With the holiday season approaching, many families are scratching their heads trying to plan holiday travel, family activities and gift budgets. There are many things to consider, whether you are going to see extended family or planning a quiet winter vacay for your nearest and dearest.
Thankfully, there are practical online travel-related tools to make planning travel a cinch. We’ve prepared a list of our favorite online resources, both apps and websites, to help you plan a winter trip. From deciding where to go, hunting the best prices for airfare and accommodations or discovering the best local dining spots, our recommended resources will help you make the most of your well-deserved time off this holiday!
Lonely Planet—to Help You Determine Where to Go
Want to go somewhere other than grandma’s house this year? Take a look at Lonely Planet. This travel guide series offers basic travel information and historical, cultural and other essential background to get a feel for a place before you go. We recommend Lonely Planet to help you decide where to go and map out your adventures once you get there.
Skyscanner—to Find and Compare Flights and Airfares
We next turn to selecting flights. Go beyond Google and try Skyscanner to find your next aviation adventure. You can’t beat its features and ease of use. The “Explore Everywhere” feature lays out destinations and routes worldwide.
It quickly compares prices, travel length and other details to help you find the best flights for you and your whole family. You can even set up price alerts for your trip to let you know if cheaper airfare becomes available!
Booking.com, Airbnb and Vrbo—to Find and Book a Place to Stay
If you want to avoid staying with the in-laws, we recommend checking Booking.com, Airbnb and Vrbo to find hotels, vacation homes and short-term rentals. These sites allow you to compare lodging prices and locations to find the perfect place to lay your head while you’re away. Want something a little different for your winter vacay? These apps feature unique and even unusual accommodations, such as treehouses and Hobbit holes! Booking.com can even help you book flights and other travel needs. At the same time, Airbnb can help you book experiences and services that give your vacation that little something extra to make it special.
TripAdvisor and Yelp—to Discover the Best Local Eateries
It’s impossible to exclude TripAdvisor and Yelp from our list. Seeing the differences between the way locals review an eatery and the way tourists review that same spot can be insightful. So, note who leaves reviews and see if you notice any patterns when picking a dining spot. TripAdvisor and Yelp are available as apps and have added features that browser-based websites do not.
Wanderlog—to Plan Your Dream Itinerary
Finally, once you’ve figured out where you’re going and booked your flights and accommodations, it’s time to organize everything. Put all your hard work into one convenient, accessible place on Wanderlog, a respected trip-planning app. Planners will love this app. It helps you organize your trip and its details to your heart’s content! You’ll easily plan your routes, including stops for gas and food, and incorporate any flight or hotel reservations in one single, customizable space. Wanderlog has both a website and an app for iPhones and Android-based devices.
Armed with this handy list of apps, websites and OEC Fiber, you can schedule the winter vacay of your dreams, keep everything organized and enjoy the holidays in style. These apps and websites help lift the stress of the holiday and let you get back to what matters most: spending time with your loved ones.
