Travel Resources
Trying to decide which companies to book your trip with? Over the last 17 years of travel, I’ve used hundreds of companies during my travels. Some have been great, some have been just awful.
Below is a list of the ones I come back to time and time again. They are the best out there and continually offer superior deals and experiences. They are were all my travel planning and booking starts. Use them to book your trips too!
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, including the HostGator link. At no extra cost to you, I earn a small commission from each booking that allows me to keep content up to date, run events, create new guides and stories, and hire staff to help maintain this website. I use all the companies listed here and recommend them because they’ve made my travels better. If you have any questions, email me and I’ll happily respond.
Nomadic Matt has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Some or all of the card offers on this page are from advertisers and compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. Nomadic Matt and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. This page does not include all card companies or all available card offers.
Airfare
Skyscanner
This is my all-time favorite flight search engine. It always seems to find the best deals and its calendar view lets you see which days are cheapest to fly. I like it because it searches the small booking sites no one else does so no stone is left unturned. Start all your flight searches here.
Going
Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) finds incredible flight deals and sends them directly to your inbox. If you’re flexible with your dates and destinations, you can score some amazing deals and save hundreds of dollars in the process! It’s the premier dealing subscription service in the United States.
Google Flights
Google Flights lets you enter your departure airport and see flights all over the world on a map so you can determine where the cheapest destination is. It’s a good search engine to get a sense of routes, connections, and fares.
For more information on how to find a cheap flight, read this article with all my tips.
Accommodation
Hostelworld
This is the best hostel-accommodation site out there, with the largest inventory, best search interface, and highest availability. I use it for all my hostel bookings. There’s not many other options out there that compare to the scale this site has.
Booking.com
Booking.com probably has the widest selection of budget accommodation in the world (it is especially good for listings in developing countries). In my research, it consistently finds the cheapest rooms. I also like its easy-to-use interface and no-money-down policy. I book all my hotels through here.
Agoda
This website should be your primary accommodation website for guesthouses and hotels in Asia. It has the most robust inventory and offers the best rates. When I travel around Asia, I always use this website It’s just the best.
Trusted Housesitters
Trusted Housesitters is a platform that connects you with people in need of pet and house sitters. In exchange for looking after their pets or home, you’ll get access to free accommodation. It’s an amazing resource for long-term travelers looking to travel slow.
Hostel Pass
This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. It’s constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and so I’m glad it finally exists. Use the code NOMADICMATT to get 25% off too!
For more information on how to find cheap accommodation, read this article with all my tips.
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing
Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to travelers and digital nomads. It has cheap monthly plans, first-rate customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road. I use them to cover me on all my trips.
Medjet
Medjet membership is a very affordable option for those who are going to be far from home and want added evacuation coverage. If you’re looking to do adventure activities or going to remote destinations, MedJet is a must! It has help lots of people out.
Insure My Trip
Insure My Trip is a wholesaler that helps you compare prices so you can buy the one that’s best for you. If you are 70 or over, use Insure My Trip. They can find a plan for you as a lot of companies have age limits so they knew where to look.
For more information on choosing the best travel insurance, visit this page with all my tips.
Tour Companies
Walks
Walks offers in-depth history, food, and cultural tours in cities around the world (especially Europe). Its small-group tours offer exclusive behind-the-scenes access other companies can’t get and use really incredible and knowledgeable guides. I can’t recommend them enough.
Devour Food Tours
Devour has all kinds of amazing food tours around Europe. If you’re a foodie who wants to learn more about the history and culture behind each dish, these tours are the best on the continent. I take them every chance I get.
Get Your Guide
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. The site has tons of tour options in cities all around the world, including cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more! It’s a good resource to search for specific tours in any destination.
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid uses expert guides and focuses on leaving a small environmental footprint. I love their trips and the company’s ethos. They are amazing. If you want a good multi-day tour operator, use them.
EatWith
EatWith allows you to eat home-cooked meal with locals. Every host sets their own price (so they can vary wildly, depending on the cook), but this is a great way to do something different, pick a local’s brain, and make a new friend.
Travel Credit Cards
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The “starter” version of the Chase Sapphire Reserve. You don’t get as many perks, but if you’re dead-set on not paying a high yearly fee, you can’t go wrong with this card. It’s super popular for a reason!
Bilt Rewards Mastercard
This is the only card out there that lets you earn points when paying your rent. It also offers 2x points on travel and 3x points on dining. It’s a must for anyone who rents their home/apartment!
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This is my go-to card for all of my business expenses. The bonuses on travel and office expenses really add up. If you’re looking for low-fee business card with excellent perks, this is the card for you.
For more information on choosing the best travel credit card, read this article with all my tips.
Gear
REI Backpacks and Gear
I’ve had the same REI backpack for the last six years, and it’s as good now as it was the day I bought it. REI products will last you a long time. They are hands-down my favorite gear store. You can get anything there. 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 the guides’ look, organization, light weight, and emphasis on budget travel. Lonely Planet also redesigned and they are now better organized, with more photos and better maps.
LifeStraw
LifeStraw makes BPA-free reusable water bottles with a built-in filter so you can always ensure that your water is clean and safe. It filters 99.99% of bacteria, parasites, and microplastics — all while helping you reduce your reliance on single-use plastic.
Patagonia
Patagonia is an outdoors company that makes quality gear. From raincoats to backpacks to hiking gear, it does it all. Best of all, it works hard to ensure that its products are as sustainable as possible. One percent of all its sales is donated to environmental causes.
For more information on buying the best travel gear, read this article with all my tips.
Transportation
RVshare
RVshare is like Airbnb for RVs. You can browse privately owned RVs all around the country, find one that suits your needs and budget, and then rent it directly from the owner. It’s super affordable and makes RVing easy and accessible.
Eurail
If you are going to Europe and taking a lot of trains, get a rail pass. I’ve used one three times and saved hundreds of dollars each time. The math just works. You can read about my experience using rail passes by clicking this link.
Discover Cars
Discover Cars is a car rental aggregator that can help you find the best deals for your next road trip. It pulls data from over 8,000 car rental locations to ensure you always find a great deal!
Rome 2 Rio
This website shows you 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.
BlaBlaCar
BlaBlaCar lets you share rides with vetted local drivers in exchange for pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve you, 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!
Japan Rail Pass
The Japan Rail Pass is a flexible transportation pass used for navigating Japan. Similar to the Eurail pass in Europe, it turns expensive bullet trains into budget-friendly modes of transportation. You honestly can’t visit Japan without one.
The Man in Seat 61
This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. It has the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic trip by rail, consult this site.
International Drivers Association
The International Drivers Association helps travelers get an International Driving Permit, a document needed to drive in over 165 countries around the world. They have all kinds of tips and driving guides on their website too!
Job Resources
Worldpackers
Worldpackers offers travelers a chance to find volunteer experiences overseas (much like Workaway and HelpX). In addition to hostels, it can help you find experiences with NGOs, home stays, and eco-projects all over the world!
myTEFL
myTEFL offers the standard TEFL programs, but they also help you find a job and provide an additional 6 months of access to their content so that you can use it once you start teaching. (Use the code “matt50” for 50% off!)
Helpx
HelpX is one of the best places to find work and volunteer opportunities when you travel. It includes farm stays, home stays, B&Bs, hostels, and sailing boats that invite volunteers to stay 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 (though it also has volunteer positions too).
WWOOF
WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is a program that connects you with farms all around the world where you can work in exchange for room and board. It’s a great resource for long-term budget travelers!
For more information on traveling cheap (or for free), read this article with all my tips.
Blogging Resources
Superstar Blogging
Looking to break into travel? I’ve created an online travel media school to teach you the skills you need to succeed in the digital travel space. There are step-by-step courses that feature monthly webinars, teacher feedback, and tons of expert interviews and guest lecturers!
HostGator
HostGator is my favorite hosting company and great for bloggers just starting out. Its prices are cheap, its servers stay on, and I enjoy its customer service. I still host a few sites there! If you’re looking for a reliable hosting company, I recommend this one.
ConvertKit
I’ve been using ConvertKit to send all my emails for years. It has an easy-to-use interface, lets you set up autoresponders and create tags, and has stellar customer service! If you are looking for a straightforward email provider, this is the best one.
For more information on starting a blog, check out this guide with all my tips.
Nomadic Matt has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Some or all of the card offers on this page are from advertisers and compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. Nomadic Matt and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. This page does not include all card companies or all available card offers.
