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Accommodation Bookings | Activities | Backpacking Essentials | eSIM | Transportation Bookings | Travel Accessories | Travel Insurance |
Travel Resources: Tools We Actually Use
Planning your next adventure? These are the travel tools, gear, and services we actually use and trust — from finding flights to booking accommodations, renting cars, getting connected abroad, and packing the right gear. Some links are affiliate links, which help support this site at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog!
Accommodation Booking Sites
Hostelworld | Hotel Booking Platforms | VRBO |
Expedia
Hotels and Packages
Expedia is a well-known and widely trusted platform, especially for straightforward hotel bookings.
- Read reviews and view clear cancellation policies
- Search and book hotels worldwide
- Compare rates, locations, and amenities
Trip.com
Hotels Worldwide
Trip.com has become our go-to booking site for accommodation, particularly for international travel and longer stays.
- We consistently find competitive pricing here
- Strong international hotel coverage
- Competitive rates for Europe and Asia
- Useful for multi-country trips and longer stays
VRBO
Find Your Home Away From Home
Looking for space, privacy, and local charm? Browse VRBO vacation rentals for everything from cozy cabins to beachfront villas — perfect for families, groups, and long-term stays.
Hostelworld
Looking for quality budget accommodations?
Compare thousands of hostels worldwide
Free cancellation on many properties
Transportation
✈️ Flights: Tools I Personally Use to Find the Best Fare
I rarely book flights through OTAs (online travel agencies). Instead, I use these tools to search, compare, and track prices, then I almost always book directly with the airline for smoother customer service, easier changes, and better loyalty benefits
🔍 Google Flights
My main tool for flight research
✔️Filters for layovers, baggage, alliances, and departure times
Price tracking alerts
✔️Shows the best combinations without pushing any airline
✔️Use the ‘Explore’ option if your travel dates or destinations are flexible and you want inspiration or the cheapest flights.
Best for: research + comparing routes
🧭 Skyscanner (Exploring as a new option)
I’m just learning Skyscanner myself, but it looks promising.
✔️Good for budget airlines that don’t always appear on Google Flights
✔️Flexible date and “Everywhere” search options
✔️Shows OTA vs. direct airline prices
Best for: creative routes or budget-conscious travelers
🏨 Expedia
My original research tool
✔️Useful for booking with new airlines or when I wanted pricing in Canadian dollars
✔️Now that I have a credit card without foreign exchange fees, tend to book directly with both domestic and foreign airlines
Best for: quick fare comparisons, native currency pricing, extra comfort with unfamiliar airlines, or convenient one step booking
Bottom Line:
Use these tools to find the best options, then book directly with the airline whenever possible for a smooth, reliable experience. If foreign exchange fees or unfamiliar airlines are a concern, or you want the most convenient option, Expedia is a trusted and easy-to-use OTA.
eSIM
BNE eSIM
💡 Stay connected anywhere without swapping SIM cards.
Activities
Go City Cards | Get Your Guide & Viator |
Go City Cards
🎟️ Save Money with Go City Passes
Go City cards let you visit top attractions at dozens of cities worldwide
for one upfront price
✅ Skip-the-line at many locations
✅ Mobile pass—no printing or multiple tickets
✅ Saves money if you’re seeing 2–3+ attractions
Perfect for travelers who want convenience, savings, and flexibility in one simple pass
Tour Booking Companies
Generally we tend to keep our travels self directed, but when we look for tours we check both Get Your Guide and Viator. They both shine in different ways. Here’s how to decide which one to use
Get Your Guide
✓ Very clean, easy-to-use app and interface
✓ Highly curated — great quality control
✓ Excellent cancellation flexibility
✓ Lots of small-group & local operator tours
Best for: hidden gems, adventure experiences, flexible plans
Viator
✓ Massive selection of tours worldwide
✓ Massive selection of tours worldwide
✓ “Reserve Now, Pay Later” on many tours
✓ Millions of TripAdvisor-verified reviews
Best for: popular sights, skip-the-line tickets, sightseeing tours
Bottom Line
If you’re booking major attractions, compare prices on both. If you prefer small-group or local tours with flexible cancellation, check GetYourGuide first. For popular tourist hotspots or skip-the-line tickets, Viator usually has more options.
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing Insurance
Essential Coverage
- Overall Coverage…………..$250,000
- Emergency Medical………..$250,000
- Lost checked luggage………$500
- Trip interruption…………….$5000
- For flight home
- Travel Delay………………………………$100/day
- Maximum 2 days
- Inaccessible/canceled accommodation………..Not Covered
Complete Coverage
- Overall Coverage………$1 500 000
- Emergency Medical…….$1 500 000
- Lost checked luggage….$500
- Trip interruption………..$5000
- For flight home
- Travel Delay………………..
- $60 for delay up to 3 hours
- $150/night
- Inaccessible/canceled accommodation………..$150
Check SafetyWing’s website for a complete breakdown of cost and coverage for both plans.
Travel Accessories
All Season Travel Accessories
- Water Bottle
- Daypack
- Microfibre Towel
- Travel Sized Toiletry Containers
- Universal Power Adapter
- Comfortable Shoes
- Passport Wallet
- Umbrella
- Cross Body or Anti Theft Bag
- Portable Phone Charger
- Phone Charging Cable
- Camera
- Tripod
- GoPro Hero 13
- Drone
Backpacking Essentials
🎒 Pack & Storage
- Back pack
- Women’s Osprey Renn 65L $$ REI Amazon
- Women’s Osprey Aura AG $$$ REI Amazon
- Men’s Osprey Atmos AG 65 $$$
- Daypack
- Dry Bags
🏕️ Shelter & Sleep
- Tent
- MEC 2.0 $$
- Big Agnes Copper Spur $$$
- Emergency Repair Kit
- Sleeping pad
- Big Agnes Rapid SL $$
- Nemo Tensor $$$
- Sleeping bag
- Naturehike Lightweight (Good for warm climates 10° C/50° F)
- Nemo (Good for colder climates down to -1° C/30°F)
🔥 Cooking & Food
- Camping Stove
- Fuel
- Waterproof BBQ Lighter
- Frying Pan/Pot
- Long Handle Spork
- Insulated Food Thermos
- Collapsible Bowls
- Dish Washing Sink
- Wilderness Soap
🧻 Toiletries & Hygiene
- Trowel
- Microfibre Towel
- Travel Sized Toiletry Containers
- Toilet paper or wipes
- Hand sanitizer 0r Travel Soap Sheets
💧 Water & Filtration
- Hydration Bladder
- Water Filter
- Backup Purification Tablets
- Electrolytes
🧭 Navigation & Safety
- Map & compass/ GPS
- Emergency Communication Device (if hiking remote location)
- Zoleo $$
- Garmin inReach $$$
- Headlamp $
- First aid kit
- Moleskin
- Trekking poles $
Non Essential Backpacking Essentials
For comfort and convenience
- Collapsible Go Cup
- pillow
- Hikeventure $
- Nemo $$
- Mini Air Pump & Camp Light
- Camp Chair
- Naturehike $ (US only)
- Trekology $ (Canadian option)
- Helinox Chair Zero $$$
- Hammock