Planning a trip to a place you’ve never been can be a daunting task. Where do you even start? Do you look into activities first? Hotels? What resources should you reference? And how should you maximize your time in each city?
I’ve planned a few major solo trips for myself, and as of writing this (March 2025) I’m currently planning a trip to Japan, so I wanted to share the resources and apps I use to research and organize. Everyone’s planning style is different, but here’s what I use:
1. Blogs and Travel Videos
The first step I take when planning any trip is to look up “things to do in xyz” or “xyz travel” on Google and YouTube. This will immediately provide a plethora of resources, including travel blogs, itineraries, local expert guides, and tourism websites.
It can be a lot to sift through everything at first, but I like to start with the first results that pop up and keep going through each until I find a few writers/creators I like. For Japan, those resources have been Japan Travel (website), Abroad in Japan (YouTube), and Sam and Victor (YouTube), among others. What better way to gain insight into the best things to do and places to go in an area than from people that have already visited or currently live there? Though, most of these resources might only provide you with the top touristy things, but they’re a good starting point.
As you start to dive in, you can look for writers and creators that cater to different niches, such as the best cafes and shops or the best activities outside the main cities (I love Sam and Victor because they showcase so many incredible cafes and an abundance of Gashapon stores, which I’m very excited to try out).
Blogs and videos can also be resources to help you figure out logistical details as you dig deeper into your planning journey, like how to navigate public transport and know which areas are safe.
TLDR: Google and YouTube are my best friends.
2. Wanderlog
When it comes to planning an itinerary outline, I love to use Wanderlog (not sponsored!). While planning my first big trip abroad a few years ago, I painstakingly tried to write my detailed plans out in a word document, but then I came across Wanderlog and fell in love with the simplicity and organization it provides.
The website/app helps you lay out your plans day-by-day and also equips you with customizable sections to sort out your initial research. For example, while planning for Japan I made “things to do” sections for each city we’ll be visiting and compiled my lists there, and then when we booked the flights and set official dates, I organized everything day-by-day.
One of my favorite things about Wanderlog is it shows the distance between each place in your itinerary, which makes it easier to plan daily routes without having to cross-reference Google Maps.
In addition, the platform is a great way to get ideas for restaurants, things to do, etc. There is an “explore” section where people have contributed curated guides, and the site connects to Google and Tripadvisor so you can see reviews, open days/hours, addresses, and websites for each destination.
To top everything off, you can add your flights, lodging, restaurant reservations, and more so you have all of your information and documents in one place, and the app allows you to view your itinerary offline if you’re in a place with no service. There is also a budgeting section, and you can add a fellow traveller so they can view and edit the trip.
I never see anyone talk about it, but I’m forever a big fan of Wanderlog.
3. Spreadsheets
If you’re like my boyfriend who thrives on spreadsheets, they might be a better organizational tool for you. You might have a whole travel planning system set up already or be skilled enough to make one on your own, but if you’re like me and can hardly figure out how to navigate Excel/Sheets, there are some useful pre-made sheets available to help organize your plans.
I came across this “Ultimate Travel Planner” from Smart Women Society (again, not sponsored), and customized the pages to suit our needs. There are tabs for activities, accommodations, and transportation research, and when you add plans to the actual itinerary it will populate to a daily, weekly, and monthly overview of your trip. I’ve never been incredibly fond of spreadsheets, but this was easy to use as a novice and it satisfies both my and my partner’s organizational needs.
4. Google Maps
Whether or not I’m using Wanderlog, I still like to add all of my destinations to Google Maps so I can easily see their locations and the distance between each of them. On the app, be sure to download maps of the areas you’re visiting so you can view them offline by going to your profile in the top right corner → “offline maps” → “select your own map”.
You can also add your destinations to Google My Maps and categorize them any way you’d like and plan out a specific route. Though I will say, Google My Maps is not the most intuitive or user-friendly platform to use so it’s not my preference.
5. Activity Booking Apps
Once I have a general idea of the cities I want to visit and things I want to see, I like to look at activity booking platforms such as GetYourGuide, Viator, and Airbnb for potential experiences.
These sites are useful for booking all of your activities in one place, but they can also just be a tool to look for attractions and tours. Once you’ve decided on your activities, you can go directly to the host company’s website to make your booking there instead of the app. Sometimes if you book directly online it will be cheaper, but also companies lose a portion of your payment to these booking platforms. So, if you book directly with the company that is hosting the experience, all of the money will go directly to them instead of through a third party. This doesn’t necessarily affect you, but booking direct can also provide better service, no hidden fees, and allow you to change dates or cancel easier if your plans change (though, be aware of the company’s refund/cancellation policy).
That being said, I appreciate the convenience of booking platforms so all of my tickets are in one app. Also, they help you find more hidden and smaller experiences, like this amazing photoshoot tour I did in Thailand.
Planning Your Trip
When planning your next trip, hopefully these tools and resources will be of use to you. Again, everyone has a different style of planning, and this is what I prefer. Find what works best for you, and happy travelling!
Happy Lil’ Traveller 
Leave a comment