The businesses and websites listed here are ones we think are helpful for travelers, based on research and reviews. We haven’t personally tested every single one, and we don’t have formal partnerships with them, just sharing the love! Please always do your own due diligence before downloading or sharing personal information.
"Founded in 1996 in Amsterdam, Booking.com has grown from a small Dutch start-up to one of the world’s leading digital travel companies. Part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), the mission of Booking.com is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world."
"Hotels.com gives travellers one of the widest selections of accommodation on the net, including both independent and major chain hotels as well as self-catering in over hundreds of thousands properties worldwide. The company offers a one-stop shopping source for hotel pricing, amenities and availability."
"We started pairing homeowners with families looking for places to stay in 1995, and Vacation Rentals By Owner (Vrbo) was born. Since then, we’ve grown into a trusted global vacation brand with a unique selection of 2+ million whole homes all over the world. In other words, there’s room for everyone. Vrbo takes diversity and inclusion seriously, because we believe that family is everything."
"The redesigned app lets you book homes, experiences, and services—all in one place. Check out Airbnb homes, experiences and now services!"
"The world’s best escapes, handpicked by experts! At Luxury Escapes we believe everyone should travel in style. That’s why we offer the world’s most amazing travel experiences at great prices."
"Today, we process billions of queries across our platforms each year for travel information, helping millions of travelers around the globe make confident decisions. With every query, KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to show travelers the information they need to find the right flights, hotels, rental cars and vacation packages."
"For planners and jet setters alike, we’ve built the best way to find deals tonight, tomorrow, or beyond. We only work with hotels we’d want to stay at too. Give us ten seconds and we’ll find you your soon-to-be-favorite spot."
"Hostelworld was founded by two entrepreneurs - a hostel owner and an IT executive - to provide an affordable global distribution channel and property management system for hostels. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Ireland, Hostelworld is a well-known trusted brand with almost 230 employees, hostel partners in over 180 countries, and a long-standing commitment to building a better world."
"Wander pioneered the “hotelification” of vacation rentals – combining the quality of a luxury hotel with the comfort of a private vacation home. Now we’re taking our verticalized travel experience guests love global with an end-to-end travel platform for trips, experiences and concierge service."
"TrustedHousesitters connects pet parents with a community of loving, verified pet sitters from around the world. Pet parents get to travel with peace of mind knowing their home and pets are safe. Meanwhile, our sitters get to experience unique travel, create meaningful connections, and authentically embed themselves within the communities they visit!"
"Booking through Hotwire can save big on last-minute hotel deals*. For low prices, Hotwire Hot Rate® deals offer cheap hotel discounts if you book before learning the name of the hotel. Here’s how it works—You choose the neighborhood, star rating, and amenities and leave the incredible deal up to Hotwire. Prefer to know the name of the hotel before you pay? You have that option too."
"BringFido is the world’s leading pet travel and lifestyle brand. Our website and mobile apps connect millions of pet owners around the globe with more than 500,000 pet friendly places. Members can seamlessly compare and book thousands of pet friendly hotels and vacation rentals directly on the app, all with no booking fees."
"Hipcamp is the #1 camping app to find and book campsites, from national parks to blueberry farms. Explore our collection of over 500,000 iconic public lands, well-equipped RV resorts, and private sites you won't find anywhere else. Browse our comprehensive maps, filter by your camping style, read millions of real reviews, and create free availability alerts."
The ResortPass mission is to create a healthier, happier world by encouraging more daycations. "Our global marketplace empowers locals and travelers alike to easily book luxurious hotel amenities just for the day."
"Dayuse is the leading platform for daytime hotel room bookings, designed to revolutionize your hotel experience. The service allows you to book a hotel room for just a few hours, without staying overnight. Whether youre looking for a day hotel to rest, work in peace, enjoy a spa, or organize a business meeting, Dayuse transforms your ordinary day into an extraordinary experience."
"With Couchsurfing, you can stay with locals in every country on earth. Travel like a local, stay in someone's home and experience the world in a way money can't buy. Couchsurfing is a global community of 14 million people in more than 200,000 cities who share their life, their world, their journey.
Safety: Read what members say about themselves and what other members have said about them. Give yourself the time to thoroughly read through all the information available and don’t compromise. If you’re uncomfortable, keep looking."
To meet others in the area, check out "Hangouts" on the Couchsurfing app. (1) Choose an activity: Interested in finding a surf buddy, or someone to grab a beer with? Tell other members what you want to do. (2) You can also browse active hangouts: See what people nearby are up to. Reach out to anyone you want to hang out with. Others will do the same to you.
We share websites you can use to help plan and prepare for travel. Enjoy!