Are you planning you next vacation? Not sure where to begin or what resources are available? Fret no longer; here are the top 10 websites to help make your vacation a memorable experience without all the hassle that comes with planning.
10. Foursquare
Foursquare is mostly known for their check-in capabilities, but it can be a great resource to discover a city. If you’re not sure what the best item is on a restaurant menu, Foursquare has got you covered. This mobile application allows user to easily find out what’s trending in a city. From user recommendations, to pictures of various locations, Foursquare is a must have travel companion. While currently only available in North America, the team is rapidly trying to expand internationally. Link: http://foursquare.com
9. Yelp
If you haven’t heard of Yelp yet, you should definitely go visit the site right this moment. It is simply the best restaurant review site available. Yelp also reviews various activities and services though it’s strengths are not in those areas. Whenever I travel to a new city, the first thing I do is visit the Yelp app on my mobile phone to see what good restaurants are around my area. It is a time saver that allows you to quickly make eating decisions. Link: http://yelp.com
8. Oyster
Find the right hotel is never fun, use Oyster to save time finding the perfect place to stay. It has a huge database of hotels, complete with reviews and photos. But what differentiates Oyster from sites like Tripadvisor is their huge emphasis on quality photos. You’ll get to see exactly what the hotel looks like inside and out, often without any sort of photo manipulation. Thus what you see is what you get so you know exactly what you’re paying for. Link: http://www.oyster.com
7. Jetsetter
Jetsetter offers amazing vacation packages and activities at steep discounts. Yes, it is a deal site, however, the quality of their offerings is what separates it from its competitors. You won’t find dubious services or low-end motels on this site, everything is very luxurious and high quality and that is exactly what makes it amazing. Go plan awesome vacations and let Jetsetter save you money. Link: http://jetsetter.com
6. SniqueAway
SniqueAway is similar to Jetsetter in that they’re a deal site, however, they almost exclusively focus on high end hotels which makes the deals great if you’re looking for someplace nice to stay. It is a relatively new site that’s partnered with TripAdvisor to provide some awesome discounts at exclusive venues. The site is currently invite only so try to get on if you can. Link: http://sniqueaway.com
5. Ravn
Ravn is an amazing website that lets you discovery and book interesting things to do in a city. It is perfect for planning dates, finding local getaways, and discovering unique experiences. The site just launched not too long ago but it has already amassed over 10,000 different services including spas, tours, skydiving, cruises, and much more. Use Ravn to discover date ideas, plan an outing with friends, or find local escapes away from the city Link: http://ravn.com
4. Airbnb
Airbnb is the perfect place to find accommodation if you don’t want to pay for a hotel. It lets you travel like a local and stay at someone’s home for a fraction of the cost. Often, the person you stay with will also be the perfect guide for your city and tell you about the local attractions and what to do around town. Perfect for affordable housing and meeting new people, however, make sure you check the person’s background and reviews carefully as that can make or break your stay. Link: http://airbnb.com
3. Tripit
Tripit is a great little application that plans out your entire flight itinerary. It pulls your flights directly from your email and then organizes all of that information into a nice little website so you know exactly when you’re flying, and what to do about hotels, car rentals and much more when you land. It’s the perfect travel companion and you don’t even have to manage it. Tripit also allows you to send your itineraries to other people so they know exactly what you’re up to so you can plan things together. Link: http://tripit.com
2. gogobot
Gogobot is a travel social network. It lets you organize the places you’ve been in a nice travel passport while letting you meet people with similar interests. Write reviews, share stories, post pictures, and let the world know what an avid traveler you are. Gogobot is the facebook of travel, go and discover new places to visit using the site and let friends help you along the way. Link: http://gogobot.com
1. Hipmunk
Hipmunk is flight search made easy. They’ve aggregated all the flights and times and packaged it into a nice viewable format so you can find the cheapest flights to match your schedule. You simply have to try it out for yourself to see how easy it is to use. With a few clicks of the button, you’ve found your perfect flight at the best price and it was stupidly simple. This is the first site I visit to buy my plane ticket and often, is the only site I use. Link: http://hipmunk.com
Author: Dennis L. is one of the founders of Ravn.com. He is an outdoor enthusiast who regularly enjoys traveling and trying new things. He is also a tech insider who likes understanding the intersection between travel and technology and how the industry is evolving. He can be reached at dennis@ravn.com.