Travel Planning Resources
Planning a trip can feel overwhelming, but the right tools make the process much easier. On this page, you’ll find my trusted travel resources—from booking tours and finding hotels to comparing flights, reserving rental cars, and choosing travel insurance. These travel planning resources can help you organize every step of your journey in one place.
As a historian and experienced traveler, I’ve tested many of these services myself. These are the companies I personally recommend to help you plan a smooth, memorable trip.
Best Travel Booking Sites
Here are some of the best travel booking websites for organizing your trip:
| Travel Need | Recommended Booking Site |
|---|---|
| Hotels and accommodations | Booking.com |
| Vacation rentals | VRBO |
| Tours and activities | Viator or Get Your Guide |
| European tours | LivTours ✔ Exclusive Roaming Historian discount 10% off with code AMYRH10 |
| Flights and rental cars | Expedia or Booking.com |
| Travel insurance | TravelInsurance.com |
| Cruise excursions | Shore Excursions Group |
Using these platforms makes it easy to compare prices, read reviews, and reserve the key parts of your trip in advance.
Start Planning Your Trip
Below you’ll find more details about each of these travel resources and why I recommend them when planning a trip.
Book Tours and Experiences
Guided tours can transform a good trip into an unforgettable experience. Knowledgeable guides provide historical context, help you navigate busy attractions, and often include skip-the-line access at popular sites. When I visit major destinations, I often book small-group or expert-led tours to get deeper insight into the places I’m exploring.
If you’re looking for guided tours, skip-the-line tickets, or unique travel experiences, these booking platforms make it easy to reserve activities before your trip. Here are a few tour companies I frequently recommend:
LivTours
LivTours specializes in semi-private and private tours across Europe, with a maximum of six guests per group. Their guides are knowledgeable and engaging, making them an excellent choice for travelers who want a more personalized experience.
✔ Exclusive Roaming Historian discount 10% off with code AMYRH10
➡Check LivTours Tours: https://livtours.com?af_code=E1DDN61
The Tour Guy
The Tour Guy offers excellent guided tours in Europe, including skip-the-line access at some of the world’s most famous landmarks. Their tours often focus on storytelling and historical context, which makes them a great fit for curious travelers.
➡ Browse Tours with The Tour Guy: https://tidd.ly/3J78sNi
Viator
Viator (part of TripAdvisor) has one of the largest selections of tours worldwide, including private experiences, shore excursions, and small-group tours. It’s a great place to compare options and read traveler reviews before booking.
➡ Explore Tours on Viator https://www.viator.com/?pid=P00161535&mcid=42383&medium=link&medium_version=selector
Get Your Guide
Get Your Guide offers thousands of tours and activities around the world, from museum tickets and walking tours to day trips and unique experiences. It’s especially useful for booking popular attractions in advance and finding activities in destinations where guided tours sell out quickly.
➡ Find Tours on Get Your Guide https://www.getyourguide.com/?partner_id=CMSFGKK&utm_medium=online_publisher
Find Hotels and Vacation Rentals
Choosing the right place to stay can shape your entire travel experience. I usually recommend staying in the historic center of a destination whenever possible. Being close to major landmarks means you can walk to attractions, experience the atmosphere of the city in the morning and evening, and spend less time commuting.
Over the years, I’ve tried many booking platforms, but a few stand out for reliability, pricing, and selection.
Booking.com
Booking.com is my go-to platform for booking hotels and accommodations worldwide. It consistently offers one of the largest selections of properties—from boutique hotels and historic guesthouses to apartments and vacation rentals.
One reason I recommend Booking.com so often is its flexibility and transparency. Many listings offer free cancellation, which can be helpful if your travel plans change. The platform also includes verified guest reviews, detailed property descriptions, and helpful filters that make it easy to find accommodations that fit your budget and travel style.
Booking.com is particularly useful in Europe, where it often lists smaller independent hotels and family-run guesthouses that you might not find on other booking sites.
➡ Search for Hotels on Booking.com https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=6776&awinaffid=1985445
VRBO
If you prefer more space or a home-like setting, VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) is an excellent option. VRBO specializes in entire homes, apartments, and vacation rentals, making it ideal for families, groups, or travelers planning longer stays.
Unlike some rental platforms that focus on shared spaces, most VRBO listings offer entire properties, giving you more privacy and room to spread out. Many rentals also include full kitchens, multiple bedrooms, and amenities like laundry or outdoor spaces.
VRBO is especially helpful when traveling with family, friends, or anyone who wants the comfort of a home base while exploring a destination.
➡ Browse Vacation Rentals on VRBO https://vrbo.com/affiliate/KvF3nms
Hotels.com
Hotels.com is another popular booking platform with a wide range of accommodations around the world. One feature many travelers appreciate is its rewards program, which allows you to earn free nights after a certain number of bookings.
It can be a good option when comparing hotel prices across different platforms or when looking specifically for large chain hotels and resorts.
➡ Browse Hotels on Hotels.com https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/rdDAFaG
Tips for Booking the Right Accommodation
Before you book your stay, consider a few factors that can make your trip more comfortable:
Location matters most. Staying in a central neighborhood—especially in historic cities—makes it much easier to explore major attractions.
Check recent reviews. Look for patterns in guest feedback about cleanliness, service, and noise levels.
Compare room types carefully. European hotels in particular often offer several room sizes, so double-check what you’re reserving.
Look for flexible cancellation policies. Travel plans can change, and flexible reservations can give you peace of mind.
My Strategy for Finding the Best Hotel
When planning a trip, I usually start by searching on Booking.com to explore neighborhoods and accommodation options. Once I identify a few hotels that look promising, I compare reviews and room types before making a final decision.
This approach makes it easier to find well-located accommodations that fit both your itinerary and your budget.
Book Flights and Rental Cars
Getting to your destination is often the first step in planning a trip, and finding the right flights can make a big difference in both cost and convenience. When I begin researching flights, I usually start by comparing prices across a few trusted booking platforms. This helps me identify the best routes, schedules, and overall value.
Two platforms that make this process particularly easy are Booking.com and Expedia.
Booking.com
Many travelers know Booking.com as a hotel booking platform, but it also offers tools for searching flights and rental cars, making it a convenient place to organize multiple parts of your trip.
Booking.com’s flight search allows you to compare airlines, routes, and prices with filters for departure times, number of stops, and travel duration. If you prefer to explore your destination by car, you can also use Booking.com to compare rental car options from major companies around the world.
One advantage of using Booking.com is the ability to manage multiple parts of your trip in one place, especially if you are already booking your accommodations through the platform.
➡ Search for Flights on Booking.com https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=6776&awinaffid=1985445&campaign=flights&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fflights%2Findex.html
➡ Search for Car Rentals on Booking.com https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=6776&awinaffid=1985445&campaign=CarRentals&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fcars%2Findex.html
Expedia
Expedia is one of the most established online travel agencies and offers a wide range of booking options, including flights, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages.
One feature many travelers appreciate is the ability to bundle flights, hotels, and car rentals together, which can sometimes unlock additional savings. Expedia’s search tools also make it easy to compare multiple airlines and departure options to find flights that best fit your itinerary.
Because Expedia partners with airlines around the world, it can be especially useful when planning international trips or multi-city itineraries.
➡ Compare Transportation Prices on Expedia https://expedia.com/affiliate/p7ZcFsz
Tips for Finding Better Flights and Transportation
A few simple strategies can help you find better options when booking flights and ground transportation:
Book flights early for peak seasons. Airfare for summer travel, holidays, and major events often increases as departure dates approach.
Compare different travel days. Midweek flights are often less expensive than weekend departures.
Consider renting a car for regional travel. In many destinations, especially in rural areas or smaller towns, having a rental car makes it much easier to explore beyond the main tourist sites.
Check transportation options before you arrive. Booking flights and rental cars ahead of time can help avoid higher prices and limited availability.
Here is my blog on how I score the best flight deals: https://roaminghistorian.com/2025/12/07/use-ai-google-flights-flight-deals/
Why You Need Travel Insurance & Who We Recommend
Travel insurance is one of the simplest ways to protect the money you’ve invested in your trip. Unexpected events—such as illness, weather disruptions, or flight cancellations—can quickly turn a carefully planned itinerary into an expensive problem.
A good travel insurance policy can help cover things like:
- Trip cancellations or interruptions
- Emergency medical treatment abroad
- Lost, stolen, or delayed baggage
- Travel delays or missed connections
Even experienced travelers sometimes skip travel insurance, but it can provide valuable peace of mind—especially for international trips, cruises, or expensive vacations. While no one likes to think about travel disruptions, having the right coverage can make a difficult situation much easier to manage. Here are more of my thoughts on why you need travel insurance: https://roaminghistorian.com/2024/02/04/best-travel-insurance/
Compare Travel Insurance Policies
Not all travel insurance policies are the same. Coverage, limits, and exclusions can vary significantly depending on the provider and plan.
For that reason, I recommend comparing multiple policies before purchasing coverage. Comparison tools make it easy to review several options at once so you can choose the policy that best fits your trip and budget.
➡ Compare Travel Insurance Options https://www.travelinsurance.com/?utm_source=pap&a_aid=65590b3a60c44
When Should You Buy Travel Insurance?
In most cases, the best time to purchase travel insurance is soon after booking the first element of your trip. Buying early ensures that you are covered if something unexpected happens before your departure.
Some policies also include additional benefits when purchased shortly after your first trip payment, such as coverage for pre-existing medical conditions or “cancel for any reason” upgrades. Here’s my guide on when to buy travel insurance: https://roaminghistorian.com/2026/03/13/when-to-buy-travel-insurance/
Cruising
Going on a cruise? Looking for accessibility, lower-priced, high quality excursions with a “guaranteed return to ship” policy? Check out Shore Excursions Group! We’ve used them and they’re fabulous! Just plug in your cruise on their site and they will populate the available excursions for each port.
Shore Excursions Group offers:
- Return to Ship guarantee
- Money-back guarantee
- Lower-priced and high quality excursions
- Smaller-sized excursion opportunities
- 24/7 support
- More than 4,000 excursions to over 300 ports worldwide, covering 99% of major cruise line itineraries
Check out their offerings for your next cruise or vacation now: https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/?id=1634209&data=roaminghistorian@gmail.com
Step-by-Step Travel Planning Guides
If you’re looking for step-by-step help organizing your trip, these guides walk through the planning process—from choosing a destination to preparing for departure.
How to Plan an International Trip
Learn the key steps for organizing an overseas trip, including passports, budgeting, flights, and accommodations. https://roaminghistorian.com/2024/12/15/how-plan-international-trip/
10 Easy Steps for Planning Your Trip
A simple checklist that breaks the travel planning process into manageable steps. https://roaminghistorian.com/2021/06/06/10-easy-steps-for-planning-your-trip/
Preparing for Vacation: What to Do Before You Leave
A practical guide to the final preparations before departure, including travel documents, packing tips, and home preparation. https://roaminghistorian.com/2021/06/20/preparing-for-vacation/
How to Pack Light for Travel
Packing light can make travel significantly easier—especially when navigating airports, trains, and historic cities with cobblestone streets. This guide shares practical strategies for packing efficiently while still bringing everything you need. https://roaminghistorian.com/2025/09/07/the-definitive-guide-to-packing-light/
How to Plan a Trip to Italy
Italy is one of the world’s most popular travel destinations, but planning the perfect itinerary can feel overwhelming. This guide explains how to organize your trip, choose destinations, book accommodations, and make the most of your time in Italy. https://roaminghistorian.com/2026/03/08/how-to-plan-a-trip-to-italy/
How to Choose the Right Hotel
A well-chosen hotel can make your trip smoother and more enjoyable. Start with location (I love city centers), then compare options on Booking.com, where you can easily check recent reviews, amenities, and flexible cancellation policies. I look for consistently strong ratings and the ability to adjust plans if needed. A little research upfront helps ensure your hotel fits both your itinerary and travel style. This guide details the steps I take to choose the right hotel: https://roaminghistorian.com/2026/03/17/how-to-choose-a-hotel-when-traveling/
20 Things to Never Do When Traveling (and What to Do Instead)
Avoid these 20 common travel mistakes that can ruin your trip. Learn what not to do when traveling—and what to do instead for a smoother, stress-free experience. https://roaminghistorian.com/2026/03/29/20-things-to-never-do-when-traveling-and-what-to-do-instead/
How to Use Get Your Guide to Book Unforgettable Travel Experiences
If there’s one attraction or experience you really don’t want to miss, book it ahead of time. Use GetYourGuide to reserve skip-the-line tickets and small-group tours—especially in busy destinations like Rome, Paris, and Barcelona. https://roaminghistorian.com/2026/04/07/how-to-use-getyourguide/
Plan Your Trip in 5 Steps
- Choose your destination
- Book flights and accommodations
- Reserve tours and attractions
- Purchase travel insurance (do this as soon as you make your first booking)
- Prepare your itinerary and packing list
Unmissable Destinations by Continent/Country
Visit Europe: https://roaminghistorian.com/european-tours/
Visit Italy: https://roaminghistorian.com/save-money-italy-tours/
Visit the Americas (North, Central, and South): https://roaminghistorian.com/usa-tours/
Visit Africa, Asia, and Australia: https://roaminghistorian.com/visit-africa-asia-australia/
Planning a trip often raises a few common questions. Here are answers to some of the most frequent questions travelers ask when organizing their trips.
Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Planning
What are the best websites for booking travel?
Several platforms make it easier to plan and book different parts of a trip. For accommodations, Booking.com offers one of the largest selections of hotels and vacation rentals worldwide. Travelers looking for guided experiences often use Viator, GetYourGuide, LivTours, or The Tour Guy to reserve tours and activities. For flights and rental cars, platforms like Booking.com and Expedia make it easy to compare airlines, schedules, and prices.
Should I book tours before my trip?
For popular destinations, booking tours in advance is often a good idea. Major attractions, small-group tours, and skip-the-line experiences frequently sell out during busy travel seasons. Reserving tours before you arrive can help secure a spot and make your itinerary easier to manage.
When should I buy travel insurance?
Travel insurance is usually best purchased shortly after booking your trip, especially once you’ve paid for major expenses like flights, cruises, or hotels. Buying insurance early may provide additional benefits, such as coverage for pre-existing conditions or the option to upgrade to “cancel for any reason” policies.
Is it better to stay in a hotel or a vacation rental?
The best option depends on your travel style. Hotels can offer convenient amenities like daily housekeeping and concierge services, while vacation rentals often provide more space, full kitchens, and additional privacy. Families and groups often prefer vacation rentals, while solo travelers or short stays may find hotels more convenient.
What is the first step in planning a trip?
The first step is usually choosing your destination and travel dates. Once those are set, travelers typically book flights and accommodations first, then reserve tours and experiences. Travel insurance is often purchased soon after major bookings to protect the trip investment.
What is the best way to plan a trip?
The best way to plan a trip is to start with your destination and travel dates, then book flights and accommodations early. Once those are confirmed, you can reserve tours and experiences, compare travel insurance options, and prepare your packing list. Using trusted travel booking platforms makes it easier to organize every part of your trip in one place.
My Favorite Travel Tools
Ready to start planning? Use the tools above (and below) to book your tours, accommodations, and travel essentials—and come roam the world with me.
Roaming Historian’s Trusted Tour & Travel Partners
Planning your trip? Here are our trusted travel partners — thoughtfully chosen for quality, reliability, and exceptional experiences.
- LivTours (high-quality semi-private and private European tours led by expert guides)
Save 10% with code AMYRH10 (valid on two or more tours).
https://livtours.com?af_code=E1DDN61 - The Tour Guy (engaging small group & private European tours)
https://tidd.ly/3J78sNi - Viator (compare thousands of tours, day trips, and experiences worldwide)
https://www.viator.com/?pid=P00161535&mcid=42383&medium=link&medium_version=selector - GetYourGuide (flexible booking options for tours, attractions, and local experiences)
https://www.getyourguide.com/?partner_id=CMSFGKK&utm_medium=online_publisher - Shore Excursions Group (high-quality shore excursions with lower prices and return-to-ship guarantees.)
https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/?id=1634209&data=roaminghistorian@gmail.com - Booking.com (global hotels, apartments & flexible booking options; flights; car rentals)
https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=6776&awinaffid=1985445 - Expedia (flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages)
https://expedia.com/affiliate/p7ZcFsz - Hotels.com (book hotels globally and earn free nights through their rewards program)
https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/rdDAFaG - VRBO (private homes and unique stays ideal for families and longer trips)
https://vrbo.com/affiliate/KvF3nms - Travel Insurance.com (compare policies side-by-side to protect your trip at no extra cost)
https://www.travelinsurance.com/?utm_source=pap&a_aid=65590b3a60c44
More Recommendations
For blogs on many of historic places, go to my “Read About Can’t Miss Places” page.
For travel tips in general, including how to pack for your fabulous trip, see Travel Tips page.
Follow me on my social media channels:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roaminghistorian
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roaming-historian/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/roaminghistorian
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roaminghistorian
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/roaminghistoria/
- X: https://x.com/travelhistory1
Amy French, Ph.D., is the voice behind Roaming Historian. A professional historian and seasoned traveler, she shares stories that blend history and travel to give readers a deeper understanding of the places they explore.
Disclosure: Roaming Historian may derive revenue from affiliate links and other sources, which helps offset the costs of bringing you the information we do. The blogs and reviews posted on this website are of our own opinion though.