Planning travel can be challenging. Believe me, I know. The following are a list of travel blogs I follow that keep me updated (and inundated) with all of the newest travel news, whether it is great prices on flights or hotels, how to earn "free" points toward a "free" stay/flight, and, most importantly, what to do when you get to where you are going.
Through these sites I have learned about:
• TSA Pre-check
• the usefulness of the Chase Sapphire credit card
• how to get and maintain status with hotel chains (It's easier than you'd think!)
and been one of the first to know about
• crucial changes in travel (like Delta changing their upgrade policy for frequent flyers)
Travel blogs can be incredibly useful for not only helping you find the perfect deal to get you in the air, but also helping you to know what to expect once you are on the ground, wherever that may be! Read through a few of my descriptions and see if following any of these blogs is the right choice for you!
A conglomeration of bloggers are combined together in this blogging community. Topics are vast and varied and in some cases seem to not relate to travel at all! Learn how to better save your money, and, when you are spending money, discover new ways to make that money go further and get you more. The bloggers in this community also often feature giveaways providing you a chance to win free travel and amenities!
Most bloggers on this site focus their topics toward American readers, however, recently they've been growing to accommodate a wider audience. Now, occasionally, I see German, Spanish, and Canadian posts as well, which I imagine are more accommodating for people who live in those other countries. :)
Overall, I find the site to be incredibly useful, and highly recommend using a blog reader to stay caught up on the goings-ons of the Boarding Area bloggers. You never know when something useful will be shared! :)
The Points Guy (or TPG) was one of the first travel blogs that I ever began following. I had learned about the Travel Hacking Cartel on The Penny Hoarder, but I wasn't interested in paying for "free" travel opportunities. One blogger (of whom I never followed and thus can't direct you to) recommended following The Points Guy and keeping up with FlyerTalk Forums. Frankly, I'm typically too busy to keep up with a forum as big as that one, but a blog is definitely feasible! Now, any time I know I'm going somewhere, I google "tpg" or "the points guy" + wherever I'm going, to see what he recommends. Usually he lists out hotels with their prices and point requirements for all of the major American chains as well as activities and restaurants that you can find in the area. And he has covered a lot of ground! As if that's not enough, you can download the TPG app, if you are an American, and use it to browse the website, keep track of your credit card rewards, and decide which credit card will benefit you the most when you are out and about spending money.
Personally, I love TPG and his app. Sometimes, I don't know how I ever lived without it! (hint: I didn't travel then.)
3. Nomadic Matt
Justin and I actually had the privilege of going to hear Matt Kepnes speak about his book How To Travel The World On $50 A Day. While I wasn't thrilled with the book, I do enjoy reading Kepnes' blog posts and watching his travel tutorials on CreativeLive. It's nice seeing a down-to-earth guy living out his dream of traveling and blogging. Plus, recently he put together a non-profit organization called FLYTE where he sends underprivileged youth on trips around the world! Truly, Matt Kepnes is one of my favorite travel bloggers and such a delight to read and learn from!
If deals are what you are seeking, Fare Deal Alert, Flight Deal, and Mighty Travels all have you covered. I'm not sure how they do it, but they scope out the best flight deals around the web and put them all in one place for easy finding and clicking. Keep up with the blogs on a reader though, because otherwise you may miss out on a really great deal! Recently I've seen posts featuring flights to Europe for as low as $300 for the fall! And flights to Australia for as low as $500! When you follow blogs like these, you never know what you will find!
5. Extreme Hotel Deals
Another site featuring great deals, Extreme Hotel Deals are definitely extreme. Dates shared can range from tomorrow to next year, so it's helpful if you have a trip already in the making before you begin to follow EHD. Hotels at good prices sell out quickly, and the ones shared here are no exception! In fact, these hotel deals are probably the rule since more than your typical two or three travelers are following EHD. Keep an eye out and plan well in advance are the lessons you will learn from EHD.
So, what are you waiting for?! Get started planning your next trip now! :)
Are you a fan of travel blogs? If so, which ones? Did you already follow any of these?
