Summer is here, and I’m so excited! Not only is it a much-needed break from school, it’s time to get my adventure on and travel somewhere amazing.
In a few weeks, I’m going to the Virgin Islands with a few of my girlfriends and I absolutely cannot wait! Green mountains, white sand beaches and crystal blue water—and I’m going to swim with the dolphins. Oh yeah, baby!
Naturally, I made my travel plans using my 4G LTE phone and tablet—and believe me, when you’re trying to search for and book the best rates before they sky-rocket, it’s nice to have a network that’s fast and reliable, with no time-outs and glitches!
Of course, I scrimped and saved for about a year for this trip. But you can enjoy a summer get-away no matter your budget. So what are you waiting for? Get out there!
Here are my favorite sites and apps you can use to plan your summer adventure:
Twitter – Yup, Twitter. You can tweet to not only find last-minute flight and hotel deals, you can get better service too! My friend recently tweeted about an issue with his hotel room and the concierge replied to him right away. He didn’t even have to call the front desk! So be sure to get the Twitter handles of your hotel, airline, etc. before you embark.
TripIt – I love this app because it helps keep my itineraries and flight, hotel and rental car confirmations organized and easily accessible. It’s genius!
Yelp – Not sure which restaurant, hotel, or nightclub to try? Yelp it. You’ll find honest reviews written by real people about pretty much everything you want to look up in a city. Download the app for Android, iPhone or iPad. Another option is Trip Advisor, a popular app that features travelers’ reviews on hotels, restaurants, attractions and more.
HotelTonight – Last minute traveler? This app, available for Android or iOS, lets you book same-day hotel accommodations at a fraction of the regular cost.
Gas Buddy – Road trip? Use this app to find nearby gas stations and get the best prices. Available for Android, iPhone or Blackberry.
AirBNB.com – Skip the hotel and “go local” by renting a room in a person’s home or apartment—or rent the entire pad. AirBNB features places to stay all over the world, often at lower rates than hotels. And each place is photographed by an AirBNB rep, so what you see online is what you’ll get.
Groupon & Living Social – These discount “coupon” sites are not only great for stirring travel inspiration, they offer amazing deals on “stay-cations”, quick getaways and far-off destinations. Just be sure to read the fine print before you buy.