Planning a trip has become one of my favorite parts of traveling. Almost as soon as I book one adventure, I’m already researching the next. Over the years, I’ve developed a simple process that helps me organize everything from transport and accommodation to mobile data and sightseeing activities. Whether I’m planning a weekend city break in London, a Christmas getaway to Bruges, or a longer international adventure, these are the travel tools I find myself using again and again. Not only do they save me time, but they often save me money too. Here’s exactly how I plan a trip from start to finish!

Step 1: Researching My Destination

Before booking anything, I spend some time researching the destination itself.

I look at:

• How many days I need
• The best time of year to visit
• Public transport options
• Popular attractions
• Local food spots
• Hotel locations

This is usually where I start creating a rough itinerary and deciding whether a destination is worth a weekend trip or a longer stay.

Step 2: Booking Transport with Omio

Once I’ve decided where I’m going, transport is usually the first thing I book.

For European trips especially, I almost always check Omio first. It allows me to compare trains, buses, and flights in one place instead of jumping between multiple websites.

One thing I particularly like is how easy it is to compare different transport options side by side. Sometimes the train is faster, sometimes the bus is cheaper, and occasionally a flight makes more sense. Omio lets me see all those options at once.

Whether I’m traveling from the Netherlands to Belgium, heading to London, or planning a German day trip, it’s become one of my most-used travel tools.

Step 3: Finding Accommodation

Next comes accommodation.

Depending on the destination and budget, I’ll usually compare several hotels before making a final decision. Location is often my biggest deciding factor. I’d rather spend a little extra and stay centrally located than waste valuable sightseeing time commuting.

When researching hotels, I always check:

• Walking distance to attractions
• Public transport connections
• Connections to the airport
• Guest reviews
• Breakfast options
• Air conditioning (especially during summer!)

I usually start my search on sites like Booking.com, Expedia.com or Hotels.com to compare locations, prices, and reviews. Even if I already have a hotel in mind, I like seeing what other options are available nearby. Sometimes I’ve ended up finding a better deal or a more convenient location simply by spending a few extra minutes comparing properties or sites.

My biggest tip? Don’t just book the cheapest hotel. A slightly more expensive hotel in a central location can easily save you money on transport and give you more time to enjoy your destination.

Step 4: Staying Connected with Holafly eSIMs

One travel essential I never skip anymore is mobile data.

Gone are the days of hunting for local SIM cards at airports or relying entirely on public Wi-Fi. These days, I use Holafly eSIMs whenever I travel outside my normal data coverage.

The setup is straightforward, and having internet access immediately after landing makes navigating a new destination so much easier. Whether I’m ordering an Uber, checking Google Maps, translating menus, or looking up train times, having reliable data is a must. It’s one of those travel purchases that I never regret!

Going on a Cruise?

One of Holafly’s newest products is their range of Cruise eSIMs, designed specifically for cruisers visiting multiple countries during one trip.

Let’s be honest: one of the most annoying parts of cruising is constantly moving between destinations. One day you’re in Spain, the next you’re in Italy, and before you know it you’re trying to figure out whether your mobile data still works or if you’re about to get hit with a nasty roaming bill.

Holafly’s Cruise eSIMs are designed for exactly that.

There are currently four options available:

• Mediterranean Cruise eSIM
• Europe Cruise eSIM
• Caribbean Cruise eSIM
• Alaska Cruise eSIM

The eSIMs cover the most popular cruise destinations on land, so you can stay connected when exploring ports, finding your way around a new city, checking excursion details, booking transport, or sharing your travel photos.

A quick note: the coverage applies while you’re on land, not while the ship is at sea.

For travelers hopping between multiple countries in a short period of time, it’s a much easier solution than swapping SIM cards every few days or worrying about expensive roaming charges.

My Favorite Holafly Feature: Always On

Another feature I love is Holafly’s new Always On service.

We’ve all had that moment while traveling: your data plan runs out, the airport Wi-Fi won’t connect, or your plans suddenly change and you’re left without internet when you need it most.

With Always On, Holafly automatically includes 1GB of free backup data every month in more than 70 destinations worldwide. There’s nothing extra to install and no additional setup required.

It’s essentially a safety net for travelers and gives me extra peace of mind knowing I can still access maps, booking confirmations, train tickets, or messaging apps if something unexpected happens.

For me, that’s what Holafly is really about: stress-free travel and staying connected wherever the adventure takes you.

Step 5: Booking Activities with GetYourGuide

After transport and accommodation are sorted, I start looking at activities.

I love a mix of free sightseeing and pre-booked attractions, especially for popular destinations where tickets can sell out.

My go-to platform for this is GetYourGuide.

I’ve used it for everything from attraction tickets and guided tours to unique experiences that I probably wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. One feature I particularly appreciate is being able to read reviews from other travelers before booking.

For many attractions, booking in advance also saves valuable time that would otherwise be spent standing in queues.

Whether it’s a tower climb in Bruges, a palace visit in London, or a boat tour through Amsterdam’s canals, GetYourGuide is often the first place I check.

Step 6: Building My Itinerary

Once everything is booked, I start putting together a rough itinerary. I don’t plan every minute of every day, but I do like having a framework.

Usually this includes:

• Major attractions
• Restaurant reservations
• Transport times
• Backup indoor activities in case of rain
• A few hidden gems I’ve discovered during my research

Having a plan helps me maximize my time while still leaving room for spontaneous discoveries.

Step 7: The Final Travel Checklist

A few days before departure, I do one final check:

• Transport tickets downloaded
• ✓ Hotel booking confirmed
• ✓ eSIM installed
• ✓ Attraction tickets saved
• ✓ Passport or ID packed
• ✓ Power bank charged
• ✓ Google Maps locations saved

Once all of that is done, the only thing left is counting down to departure day.

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Travel planning doesn’t have to be stressful. Having a simple process and a few reliable tools makes organizing trips much easier and helps me spend less time worrying about logistics and more time enjoying the destination.

These are the travel tools I genuinely use for almost every trip I take, and they’ve helped make my travels smoother, cheaper, and far more enjoyable over the years. I hope they’ll help make your travels a little easier too. And if you’re planning a trip soon, hopefully my discount codes can save you a bit of money along the way! Happy travels, and don’t forget to let me know where you’re heading next.

XO BUG GIRL

Instagram: @thebuggirladventures