Trying to decide which companies to book your trip with? Over the last fifteen years of travel, I’ve used hundreds of companies. Some have been great, some have been awful. Below is a list of the companies I come back to time and time again. They are the exact ones I use when I am booking my 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. Use them to book your trip!
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, including the HostGator link, and, at no additional cost to you, I may 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, using these links is one way to do that. If you have any questions about the companies, e-mail me.
Airfare
Skyscanner
This is my all-time favorite flight search engine. They always seem to find 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. Start all your flight searches with them.
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. And their staff is excellent and really knows their stuff! Win-win!
Momondo
This great website searches a lot of different airlines, including many of the budget carriers that larger sites miss. While I always start with Skyscanner, I’ll also check this site too as a way to price compare.
Google Flights
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 is. It’s a good search engine to get a sense of routes, connections, and fares.
Accommodation
Hostelworld
This is 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 really the only game in town.
Booking.com
Booking probably has the widest selection of budget accommodation in the world. In our studies, they constntly found the cheapest rooms. I lso like their easy to use interface and no money down policy. They are especially good for listings in developing countries.
Agoda
This website 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 always book with them.
Airbnb
This site connects with homeowners who rent out their homes/apartments to you. You’ll get all the comforts of home and the chance to stay in a non-touristy part of the city at the fraction of the cost of a hotel room.
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 a hostel/hotel. Even if you don’t want to stay with someone, you can always find incredibly fun local meet-ups through the app.
Trusted Housesitters
Trusted Housesitters is a platform that connects you with people in need of pet and house sitters. In exchange for lookjing after their pets/home, you’ll get access to free accommodation. It’s an aamzing resource for long-term travelers looking to travel slow.
Travel Insurance
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.
Medjet
Medjet membership is a good option for those people who are going to be far from home and want added evacuation coverage. It s great for solo travelers and super affordable.
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. While I love World Nomads, they only insure up to 70 years old so if you are over 70, use Insure My Trip.
SafetyWing
Safety Wing offers basic but affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans with a deductible, making them a good choice for super frugal travelers.
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 a rail pass three times and saved hundreds of dollars each time. The math just works. I book direct with Eurail and suggest you do too. You can read about my experience using rail passes by clicking this link.
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!
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.
Tour Companies
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid is my go to company for small group tours as use expert guides and focus on leaving a small environmental footprint. I love their trips and the company’s ethos. As a reader of this site, you can get discounts from them too!
Walks
One of my favorite walking tour companies, Walks offers in-depth history, food, and cultural tours in cities around the world (with a speciality in Europe). Their small-group tours are curated and tend to offer exclusive behind the scenes access other companies can’t get.
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.
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.)
G Adventures
Like Intrepid, G Adventures runs small-group tours all around the globe. Their multi-day trips use on local guides and emphasize ethical and sustainable travel. Their tours are budget-friendly and perfect for travelers of all ages.
Stoke Travel
If you’re looking for a fun, party-focused tour company then check out Stoke. They have tons of amazing tours and festival trips all around the world. Use code NOMADICMATT for 10% off your next trip!
Travel Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Reserved
This is my favorite premium rewards card as it includes a ton of amazing perks for avid travelers. It s the supercharged version of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and is a great choice for serious points collectors.
Capital One Venture
This is a great choice for people who are looking for general rewards but might want a wider range of transfer partners. There are perks for avid travel and amazing point bonuses for hotel stays as well.
Chase Ink Plus Business
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 amazing perks, this is the card for you.
American Express Gold Card
This is a great all-around card for your everyday spending as well as your travel spending. Offering both dining credit as well as travel credit, it s a great choice for travelers who also enjoy dining out.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
This card recently got a makeover from Marriott and now has an amazing welcome offer as well as some great perks. If hotels are your go-to choice for accommodation, this is the card for you!
Delta Skymiles Platnium
This is a great card if you’re a regular Delta customer. You earn 3x on Delta purchases and on purchases made directly with hotels and 2x at restaurants and supermarkets. If you’re planning to fly Delta often, get this card!
Gear
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. REI products will last you a long time. They are hands down my favorite gear store to shop at. 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 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.
LifeStraw
LifeStraw makes BPA-free reusable water bottles with a built-in filter so you can always ensure your water is clear 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 outdoor company that makes quality gear. From rain coats to backpacks to hiking gear, they do it all. Best of all, they work hard to ensure their products are as sustainable as possible. 1% of all their sales is donated to environmental causes.
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 recommend them over any other company if you are looking to get a TEFL.
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 spent close to a decade working on ships and his book that will help you find a job, 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.
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!
Worldpackers
Worldpackers offers travelers a chance to find volunteer experiences overseas (much like Workaway and HelpX). In addition to hostels, they can help you find experiences with NGOs, homestays, and eco-projects all over the world!
TEFLPros
TEFLPros is a comprehensive platform for getting certified as an ESL teacher. Their courses include quizzes, worksheets, assignments, and focus heavily on lesson planning and practical skills. For $25 off the price of the course, use the code 'mattnomadic' at checkout!
myTEFL
myTEFL offers the standard TEFL programs, however, they also help you find a job and provide an additional six months of access to their content so that you can use it as a resource once you start teaching. For 35% off the price of your course, use the code 'matt35' at check out!
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. These have a step-by-step courses that features 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. Their prices are cheap and their servers stay on and I enjoy their customer service. 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.
