Holiday season is on the horizon and with it comes the lure of far-flung places and lively locales.
Though travel conjures images of exploration, adventure, relaxation and a certain serenity, much less glamourous is the getting there. From securing a visa, booking flights, finding accommodation and scheduling activities, planning one’s travels can be a bit of a hassle and many people don’t know where to begin.
Here are three travel websites to get you going.
Passport Index
If you’re planning on travelling abroad, the first thing you need to do is check whether your desired destination requires you have an entry visa which you would need to apply for at the relevant consulate in advance.
At passportindex.org, you can click on your passport and see which countries you can travel to without a visa as well as which destinations allow nationals from your country to access visa-on-arrival. Browsing passportindex.org is also a good way of choosing a location should you want to bypass the stress of securing a visa and travel to a place without these restrictions.
Visa requirements are ever-evolving, so once you have chosen a destination, make sure to crosscheck visa information across official sites of the country you wish to visit.
Skyscanner
One of the simplest ways of purchasing a flight is by using skyscanner.com. This flight search engine allows you to browse flights for your preferred dates and offers you a selection of options on various airlines. Skyscanner further sorts your options into best, cheapest and fastest.
When booking your own international flights, it’s imperative that you leave sufficient time (at least two hours) between connecting flights as you may need to make your way through a large and crowded airport or deal with flight delays.
While Skyscanner is a good flight search tool, be aware that the airlines the website suggests may be running flash sales or specials so always compare the price on Skyscanner to flights on the airline’s official booking page. For first-time travellers, booking through a travel agent may help you feel more secure, but with a little patience and attention to detail, you can definitely do it yourself. A travel rule of thumb is that the earlier you book or buy a flight, the cheaper it will be.
Booking.com
The best part of pre-travel is definitely booking accommodation, one’s home away from home.
While there are a number of sites to browse the lodgings the world has to offer, Booking.com is a firm favourite for its easy interface, extensive selection of worldwide accommodation and advanced search filters to accommodate the backpacker, budget, midrange and luxury traveller. Booking.com also offers a wide array of properties with free cancellation, regular flash sales and last-minute deals as well as an easy-to-use mobile app with even more discounts.
Accommodation on the website is rated out of 10 and Booking.com additionally provides customer reviews and photos. If a place seems too good to be true, cross reference the property with reviews and traveller photographs on Tripadvisor.
Once your visa is secure and your flights and accommodation are booked, your next step is to plan what you want to see and do. For this, Google your destination to get even more inspired, visit sites like Viator, GetYourGuide and Expedia to book sightseeing tours and experiences or read “top things to do” lists to plan your own itinerary and have the time of your life.
– [email protected] ; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com
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