Top 6 Useful Holiday Tools

Holiday planning and organising can be a fun yet sometimes arduous experience. However, you can take comfort in the knowledge that the digital world has heralded countless solutions to the plastic sleeve folders/ print-outs debacle. We’ve found our favourites and listed them here for you.      

1. Skyscanner

Skyscanner’s customisability and range of options makes it a winner amongst the flight search platforms. Skyscanner checks for fares on not just full-service carriers, but also on budget airlines including Jetstar; making it a great option for budget travellers.

Using geo-location data, the mobile experience locates your nearest airport and if you’re in need of some inspiration, Skyscanner serves you a selection of economy flights, domestic and international.

And if you have a flexible schedule Skyscanner provides information on pricing per month, day or destination. This way you can customise your trip according to the best price available. 

2. Trip Advisor

Said to be the world’s largest travel site, TripAdvisor contains more than 125 million reviews covering over 3.7 million global accommodations, restaurants and attractions. While that may seem like a lot to mine through, it is TripAdvisor’s user experience and social integration (both online and via an app) that makes the platform user-friendly and valuable.

Akin to listening to your well-travelled friend on whether you should cruise the Mediterranean on a yacht, TripAdvisor contains peer reviews that are unbiased and honest. For example, TripAdvisor will show you if a hotel you’re considering has the amenities you need or if previous patrons have complained of cockroaches or leaky taps. Additionally, the platform aggregates user reviews to provide you with a rating out of five and a rank amongst similar hotels in the area. 

3. Booking.com

Unlike TripAdvisor, Booking.com focuses purely on accommodation, containing information and access to over 420,000 hotels of all levels from across the globe. What’s similar between the two platforms is the value of social proof: user reviews and ratings that help us decide where we would prefer to stay. The platform isn’t as popular as TripAdvisor, meaning that there aren’t as many options or opinions available. However as a booking tool it’s a one-stop shop, enabling the user to book everything within the site or from its mobile app.

4. TouristEye

Where Skyscanner allows you book your flights and TripAdvisor and Booking.com help you find the best prices and choices for your trip, TouristEye allows you to build a ‘wishlist’ of travel destinations and experiences. With this iOS and Android app, you can build out ideas for you quick three-day retreat or you’re ultimate 6-month European getaway. You can share your bucket list with friends and family or collaborate with your travel partner. Recently purchased by Lonely Planet, the service has some clout behind it so start dreaming!   

5. TripIt

TripIt is the ultimate organising and archiving app, allowing you to move your travel confirmations, tickets, bookings, reservations, itineraries and budgets from the abyss of an email inbox to one central hub.

And rather than having to enter the details by hand, you can forward confirmation emails from virtually any travel site to [email protected]. The platform will then sort through the data, generating your itinerary through unique content types such as images or calendars.  

6. Packing Pro

Possibly the most arduous step in the whole pre-travel process is packing the suitcase. The Packing Pro app makes it less painful by allowing you to create multiple lists on-the-go, based on the travellers, days you’ll be away, destination and even clothes-washing preferences.

It has a very simple interface and from toothbrushes to hiking boots, there are over 800 items in the app’s database to choose from.