Staying healthy while traveling often takes a lot of planning and can be a time consuming process. To make life easier, these are my recommendations for the best travel planning sites, on-the-go workouts, workout accessories and must-have travel apps. Before exploring these, please note some of these are affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase after clicking on the link. I believe all the products and services I recommend are valuable and share them in the hope you can benefit as well. Please don’t make any purchases unless you believe they are a value-add to your life and goals.
Table of Contents
Travel Planning
Hotels and Flights
Booking.com– One of the best sites for finding the most cost effective accommodations. as well as flight and hotel packages. American Airlines uses this site for hotel bookings so if you’re an AAdvantage member use bookaahotels.com to earn AA miles for your stay.
Expedia.com– Consistently rated one of the top online booking sites. Expedia reliably provides great discounts for hotels, airfare and package deals. Frequent travelers should join the rewards program for extra discounts, concierge services and the ability to transfer rewards points from other programs. You can save even more using Rakuten.
Airbnb– A great alternative to traditional hotels for those looking for cheaper or unique accommodations. You’ll find rooms all over the world ranging from beach front condos to tree houses and houseboats. Book through the Delta site to earn Delta miles for each stay. Sign up for a new account and receive a discount on your first stay with this code.
Kind Traveler– This unique socially conscious booking platform provides discounted rates in exchange for a charitable contribution. Travelers choose their hotel and donate $10 per night through Kind Traveler and then are directed to the hotel to book the reservation. A great way to make a positive impact on the local community!
Car Rentals and Shuttles
VIP Cars– Search for car rentals and compare prices across all the major brands.
Autoslash– Car rental prices notoriously drop the closer you get to your travel date. If you’ve booked far in advance, let Autoslash track your rental rate and rebook it if the price drops.
Parking
Park ‘n Fly– Skip the airport parking garages and save money by parking at nearby lots. Included is free shuttle service directly to and from your terminal. Some locations also offer car washes and oil changes.
Park, Sleep and Fly– This is a great resource for those who don’t live close to an airport. Book a package that includes airport parking and a hotel room near the airport. You also have the option of booking just a hotel or parking.
Travel Inspiration
My blog– Wander over to my blog for my personal travel experiences.
Thrifty Nomads– ideas for budget travel destinations, trip planning and activities.
Travel Gear & Accessories
Backcountry– One-stop shopping for all your favorite outdoor brands. They offer great discounts on all the gear you need plus earn cash back with an Rakuten account. You can even create a wedding registry. Much better than registering for pots and pans!
eBags– Great site for luggage, backpacks, laptop bags and travel accessories. Also, you can earn up to 5% cash back if you have an Rakuten account.
Prawno Apparel– I love the t-shirt and sweatshirt designs inspired by the sea. Designs are based upon underwater photos and a portion of the proceeds is donated to marine conservation.
Best Travel Apps
Google Fi*– I can’t recommend this mobile phone plan enough, especially for those who like to travel. You’ll get unlimited talk and text, pay for only the data you use and there are NO contracts or termination fees. While traveling internationally, you’ll have free texting, data costing the same as it does domestically (in 170+ countries) and affordable phone call rates. *Be sure to check current terms and conditions before signing up.
Maps.Me– The ideal map app for travelers! This app uses your phone’s GPS to offer free access to worldwide maps and provide navigation and driving directions without needing cellular data or WiFi.
OpenTable– With each restaurant reservation you’ll earn points to redeem toward free meals or Amazon gift cards. (Must use online website to redeem)
Best Parking– I love this app for finding affordable parking garages and lots.
Uber and Lyft– Save money on cab fare by using Uber or Lyft. If you’re earning frequent flier miles be sure to link your JetBlue or Delta account to Lyft.
AirBnB– Excellent and user friendly app for finding and reserving accommodations. Be sure to check out their Experiences page for cool activities, concerts and workshops offered by locals in your chosen destination.
TripAdvisor– still the king when it comes to travel reviews. Use the filter and sort features to find the lesser known values and smaller hotels, inns and hostels.
Health and Fitness Apps
REI Mobile Apps– REI has great apps with trail maps and guides for hiking, climbing, trail running, mountain biking, National Parks and skiing.
Peloton– This is a great value, considering the thousands of on-demand workouts that are available. The monthly fee is very reasonable, and you can get a free 60 day trial with this link.
Happy Cow– Identifies nearby healthy restaurants and stores. Includes options for sorting by vegetarian or vegan only restaurants.
Strava– As you know, if it’s not on Strava, it didn’t happen! Besides sharing workouts, you can build your own cycling and running routes or use a route suggested by Strava.
Ride With GPS– One of the best route building apps. Create your own or choose from the existing library, and then use your phone for navigation or send routes to your bike GPS.
TrailLink– The go-to resource for finding and navigating rail trails.
Nike Training Club– By far the best free fitness app I’ve used. There are lots of workout plans that can be customized for every fitness level. You’ll definitely take it to the next level with these workouts!
Travel Insurance
World Nomads Travel Insurance– Widely considered one of the best travel insurance policies in the industry. Coverage is available for everything from delayed baggage to emergency medical care (be sure to read all terms and conditions before purchase to make sure your policies covers your planned activities.
DAN Dive Insurance– Dive specific insurance provided by Divers Alert Network. They offer coverage for a single trip as well as annual policies if you plan on multiple dive trips in one year. Have your own equipment? There’s a plan to protect that as well.