Confused about which company to book your next vacation with? Look no further! Given below are companies we use to book our travels and recommend them for your trips as well.

Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking through them and booking your trip. This will be at no additional cost to you. We use the companies listed here and highly recommend them because they’ve seen us through all our travels. If you would like to support this website, book your vacation using the links below.

Accommodation Bookings

1. AIRBNB: Airbnb is always our first option for accommodation searches. Living in quaint homes owned by locals gives you a certain sense of belonging to your travel destination, unlike resorts and hotels. Plus, you’ll probably have a kitchen to use, so you can save money by cooking some meals by yourself! Use this platform to book the perfect home away from home. 

2. BOOKING.COM:  We switched from the usual MakeMyTrip to Booking.com very early on (especially for international travel). Why? Because of the large number of listings, easy-to-use interface, no money-down policy (pay at the property), easy cancellations, easy getting in touch with the accommodation, and our peace of mind! You also get a 10%–15% discount, room upgrade options, and other travel rewards through their loyalty programme.

3. AGODA: Agoda often has great deals for properties in Asia. Check out the fares here before making any bookings in Asia.

4. HOSTELWORLD: The most comprehensive listing of hostels all over the world and a great interface. And no, hostels are not just for solo travellers. Some hostels also have rooms for two or more, with or without an attached bathroom. Great for students, friends, and couples looking for super inexpensive accommodation.

See our list of accommodations around the world that we’ve stayed at and recommend.

Flight Bookings

1. SKYSCANNER: We have been using Skyscanner for years to find cheap flight tickets around the world. I especially love features like fly to ‘Everywhere‘ for a dose of inspiration on where to travel, the ‘Cheapest Month’ feature to know when to fly to a destination, and ‘Price Alert’ to book flights when prices drop.

2. GOOGLE FLIGHTS: Google Flights does most of what the other websites do and also informs of amenities like availability of power outlets, amount of legroom, in-flight video, and WiFi.

3. TRIP.COM: We usually search for deals on this website, be it flights, car rentals, trains, or hotels.

Car, Train and Bus Bookings

1. RENTALCARS.COM and DISCOVER CARS: Rent a car anywhere in the world at a really low cost. Remember to always compare prices between these two sites. We’ve often noticed that rates are better than those on specific car rental company websites!

2. 12GO: 12GO is a public transport booking website mainly for Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Japan, and New Zealand. It is the only operator in some countries, like Sri Lanka, for train bookings.  Use it to book trains, taxis, ferries, buses, flights, and vans!

3. BUSBUD: An excellent resource to book buses anywhere in the world

4. FLIXBUS: Flixbus is a fantastic option to book buses in Europe. Their buses are safe and comfortable, and the rates are so much better than trains.

5. OMIO: Great for booking buses and shuttles in Europe, the United States, and Canada

6. TRAINLINE and RAIL EUROPE: These are Europe’s leading train booking apps that show you the best available prices, times, and train/bus tickets for your journey.

International Driving Permit

If you’re going to be driving abroad, then it is best to find out if you’ll need an international driving permit. An international driving permit is a translation of your driving licence in multiple languages and is used in conjunction with a driving licence. Examples of some countries that require you to have an IDP to drive are Italy, Austria, Thailand, Vietnam, and Bali.

For Indians: While you can apply for IDP at your local RTO, let me tell you that it is a cumbersome process: the address is your passport, the driving licence has to be the same, and it has to be your current address. In addition to visiting the RTO and waiting in a long queue, you may need to visit a medical professional at a specific government hospital to get a medical certificate (required in Pune) or even give a driving test (required in Kolkata). Specifications vary by RTO in India, and their is no standard process.

That is why I would suggest applying for an international driving permit online on this website. It takes just 8 minutes to fill out your forms. In two days, you’ll have a digital copy of your IDP, and in a week or two, you’ll have your physical copy. This is what my husband did for our mini-world trip, and he had no issues. This is the most convenient way to get an IDP.

Tours & Experiences Bookings

1. GET YOUR GUIDE: This is an in-destination tour and experience booking website. The best bit is that it allows free cancellation until 24 hours prior, reliable 24/7 customer service, and faster access to attractions.

2. VIATOR: Viator has the largest listing of tours, attractions, and private guides we have ever seen. With a presence in 2700 destinations, this TripAdvisor company always has you covered. We use this platform when GetYourGuide doesn’t have the tour or attraction ticket we need to pre-book.

3. AIRBNB: Airbnb has unique experiences that you won’t find anywhere else. The best bit is that you can contact the tour host for any questions before you even book. This personal experience is absolutely fantastic!

4. KLOOK: Great for buying entry tickets for attractions and skipping those long lines!

5. TIQETS: Though we use this website sparingly, it’s always worth checking it out for buying tickets for attractions and experiences.

Travel Insurance

We never travel without travel insurance, as it covers all the uncertainty that travel brings and gives us absolute peace of mind. Travel insurance typically covers travel accidents, health emergencies (not pre-existing), emergency medical repatriation, checked baggage delay and loss, loss of passport, trip cancellation, trip delay, and personal liability. Bajaj Allianz Travel Insurance, Tata AIG, Reliance and Care (covers pre-existing ailments) offer some decent travel insurance options in India. World Nomads below is a popular option amongst travellers all over the world, best for long-term international travel.

WORLD NOMADS: World Nomads provides travel insurance to travellers from over 130 countries. What sets them apart is that you can buy and claim online, even after you’ve left home. It even covers a range of adventure sports and activities—something that is nearly always excluded from travel insurance.

Travel Websites for Bookings in India

1. MAKE MY TRIP and GOIBIBO: The first-ever platforms we used for hotel and flight bookings and continue to use to date, especially for bookings in India since the above-mentioned international platforms don’t always have enough accommodation listings in small Indian villages and towns. We choose between Indian platforms depending on the bank offers available!

Book Flight on MakeMyTrip | Book Hotel on MakeMyTrip

Book Flight on Goibibo | Book Hotel on Goibibo

2. CLEARTRIP: Our favourite for redeeming PAYBACK points.

3. REDBUS: There is absolutely no better platform for booking buses in India. With features like ‘Boarding Point Navigation‘, you know exactly where to board, and with ‘Track by Bus’, you know exactly where your bus is. Redbus is also present in Colombia, Peru, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia.

The Best Apps for Fashion, Beauty and Gear in India

1. AMAZON and  FLIPKART: The first place to look for just about everything!

2. MYNTRA and AJIO: For all fashion, footwear, and accessories.

3. NYKAA: For all hygiene and beauty needs.