After years of planning trips, I’ve tested countless websites, apps and resources related to travel. Every week, I’d spend hours searching for ways to travel more affordably and practically, making sure each trip is both cost-effective and convenient. I know how hard it can be to find cheap and convenient flights, well-located hotels that are both comfortable and budget-friendly, as well as sights worth visiting, especially when you need to buy tickets in advance and aren’t sure where exactly to get them from…

That’s why in this article, I’ve gathered the best resources for transportation, accommodation, sights and many other useful tools that will help you make your trip truly perfect!

Everything you’ll find here has been personally tested by me, and I’m happy to recommend it to fellow travelers. Let’s get started!

Travel

Here, I’ve selected the flight search engines I use, as well as the airlines I fly with most often. I’m also sharing useful links and apps that will help you get around both within cities and between them, trains, buses, rental cars and public transport are the types of transport I use most frequently. If your flight happens to be delayed or cancelled, I’ll point you in the right direction.

Flights

When planning a trip, the first and most important thing is finding affordable flight tickets! To do this, I use specific flight search engines to check dates and prices, and then I go directly to the airline’s website to buy the tickets.

Skyscanner

This is one of my favorite websites and I visit it constantly! When I want to find the best flight for me, I always check Skyscanner

because it shows all flights. The best part is the “Everywhere” destination option, which is perfect if you want to travel but haven’t decided exactly where to go, it’ll show you loads of interesting and unexpected options. You can also search for flights only within a specific country, like Spain. But what I love most is that when I set the destination and dates, the calendar with available flights shows prices in different colors, almost like a heat map. This way, you can easily see which dates have the cheapest flights and which are the most expensive.

Definitely one of the best flight search engines out there, and when you choose a specific flight and make a booking, there’s no markup on the final price. Some other flight search engines charge a commission for the service.

eSky

This is another flight search engine, but I rarely use it. I sometimes compare prices and dates, but they take a commission for booking flights or any other service.

Airlines I Use:

I’ve flown with almost every airline you can think of! Here’s a list that might come in handy if you’re looking for specific flights to a particular destination:

Low-Cost Airlines

Sometimes they offer pretty affordable and convenient flights. The only concern I have when flying with low-cost airlines is the possibility of a cancelled return flight, as this has happened to me with Ryanair. Another downside is that their return flights are often very early in the morning, with arrival times late in the evening. It all depends on the destination.

Wizz Air

They fly to almost every European capital and major city, and if I’ve got a short trip, I prefer to fly with them. I sometimes find great deals, but flights with them frequently get delayed or cancelled.

Ryanair

Unlike Wizz Air, they don’t have as many destinations, so I use them less often. If I find a cheaper fare, I’ll go with them. Their seats are a bit uncomfortable, but for short flights, it’s not a problem. Again, delays and cancellations are common.

easyJet

If you need to travel to or from the UK, this is the perfect airline to choose! They also have regular flights from Sofia to Paris, with quite reasonable prices.

Traditional Airlines

When it comes to longer flights, I prefer to travel with traditional airlines. Yes, they’re more expensive, but I have to admit I’ve found cheaper and better deals with them than with low-cost carriers.

Qatar Airways

I usually fly with them when travelling to Asia, mainly for my trips to Thailand and Singapore. My transfers have always been through Doha, and whenever I had a long layover, I took the chance to explore Qatar’s capital. I’m very happy with the service on board, the seats are comfortable, the catering is excellent and the staff are polite. Their prices are quite good, and their flight change or refund policies are impressive.

LOT

If you want to visit Poland, their flights are worth taking advantage of. They also occasionally offer quite affordable flights to other destinations, but the only downside is that you have to transfer in Warsaw. The layover is usually around 1 to 2 hours though, so it’s worth it, especially when there are no direct flights to your destination or direct flight prices are double or triple.

Lufthanza

Over the past few years, the quality of this airline has declined significantly! Strikes, poor ground services, chaos with boarding passes and more. But sometimes they have some really good offers, and to save a bit of money, I put up with all the issues mentioned above.

Train

Unlike in Bulgaria, train transport is well developed in almost all Western European countries. Many Europeans spend over 25% of their lives on trains. When planning to stay in one place and travel to another, I recommend using train services and checking options, schedules and prices in advance. You can certainly buy tickets at the station, but it’s good to have an idea beforehand. I recommend:

Omio

Available in both mobile and desktop versions, I’d suggest downloading the mobile version to your phone. Here you’ll find information on European trains, which is generally very accurate, as well as bus, ferry and other transportation schedules. The mobile app sometimes gives errors, so I also use the web version to see all the possible travel options.

Bus

Travelling by bus is also a great option when you need to get from one town to another. Omio can help with this too, but you can also use:

FlixBus

With regular bus lines and excellent prices, I’ve used them a few times in Belgium and was very happy with the experience.

Car Rental

If you prefer to travel more privately, or expect to cover long distances daily, I recommend renting a car.

Hertz

Very recognisable and offering cars for rent in nearly every country, Hertz has some of the best prices. Their cars are well maintained and relatively new. I used their services during my Sicily tour, where we rented a car and covered almost the entire island in a week.

Public Transport

In some major European capitals, such as Copenhagen and Stockholm, you can buy public transport tickets through apps. Everything is automated and there are no booths for paper tickets, it’s all done digitally through mobile apps:

DOT Tickets App

If you’re visiting Copenhagen and plan to use the metro or buses, download the app to buy tickets. There are no barriers in the metro, so you can enter freely, but if you don’t have a ticket, the fine is quite steep, around 100 euros.

SL

In Stockholm, they don’t sell tickets for the metro, buses or trams either. So download the app, and the great thing is you can buy a card for one or several days for multiple people. Without a ticket, be ready for a hefty fine.

Compensation for Delayed or Canceled Flights

It’s common for flights to be delayed by over 2 hours or even cancelled. In such cases, airlines are obligated to compensate passengers, but they often try to avoid paying. This means you may need to pursue your rights through legal action. If you’d rather skip the hassle, I suggest contacting a company that specialises in these cases.

AirHelp

I haven’t had a flight cancelled, but I’ve experienced delays of over 2 hours many times. So I always turn to AirHelp to help me with this, in exchange for a percentage of the amount owed. If you run into similar problems, reach out to them for help.

Accommodation

Once we have our tickets for the trip, the next step is deciding where to stay. There’s no shortage of options, with plenty of search engines and booking platforms available. But honestly, I only use one! I’ve heard a lot of stories from friends and acquaintances about their bitter experiences with other booking sites, which is why I stick to what I trust when booking hotels:

Booking.com

This is the site that offers the largest number of hotel accommodations worldwide. In recent years, they’ve also started offering apartment rentals, so the choice is vast. I prefer booking hotels here because if any issue comes up, I can easily get help directly through the platform.

Airbnb

The best platform if you want to stay in an apartment. Years ago, when the platform wasn’t so popular, I found some amazing offers, apartments in great locations, modernly furnished and at very affordable prices. You can still find great deals on Airbnb, so I’d recommend using it without hesitation.

Luggage Storage

Many places to stay offer luggage storage if you arrive earlier or leave later than check in or check out times. But if your accommodation doesn’t offer this, I recommend using:

Radical Storage

They offer luggage storage lockers in almost every city, with reasonable prices. The locations are also very convenient.

Tickets for Sights and Attractions

For every trip, I plan ahead the places I want to visit and organise each day around what I want to see. That’s why I always buy tickets in advance for local sights, museums and attractions. The advantage is that I don’t have to wait in lines, and I can be sure I’ll get to see everything I want. Well, sometimes I end up adding a few more places to my list along the way. That’s why I use:

GetYourGuide

Here you’ll find endless offers for tourist attractions and activities from all over the world! The prices are the same as on official museum and attraction websites, and sometimes there are even discounts, which is a great bonus. I’ve used their services several times and have always been more than satisfied.

Paris City Vision

If you’re planning to immerse yourself in the magic of Paris, I highly recommend checking out their incredible offers. You’ll find impressive tours filled with romance, history and surprises. I guarantee the experience will leave a lasting impression on you.

Turbopass

And if you dream of Dubai, Venice, Rome, Munich, London or Barcelona, make sure to check out the options here. There’s something for everyone, from boat rides through the Venetian canals to panoramic views from Dubai’s skyscrapers. An unforgettable adventure awaits you.