Booking Flights:
I use the following websites as my main source of booking air travel. Of course, sometimes I will book directly through an airline or through my rewards credit card, but these are a great place to go get the best deals on flights all over the world. Be sure to check out local low cost caries in the areas you live or are traveling to because sometimes they do not show up in the larger sites like Kayak and Google Flights.
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I always go to Google Flights first to get an idea about how much a ticket will cost. They have an option to view a calendar of fares so that you can pick the cheapest and best option. You can also put a specific airport or a country/state you would like to visit to see options within those places.
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If I can't find a price I like on Google or if I want to just double check to see if there are other options, then I will often check out Kayak which aggregates many other websites into one easy search.
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Scott's Cheap Flights (not my site) is an email list that I heard about online somewhere. Unfortunately, I can't remember who referred me. Anyways, you put the airport(s) that you don't mind traveling from and they will email you anytime a deal comes up to fly somewhere. That is how I got cheap tickets to Colombia, Paris and Barcelona. They have a free plan (less deals) or a paid one.
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Booking Lodging:
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Airbnb is usually where I start to look for a place to stay wherever I am traveling because it often provides a more affordable and more authentic experience. I prefer to rent out entire places, but if you don't mind sharing a space there are cheaper options on the website. Click this link to support the site.
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MisterBandB is kinda like Airbnb but with gay (or LGBT friendly) hosts. Prices are often a little higher, but sometimes you'd rather prefer staying with "family" who might have the inside scoop on what to do and where to go (and might not frown upon bringing over a "friend" of the same gender). Click this link to support the site.
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Hotels.com is another site that I often check to see if they have any good deals. Another perk about the site is that if you join their loyalty program you can start accruing free night stays. Depending on where you are traveling, they may not have the widest selection available, which is what takes me to my next recommendation.
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Booking.com has, depeding on where you are, a wide selection of hotels and other short term rentals similar to Airbnb. Many times the reservations won't require you to pay up front and will provide free cancellations. Click this link to support the site.
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Getting Around:
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Generally, Google Maps is the most accurate map that you could have. With the option to download the map before you visit a place, I highly recommend using it. In many places, it also provides public transit information.
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Sometimes, a bus is the best option to get from point A to point B. I've taken many a bus in my travels around South America and I can assure you that getting to the station and trying to find the booth to buy from and then negotiate price is not much fun. Bus Bud provides an online booking took to book bus tickets for travel around most parts of the world. Click here to book your bus trip!
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What to Do
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If you're looking for a guide book and an online source of information, Lonely Planet is by far one of the best. Known for it's guides, Lonely Planet provides useful information such as places to stay, restaurants to eat at as well as things to do. |
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TripAdvisor is usually one of the first websites I visit once I determine a place to visit to see what things there are to do in the place and in surrounding area. People often leave reviews on things which can give you a good indication as to what to expect. |
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WikiTravel is the free open sourced travel guide on the internet. It offers a lot of great advice that may not be found on sites like TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet. Their guides can be very useful for wherever you might visit. |
Paying for Travel
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Grabr is an app or website that allows you to connect with locals in the destination where you are traveling who will reimburse you cost to purchase an item for them as well as give you a fee to bring it to them. I have used it to offset my cost on trips so far to Quito, Bogota and Lima. Use my link to get a bonus and help me out as well!
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Similar to Grabr, Qempo is only a website that connects buyers and travelers to delivery items for a fee. Started in Peru, this site is only working for people in Peru, Colombia and the United States. They are expected to expand soon to the rest of South America as well as China.
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