Want to plan a trip but don’t know how to get started? Too busy this summer to even pick a destination? Or maybe you’re just so worn down by all the economic doom and gloom that the last thing on your mind is putting your hard-earned discretionary income into a vacation.

Well, we feel your pain. Heck, we work at a start-up!

TravelMuse is a travel planning platform that supports you wherever you are in the planning cycle: from learning and education through detailed planning and booking. We’ve worked hard to pull together a set of tools and content that support the complete lifecycle of travel planning.

How to Plan Your Trip in Three Easy Steps

1. Pick a destination. Try the Inspiration Finder. It allows you to quickly narrow your focus to destinations that are right for you—based on your preferences and needs.It’ll recommend up to eight destinations that fit your budget and desired activities and are within your maximum travel time and are good for the ages of travelers going.Fewer than eight results that meet your needs? Then you’ll get some alternative recommendations to consider that come close.

2. Plan your travels. The TravelMuse Planner can help you organize your research once you’ve winnowed down the list to some really cool and interesting places. Use the “add to trip” action button on any TravelMuse article, hotel page, restaurant or attraction to instantly deposit your research into your appropriate trip plan. Share your trip plans with your travel companions and invite them to add items to your trips.

And of course it’s human nature to visit lots of sites as you plan your trip. You can use the TravelMuse Bookmarker to collect pages from anywhere on the web.

3. Now you’re free to book your trip! TravelMuse includes a complete online reservation system to support all your air, car, hotel, cruise and package reservation needs. If you book elsewhere, you can easily add confirmations to your trip plans—so that everything is neatly stored in one central location.

One of the joys of travel is the anticipation of the trip. No matter where you are planning your vacation, chances are we have something new and insightful for you in our destination guides and articles. TravelMuse provides many ways to immerse yourself in your destination and enjoy some armchair travel before you even hit the road.

There you have it. Travel planning has never been easier, more beautiful or more fun.

Thanks and happy planning!