Plan Your Trip
You picked the destination.
Or maybe you have six destinations saved, 47 browser tabs open and absolutely no idea which one you’re actually going to book.
Either way, you’re in the right place.
Planning a trip can be almost as much fun as taking one—until you get buried in flights, hotels, rental cars, packing lists, reservations and the million little details you suddenly realize you forgot.
That’s what this page is for.
I’ve pulled together my travel-planning resources, booking tools and tips in one place so you can spend less time bouncing around the internet and more time getting excited about where you’re going.
Whether you’re planning a weekend road trip, a National Park adventure, an RV getaway or that big bucket-list vacation you’ve been talking about forever, let’s get it planned.
Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links that generate a commission at no additional cost to you.
First Things First: Where Are You Going?
Some people know exactly where they want to go.
And then there are the rest of us.
If your current vacation plan is basically “I need to GO somewhere,” start with my destination guides.
You’ll find everything from Florida beaches and Alaska adventures to National Parks, road trips, small towns and international destinations.
Love the outdoors?
Taking your home on wheels?
Once you’ve figured out where you’re going, it’s time to deal with the details.
Travel Tips That Make Trips Easier
I’ve learned a lot from traveling over the years.
Some lessons came from research.
Others came from standing somewhere thinking, “Well… we’re never doing THAT again.”
Those are usually the lessons you remember.
My Travel Tips section covers the practical stuff that can make traveling easier, including trip planning, packing, transportation, airports, safety and plenty of those little things nobody thinks about until they’re already on the road.
Find the Right Place to Stay
I love a good hotel.
I also love walking into a hotel room, dropping my bags and realizing somebody ELSE is responsible for cleaning the bathroom.
Vacation has officially begun.
Depending on the trip, though, you might want a resort, vacation rental, campground or something completely different.
Start with my hotel and resort guides:
Ready to Search for a Hotel?
Use the booking tools below to compare properties and prices for your destination.
If you’re traveling with a family or larger group, don’t forget to compare vacation rentals as well. Sometimes having extra bedrooms and a kitchen makes much more sense than booking several hotel rooms.
Find Flights
Airfare can be one of the biggest expenses of a trip, which means I rarely assume the first price I find is the best one.
Compare your dates, check nearby airports when it makes sense and look at the TOTAL cost—not just that pretty little base fare.
Baggage fees have a way of ruining a bargain.
Search & Compare Flights
You can also compare options through your other preferred flight-booking partners here.
Make Your Travel Budget Go Further
Travel doesn’t have to mean throwing the budget out the window.
I’m always looking for ways to stretch travel dollars farther, whether that’s finding a deal, using points, choosing a road trip instead of flying or simply knowing where NOT to waste money.
That’s why Travel Money has become an important part of That Traveling Chick.
Think:
Earn more. Save more. Travel more.
Don’t Forget Travel Rewards
Hotel and airline loyalty programs can be worth joining even if you aren’t constantly traveling.
If you tend to stay with the same hotel brands or fly the same airlines, those points and perks can eventually turn into discounted—or even free—travel.
I personally like taking advantage of rewards whenever they make sense because I’d much rather spend money on another experience than pay more for something I could have booked with points.
Traveling Solo?
Sometimes the best travel companion is… you.
Solo travel gives you complete control over where you go, what you do, when you eat and whether you spend three hours wandering through a little shop nobody else would have wanted to visit.
No negotiating required.
If you’re considering taking a trip on your own, I’ve put together resources to help you feel more prepared and confident.
Planning a Beach Vacation?
Sometimes you want museums and sightseeing.
Other times you want a beach chair, something cold to drink and absolutely nowhere you need to be.
I understand both moods.
If sunshine and water are calling your name:
Thinking About a Cruise?
A cruise can be one of the easiest ways to visit several destinations without packing and unpacking every few days.
Your hotel travels WITH you.
That’s pretty hard to argue with.
Whether you’re considering your first cruise or just looking for ideas for the next one:
Travel for the Music
This one is especially close to my heart.
Sometimes the concert IS the destination.
Other times you discover a great music venue, festival, museum or piece of music history while you’re traveling and it becomes one of the best memories from the entire trip.
If you love combining travel and music as much as I do:
Book Things to Do
Don’t spend all that time getting somewhere just to sit in the hotel room.
Well… unless there’s a pool and cocktails involved. Then I might allow it.
Tours and activities can be some of the most memorable parts of a vacation, especially when they let you experience something you couldn’t easily do on your own.
Food tours, boat trips, sightseeing tours, wildlife experiences, museums, day trips and skip-the-line tickets are all worth checking before you leave.
Popular activities can sell out, so I like seeing what’s available while I’m still planning.
Find Tours, Tickets & Experiences
You can also use your TripAdvisor affiliate link here as another option for researching activities and reading traveler reviews.
Traveling With—or Without—Your Pets
Pets add another question to vacation planning:
Are they coming?
RV travel makes bringing dogs much easier for us, but that doesn’t mean every trip works with pets.
If your dogs are coming along:
Read My RVing With Dogs Guide →
If they’re staying home, this is also a natural place to include your TrustedHousesitters affiliate recommendation for finding pet and house sitters.
Don’t Forget the Boring Stuff
Nobody gets excited about passports, visas, travel insurance or checking entry requirements.
But you know what’s even less exciting?
Discovering you needed something AFTER you’ve booked the trip.
For international travel, always check passport validity and the current entry requirements for your destination before leaving.
Before You Go: Pack Smarter
I have packed too much.
I’ve packed too little.
I’ve brought things I never touched and forgotten things I absolutely needed.
Basically, I’ve done the research. 😂
Before you zip that suitcase—or attempt to close it by sitting on top of it—check out my travel gear and packing resources.
Ready to Book Your Trip?
At some point you have to stop researching and actually hit BOOK.
Pick the destination.
Find the flight.
Reserve somewhere to sleep.
Choose a few things you absolutely don’t want to miss.
Then leave a little room in the itinerary for the unexpected stuff.
Some of my favorite travel memories weren’t things I planned months ahead. They were the little roadside stops, restaurants we stumbled across, conversations with locals and places we decided to check out simply because we were already there.
That’s the fun part.
So plan enough that your trip runs smoothly—but don’t plan every bit of adventure out of it.
Then pack your bags and go make some memories.
And if you’re still trying to decide where to go?