Booking Family Holidays With FinalPrice
FinalPrice is a travel booking platform to help you save on hotels, flights and car rental. I test it out for my upcoming family holiday with some surprising results.
Travel can be expensive enough when you factor in booking your plane tickets but once you add in the hotels, rental car, and activities you could be in for more than you’ve budgeted for. I know this can make some people hesitant about planning their own trip and even put a stop to overseas holiday plans altogether.
I’ve written a lot recently about how to save money when planning your vacation and some of my favourite travel websites and apps to help you plan.
Recently, though, I learnt about something I hadn’t tried before, an app called FinalPrice .
I’m currently planning a family holiday for August next year and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to test out FinalPrice. I have my sister and brother coming for the first four weeks and then my brother-in-law meeting us in the last three weeks. We also have my sister’s new baby along for the trip for the very first time. All of these more different room configurations can prove to be quite difficult when booking so this is going to be a real challenge!
How does FinalPrice work?
FinalPrice is a new and unique app to book your hotels, flights and rental cars. The app is very similar to other popular apps like Expedia, Trip Advisor and Booking.com. Spoiler Alert - their pricing can be considerably less than the others.
They have two options during your checkout. You can checkout for free and take 50% of the public price discount or if your savings are more than $99 or you plan on traveling a lot in the next year, you can upgrade to the unlimited savings plan for $99 a year and take 100% of the discount.
Features:
- Book for ten travellers on one account
- Can share subscription with friends and family
- Full flexibility is included in the booking process (including pay now, pay later, breakfast, no breakfast, and all room types)
- All transactions are handled on the app so you don’t get any annoying redirects or popups to different sites
- Curated Recommendation engine
- Filter out the brand you want to book at (ie Westin, Intercontinental, Hyatt, etc)
- You get your frequent flyer or rewards program points
- Money back guarantee - if you don't earn your subscription fee back in savings in your first year, you will be refunded the difference
Comparing FinalPrice with Trip Advisor
Generally, I like to use Trip Advisor as a comparison since I can see reviews alongside while getting a ballpark amount and then will always check prices with HotelsCombined.com. HotelsCombined is a great aggregator and nine times out of ten finds me the best price.
For this review, I used the free version of the FinalPrice app. While using the free version, any savings that FinalPrice finds are halved so they keep 50%. You also don’t have access to the Flight and Car Rental modules of the app. It’s up to you whether the savings are worth paying the $99 subscription fee but hopefully, this review will help you make your mind up.
So, how did FinalPrice stack up against my favourites?
I chose five hotels amongst the different cities we plan to visit and did a direct comparison of the lowest prices that I could find through each option.
Out of all five options, FinalPrice was always the cheapest. Sometimes it was by a few dollars and for one option, I saved $211! If I tallied up my total spend and compared it to what I would have paid had I only used TripAdvisor, I would have saved $562.
All prices are in USD
What I like about FinalPrice
- Separate sections including Top Rated, Big Savings, and Best 4 & 5 Star to help you quickly find what best suits you
- Hotel ratings are front and centre to help with your comparison
- You can see hotels on a map view
- Great range of hotels in big cities and smaller towns
- Friends and family sharing - no more sneaky sharing of logins!
- Interface is very straightforward and intuitive. I even got my mum to try it out and she had no issues navigating the different options.
I’m very impressed with the savings available through the app and would definitely recommend you check it out. It seems like the savings are larger when you’re spending more on a hotel so if you’re looking to spend less than $100 then you might not see as big a discount. The best part is though, that you are will be refunded the difference in your subscription fee if you don’t save more than $99 so it’s really win-win.
Head over to FinalPrice for more information and to check it out for yourself. Use the promo code INLANTON to get a $20 credit so you can save even more.
Let me know in the comments if you would give something like this a try and what you think about the service.
This is a sponsored post brought to you by FinalPrice. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.
Vegan Resorts and Hotels for the Conscious Traveler
If you're the kind of person that gets excited by the mention of "scrambled tofu" then this one is for you. With this list of vegan resorts and hotels, I hope to inspire you to get out there and explore this beautiful world of ours and not feel like you’re limited by your choice to be vegan.
If you're the kind of person that gets excited by the mention of "scrambled tofu" then this one is for you. Over the last 13 years of travelling around the world I have had the delight of staying in some hotels and resorts that happily cater to vegans. These places have been a beacon of light when I’m travelling through some of the more remote locations in my never-ending travel bucket list.
With this list of vegan resorts and hotels, I hope to inspire you to get out there and explore this beautiful world of ours and not feel like you’re limited by your choice to be vegan. This guide provides you with a list of some of the best vegan resorts, hotels, and b&bs around the world, some are vegan-friendly and will happily provide you with vegan meals and some are 100% vegan.
Vegan Resorts and Hotels Around The World
Sandos Caracol Eco Resort (Mayan Riviera, Mexico)
I couldn’t start this round-up without introducing you to the only resort I know that has a vegan restaurant on-site. This resort is especially special to me because it’s where my little sister recently chose to get married. We’re both vegetarian and knew that we wanted our family to experience an eco-resort with real sustainable values while surrounded by nature, a beautiful beach and plenty of space to explore.
Read the latest reviews on Trip Advisor
Check out the best prices: Hotels.com | Expedia | Booking.com
Apoyo Lodge (Laguna De Apoyo, Nicaragua)
A health and wellness boutique hotel found on the shores of the magical waters in Laguna de Apoyo. Apoyo Lodge provides 100% organic plant based meals, yoga, dance and fitness classes, and lake and forest view cabins.
Read the latest reviews on Trip Advisor
Check out the best prices: Booking.com
For a more budget friendly, option check out this backpacker resort in Laguna De Apoyo nearby.
Ylang Ylang Beach Resort (Montezuma, Costa Rica)
Ylang Ylang is the area's only resort right on the beach and they have a vegan and raw food menu at their on-site restaurant. Think white sand beach and lush gardens surrounding the property with the chance for spotting monkeys in the trees. A real gem for vegans and vegetarians in Costa Rica.
Read the latest reviews on Trip Advisor
Check out the best prices: Hotels.com | Expedia | Booking.com
Serenity Sands (Corozal, Belize)
If you're looking for something off the grid but still appreciate the allure of a resort then Serenity Sands in Belize is a great option. You'll feel at home on this small property and will be well looked after by your host, Penny. Best part is that breakfast is 100% vegan.
Read the latest reviews on Trip Advisor
Check out the best prices: Booking.com
The Stanford Inn by the Sea (California, USA)
A tranquil, private and sustainable inn on the pacific coast. The Stanford Inn offers canoeing, biking, and vegan cheesemaking classes in a beautiful respite on the sea. Pets are also welcome!
Read the latest reviews on Trip Advisor
Check out the best prices: Hotels.com | Expedia
Laguna Lodge Eco-Resort & Nature Reserve (Lake Atitlan, Guatemala)
Combine luxury and sustainability with a stay at Laguna Lodge. Located on the beautiful Lake Atitlan and accessible only by boat, you know you will have complete peace and quiet here. Lake Atitlan is also the most beautiful lake I have ever seen and is said to have magical properties by the alternative minded travelers that flock here. Check out my full review of the popular Indian's Nose hike where you can get a sunrise view of the whole lake.
Read the latest reviews on Trip Advisor
Check out the best prices: Booking.com
Cabot Shores Wilderness Resort (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Cabot Shores is a private sanctuary on 55-acres with stunning views. It offers a variety of comfy accommodation (chalets,, yurts, domes, tipi and a treehouse!) and an on-site bistro specialising in vegetarian fare using fresh, wild, and local ingredients. Cabot Shores is also pet friendly so you can bring your furry family member.
Read the latest reviews on Trip Advisor
Check out the best prices: Hotels.com | Expedia | Booking.com
Waterfall Villas Wellness Retreat (Dominical, Costa Rica)
A beautiful Balinese-style vegan paradise, Waterfall Villas is a huge advocate for vegan food in Costa Rica. The Waterfall Villas is also the perfect place to let your creative energy flow, with special workshops on topics such as Chinese Watercolor Painting, Astrology, Tai Chi, and Feng Shui. Dominical is a great spot to base yourself in Costa Rica because you have easy access to the stunning and remote Osa Peninsula.
Read the latest reviews on Trip Advisor
Check out the best prices: Hotels.com | Expedia | Booking.com
Raphael Hotel (Rome, Itlay)
You can find this classic hotel nearby the Pizza Navona in the heart of Rome. The vegetarian-friendly onsite restaurant has more vegetarian options than you could try during a week's stay and offers dining on a terrace with a view over the city.
Read the latest reviews on Trip Advisor
Check out the best prices: Hotels.com | Expedia | Booking.com
Please share your favourite vegan friendly hotels and resorts in the comments below. I would love to check out more and share with you as I travel.
This post includes affiliate links. When you make a purchase via these links, I receive a small percentage at no additional cost to you. Very small but very appreciated.
The Best Hotels in Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg, like any modern city has some world class accommodation options. This guide provides some of my personal favourite places to stay in the city as well as some more unique accommodation options.
Johannesburg is usually skipped over for South Africa's more attractive city in the west, Cape Town. This is unfortunate because within hours of arriving, Johannesburg quickly turned into one my favourite cities. The culture, nightlife, and people suck you in hard so that you find it difficult to ever leave. To enjoy the city you just need to dig under the surface a little bit and ignore its harder edges. You'll easily find that there are many interesting things to see and do in Johannesburg.
Johannesburg, like any modern city has some world class accommodation options. This guide provides some of my personal favourite places to stay in the city as well as some more unique accommodation options.
If you're looking for some itinerary options while in South Africa, check out Where to Go in South Africa and Itineraries for South Africa.
Best Budget Options in Johannesburg
Curiocity Backpackers (hostel)
A hostel with some serious style, Curiocity is located in the heart of Johannesburg’s Maboneng precinct. Curiocity offers interesting tours of the city and surrounding areas as well as regular planned activities like their twice weekly workout sessions, pub crawls, and bicycle tours.
Facilities include an on-site bar, with some excellent coffee to start your morning, a jacuzzi to help cool off in summer, and a large balcony to watch the world go by. They also offer some unique accommodation options, like a Loft and their quirky Relay Space Program
Check out their reviews on Trip Advisor
Get the latest prices: Hostelz.com
Once In Joburg (hostel)
Once in Joburg has a well designed common area, one of the best I’ve seen. Dorm rooms only have two bunks and private rooms are more like a hotel room. If you've never stayed in a hostel, you won't notice the difference!
This hostel is great for those who are seeking the communal benefits of a hostel - common room, shared kitchen and organised activities - but also like the comfort and privacy of a well-maintained hotel. Breakfast is also included.
Get all the full details in my detailed review.
Check out their reviews on Trip Advisor
Get the latest prices: Hostelz.com
Best Eco Hotels in Johannesburg
Thaba Eco Hotel
Thaba is actually a great all-rounder. It offers award winning dinning on site, it's affordable and family-friendly and provides a touch of luxury with dramatic views of the South African bush.
There's an Eco Kids program on offer as well as nature walks, mountain bike trails and bird watching for the big kids. Thaba Eco Hotel is a great option if you would prefer to relax and enjoy the nature surrounding the city and visit the sites within Johannesburg on day trips.
Check out their reviews on: Trip Advisor
Get the latest prices: Booking.com | Expedia | Hotels.com
Best Luxury Hotels in Johannesburg
Four Seasons Hotel - The Westcliffe
With five modern restaurants, bars and lounges and a full-service spa, this hotel makes it difficult to actually leave so you can explore the city. The Westcliff in Johannesburg is a stylish urban resort elevated on a hillside with panoramic views across the Johannesburg Zoo and the prestigious neighbourhoods of the city.
Check out their reviews on: Trip Advisor
Get the latest prices: Booking.com | Expedia | Hotels.com
African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel
Experience the ultimate in pampering at this central Marriott Hotel. The African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel specialises in luxury and is great for business travelers, families and those looking for an opulent getaway with the benefit of being in the heart of Johannesburg.
African Pride has a chic design and world class service. You won't be left wanting for anything during your stay! The best part is, when you're ready to take a break from all that opulence, you're steps away from the best shopping and dining that Johannesburg has to offer.
Check out their reviews on: Trip Advisor
Get the latest prices: Booking.com | Expedia | Hotels.com
Want more on South Africa? Check out the latest here!
This post includes affiliate links. When you make a purchase via these links, I receive a small percentage at no additional cost to you. Very small but very appreciated.
Somoto Canyon
The Somoto Canyon is one of oldest rock formations in Central America and has become one of the main attractions of Northern Nicaragua. The canyon is located fifteen minutes west of the city of Somoto and is also called "the structure" or “Namancambre” by locals.
The Somoto Canyon is one of oldest rock formations in Central America and has become one of the main attractions of Northern Nicaragua. The canyon is located fifteen minutes west of the city of Somoto and is also called "the structure" or “Namancambre” by locals.
The canyon walls run for five miles where the waters from the Comali River (from Honduras) and Tapacali River join to form the extensive Coco River. The cliffs have a height between 120 and 150 meters. In the narrowest area, they are situated just five meters away from each other. Between the small holes of the rock you can spot orchids, bromeliads and cactus.
The canyon was “discovered” by geologists in 2004 and since then tourism has ramped up in this tiny almost-border town and the Nicaraguan Government has wisely made it a Protected Area.
The Somoto Canyon tour
Somoto Canyon Tours is the only independent guiding group operating sustainable tourism out of the village of Sonis in the neighbourhood of the canyon. Somoto Canyon Tours started in 2008 to develop an enterprise to assist those who live within a few kilometres of the new attraction.
You can choose a trip of a variety of lengths depending on how much of the canyon you wish to see and how adventurous you’re feeling. I did the circular route of 6 hours covering 15 kilometres. It includes hiking, sightseeing, rock scrambling, wading, floating, swimming, boating, and jumps in both Rio Tapacali and Rio Camali.
You can also swim and do a small jump in the natural swimming pool below the confluence of the Tapacali and Comali rivers that form the headwaters of the Rio Coco, the longest river in Central America. I also got to check out the fruit bat caves that are only accessible on this trip which was a special treat.
Keep in mind that the water can get quite cold especially towards the end of the tour as the canyon narrows and less sun gets in. You should be able to warm up on the boat ride and walk back. I am a giant baby when it comes to the cold and I swore I would get hyperthermia in the last 10 minutes while floating downstream but I managed to survive until I got back into the sun and defrosted in our short hike back to the cabins.
I was asked if I was happy to have a new guide lead the small group of my two friends and myself. He didn’t speak much English but I speak Spanish and my friends were happy to be translated to. As with all the guides through Somoto Canyon Tours, he was a local guide and quite young, early twenties maybe. Even though he was young, he was very serious about making sure that everything went well and that we had fun on our trip. Too serious sometimes but we had a lots of fun trying to get him out of his shell!
The first Somoto Canyon jump
Free jumping
The highlight of the trip for me was the opportunity to jump from heights up to 20 metres. This is one for the very brave or experienced. I only attempted the 15 metre jump and I was terrified but was super proud of myself when I landed with minimal ouchies. Ladies, cross your arms over your boobs when attempting the higher jumps, just saying. At that height anything sticking out will get a big smack when you hit the water. Listen to the guide’s instructions and make sure to jump as straight as possible.
The best part about the guided tour is that the guide chooses jumps that get progressively higher. You start with a jump at the beginning of the tour of 2 metres. By the time you get to the end of the tour you have the choice to attempt the big 20 metre jump or a 15 metre jump. There's also a 5 metre option for those who haven’t worked up the courage yet. My biggest piece of advice for anything like this is to just decide to do it and jump in straight away. Don’t let your brain catch up to your feet!
Eeeeeep!
What to bring
You should only need a bottle of water, your camera and sun-cream. You’ll be in and out of the water so make sure to keep applying. Your guide will carry a waterproof bag in which you can place your items and where he’ll store snacks and lunch. You will be fully submerged in the water at some points so unless it’s in the bag it will get wet! Somoto Canyon Tours also provide river shoes which you can use if you do not wish to get your own wet.
Everyone gets a life jacket which is really important for safety reasons but also great to lay back and enjoy whit water floating when in the deeper downstream regions.
The accommodation
If you opt to stay the night you will be welcomed into Henry’s family homestead. There’s a farmyard full of animals to keep you company (and wake you up in the morning!) and you’re welcome to take part in the daily activities of the busy homestead.
There are cabins to sleep in that include private rooms and a dormitory with an adjacent toilet block. The accommodation is basic and there is only cold water in the showers but it is super clean and adequate for a night.
The family also offer a selection of traditional meals that include vegetarian options and you can preorder breakfast if you’re catching an early bus in the morning. I definitely recommend both the tour and staying a night here.
The "typico" served on the homestead - A Typical Nicaraguan Breakfast
Getting there and away
It’s fairly easy to get to Somoto by public transportation as long as you keep in mind that this IS the edge of Nicaragua. You won’t find many tourists here and it is one of the more remote tourist destinations. Along the way, I highly suggest visiting Esteli for a night so you can stop in to one of the cigar factories. You can set off to Somoto early in the morning, do a canyon tour and be on your way by early afternoon.
If you’re coming from Managua, you can take a bus to Somoto from the Mayoreo Market. These buses aren’t that frequent so I suggest catching any bus going to Esteli where buses leave hourly to Somoto.
You will get picked up from the bus station if you’re taking a tour with one of the tour companies but if you’re planning to go solo then you can take a chicken bus to El Espino (border with Honduras) and ask to be dropped off at the entrance to the community of Sonis. From there you will have an 8 kilometre walk to the trail head so be prepared!
If you’re the adventurous sort you can use this opportunity to continue on to the border of Honduras where you can head north to the centre of Honduras and possibly Lago de Yojoa or head east to the border of El Salvador. I did the former and it was a pretty easy transition. Connections were frequent and with a basic level of Spanish you should be able to find your way to any of the bigger cities.
You can also do the reverse by catching a border bound bus from Choluteca in Honduras.
My very serious guide
Somoto is a real treat in Nicaragua. By visiting and participating in a tour you are directly helping the local community and you also get to experience a different side of Nicaragua. I had a great time getting to know our very serious guide and the people in the small village community of Sonis. If you’re in Nicaragua and have a two days free then Somoto is a worthwhile stop and also a great border crossing option if you’re heading to El Salvador or Honduras.
This post is part of my Top 30 in Central America and Mexico. You can also check out some more of my favourite sites and activities in Nicaragua here.
Have you visited Somoto? Got anything else to add? Or been anywhere similar that I should check out? Let me know in the comments!
You Might Also Like
Top Travel Websites For Planning A Trip
If you've ever thought that planning a vacation and booking a flight yourself was too difficult and complicated then check out these travel websites which I use personally to plan and book my own trips.
Updated November 2016: I have added some new favourites and have ditched some websites that are no longer as amazing. Let me know if you have any favourites to add. Cristal
If you've ever thought that planning a vacation and booking a flight yourself was too difficult and complicated then check out these travel websites which I use personally to plan and book my own trips.
This article is part of a larger series called "The Ultimate Guide to Booking Affordable Travel On Your Own". A Guide with detailed information to help you find and book travel for any budget.
Flights
Skyscanner
This is my #1 go to for flight booking. I generally check a selection of websites but Skyscanner usually the cheapest. It’s pretty flexible in terms of allowing you to explore a variety of destinations and dates so if you don’t really mind where or when you go it can help you find the cheapest place to fly in a country, region or even all over the globe! You can search for a specific date, a whole month or even just ask it for the cheapest date to travel to specific location.
Momondo
This is not as flexible so it’s the most useful when you know where and when you want to go. The best thing about Momondo though is that it rates each fare based on a calculation of duration and price so you can easily see which fares are the best deal. Momondo also has some great filters if you want to be more specific about which airline, how many stops you’d prefer and maximum flight duration.
Google Flights
This is probably the most flexible flights search engine of them all. It’s as searchable as Skyscanner but also allows you to see the destinations and prices on a map view which works well for me as a visual person. My only criticism of Google Flights is that not all of the super budget airlines are included so you might not always find the best deal. It’s a great starting point though if you really just want to explore the options.
Skiplagged
Skiplagged is a special search engine that checks if there are any flights that stopover in your destination city that could potentially be cheaper than a direct fare. For example, you want to fly from Miami to Salt Lake City and you can get a fare for $200 but Skiplagged can see that there is a flight from Miami to Portland with a stopover in Salt Lake City for $150. You would take this fare and just leave the airport at Salt Lake City, no worries. They also claim to take advantage of other inefficiencies and round trip prices that could save you money. I have never actually found a better deal on Skiplagged probably due to my unique choice of destinations but I always check this website before I book anything and have heard some positive reports from the travellers.
Other Transport
Rome2Rio
A great website to help you discover options to get from Point A to Point B. Rome2Rio includes links to purchase directly with the providers and incorporates bus and train schedules, flights and car hire options.
Seat 61
This website encourages train and ferry travel by providing detailed information. Seat 61 has a heavier focus on UK, Europe and Africa travel but there is some information on most destination around the world. If you’ve ever fantasised about grand train journeys like traveling on the Trans Siberian Railway this is the place to go. There is ample information on what to expect, changing stations, connection times, classes and special needs. Honestly, if you’re thinking of train travel at all, I strongly suggest you check out this website.
Accomodation
Tripadvisor
Once I’ve decided on where to go and I’m ready to look into accommodation, Tripadvisor is my first stop. TripAdvisor relies on reviews from regular people staying in a hotel, compiles these into one page and ranks each hotel. If you enter your dates in it will also give you an idea of the cost and who you should book it through.
There are some useful filters including one for ‘Type of traveler’. You can choose ‘Family’ to read reviews by guests who stayed as a family or ‘Business’ for guests who stayed specifically for business purposes. My favourite filter is the ‘Time of year’ where you can see whether the hotel is as enjoyable in winter vs summer.
So Tripadvisor is a fantastic resource but this recommendation comes with a caveat. Like anything that is online, it’s very easy for someone to fake a review. This could be because maybe they represent a rival business and want to leave a damaging review or maybe the business wants to leave some sparkling reviews on themselves. There have been reports of business paying companies to leave reviews and other dodgy activity.
My number one tip is to take most individual reviews with a grain of salt. If it doesn’t sound like something a regular person would right then it’s probably a fake. Are there a spate of reviews left by people who only have one review? Then they’re probably fake or a business has enticed people to sign up and leave a review by offering some good or service, which is completely against Tripadvisor's terms and conditions. If there are hundreds or thousands or reviews and you just want to get an idea of whether somewhere is good or not, then just check out the overall score and leave it at that.
TravelPony
TravelPony is a great hotel aggregator that claims to have the best prices you can find anywhere. They’ve never steered me wrong and the website is very easy to use. It’s all about price on this website so you won’t find much more information besides the hotels address and contact number and a list of amenities.
Expedia
Even though I use either TripAdvisor or TravelPony to help find the best prices for a particular hotel, if there was a choice, I would use Expedia to book. I have only ever received great customer service from Expedia and they have travel guarantees built in and a reward program that actually rewards you!
Agoda
Agoda is a recent gem of mine for hotel booking. It's not always the cheapest but it does seem to be one of the cheapest options and their interface is one of the most pleasant to use. It's especially worth checking Agoda for travel around the Asia, Pacific and Europe regions.
Airbnb
Airbnb allows you to book the home of a local host. It can be just a room with access to the common space or a whole hours or apartment. There are also some interesting accommodation types listed in Airbnb, like castles, tree houses and houseboats if you want to try something different. Sometimes it can work out cheaper to book a vacation home through Airbnb than a traditional hotel and it can be a great option when traveling somewhere off the beaten track without a lot of accommodation options. There’s also a built in review system for piece of mind when booking.
If you haven’t used Airbnb before, click here to get $25 off your first rental.
Hostelz
Hostelz is a great resource for those who like staying in hostels and other budget accommodation. It aggregates the hostel booking sites and gives you an overview of the reviews and prices so you can choose where to book from. It also includes the contact details and websites for each hostel so you can check them out and book directly.
Location Research
To get an overview of a place it can be helpful to google the official tourism websites. Some are great and interactive and full of information and advice and others are lacking or non-existent. I would usually do a quick Google search to see what’s available and use that as a starting point in your research.
Travel blogs like this one are also a great resource. You get insight from actual people who’ve been to these places and what their experiences are like. Just be mindful that most f the time, when someone writes about a destination, place or service, they’re only writing the positive stuff. It’s just human nature to want to highlight the ’best of's’ but it doesn’t paint the whole picture. When wanting to get inspiration from travel blogs, try searching: ‘destination’ ‘blog'.
An example of a great destination blog is this Sayulita travel blog. It’s packed full of info on what to eat, where to sleep and what to do,.
Thorntree forum
A forum is a place you can go to online to find like minded people and participate in discussions. Lonely Planet’s Thorntree forum is filled with other travellers just like you who are either destination experts that provide insights and updates or people searching for help and advice. You can post things like a tentative itinerary that you’ve planned and seek feedback on it or ask a specific question that you can’t find the answer for elsewhere. There’s usually a FAQ or destination guide for each place as well.
Tip: Basic forum etiquette is to search for your query first to make sure the answer hasn’t already been provided.
Local expat forums
Some locations have such a huge expat community that they’ve developed their own forums online. It’s worth it to google 'destination' and ‘forum’ to see what’s available. Often users on Thorntree will be the first to advise that you should check out another forum for help. When planning my trip to the Dominican Republic, I was directed by a Thorntree user to the forum DR1 for help with my questions.
Wikitravel
A crowdsourced travel guide, Wikitravel is a great place to get an overview of a location with information on getting in and out, pubic transport options, top sights, places to eat and places to stay.
Activities
Tripadvisor is a great site to find things to do at a destination, with their user submitted reviews and ranking system you can find the most popular activities and tours available.
Vayable
A website to discover unique, cultural experiences from local hosts around the world. You an find a variety of tours on Vayable centered around design, photography, street art, ethnic food tours, private dinners hosted by locals, underground history and general sightseeing.
You can even get $10 off your first booking, click here for more information.
Don’t forget about travel insurance!
World Nomads
Like my flights and accommodation I used to always compare prices for travel insurance. Now, after 10+ years of solo travel, I just book through World Nomads. They’re the most comprehensive, flexible and easy to understand. You always know what you are and are not covered for. For people traveling long term, World Nomads is one of the only companies that will let you buy cover while you are already traveling.
This post includes affiliate links. When you make a purchase via these links, I may receive a small percentage at no additional cost to you. Very small but very appreciated!
You Might Also Like
The Ultimate Guide to Booking Affordable Travel On Your Own
I truly believe travel can be achievable for most people and you don’t need to fork out loads of cash to get someone to plan a trip for you. With a little bit of time and effort you can plan your own dream holiday yourself!
I’m just going to throw it out there. I love to travel. I love actually traveling and I love all the parts that come before, the planning, researching and booking. I could spend hours just planning the perfect route for the perfect price. This is no secret to people close to me and they take advantage of my madness by using me as their personal travel agent. There’s nothing more satisfying than helping someone who previously thought they couldn’t afford a trip to plan something that fits their budget.
I truly believe travel can be achievable for most people and you don’t need to fork out loads of cash to get someone to plan a trip for you. With a little bit of time and effort you can plan your own dream holiday yourself!
Over the next few weeks this travel series will highlight the most useful travel websites, apps and the process I personally use to book affordable flights, hotels and accommodations. Don’t forget to sign up to my newsletter to be notified on new posts! I also provide travel planning and travel coaching services so please get in touch if you need some help or are happy to let an expert take care of all of this of for you!
Part 1 - Top Travel Websites
Part 2 - Top Travel Apps
Part 3 - How to Find The Best Travel Deals
Part 4 - How to Plan a Trip on Your Own
