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One of the major things I’ve learned from studying abroad and living abroad was how to book kickass weekend trips. I went on trips inside and outside of Italy almost every weekend, all while staying on a budget and making some of my favorite abroad memories.
I decided I wanted to create a list of some of my favorite things that helped me book kickass weekend trips. Here’s my comprehensive guide on how to book weekend trips:
I know, planning trips can be extremely annoying and tedious. No one really wants to do it. But seriously, set aside a couple days where you plan your next month or two. This way you’ll get the best deals and be able to check new cities off your bucket list. One of the major things about being able to plan kickass weekend trips is by planning ahead. The longer you wait, the more expensive flights will get so plan ahead!
I wouldn’t recommend planning your entire next six months full of weekend trips because plans while likely change or you’ll discover the person you booked all your trips with isn’t your compatible travel partner. Do two months at most and plan the rest accordingly.
Choosing who you want to travel with is so so so important! The people you travel with could honestly make or break a trip depending on your travel styles! Find people who complement your strengths and weaknesses and you’ll have the trip of a lifetime! For example, if you’re someone that likes to sleep in and take your time when exploring a city then you probably won’t want to travel with someone who wants to start sightseeing at 6am. Honestly sometimes I think who you choose to travel with is more important than the city you go to.
SO SO important! Researching the best locations to stay in a city or best hostels can also make or break your experience. Ask friends or look at reviews for specific accommodations. Be sure that where you choose to stay accommodates your wants and needs! If you are more reserved and like to sleep early then you probably don’t want to stay at a party hostel! Be sure to look at places that have what you want to get out of an accommodation! Some of these include free breakfast, 24-hour reception, free walking tours, pub crawls, and much more!
Some of my favorite trips were because I made amazing friends at some of the best hostels!!
Here’s a list of some of the tools I use to research the best places to stay:
Hostelworld: If you’re looking for a more budget friendly option, then sleeping in a hostel is one of the better ways to go. I use hostelworld to compare all the possible hostels in a city. It’s really great because you are able to look at reviews, see photos of the rooms, and more!!
Hotels.com: If you want to stay in a hotel, I love using Hotels.com. You can save up to 50% off select hotels when you book here!
Booking.com: Really great if you’re more open to where you want to stay. I’ve booked all my hotels from Booking.com and have stayed in amazing hotels and apartments for great prices!! If you book here you can get $25 off your next stay!
Make a rough outline of all the things you want to see and do. My favorite way to travel is by making a list of things I want to see and planning it out on a physical map. This way you can knock some sites off your list and be efficient at the same time! I hate exhausting myself during trips and like to take my time while sightseeing or traveling. Planning ahead will save you time when sightseeing around a city and you’ll know for sure what sites exist in the city you’re visiting.
Free walking tours are amazing! For those of you who aren’t familiar basically it’s a “free” walking tour, but the tour guides rely on tips! I’ve found these tours way better than any bus operated tour because you see so much more by walking than you do by car or bus. All the tour guides I’ve had during free walking tours were so much fun and knowledgeable about the city. It’s really cool seeing a city from a local’s perspective and being able to experience that with a group of people.
I use Google Flights for planning all my trips and its absolutely amazing! You can explore your destinations and rank flights based on price which is amazing if you’re open to spontaneity! Google Flights is a great way to compare flights but be sure to use a private search engine (or go incognito mode) so that travel companies can’t track your cookies! Although Google Flights is a great way to compare flights, sometimes I find it better to book directly from the airline company’s website!
Don’t follow the crowd and be spontaneous! Whether you’re going to a country you’ve heard nothing about or walking down a street because it looks interesting will all be a part of your favorite memories! Some of my favorite things about traveling is exploring the streets and walking into random local shops. I got some of my favorite souvenirs and have had some of my favorite memories from being spontaneous!
The world is such a beautiful place so don’t be set on that major tourist city and go to a quaint little town instead. You’ll be surprised on how beautiful little towns can be!
Ask around where the best places to eat are from locals. Don’t search Google because you’ll end up with a list of restaurants that are just really good at advertising. Ask your hostel or ask a local on the street. Even look around and see what places have long queues out the door because its usually a sign that its good! Eat where the locals eat and experience a new culture’s cuisine!
I hope you enjoyed this list of some of my favorite things to book kickass weekend trips. After booking several weekend trips in a row I’d like to think I’m pretty knowledgable about the topic. If you have anything to add to this list, please comment to keep the list growing and to share with our community!!
Xoxo, Angelique – Ang Around The Globe
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Check out some of my favorite tools and companies I actually use when I travel.
Need a Bank Account for Life Abroad? Wise is the best option for travelers, study abroad students and expats. I use it as my everyday checking account since it lets me hold and spend in multiple currencies without getting hit with a bad exchange rate every time I cross a border.
Want to Travel for Free & Skip the Foreign Transaction Fees? I put my spending on my Chase Sapphire Preferred card and let the points cover flights and hotels I'd otherwise be paying for out of pocket. I've been able to use the points I earn on this card to pay for flights, hotels and meals all around the world!
Please Don't Forget Travel Insurance! Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never go on a trip without it. My two favorites are:
Need a Flight? I personally love using Google Flights to track prices and compare dates before I commit, the flexible date view alone has saved me a lot of money. Skyscanner is another great search engine to find cheap flights because it searches sites and airlines around the globe, so you know no cheap deal is being left on the table.
Getting Around Southeast Asia? Book your buses, trains, and ferries with 12Go Asia. One search shows you every route and price, so you're not digging through ten different local booking sites.
Need a Place to Stay? Book your hotel with Expedia, where I start looking, especially when I want to bundle flights and stays together. Hotels.com is my backup when I want to compare prices or I'm chasing their rewards program for a free night.
On a Tighter Budget? Hostelworld is where I go for hostels. It has the largest inventory out there, and you can search for dorm beds or private rooms depending on what you're after!
Want a Free Way to Travel? Try TrustedHousesitters! You look after someone's home and pets while they're away, and in exchange you get free accommodation (minus the subscription fee). It's a great option if you're traveling long term and want to cut costs. I personally use this as a host and a sitter, and it's truly great!
Need Inspiration or Just Want to See What's Out There? Go Guides is a solid resource for destination guides, must-see landmarks, local markets, best beaches, and things to do, browsable by place or by theme. It's a good stop whether you already know where you're headed or you're still looking for your next destination.
Check out my full packing gear guide for everything I bring on international trips, or browse my favorite travel finds on Amazon for quick links to it all.
Check out my full resource page for every company I use when I travel. I list them all in one place so you can go from planning to booked without digging through old blog posts!
Hey there, I'm Angelique!
I'm a Filipina-American, Chicago native living abroad and running my online design agency from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Over a decade of traveling in, and yes, I still pinch myself. With family split between the US, UK, and SE Asia, travel has always been part of my story. This blog is where I share the honest side of living and traveling abroad, the places I explore, my best study abroad tips from personal experience, and the little hacks that make this life actually work. Glad you're here, friend!
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