Travel Resources
Personally tried and tested travel tools, to get you going YOUR way
As a full-time traveler, I’ve tinkered with hundreds of travel apps to get the best deals and make my travel as seamless and stress-free as possible. On this page you can find the apps and websites I’ve personally used and would recommend to anyone who’s wanting to travel more often, and more confidently, with less overwhelm.
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Accommodations
Booking.com
My go-to for starting research on accommodation options + pricing for everything…from airport hotels to luxury stays to local homestays to boutique hotels. I start here and then compare pricing vs. Agoda and vs. booking directly with the hotel.
Usually AMAZING cash-back when booked through Rakuten (and usually better cash-back than through Agoda but occasionally the opposite is true so I check both every time).
Another thing I love about booking portals like Booking and Agoda are the refundable options that allow for tons of flexibility.
Agoda
Similar to Booking.com but sometimes offers better/different options or more cash back through Rakuten.
Aadvantage Hotels
I only include this one because, veeeeeeery rarely, I snag a huge amount of American Airlines Aadvantage points by booking my hotel through American’s own hotel booking platform.
There’s a surprisingly good amount of options but it’s usually not the best deal UNLESS there’s a special promo on. I’ve seen 6,800 points for a 2-night stay at a mid-range hotel…done right, that’s a free domestic flight!
Tends to be most useful for airport hotel stays, where I can prioritize earning points over the hotel experience itself.
Experiences: Private + Group Tours
Viator
Literally some of the best most epic days of my life have been on Viator tours. We’re talking seeing Komodo dragons from mere feet away, frolicking on a pink sand beach, and dancing on top of the famous Padar Island in Indonesia - all in one insanely memorable day with this tour.
Huge catalog of tours (both private + group), with reviews for confident booking. Often a bit more expensive than booking locally but absolutely worth the peace of mind for me to know what I’m getting into in a foreign country, especially as a solo female traveler.
Here are some of the Viator tours I’ve taken myself and totally recommend:
Watching thousands of bats at sunset from a local port near Komodo Islands. I originally booked this tour through Viator but my guide has since launched his own tour company with several tour options. You can support him directly here (Komodo Twins).
GetYourGuide
Similar to Viator, but each work better in different areas and for different types of tours so I always check both.
Here are some of the GetYourGuide tours I’ve taken myself and recommend without hesitation:
Airport Transfer/Private Transport
Booking.com
Viator + GetYourGuide
These apps focus on tours but sometimes have great transport options available. Here’s an example of one I’ve used from GetYourGuide: Komodo Islands Airport Transfer (Labuan Bajo).
Rideshare Apps
Lyft (USA)
Grab (Indonesia, Thailand)
Gojek (Indonesia)
Food Delivery
Grab (Indonesia, Thailand)
Gojek (Indonesia)
Talabat (Middle East - UAE, Qatar)
Wolt (Europe - Budapest)
Earning Credit Card/Airline Points + Miles
Rakuten
My #1 FAVORITE way to get a meaningful amount of extra points without spending much differently than I normally would, and the first recommendation I make to anyone who wants to start earning more points for their everyday spending. You just activate the plug-in on your Chrome browser one time, and from then on it’ll alert you whenever what you’re shopping for on your computer is eligible for rewards. And it’s not just “shopping” in the traditional sense…
I NEVER NEVER NEVER book a hotel room without checking to see if it’s eligible for cash back through Rakuten (booking.com and agoda almost ALWAYS have some rewards). I’ve gotten up to 12X points on my hotel bookings this way…that’s 6,000 extra points earned for a 5-night hotel booking of $500…for doing absolutely nothing at all but clicking “activate rewards” when the pop-up prompts you.
And that’s on top of any points you earn directly through your credit card for that booking! BTW It also works through the phone app, you just have to be a little more intentional about activating it each time.
The best part is the options you have for what to do with the “cash back” you earn through the app! The actual cash back option is great, but if you have American Express points, this is an amazing way to accumulate them quickly. And now you can also earn Bilt points (just at a less valuable conversion rate than AmeEx points).
IMPORTANT: If you don’t have a Rakuten account yet, make sure to sign up using this link! - this will give you a 5,000 points FREE just for signing up (worth $50) and spending your first $50 through the portal in the first 90 days (but only spend on something you were planning to buy anyway, please)! I’ll also get 5,000 points as a thank-you :)
Bilt
One of the only ways to earn points on rent (yes, really) without paying transaction fees. And also one of the only ways to earn Alaska Airlines points/miles (which aren’t easy to earn through other programs). Based on everything I hear from the travel gurus, Bilt points can be transferred to airline and hotel partners, used for travel, or stacked with other strategies, making it a sneakily powerful tool for earning points on a huge expense you’re already paying anyway.
Since I don’t pay traditional rent, I only recently signed up…but I figured it’s worth it even for the occasional unexpected extra-points earn on my normal spending.
Rove
A newer travel rewards platform similar to Rakuten, focused on earning flexible points through curated travel bookings and partnerships. But some options offer HUGE points earnings for the right hotel bookings.
I only recently signed up for this one as well, but I’ll be keeping an eye out for bonus-earning opportunities and can’t wait to see how far Rove will take me in 2026.
Camera Gear + Equipment
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro
This is what I use to keep my videos super smooth. It folds up super small, so it’s easy to always have thrown in my backpack or purse, and it has settings that automatically follow you around (making it great for solo travelers).
Travel/Rewards Credit Cards
Chase Business Ink Cards (various)