After traveling extensively for years and running Travel Drafts, we’ve tested all kinds of tools, platforms, and apps to help us plan and book our trips. Some were great, some… not so much.
So we created this page to share the ones we actually use and trust — the tools that save us time, money, and stress when we travel. Hopefully, they’ll do the same for you!
⚠️ Just a heads-up: some of the links below are affiliate links. That means we may earn a small commission if you book or buy through them — at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we actually use and trust. Thanks for supporting Travel Drafts and helping us keep sharing honest travel content!
✈️ Flights
- Google Flights
- Great for browsing dates, checking price trends, and getting inspiration for your next trip.
- 👉 Search on Google Flights
- Kiwi.com
- We also like Kiwi.com for its innovative search features, which allow for multi-city trips and complex routes that other platforms might miss. Great for flexible travel plans and hidden deals. Particularly if you want to include low-cost airlines in your travel plan.
- 👉 Find flights on Kiwi.com
- AirHelp
- We haven’t personally needed to use AirHelp yet, but we’ve heard great things about their service. They help travelers claim compensation for delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights, making the often complicated process much easier. Worth considering if you encounter flight issues.
- 👉 Check AirHelp
🏨 Accommodation
- Booking.com
- Still our #1 choice for hotels and guesthouses worldwide, with tons of options and free cancellation. We recommend it for its reliability and competitive prices.
- 👉 Find a place on Booking.com
- Hotels.com
- A great alternative, especially if you’re collecting reward nights. We often use Hotels.com when it offers better deals or prices.
- 👉 Search stays on Hotels.com
- VRBO
- If you’re looking for complete apartments or vacation homes — especially for more extended stays or family trips — VRBO is a solid Airbnb alternative. We started using it more after Airbnb discontinued its affiliate program without notice, which was disappointing for many bloggers.
- 👉 Browse rentals on VRBO
⚠️ Why we don’t promote Airbnb
Airbnb used to be a staple in our recommendations, but in 2023 they abruptly shut down their affiliate program without communication, ending partnerships with many creators overnight. We now focus on supporting platforms like Vrbo and Hotels.com that maintain more transparent and fair affiliate relationships.
- Agoda
- This is one of the best platforms for booking hotels and guesthouses across Asia. Agoda often has exclusive deals and great prices, making it our preferred choice for trips in Southeast Asia. I don’t book any accommodation in Asia without checking the price on Agoda.
- 👉 Find stays on Agoda
🚗 Car Rentals
- DiscoverCars
- The best car rental comparison tool we’ve used. Great rates, simple to use, and reliable. We use it in almost all of our trips, and we have never had a problem.
- 👉 Find a rental with DiscoverCars
🎫 Tours & Activities
- GetYourGuide
- Our go-to platform to book tours, skip-the-line tickets, and local activities. Super easy to use and cancel if needed.
- 👉 Find tours on GetYourGuide
- Viator
- A great alternative to GetYourGuide for booking tours, activities, and experiences worldwide. Often has unique local options and regular deals.
- 👉 Explore tours on Viator
- Klook
- We’ve used Klook extensively in Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, and it’s been a lifesaver for booking tours, transport passes, and unique experiences. Known for great deals and easy mobile booking, Klook is perfect for flexible travelers who want convenience and local insights.
- 👉 Discover experiences on Klook
💳 Travel Money
- Revolut
- We’ve been using Revolut for years. Great exchange rates, no foreign transaction fees, and instant notifications.
- 👉 Get Revolut
📱 eSIMs
- AloSIM
- Our current favorite for eSIMs — easy to set up, no need to swap SIM cards, and works in 100+ countries.
- 👉 Check AloSIM
🌐 Travel Insurance
- Revolut
- We typically use Revolut’s travel coverage for most of our trips. We use the metal plan, which includes 30 days of coverage, but please check directly with them, as these things change fast.
- 👉 Visit Revolut
- VisitorsCoverage
- If you’re visiting a new country and want hassle-free travel insurance, VisitorsCoverage is a solid choice. Flexible, affordable, and designed for travelers who need reliable coverage without complicated paperwork. Perfect for short or medium-length trips.
- 👉 Explore VisitorsCoverage plans
🚆 Transports in Asia
- 12Go Asia
- We use this to book buses, trains, ferries, and transfers all across Southeast Asia.
- 👉 Book with 12Go
🧰 More Useful Tools
- Google Maps – We save all our favorite places and use it constantly for navigation.
- Maps.me – Excellent for offline navigation, especially when hiking.
- Rome2Rio – To check how to get from point A to B using any transport.
- XE Currency – Best app to convert currencies on the go, but if you use Revolut, you can use it too.
- Google Translate – Super helpful when navigating foreign languages.
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