1. Trippy
As you can tell by the screenshot, Trippy looks very similar to Pinterest. At first, that's almost precisely how Trippy functioned, too.
Recently, Trippy incorporated vacation planning into its otherwise simple "pinboard" functionality. Trippy's new map tool locates all the photos you've posted to your boards and pins them to a world map, so you can localize your travel wish list.
Furthermore, Trippy has added Facebook Timeline integration, so consider connecting the social network to share your travel plans with friends.
2. Wanderfly
Another site similar to Pinterest, Wanderfly allows you to search for and discover travel destinations by tag, such as "adventure," "beach" and "off the beaten path."
Wanderfly is great for getting down into the nitty gritty of the cities, countrysides and destinations you plan to visit. For example, search for or share your own tips about the best places to hike near Portland.
Speaking of recommendations, Wanderfly prides itself on user-generated local suggestions, so feel free to seek out and save advice from other Wanderflyers.
3. Hipmunk
Once you've narrowed down your travel wish list and decided upon a destination, you're ready to book your journey. That's where Hipmunk comes in.
Hipmunk's bread and butter is booking flights and hotels. The difference is that the site displays flights from all kinds of airlines in a visual grid format. You'll literally be able to see how flights overlap, their duration and number of layovers. Handy.
At left, you can see Hipmunk's iOS and Android app, which recently updated to incorporate your personal schedule from Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar or Apple iCal. That way, Hipmunk will notify you if your appointments conflict with potential flights.
4. Gtrot
Gtrot is not only a great site to keep track of your favorite places and activities in your own town, but it's also a helpful way to research the local happenings in towns you plan to visit.
For instance, I like to keep track of restaurants I love in New York so that I can return with visitors and friends again later. Similarly, Gtrot hosts a list of places I still wish to visit, like a digital to-do list.
You can also search Gtrot by city, where a list of city "experts" appears. Browse their profiles for a comprehensive list of suggestions and recommendations, kind of like a more personal Yelp.
5. HotelTonight
Most of these tools so far have been great for planners. But what if you're more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of traveler?
HotelTonight welcomes your spontaneity by providing last-minute deals on unsold hotel rooms in major U.S. and Canadian cities. You can even book rooms up to 2 a.m. same-day.
The iOS and Android app displays available hotels by location, and even includes photos and booking options.
6. Gogobot
Similar to Trippy, Gogobot integrates with Facebook so you can share your travel photos, recommendations and experiences with friends and strangers.
Or, seek out advice yourself. Gogobot prides itself on its growing network of users (now 1 million-strong) to help answer your travel queries and share tips.
7. TripTwit
Airlines, hotels, cruise companies and car rentals post incredible deals to their Twitter followers, but you can't have your eye on the tweet feed at all times, right?
With TriptTwit, set email alerts for Twitter deals by destination. That way, you can grab 'em when they're hot.
When it comes to planning an inexpensive, convenient vacation, you can never have enough travel tools in your arsenal. Whether you’re simply in the wish-list phase or well past the hotel-booking stage, digital and online resources can help.
We’ve collected seven of our favorite travel tools that will inspire you, as well as help you organize and share your next holiday. Learn more about Thailand from user-curated sites like Wanderfly, or set up travel deal notifications on sites like TripTwit.
What tools do you find most helpful for planning vacations? Share advice for fellow travelers in the comments below.
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