ICYMI: Here are my favorite travel companies!

ConvenienceBigs,

As you plan your trip and start booking flights, hotels, hostels, transportation, and everything in between, I wanted to send you a list of my favorite companies.

They are included here because they consistently find deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the ones I use the most and are always the starting points in my search for travel deals.

So, without further ado, here are my suggestions:

(Don't want to read this now? Download this complete list of ALL my favorite travel companies and have it handy on your computer, tablet, or phone for when you need to book your travels!)

Airfare

Momondo - My favorite airfare booking site. I never book a flight without checking it because it searches websites around the world and in multiple languages so no deal goes unfound. This should be your starting point when researching and booking all your flights.

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.

Airtreks - If you're planning a round-the-world trip with multiple stops, considering buying a RTW ticket. They're flexible and can save you a lot of money (and hassle).

Accommodation

Airbnb - This site connects you with homeowners who rent out their homes or apartments. You'll get the comforts of home, the chance to stay in a local, non-touristy location, and pay a fraction of the cost of a hotel room. (New to Airbnb? Get $40 off your first stay!)

Hostelworld - The best hostel site out there, with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability. Search for dorm beds or private rooms. I use it for my bookings (and it is an official sponsor of this website).

Couchsurfing - This allows you to stay on people's couches or in their 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 through a hostel or hotel. The site also has groups where you can arrange to meet up for events in your city.

Priceline - I like this website because it allows you to bid on hotels and save a lot more money than 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%.

Agoda - The best accommodation site for Asia. If you want a good hotel or guesthouse in Asia, use this site.

Booking.com - Booking.com provides great resource and booking site for cheap hotels and other accommodation. I like its easy-to-use interface.

Trusted Housesitters - For a unique (and free) way to travel, try house/pet sitting. In exchange for free accommodation you simply need to look after someone's house and/or pet while they're away. It's a great option for long-term travelers and anyone on a budget.

Travel Gear/Products/Services

World Nomads Travel Insurance - I've been buying my travel insurance from World Nomads since 2006. They have great customer service, competitive prices, and in-depth coverage. I'll never switch. It is the one thing I NEVER travel without, and I urge you to stay covered on the road! (If you're over 70, I recommend Insure My Trip.)

Lonely Planet Guidebooks - I like the look of their guides, as well as their layout, size, weight, and emphasis on budget travel. Their quality isn't as amazing and backpacker friendly as they used to be but I haven't given up on them yet and no one can touch the range of destinations they cover. Best of the worst in my opinion!

REI Backpacks and Gear - This sporting and outdoor store sells a wide variety of backpacking gear. I've had the same REI backpack with me for the last six years and it's as good now as it was the day I bought it. Their products last a long time. (If you're Canadian, I love MEC!) Here's for more info on what to look for in the perfect pack.

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 210+ countries — plus all calls while in those countries are only 25 cents a minute. I've been using them for years and love them.

Grassroots Volunteering - Use this to search for local volunteer organizations and social enterprises abroad that keep the money within the community. If you're looking to volunteer, consult this site!

Tours/Agents

Intrepid Travel - They offer good small group tours that use local operators and leave a small environmental footprint. If you go on a tour with anyone, go with them. And, as a reader of this site, you'll get exclusive discounts when you click this link!

STA Travel - A good company for those under 30 or for students. It offers discounted airfare as well as travel passes that help you save on attractions. I don't use it that much anymore since I'm way over 30, but if you aren't, make sure to check it out.

Walks - This is my go-to walking tour company. They offer in-depth tours in a dozen destinations around the US and Europe and their guides are always insightful and entertaining. if you want a tour that's more comprehensive than your average free walking tour, go with Walks.

Busabout - Busabout is a hop-on/hop-off bus service that's popular with backpackers. It's relatively affordable and makes meeting other travelers easy. You can get on and off whenever you want along one of their set routes so it takes the hassle out of planning.

Fat Tire Tours - Fat Tire Tours offers bike tours to popular attractions throughout Europe and the US. They're one of my favorite bike tour companies in the world. (They are pretty popular so try to book in advance.)

EatWith - EatWith allows you to eat home cooked meal with locals. Everyone sets their own price (so prices 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.

Haka Tours - For travelers visiting New Zealand, Haka Tours has all kinds of fun and adventurous multi-day options. Tours last from 3-23 days and cover all the best activities the country has to offer, from kayaking and white-water rafting to bungee jumping and skydiving..

Transportation

The Man in Seat 61 - This site is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. It has the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions.

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!

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!

Japan Rail Pass - This flexible rail pass allows travelers to explore Japan via train without breaking the bank (bullet trains here are super expensive!). The pass can save you a ton of money and makes exploring the country incredibly easy. There are 7-, 14-, and 21-day passes available.

Rail Europe - If you are going to visit Europe and plan to take a lot of long train trips, get a rail pass. You will save money. I've saved hundreds of dollars. The math just works out for long train trips. Here's a breakdown of how passes save money.

*****

Please email me if you have anything questions or want to know if a company you found is any good. I'm here to help you travel better, so don't be shy!

Until next time!

Travel safe,

Nomadic Matt

P.S. - Remember you can download this complete list of ALL my favorite travel companies and have it handy on your computer, tablet, or phone for when you need to book your travels!

P.P.S. - Some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I use all the companies listed here and I 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, use! If you have any questions about the companies, email me.

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