TRAVEL RESOURCES PAGE
On this travel resource page, you will find everything you need to plan your trip, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a round-the-world trip. These are companies I use and recommend, from going on day tours and group trips to booking hotels and flights – with the number one most important thing being getting travel insurance – which saved me countless times.
You will also find some travel essentials and gear to bring with you to make your trip easier – you can also check out my packing guides for more complete lists.
Disclaimer – When you click on the links on this page and buy something, I get a commission, at no cost to you, which helps me maintain this website.
BOOKING YOUR TRIP
Group Adventure Tours
If traveling solo is not your thing or if you’d rather not have to plan a trip but still want to experience more than an all-inclusive vacation, these companies provide small group tours from a few days to a few weeks, where you get to explore the destination you’ve picked thoroughly.
Intrepid and G Adventures come both highly recommended. They focus on adventure travel, and off-the-beaten-path trips, where you get to explore remote places and participate in unique activities. All the tours they offer are in small groups to guarantee the best experience possible.
TourRadar focuses more on all-inclusive trips and lists all the different tours you can take, usually with small independent local tour companies that they handpick carefully.
Day Trips and Activities
To discover the city or area you’re staying in, you might want to take a day tour or discover new activities. Get Your Guide, Viator, and Klook all feature tours and excursions around the world and in most destinations.
Taking a guided tour is the best way to learn more about the local culture – it will give you better insights than if you were visiting on your own. You can also try a fun activity like an ATV tour in the jungle, a sunset cruise, or a cooking class.
Tours also make good options when you want to visit someplace far off that is not accessible via public transportation.
For foodies who want to discover the local cuisine a different way, you can check out EatWith where locals invite you to their homes and cook a typical meal for you.
Flights
Skyscanner is my go-to when booking flights. They have awesome features where you can see the best deals for flights from your closest airport – it will show you the best destinations and dates – it’s perfect for when you’re flexible. You can also just pick the country as the destination and it will show you the cheapest prices per airport.
An alternative is CheapOAir which often features great deals worth checking out before booking anything
Pro tips: when looking for flights, use a VPN or use the incognito tab – prices might go up if they see you’ve already checked this flight.
Accommodations
When booking accommodation I always check on Booking and Hostel World – both usually offer the best prices and feature different establishments. Hostel World has more hostels and backpackers, it’s worth checking even if you want a private room, hostels often have them, and this way you have access to a kitchen and the “backpacker vibe” – perfect to socialize.
Booking is great because you usually don’t have to pay upfront and, for most hotels, they have a pretty relaxed cancelation policy.
VRBO is an alternative to Airbnb – its perfect for long-term stays and if you want to have your own place when you vacation rather than staying at a hotel
Travel Insurance
If there is one thing you need to get before any international trip is travel insurance – you never know what might happen.
Depending on the coverage you choose and your insurance’s policies, it can cover accidents and diseases you might get while traveling and can also cover loss of luggage or delayed flights.. all the issues you might face when traveling.
Make sure to always read the fine print so you know exactly what to expect.
World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more. World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
Safety Wing is perfect for nomads and long-term travel. They provide affordable solutions for people living abroad most of the year.
Budget travel
For budget travelers, there are a few options to help you save money. If you have time, you can do a Work Away where you work a few hours in exchange for board and food – there are plenty of options – you can stay with a family and teach the kids your language, help out at a farm or a hostel, work for a non-profit… It’s definitely worth checking out.
Housesitting is another option if you are flexible on the destination and dates. Trusted Housesitters is one of the most popular platforms for finding house and pet-sitting opportunities worldwide.
I recommend Couchsurfing 100% – I’ve had some of my best travel experiences thanks to it. You basically stay at someone’s house for free. You have to see it as a cultural exchange more than just free accommodation. Most hosts will expect some interaction – it’s an awesome way to learn more about the local culture and visit places with a local.
Visa
Always check if you need a visa before booking a trip (layover + country of destination). Most countries will have a sort of visa on arrival for tourists from the US. If not, and if you don’t want to bother with paperwork and/or having to go to the embassy, you can use iVisa – they will help you from A to Z to get your visa on time.
PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR
When you’re traveling you’ll want to take pictures – choosing the right gear can be overwhelming as there are so many options out there. I personally use and love the Sony RX100, it’s one of the best compact cameras out there and it’s not that expensive, it’s perfect for advanced photographers as well as beginners.
When it comes to action cameras, GoPro is the best, the HERO8 is a perfect option, it’s cheaper than the most recent models but it still takes amazing photos – and unless you’re a professional you probably don’t need 5K nor the more advanced features available on the HERO9. It’s perfect if you are into outdoor travel, hiking, diving, any outdoor activity really. It’s pretty easy to set up and it will take amazing pictures and videos effortlessly.
If you want to step up your game, then you’ll need a drone. DJI is the leader on the market when it comes to drones. They offer a wide range of products at all price points. the DJI Mini 2 is a good compromise, it’s affordable, pretty small (so perfect for travel), and will take beautiful 4k footage.
Sony RX100 III
GoPro HERO8 Black
DJI Mini 2
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Here are a few of my travel favorites that make life easier, packing more practical, and traveling more comfortable.
Packing Cubes
Packing cubes make keeping things organized in your backpack or suitcase a breeze. Find everything quickly and save space thanks to them.
Ethique Cosmetics
I am always looking for ways to save space, and these are incredible, it allows you to save tons of space, and it’s way more eco-friendly than bottles. They make shampoos, conditioners, cleansers.. all in solid form.
Microfiber Towel
If you are planning on staying at hostels or at low-budget accommodations, you’ll need to have your own towel, which can get pretty bulky. Microfiber towels are super tiny and lightweight, and they dry fast so you don’t need to worry about packing a wet towel.
Travel Adapter
Depending on where you’re going, you are probably going to need a plug adapter. This one is great because you can use it anywhere in the world and plug in any type of plug. Note that this is not a current adapter (way pricier and bulkier) so things like hair dryers might not work as well as it does at home – but it’s perfect for your phone, laptop, things like that.
LifeStraw Water Filter Bottle
If you are traveling in a country where tap water is not drinkable or often go on long hikes, this is a must-have, you add any type of water and it will filter out bacteria and chemicals so the water becomes safe to drink – it also helps reduce plastic waste.
Mosquito Repeller
If you are traveling to a tropical area where mosquitoes abound, you’ll want something to fight them off. If you are like me and don’t like applying repellent all the time, this mosquito repeller is a game-changer. You can put it near you or clip it to your backpack or belt when you’re out and about and it will keep mosquitoes at bay.
See the full list of travel essentials I recommend packing >>
