Planning Dream Holidays should feel exciting, hopeful and full of possibility. Whether you picture winter sun on a golden beach, a cosy European Christmas market, a family adventure in the Med, a city break packed with culture, or that once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon — the journey often starts with an idea. And today, tracking those ideas has never been easier.
Powerful apps and clever online tools now help travellers organise inspiration, compare options, build itineraries, manage budgets, store documents and stay on track from take-off to touchdown. In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of the best options available — and how you can use them to stay organised while keeping the joy in planning your Dream Holidays.
Why Track Your Travel Ideas?
Most of us collect destination screenshots, random booking links, and exciting “must-visit” recommendations throughout the year. But when it comes to actually choosing your next holiday, those ideas often get lost.
Tracking your travel dreams helps you:
- Capture inspiration the moment it hits.
- Stay organised across multiple destinations and travel types.
- Compare dates, routes, prices and hotels with ease.
- Create a shortlist for your next getaway.
- Share ideas with your partner, friends or family.
- Make better decisions without overwhelm.
- Turn big dreams into real plans.
And the best part? You can shape your ideas into holidays that feel personal, relaxed and totally stress-free — especially when you combine your planning tools with the bespoke service from Jamie Wake Travel.
Phase 1 – Inspiring Your Dream Holidays
Pinterest – Your Digital Travel Mood Board
Pinterest remains a favourite for capturing travel inspiration. You can create separate boards for winter sun, city breaks, ski holidays for beginners, family escapes or snorkelling adventures, helping you visualise your Dream Holidays in one place.
Why it helps:
- Save photos, videos and guides in one tap.
- Organise boards by season, budget or destination.
- Create shared boards for group travel.
Pinterest becomes your visual guidebook, and makes discussions with your travel consultant even easier:
“Here’s the vibe I’m looking for.”
Instagram Collections – Save First, Plan Later
Instagram’s Collections feature lets you save hotels, beaches, restaurants and reels into digital folders. For travellers who love the buzz of discovering places through social media, it’s a simple way to store ideas.
Helpful for:
- Trend-spotting new destinations.
- Following resort pages for honest visuals.
- Saving itineraries shared by other travellers.
Tip: Create one Collection per holiday type — winter travel, Mediterranean beaches, foodie city breaks, honeymoon ideas — and you’ll never lose track.
Google Maps Lists – Mark Your Future Adventures
Google Maps is more than navigation. Use the “Lists” feature to save dream destinations and experiences for future trips.
Why it’s brilliant:
- See everything on a world map.
- Add notes (e.g., “great for snorkelling”).
- Get directions instantly once you’re there.
- Share lists with friends or family travelling with you.
When it comes to future Dream Holidays, nothing beats seeing your ideas pinned across the map — a constellation of travel wishes waiting to come true.
If you enjoy collecting ideas and inspiration in apps like Pinterest and Instagram, you may also love our guide on how to tick off your travel bucket list, filled with practical steps for turning dream destinations into real plans.
Phase 2 – Planning Your Dream Holidays
TripIt – The Ultimate Itinerary Builder
TripIt takes your confirmation emails — flights, hotels, transfers, excursions — and transforms them into one clear, organised itinerary.
Perfect for:
- Families needing everything in one place.
- Ski beginners wanting to track passes, lessons and transfers.
- Adventurers hopping between multiple cities.
If you like clarity before you travel, TripIt becomes the travel PA you never knew you needed.
Wanderlog – Your All-In-One Travel Planner
Wanderlog combines dreaming, planning and tracking into a single platform. You can store ideas, build itineraries, estimate budgets and collaborate with travel partners.
Best features:
- Offline maps.
- Drag-and-drop day planners.
- Import from Google, Airbnb, Skyscanner or Booking.
- Great for road trips or multi-stop holidays.
It brings your Dream Holidays to life in a structured, simple format.
Notion – For the Ultra-Organised Traveller
If you love a customisable workspace, Notion is ideal for holiday planning. Create pages for:
- Destination research
- Packing lists
- Budgeting
- Hotel comparisons
- Transfer information
- Itinerary drafts
Notion suits travellers who want full control, whether planning winter holidays, summer beach escapes or once-in-a-lifetime honeymoons.
Phase 3 – Budgeting & Organisation Tools
Planning Dream Holidays often means balancing excitement with practical budgeting. These tools help you manage spending without stress.
TravelSpend – Track Your Holiday Budget in Real Time
Perfect for group travel, families or long trips.
Features:
- Set daily budgets.
- Track currency conversions.
- Split costs with friends.
- Add spending as you go.
TravelSpend helps keep surprises to a minimum and confidence high.
Trail Wallet – Easy Budget Tracking
Designed by travellers, Trail Wallet offers:
- Colourful visuals
- Simple expense entry
- Category-based tracking
If numbers aren’t your thing, Trail Wallet makes it fun and friendly.
Monzo or Revolut – Smart Holiday Banking
Both apps offer:
- Great FX rates
- Instant spending notifications
- Easy card freezing
- Budget breakdowns
Perfect for keeping your Dream Holidays smooth, especially in destinations with mixed currencies.
If you’re looking to take your planning a step further, our guide on how to budget for your dream holiday offers simple ways to organise your savings alongside your favourite travel apps.
Phase 4 – On-The-Go Travel Tools for Dream Holidays
These apps keep your travels running smoothly from airport to beach (or ski slope!).
Google Maps & Maps.me
Offline maps are essential for:
- European city breaks
- Self-guided Mediterranean culture trips
- Ski holidays where signal can drop
- Snorkelling excursions where you need precise meeting points
Maps.me is lightweight, fast and brilliant for overseas navigation without data.
Rome2Rio – Getting From A to B Made Easy
Rome2Rio shows all transport options:
- Flights
- Trains
- Buses
- Ferries
- Driving routes
If you’re exploring multiple stops — Lisbon + Madeira, Athens + Santorini, Toronto + Niagara — Rome2Rio is invaluable.
Google Translate – Your Pocket-Friendly Phrasebook
Whether you’re ordering mezze on a Mediterranean beach or checking ski-hire details in the Alps, Google Translate offers instant language support.
XE Currency – Quick, Reliable Conversions
Avoid surprises and stay informed, especially in destinations using less familiar currencies.
Phase 5 – Memory-Keeping: Turning Dream Holidays into Stories
H4: Polarsteps – Map Your Adventures Automatically
Polarsteps tracks your route using GPS and creates a beautiful travel timeline. Brilliant for honeymoons, gap years or special family holidays.
Day One – A Digital Travel Journal
Capture thoughts, photos and memories in one elegant app.
Ideal for:
- Couples on a romantic escape
- Families marking a milestone holiday
- Solo adventurers keeping record of their journey
Recording your journey elevates your Dream Holidays into meaningful memories.
