The Best New Websites for Travel Planning

I’m a rare breed: I actually really like the whole planning process of traveling. I love digging through deals. I love bookmarking Flickr albums. I really love finding a flight and maneuvering my Google calendar for the best dates, times, and locations. It gives me a high when I can’t actually be on the road. And lately, I’ve been very happy. Since my actual full-time job used to be digging through Travelocity, Expedia, and Orbitz, I learned fast that they are not the fast, most accurate, or most honest travel deal or search engines out there, but there is a need breed of aggregator in town. And these tools could make even the most stubborn planning cynic just a little happier!

Hipmunk. Oh, Hipmunk. How did I live without you? Without this little wonder engine of airfares, there’s no simple way I’d be able to compare flight times, or even airports within the same city. And, what other engine shares the enthusiasm you do for your destinations?: A quick search for Las Vegas fares was renamed “NYC-Vegas, Baby!” by this little engine that could.

Wanderfly. I was hesitant to dig into Wanderfly and held on to the beta invitation in my inbox for several weeks. During a lull at the office one day I decided “At least it might make for a funny blog or story…” Wonder of wonders. Wanderfly allows you to search by price points, interests and ideas, and time frames. It gives you resort and meal suggestions, airfares, and recommendations on similar trips in the same price frame. The entire package comes in an aesthetically pleasing and easy to use window that makes planning fun again.

Momondo. Somewhat of a Nylon Magazine for jaunters, Momondo is very simply a search engine for flights, full of the kind of punchy colors and graphics that’ll keep you awake through your tidious search. Quick tab switches allow for you to book your entire trip once you find a suitable flight, as well. Scroll down for guides to some of their favorite cities.

Jetsetter.com. Still in private invitation only, Jetsetter leans a little on your wallet, but gives you amazing results, if it’s something you can afford. Their email newsletters, even for the most non-affluent traveler, is a fantasy of sorts. A recent edition suggested a hundred-something-a-night Belize resort near ziplines and cave tubing. Each deal is limited time only, and exclusive to Jetsetter, so a flip and search on the resort website might not amount to much. Personally, they had me at Cave tubing.

photo via flickr