Accommodation will always be one of your biggest travel expenses…but what if it wasn’t? What if you could reduce the cost of your accommodation to zero while still enjoying the comforts of home? That’s what house swaps promise. House swaps have been around for decades. It was the entire premise of the movie The Holiday (starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet). They became all the rage but then were soon eclipsed by sites like Airbnb. But as travel prices skyrocketed post-COVID, more and more people have turned back to house swaps as a means of saving money while they travel while still getting a local experience (but without the hassle of an Airbnb). House swaps are exactly what they sound like. You sign up, list your home, and then swap with someone else in another city. They stay in your place and you stay in their place. The biggest and most popular platform for swaps is HomeExchange . And, in this post, I’ll go over everything you need to know to get started with a house swa...
Posted: 5/12/24 | May 12th, 2024
I love planning trips. Researching things to do, reading up on history and culture, planning my itinerary. It’s fun.
There are, however, parts of trip planning that can be tedious.
Trying to find a cheap flight can be stressful. Booking accommodation can be too. I mean, how do you know if a hotel is actually good? How do you know what reviews are legit?
While I’ve gotten pretty good at picking out hotels when I go somewhere new, I’m also not afraid to leave a hotel if it’s not what I expected. But that’s a big hassle, wasting time and money in the process.
Fortunately, there’s a website I recently came across that can help make the hotel booking process a bit easier. And it can save you money too. It’s called Plannin.
What is Plannin?
Founded by two former executives of Priceline.com, Plannin is a free membership site that helps you save up to 40% on hotel bookings. As a member, you’ll get exclusive discounts on hotels worldwide. They have over 2 million properties on their site, and more are being added all the time.
In addition to searching for hotels as you would other online booking websites you’re familiar with, Plannin lets creators make accounts that you can follow. That way, you can see honest reviews from bloggers and influencers that you already follow on social media. You can also follow them on Plannin for future travel suggestions and reviews.
They currently have over 1,000 creators on the platform. And since they share actual photos and video content of each hotel (because they stayed there themselves), you can book with confidence knowing the photos and videos of the property are accurate and up-to-date.
How It Works
Plannin is super easy to use. You simply visit the website and sign up (it’s free).
Once your account is created, you’ll be able to start searching for hotels in the same way you would on traditional travel booking sites. However, when you search, creator-recommended hotels pop up first, with highly-rated hotels from Plannin’s trusted hotel supply partners (Booking.com, Priceline, and Agoda) populating the list next.
You can also display the results on a map if there’s a particular area of your desired destination that you want to stay in.
At a glance, you’ll be able to see each hotel’s nightly price, star rating, amenities, a few photos, and key features like whether there’s free cancellation, free breakfast, or a pay later option.
You can filter by hotel brand, review score, amenities, and star rating, just like on any hotel search engine. You can also filter by creator.
When you click through to the hotel’s page on Plannin, you’ll be able to see all the details and read the creator’s full recommendation, along with additional reviews of other customers who have stayed there. Here’s my profile, for example.
Once you find the hotel you want to book, simply click “Book” and pay (all through Plannin). That’s it! As I said, it’s super easy.
Currently, Plannin only offers hotel bookings, however, they will be adding experiences and restaurants in the near future.
Who is Plannin For?
Considering that Plannin offers members discounts on bookings, I think every traveler should sign up and add Plannin into their travel planning routine. After all, it’s free to join, and the up to 40% discount can really add up. You’ll see the discount highlighted in green on the hotel blurb in search, as long as you’re signed in to your free account.
I think Plannin is also great for travelers who follow social media influencers, bloggers, and creators, as you can follow those creators on Plannin to see what places they recommend and get updated when they recommend new places. It’s a great way to get curated recommendations from people whose input you already trust.
And if you’re a content creator, Plannin is definitely worth joining as you can share reviews directly with your readers and earn a commission if they book. Creators get a 5% lifetime commission when someone uses their link.
That means when your audience signs up with a Plannin account through your custom link, you will earn commissions on any booking they make, at any time. There is no expiration on the cookie, making it a great option for travel creators looking to grow their passive income while sharing content with their audience. (As a creator myself, I wish more companies had a lifetime commission!)
If you’re a creator, you can sign up here to start earning on your travel content.
Pros of Plannin
- Easy to use
- Free to join
- Lets you see authentic reviews from creators you trust, not just random travelers
- Up to 40% off discounts can save you a ton
- Expanding to experiences and restaurants soon (in partnership with GetYourGuide and OpenTable)
Cons of Plannin
- Requires an additional login to remember
- Doesn’t have a ton of creators sharing recommendations (yet)
As travel prices continue to increase, it’s never been more vital to compare prices and reviews when booking. And since accommodation is likely one of your biggest expenses, it makes sense to check different websites before you book. With free membership, a solid discount, and a way to get recommendations from creators you may already follow, I think Plannin should be added to every traveler’s booking process.
Click here to sign up for Plannin today!
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- SafetyWing (best for everyone)
- Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
- Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)
Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.
Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
The post A Better Way To Book Hotels? A Review of Plannin appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.
https://ift.tt/Q3DdZx8 May 12, 2024 at 05:30PM
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