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Compare travel guides and trip-planning sites

Travelers deciding which guides to trust when they plan a trip.

Short answer

How do you choose a travel guide or trip-planning site?

A good travel guide says who writes it, how it makes money, and when each page was last checked. Compare guides on local knowledge, how current they are, how clearly they mark sponsored and affiliate content, and whether they help you book or only inform.

The OpenlyCompared guide to travel guides and trip-planning sites explains what to compare, which questions to ask and which warning signs to look for. The first companies are being checked before they are listed.

Which travel guides are listed?

We are verifying the first companies for this guide. Each listing is built from facts the company has published, and checked before it goes up.

What should you compare when choosing a travel guide or trip-planning site?

Local knowledgeGuides written by people who live in or know the place well catch what a general site misses.
How current it isLook for a last-checked date on pages about prices, hours and closures.
Clear about moneySponsored placements and affiliate links should be marked where they appear.
Booking helpSome guides help you book tours and stays; others only inform. Both are useful if you know which you are reading.
CorrectionsA guide that publishes corrections and updates is easier to trust.
CoverageCheck the guide covers what you care about: beaches, trails, food, culture, or travel with children.

What should you ask before choosing a travel guide or trip-planning site?

  • Who writes this guide, and do they know the place firsthand?
  • When was this page last checked?
  • Which recommendations are sponsored or earn a commission?
  • Does the guide cover what I want to do?
  • Does it say what has changed recently?

What are the warning signs when choosing a travel guide or trip-planning site?

  • No dates on pages about prices or opening hours
  • Recommendations with no sign of how the guide makes money
  • Pages that read the same as every other site
  • No way to report a mistake

Frequently asked questions about travel guides and trip-planning sites

Which travel guide should I trust?

A travel guide worth trusting names its writers, dates its pages, and clearly marks sponsored and affiliate content.

Are travel guides that book tours biased?

Travel guides that book tours are not necessarily biased, but they should say when they earn money from a booking, so you can weigh the recommendation.

How current should a travel guide be?

A travel guide should be current enough that prices, opening hours and closures are still right. Look for a recent last-checked date on the pages you rely on.

Should I use an official visitor site or an independent travel guide?

Official visitor sites are good for rules, permits and events, while independent travel guides often go deeper on where to go and what to skip. Many travelers use both.

How this page works: companies are listed by the method on our Methodology page. Companies marked “Toutmark client” pay Toutmark, which publishes OpenlyCompared; paying never buys a position or an award. Request a correction.