Travel Resources for backpacking
I have listed here the best resources on the internet for backpackers that I use on a regular basis. This is a quick guide, if you use my search function, you can find more detailed info.
Finding Cheap Flights
Flights are 90% of the time best booked online. However, there are occasions where booking at a local office in the country is much cheaper than online. An example of this is Ethiopia Airlines. I was finding flights with up to 70% off the online price.
International Flights
This is probably the best all-around flight booking website. It covers most airlines and flight routes. Also, it has great whole months searches. This is the one to use anywhere in the world.
Kayak is another great site. It seems to be always a little more expensive than Skyscanner but sometimes finds flight others haven't got. It also has a flight alert and price predictor function which tells you when to book for the best price. Normally it is best used for booking in Europe, outside there it tends to be more expensive.
I personally prefer this site. It's straightforward and easy to use. It is similar to Kayak and Skyscanner and very similarly priced.
This is the one for me most backpackers overlook or don't know about. STA has amazing flight deals that no one else seems to have, even Skyscanner. I was in Mexico looking for a one-way flight home on short notice. I tried the usual comparison sites and it was saying around $1000 dollars. I looked on STA and up popped a flight for $500. I booked it and kept looking but never found the same deal. It is also great for newbie travellers, as they have their own stores and experts to talk to face to face. They do offer great deals for round the world trips, even if you don't book with them, certainly worth a visit for ideas. I've copied their itineraries for tours, I just did my own trip and booking.
Budget Regional flights
For Europe look no further than Ryanair, their service is rubbish and they can have hidden charges, but you can never fault them for low prices. You should look out for their sales, signing up to their mailing list is always a good idea. Starting at $10 one way, its hard to complain about anything.
They have cheap flights which also have flash sales. The best airline in South East Asia, good safety record and gorgeous air hostess. Need I say more…
Finding Accommodation
Looking for hotels and hostels is somewhat of an art form in the world of backpacking. It's never easy to know whether to book ahead or to find somewhere when you get there. Booking ahead is always best when you are flying into a country at least for the first time. But once on the ground, its best to shop around at the place when you get there, in low season a bit of haggling will almost certainly grab you a bargain.
One of my favourites for booking hotels. It offers a good choice of options from budget to luxury while also being the cheapest most of the time. You can book without paying upfront and cancel upto 24 hours before.
Always an interesting option. Airbnb is a site that you can book a room in a local’s house. This is great as it has a more homely feel. In a place where hotels get booked up quick, this could be a great option.
This is probably the best site for booking hostels in the world. It has a great choice and easy booking platform. I do use this from time to time to search out prices and give me a rough idea of how much things cost.
Couchsurfing is the original Airbnb, it's free to use. There is more emphasis on you interacting with your host and participating in a cultural exchange. There are a few safety issues to consider, make sure your host is verified and has good reviews from other travellers. It is a great way to travel on budget while meeting people, especially in big cities where hostels are expensive.
Overland Travel Resources
When it comes to rail travel, this site has alot of information on offer, very detailed information on almost every rail line in the world. It is always good to remember that it is worth double checking on the train times and if it’s still running etc. I once went to book a train in Botswana that had been out of service for 5 months, even though all the guidebooks told me it was running.
A great site for booking rail tickets in Europe, which is one of the best ways to get around this continent. You can book rail passes for up to 30 days. This can be great value if you don't have a lot of time and want to cover a lot of ground.
If you need to take a cruise ship, this is a great site for booking boats.
Cars maybe out of most backpacker’s budgets but in certain locations, they can be the most cost-effective. Kayak Cars seem to always have the best rates around.
Travel Insurance
Insurance is important when backpacking, it is probably the most expensive thing for any long-term traveller. Please note that after being out of your home country for 18 months it may be difficult to get valid travel insurance.
When it comes to insurance, World Nomads stand alone, they will insure you on the road for up to 18 months. If you away for years at a time, its worth using them.
Travel Photography
This can be down to personal preference, but if you want good photos, then a DSLR camera is a must. If you have a good phone, then this also can be used to take great pictures, but remember battery life on a phone is less than a camera.
Nikon D3400
This is the camera I now use when I travel as well as my Sony XZ1 phone. Great photos and very reliable camera, you can't go wrong.
Canon EOS1300
If money is tight but you want a DSLR, the canon is a great choice. At $370 on Amazon, it is good value.
Technology and Digital Resources
MacBook Air
If you have the cash to splash this is a great choice, lightweight and very fast. I don't carry one as they are a magnet for thieves. Sometimes its other backpackers you must be careful of not the local population.
Unlocked Smart Phone
The list, of course, is endless as to what phone to buy, make sure that your phone is unlocked so you can put other sim cards in it from each country you visit.
Kindle Paperwhite (wifi only)
When I first had a kindle, I wasn't sure if I would use it on my travels. But then I went to Ssese Islands in Uganda. They had insufficient power, so good by laptop. I was the only traveller on the island at the time; if it weren't for my kindle at night, I would have had little to do.
Rechargeable Power Bank
How much tech do you need to carry? Well, a powerbank is one of those things you could need or may not. If you have space and your bag isn't too heavy, very worth getting one.
Seagate Expansion 2TB External Hard Drive
Storage of photos and video are very important. I always back my photos on to a hard drive as well as onto a cloud-based system like Google drive. You will need the hard drive in some places as the internet still isn't fast enough to upload 4K videos. However, always backup online as well. On one trip, one of my hard drives did fail and I lost 100gb worth of video with it.
Google drive
I use this system to back all my photos and videos up with. At 100GB for $1.99 its pretty cheap peace of mind.
Boingo
A great wifi service that is in almost every airport in the world. It can save you a lot of heartache and time.
Skype
For me the way I have always kept in touch with friends and family is Skype. Its free and is very easy to use on mobile and laptop.
So who is the Budget Nomad?
Born to Travel or Destined to travel? I'm not sure but once he began he couldn't stop.
Traveller, Hustler, Haggler, Adventurer, Writer, Photographer, he is all of those things.
Richard now would like to share his 10 years of travel experience and open the world of backpacking to you.