Plan your trip
Travel resources
Love travelling but find the process of planning an itinerary a little daunting? Worry not — here are my personal recommendations: the trusted tools I use to plan and book every Be-lavie trip.
A note on affiliate links — this page contains affiliate links to brands I use myself. If you click through and buy something, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the content here free. Every recommendation is genuinely tried and tested.
Plan & book
Getting there and staying there
Flights, trains, cars and where to lay your head.
Flights
Skyscanner
First port of call to search for the best flight rates — flexible on dates? Search by month or even cheapest destinations from your home airport.
Rail & coach
Trainline
Search and book rail and coach tickets across Europe competitively, with one search across multiple operators.
Car rentals
Discover Cars
Search and compare car-hire rates across hundreds of suppliers to find the best vehicle and plan for your trip.
Multi-modal
Omio
A one-stop shop to compare bus tickets, rail fares and passes, flights and ferries — handy when you’re stitching a multi-stop itinerary.
Stays
Booking.com
A comprehensive way to book hotels, apartments and guest houses. Easy to search by date, map location and reviews.
Reviews
TripAdvisor
A great port of call for unbiased reviews to help you decide on accommodation and experiences based on other travellers’ real experiences.
Experiences
Things to do, places to read
From small-group tours to a good travel guide for the flight over.
Tours
Get Your Guide
Find top-rated activities and tours in your chosen destinations, with thousands of customer reviews. Small group and private tours in most worldwide locations.
Experiences
Viator
The most extensive list of private, small-group and large-group tours. Viator rarely fails to surface experiences that make a trip feel that little bit special.
Guides & books
Amazon
If you like to read about your destination, or love a good travel guide like Lonely Planet, Amazon has a wide range to choose from at home or on the road.
Travel essentials
The things you hope you never need
Insurance, connectivity and a way to claim back when a flight goes sideways.
Insurance
SafetyWing
If there’s one piece of advice I never compromise on, it’s: don’t leave home without travel insurance. SafetyWing offers competitive cover for travellers and nomads, including pre-existing conditions.
eSIM
Airalo
A convenient eSIM app set up before you fly — perfect for keeping roaming rates low and staying connected anywhere, including remote destinations. Quick to set up with great support.
Flight delays
AirHelp
Get compensated for flight delays, cancellations, strikes and overbookings. AirHelp handles the legal claim on your behalf.
Travel shopping
Gear, gifts and a few small luxuries
Where I buy travel clothes, gifts, and the bits and pieces that round out a trip.
Eco shopping
& Keep
Eco-friendly products to take small steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Gifts, clothing, bathroom products and a curated selection of sustainable brands.
Everything else
Amazon
If you’re looking for something for your travel needs, no matter how trivial, Amazon likely has it. Prime members can get next-day delivery.
Words to live by
“Travel the world, experience the culture, feed your curiosity, enrich your soul, tell the story.”
— Bejal Gosai