Ready for an adventure but not sure where to begin?
As someone who’s passionate about travel, I’m always chasing new experiences—whether it’s a spontaneous weekend getaway or a carefully planned multi-country adventure. People often ask me how I organise my trips and where I find inspiration for all the incredible destinations I visit.
The truth is, there are tons of tools out there to help you plan your next adventure. So which ones do I actually use and recommend? I’m a big fan of keeping lists on my phone. Whenever I come across a cool spot or get a new idea, I jot it down right away. Inspiration can come from anywhere, especially the amazing vanlifers and travel creators I follow online.
I feel most like myself when I’m surrounded by nature, camera in hand. That passion for both the outdoors and photography fuels my constant wanderlust. And over the years, I’ve found a few tools that make planning road trips easier and way more fun.
What Makes a Great Travel Planning Tool?
When I’m reviewing a travel app or website, I look for the following features:
- Create and manage lists
- View everything on an interactive map
- Build an itinerary with a calendar view
- Store travel tickets and booking info
- Keep track of hotels or lodging
- Collaborate with friends or travel buddies
- Discover recommendations for each destination
- Plan routes efficiently
- Access local guides
🧭 The best All-in-One Itinerary Tool: Wanderlog
Hands down, my favourite travel planning app is Wanderlog. It pulls everything together in one place and integrates with Google so you can easily research destinations while building your itinerary.
My favourite function? The visual map! It provides a clear view of everywhere I want to go and has a built in feature to optimise the most efficient route to tie it all together. You can also synchronise your plane/train ticket details, accommodation information, and activity bookings —all in one place.
Plus, it’s great for group trips. Collaborate with your fellow travellers and combine everyone’s ideas in a shared itinerary.
🌍 the best App for Tracking Your Travels: Polarsteps
If you love keeping a travel journal but hate the effort, Polarsteps is a game-changer. Just download the app and it automatically logs your trips, syncing photos on your phone as you go! It can also sync with your past trips!
Place “steps” across the world and share updates with your selected followers, or just keep them for yourself!
Bonus: Polarsteps also offers travel guides written by other explorers. And when your trip’s over, you can create a personalised photo book with your photos and stats. Super cool.
⛺ the Best App for Finding Campsites: Park4Night
If you’re travelling by road and need a spot to rest, Park4Night is a must have! It lists everything from official campsites and farm stays to wild camping spots, picnic areas and day parking.
You can filter by services like:
- Electric hookups
- Toilets and showers
- Water and waste disposal
- WiFi and laundry
Plus, find places based on nearby activities like swimming, hiking, fishing, and more. It’s the ultimate companion for anyone living the vanlife or road tripping through the countryside.
🚚 the Best App for Services: Truckfly
If you’re in need of particular services whilst on your travels —Truckfly is an unsung hero. Originally designed for lorry drivers, it’s become a brilliant resource for road trippers too.
Truckfly helps you locate:
- Service stations
- Rest areas
- Fuel stops
- Truck-friendly car parks
- Roadside restaurants and cafés
- Shower and toilet facilities
What I love about Truckfly is that you find all the locations that provide access to showers! Also, it’s community driven, so you get up-to-date info on things like opening hours, cleanliness, prices, and even how friendly the staff are. It’s ideal if you’re travelling in a camper van or motorhome and want to plan your stops efficiently.
It’s available offline too, which is a lifesaver when you’re off the grid and still need to find somewhere to refuel—whether it’s your tank, your stomach or yourself!
Final Thoughts
Each of these tools brings something unique to the table, and I use all four together to plan, track, and relive my travels. They’ve made road trip planning way less stressful, and way more fun.
Want to see one of my favourite trips in action? Check out my NC500 road trip post!
Live Laugh Love ✌🏼
Can’t wait to follow your adventure 🤩
Very insightful and helpful to have all of these tips in one place. I’ll forever be grateful you’ve shown me Park4Night. Can’t wait to see what else you’ve got in store for your blog