Planning your next big adventure? We’ve rounded up our favorite tried-and-tested travel tools, apps, gear, and booking platforms to make your journey smoother, cheaper, and way more fun.
From scoring $200 flights to sipping wine in secret coastal towns, these are the resources that help us travel smarter, and now they’re yours to bookmark, use, and come back to anytime.
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✈️ Planning & Booking Tools
These are the first things we open when planning a trip:
- Expedia– is perfect when we’re looking to bundle flights, hotels, and even rental cars, all in one place. It’s a great choice for travelers who want quick comparisons, last-minute deals, and a one-stop shop for building their dream itinerary without hopping between websites.
- Skyscanner – Still our go-to for finding the cheapest flights across multiple airlines. Use “Whole Month” or “Everywhere” for hidden deals.
- Booking.com – Reliable, flexible, and full of hidden gems. Great filters for couples, boutique hotels, and walkable locations.
- TrustedHousesitters – Stay for free while taking care of adorable pets around the world. We used this to spend 2 weeks in Stockholm for $0.
- GetYourGuide – Book unique local tours (like underground caves or cheese tastings) with free cancellation.
- Viator– is our go-to for finding local tours, hidden experiences, and skip-the-line passes, especially when we want to uncover a destination’s personality beyond the usual sightseeing. Whether we’re sipping wine in Portugal, taking a cooking class in Morocco, or cruising through Charleston’s harbor, Viator helps us book it easily and confidently.
- SafetyWing – Affordable and flexible travel medical insurance. We never leave the country without it.
💳 Travel Credit Cards & Money Tips
Save more, worry less:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred – Earn points on travel + dining with strong travel insurance perks.
- Wise Multi-Currency Account – Send and spend money globally with the best exchange rates. We use this instead of a travel bank.
- Charles Schwab Checking – No ATM fees anywhere in the world. Perfect for U.S. travelers abroad.
🎒 Packing Essentials & Travel Gear
Stuff we pack every single time:
- Compression Cubes – These changed our packing game. Organize, compress, and travel light.
- Anker Power Bank – Reliable battery life for long travel days or photo-heavy trips.
- Pacsafe Anti-Theft Backpack – Stylish and secure. Perfect for cities and airport travel.
- Sea to Summit Travel Towel – Quick-dry, compact, and perfect for beach or hostel life.
- Noise-Canceling Headphones or Noise-Canceling Wireless Earbuds– A must on flights, trains, or anywhere with chatter.
📲 Travel Apps That Make Life Easier
Apps we actually use on the road:
- Google Maps Offline – Download maps before you go. Great for navigating without Wi-Fi.
- Rome2Rio – Find out how to get anywhere by bus, train, ferry, or flight.
- Google Translate – Surprisingly accurate voice and photo translation.
- Splitwise – Share expenses easily if you’re traveling with friends or another couple.
- Currency Converter Plus – Fast, accurate, and ad-free.
🌱 Sustainable Travel & Local Impact
Support places you love:
- Volunteering with Workaway – Stay free while contributing to communities.
- Plastic-free essentials – We always travel with a collapsible water bottle and beeswax wraps.
❤️Some of Our Favorite Excursions on/in the Water
📍 Transparent Kayak Glow Tour in Split, Croatia
📍Bioluminescence Snorkeling Tour in Grand Cayman
📍Charleston Harbor Sunset Cruise on the Schooner Pride
📍Full Moon Kayak Tour in Charleston, South Carolina
📍Benagil Cave and Hidden Spots Kayak Tour in Algarve, Portugal
📌 Bookmark This Page
We’re always updating this list with the latest tools, discounts, and hidden gems we discover. Save this page to your favorites and check back before every trip!