibis, etc.
  • Choice Hotels
    Popular brands: Ascend, Comfort, Clarion, Cambria, etc.
  • Marriott
    Popular brands: Marriott, Sheraton, The Ritz-Carlton, Westin, etc.
  • Hilton Hotels
    Popular brands: Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Canopy, etc.
  • Best Western
    Popular brands: Best Western, WorldHotels, SureStay.
  • Radisson Hotels
    Popular brands: Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn, Country Inn & Suites, etc.
  • Wyndham
    Popular brands: Wyndham, La Quinta, Ramada, Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, etc.



Hostel Booking Sites

The major hostel booking platforms will help you explore different low-cost accommodation options at your destination and learn about each hostel’s location, available room types, property facilities, past guest reviews, price, and other key factors.



Airbnb and Other Vacation Rental Platforms

Online short-term vacation rental marketplaces attract millions of couples, families with kids, groups, and pet owners, who have needs that traditional hotel stays can’t satisfy.

Travelers who look for more space, convenience, privacy, flexibility, local authenticity, and cost-effectiveness – not to mention, a fully stocked kitchen, washer and dryer, or other important necessities, can find them in homes, apartments, and other rental properties that are listed on these websites.



Home Exchange

Stay in someone else’s home while they stay in yours, letting both parties enjoy free accommodation, a much cheaper vacation, and the ability to live like a true local abroad, through a mutually beneficial win-win concept that can save everyone big money.



Housesitting

Another free accommodation model allows travelers to live in someone’s home for free in exchange for looking after their pets and property.
International house-sitting websites are designed to match potential house-sitters to home and pet owners around the world.


Homestays

Rent someone’s spare room for a short or long-term stay at budget-friendly prices.
Stay with a local individual or family at their home when visiting a new destination and save money while enjoying an authentic and enriching hospitality experience.


Couchsurfing

Stay at local people’s homes, who open their doors and hearts to world travelers, as a free act of kindness. The hosts typically provide very basic accommodations (such as a spare bed or sofa to sleep on) at no cost.

Private Airport Transfer Services

Pre-booked private transportation to or from the airport picks you and your travel companions up and drops you off at your desired destination safely and quickly.
Arranging such a prepaid ride in advance can help you avoid queuing, waiting, carrying around heavy luggage, or dealing with unknown costs.

Airport Lounge Access

Global lounge programs offer members access to a large network of airport lounges all over the world, where travelers can enjoy a clean, comfortable, quiet space to relax, pass some time or get work done before they board their flight.

Lounges offer frequent business and leisure travelers an enhanced airport experience, with features like a complimentary food buffet, snacks, drinks (including alcohol), Wi-Fi, comfortable seats, working space, charging stations, TV, shower facilities, or other amenities.

Airport Parking

Unlike onsite airport parking lots, which are located within the departure airport’s boundary and typically carry extremely expensive rates, offsite third-party providers are not located within the airport itself – but nearby.

Private off-airport parking facilities offer a variety of benefits, such as much cheaper short and long-term rates, 24/7 video surveillance, covered, open-air, and valet parking options, free shuttles to and from the terminal, and other benefits.

Public Transportation

Using the local public transportation system is an easy, affordable, and convenient way to get around and explore any modern destination you travel to.

Some websites and mobile apps can help you plan your journey, understand which buses, trams, metros, or trains you need to take, check out real-time arrival and departure times, navigate to your desired location, and more.

Ridesharing

Using ridesharing apps is a popular way to arrange one-way transportation on short notice.
Travelers can easily book a ride on their mobile device, in countries and cities where this on-demand service is available, get real-time updates on the driver’s location, pay, and keep track of expenses.

Car Rental

Renting a vehicle abroad offers a great way to drive leisurely anywhere, anytime, without any limitations or restrictions and without relying on public transport.
As you can imagine, driving your own car in a foreign destination can open up a whole new world of possibilities.

Whether you want to move around freely in a city or plan to take a road trip that covers many beautiful towns and villages on your route, getting a rental car can provide you with the independence, flexibility, and convenience you seek.


Car Rental Booking Sites

The large and popular platforms help you compare vehicles, features, and prices to get the right car that fits your budget, trip plans, desired class, luggage storage requirement, comfort preferences, and travel party size.



Car Rental Companies

Booking a car rental directly with one of the major companies in the industry will enable you to enjoy better levels of trust, reliability, and customer service, the benefits of their rewards programs, and in some cases, the lowest rates available on the web.

Cruises

Boat cruises have become one of the most popular means of vacationing for millions of couples, families, and groups every year.

They offer a great way to unwind, relax and get away from the daily rigors of life, explore multiple destinations in a single trip and enjoy a variety of food, entertainment, onboard activities, shore excursions, and shopping opportunities.

Group Tour Companies

If you prefer to leave planning and coordination hassles to the experts, consider booking a fully-organized guided tour that typically includes accommodations, transportation, meals, activities, or other trip components.

Multi-day group tours offer an opportunity to meet and travel with like-minded people, learn about the destination from an informed guide, get a much deeper understanding of the countries you’re visiting and enjoy the trip without having to worry about anything.

Travel Insurance

Protect yourself against financial risks and losses that could happen unexpectedly while traveling abroad. Leaving your country without travel insurance means that if something happens, you are personally accountable for all the potential expenses.

The risks range from relatively minor events, such as missed airline connections and delayed luggage, to more serious scenarios, such as last-minute trip cancellation, injuries, major illness, or other medical emergencies.

Travel Insurance Comparison Sites

Using travel insurance aggregators and comparison tools can help you explore and evaluate individual plans from different insurers in one place and find the best policy for your needs in terms of features, coverage, benefits, and price.


Travel Insurance Companies

You can also purchase a policy directly from travel insurance companies without going through comparison engines or other travel-related websites.
In some cases, plans can cost less if purchased directly from an insurer as opposed to a third-party website.

Attractions and Experiences

When you reach a new destination, there are so many things to do and sights to see. It can be difficult to know where to start: famous tourist attractions, iconic landmarks, day trips, walking and food tours, museums, amusement and theme parks… and the list goes on and on.

The major travel activity platforms offer an easy way to search, compare, and book tickets to all types of activities, attractions, and tours, all over the world.

  • Viagogo – Concert, sports, and theater tickets for your destination.

Food

For many, food and travel are two of life’s greatest pleasures.
When traveling overseas, eating great food and having unforgettable dining adventures can often be one of the highlights of your trip.

Some websites and apps help check out what options are available in your destination in terms of taste, style, location, and budget.

  • EatWith
    Join a local host abroad for an authentic culinary experience.
  • Michelin Guide
    The world’s most prestigious restaurant guide.
  • Happy Cow
    Find vegan and vegetarian restaurants near you.
  • Find Me Gluten Free
    Find gluten-free friendly restaurants near you.
  • Cookly
    Authentic cooking classes worldwide.
  • TripAdvisor
    Millions of restaurant reviews and photos from travelers.

Local Luggage Storage

Luggage storage search services offer a convenient way to find and book places where you can temporarily store your luggage at your destination.
On-demand short-term storage providers include hotels, cafes, convenience stores, or other local small shops, where you can safely leave your belongings for a few hours or days.

Communication

Having a working phone when traveling to other countries is probably the best thing you can do to stay connected, reduce stress and maximize your ability to enjoy your trip.
Make sure to prepare your phone for international use before your departure to keep your communication costs down and your mobile device safe.

eSIM Providers

Purchasing an international service plan through your carrier can be expensive.
Alternatively, buying and installing a physical local SIM card overseas is inconvenient and can sometimes be a time-wasting hassle.

If you only need internet access when you travel abroad and have a relatively modern smartphone that supports eSIM technology, you can simply buy a data plan online and download it digitally, straight to your device, saving you lots of time and money.


VPN

Whether you’re traveling for work or leisure, it’s essential to keep your data safe, protect your privacy and have better peace of mind when you’re on the go.
VPNs offer an important layer of protection against a variety of online threats: hackers, government bodies, cybercriminals, and other malicious third-party snoopers.

Luggage

No matter where you’re going or how often you travel, having the right luggage is essential to a good trip, since it helps with planning, packing, and keeping you organized while away.
With so many luggage brands, it’s not that difficult to find checked suitcases, carry-ons, backpacks, or under-seat bags that deliver functionality, durability, and your kind of style.

Travel Gear

Make sure you are fully equipped with all the necessary travel essentials: clothing, footwear, packing organizers, accessories, gadgets, specialty gear, and anything else you may need to make your trip a success.

Travel Companion Sites

Tired of traveling solo? Meeting new people is one of the best parts of traveling.
The following websites can help you partner with a like-minded travel buddy to share trip costs and experiences.

Do you know of any other useful traveler-friendly
resources we may have missed?

Let us know, and we’ll consider adding them to the list!

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