TRAVEL RESOURCES
Trying to decide which companies to book your trip with? Over the last 15 years of travel, I’ve used hundreds of companies. Some have been great, some have been awful.
Below is a list of those I come back to time and time again. They are the exact ones I use when I am booking my travel. I’m a firm believer in them — that’s why they are listed. They are the best out there and continually offer superior deals. Use them to book your trips too!
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, including the HostGator link. By using the links in this post, help support this website. At no extra cost to you, we’ll earn a small commission from each booking that will allow us to keep content up to date, run events, create new guides and stories, and maintain the website. I use all the companies listed here and recommend them because they’ve made my travels better. If you have any questions about the companies, email me.
Airfare
Skyscanner
This is my all-time favorite flight search engine. It always seems to find the best deals, and its calendar view lets you see which days are cheapest to fly. I like it because it searches the small booking sites no one else does. Start all your flight searches here.
Going
Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) finds incredible flight deals and sends them directly to your inbox. If you’re flexible with your dates and destinations, you can score some amazing deals and save hundreds of dollars in the process!
Google Flights
Google Flights lets you enter your departure airport and see flights all over the world on a map so you can determine where the cheapest destination is. It’s a good search engine to get a sense of routes, connections, and fares.
For more information on how to find a cheap flight, read this article with all my tips.
Accommodation
Hostel Pass
This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. It’s constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and so I’m glad it finally exists. Use code NOMADICMATT for 25% off!
Booking.com
Booking.com probably has the widest selection of budget accommodation in the world (it is especially good for listings in developing countries). In our research, it consistently found the cheapest rooms. I also like its easy-to-use interface and no-money-down policy.
HOSTELWORLD
This is the best hostel-accommodation site out there, with the largest inventory, best search interface, and highest availability. I use it for all my hostel bookings. And, since it bought its competitor Hostelbookers, it really is the only game in town.
Trusted Housesitters
Trusted Housesitters is a platform that connects you with people in need of pet and house sitters. In exchange for looking after their pets or home, you’ll get access to free accommodation. It’s an amazing resource for long-term travelers looking to travel slow.
Agoda
This website should be your primary accommodation website for guesthouses and hotels in Asia. It has the most robust inventory and offers the best rates. When I travel around Asia, I always use it.
Hostelworld
This is the best hostel-accommodation site out there, with the largest inventory, best search interface, and highest availability. I use it for all my hostel bookings. And, since it bought its competitor Hostelbookers, it really is the only game in town.
For more information on how to find cheap accommodation, read this article with all my tips.
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing
Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. It has cheap monthly plans, first-rate customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
Insure My Trip
Insure My Trip is a wholesaler that helps you compare prices so you can buy the one that’s best for you. If you are 70 or over, use Insure My Trip. They can likely find a plan for you!
Medjet
Medjet membership is a very affordable option for those who are going to be far from home and want added evacuation coverage. It’s great for solo travelers too.
For more information on choosing the best travel insurance, visit this section with all my tips.
Tour Companies
Walks
One of my favorite walking tour companies, Walks offers in-depth history, food, and cultural tours in cities around the world (especially Europe). Its small-group tours are curated and tend to offer exclusive behind-the-scenes access other companies can’t get.
Get Your Guide
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. The site has tons of tour options in cities all around the world, including cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
Devour Food Tours
Devour has all kinds of amazing food tours around Europe. If you’re a foodie who wants to learn more about the history and culture behind each dish, these tours are for you!
For more information on choosing the best travel insurance, visit this section with all my tips.
Travel Credit Cards
SafetyWing
This is my favorite premium rewards card, as it includes a ton of amazing perks for avid travelers. It’s the supercharged version of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and is a good choice for serious points collectors.
Bilt Rewards Mastercard
This is the only card out there that lets you earn points when paying your rent. It also offers 2x points on travel and 3x points on dining. It’s a must for anyone who rents their home/apartment!
Bilt Rewards Mastercard
This is my go-to card for all of my business expenses. The bonuses on travel and office expenses really add up. If you’re looking for low-fee business card with excellent perks, this is the card for you.
American Express Gold Card
This is a terrific all-around card for your everyday spending as well as your travel spending. Since it offers both dining and travel credit, it’s a fine choice for travelers who also enjoy eating out.
Capital One Venture
This is a superb choice for people who are looking for general rewards but might want a wider range of transfer partners. There are perks for avid travelers and substantial point bonuses for hotel stays as well.
Delta Skymiles Platinum
This is a good card if you’re a regular Delta customer. You earn 3x on Delta purchases and those made directly with hotels, and 2x at restaurants and supermarkets. If you’re planning to fly Delta often, get this card!
For more information on choosing the best travel credit card, read this article with all my tips.
Gear
REI Backpacks and Gear
I’ve had the same REI backpack for the last six years, and it’s as good now as it was the day I bought it. REI products will last you a long time. They are hands-down my favorite gear store. You can get anything there. For more on picking the perfect backpack, read this article.
Lonely Planet Guidebooks
Everyone has their own guidebook preference. Lonely Planet is mine. I like the the guides’ look, organization, light weight, and emphasis on budget travel. Lonely Planet also redesigned its books in 2011, and they are now better organized, with more photos and better maps.
Patagonia
Patagonia is an outdoors company that makes quality gear. From raincoats to backpacks to hiking gear, it does it all. Best of all, it works hard to ensure that its products are as sustainable as possible. One percent of all its sales is donated to environmental causes.
For more information on choosing the best travel credit card, read this article with all my tips.
Transportation
RVshare
RVshare is like Airbnb for RVs. You can browse privately owned RVs all around the country, find one that suits your needs and budget, and then rent it directly from the owner. It’s super affordable and makes RVing easy and accessible.
Eurail
If you are going to Europe and taking a lot of trains, get a rail pass. I’ve used one three times and saved hundreds of dollars each time. The math just works. I book direct with Eurail and suggest you do too. You can read about my experience using rail passes by clicking this link.
BlaBlaCar
BlaBlaCar lets you share rides with vetted local drivers in exchange for pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve you, and off you go! It’s a cheap and much more interesting way to get from point A to point B than by bus or train!
Discover Cars
Discover Cars is a car rental aggregator that can help you find the best deals for your next road trip. It pulls data from over 8,000 car rental locations to ensure you always find a great deal!
Rome 2 Rio
This website shows you how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. Just enter your departure and arrival destinations and it will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there, as well as how much they cost. One of the best transportation website out there!
Japan Rail Pass
The Japan Rail Pass is a flexible transportation pass used for navigating Japan. Similar to the Eurail pass in Europe, it turns expensive bullet trains into budget-friendly modes of transportation. You honestly can’t visit Japan without one.
Blogging Resources
Worldpackers
Worldpackers offers travelers a chance to find volunteer experiences overseas (much like Workaway and HelpX). In addition to hostels, it can help you find experiences with NGOs, home stays, and eco-projects all over the world!
myTEFL
myTEFL offers the standard TEFL programs, but they also help you find a job and provide an additional 6 months of access to their content so that you can use it once you start teaching. (Use the code “matt50” for 50% off!)
Helpx
HelpX is one of the best places to find work and volunteer opportunities when you travel. It includes farm stays, home stays, B&Bs, hostels, and sailing boats that invite volunteers to stay short-term in exchange for food and accommodation.
For more information on traveling cheap (or for free), read this article with all my tips.