Planning an international trip that’s on a budget, fun, and stress-free takes some logistics. First, I recommend signing up for flight deal notifications from Going.com. I have planned many trips around deals they have emailed. Once I have decided on a destination, I always have these seven tabs open on my browser to quickly check information as I get started planning my trip.
- Google Maps – When I book where I am going to stay, I want to know how close it is to any major sites I want to see and the transportation I will be using. I am currently planning a trip to Norway. Just last night I used google maps to find out how close our airbnb is to the airport and the train station. This helps plan see how early we will have to leave for our flight and how far we might walk for the luggage storage. Google maps will also show you what restaurants are near your accommodation which will give you a general feel for the area in a non-biased way.
- Google Translate – Even though we are fortunate to have the English language on most websites, there are times you just can’t find the button on the website to switch to English. Practical Tip: Sometimes booking an intercountry flight in the native language gets you a better deal than if booked on the English speaking site. I saved a couple hundred dollars in Peru by using google translate and booking the trip in Spanish. On a side note, make sure you pay careful attention to dates. Most of the world puts the day before the month. When we were in Peru on September 8 (month 9) it got a bit confusing!
- Google currency convertor – Currency value changes every day. We are about to take a trip to Norway which is feeling very affordable even though it is in a notoriously expensive country due to the current strength of the dollar. I cannot trust my math skills in my head so as I plan I plug in the numbers from the Norwegian National Rail Site, restaurant prices, and museum passes to name a few.
- Airbnb – even if my airbnbs are already booked, I keep these open so I can quickly get to the addresses and to message my hosts any questions that might come up as I plan. Most hosts want to be accommodating and will often help you figure out how to store your luggage and give local recommendations that you won’t find anywhere else. Think of your host as a hotel concierge. Check out Should You Stay in an Airbnb or a Hotel.
- Kayak – this is my go to third party travel site for hotels and rental cars. I can quickly get a feel for how expensive a destination is and if I should stay in an Airbnb or a hotel. I like to use the map feature to see exactly where the hotel is in location to general sites to help narrow down my search. Kayak then gives you a whole list of options of the best price to book. It’s also the first place I go when I’m figuring out if I should rent a car.
- Google Flights – the best way to compare flight prices. One thing to note, google flights gives you the total for your flight including all taxes and fees and multiplied by the number of people on the trip. This is super helpful for planning on a budget but can be disorienting if you forget. The number of times I have gotten a flight deal notification from Scott’s Cheap Flights, plugged in the trip for the number of people I’m traveling with, and then been mad at how high the price was is a little embarrassing. I literally pull out my calculator and have to divide by the number of people on the trip.
- Google search tab – I promise google is not sponsoring this post but they have really got almost all that you need to plan a trip. I search everything and am super specific. I type in sentences like “How cold is it in Oslo in January?” which helps me know How to Pack Light by having the right clothes for the weather.
Sometimes I ask these questions and there are no answers. That’s partly why I started this travel blog. I want to give you specific, helpful and practical information to make your trips more enjoyable. I’ll be writing things like 20 Practical Tips to Plan a Stress-free Trip to Machu Picchu and The Importance of Packing Light For Flights. I get why people use travel agents or don’t plan international trips at all. I spend hours and hours planning before a trip to a new place. My hope is to do the legwork for you in these posts so you can stick to your budget while having a stress-free trip.