TRAVEL RESOURCES

I’ve planned and booked a lot of trips all over the world and the companies listed below are the exact ones I use when I travel. I’m a firm believer in them and that’s why they are listed. They are the best out there, and continually offer the best deals, including some Nomadic Matt exclusives. Check back here before your book your trip for the latest updates.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, including the Host Gator link, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I use all the companies listed here and recommend them because they rock and have made my travels better. If you are ready to book your trip and would like to support this website in some way, using these links is one way to do that. Please do not spend any money you don’t feel are right for you. If you have any questions about the companies, e-mail me. I’m happy to answer any questions about the companies you have.

Airfare

Momondo

This is my all time favorite search engine. They always seem to find airlines that offer the best deals and their calendar view lets you see which days are cheapest to fly. I like them because they search the small booking sites no one else does. I make this my starting point for all flight searches.

Airtreks

This company is a leader in round the world tickets. Their booking engine will allow you to construct itineraries using multiple airlines so you can piece together the best deals. Their staff is excellent and really knows their stuff.

Skyscanner

This great website searches a lot of different airlines, including many of the budget carriers that larger sites miss. While I always start with Momondo, I’ll often check this site too as a way to price compare.

Google Flights

One of the best flight search engines out there, Google Flights lets you enter your departure airport and see flights all over the world in a map so you can see where the cheapest destination in. They also suggest different dates for cheaper flights.

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Accommodation

Airbnb

Another good accommodation alternative, this site connects with homeowners who rent out their homes/apartments to you. You’ll get all the comforts of home, the chance to stay in a local, non-touristy part of where you are going, and pay a fraction of the cost of a hotel room. (If you’re new to Airbnb, get $35 off your first stay!)

Agoda

An amazing website for accommodation in Asia. This should be your primary accommodation website for guesthouses and hotels in Asia. They have the most robust inventory and offer the best rates. When I travel around Asia, I don’t use anyone else.

Booking.com

Booking.com provides great resource and booking site for cheap hotels and other accommodation. I like their easy to use interface too, wide selection, and no money down policy. They are especially good for listing in developing countries.

Hostelworld

The best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and highest availability. I use them for all my hostel bookings. And, since they bought their competitor Hostelbookers, they are the biggest game in town.

Couchsurfing

This website allows you to stay on people’s couches or 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 in a hostel/hotel. I have used this website dozens of times and the site also has groups where you can meet up for events in your city.

Priceline

One of my favorite hotel sites because it allows you to bid on hotels and save a lot more money than just 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%.

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Gear

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 them since I started traveling in 2003. They are also recommended by Lonely Planet and National Geographic so you know they are good. DO NOT LEAVE HOME WITHOUT TRAVEL INSURANCE.

Rail Europe

If you are going to Europe and taking a lot of trains, get a rail pass. I’ve used a rail pass three times and saved hundreds of dollars each time. The math just works. I use the company Rail Europe and suggest you do too. You can read about my experience using rail passes by clicking this link.

REI Backpacks and Gear

I’ve had the same REI backpack with me for the last 6 years and it’s as good now as it was the day I bought it. Their products will last you a long time. Because the quality has been so great, I purchase all my travel gear through them. 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 look of their guides, organization, light weight, and emphasis on budget travel. Lonely Planet also redesigned their books in 2011 and they are now better organized with more photos and better maps.

T-Mobile

If you are a traveler and live in the U.S., get T-Mobile. T-Mobile gives their users contract-free plans (starting at $50 per month) with free international data and text messaging in over 100 countries — plus all calls while in those countries are only 20 cents a minute. I’ve been using them for years and love them.

EatWith

This website allows you to eat home cooked meal with locals. Locals post listings for dinner parties and specialty meals that you can sign up for. There is a fee (everyone sets their own price) but this is a great way to do something different, pick a local’s brain, and make a new friend.

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Tour Companies

Intrepid Travel

They offer good small group tours that use expert guides and leave a small environmental footprint. If you go on a tour with anyone, go with them. They are my favorite multi-day tour operator and I take at least two tours a year with them. And, as a reader of this site, you’ll get exclusive offers!!

Context Travel

One of my favorite walking tour companies, Context offers in-depth history, food, and cultural tours through cities in the world, with a speciality in Europe. This company gets experts to lead tours (i.e. a chef to lead a food tour), which is why these tours are some of my favorite.

Vayable

I enjoy this site because it allows you to experience niche, offbeat, and interesting tours that bigger tour companies might not run (like a street art tour in Los Angeles). Plus, the groups tend to be very small, making for a more intimate experience.


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Transportation

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 some epic train trip, consult this site.

Rome 2 Rio

This website allows you to see 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!

Cruisesheet

This company works voodoo magic and searches the web for the cheapest cruises on the web, sometimes as cheap as $27 a night. This may not be your typical cruising website but a deal is a deal. This website is especially good for repositioning cruises across oceans.

BlaBlaCar

BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, 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!

Gumtree

This Craiglist like site is an amazing resource for travelers. You can find travel partners, rideshares, jobs, second hand gear, homestays, and much more. It is an amazing website for travelers of all kind!


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Job Resources

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, widely recognized, and will help you find a job. I highly recommend them over any other company if you are looking for to get a TEFL in order to teach English overseas.

Grassroots Volunteering

If you are looking to volunteer when you travel and want to support good organizations, this website compiles a list of ethical and responsible local volunteer organizations that keeps the money within the community and not in the hands of a big organiation. This is a tremendous resource for anyone wanting to volunteer overseas.

How to Work on a Cruise Ship

This book is the best resource for those looking to work on a cruise ship. The author, Wandering Earl, spent close to a decade working on ships and his phenomenal book that will help you find jobs, learn about the application process, experience, how to interview, and much more. It’s the only book I know of that puts the secrets of working on a cruise ship in one place.

Helpx

HelpX is one of the best places to find work and volunteer opportunities when you travel. They have farms, farmstays, homestays, B&Bs, hostels, and sailing boats who invite volunteers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation.

WorkAway

This is another wonderful job finding website! Workaway is a lot like HelpX except this website has more paid job opportunities for when you travel, though it also has volunteer opportunities too.

How to Learn a Foreign Language

Speaking the local language is an important part of traveling. Best selling author Benny Lewis of Fluent in 3 Months has a series of guides that can help you learn the basics of any language for your trip. I’ve used Benny’s tools to help me learn French and Swedish.

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Blogging Resources

Superstar Blogging

Looking to become a better blogger, photographer, or writer? I’ve created an online travel media school and partnered with industry experts to teach you the skills you need to succeed in the digital travel space. These have a step-by-step courses that features monthly webinars, Facebook groups, teacher feedback, and tons of expert interviews and guest lecturers!

HostGator

Hostgator is my favorite hosting company and great for bloggers just starting out. Their prices are cheap and their servers stay on and I enjoy their customer service. In fact, I still host a few sites on them! If you’re looking for a reliable hosting company, I recommend them.

ConvertKit

I’ve been using Convertkit to send all my emails for years. They have a easy to use interface, let you set up autoresponders, create tags, and have stellar customer service! If you are looking for an easy to use, straight forward email provider, this is the best one to use.

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