AFAR Launches Trip Planner

What if the hundreds of web pages and travel forums you scour when planning a trip could be wrapped up into one neatly packaged, personally curated travel guide? AFAR plans to make this travel hack a reality by launching its own digital trip planner.

Readers of the travel magazine/website refer to AFAR for destination recommendations, information about where to stay, restaurant suggestions and general travel advice. With AFAR’s new trip planning tool, readers will be able to save something they like and refer to it later when preparing for their next vacation.

To start, users must create a free account with AFAR. When flipping through photo slideshows or reading up on the best hotels in the Caribbean, users can click a small heart icon to save the idea to their favorites folder. Saved items can be viewed and sorted by location, date saved or travel category.

Not only can planners save information from AFAR.com, but they can also pull content from other websites. By downloading and adding the AFAR “bookmarklet” to any internet browser, travelers can save photos, tips and articles from other sites to create the perfect package of trip information.

Once a traveler has enough information to start planning, the favorites list features a notepad function that lets planners write small notes to keep track of even the smallest of details. For those not yet ready for a trip, the list can serve as motivation to start saving money for a dream getaway.