Travel Resources
Essential tools and recommendations for your next adventure
Over the years I have tried and tested countless travel services, apps and gear. Below you will find the resources I personally use and genuinely recommend. Whether you are planning your first trip or your fiftieth, these tools will help you travel smarter, safer and cheaper.
Flights
Finding cheap flights is one of the biggest ways to save money on travel. These are the search engines I check every single time before booking.
My go-to flight search engine. The "Everywhere" feature is perfect for finding the cheapest destination from your airport, and the price alerts save me a fortune.
Great for exploring flexible dates with the calendar view and tracking price trends. I always cross-check Skyscanner results here before booking.
Often surfaces deals the others miss, especially for lesser-known airlines and multi-city itineraries. Worth checking for a second opinion.
Accommodation
From budget hostels to boutique hotels, these platforms cover every type of stay. I usually compare prices across a couple of these before committing.
Hands down the best selection globally with free cancellation on most rooms. Their Genius loyalty program gives you genuine discounts the more you book.
The best platform for booking hostels. Detailed reviews from real backpackers and an excellent filtering system to find the perfect social or quiet hostel.
Ideal for longer stays or when you want a local apartment experience. Great for families, groups, or anyone who wants a kitchen to save on eating out.
A hidden gem for accommodation in Asia. Consistently offers the lowest prices for hotels in Southeast Asia, Japan, and other Asian destinations.
Travel Insurance
Never travel without insurance. I learned this the hard way. These are the providers I trust to have my back when things go wrong.
Built specifically for digital nomads and long-term travellers. Flexible monthly subscription, covers you in your home country too, and the claims process is hassle-free.
From $42/monthThe gold standard for adventure travellers. Covers a huge range of activities from scuba diving to bungee jumping that most insurers exclude.
A solid traditional option with comprehensive plans. Excellent for families and shorter trips with straightforward coverage and reliable customer service.
Tours & Activities
Sometimes the best way to experience a destination is with a knowledgeable local guide. I book all my tours and day trips through these platforms.
Huge selection of tours, skip-the-line tickets and experiences worldwide. I love their free cancellation policy and the verified reviews from real travellers.
Backed by TripAdvisor, Viator has an enormous catalogue of activities. Particularly strong in Europe and North America with unique off-the-beaten-path tours.
The go-to for activities in Asia. Often significantly cheaper than booking at the door, with instant confirmation and mobile tickets for convenience.
Transportation
Getting around once you arrive is half the adventure. These tools help me find the best routes, cheapest rentals and most convenient transport options.
Compares prices from all major car rental companies in one search. Their full protection insurance option is always worth the small extra cost for peace of mind.
Shows you every possible way to get from A to B including flights, trains, buses, ferries and driving. Invaluable for planning multi-stop itineraries.
The easiest way to book train tickets across Europe. Compares all operators, finds the cheapest fares, and stores your tickets on your phone.
Essential for booking buses, trains, ferries and transfers throughout Southeast Asia. Takes the stress out of transport in countries where booking can be complicated.
Travel Gear
The right gear makes all the difference. These are the items I never leave home without after years of trial and error on the road.
The best travel backpacks on the market with a lifetime guarantee. I use the Osprey Farpoint 40 for carry-on travel and it has survived years of abuse.
A total game changer for staying organised. Compression packing cubes let you fit more in your bag and find what you need without unpacking everything.
A universal travel adapter with USB ports is non-negotiable. Get one that covers all plug types so you never have to think about it at your destination.
When you are navigating with your phone all day, a reliable power bank is essential. I carry a 20,000mAh one that keeps my devices charged for days.
Apps & Tools
These apps live on my phone's home screen and I use them almost every single day on the road. All free or with excellent free tiers.
Download offline maps before you go and you will never get lost. Incredible for finding restaurants, public transport routes and saving places you want to visit.
The camera translation feature is pure magic. Point your phone at a menu, sign or document in any language and get an instant translation on screen.
Quick and accurate currency conversions that work offline. Helps you instantly know if you are getting a fair price when shopping or negotiating abroad.
The smartest way to manage money abroad. Their multi-currency card gives you the real exchange rate with tiny fees, saving you a fortune on every transaction.
Internet & Connectivity
Staying connected while travelling is more important than ever. These tools keep me online, secure and reachable no matter where in the world I am.
Buy a local data plan before you even land. No more hunting for SIM cards at the airport. Works in 200+ countries and you can set it up from your phone in minutes.
Essential for using public Wi-Fi safely and accessing your home streaming services abroad. Fast, reliable, and I never connect to hotel or cafe Wi-Fi without it.
A portable Wi-Fi hotspot that works in 130+ countries. Perfect if your phone does not support eSIM or you need to connect multiple devices on the go.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. This comes at absolutely no extra cost to you and helps me keep this site running and producing free travel content. I only recommend products and services I have personally used and genuinely believe in. Thank you for your support!