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TripIt: Travel Planner

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TripIt: Travel Planner 4+

Trip & holiday organiser.

• #95 in Travel
• 4.7 • 22K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

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Description.

Join nearly 20 million travellers on the world's highest-rated travel planner app for trip and itinerary organisation! TRAVEL ITINERARY As soon as you book a flight, hotel, rental car or other travel plan, simply forward it to [email protected] and we’ll automatically add it to your comprehensive itinerary. Seamlessly sync travel plans to your calendar or share them with anyone you choose. RESERVATION DETAILS No more frantically searching through your inbox for important details about your travel plans, like when your flight gets in or the confirmation number for your hotel. Find them in a flash with TripIt – even when you’re offline. Access this information hands-free with Siri shortcuts! Upload PDFs, photos, boarding passes, digital passport QR codes and more to your travel itinerary so you can track everything in one place. MAPS AND DIRECTIONS The TripIt app includes all the map-related tools you’ll need on the go (it’s great for road trips). - Plot out your entire trip on Google Maps or Apple Maps - Quickly pull up transportation options and driving directions between two points (powered by Rome2Rio) - Easily locate the closest restaurants, parking, cashpoints and more TRIPIT PRO For roughly the price of checking your bags, upgrade to TripIt Pro to access exclusive travel perks all year long. When you upgrade, TripIt Pro will do all this for you (and more!): • Share real-time flight status alerts and check-in reminders • Notify you if you're eligible for a refund if your fare price drops after booking • Track your reward programmes and alert you if points are expiring • Navigate you through the airport with interactive maps Your iTunes account will be charged when the purchase is confirmed. Your TripIt Pro subscription will be good for 1 year, and automatically renew each year at $48.99 unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before your term ends. To manage your subscription, including auto-renew, visit iTunes Account Settings. FREE TRIPIT PRO FOR SAP CONCUR USERS If your company uses SAP Concur, you may receive complimentary TripIt Pro benefits that most travellers have to pay for. Make sure you’re connected to TripIt to get itineraries created for you as soon as you book, and receive a complimentary subscription to TripIt Pro, if you’re eligible. For more information, see the TripIt User Agreement (https://www.tripit.com/uhp/userAgreement) and Privacy Policy (https://www.tripit.com/uhp/privacyPolicy).

Version 18.5.0

• We made enhancements to complications for the Apple Watch and created a widget that can be added to your Watch’s Smart Stack. Check them out and get a glimpse into what’s coming up next in your itinerary. • We continue to make enhancements to the new Risk Alerts feature introduced in the last release. Get notifications for events that could disrupt your trip: inclement weather, unplanned closures, protests or strikes, public health crises and more. (TripIt Pro)

Ratings and Reviews

22K Ratings

5 Missed flights fault of TripIt

A TripIt Pro user for several years for business & pleasure. Very happy until now. Travelling with my family of 5 we just arrived to discover that TripIt misread our flight itinerary as PM from AM. Stranded at airport, continue to receive flight update emails and notifications for our flight leaving tonight at 5:35pm even know Air Canada reports it left at 5:00am. Obvious computer glitch in the system, with no phone number to TripIt to call for help. I won’t pay for TripIt Pro any longer or use the App at all. Too bad as it was great and was always accurate until today. Now I have to pay for 5 new tickets to get us home. Horrible situation.

Great assistant

TripIt makes my trip so easy, love the Maps for the airports. Everything is in one convenient place. We should totally try it out. What do you have blues. Set up it’s easy to use.

Not user friendly

When you are preparing your trip you still don't know the flight number, rental car location etc. This app starts asking this. And you have to give your credit card to start.

Developer Response ,

Our app is free to use. Users can upgrade to TripIt Pro but it is completely optional. Please see our help page on getting started: https://tripit.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/226108067

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App privacy.

The developer, TripIt , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy .

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• Contact Info
• User Content
• Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish

• TripIt Pro (1 Year) $67.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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TripIt Review: A Worthwhile Travel Planning Tool or an Outdated Resource?

September 28, 2021 6 min read

Keeping all information relating to a trip organized and in one place can be stressful. That’s why finding a great travel planning app is so important. 

TripIt is one option on the market. It claims to organize all travel details, such as flight information and hotel reservations, in one place. You can also receive notifications relating to your travel bookings. 

But is TripIt really the best option out there? This TripIt review intends to offer an overview of how to use TripIt and its pros and cons to ultimately answer the question: Is TripIt worth it? 

What is TripIt?

TripIt is a travel planning app that generates itineraries and keeps all details relating to your trip in one place. As opposed to apps that make travel suggestions, like Wanderlog , TripIt simply consolidates all of your already planned trip information in one place. Things you can add include transport, accommodation, and activity details. 

TripIt intends to take care of your travel details to lower stress and worry when traveling and improve organization. You can use TripIt online, or there’s a convenient TripIt mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android.  

This app has been touted as a good choice for those that have their travel plans set. However, TripIt is not the place to find vacation inspiration. 

Despite some drawbacks, the company has caught the eye of many publications and has been featured by The New York Times , NBC , Forbes , Travel+Leisure , and more. 

Is TripIt Free? 

If TripIt sounds like something that would interest you, you may be wondering: “Is TripIt free?” Conveniently, the basic plan is free. However, this plan offers limited features (discussed below.) 

How Much is TripIt Pro? 

TripIt Pro is a paid subscription option offered by TripIt that provides more features and benefits than their basic plan. TripIt Pro costs $49 a year, and you can try it free for 30 days. 

TripIt for Teams 

TripIt also has a third membership option, TripIt for Teams. This option helps plan travel for business and other “team” type situations. 

It keeps all team member’s itineraries in one place and can make different itineraries for different travelers on the trip. The team can then access a travel calendar with everyone’s schedule on it. 

TripIt for Teams costs $29/month for 1-10 users, $49/month for 11-25 users, $89/month for 26-50 users, and $159/month for 51-100 users.  

TripIt vs. TripIt Pro 

So, how exactly do you compare TripIt Pro vs. TripIt basic?  

When comparing the two for this TripIt review, we found that TripIt Pro offers more updates on your trip and a few extra features. 

Extra features you’ll be provided with when using TripIt Pro vs. TripIt basic include:

• Seat upgrade information 
• Check-in reminders
• Fare trackers
• Reward program points tracker
• Flight updates 
• Security wait time updates
• Information on finding connecting flights
• Baggage claim location 
• Gate information and updates 
• Interactive maps 
• Estimates of the best time to leave for your trip (for example, when to leave home to catch your flight) and estimated travel times
• Ability to send travel plans to friends and family
• Ability to add documents and files to your itinerary, like PDFs or photos 

How to Cancel TripIt Pro 

If you purchase TripIt Pro and don’t like the upgrade, it’s easy to cancel. To cancel TripIt Pro:

• Sign in to your account
• Click your user name, then “Settings”, then “Billing Information”
• Press “Cancel TripIt Pro.” 

When looking into cancellation for this TripIt review, we discovered that you can’t get a refund on your annual fee. If you want to cancel, auto-renewal will be disabled, but you must finish the year-long subscription.

If you want to cancel the TripIt Pro free trial before you get charged the annual fee, follow the same steps as above. 

How Does TripIt Work?

• Download TripIt for Android, iPhone, or iPad, or visit tripit.com.
• Sign up for an account and decide if you’ll upgrade to TripIt Pro. 
• Select “Start Itinerary.” 
• Add your destination city, travel start and end dates, a trip name, and a description (if you like.) Then click “Add Trip.” 
• You can then manually add to your itinerary or email information to be added. 

Information you can add includes: 

• Hotel and other accommodation reservations
• Flight bookings
• Car rentals
• Restaurant bookings 
• Meetings 

TripIt also shows predicted weather conditions during your trip to help plan activities and what to pack. Additionally, TripIt is currently offering Covid-19 travel guidance. You can see the carbon footprint of the trip along with ways to offset emissions too.   

How do I email an itinerary to Tripit? 

To email travel information to TripIt, forward all travel plan confirmation emails from your email to [email protected] . 

You can also agree to let TripIt scan your email and add travel plans relating to your trip as you receive email confirmations. If doing this, make sure the email account you create your TripIt account with is the one you use for travel confirmation emails. 

How to add itinerary to TripIt

Once in your trip itinerary, click “Add Plan,” and you can choose a range of things to add under the subheadings “Transportation,” “Activities,” and “Other.”

What are the Benefits of Tripit? 

Easy to Add Transport, Accommodation, and Activity Details

When testing the app for this TripIt review, we found that adding information to your trip itinerary was very easy. The process of manually adding transport, accommodation, and activities, and forwarding confirmation emails is straightforward and low hassle. 

Allowing TripIt to scan your email makes the process even simpler as they will automatically add things relating to your trip to your itinerary as you receive confirmation emails. 

Once your itinerary is created, it’s also very easy to understand. 

Automatic Reminders and Updates 

If you opt for TripIt Pro, you’ll receive updates and reminders about your trip. These updates make staying on top of what is going on simple. These notifications include suggestions as to when you should leave to reach a location on time, transport updates, and much more.

Can Use via Mobile Device or Online 

You can conveniently access TripIt both via web browser and an app for mobile devices. Having a mobile app is especially handy as travelers can check their itinerary on the go.   

Does TripIt Have Any Drawbacks? 

Too many notifications and emails.

TripIt sends a lot of emails and notifications, especially if you use TripIt Pro. They send travel updates for almost any activity relating to your travel, many of which you don’t need to know. They also often provide the same updates multiple times. 

This issue results in user inboxes becoming full and can mean they miss other important emails. You can turn off email and other notifications. However, you won’t get notified of significant updates, which is one of the purposes of the app.   

Alerts Can Be Incorrect  

When looking at customer feedback for this TripIt review, we found that some negative reviewers of TripIt mention that incorrect alerts relating to their travel plans were given. In some cases, users have even missed their flights because of this! If you choose to use TripIt Pro, always double-check the alerts before acting on them. 

Imported Trip Details Can Be Incorrect 

Users have also said that automatically added trip information has been imported incorrectly. For example, confirmations not related to the trip have been added along with duplicates. 

TripIt Pro is Expensive 

More and more travel planning software is offering all premium features for free. Therefore, paying $49 a year to access TripIt Pro is quite expensive. For example, Wanderlog offers a host of benefits, including itinerary creation and activity suggestions, at no cost. 

Comparable to Google Docs and Sheets 

Some say that as TripIt offers basic features, it’s comparable to simply adding your travel info to a Google Doc, Sheet, or other similar document. 

Slightly Boring and Outdated Website 

TripIt’s website, and to some extent the app, is relatively outdated and features a basic design. In addition, some of the website pages don’t load properly or don’t redirect as they should. 

This dated user interface ultimately affects usability, and there are many alternatives to TripIt with more functional (and fun) websites and apps. 

Does Not Suggest Places to Visit During Your Trip 

TripIt is simply a place to store information relating to your trip that you have already planned. TripIt doesn’t give any suggestions on where to stay, what transport route to take, or what activities to do at your destination. 

This is a big disadvantage as many alternatives to TripIt do offer suggestions. For example, Wanderlog allows you to create travel itineraries with information you already have planned. But we also offer lots of suggestions to make your trip even better. If you like any of our activity suggestions, you can easily add them to your itinerary. 

This TripIt flaw could occur because the software was originally intended more for business travel than for vacation travel. 

Is TripIt Worth It? 

Having used the software for this TripIt review, we would say that there are benefits to using TripIt. However, there are better options on the market. For example, other travel planning apps , like Wanderlog, offer suggestions on accommodation and activities in your destination. 

Despite this, those that have used TripIt seem to be satisfied. The company receives 4.1/5 Stars based on 220+ Facebook reviews.

Positive reviewers like:

• The convenience of the app
• How all their travel info is in one place
• The fact that alerts and updates are offered, for example, updates on flight information  

One particularly happy user says, “ My [favorite] app! Especially love how the pro version keeps me updated on flight changes including gate updates and delays. Easy to forward. Easy to forward emails from travel Booking confirmations to create your plans. Seeing all my planned trips [on] one screen is what keeps me sane every day when I’m dreaming about my next holiday!”

On the other hand, negative reviewers mention: 

• Trip details not getting imported correctly
• Notifications, especially relating to flights, being incorrect 
• Receiving too many emails and notifications, many of which say the same thing 

Another question many people have when considering using TripIt is: “Is TripIt Pro worth it?” If set on using TripIt, the Pro version is a good choice for those that travel a lot. 

However, the only real added benefit is alerts and updates relating to travel plans. For the most part, you can set those up directly for most things. For example, many airlines will text or email with flight updates.  As mentioned, there are also many free alternatives to TripIt Pro (like Wanderlog) So, paying $49 a year isn’t necessary. In fact, with Wanderlog, you have access to all the features offered by TripIt. Plus, you can access activity suggestions and benefit from our more modern and user-friendly interface, all at no cost. Sounds good? Start using the Wanderlog travel planner today!

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I want to book a 2 day disneyland trip for my daughter and I. She turns 3 while we are planning to be there. So first day she will be 2, second day she will be 3. How do I book her single ticket and my 2 day ticket? Thanks! ”

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In Their Own Words

When you picture camping in a swamp, it may not sound like fun….the idea seemed intimidating to us when we first heard it! After we actually experienced it, we saw firsthand how amazing it is. We paddled 3 miles to the Cedar Hammock Canoe Shelter in late October 2019, during my Artist in Residency at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge . It was only one night, with a few refuge volunteers, but we were hooked! 

Less than a month later, we booked a three night paddling trip, staying at three different canoe shelters in the swamp. We paddled over 25 miles on that trip- it’s not as tiring as it sounds! Since then, paddling through the Okefenokee has become a Thanksgiving tradition that we look forward to every year!

There’s almost something magical about paddling through untouched wilderness, not seeing any people and not hearing any distant vehicles for days at a time. 

This is our happy place; it's peaceful and relaxing and you go days at a time without seeing other people! We can't wait to get back out in the canoe!

The alligators, snakes and spiders aren't bothersome! The birds can be a little noisy, but that's all.  

As we approached the camping platform, we noticed it was completely covered in leaves; there was a large river birch tree over the platform that had vivid fall color!

I'm surprised that more people aren't aware of just how vivid the fall colors are inside of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge! If more people knew just how vibrant the colors can be inside the swamp in the Fall, they would come from all over to see the cypress trees during their peak. 

When we were in middle school, a man named Okefenokee Joe would come every year to our school and teach us about local wildlife…At the time, we didn't really understand, we just thought the animals he brought were really cool…It was only years later when we were able to spend time in Swamp ourselves that we realized how important the message was that Okefenokee Joe was trying to spread. 

Our first trip sparked an appreciation for the peace, solitude and dark skies in the swamp that's kept us coming back for more every year... it's become a yearly tradition!

While we were at the Okefenokee during our Artist in Residency, we met a lot of great people who shared their travel experiences with us. It helped us realize there's a whole lot out there that we could explore and photograph. Neither one of us grew up traveling and didn't really think it was an option for us, but that has changed because of our experiences at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Now we love exploring state parks and federal lands whenever we can. We even went to national parks when we visited Ireland a couple years ago. 

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I took the new Hyundai Kona on a family road trip: It's a practical car with pizzazz that I'd be comfortable letting my teenager drive.

• A friend sought advice on a safe but not too-large car for his teenage sons.
• I've also been thinking about what car would be suitable for my college-bound daughter.
• I drove a Hyundai Kona from Silicon Valley to Santa Barbara to find out if this car fits the bill.

A close friend of mine recently called me for advice. He wanted to know what vehicle he should get for his teenage sons to drive.

The main criteria: It's got to be safe for these young drivers. But it also can't be too heavy and big, so if an accident happens, god forbid, they don't do too much damage to those around them.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, too. My youngest daughter is about to leave for college. She occasionally drives our ancient Toyota. What would I want her driving as an adult heading out into the world?

On a recent trip from Silicon Valley to visit UC Santa Barbara with my wife and daughter, I got to try out a vehicle that fits the bill: The 2024 Hyundai Kona .

Here are the highlights of the trip and a rundown of what we loved, liked, and disliked about this vehicle.

We had a lot to pack for the trip. Would everything fit?

Yes, all our bags fit fine. The Kona's trunk is pretty roomy for a relatively small vehicle.

Legroom in the back was good, even when I pushed the driver seat back.

The interior of the Hyundai Kona was bright and spacious

The 2024 Kona stands out on the street. A slight spaceship vibe that I grew to like.

We were most impressed by all the safety features

The Hyundai Kona Limited AWD that I test drove came with a wide array of safety features that helped me keep an eye on my surroundings while driving. The best examples were the "No Blind Spot View Monitor" and a navigation system that has adaptive cruise control and "curve" control to help you steer around corners.

Some of the top safety features aren't available on the base model Kona

Our test vehicle cost $34,695, including freight and handling. This is for the Limited AWD version, which comes with a huge number of impressive features, including ventilated seats, a Bose speaker system, and cool wheels. You can get a much more affordable SE model for about $25,000. This lacks some of the most impressive safety features, though, such as the "No Blind Spot View Monitor."

The Kona has a cool selector that you twist to put the automatic transmission into drive, reverse, and park.

My daughter liked the Kona's styling, but said she wouldn't call it out to her friends. That's still a win.

The Kona weighs 3000-3500 pounds, depending on the version. That's notably lighter than the average US vehicle.

Safety ratings for the Hyundai Kona are solid

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2024 Hyundai Kona a " Top Safety Pick+ " award.

On the road, the Kona handles well, with the occasional floaty feel in turns

The Kona doesn't have the tightest steering. However, this is not supposed to be a sports car. The steering was accurate and the ride was certainly comfortable during our long drive to and from UC Santa Barbara.

The Bose speaker system sounded deep and crisp, and our phones hooked up to the bluetooth easily.

Outlets for charging devices were plentiful and placed in the right spots throughout the vehicle.

On our long drive, these 2 safety features really helped

The "No Blind Spot View Monitor" appeared as a circular video on the dashboard display whenever I indicated to turn or change lanes. It provided an instant video view of the area to the side and behind me. So useful to see what's going on back there. The curve control system helped me keep the car in the right spots on the highway during the long drive.

Our dog enjoyed the ride

The base model Kona still has many safety features

Standard safety features on the base SE model include: Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Warning; Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Cyclist Detection, Lane Keeping Assist, and a Driver Attention Warning system. This is the type of technology that makes parents more comfortable when imagining their teenage kids driving around!

The engine on the Hyundai Kona Limited was peppy

It has a 190-horsepower 1.6 liter turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder engine. I could press the accelerator on the highway and it would respond with more than enough power to maneuver easily and safely. However, some of the cheaper versions of the Kona come with a less-powerful engine.

Summing up my thoughts on the Hyundai Kona

It's lighter than your average US vehicle. It's not too big, or too small. Many safety features come standard, and there are some really impressive ones that come with the high-end Limited model I drove.

I'd be comfortable having my teenage daughter driving the Kona.

I'd recommend this vehicle for my friend's teenage sons, too.

It would also work well as a practical family vehicle that has a little pizzazz.

A cheaper version of the Hyundai Kona may be a better deal

The SE model of the 2024 Hyundai Kona may be a better deal, at roughly $25,000. The car I test drove was about $10,000 more than that. That's a lot of money. You'd miss out on the more-powerful engine, though. A few of the most impressive safety features aren't available with the SE version, either. And the wheels are less cool. But many of the things I loved about this vehicle are still there with the SE. You can also get pretty good lease deals on Kona vehicles, too.

Overall, I was impressed — and my family agreed after spending many hours on the road in California with the Kona.

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We Took Amtrak to Oregon City for $2

By Margaret Seiler April 30, 2024

Image: Ian Dewar Photography/shutterstock.com

“Sweet ride,” my daughter texts me from the bus taking her to the Oregon Zoo for a school field trip. “It has seat belts, a bathroom, overhead bins, the little buttons above that airplanes have, charging ports, and we think TVs.” How much charging, bathroom-going, and TV watching can happen on a 20-minute ride to the zoo I’m not sure of, nor do I know why  Portland Public Schools is shuttling students in such luxury instead of on a basic school bus—maybe those were all checked out and they got the field-trip equivalent of a rental-car upgrade.

But I deeply understand the just-won-the-lottery feeling of taking a quotidian trip in a more glamorous ride. That’s what has me treating myself to a day trip to Oregon City via Amtrak one Thursday in March—well, that and the fact that I could buy a ticket for $2 each way, to get me there from downtown in 24 minutes. That’s 80 cents less than the same trip on TriMet’s 35, in less than half the time. (For the round trip, Amtrak would have charged me $2 to bring a child, $10 to bring a bike, and $58 to bring a pet.)

The train even promises something my daughter’s zoo-bound motorcoach doesn’t have: a snack bar. But the café car on my particular Amtrak Cascades route, the conductors tell me, was damaged over the winter in a fatal collision with a car involved in a police chase in Eugene and has yet to be repaired. Instead of breakfast burritos and Bob’s Red Mill oatmeal for purchase, there’s a free spread of candy bars, pretzels and chips, baked goods, and bottled water. I grab a few things that are surely worth more than the price of my ticket but feel sorry for the people who are heading all the way to Salem or Eugene and were counting on a hot cup of coffee on the train, which leaves Union Station right on time at 11:08am.

Image: CK Foto/shutterstock.com

The train ambles over the Steel Bridge and through the Central Eastside Industrial District, passing a mural of Gargamel and Papa Smurf I haven’t seen on car trips, as well as the tiny homes of Clinton Triangle, one of the city’s new TASS locations (temporary alternative shelter sites). When we pause and then start backing up (due to “conflicting train movements,” an announcement tells us) I scan the QR code sticker on my tray table and am taken to a tourist website for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a stop on Amtrak’s Empire Builder route. I’m several clicks into reading about the city that “brewed its way into the hearts of the American traveler” and am pondering something called “ Midwest poutine ” when I realize my train is already in the namesake town of Milwaukie, Oregon, pulling away from the river and heading toward Clackamas. There’s another slowdown as we pass the Bob’s Red Mill HQ and countless blackberry bushes and battered tents before we pick up speed again next to I-205. We’re 15 minutes behind schedule (but still well under the TriMet ride time) when we pull up to the platform at Oregon City . My return train is scheduled for 6:24pm, giving me just over six and half hours to wander around the city that was the Oregon Territory’s first capital.

The train station sits directly across from the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center . While every Oregonian should visit the wagon-train-shaped museum at least once to don a floppy bonnet, dip a candle, and register a land deed, it’s not quite what I have in mind for my grown-up day trip, so I make do with a scan of the gift shop. This is where to get those pixelated “You have died of dysentery” T-shirts and hoodies, plus Davy Crockett hats, cedar-and-pale-ale-scented soap in the shape of Oregon, and a small but thoughtful selection of books on Oregon history and outdoor pursuits.

A few blocks south, Oregon City Antiques is an eras-spanning warren of Coleman lanterns, ancient beer cans, books (illustrated kids’ book The Adventures of Paddy Pork catches my eye), old-timey kitchen implements, prom-ready (and pricy) vintage dresses, and modern items like sushi-shaped Squishmallows and a Seattle Mariners lunchbox.

Image: Margaret Seiler

Continuing toward downtown, I pass Canard and wonder if I might be able to squeeze in an early dinner of steam burgers later on. (Spoiler: Nope. Next trip!) For lunch, though, I find myself overwhelmed by the choices at two dueling food cart pods across the street from each other and instead land on a different corner of the same intersection, at Tony’s Fish Market . The choices here—cod or halibut, regular or sweet potato fries—are more manageable, and the paprika-dusted salmon chowder is a real highlight. There would have been a larger drink selection at either of the pods: Corner 14 has a full bar and a varied tap list, plus a cart called the Krazy Kokonut serving a mangonada smoothie with housemade chamoy sauce, while Oregon City Brewing has a couple dozen beer choices for washing down a meal from the likes of Esan Thai and Ranch Pizza. It would take a few Amtrak day trips to try all the options at this one crossroads, let alone have any room in my stomach to spare for pizza at Mi Famiglia, Mexican plates at Don Pepe’s, or lefse wraps at Ingrid’s Scandinavian Food. There’s also serious pub-crawl potential: the no-nonsense Thirsty Duck, a four-hour happy hour at Hing’s, Nebbiolo Wine Bar, a trusty McMenamins in an old church hall, Arch Bridge Taphouse, Coney Island, McAnulty & Barry’s with its stunning back bar, Ranee’s with its giant skeleton, Trail’s End Saloon with its giant wagon wheel hanging from the ceiling….

But on this trip, I soberly stroll on. Oregon City Antiques is far from the only secondhand shop in Oregon City. Main Street offers books ( The Pig that Danced a Jig is hard to resist—what is it with kids’ book and pigs in this town?) and wedding dresses and patriotic posters at  Maizee Mae’s Antiques Retail Store and Vintage Flea Market , paperbacks and polyester at Main Street Thrift, the pristine seasonality and custom lighting of the Vintage Nest, and creepy cookie jars at the Odditorium/ Ghoul Gallery . On High Street, I wonder if the buyers for Coin Corner & Hobbies somehow time-traveled back to my childhood bedroom and snatched my old Fisher-Price record player and Anne Murray Sings for the Sesame Street Generation album. There are also bins of Pez containers, rows of Garbage Pail Kids figurines, and an extensive R. L. Stine Goosebumps collection.

Oregon City’s secondhand charms aren’t just nostalgia-flavored. The Refinery and Consignment Revolution are two well-curated clothing consignment shops—at the latter I pick up a pair of wire earrings bent into a rounded w suggesting boobs, with little gold beads for nipples. I also spot tasteful boobs, this time as drawings in tiny frames, at Imperfecta art gallery , where the owner says she stocks a variety of price points “so everyone can take home something beautiful.” Wares include jewelry from Melissa Stiles , art prints, potted cacti, and images from an Italian street artist called Blub of Alfred Hitchcock and other celebs in diving masks.  

In White Rabbit , a shop that shares space with Black Ink Coffee , a well-curated book selection joins Harry Styles mugs and pen sets, novelty candles from Malicious Woman Co.,  Spirited Away pencil sets, Pride pens, sushi earrings, and Abbott Elementary notepads. A table and chairs on the sidewalk outside Oregon City Records is a good resting spot, or a place to contemplate whether you need to buy one of the shop’s turntable T-shirts. The staffed counter at the top of the municipal elevator offers more T-shirt temptations with its limited-run artist series celebrating the landmark billed as the only “vertical street” in the US. Also at the top, the McLoughlin Promenade runs past historic homes and an Oregon Film Trail marker mentioning Twilight — the former Blue Heron paper mill, perched over Willamette Falls, was a filming location. A walkway over McLoughlin Boulevard offers a closer look at the rushing waters. The Clackamas County Historical Society’s Museum of the Oregon Territory is a little farther down the paved path, for those who haven’t frittered away the afternoon eating and shopping and can get there before its 4pm closing time.

At least the Oregon City Library isn’t closed yet. It’s been so long since I used my Clackamas County library card that I need to get a new one (yes, Multnomah County residents can use our neighbor’s library system, too, but if you don't use it for a while you need to reregister), and I score one of the while-supplies-last Baby Yoda/Grogu cards. It’s a nod to the library’s long-running May the Fourth celebration, which features a scavenger hunt, a fun-noodle lightsaber workshop, and photo ops with patient costumed characters from Cloud City Garrison. This year, the Star Wars holiday falls on a Saturday, and the library’s event runs from 4 to 6pm, which would leave just enough time to walk back to the train platform for the ride back to Portland. If the train’s late, grab a drink or snack at  Coasters Crossing , the brewpub that now occupies the station building, and watch out the window for the northbound arrival. Amtrak’s schedule says the run back to Portland takes 41 minutes, which is about how long I was on the train in the morning. But on this night it whisks me back to Portland in 24.

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Introducing eBird Trip Reports

Available languages.

We’re thrilled to introduce eBird Trip Reports —an exciting new way to tell your birding story through eBird. eBird Trip Reports bring together your eBird checklists to create a fun summary of where you went and what you found, along with your photos and audio recordings, all in one easy-to-share place. You’ve never seen your eBirding like this before!

eBird Trip Reports features:

• eBird checklist location map
• Lifer stats—see which species you observed, photographed, and audio recorded for the first time during the trip
• Species totals across all your checklists from the trip
• Photo and audio feature views
• Bulk checklist sharing
• Quick links to share your trip with friends or on social media

More features to love Create summaries of your birding adventures for one or multiple days. Trip Reports is a LIVE summary, meaning your report updates automatically as new lists are added from the trip period. If you’re going on a birding outing and want to share what you see with your friends, create an eBird Trip Report ahead of time and share the link—as you submit your eBird lists, the report will update.

Use the narrative and comments to share favorite memories and scroll through the species notes to relive the best moments. Each person on a trip can create and share a personalized report by choosing which of their own checklists to include. You can view the “group” version of the report, with everyone’s data, or view a personal view that includes only your sightings and media.  Learn more about creating and sharing eBird Trip Reports.

How can you use eBird Trip Reports?

eBird Trip Reports help you create summaries for Big Days, Christmas Bird Counts, special birding trips, and more.

Big Days and Bird-a-thons

eBird Trip Reports are an easy way to summarize one-day birding events like Global Big Day and October Big Day , or record-setting chases like the OR Big Day 2021 and 2021 Georgia Big Day . eBird Trip Reports compile your checklists in real time, so anyone with the link can track your progress throughout the day.

“My siblings and I often get together for a weekend or several days of birding in many different locations and we love being able to keep track of the total number of species we have seen over those days,” says Margaret Viens, an eBirder from Maine, “I also hope to be able to use [eBird Trip Reports] this winter for our Birdathon Team . I like that I can go back and create historical reports as well.”

Last year, Ontario eBirder Mike Burrell decided to try a “yard” birdathon: Birdathon Spring 2020 (Yard) . His report shows how eBird Trip Reports can be useful even when you stay in one place, letting you create multiple lists throughout the day and still have a single summary of your birding.

Birding field trips and workshops

Use eBird Trip Reports to summarize and share organized activities with members of your birding group. Maine Young Birders Club coordinator Nathan Hall says he looks forward to “using this feature when I take young birders out birding. Especially if we cover more than one location.”

• The School, KFI, Birdwatching Workshop
• Maine Young Birders Club, Scarborough Marsh, April 2017

Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation at Georgia Audubon, says his favorite feature is “being able to easily produce a species list throughout a day or across days,” Adam says “I lead birding trips and this is where I expect to use the trip report function the most.”

• Paraguay with Georgia Audubon

Birding tours

eBird Trip Reports help you revisit past memories or show prospective trip members what they can look forward to. “The lifers for each trip is great,” says eBird Spain collaborator Yeray Seminario, “showing the map with all the locations is a great visual tool.”

• Whitehawk Birding and Tiger Safari 2019
• Saskatchewan Whooping Cranes Tour 2021
• BBC Deepwater Pelagic Trip

“Combining sightings from multiple stops on a day is a great way to get an overview of the trip. It’s always been complicated to view many lists, like on a pelagic trip, and to try to combine all of the species that were seen… this summary view is so great!” says California eBirder Andrea Carpio.

Christmas Bird Counts and Breeding Bird Surveys

eBird Trip Reports are a great tool for birders who participate in annual cooperative survey efforts. Reports can be used to summarize stops along a Breeding Bird Survey route or to compile counts from your area of a Christmas Bird Count .

“I’ve long wanted something to make it easier for eBirders participating in CBCs to do reasonable-length checklists and then be able to merge them into one report,” says Kathy Mihm Dunning, an eBird Reviewer for Colorado, “eBird Trip Reports should work quite nicely for that purpose.”

Create your own eBird Trip Reports now! 

Going Places: A Conversation with Nicole Phillip

By Amanda Wowk

May 01, 2024

Travel Tips

Going Places is a series from TripIt that highlights frequent travelers to showcase their unique travel styles and insider tips.

The first time Nicole Phillip traveled solo, she was studying abroad in Europe—hopping on low-cost flights and traversing the continent by train. 

“At the time, I traveled by myself because I didn’t have the budget to travel in the same way as many of my classmates,” Nicole told me. “But I’m glad for that experience. Solo travel is so freeing. I could go out—or stay in—and not feel obligated to take other people’s preferences into account.” 

To this day, solo trips are still Nicole’s preferred way to travel. Not only does she avoid overspending, she also travels when and where she wants to—maybe inviting others to join her, but only after her plans are made. 

Indeed, Nicole is no stranger to striking out on her own; she recently launched her own consultancy business . A former journalist, Nicole now offers social media strategy and content creation services to brands. She’s also an influencer, sharing her experiences and tips with thousands of followers on Instagram and TikTok . Her niche? Travel, of course. 

On the solo trips that shaped her 

Spain. Morocco. Colombia. Antigua. Those are just some of the destinations Nicole’s ventured to on her own. 

Her most memorable trip? “Colombia. I always feel most at peace and most comfortable there.” 

Nicole first visited Colombia in 2021; she spent a week—and instantly knew she’d be back. In 2023, she visited for a month. And this time, it was memorable for a different reason. 

“I was exploring the Getsemani neighborhood in Cartagena, and I fell in love with a piece of art. The painting—featuring a Black woman as the focal point—was the first that ever spoke to me in such a way that I knew I needed to buy it.” 

But it’s not just Colombia that Nicole recommends to her fellow solo travelers. Another top destination? Antigua. 

“It’s amazing. I’m from Florida (reminder: it’s flat), so I’m a big fan of topography. The mountains there are beautiful; the beaches are beautiful. It’s a gorgeous island that’s not yet on a lot of people’s radar—but it should be.”  

Related reading: TripIt Survey: Summer Travel Plans, Solo Trips, and Safety Risks

Thinking of planning a solo trip? Nicole had some advice: “If this is your first time traveling solo, start close to home with a domestic trip,” she said. “You already understand the culture and language, but you’ll still get the feeling of being on your own.” 

And, don’t overthink it. “If you wait on people, you’ll go nowhere,” she quipped. “I always tell people: ‘English is an international language’—and that’s especially true if you’re traveling to a popular tourist destination. Plus, pretty much all airports function the same, so you already know the ropes.” 

This is great advice for the many travelers heading out on solo trips in the year ahead: According to a recent TripIt survey of 1,800 Americans, more than a quarter are planning a solo trip in 2024. 

Staying organized—whether you plan ahead or book on the go 

Solo travelers like Nicole can rely on TripIt to help them make informed decisions while on the go. Features like Neighborhood Safety Scores show the level of daytime and nighttime safety for the neighborhoods you’re visiting. You can also share your travel plans with loved ones so they know where you are and how to get in touch. 

Tip: You can access safety ratings along any point within your TripIt itinerary for more than 65,000 cities and neighborhoods, including scores for overall safety, health and medical, physical harm, women’s safety, political freedoms, theft, and LGBTQ safety. 

Part of staying safe on a trip is also being organized. 

“Imagine planning a trip without having to lift a finger—that’s TripIt,” Nicole said. “Sometimes I book things and forget about them, but TripIt automatically keeps track of everything for me, creating a seamless itinerary I can access anytime.” 

A helpful feature when some of your itineraries come together at the last moment. “I’m always on the lookout for where else I can go to get the most bang for my buck. When I was in Spain, I found an affordable flight to Morocco—and that’s how I ended up in Marrakech.”

Whether you plan ahead or book impromptu trips, you can automatically add your travel plans to TripIt by turning on Inbox Sync . That way, all of your plans—no matter where or when you booked them—are in one place. 

And Nicole’s final tip for staying organized on a trip? Set alarms. “I’m setting a 6 AM alarm to wake up, a 6:30 AM alarm for breakfast, and a 7 AM alarm to catch the bus to the airport.” 

TL;DR: When it comes to travel—and launching your own business—timing is everything. 

Want more of Nicole’s solo travel tips? Follow her on Instagram or TikTok . And catch up on all Going Places features to learn new travel tips, discover underrated destinations, and more. 

• 3 Ways TripIt Can Help You Travel More Sustainably

About the Author

Amanda Wowk

Amanda Wowk is a freelance writer, founder of Amanda Wowk Creative — a content writing services company — and avid traveler. Her experience spans the travel industry, supporting clients in travel tech, luxury travel, and consumer brands. When she's not helping clients tell their stories, Amanda writes about her own experiences to inspire others to travel as far, wide, and frequently as possible.