Planning trips to places near and far is so much easier when you’re using the best travel websites for research and inspiration. We rounded up the top 5 sites to bookmark for your next journey!
From amazing destinations you might not have considered to the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions in the area, having a list of top-notch travel sites to check will take your vacation planning to the next level.
Elevate Your Journey With the Best Travel Websites
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Here at Travellers Worldwide, we’re constantly immersed in the bustling world of travel – exploring the sights and scenery, seasonal activities and things to do, and the hidden wonders of the most popular and lesser-known locations around the globe.
It’s all part of our mission to create one of the best travel websites on the web, but we’re not the only ones building a rock-solid resource for travelers.
When you’re planning a trip somewhere new or familiar, you’ll want all the info to make the most of your plans.
From ensuring you’re getting the best prices on airfare and hotels to filling your itinerary with plenty of fun, adventurous, or relaxing things to do, there’s no doubt that using travel websites can easily elevate your journey.
But not just any travel site will do. Many travel sites today barely scratch the surface, reiterating the same old information you’ll find on thousands of websites or showing you regular, undiscounted rates on flights and hotels.
The best travel websites, however, offer something unique and truly special.
They add real value to your trip with well-researched content, help with pricing and booking an upcoming trip, and arranging the best possible trip dates according to your budget and preferences.
We’ve rounded up a list of the 5 best travel websites for people planning memorable trips near and far. These websites act as a foundation for trip planning and serve as your personal, digital travel agent.
Keep reading to see which websites deserve a bookmark to help you plan your next trip – and every journey after that!
The 5 Best Travel Websites to Bookmark
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With so many travel resources online, finding the best travel websites is no easy feat. Since we create travel content daily, we’re always looking for the best resources for globetrotters.
Over the years, we’ve found a handful of resources that stand apart from the rest. These travel sites consistently show up with reliable info, truly helpful travel tips, and access to the best prices on flights, hotels, rental cars, and attractions.
The 5 best travel websites to bookmark are:
- Travellers Worldwide
- Booking.com
- Skyscanner
- Lonely Planet
- U.S. News & World Report Travel
Each one will bring value to your travel experience, from planning a vacation or trip that fits your budget to researching destinations and attractions that will make your trip feel worthwhile.
Below, we’ll share some info on each travel website and how you can use it to make the most of your next journey.
1. Travellers Worldwide
Find thousands of travel guides filled with all the must-know info for destinations worldwide on Travellers Worldwide. We highlight stunning locations, what to pack, when to go, and things to do while you’re in the area.
From guides showing the best time to visit an area to in-depth reviews of amazing hotels, attractions, and eateries nearby, our site is like having an experienced travel agent help you plan an itinerary that checks all your boxes.
Looking to discover a unique destination that ignites your sense of wonder? Click Find Your Adventure to browse guides for different locales that will delight you.
If you’re already planning a trip, get insider tips on where to stay, what to pack, and every leg of the journey – flights, hotels, rental cars, travel insurance, and more – on the site.
Travellers Worldwide does the research on popular and lesser-known locations around the world so you don’t have to. From the best Hawaiian islands to visit to incredible day trips from Paris, this is one of the best travel websites to bookmark.
Travellers Worldwide helps inspire memorable trips to places near and far with local tips and recommendations that make all the difference. It’s an encyclopedia of travel info you’ll use again and again.
2. Booking.com
Every traveler needs a great booking site to find the best prices on hotels, flights, rental cars, attractions, and vacation packages. That’s exactly what Booking.com is for – there’s also an app for mobile use!
We love Booking.com because it offers a more comprehensive array of accommodations than most other hotel sites and even includes things like hostels and apartments.
Once you’ve gathered your trip inspiration with the help of in-depth travel guides and tips from Travellers Worldwide, you can seal the deal with Booking.com’s powerful search engine to find and book great travel deals.
Enter the city and dates you’re planning to visit and see all the available hotels, flights, rental cars, or attractions for your trip dates. Sort them by price, reviews, distance, and top picks to see perfect options for your journey.
Say you’re looking for a great place to stay in Miami. Enter the city and your preferred travel dates, then narrow your search with filters that adjust your results to see only the hotels that meet your criteria.
That might be hotels and resorts with all-inclusive perks, specific amenities (hello, spa day), free cancellation policies, or beachfront locations that put you mere steps from the sandy shore.
We reviewed the top 4 hotel booking sites and Booking.com came out on top, returning the most search results and showing the best available prices online for destinations across the globe.
3. Skyscanner
Booking flights can be one of the most stressful and expensive parts of planning a trip. But the Skyscanner website and mobile app really simplify the process and give you access to cheaper airfare!
You can use Skyscanner in a variety of ways – to find the cheapest flights from point A to point B, to see the cheapest days to fly in a given month, or to quickly locate nonstop flights that get you there faster.
What’s really unique about Skyscanner is that it’s a flight price aggregator (use it for hotels and rental cars, too) that instantly searches the top travel sites to land you the cheapest and best deals available.
You’ll do the actual booking directly through the airline or travel agency to keep things simple.
Enter your departure and arrival destination, travel dates, and travel party details to see results you can filter and sort by best, cheapest, fastest, or preferred departure/arrival times.
Love spontaneous travel that leads you to incredible new places? You can gather inspiration for your next trip with the Everywhere search feature that shows you destination ideas around the world when you enter travel dates.
We analyzed millions of Skyscanner reviews and found an overall 4.6 star rating. It outranks Google Flights, Kayak, and Skiplagged, nearly always showing the cheapest flight prices available online!
4. Lonely Planet
Trusted and long-known for its jam-packed print travel guides, Lonely Planet is one of the best travel websites to use for gathering trip inspiration and learning the ins and outs of a new destination.
Lonely Planet is the perfect place to grab info on a place you’re thinking about visiting, showing you the most popular things to do in the area, general weather info, and possible fees or pitfalls you can plan to avoid.
Lonely Planet gives travelers ideas and must-know tips for different types of trips, from family-friendly destinations around the world to the most stunning honeymoon locales for a romantic stay.
You’ll find excellent travel information here, along with photos that help you get a sense of each location’s vibe and most memorable landmarks, natural wonders, and urban areas.
Whether you’re starting your search with a destination in mind or just looking for that initial inspiration to go somewhere new, you’ll find it on the Lonely Planet website.
While the website is full of great info for travelers, we think the Lonely Planet guides are even better. The site’s storefront makes it easy to browse and buy guides for destinations worldwide for as little as $5.
5. U.S. News & World Report Travel
Gathering as much info as you can on a potential vacation destination is one way to ensure your trip goes smoothly with no unpleasant surprises. We love that U.S. News & World Report Travel makes the research easy!
Access info on hotels, cruises, attractions, and general destination guides on the site to start planning out a full itinerary that’s packed with fun for the entire family.
You’ll find guides showing you when to visit, what you can expect when you get there, and things to do in the area so there’s never a dull moment.
Love using rewards to fuel your travel habit? There’s an entire section dedicated to helping you find the best airline and hotel rewards programs to start earning every time you land somewhere new.
If you’re already honing in on a destination you’d love to visit, enter it on the site to see related guides that can help you start planning your trip.
You’ll be able to learn which months are the most prime for a visit – and which ones to avoid – along with top hotels, tours, and places to eat nearby. It’s one of the best travel websites to keep handy for upcoming trips!
Things to Consider
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Once you’ve learned and bookmarked the 5 best travel websites, you can start putting them to work! Here are some tips to consider that unlock new ways to use travel websites. They’ll really improve your next trip!
Look for Destination Inspiration
It’s easy to get stuck in a travel rut, visiting the same familiar locations again and again because you know they’re great. But why not use one of the best travel sites to discover a new destination?
Travellers Worldwide lets you search and browse destination guides in almost every country, Lonely Planet features Stories that highlight lesser-known locations, and U.S. News & World Report serves up trip ideas when you’re not sure where to go.
The Booking.com homepage shows unique trip ideas and lets you browse by property type or favorite properties around the world.
Skyscanner has an Everywhere search feature where you choose the travel dates and see where you can go for an affordable price during that time!
Be Flexible With Travel Dates
It’s not always possible, but if you can be flexible with your travel dates, every single one of the 5 best travel websites will be much more useful and effective for your planning.
On Travellers Worldwide, you’ll find hundreds of guides showing you the best time to visit different locations around the world (along with the cheapest, least busy, and worst times to go). It’s a great way to start narrowing down your trip dates!
Booking.com allows you to easily adjust your travel dates to see how pricing and availability differs for each.
Skyscanner has an excellent calendar view that color codes the cheapest and most expensive travel dates. That makes it easy to move your trip dates to access the lowest prices during any travel season!
If you can’t be flexible with your travel dates, sites like Travellers Worldwide, Lonely Planet, and U.S. News & World Report Travel can show you ideas for things to do and affordable places to stay anytime of year.
Take Advantage of Travel Tips
The best travel websites feature helpful travel tips that you wouldn’t know until you’ve been to the location – things like the best restaurants off the beaten path, secluded beaches and areas for picnics, or which areas of town are the safest or least crowded.
Take advantage of the travel tips you find on sites like Travellers Worldwide, Lonely Planet, and U.S. News & World Report Travel to really embrace a new destination with behind-the-scenes tips most tourists don’t have.
You might discover a great fishing spot, the best resort for a honeymoon, a specific off-menu dish to order at a seafood shack, or independent shops that deserve a visit when you’re in the area.
All of these things can elevate your travel and turn a new destination into a favorite vacation spot!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Still have a few questions about the using the best travel websites to plan or start imagining your next trip? Take a look at the most frequently asked questions below to learn more.
What is the best travel site?
Travellers Worldwide is the best travel site for trip planning and travel inspiration across the globe. Find helpful guides that show you the best time to visit or cheapest time to fly along with location-specific packing checklists, safety info, and must-see attractions.
With well-researched content and links to the best travel resources for flights, hotels, rental cars, and travel insurance, Travellers Worldwide is a one-stop travel site for domestic and international trips.
What is the biggest travel website in the USA?
Booking.com is the biggest travel website worldwide, according to website ranking data from SimilarSearch. Booking.com gets the most global website traffic among travel sites and helps users find and book hotels, flights, rental cars, and attraction tickets.
TripAdvisor is the biggest travel website in the USA, getting the most website traffic within the country and beating out sites like Expedia and Airbnb in terms of daily traffic.
Is Trip.com trusted?
Trip.com is considered a trusted travel website, but it's not currently one of the best. It's owned by the same company as Skyscanner, which adds to its credibility as Skyscanner is ranked one of the best travel websites.
We were able to find lots of negative user reviews of the site, ranging from 1.2 stars to 3.9 stars on sites like SiteJabber and TrustPilot. The Apple App Store reviews average 4.7 stars, however, with 4.5 stars on the Google Play Store.
There are better sites around to use for pricing and booking hotels, flights, rental cars, and attractions - Skyscanner and Booking.com specifically - but Trip.com is legitimate.
What makes a good travel website?
The best travel websites feature heavily researched, accurate, and well-written content with photos that help immerse you in stunning destinations around the world.
Accurate information that you can confirm through other sources is essential for a good travel website to have. Links to additional resources and information on climate, tourism patterns, and location-specific tips are also a must for great travel websites.
Travellers Worldwide, Lonely Planet, and U.S. News & World Report Travel are examples of 3 travel websites that meet the criteria for a good travel website.
What is the most famous online travel agency?
Booking.com is the world's most famous online travel agency (OTA), getting the most website traffic of any travel website worldwide and serving a huge number of monthly users.
People rely on Booking.com for hotels, flights, rental cars, and attraction tickets because it instantly searches and displays accurate pricing and booking info from hundreds of sources online.
Get Inspired by the Best Travel Websites
From jam-packed travel guides on Travellers Worldwide, Lonely Planet, and U.S. News & World Report Travel to easy, on-budget booking and price checking through Booking.com and Skyscanner, the best travel websites are all you need to start planning the trip of a lifetime.
Bookmark these sites to have travel advice, guides, and tips at your fingertips when it’s time to plan your next trip or easily compare prices and book every step of your journey with a few clicks.
Discover a new destination, learn the best time and places to visit there, and find your adventure by letting these sites guide and inspire you for your next trip!