Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

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The companies below are my favorites budget travel resources because they are the ones that I myself use consistently, where I start my planning, where I make my purchases, and because they are easy to use, save me money, and offer great customer service when needed.

Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

The next time you book a trip, start here in terms of planning and making reservations.

Trip Planning

Travel Destinations – Of course, I’ve written extensively about travel through the Americas, so start with my free travel guides if that area is on your list. When I’m heading somewhere new I use:

Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Wiki Travel – A great crowdsourced and free way to get local travel information on virtually any destination around the world.

Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Lonely Planet – My favorite of the many different guidebook brands. You’ll find great tips for all sorts of off the beaten path parts of the world. If you don’t want the weight, they’ve also got ebook versions which are handy.

AirfareBudget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Momondo – Consistently returns some of the cheapest flights available, even internationally, because they feature lots of budget airlines as well.

Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Kayak – Kayak is usually one of my first stops for airfare searches originating from the U.S. and will help you uncover some great deals on flights.

Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Skyscanner – I always search airfare through multiple sites to ensure I’m getting the best deal, and Skyscanner is one of my favorites.Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Kiwi – This is another excellent site for finding cheap flights, particularly if you are a flexible traveler. I love the Nomad search feature to uncover some true gems.

Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Scott’s Cheap Flights – This is a paid (but cheap) service that sends out flight deals for all over the country to destinations around the world. The best deals will require you to act quickly and be flexible. 

Budget travel resources and favorite companies to book flights, hotels, and activities

Honestly, though, I try not to pay full price for airfare, like, ever. If you’ve got the time before your trip (at least a few months lead time) then get started travel hacking with airline miles which allow you save many hundreds of dollars thanks to the best travel credit cards.

If you aren’t already familiar with this concept, then be sure to read my Travel Hacking 101 article ASAP and then dive into the rest of my many budget travel tips.

Read More: Finding Cheap Flights

AccommodationBudget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Booking – I used Booking a LOT for hostels or cheap hotel stays throughout Latin America. It’s got a wide selection, solid reviews, and you don’t pay until you arrive.Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

You can usually find the best deals here on budget lodging but may want to check Hostel World as well.Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Orbitz – Orbitz is a favorite of mine for mid-level lodging at hotels, and they’ve got some cool benefits like Orbucks which can be earned on airfare or lodging purchases and be applied to future hotel stays. They’ve got extra benefits for frequent users like me, like reimbursement for checked bags or for TSA pre-check.Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Hotels.com – Another great choice for hotel searches is the aptly named Hotels.com, which offers up a stay 10 nights, get one night free benefit.

Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Trusted House Sitters – Take care of people’s homes and pets in exchange for a free place to stay, what’s not to love? This is one of the most underutilized ways to travel the world on a budget.Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Airbnb – Finally, Airbnb is probably my #1 choice for times when I just want my own lodging with a kitchen and a bit of privacy. Oh, and if you’re a new user, you can save at least $20 on your next booking by signing up through my link

Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Couchsurfing – Find a free place to crash in cities all around the world. Just be sure to be a good guest!

Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

WWOOF – Volunteering with WWOOFing is a fun way to connect with local projects in exchange for room and board. I’ve done it a few times and it is a great way to stretch your budget and time in a country.Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and SaveWork Away – This is another great site for finding work in exchange for free room and board!

Read More: How to Find Cheap Accommodation

Activities & Tours

You don’t have to book full-on, multi-day tours, but can get some pretty great activities organized in advance, whether it is sightseeing, walking tours, adventure activities, or culinary tours.

Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

Get Your Guide – Book activities, tours, and day trips all over the world with this awesome site which offers up great pricing and plenty of options with knowledgable and experienced guides. I love that the tours have opinions from previous guests.

Travel Insurance

Budget Travel Resources: Favorite Companies to Book Your Trip and Save

World Nomads – Yeah, nobody likes to think about things like sickness, injury, or theft, but it is better to cover yourself during your trip… Things do happen while traveling, unfortunately, so insurance is a MUST. Don’t leave home without it.

 

So there you have it, a guide to some of my favorite travel resources to help you save money on your next trip. Purchasing through these links helps to fund this travel blog and allows me to bring you more great information on destinations around the world. 

Read Next: Travel Tips & Tricks

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