Travel Resources
Everything we use and personally recommend to plan, book and experience every adventure tried and tested on our own trips
Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We earn a small commission if you book or purchase through our links at no extra cost to you. We only recommend resources we personally use and trust, or that are highly rated based on verified consumer reviews. See our full Disclaimer page for details.
Flights & Travel Packages
Our go-to platforms for flights, hotels and vacation packages
expedia
Our Top Pick
Expedia
Book flights, hotels, rental cars and packages all in one place. This is how we planned our Grand Canyon + Zion birthday trip! We also earn One Key Cash on every booking.
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Did You Know?
Booking through Expedia, Hotels.com or Vrbo earns you One Key Cash you can put toward future trips. We have earned over $100 in credits just from trips we were already planning. Read how One Key works and why we use it.
Google Flights
Best for comparing prices and tracking fare drops
Booking
.com
Booking.com
Great for hotels, apartments and unique stays worldwide
Trip
Advisor
Advisor
TripAdvisor
Hotels, restaurants, and activities with millions of traveler reviews
KAYAK
KAYAK
Search hundreds of travel sites at once for the best deals
Agoda
Agoda
Best for hotels across Asia. Perfect for Philippines, Japan, Thailand trips!
Trip
Trip.com
Flights, hotels and train tickets globally
Sky
scanner
scanner
Skyscanner
Perfect for finding the cheapest dates to fly
Kiwi
.com
.com
Kiwi.com
Clever flight combinations to find routes others miss and save more
Avia
sales
sales
Aviasales
Our pick for finding cheap flights, especially useful for tricky or less common routes
Travel Insurance & Protection
Protect your trip, your health and your wallet before you leave home
EKTA
Travel
Travel
Our Top Pick
EKTA Traveling
Comprehensive travel insurance to cover medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost baggage and more. Never leave home without coverage this is the one resource we always recommend before any international trip.
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Our Insurance Tip
Travel insurance is the one thing most travelers skip and later regret. A single medical evacuation abroad can cost tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket. We always purchase a policy before international trips and recommend AirHelp for any domestic or international flight disruptions. You may be entitled to compensation even if the airline told you otherwise.
Travel Points & Rewards
How we earn points and rewards on every trip we take
United
Airlines
Airlines
Our Airline of Choice
United Airlines MileagePlus
We are loyal MileagePlus members and fly United for almost all of our trips. Sign up and start earning miles on every flight!
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Hilton
Our Hotel Rewards Program
Hilton Honors
Hilton is our go-to hotel brand. So many properties are pet friendly and we earn points on every stay. Sign up for free and start earning!
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One Key
Our Booking Rewards Program
Expedia One Key
The loyalty program that connects Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo into one balance. We have earned over $100 in One Key Cash just from booking trips we were already planning. Free to join.
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Hyatt
World of Hyatt
We stayed at Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch. Earn points on every stay!
Marriott
Marriott Bonvoy
We stayed at Postcard Cabins Hocking Hills, part of the Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy!
IHG
IHG Rewards Club
We stayed at Holiday Inn Express Louisville Downtown on our Louisville road trip. Great rewards!
Our Points Tip
Signing up for these programs is completely free and the points add up faster than you think. We use our United miles and hotel points together to offset the cost of flights and stays making every trip a little more affordable. We also use Expedia One Key to earn One Key Cash across Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo on every hotel and package we book. Read why we use it here.
Attraction Tickets & Experiences
Book tours, tickets, day trips, city passes and unforgettable experiences
Viator
Our Top Pick
Viator
Our favorite for guided tours, day trips and skip-the-line tickets worldwide. We use this for almost every destination we visit.
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Get Your
Guide
Guide
Our Top Pick
GetYourGuide
Book tours and activities worldwide with free cancellation on most experiences. One of our go-to platforms for finding unique things to do in every destination we visit.
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Go
City
City
City Passes
Go City
Great for major cities where you want to hit multiple attractions. One pass covers entry to dozens of top sights and can save serious money over buying tickets separately.
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Tiqets
Tiqets
Instant tickets to museums, attractions and landmarks. No printing needed, just scan and go!
WeGo
Trip
Trip
WeGoTrip
Self-guided audio tours for museums and landmarks. Explore at your own pace with expert narration.
Klook
Klook
Best for activities and attractions across Asia. We used this extensively on our Philippines trip!
KK
day
day
KKday
Local tours and activities across Asia. Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Philippines and beyond!
Transportation & Getting Around
Rental cars, bikes, trains, transfers and everything in between
Bikes
Booking
Booking
Hidden Gem
BikesBooking.com
Rent everything from scooters in the Philippines to motorcycles across Europe to the iconic Polaris Slingshot in Las Vegas. An incredible way to explore like a local.
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expedia
Expedia Car Rentals
How we book rental cars. Bundle with flights for the best deal!
Get Rent
A Car
A Car
GetRentACar
Compare rental car prices from top providers worldwide in one search
Local
Rent
Rent
LocalRent.com
Rent directly from local car rental companies. Great rates and a more personal experience
Get
Transfer
Transfer
GetTransfer.com
Pre-book airport transfers and private drivers worldwide. No surprises, fixed prices
Economy
Bookings
Bookings
EconomyBookings
Compare rental car deals with no hidden fees and free cancellation on most bookings
Auto
Europe
Europe
AutoEurope
Our pick for rental cars across Europe and the UK. Great rates and easy pickup at major airports
Trip
Trip.com
Train and transportation booking across the US, Europe and Asia
Travel Connectivity
Stay connected anywhere in the world without the roaming charges
Our Connectivity Tip
We always activate an eSIM before we land so we have data the moment we step off the plane. No hunting for a local SIM card, no expensive roaming bills. Both Airalo and Saily let you buy and install a plan in minutes from your phone before you even leave home.
Luggage Storage
Drop your bags and explore freely on arrival or departure days
Radical
Storage
Storage
Travel Smarter
RadicalStorage
Find secure luggage storage spots near train stations, airports and city centers worldwide. Perfect for those in-between days when you check out early but your flight is not until the evening.
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Trip Planning Tools
The apps and tools we use to research and plan every adventure
Wanderlog
Wanderlog
How we build and share all our itineraries
AllTrails
AllTrails
Research trails, difficulty ratings and pet friendly filters. Our most-used hiking app.
Rec.gov
Recreation.gov
National park permits and campsites. Essential for Maroon Bells, Angel’s Landing and more!
Google Flights
Track flight prices and set fare alerts
Hiking Resources
Everything you need to plan, gear up, and get out on trail
Hiking
Hub
Hub
Trail Guides
Hiking Guides and Trail Tips
Browse all our trail guides by type, difficulty and dog-friendly status. Colorado, Utah, the Midwest, and growing.
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Hiking
Gear
Gear
Gear Guide
Hiking Essentials: Our Recommendations
Footwear, packs, hydration, safety gear, sun protection, dog trail gear, and more. Products we use and recommend at every price point.
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22
Tips
Tips
22 Hiking Tips Every Hiker Should Know
Footwear, altitude, Leave No Trace, wildlife, trail etiquette, and hiking with your dog
Plan
a Hike
a Hike
How to Plan a Hiking Trip
Trail selection, permits, packing checklists, and interactive day-of checklists
AllTrails
AllTrails
Trail discovery, reviews, offline maps. Sort reviews by newest for current conditions.
ATB
Pass
Pass
America the Beautiful Pass
$80 annual pass covering all national parks and federal recreation sites. Pays for itself in 2 to 3 visits.
Hiking Tip
Always download offline maps before you leave cell service and check recent AllTrails reviews sorted by newest for current trail conditions. Read our full 22 hiking tips before your next big hike.
Pet Friendly Travel
Our favorite resources for traveling with Tira
VRBO
Our Top Pick for Pet Friendly Stays
Vrbo
Our go-to for vacation rentals that are upfront about pet fees and amenities. We love filtering for homes with BBQ grills because cooking together is part of the adventure!
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Our Vrbo Search Tips
When searching on Vrbo we always filter for pet friendly first. Listings show pet fees upfront so there are no surprises at check-in. We also look for BBQ grills, full kitchens and outdoor spaces because cooking our own meals is a huge part of how we travel on a budget. It also means Tira gets home cooked meals on the road too!
expedia
Expedia
Filter by pet friendly hotels. Easy to find dog friendly stays!
Hotels
.com
.com
Hotels.com
Thousands of pet friendly hotels with flexible cancellation and member rewards.
AllTrails
AllTrails
Filter trails by dog friendly. Our most used feature when hiking with Tira!
Traveling with Tira: Our Favorite Pet Gear
Everything we use to travel with Tira. Car seat, harnesses, paw care, hiking gear and more!
Camera & Gear
What we use to capture every adventure
Full Guide
What’s In Our Camera Bag
Every camera, tripod, drone and accessory we use with honest reviews and Amazon links
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Shop Our Favorites
Gear and essentials we personally use on every adventure
Packing Essentials
Packing cubes, travel bags, toiletry organizers and carry-on must-haves
Road Trip Essentials
Car organizers, portable chargers, coolers and more
Hiking Essentials
Footwear, packs, safety gear, sun protection, and dog hiking gear
Traveling with Tira: Our Favorite Pet Gear
Everything we use to travel with our fluffy co-pilot






