After backpacking through over a dozen countries in Europe and with nearly two dozen countries under my belt (and with 5 new countries in the books for the upcoming months), I’ve learned a thing or two about the best travel resources in the industry.
While I don’t believe in luxury travel items and first-class seats, I do believe in key travel items and the art of travel hacking!
All of the items below I personally use and recommend, and I would never tell you to buy something that I don’t believe would genuinely improve your travel experience.
Top Travel Planning Course
Your Travel Planning Business – Your Travel Planning Business (YTPB) is a comprehensive course designed to help aspiring travel planners, travel bloggers, and experienced travelers turn their passion into a profitable business. It walks you step-by-step through setting up your services, package creation and confident pricing, protecting yourself legally, and creating itineraries that clients rave about.
The program mixes practical tools like done-for-you templates, email scripts, and real-world examples with full guidance on marketing, client management, and workflows. YTPB is a full-scale program made up of 11 in-depth modules with more than 55 lessons that cover everything you need to get started and give you the tools to confidently grow into a successful, sustainable travel planning business.
It’s 100% self-paced, provides lifetime access to all updates I make, and guides you through every stage of building a sustainable planning business. The goal is to give you clarity, confidence, and a professional foundation that lets you focus on helping travelers while growing your income!
Custom Itinerary Services – With my travels taking me to 40+ countries and 35 states, I’ve become a master at creating custom itineraries all over the world! With 10+ years of experience in itinerary creation for both domestic and international travel for people of all ages, I can’t wait to plan your next adventure abroad!
Itinerary Services & Planning Support for Travel Bloggers -I am passionate about assisting fellow travel bloggers in growing their businesses and offering travel planners extra support in my FREE Facebook group! All are welcome to ask questions, seek support, and provide helpful advice to other travel agents and bloggers.
Top Travel Accessories
Away Luggage – my personal favorite suitcase that follows me around the world. I opted for the carry-on size with the portable USB charger and removable battery pack and I’m never going back to anything else. Click on the link to receive $20 off your first purchase!
Osprey Fairview 40 Women’s Travel Backpack – I recently switched from the Osprey 65L to this perfect carry-on approved backpack and I couldn’t be happier with it. You can pick from a couple of different colors on the Osprey website, but I found mine for brand new at $50 cheaper on Amazon. Click the link to get the discount.
Cotton Carrier Hyker Slingbag – I’ve tested a lot of camera gear over the years, and the Cotton Carrier Hyker Slingbag has genuinely impressed me. It combines the security of a chest harness with the convenience of a rotating sling, so I can keep my camera ready to go without digging around or fumbling with straps. It’s hands-down one of the most comfortable and functional solutions I’ve found for hiking, shooting, and staying organized on the trail. To read more about this product, check out my Cotton Carrier Hyker Slingbag Honest Review!
Lifestraw Reusable Water Bottle with Filter – my go-to water bottle for around the world. It has a 2-stage filtering system so I don’t need to worry about getting sick from drinking the tap water in a new country. It’s also significantly cheaper than most water bottles of the same type.
Portable Battery Pack – for when your camera or phone is just about to run out of battery. I never travel without mine as it allows me to charge my electronics on planes, trains, and buses that lack outlets, or if I forget my international outlet converter.
The Best Search Engines – Cheap Flights, Hotels, Rental Cars, and Tours
Skyscanner – I never book flights anywhere without first checking prices on Skyscanner. They allow you to research flights to anywhere in the world with flexible dates and even entire months to give you the best rates for your dates.
Expedia – Similar to Skyscanner, Expedia is a great option for looking at numerous airlines at once. I use it to find which airlines are providing the best rates for my routes and dates, and also to take a peek at some of the best hotels in my destination. It’s also great for comparing rental car rates!
Airbnb – this is my #1 travel accommodation finder. If you love meeting locals and staying in off-the-beaten-path locations, use Airbnb to help you find unique accommodations in your area.
Viator – My go-to site for researching popular tours in any destination.