This post was most recently updated on March 27th, 2019
Here are some of my favorite sites and various travel resources:
(Updated regularly)
iVisa.com: Everything you should know about Visas — just enter your country and the country you are traveling to, and learn exactly what your Visa needs are.
comparetravelinsurance.com.au: A fun, comprehensive guide to travel insurance
tripadvisor.com: Customer reviews for hotels/attractions, lists of sites to see, forums
budgettravel.com: Great travel stories, package deals, and lots of travel tips
skyscanner.com: Compares millions of flights to find the cheapest deal; if you don’t know where you want to go, Skyscanner will tell you the cheapest places to go at any given time
momondo.com Another great site for finding the cheapest flights without using cookies. Very helpful because it also includes train fares.
airfarewatchdog.com: Subscribe free and get updated fare sales from your favorite airports
kayak.com: Type in destination/dates and you’ll get a comparison of most airlines’ fares
google flights: Get best flights available in real time for a specific location or a general area
seatguru.com: Lets you know when it’s worth it to purchase premium seats
rivercrusing.com: A favorite of Pauline Frommer’s for booking river cruises
CroisiEurope.travel: Another great resource for booking river cruises. You get the best deals at the last minute or when you book in advance for low season.
ricksteves.com: Rick’s travel tips and forums are invaluable; guidebooks, too
hotelscombined.com: Pauline Frommer’s first choice for booking hotels at the best price
booking.com: Hotel rooms worldwide, reliable reviews, free cancellations, free breakfasts are often included!
homeaway.com, vrbo.com, airbnb.com: Unique vacation rentals worldwide
HomeForExchange.com, where you can exchange homes with others anywhere in the world, and stay for free!
groupon.com: Find deals on lodging, admissions, and dining in most major US cities
Favorite Blogs:
Life with Almonds My daughter’s life experiences and inspiration she finds in simple things
Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company Talented modern dance company in Provo, UT, owned and directed by my daughter
A Hole in My Shoe: Lyn and Steve are based in Perth, Western Australia — fascinating stories of their travels all over the world; they didn’t start traveling till they were 50!
Small Town Washington: Lara’s blog about small towns in the state of Washington is one of my favorites because I grew up there. Plus she is an amazing writer, and her photos are just beautiful!
52PerfectDays: Where you can find lists of all the best things to do in nearly every location you can think of!
North American Traveller: Tiffany Thornton and guest writers share with you the most beautiful spots in North America — sharing adventure, wildlife, and gorgeous outdoor scenery!
Wherever I May Roam: Based in Florida, Melody Pittman and her daughter share all their adventures and weekend getaways, whethere they’re in Florida, the Midwest, or somewhere new. Always fun reviews of festivals, restaurants, resorts, and more!
Our Family Passport: The Smiths’ multi-generational family shows us how families can travel and learn and grow together. Lots of travel tips for traveling with kids and free printable coloring pages, too.
Travel With Sara: Sara specializes in information about the Midwest, Iowa, Alabama, and Colorado. She’s especially good at finding hidden gems!
Just Short of Crazy: Travel with Deb Thompson and learn quickly she’s the queen of road trips! But she also shares recipes and lifestyle tips.
Mike’s Road Trip: If Deb is the queen of road trips, Mike is certainly the King. Great coverage of just about anywhere you’d ever want to travel by car! His blog claims he’s the “most road-tripped man in the world.”
Travel Inspired Living: Tonya Prater takes us on all of her adventures, and when she’s at home, she shares tips, recipes, decoration ideas, and more!