Trip Planning Tools: What We Recommend & How to Use Them

Trip planning has become a little more tricky of late. Prices are high. There aren't as many flights as there once were. Trip planning tools are valuable in planning but not always useful for booking.

From choosing a destination to planning the details of your trip, there are more things to consider now than there were prior to 2020. And they're important whether you're going on an organized tour or cruise, or traveling independently.

The list below is not exhaustive; however, I consider these items essential. They are the travel planning resources that Tracey and I use on a regular basis.

Road trips are a bit different than flight, train, or bus trips. For those, read How to Plan a Road Trip: Safety, Scheduling and Google Maps.

Let me also mention that some of the links on this page are affiliate links meaning that Solo Traveler will receive a small commission should you make a purchase. Your price is the same as always but you’ll be helping make Solo Traveler possible.

Reality Check Your Dream Trip

If your travel plans involve moving from one place to another rather than staying in one destination, it's important to know whether you can travel between those places on a schedule that works for you.

Before going too far down the booking path, use Rome2Rio to see your travel options, timing, and more.

Rome2Rio is the best trip planning tool for finding out how to get from one place to another. Whether it's from the airport to your hotel or from one city to another, Rome2Rio shows the options from planes to trains and buses to taxis, along with the estimated cost and time the trip will take. It's an invaluable resource for planning an itinerary.

Use Travel Aggregators (Comparison Sites) as a Guide, Not for Booking

Whether you prefer Skyscanner, Hopper, or any other flight booking engine, I suggest using it for planning purposes and not for booking your flights. The same goes for train tickets and car rentals. They are great trip planning tools for getting a ballpark idea of costs and travel time but, when it comes to booking, go directly to the provider's website.

Helpful things to note:

• Skyscanner – On their system, you can put in “everywhere” instead of a specific destination. This allows you to choose a destination based on price and dates. Looking for a cheap trip to somewhere? This is a tool to use.
• Hopper – Their system tracks pricing trends. What days should you book to save? Their red, yellow, and green calendar gives you the days that are likely best for flying.

Here's why I suggest that you book directly with the provider.

1. There is an off chance that you'll find savings by going to the airline or train company directly.
2. You may have more options with the provider in terms of choosing a cancellation policy, departure times, and more.
3. Most importantly, if something should go wrong regarding your plans or the provider's schedule, you have more control over the situation if you have booked directly. The travel aggregator owns your ticket until you check in. Any problem with that ticket prior to check-in has to be handled through the aggregator. That can make the resolution more of a headache. I experienced this problem with Expedia many years ago and have not booked with an aggregator since.

Reserving a room through a site like Booking.com does not pose the same problems as a transportation purchase. Flight and train travel usually involve a need to get to your destination within a certain time frame but do not have a lot of options should there be a problem. In most cases, additional accommodation options exist. And, as you are booking, you don't only see price comparisons but also a map showing your options so that you can book in the area that you want and verified ratings and reviews of the accommodation you're considering.

If you're booking a hotel on the same day that you want the room, you can try Hotel Tonight. It specializes in selling same-day hotel reservations at a discount. You can use it for regular bookings as well, but Booking.com is known for having a larger inventory of rooms at a wide range of prices.

For more recommendations on accommodation, read:

• Best Accommodation for Solo Travelers: How to Choose the One for You
• Where to Stay in London: Budget to Luxury + Interactive Map
• Best Places to Stay in New York City for Solo Travelers

More Recommended Resources for Travel Planning

• 10 Solo Travel Safety Apps: Technology for Peace of Mind
• Bare Minimum Packing: Here’s Your Packing List
• Best Checked Baggage Tips: How to Plan, Pack & Keep Track
• Winter Solo Travel: Destinations, Planning, and Packing
• First Time Camping Solo: Basic Gear and Packing List