In the old days, vacation planning was practically a workout. To land a good deal, you had to keep your eyes peeled for newspaper ads and hit up every travel agency in town. And, once you found the right destination, formulating a decent itinerary meant poring over guidebooks and making notes of what you saw on travel shows. Now, thanks to a myriad of booking sites and travel blogs, we can manage every aspect of our vacation without even getting out of bed. But while there may be less legwork involved, the Internet has created a new problem: With countless sites and online services out there, it's hard to know which ones are actually worth your time — which may explain why the average traveler visits a whopping 38 websites before actually booking a trip.
To help you cut through the noise, we've identified some under-the-radar travel sites you probably haven't heard of, but which will make the process a whole lot easier. Be prepared to bookmark them all.
While relying on public transportation is great, some destinations require a car, especially if you want to get off the beaten path. Enter Turo, which you can think of as the Airbnb of cars. Owners list their vehicles for rent, at about 30% less than what you'd pay at a rental agency. Some owners even offer free delivery, meaning whether you're arriving at an airport or somewhere else, you'll be on your way in no time. Turo is also great for city dwellers who find themselves in need of a set of wheels for a trip to Ikea.
Photo: Courtesy of Turo.
If you’re the type who asks friends and coworkers for suggestions about what to do and see in every new place you visit, bookmark this site — which is basically an online platform for "word-of-mouth” recommendations — ASAP. Powered by thousands of reviews submitted by avid travelers, the portal aggregates popular attractions, restaurants, and hotels at major travel destinations around the world. Gogobot sets itself apart from sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp with its “Explore by Tribes” function, which can filter suggestions according to your interests. As a member, you can join these "tribes," comprised of like-minded travelers with the same interests (like food or history), and ask your trip-planning questions in the respective forums.
Photo: Courtesy of Gogobot.
The decision of whether to drive or fly somewhere can be an agonizing one, especially if you are traveling domestically. This handy tool takes the number crunching out of the equation: Simply plug in your point of origin and your destination, and it will generate a side-by-side comparison of both scenarios. No aspect is left out: The gas costs, time lapsed, and even halfway stops are mapped out in detail.
Photo: Courtesy of Travelmath.
Certain booking sites may have celebrity spokespeople posing as kung fu-fighting "Negotiators," but Yapta actually walks the walk — and then some. The site allows you to track the prices of flights and hotels via weekly email updates, and sends instant alerts when discounts occur. What really sets the Kayak -backed venture apart is what happens after you book: If you've already paid for tickets at the higher price, Yapta will negotiate with the airlines to issue you a refund for the difference.
Photo: Courtesy of Yapta.
Remember that time when you were stranded at an airport and just couldn't find a decent place to grab a bite and wash up? This comprehensive site would've taken care of the problem. The database is akin to a Lonely Planet guide to airports around the world. Even if you're not planning to spend the night, the site provides useful info — like where to find the best free Wi-Fi networks, and the locations of showers and charging stations — to make that three-hour layover much less dreadful. If you are spending the night, detailed reviews will tell you everything you might need to know, from the coziest nooks to the most optimal sleeping position at each airport.
Photo: Courtesy of Sleeping In Airports.
Another way to use a layover smartly — other than being super-prepared — is to save big bucks while enduring one. Clever Layover connects flights from different carriers to create the cheapest itinerary to destinations like Paris, Honolulu, and Sydney. The 30+ hour total travel time may look intimidating, but it actually gives you ample hours in which to explore your layover city. Plus, with savings that range anywhere from $70 to $400, you'll have plenty of room in your budget to cover any expenses on your stopover.
Photo: Courtesy of Clever Layover.
Finding out your miles have expired is one of the most frustrating experiences ever. But avoiding that requires a meticulous level of organization. Instead of setting up constant calendar reminders, get a free basic membership to Using Miles, which keeps track of all the balances and expiration dates of your travel credits. The easy-to-read platform is compatible with all major airlines, participating hotels, car rental services, and even Starbucks. You can also activate a feature to manage your family's reward programs, so they don't lose out on those points. Seeing the credits rack up with all your purchase rewards just might inspire you travel more often.
Photo: Courtesy of Using Miles.
If you've ever seen the movie The Holiday, you've probably fantasized about switching homes with a total stranger. With this free marketplace — which is actually inspired by the rom-com — now you can. Users can browse more than 70,000 vacation homes in 160 countries and arrange to exchange homes with the owners for free. If you can't find exactly what you're looking for, host someone at your home the next time you have to leave town, and accrue travel credits for later use. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee of a whirlwind romance with Jude Law — but it's still a great deal.
Photo: Courtesy of Love Home Swap.
With so many deal-oriented travel search engines out there, Hipmunk stands out with an elevated user experience: Amtrak schedules and Airbnb listings are both integrated into the results. The site also recently launched an A.I. planning assistant in the form of the adorable Hipmunk chipmunk, which sends travel options straight to your inbox. The service is especially useful if you're planning a group trip. To activate the assistant, simply CC the Hipmunk in a group email and include specifics about your trip (like when and where you're going); everyone on the chain will get instant recommendations for flights and hotels in an automated email.
Photo: Courtesy of Hipmunk.
America is a treasure trove for attractions that range from eye-opening to batshit crazy. In this online encyclopedia, travelers pen dispatches from the truly weird and under-the-radar places they came across while traversing the U.S., from the house where The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was filmed to a museum exclusively about popcorn. To make your next road trip as off-the-beaten-path as it can be, this is the ultimate resource. but beware: Roadside America can also be a major time suck when you’re bored at the office.
Photo: Courtesy of Roadside America.
Planning what to do on each day of a trip is a long process that sucks out some of the fun, and the suggested itineraries in travel guides tend to feel generic and impractical. Enter, TripHobo. Not only does the site contain destination guides that are legit and straight to the point, it also gives users access to the dozens of personalized travel plans drafted by its members. Whether you're planning to stay at a destination for two days or 10, it feels more reassuring to model your itinerary after someone's tried-and-true experiences.
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