The Blonde Abroad

Popular travel and lifestyle blog featuring travel tips, fashion, food and photography from around the world. Follow Kiersten on her adventures!

Category

Travel Resources

I’m excited to help you plan the best trips possible, and share all of my favorite travel resources! Some links on this page are affiliate links—that means that at no extra cost to you, I earn a small commission if you book through these links, and that helps me keep this blog running. Enjoy!

Flights

Scott's Cheap Flights

Simply select your departure city and then watch your inbox for flight deals! Rather than searching for specific dates and destinations, Scott’s Cheap Flights is best for those with flexible travel dates & destinations that want incredible flight deals.

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GOOGLE FLIGHTS

Google fights is probably the easiest and most comprehensive flight search tool. I always start my search process here, then cross-check on airlines websites or another search tool to ensure I’ve found the best option!

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Skyscanner

Skyscanner has never let me down. It will repeatedly pull up the cheapest flight options out on the web, and allows you to search for specific dates or month-long ranges so you can find the best deal!

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Hopper App

Hopper is a great app for travelers, especially those traveling on a budget! This app will monitor ticket prices for airfare as well as prices for hotels and alert you when prices drop, or a deal comes up.

App
Download App

SeatGuru

Before I select my seats on a flight, I always check out SeatGuru. It’s got insider tips on the best place to sit on any plane as well as other ultra-helpful guides on in-flight shopping and amenities that make your trip more enjoyable.

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ita Matrix

ITA Matrix is a software that is, essentially, the holy grail of flight search tools, which is why many travel agencies and airline websites use it. Google Flights works off this software, but ITA can give more comprehensive search results.

Website
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The Best Travel Reward
Credit Cards

There are countless credit cards that offer awesome perks–but how do you pick? Check out some of my favorite travel reward credit cards and their benefits below!

Travel Guide
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Accommodation

Airbnb

Whether you want a couch or a castle to crash in, it’s got you covered. Sometimes I even browse the site just to drool over home decor from around the globe.

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Booking.com

Booking.com is my go-to for hotel searches around the world. They have over 2 million+ properties in 220+ countries—including boutique stays, hostels, and luxury properties.

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HostelWorld

HostelWorld has millions of reviews on tens of thousands of hostels, and it also provides a 100% booking guarantee with no booking fees.

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HotelsCombined

For hotels, I’ll check HotelsCombined first to see if I can get some discounted rates as it compares rates from all the top search sites.

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Travel Insurance

World Nomads

A good travel insurance plan can cover things like lost luggage, theft, illnesses before your trip, emergency medical care, and shady travel agencies. Don’t travel without it!

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Getting Around

Rome2Rio

Rome2Rio provides all sorts of transportation options for a travel route, including bus, train, plane, or boat as well as how much they each cost!

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RentalCars.com

I love the freedom of having wheels abroad! Rentalcars.com provide competitive pricing for multiple rental car providers in a given destination.

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Stay Connected

Skyroam WiFi

Get unlimited WiFi in over 130+ countries around the world for as little as $9 a day or $99 per month! I travel with my Skyroam Solis on every trip.

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Express VPN

When you connect to public or Wi-Fi networks in places like airports and cafés, hotels, anyone on this same network can potentially grab your unencrypted data. Use a VPN to stay protected!

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Packing Guides

Packing Guides

Not sure what to pack for your next trip? Browse packing guides by season, type of trip, or by destination!

View All Guides

Travel Planning

Pinterest

Discover local travel tips, get packing guides, and start creating your board for your trip. It’s the best way to get inspiration and organize everything in one spot.

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Travefy

Travefy makes it easy to organize your travel plans and share them with fellow travelers to collaborate. Their app makes it easy to sync your desktop itinerary with mobile!

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Tour Companies

TBA Escapes
All-Female Tours

TBA Escapes offers carefully curated, all-female, bespoke travel tours for the adventurous female traveler. Travel with like-minded women to South Africa, Morocco, and more!

View Tours

Blogging Resources

Blogging Resources

I went from 90 page views daily in 2012 to 1 MILLION monthly page views in 2021! So, I’ve created helpful resources to help you grow your online presence too — including my Blogging Masterclass (launching soon)!

LEARN MORE

This is not a sponsored post. These are the websites and companies I use and recommend for my travels. Some of these links are affiliate links and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission that helps run this website — keeping it free for all to use!

Instagram

Welcome to day 8 and the finale of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series autumn 🍂🍁 🚗

Be sure to save this post for all the best Boston has to offer!
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After a leisurely breakfast and 2 hour drive from @trappfamilylodge, we concluded our 10-day road trip with a couple of days in the historic town of Boston—staying at the @fsboston!

This hotel treats kids like royalty, with lots of luxury for adults too (full review coming soon)!

If you find yourself visiting Boston in the Fall with a little one, here are some must-sees:

- @bostonducktours
- @museumofscience
- @campstores x Bluey (ending soon)
- Public Garden
- Beacon Hill
- Tadpole Playground
- @bplboston
- Childrens Wharf Harborwalk
- @bostonteapartyships
- @rosekennedygreenway
- Commonwealth Avenue Mall
- Esplanade Playground
- Charles River Esplanade

And for the foodies, you know I got you covered!

- @tattebakery
- @saltiegirl
- @faneuilhallmarketplace
- @maproom_lounge
- @bovasbakery
- @bostonpublicmarket
- @parishcafe
- Quincy Market
- Legal Sea Foods - Burlington Mall

After traveling around New Hampshire and Vermont, it was nice to get a glimpse of this bustling and historic city.

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for joining us on our epic autumn road trip! Be sure to follow along for more adventures! There’s plenty of tips and tricks to come this Fall season!
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@meetbostonusa @visitma
#visitmassachusetts #boston #newengland #fallroadtrip

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Welcome to day 8 and the finale of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series autumn 🍂🍁 🚗 Be sure to save this post for all the best Boston has to offer! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• After a leisurely breakfast and 2 hour drive from @trappfamilylodge, we concluded our 10-day road trip with a couple of days in the historic town of Boston—staying at the @fsboston! This hotel treats kids like royalty, with lots of luxury for adults too (full review coming soon)! If you find yourself visiting Boston in the Fall with a little one, here are some must-sees: - @bostonducktours - @museumofscience - @campstores x Bluey (ending soon) - Public Garden - Beacon Hill - Tadpole Playground - @bplboston - Childrens Wharf Harborwalk - @bostonteapartyships - @rosekennedygreenway - Commonwealth Avenue Mall - Esplanade Playground - Charles River Esplanade And for the foodies, you know I got you covered! - @tattebakery - @saltiegirl - @faneuilhallmarketplace - @maproom_lounge - @bovasbakery - @bostonpublicmarket - @parishcafe - Quincy Market - Legal Sea Foods - Burlington Mall After traveling around New Hampshire and Vermont, it was nice to get a glimpse of this bustling and historic city. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for joining us on our epic autumn road trip! Be sure to follow along for more adventures! There’s plenty of tips and tricks to come this Fall season! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• @meetbostonusa @visitma #visitmassachusetts #boston #newengland #fallroadtrip

🎶 The hills are alive with the sound of music 🎶
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Love the Sound of Music? What if I told you that you can visit the real Von Trapp family’s lodge from the famed musical starring Julie Andrews in the quiet town of Stowe, Vermont?

Day 7 of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) started the day by driving through Smuggler’s Notch—it’s a short and super windy drive through a mountain pass that’s seriously beautiful.

Helpful Tip: Get started on the drive as easy as possible. Traffic is notorious during foliage season so we hit the road at 7am and had it to ourselves!

We then spent the entire day exploring nature trails and hanging with animals at @trappfamilylodge, an Austrian-inspired mountain lodge with 300 acres of farmland in the middle of Stowe.

The Von Trapps, made famous from the movie The Sound of Music, fled Austria during WWII and ultimately landed in Stowe, VT where their hospitality lives on today. Did you know the Sound of Music is one of the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time??

Had we had a little more time, we also would have added:

🥾 Moss Glen Falls
⛪️ Stowe Community Church
🍻 @alch3mistb33r
☕️ @blackcapvermont
🥞 @butlers_pantry_stowe

We did manage to catch a glimpse of the famed Stowe Community Church from afar, but any closer meant fighting traffic and huge crowds.

Come back for day 8 and the final video of the series as we explore the beautiful and family-friendly parts of Boston!
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@vermonttourism @visitnew_england
#vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

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🎶 The hills are alive with the sound of music 🎶 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Love the Sound of Music? What if I told you that you can visit the real Von Trapp family’s lodge from the famed musical starring Julie Andrews in the quiet town of Stowe, Vermont? Day 7 of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) started the day by driving through Smuggler’s Notch—it’s a short and super windy drive through a mountain pass that’s seriously beautiful. Helpful Tip: Get started on the drive as easy as possible. Traffic is notorious during foliage season so we hit the road at 7am and had it to ourselves! We then spent the entire day exploring nature trails and hanging with animals at @trappfamilylodge, an Austrian-inspired mountain lodge with 300 acres of farmland in the middle of Stowe. The Von Trapps, made famous from the movie The Sound of Music, fled Austria during WWII and ultimately landed in Stowe, VT where their hospitality lives on today. Did you know the Sound of Music is one of the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time?? Had we had a little more time, we also would have added: 🥾 Moss Glen Falls ⛪️ Stowe Community Church 🍻 @alch3mistb33r ☕️ @blackcapvermont 🥞 @butlers_pantry_stowe We did manage to catch a glimpse of the famed Stowe Community Church from afar, but any closer meant fighting traffic and huge crowds. Come back for day 8 and the final video of the series as we explore the beautiful and family-friendly parts of Boston! •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• @vermonttourism @visitnew_england #vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

Arguably the MOST “autumnal” day of the trip: 🍎 🍂 🍩
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Welcome back to my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series! We’re over halfway through our road trip on Day 6 and this was the perfect day of all things autumn.

After a slow morning leaving @woodstock.inn, we were on our way to the famous town of Stowe, Vermont!

I had originally created a jam-packed itinerary, but traveling with a toddler can definitely call for some readjusting and going with the flow. We made 2 of the stops I had planned:

🍎🌳 Hunger Mountain Orchard
🍎🍩 @coldhollowcidermillvt

If we had a little more time, a lot of people add the 🍦 @benandjerrys factory tour on this day.

We ended our day by checking into the @trappfamilylodge —owned by the real family from the Sound of Music where we enjoyed the lodge and property before dinner and bedtime.

Be sure to come back for Day 7 with more on this amazing property and all the furry friends that live here!
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@vermonttourism @visitnew_england
#vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

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Arguably the MOST “autumnal” day of the trip: 🍎 🍂 🍩 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Welcome back to my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series! We’re over halfway through our road trip on Day 6 and this was the perfect day of all things autumn. After a slow morning leaving @woodstock.inn, we were on our way to the famous town of Stowe, Vermont! I had originally created a jam-packed itinerary, but traveling with a toddler can definitely call for some readjusting and going with the flow. We made 2 of the stops I had planned: 🍎🌳 Hunger Mountain Orchard 🍎🍩 @coldhollowcidermillvt If we had a little more time, a lot of people add the 🍦 @benandjerrys factory tour on this day. We ended our day by checking into the @trappfamilylodge —owned by the real family from the Sound of Music where we enjoyed the lodge and property before dinner and bedtime. Be sure to come back for Day 7 with more on this amazing property and all the furry friends that live here! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• @vermonttourism @visitnew_england #vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

Fall fashion is my favorite! What about you? 🍁
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My recent trip to New England was the perfect opportunity to pack my @meet.nex bags with some cute new styles perfect for any trip!

Nex luggage is super high-quality and will hold up on any adventure. Their Million Mile Care program is also one-of-a-kind. You can trade in your used luggage towards credit for new luggage!

I get so much use out of the Nex crossbody and backpack in Lanikai Amber—they’re my go-to for camera gear and toddler essentials. And you can style them with just about every outfit!
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Click my link in bio for my luggage and favorite fall styles! #ad

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Fall fashion is my favorite! What about you? 🍁 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• My recent trip to New England was the perfect opportunity to pack my @meet.nex bags with some cute new styles perfect for any trip! Nex luggage is super high-quality and will hold up on any adventure. Their Million Mile Care program is also one-of-a-kind. You can trade in your used luggage towards credit for new luggage! I get so much use out of the Nex crossbody and backpack in Lanikai Amber—they’re my go-to for camera gear and toddler essentials. And you can style them with just about every outfit! •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Click my link in bio for my luggage and favorite fall styles! #ad

Bienvenidos a Oaxaca! 🇲🇽
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I recently visited this vibrant, colorful city just in time for some of the Dia de los Muertos celebrations and it did not disappoint! From walking the cobblestone streets lined with colorful murals to witnessing centuries’ old architectural marvels, this entire city is an UNESCO World Heritage Site with beautiful sites around every corner.

There are tons of epic @vrbo vacation homes in Oaxaca—perfect for a group trip!

One of the major highlights of Oaxaca is the FOOD 🤤 Traditional cuisine like mole, mezcal, tlayuda, quesillo, and even… chapulines (aka fried grasshoppers! 😱) are a must. Foodies and adventurous diners alike will find themselves with more than a few delicious options here in Oaxaca.

Add these highlights to your Oaxaca bucket list:

🇲🇽 Shop at the artisan markets
🇲🇽 Get down on some delicious street food
🇲🇽 Try a traditional cooking class
🇲🇽 Take a day trip to Hierve el Agua
🇲🇽 Experience a temazcal ceremony
🇲🇽 Discover the countless murals
🇲🇽 Visit during Dia de Los Muertos

Did you know you can also book activities with some of the best local, hidden gems, through @expedia?

Try a traditional cooking class, book a local photographer, or enjoy a mezcal and mole tasting with a certified sommelier through the @Expedia app!

Have you been to Oaxaca? What time of year did you go and what was your favorite part??
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#mexico #oaxaca #diadelosmuertos

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Bienvenidos a Oaxaca! 🇲🇽 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I recently visited this vibrant, colorful city just in time for some of the Dia de los Muertos celebrations and it did not disappoint! From walking the cobblestone streets lined with colorful murals to witnessing centuries’ old architectural marvels, this entire city is an UNESCO World Heritage Site with beautiful sites around every corner. There are tons of epic @vrbo vacation homes in Oaxaca—perfect for a group trip! One of the major highlights of Oaxaca is the FOOD 🤤 Traditional cuisine like mole, mezcal, tlayuda, quesillo, and even… chapulines (aka fried grasshoppers! 😱) are a must. Foodies and adventurous diners alike will find themselves with more than a few delicious options here in Oaxaca. Add these highlights to your Oaxaca bucket list: 🇲🇽 Shop at the artisan markets 🇲🇽 Get down on some delicious street food 🇲🇽 Try a traditional cooking class 🇲🇽 Take a day trip to Hierve el Agua 🇲🇽 Experience a temazcal ceremony 🇲🇽 Discover the countless murals 🇲🇽 Visit during Dia de Los Muertos Did you know you can also book activities with some of the best local, hidden gems, through @expedia? Try a traditional cooking class, book a local photographer, or enjoy a mezcal and mole tasting with a certified sommelier through the @Expedia app! Have you been to Oaxaca? What time of year did you go and what was your favorite part?? •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #mexico #oaxaca #diadelosmuertos