Howdy, travel friends! You’ve landed here on my curated list of tried-and-true travel resources – wecome! I’ve spent years traveling full-time and have tested countless booking websites, travel gear and resources. In all those years, I’ve uncovered the secrets of traveling affordably and getting the most out of my experiences. Here is my comprehensive collection of the absolute best travel resources for everything from transportation and accommodation to gear and travel insurance.
Rest assured, all the items listed here are products that I have personally tested and recommend to fellow travelers, so take a look at my favorites, click around and let me know what else this list needs!
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you use them to make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Win-win! Read the full disclosure policy here. Thank you for supporting Angie Away and The Jet Sisters!
Booking Travel
Airfare
I often start on Kayak and then move to the airline’s site for direct booking, which is almost always cheaper and better than booking on a 3rd party site.
Hotels
Booking.com is my go-to for researching properties and checking reviews.
Rental Cars
I use RentalCars.com to research prices. They are usually similar in price to other OTAs (online travel agencies).
For Pro Travelers
Going
Formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights, Going is a membership that tracks amazing airfares and sends them directly to your inbox. All you do is sign up, put in your home airport and wait for the deals to roll in.
Priority Pass
There’s just nothing better than lounge access when you’re traveling. Free wifi, cozy seats, food and drinks! Priority Pass membership gives you access to 1,300+ lounges in more than 600 cities across 148 countries, no matter what airline you’re on.
Flytographer
The best travel souvenir is a portfolio of gorgeous photos from your vacation! We did a Flytographer shoot in London and the photos are stunning. Check out my review here, and get $50 off your first shoot with Flytographer if you use the link below.
Tours & Activities
Viator
Viator offers tours all around the world from an hour to several days long. I’ve done several Viator experiences abroad and always enjoyed!
Get Your Guide
GYG has offers more than 118,000 experiences in 150 countries, including hard-to-book attractions and easy-to-miss surprises along with insights from like-minded travelers and millions of verified reviews.
Big Bus Tours
You know those buses you see in big cities? They’re my favorite way to hit the ground running and get the lay of the land in a new place. I’ve taken Big Bus Tours in a dozen cities and they never disappoint.
Travel Insurance & Protection
Medjet
Every travel needs a Medjet membership in addition to travel insurance. It’ll get you out of all sorts of situations that travel insurance may not cover. Read my review here.
World Nomads
Travel insurance covers baggage delays, cancellations and illness/injuries abroad. I’ve used both Allianz and World Nomads in the past and both were easy to make claims and get paid.
AirHelp
Flying on a Europe-based airline? Keep in mind they have very different – and MUCH more beneficial – airline passenger rights. AirHelp got us more than $600 each when our flight to England was canceled.
Travel Credit Cards / Deals
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The best travel card out there with the best benefits. It includes travel insurance, Priority Pass, Instacart, DashPass, PreCheck/Global Entry, an annual travel credit AND travel points. Depending on which one you get, the annual fee is $550, but you do earn it right back in perks. Other Chase options here.
American Express Platinum
Another great option with perks like TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, airfare and hotel credits, Amex Lounge access and Uber credits among other things. The fee is a steep $695, but you make it back pretty quickly.
Capital One Venture X
The Capital One Venture X card is one of the best all-round travel credit cards ever launched. It has a great welcome bonus, and cardholders receive a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus.
Luggage
Baggallini Rolling Tote
I’ve just started traveling on short trips with this pint-sized Baggallini tote and it’s amazing just how much it holds, from clothes and shoes to laptops and cords. It’s a smart choice for weekend warriors.
Away Luggage
I mean, what other luggage would ANGIE AWAY use, right? Love these suitcases. There are a zillion colors, sizes and even the option for an internal USB charger. My fave. Get $20 off using the link below.
Packing Cubes
Talk about life changing! I don’t go anywhere without my trusty packing cubes in my luggage. They keep everything sorted, like a mini closet organizer that lives in your suitcase. These make long-term travel so much easier.
Comfy Travel Shoes
Tieks by Gavrieli
Tieks are great because they’re durable, comfortable, foldable and they come in every color imaginable. I even wore Romantic Blush Tieks to my wedding.
Abeo Sandal
If I’m not wearing my Tieks flats, I’m wearing flip-flops. A favorite is the Abeo brand, with built-in orthotics. I have high arches and Achilles tendonitis, so these are helpful when I need a little extra support.
Rockport
Rae and I have worked with Rockport on a few campaigns, so we’re quickly becoming experts in their comfy, cute shoes. Every pair we’ve tried has been stable, flexible and antimicrobial,
Travel Tech
Portable Charger
Not only is the does this charger holds up to four iPhone charges at a time and it can start a car with included mini-jumper cables. How cool is that?
Rugged Hard Drive
I always have my LaCie Rugged Mini hard drive with me. Rugged is important when you’re traveling as your hard drive needs to withstand a lot. I like that this hard drive essentially has bumper pads around it in case you drop it. Which I often do.
Voltage Converter
I can often find myself with limited power outlets, so I use a multipurpose converter with 4 USB ports and 3 international adapters, plus a surge protector. Don’t leave home without one of these!
Camera Gear
GoPro
Friends don’t let friends travel without a GoPro! What was I thinking going around the world without one? I love it for underwater video, action and cinematic wide-angle shots, plus it’s so tiny, it’s no trouble to pack no matter how light I’m traveling.
DJI Osmo
We’ve kept DJI in business the past few years. Rachel and I use the Osmo to shoot The Jet Sisters travel show and it’s the perfect camera for what we do. The Osmo is a gimbal setup that you can literally run and jump with and still have awesome steady footage.
iPhone
I used to have a phone and a camera, but there’s no need anymore. At least not for the majority of my travel /content creating needs. For most projects, the iPhone is more than enough. I also have all the other Apple goodies – iPad, iMac, MacBook Air, watch… and it’s so easy to switch from device to device.
Safety
Whistles & More
Nobody ever expects to get lost on a hike or to encounter a bad guy on the walk home. A noise-making device is a lightweight, cheap and easy way to call for help in those situations.
PacSafe Bags
I’ve traveled around the world with PacSafe products and they’ve served me well! PacSafes come in a variety of styles and feature anti-theft technology, block RFID signals and can be locked to stationery objects like hotel beds.
Door Stopper
If you stay in hotels or even vacation rentals, these door stoppers will give you extra peace of mind that no one will be barging into your room who isn’t supposed to be there.
