Hi Niko,
Before we get to more articles and tips, I wanted to send you links to some suggested travel companies. I know you're excited about your trip and are probably searching for flights and accommodation, so I want to point you in the right direction.
Below are my favorite companies. They are included here because they consistently find deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and, overall, are better than their competitors. They are the ones I use the most and are always the starting points in my search for travel deals.
Below are my favorite companies. They are included here because they consistently find deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and, overall, are better than their competitors. They are the ones I use the most and are always the starting points in my search for travel deals.
You might find one of your favorites isn't on the list. That doesn't mean they are bad. In fact, I could like them too...but they just aren't a starting point for when I'm looking for deals!
So here is my list broken down by category:
So here is my list broken down by category:
Airfare
Kayak - A good flight search engine for fares leaving from the United States. They search a wide variety of airlines and other flight brokers (Kayak is what is known as a "meta" search engine). I think they are a great starting point for searching for cheap airline tickets.
Vayama - Another good flight search engine, especially for international flights outside the US. It's one of my main tools when I book international tickets, and I've found fares on their site hundreds of dollars cheaper than what I've found elsewhere.
Skyscanner - An amazing resource for checking airfares internationally. The site includes a great list of budget airlines that a lot of other search engines don't carry.
Momondo - My third favorite airfare booking site. I never book a flight without checking them as well.
Airfarewatchdog - This website monitors airline ticket prices and will alert you when deals occur. They find a lot of unadvertised fares, and I highly recommend signing up for their newsletter. This is one of the best websites on the Internet to find airfare deals.
Google Flights - Type in your airport and when you want to go, and Google will show you all the flights in the world. This is great for when you're just looking for the cheapest place to visit!
Airtreks - This company is a leader in round-the-world (RTW) tickets. They offer some very good deals, and if you are interested in purchasing a round-the-world ticket, it's best to call and get a quote from them first. They know their stuff. I wouldn't use anyone else.
The Flight Deal - Want last-minute flight deals originating from the United States or Canada? Check out this website. It is one of the BEST in the world.
Holiday Pirates - Want last-minute deals originating from Europe? Check out this website. It is also one of the BEST in the world.
Accommodation
Airbnb - A good accommodation alternative, this site connects you with homeowners who rent out their homes or apartments. You'll get all the comforts of home, the chance to stay in a local, non-touristy location, and pay a fraction of the cost of a hotel room.
Hostelworld - The best hostel accommodation site out there, with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability. I use them for my bookings (and they are an official sponsor of this website).
Couchsurfing - This website allows you to stay on people's couches or in their spare rooms for free. It's a great way to save money — while meeting locals who can tell you much more about a city than you will find out through a hostel or hotel. The site also has groups where you can arrange to meet up for events in your city. I have used this website dozens of times.
Hotwire - This is probably the hotel site I use most. I really enjoy their blind booking process. They essentially say "we have a super rate on a 3-star hotel in New York's Times Square," and you book it without knowing the hotel name. While that sounds scary, I've never ended up in a bad hotel and have saved a ton of money in the process. Highly recommended.
Hotels.com - One of my favorite hotel booking sites, Hotels.com has a robust inventory and lots of sales. It also gives you one free night's stay for every 10 booked. This is a good starting point when looking for brand-name hotels.
Expedia - Not my favorite website but they offer really good deals on cruises, hotels, and sometimes flights. (Better flight-booking sites are Kayak and Vayama.) For cruises and package deals, you really can't beat Expedia. They also have a really good loyalty program.
Priceline - I like this website because it allows you to bid on hotels and save a lot more money than by booking directly. When used in conjunction with the bidding site Better Bidding, you can substantially lower the cost of your hotels — by as much as 60%.
Agoda - The best hotel accommodation site for Asia. If you want a good hotel or guesthouse in Asia, use this site.
TripAdvisor - Mom-and-pop guesthouses can't afford the commission that major booking sites take. If you are traveling to the "Third World" countries, use Trip Advisor and you'll find way more listings to choose from than you would from a site like Hotels.com.
Travel Gear/Products/Services
World Nomads Travel Insurance - I buy all my travel insurance from World Nomads. They have great customer service, competitive prices, and in-depth coverage. I've been using this company since I started traveling in 2006 and will never switch. It is the one thing I NEVER travel without, and I urge you to stay covered on the road!
Lonely Planet Guidebooks - Everyone has their own guidebook preference. Lonely Planet is mine. I like the look of their guides, as well as their layout, size, weight, and emphasis on budget travel. Lonely Planet also redesigned their books in 2011, and they are now better organized with more photos and improved maps.
REI Backpacks and Gear - This sporting and outdoor store sells a wide variety of backpacking gear. I've had the same REI backpack with me for the last six years and it's as good now as it was the day I bought it. Their products last a long time. Because the quality has been so wonderful, I purchase all my travel gear through them. (If you're Canadian, I love MEC!) Read here for more information on what to look for in the perfect pack.
Rail Europe - If you are going to visit Europe and plan to take a lot of long train trips, get a rail pass. You will save money. I've used a rail pass on three trips and saved hundreds of dollars each time. The math just works out for long train trips. Click here to read a breakdown of how passes save money.
I-to-I Online TEFL Course - If you are looking for a good TEFL class, check out I-to-I. They run online courses, are cheaper than their competition, are widely recognized as a reputable program, and will help you find a job. I highly recommend them over any other company if you are looking to get a TEFL certificate in order to teach English overseas.
Tours/Agents
Intrepid Travel - They offer good small group tours that use local operators and leave a small environmental footprint. If you go on a tour with anyone, go with them. And, as a reader of this site, you'll get 10% off when you click the link!
STA Travel - A good company for those under 30 or for students. They offer discounted airfare as well as travel passes that help you save on attractions. I don't use them that much anymore (since I'm way over 30) but if you aren't, make sure to check them out.
Go Today - Great website showcasing highly discounted last-minute tours and hotels. Great for the last-minute planner.
The Man in Seat 61 - This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or an epic train trip, consult this site.
Grassroots Volunteering - If you are looking to volunteer when you travel and want to support good organizations, use this website. It compiles a list of good local volunteer organizations that keep the money within the community.
Travel Guides
Besides the above-recommended companies, I have a number of books and guides that can help you travel like a pro and earn money on the road:
- How to Teach English Overseas (get $5 off with the code "Save5")
- How to Work on a Cruise Ship
- Nomadic Matt's Guide to New York City
- Nomadic Matt's Guide to Bangkok
- Nomadic Matt's Guide to Hong Kong
- Nomadic Matt's Guide to Stockholm
- Nomadic Matt's Guide to Amsterdam
- Nomadic Matt's Guide to Paris
- The Business of Travel Blogging
Please e-mail me if you need anything else or want to know if a company you found is good. I'm here to help.
Until next time!
Travel Safe,
Nomadic Matt
P.S. Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission every time you use them. It doesn't cost you any extra and it helps keeps the website running and the information free. So if you would like to give back to the site at all, this is a way to do it! If you have any questions about these companies, email me.
