Travel Tools I Use: From Planning to Booking
Great question. And one I get asked constantly when I mention I’m in travel!
Here’s the truth about travel planning: You don’t need to use every booking site on the internet. You need to use the right travel tools at the right stage of planning. That’s it.
After 37 years as a Professional Tour Manager, booking travel all over the world I’ve refined my process down to a core set of reliable resources that actually deliver results. No endless tab-switching. No analysis paralysis. No wondering if you’re getting ripped off.
What You’ll Find in My Travel Resources Guide
I’m sharing the exact booking platforms and planning resources I use for planning my trips:
- 🛡️ Research and Plan: Tools to find destinations and how to get there
- 💸 Insurance: Travel insurance, medical insurance and specialist cruise insurance
- ✈️ Airports and Parking: Everything you need to make airports a better experience
- 🏨 Accommodation: Hotels, apartments, and self catering accommodation
- 🚗 Getting Around: Car hire and train booking tools
- 🎯 Activities & Tours: Book tours and activities
These aren’t random recommendations. They are tools I trust and use myself when I am planning my own trips.
A Note on Transparency
Some of these links are affiliate links, which means if you book through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep this website running. However, I only recommend tools I genuinely use myself and would recommend to my own family. If something stops performing well, I remove it—regardless of commission rates.
You can read more about how I evaluate and recommend travel resources in my editorial policy.
Research and Planning Travel Tools & Resources
Searching Flight Routes by Budget
- If I have a set budget for a trip then I often take a look at Kayak Explore.
- In this tool you set how much your budget is, how long you would like to go away for, and you will get a map showing the flight routes that are in your budget.
- As someone that likes to travel as far as possible within my budget this is very helpful research.
Booking Flights
- Recently I have been using Trip.com for booking flights. I really like the rewards, which have included great hotel rates and a free airport lounge pass amongst other things.
- I recently booked a trip to London which included multiple flights, train journeys and hotels all on Trip because it was too complicated to keep track of so many bookings on different apps.
Planning Train Travel
- I am starting to travel by train more – it’s such a great way to actually see more of the places you are visiting.
- I use The Man in Seat 61 for getting an overview of routes and timetables for countries and places I want to visit.
Booking Train Travel
- Then I use The Trainline for buying tickets – I really like the fact you can change your ticket right up until the time you depart and the money you paid goes towards your new ticket so you don’t lose it all. I recently had to do this on a trip to London and it saved me £60.
Booking Train Travel on Trip
- I also use Trip.com for train tickets. Sometimes for shorter trips I will book everything in Trip so it’s all in one place. There is no need for a trip planning app as the Trip app updates with each part of the journey as you move through it, and all the information is one place.
Looking for tried and tested essential travel gear? 👇
Insurance Travel Tools & Resources
Don’t Leave Home Without It – Travel Insurance
- I have seen guests experience medical emergencies all over the world. I’ve seen the value of travel insurance first hand. I’ve liaised with insurance companies when they have been organising ambulance transfers, rescheduled flights, nurses to accompany guests, hotel accommodation and medical treatment.
- I’ve helped guests deal with the paperwork and I’ve liaised with their families to keep them updated at a very worrying time. I know that when it really matters travel insurance is invaluable.
- As a frequent traveller I have a yearly policy which means I can book travel anywhere, anytime and I know I am covered. This gives me huge peace of mind when travelling.
Important Information – Don’t Risk It
- Don’t make the mistake of thinking that your European Health Card is a travel insurance equivalent. It isn’t. It just allows you to be treated in the country applicable as a local resident. It does not cover any form of repatriation to your home country.
- It is simply not worth taking the risk of travelling without travel insurance.
- It is also incredibly important to declare everything to your travel insurance provider initially so that you are completely covered. Failure to disclose any condition, no matter how minor, is likely to mean you have no cover.
- If your health changes between taking the policy out and your travel dates you must update your travel insurance company otherwise you may find you have no cover when you really need it.
- If you have a health condition which is currently undiagnosed, because you are waiting for further tests for example, you will not be able to get any type of travel insurance.
Travel Insurance Comparison Site
Compare over 200 travel insurance providers in one place quickly and easily. This site is ideal if you have a general insurance requirement rather than complex medical conditions or specifically cruise insurance (see below for better options for those)
Medical Travel Insurance Comparison
If you have more complex medical conditions then a specialist travel insurance might be more affordable (it’s always wise to check both just in case)
Compare Specialised Cruise Insurance
If you are going on a cruise then specialised cruise insurance may be a better deal than a general policy.
Travel Tools
Hotel Travel Tools & Resources
I use several hotel booking tools when looking for accommodation at airports and I always compare to make sure I am getting the best deal.
Trivago
Trivago does a lot of the hard work for you if you want to compare accommodation. Sometimes it finds an amazing deal that just can’t be beaten anywhere else. If free cancellation is important to you then there might be a more limited selection.
Booking.com
Booking.com is a go to as my Genius membership rewards give me a discount and also upgrades which are often a nice treat.
Trip.com
Trip also has some great membership rewards as your Trip coins build up. I always compare them. Sometimes I book everything with them just because it is easier and everything is all in one place.
Park and Fly Deals with Holiday Extras
If you are specifically looking for Park and Fly Deals then check out Holiday Extras who have these for most UK airports
Self Catering Accommodation
I have a small dog so I like taking self catering holidays so we can go together.
Holidaycottages
I generally check both sites because where I end up making my booking depends on the location and type of accommodation available.
Sykes Cottages
I always compare Sykes. If you want to stay in a historic property they also have National Trust properties on their site too.
Airport Parking Tools & Resources
No one likes paying any more than they need to for airport parking and some parking costs are eye watering!
25% Discount on Airport Parking with Holidayextras
I have a special discount code which gives readers of my site 25% discount on airport parking
Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh is one of the airports I use regularly so I often end up parking here. There are all sorts of parking options available from Plane Parking, which is good value but you need to get on a bus to the very lovely valet parking which makes you feel like a VIP.
Readers of my site get a 10% discount too!
Airport Security and Lounge Access
My tolerance for airport security ran out a long time ago. It’s such a dreadful way to start your trip – being shouted at for no reason. I hate it. Fastrack security minimises the amount of time I spend doing this absolute chore and it also reduces the likelihood of being shouted at too!
Fast Track Security With HolidayExtras
Speed your way through security with a Fast Track pass from Holidayextras
Airport Lounge Access
I really don’t like flying that much. I am a nervous flyer and airports often feel busy and overwhelming. Combine that with uncomfortable seating and it’s a horrible start to a flight. I have been using airport lounges for a long time now – they are an essential upgrade and transform the airport experience completely.
LoungePair
Get occassional lounge access with LoungePair who offer pay as you go passes which are refundable if there are any issues with access
Airport Lounge Membership
If you are planning on using an airport lounge more than 4-5 times a year then airport lounge membership is likely to be a better option for you. I have used Priority Pass for years and love checking out new lounges.
Getting Around
- How you get around when you visit somewhere depends on where you are going and what you plan to do.
- For some trips a hire care is best – there’s nothing like having the freedom of your own vehicle to head off on day trips and it’s a great way to live a bit more like a local.
- If you are planning on hiring a car then taking an excess insurance policy is a great way to save money. I always take this cover out myself. This covers the huge excess that car hire companies have and it is always cheaper than the excess cover insurance they will try and sell you when hiring a car.
- Using local transport is also a great way to see a bit more of daily life too. I love using local trains particularly. Thankfully the fabulous Trainline means I can book transport in any country.
- In some countries there is one main train operator and they can be good value for train tickets. OBB is the main train operator for Austria and their trains travel all over Europe.
- Several countries also have unlimited train travel schemes which can be great value too.
Travel Tools
Activities
- Often when we travel we are looking to experience new things – see new sights and visit new places. Booking the key activities in advance is a great way to ensure you don’t miss out on that key visit during your trip.
- Get Your Guide has quite a good cancellation policy if you know your plans are going to change.
- I also look on local pages for places I am going to visit for events and festivals. The other thing I do is scroll around on Google Maps – I use this to find places that are near where I will be staying or visiting. It’s a good way to find something a little unexpected.
Travel Tools
Top Time Saving Travel Tool!
- Planning a trip, particularly if it is complex or somewhere you are not familiar with, can be terribly time consuming. Getting different suppliers to align in terms of timings and dates not to mention pricing.
- If you want someone to do all the hard work for you so you can just relax and enjoy your holiday then using an independent travel agent is a great time saver.
- Independent travel agents are not bound to a particular holiday company – they work with a large range of suppliers – so they are free to find the holiday that suits you bet.
I’m an independent travel agent.
Get in touch and let me do all the hard work for you.
My Recommended Travel Essentials – Tried and Tested Travel Gear
Check out my list of recommended travel essentials – tried and tested travel gear.
It’s everything I use when travelling to make sure I have everything I need whatever trip I am taking.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this page may earn me a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps keep my website going at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, I only recommend things I genuinely love! For more details, check out my cookie policy., editorial policy and privacy policy
Travel Resources For You
- Independent Travel Agent – let me book everything for you and save yourself lots of time
- Travel Inspiration – real trip reports and reviews to help you plan your next adventure
- Travel Essentials – all my tried and tested travel gear
- Airport Lounges – Everything you need to know including lots about Priority Pass
- Invergordon Cruise Port – all you need to know to help your plan your visit
- About Melanie – my travel background and travel experience
- Work with Me – details of the services I provide