Best Travel Resources and Services for a Stress-Free Vacation

For all things travel – here are all the resources we use when we plan a trip.

“He who is best prepared can best serve his moment of inspiration.”

 SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

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Are you planning a trip soon?

Are you trying to decide which companies to book your next adventure through? With decades of travel under our belts, we have used what seems like endless various companies. Some we were not impressed with, and some have burned us. Here are our Best travel resources and services

There are many sites out there to shop for all elements of travel, including travel gear and clothing. It can become overwhelming for many with so many options. Though we are very budget-conscious, we are not the kind of travelers who will fly in a middle seat, sleep in a sketchy hotel, stay in hostels, or are willing to stand in long lines to save a few dollars. The vendors we use must have great ratings, advocate for their customers at times, and provide a quality product they stand by. We are not expecting perfection but a voice when things go sideways. That is why we are big believers in brand loyalty and wrote an article about it. Check it out here.

When we travel, we hit the ground running with little time to rest. When we sleep, it needs to be comfortable and safe. We need to know we are covered for the what-ifs that can happen, that we are safe with our tours and drivers, that our accessories are reliable, and that we can count on connectivity at all times. That is how we have come to find who provides the best travel resources and services.

Over decades of travel and almost 1.9 million flight miles combined, we have found companies/sites we trust and use regularly. That does not mean we don’t always compare and shop around. Below are the businesses we use and trust. If your experience is any different, let us know. It is valuable that people learn from your experiences so everyone can avoid the same scenario.

This travel planning resource page contains affiliate links. If you use these travel resource links to buy something, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for checking out our best travel resources and services

Travel Insurance

Squaremouth Insurance
Our favorite travel insurance site!

If you are booking a trip, remember to get travel insurance within 14 days of your first booking. We could not be more vigorous advocates of being well-insured—not for the little stuff but for the big stuff, like medical emergencies. We never leave home without it. This is at the top of our list of resources because it is our most important and best travel resource and service.

We have used many companies but have found our go-to site. Squaremouth Insurance does a fantastic job; it has a user-friendly interface, it uses top-rated and reputable insurance carriers, and most policies cover COVID-19 medical issues and cancellations. They also mediate on your behalf if you have problems with your policy. Their educational information pieces on travel insurance are exceptional.

To empower you as a consumer, we suggest you read our blog post on the importance of travel insurance and how to get the best coverage from top-rated companies for an affordable price.

MedjetAssist Membership
Medical transport back home from anywhere in the world

They are the premier global air medical transport. One caveat to travel insurance is that medical evacuation usually gets you to the closest facility to care for you. Medjet Assist membership gets you back to the U.S. to the hospital of your choice once you are stable enough to fly. They also cover COVID-related transport.

They carry their own policies. The policy is only for transport and no other aspects of travel insurance. Their motto is you never think it will happen to you, but it is the best protection you can have when it does. They have individual trip policies starting at $99 and annual policies for $315. The family plan is $425 per year. Most of their policies limit the age to 74. Prices are not based on age below that.

It is valuable, and if you are going on multiple trips a year for thousands of dollars, around $300 a year is excellent for their coverage.

To learn more about how Medical Evacuation membership with Medjet Assist works, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.

Communication products for seamless connectivity overseas

GigSky International eSIM Data Plans
Local Prices. No Roaming. Fastest Networks.

GigSky eSIM keeps travelers seamlessly connected worldwide without the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards or facing unexpected roaming charges. With affordable data plans and instant activation, you can enjoy reliable internet access in over 190 countries, making travel more convenient than ever. They have a great offer, a 100 MB data plan for free, and no credit card is required. They are that confident you will love their product!

Enjoy 10% off all GigSky Plans (except cruise and inflight) with our discount code WCOMPASS10

To learn more about how GigSky, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.

Travel booking sites

Booking.com
Hotels, Home rentals, BNBs, Flights, and other Transportation & Tours 

Booking.com connects millions of travelers to memorable experiences, various transportation options, and incredible places to stay – from homes to hotels and much more. As one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces for established brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes.

It is a site we use on every trip. When researching an area, especially off the beaten path, there are great little places we read about where you can stay. We always start with Expedia to check prices, but sometimes it says it is sold out. We then tried Booking.com, and we found that it lists plenty of rooms. This had been the case, especially in Switzerland and Germany. We do book directly when we can, but we see more places starting to rely on travel sites alone for reservations.

Expedia.com Travel
Hotels, Home rentals, BNBs, Flights, and other Transportation & Tours 

Expedia is a U.S.-based site whose mission is to power global travel for everyone. Whether planning a family vacation, business, or organizing the trip of a lifetime, they are the go-to resource. Wanderers Compass focuses on independent travel, and using sites like Expedia makes that possible. Every aspect of travel you need, from airfare, accommodations, rental car, cruises, and things to do at destinations, can be booked on Expedia.  

Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO)

VRBO may be for you when traveling with a family or having an extended stay at your destination.

With over 2 million bookable vacation rentals, VRBO connects homeowners with families and vacationers looking for something more than a hotel for their trip. The VRBO community offers families various rental property types such as condos, cabins, lake rentals, beach houses, and more. Discover properties in destinations that everyone dreams of visiting.

With recent issues with AirBnB and their lack of customer support, many are turning to VRBO. Many of the same properties exist there. It is under the Expedia group ownership now, which many were worried about but hasn’t panned out to be a concern. It is a massive network with access to all lodging forms should issues arise. Joelle Has used VRBO for many years with her family travel with no problems.

Hotels.com

Hotels Reservations Online

This site is for people looking for great deals and who like to get freebies along the way. Most hotels offer free cancellation, and you get a free reward night for every ten nights you stay. They also offer a low price guarantee.

The Hotels.com site is a leading provider of hotel accommodations worldwide, offering booking services through its network of localized websites. Hotels.com booking site gives travelers one of the broadest accommodation selections on the net, including independent and major chain hotels. The company offers a one-stop shopping source for hotel pricing, amenities, and availability. Hotels.com is part of the Expedia Group of travel companies.

Transportation services

Daytrip
Personalized city-to-city private car transfer service

Daytrip is an affordable private car service for city-to-city transfers around the world. We love their service, and it costs much less than renting a car. You can enjoy comfortable, stress-free travel with the added bonus of scenic sightseeing stops along your journey. For example, we used them between Budapest and Vienna, making some fantastic stops along the way. Their professional drivers and customizable routes ensure a smooth ride while allowing you to explore hidden gems and local attractions.

To learn more about how Daytrip, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.  

Rail Europe Bookings
Discover Europe by Train

Rail Europe train and bus tickets for travel across Europe. They cover 24 countries, 105 rail operations, and 20,000 stations. Rail Europe is the official rail and bus operations agent in the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. They continue to add coverage all the time.

It is a fast, easy, and economical way to purchase European train and bus tickets. Eurail passes are also available to buy through their site.

Traveling by train in Europe is one of the highlights of many of our trips. It is a fantastic and unique way to experience Europe. Try it at least once; you will likely be back again soon!

Travel Experiences

Viator
Leading Marketplace for travel experiences

As the leading marketplace for travel experiences, Viator believes that making memories is what travel is all about. And with 300,000+ experiences to explore—everything from simple tours to extreme adventures (and all the niche, interesting stuff in between)—making memories that will last a lifetime has never been easier.

With industry-leading flexibility and last-minute availability, it’s never too late to make any day extraordinary. This one site has it all and has experiences throughout the world. We use them often during our travels, especially for food tours. We especially take the time to read the reviews provided.

Travel shopping

Amazon.com
An excellent source for travel essentials and guides

We now have our own Amazon Storefront with all our favorite travel accessories and gear in one place. Check out our travel store at the link below. As an Amazon Affiliate, we do earn a small commission on purchases at no additional cost to you.

Wanderers Compass Travel Blog Amazon Storefront

Amazon is one of the most comprehensive online shopping sources in the world. On behalf of their customers, teams worldwide provide lower prices, better selection, and rapid delivery. They offer a vast inventory, and their 1.7 million small and medium businesses worldwide selling on Amazon.com offer more options for customers.

We buy all our travel books, accessories, and luggage from Amazon. We had ordered up to two days before travel and received what we needed on time. It is an invaluable travel planning resource for us.

HYDAWAY drinkware

This is not your ordinary drinkware company. The HYDAWAY difference is what their products do when you’re not using them. Practical and portable, HYDAWAY doesn’t take up unnecessary space in your already-packed life or pile up in landfills. We all know that trying to pack light while being environmentally conscious can be difficult. Having the right items can make a world of difference. HYDAWAY provides that.

In our testing of their products, we were impressed. We have used their collapsible water bottle, carrying case for the water bottle, and collapsible insulated drink tumbler. They are all lightweight and durable. A conservation-focused product you can be proud to own.

Use our Promo Code. WANCOM15, at checkout, for 15% off your Hydaway order.

Travel documentation services

PhotoAiD
Be your own passport photographer

Do you feel like you are wasting time visiting an on-site photographer only to be embarrassed by the photo? Would you like control of the final product? Get the perfect VISA or passport photo online with PhotoAID.

When traveling, you often need to apply for official documents such as a passport, ID, and different kinds of licenses or cards. Those applications require a picture that must meet specific conditions to be accepted, depending on the country. Now, it is possible to take this picture at home without the help of a professional photographer. The PhotoAiD app allows you to take the perfect biometric photo that you can guarantee without leaving your home.

Traveling involves many elements of preparation. To make your trip even more successful, check out our blog post, Ryan’s Top Travel Tips.

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