Travel Resources

Here are some travel resources to travel far and wide, for cheap! These resources help get me on the road, and keep me traveling on a budget. 

This post contains affiliate links: If you book or purchase something for your travels using these links, I may get a small commission at no cost to you! 

Machu Picchu viewpoint Erika's Travelventures

Booking Cheap Flights

Google Flights

I use their low-fare calendar to check which dates I can fly for the lowest cost. 

Skyscanner 

When I’m looking for travel inspiration, I check here where I can find cheap flights to nearby destinations.

Skiplagged 

For unique travel deals, Skiplagged checks for the lowest fares even if that means skipping the last leg of a flight.

Booking Cheap Accommodation

Travel Resources booking flights, accommodation, travel insurance, excursions, iVisa booking.com

Booking.com 

Booking is the site I use most often to find cheap accommodation, because it has the largest database of hotels and hostels. I use their “sort by lowest price” and “sort by review score and price” options to find the perfect accommodation. 

Hostelworld.com 

Hostelworld where I search for hostels and compare price deals and ratings with Booking.com. Sometimes, hostels will be listed on Hostelworld, but not on Booking. For backpackers, the ratings on Hostelworld are probably more accurate because of a more similar reviewer demographic. 

Travel Resources booking flights, accommodation, travel insurance, excursions, iVisa Airbnb

Airbnb

Prices for apartment rentals have becoming much more competitive in the past years, and it’s worth checking Airbnb to compare prices with traditional hotel and hostel bookings, especially for longer stays. Get $55 off your first trip with Airbnb if you sign up using my link! 

Buying Travel Insurance

World Nomads

Prevent unnecessary and unexpected travel expenses by purchasing travel insurance for your trips. World Nomads has a great basic travel insurance offering for all types of travelers. If you’re heading to high-altitude locations like Nepal, or doing more extreme sports and activities during your travels, they also have an Explorer Plan to keep you covered. 

Checking Visa Requirements

iVisa

iVisa is an online visa service that lets you search visa requirements based on the passport you carry, and the country you’re visiting. If you need a visa, they’ll direct you to the correct forms to fill out through their website. Every step of the way, iVisa will help you apply, and receive, your visa. 

Booking Transportation

12GoAsia is the most comprehensive tool for booking transportation across Asia. Especially if you’re traveling around Southeast Asia, 12GoAsia lets you book busses, minivan transfers, ferries, trains, and more through their website. Even the locals use this! 

Omio is a massive database for booking transportation in Europe. Their search tool allows you to find the cheapest or fastest options to get from Point A to Point B, and it filters through all busses, trains, and even flights to get you there. 

Rome2Rio has an incredibly robust database of local busses, trains, car shares, ferries, and more. I use this to search my different options, than use their links to local transportation sites to book my transport. 

Booking Travel Experiences

GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide allows you to book tours, tickets, and experiences from all over the world ahead of your travel dates. The most popular tickets bought through GetYourGuide from my site are to Teamlab Borderless Museum in Tokyo. 

Voyagin

Voyagin specializes in experiences all around Asia. If you’re traveling to Tokyo, Bali, Bangkok, and more, Voyagin is the site to find the best excursions and tours. 

Klook

You can find all types of experiences and excursions on Klook. This site also specializes in Asian countries, plus Australia, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and London. 

Planning Your Travelventures

Erika’s Travelventures

A bit of shameless self-promotion here: check out my Destinations page if you know where you’re going, or head to my Blog page for some travel inspiration!

Lonely Planet

If you prefer a physical book for planning your travel, consider a Lonely Planet guidebook. They also have countless wanderlust-evoking collections of bucket list travel experiences around the world.

Pinterest

Pinterest is a whole gallery of travel ideas just waiting to be explored. Be inspired to travel to a new country, or even search through pins for tips and itineraries for your next destination. 

Volunteering While Traveling

Workaway

Workaway’s concept is a simple one: free accommodation and meals in exchange for working a pre-determined number of hours per week. Finding a great Workaway is the perfect way to extend your time traveling abroad, and hosts are all around the world. Some even pay their workers!

WWOOF

Also known as the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, signing up with WWOOFing gives you access to a massive database of farmstays around the world. Farms usually look for volunteers with trade/gardening skills to stay for free in exchange for working. 

Buying Travel Gear

Amazon

Amazon is the most convenient place to purchase all travel gear in one place. 

Get a backpack, packing cubes, hiking boots, a Kindle, and more with just one click. 

See my packing lists and recommendations for the best travel gear below. 

My Favorite Travel Gear

The Perfect Travel Backpack - Gregory Jade 63L Backpack

My Gregory Jade 63L has been my travel companion for 2+ years. It literally holds my life together. I love Gregory brand bags because of a few unique qualities:

  • It comes with a rain cover and day-bag included in the bag price. 
  • There are several compartments, including two side water bottle holders, pockets in the front hip strap, two top pockets, and a front pocket.
  • The main interior can be accessed from the top, from the bottom, and also from the side like a duffel bag.
Most Beloved Electronic Device - Amazon Kindle

My Kindle paperwhite is a lifesaver for long-haul flights and bus and train rides. It’s lightweight, the battery lasts days, and it holds thousands of books that I can download straight from Amazon.

My favorite feature is a built-in backlight, so I can read even when the lights are off in the hostel dorm room. 

Adaptable Footwear - Chacos

Whether you’re hiking in the jungle, over rocks in the mountains, walking through rivers, or just strolling around town, Chacos will be there for you. With their hiking boot-soles and their adjustable straps, Chacos are adaptable to any walking surface and situation. 

Comfy Travel Sandals - Sanuk

Traveling means you’ll be on your feet a LOT. If you’re traveling to hot countries, try these Sanuk sandals with a yoga-mat bottom. They’ll keep your feet fresh and comfortable all day. 

Stay Connected - Portable Battery Pack

As travelers in the 21st century, we increasingly rely on our phones for airline bookings, hotel searches, maps and translation. Make sure your phone stays charged by having a portable battery charger on you. 

Anker is a trusted brand that is known for their long-lasting battery life and large variety of power banks. 

Travel Adaptors - All-In-One vs Swapable

For long-term travelers, I recommend an all-in-one power adaptor. You’ll be prepared for any country you decide to pop over to!

For short-term travelers visiting just one country or region, pack lighter by getting a swapable travel adaptor set. Only bring the plug that you need!

Ready to travel? Head to my Destinations page for some travel inspiration!