These are the sites, channels and newsletters I start with when we plan a trip, from learning about a place to finding a cheaper way to get there. I use them, or have used them, and I like them. The list is short on purpose. Some are free and some have a paid tier, and I note which is which so you can decide for yourself.
Nobody on this list paid to be here. One link, Daily Drop, is my own referral link, and I mark it. Points sites often earn money when readers apply for credit cards, so read any card recommendation with that in mind.
Learn about a place
Start with a guide you can trust before you commit to an itinerary.
Rick Steves
Guidebooks, TV, radio and free audio tours for Europe travel.
Rick Steves is a travel writer who has been publishing guidebooks on European countries and cities since 1980. His site pulls together his public television series, his weekly public radio show, hundreds of travel articles and a library of video and audio. His company also runs guided tours of Europe, and his free Audio Europe app offers self-guided walking tours and radio interviews you can download before you leave.
Best for: First-time and return Europe tripsCost: Free resources, plus paid guidebooks and tours
My take: Great stuff for anyone traveling to Europe.
Watch before you go
A good travel video tells you what a place feels like, and it shows you things a guidebook cannot.
Kara and Nate
A Nashville couple’s travel videos, from 100 countries and beyond.
Kara and Nate are a husband and wife from Nashville, Tennessee. Their channel started with a goal of visiting 100 countries, and they kept going from there. Recent episodes follow them on the Mongol Rally, an overland road trip. Nate also founded the Daily Drop newsletter, which is further down this page.
Best for: Seeing a destination in action, and picking up points tipsCost: Free (YouTube)
My take: In the early years the channel was all about travel, because they had a goal of visiting 100 countries. They still travel, and Nate gives good advice on earning points.
Adventures of Matt and Nat
Part-time travelers and full-time travel creators, based in Nashville.
Matt and Nat started their channel on a trip to visit all 50 US states in a year, then moved on to places around the world, including a series inspired by the book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. If you like to see a place before you add it to your list, their videos are a good way to do it.
Best for: Ideas for places to add to your listCost: Free (YouTube)
My take: A couple who like to visit different places, and great YouTubers.
The Detour Duo
Tony and Sara, sharing positive stories about people and places.
The Detour Duo are Tony and Sara, a travel-loving couple with a passion for visual storytelling. Their YouTube channel describes its focus as sharing positive stories about people. They also publish a website with a monthly newsletter of travel hacks, budget tips and updates from the road. One of their videos covers their move from the United States to Albania and their honest first impressions.
Best for: Seeing the people and daily life behind a destinationCost: Free (YouTube and website)
My take: Great YouTubers who travel.
Wolters World
Plain-spoken, honest advice from a long-time traveler.
Mark Wolters runs Wolters World, a YouTube channel and website of practical travel advice: budgeting, getting around, airport and airplane etiquette, and how to avoid common tourist mistakes. The style is direct and sometimes blunt, with an emphasis on being a considerate visitor.
Best for: What to know before you goCost: Free
My take: Honest travel advice. Another good one.
Find cheaper flights
A way to hear about good airfares without searching every day.
Daily Drop
Flight deal alerts and a points newsletter, from Kara and Nate.
Daily Drop is a travel and points newsletter created by Kara and Nate, with Nate Buchanan as founder. The newsletter is free. Daily Drop Pro is the paid subscription: it sends alerts when airfares drop from the airports you choose, and it lets you search award flights and hotels across loyalty programs. Deals are for departures from the US and Canada.
Best for: Flexible travelers who want deal alerts from their home airportCost: Free newsletter, paid Pro subscription
My take: A subscription service from Kara and Nate that finds discounted airfares.
This is my referral link. If you sign up through it, I may receive a reward from Daily Drop.
Learn the points game
Plain-English starting points if you have wondered whether travel points and miles are worth your time.
The Points Guy
Points, miles and credit card guides, with a beginner email series.
The Points Guy was started in 2010 by Brian Kelly and has grown into a large travel and credit card site. It publishes news on airlines, hotels and cruises, reviews of rewards cards, and explainers on earning and using points. For newcomers there are beginner articles and a free 10-part email series called Points 101 that walks you toward a first redemption.
Best for: Learning the basics of points and milesCost: Free
My take: Good info on how to start the points game.
The Points Guy says it can be paid by credit card partners when readers click a link or open an account, which can affect where products appear.
Thrifty Traveler
Points guides, travel news and flight deals, with a paid Premium tier.
Thrifty Traveler was founded in 2015 by Jared Kamrowski and is known for flight deal alerts and plain guides to points, miles and travel credit cards. The site is free to read, with a Start Here guide for beginners, daily travel news and a weekly podcast. Premium is the paid membership, with faster and more frequent flight deal alerts than the free version.
Best for: Beginners to points who also want flight deal alertsCost: Free, with a paid Premium tier
My take: A points site, and again a good one for beginners.
Thrifty Traveler says it receives payment when readers are approved for a credit card through its links, which can affect card placement.
Have a favorite I have missed? Tell us. I am always adding to this list.
