Planning your next annual leave escape is easy. Most of the time, you just need to open a new Excel or Google spreadsheet. Adding a column for the date of annual leave, you can start structuring your next adventure.
Below are the tools I usually use for my travel.
Flight Booking
I usually use Skyscanner to book flights and any itinerary’s start and end dates. For Asia travel, I would use Trip.com, which is a more reliable vendor with a membership point system.
Skyscanner is an incredibly valuable tool for flight bookings, and I find myself relying on it every time I search for and book flights. Its ability to compare multiple platforms to find the most affordable options is truly impressive. However, it’s important to note that not all providers are equally reliable. I always opt for those with higher ratings (over 4) or those marked as “recommended provider” on Skyscanner. It’s worth remembering that Skyscannerisn’t a direct booking agent, but its service in guiding us to the best choices is greatly appreciated.
Trip.com is a gem that many travelers, particularly from the Western world, might not be familiar with. It’s wonderful to see that they offer a flight search and booking function. Unlike Skyscanner, Trip.com acts as the direct agent, ensuring you book directly through them and benefit from their accountability. It’s heartening to know that Skyscanner also recommends them as a provider. Personally, I always rely on Trip.com for flights within Asia; their membership point system is an added bonus that helps save on travel costs.
Tour Booking
When I plan trips, I usually book tours in Asia using Klook. For other regions, especially Europe, I go with Viator. I also check GetYourGuide for extra options. Using these three platforms helps me put together a complete travel plan without any hassle.
From my travels across Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Laos, I’ve found Klook usually offers the lowest prices for tours and activities. Their 24/7 customer support is reliable, and when a tour operator in Malaysia canceled on me, Klook refunded me in full without any hassle. Out of all the booking platforms I’ve tried, Klook stands out as the one I trust most and use most often. I highly recommend it to anyone planning a trip in Asia.
Viator is a solid choice when looking for tours worldwide because of its competitive pricing and wide selection. I often use it for trips across Europe, including places like Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia. It’s also been my go-to for African destinations such as South Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia, as well as Middle Eastern spots like Dubai. In Asia, Viator comes in handy for activities that aren’t listed on Klook, like scuba diving in Nha Trang.
GetYourGuide works a lot like Viator, but I usually notice that their tour packages cost a bit more. I usually use it whenI can’t find what I want on Klook or Viator. For me, it’s more of a backup option. Still, it sometimes offers the lowest prices during special sales, like the time I booked the Cu Chi Tunnel tour. That’s why I always recommend checking all three platforms for cost saving.
Accommodation Booking
Once I’ve set my travel dates and booked my flight, I look for a place to stay each night. Booking.com is my top pick for accommodations. Their prices are usually the lowest, especially after you reach Genius Level 3, which you get after 15 stays in two years. At that level, you unlock even better deals and perks. I check other sites like Agoda or HostelWorld only if I can’t find what I need on Booking.com.
Booking.com is my go-to site for trips. I’ve used it to visit more than 70 countries. I can’t think of a place where you can’t use Booking.com, except maybe North Korea. It helps me save time by showing all the best prices in one spot. I even booked a safari lodge in Cape Town through them. Once you acquired the status of Genius level 3 with 15 booking, it offers additional benefit like further discount and free breakfast.
Agoda is the site I keep in mind when Booking.com doesn’t have what I need. I tend to notice that Agoda’s prices run a little higher, so I stick with Booking.com whenever possible. If I can’t find a decent place there, I’ll check Agoda as a backup. Some people prefer Agoda for its range of hotels, but for me, it’s usually a second choice because of the cost difference.
Hostelworld specializes in hostel reservations, while platforms like Booking.com and Agoda list a wider range of accommodations. Many hostels now appear on Booking.com, often at lower prices than what you’ll find on Hostelworld. Because of this, I usually stick with Booking.com unless I’m searching for hostels only. In those cases, Hostelworld can still be a useful option.
Transportation Booking
This session refers to transportation booking other than flight, such as car, bus, boat, and even car rental. It is usually needed when you explore multiple destinations within a region, such as the Caucasus, Balkans, or even multiple cities within the same country, like Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. For Asia, I usually find Klook as the best option with the cheapest price. While for the rest of the world, I will usually go for 12GO. For car rental, Rentalcars.com usually has the most variety of cars and the best price.
Similar to tour booking, Klook remains the best option for transportation booking in Asia. I used that for multiple city – city transportations such as ferry booking from HCMC to Vunh Tau in Vietnam and Cebu to Bohol in Philippines. Unfortunately, it does not have as much variety as 12GO.
12GO is the best platform for city to city transportation for world travel. I used that multiple times in Europe, including booking the bus from Tbilisi to Yerevan. Despite, it may be slightly more expensive than Klook in Asia. It offers some routes that you can’t locate in other platforms such as the train from Vientiane to Luang Prabang in Laos.
Rentalcars.com on another than is a different animal. I used that for car rental in Iceland, Cyprus and Easter Island before. It is the vendor that offers most transparent pricing and the best variety based on my experience.