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Prepared Travelers are Smart Travelers!
There's no doubt the Hacking the Road crew has learned the hard way over the years. Lots of research, trial and error, and a bit of luck have molded us into Smart Travelers. Smart Travelers are Prepared Travelers!
Along the way, we have accumulated a rich bounty of Travel Resources we will share with you.
The world of travel changes so rapidly, it's difficult to stay up-to-date on all the newest tools and opportunities. As things change, we will do our best to update the resources in this section. COVID has added a whole layer of additional complexity.
The travel resources we've chosen for our site are mostly resources we've used ourselves. We are continuously on the look-out for new resources that can benefit full-time travelers.
Technology has literally put the world at our finger-tips. The problem is that there's just too much information today. Our job is to make sense of that information and determine the utility of that information.
Airfare Search Engines
KAYAK: A metasearch engine with the ability to aggregate the searches of many travel search engines. Cannot book directly, you will be redirected. Best feature: KAYAK Hacker Fares. Excellent filters. Price tracker alerts are available. Best if your dates and/or destinations are flexible.
Skyscanner: A metasearch engine with the ability to aggregate the searches of many travel search engines. Cannot book directly, you will be redirected. Best feature: Searches include low cost airlines. Other great features: multi-lingual capability, calendar, price alerts, and a solid mobile app.
Kiwi: A metasearch engine with the ability to aggregate the searches of many travel search engines. Customer service and bookings are completed on the Kiwi site. Best feature: Excellent mobile app! Great multi-city feature. Also features cheaper alternative destinations and a great calendar tool.
Momondo: A metasearch engine with the ability to aggregate the searches of many travel search engines. Cannot book directly, you will be redirected. Easy to use. Best feature: Great price trend graphics. Excellent utilities, especially filters. Momondo has one of the better mobile app.
Google Flights (GF): A metasearch engine with the ability to aggregate the searches of many search engines. Cannot book directly, you will be redirected. Best feature: No ads! Excellent price tracking tools and filters. You can set price alerts and they will send an email when prices change.
AirTreks: A metasearch engine with the ability to aggregate the searches of many travel search engines. AirTreks specializes in Around the World and multi-city flights. Customer service and bookings are completed on their site. Best feature: Intuitive flight planner tools! Great multi-city tools.
Best Priced Regional Global Airlines
Southwest Airlines is a low-cost U.S. airline with hubs spread across the country. Baggage is free up to 2 bags. Excellent on-time rating. No charge for changing tickets. Flights cover every state except Alaska. Service has recently expanded to the Caribbean and Mexico.
The Air Arabia main hub is at Sharjah International Airport (SHJ), in the UAE. Flights serve mostly the Middle East and North Africa. World Travel Award as Leading Middle East low-cost airline. The airline has been in existence for 17+ years.
The Fastjet main hub is at Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), Tanzania. Flights serve a wide range of Sub-Saharan destinations, including Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The airline has been in existence for 8+ years.
Air Asia's main hub is at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), Malaysia. Flights serve Vietnam, Thailand, & Malaysia. Air Asia has been in existence for 25+ years, and voted the World's best low-cost airline for 10+ years by Skytrax.
The easyJet main hub is at London Luton Airport (LTN). Flights serve most of Europe, including destinations in Eastern Europe. easyJet has been voted best value airline in the U.K. for short-haul flights. The airline has been in existence for 25+ years.
The Volaris main hubs are in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Tijuana. Flights serve destinations in the Americas. The basic fare includes one free checked bag, free soft drinks, and snacks. The airline has been in existence for 17+ years.
Airport Codes & Rankings
Provides the airport code for every airport in the world. Search alphabetically by Name, by the 3-letter IATA (International Air Transport Association) code, or by the 4-letter ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) code. IATA codes are useful when booking a flight to fill in the to-and-from airports.
Lists the A-Z of Airport Winners: World's Best, Most Improved, Best Airport Staff, World's Cleanest, Best Security, Best Regional, Best by PAX Numbers (passengers on direct flights from origin to destination), and the Passenger's Choice awards. Includes the Top 100 Airports of the Year.
Accommodation Booking Sites
Airbnb is one of the global giants, in almost 200 countries, when it comes to peer-to-peer rental accommodations. Private and shared rentals are available. Airbnb provides 24/7 customer support. All financial transactions done securely online. Big discounts available on many 28+ day rentals.
Nomad Stays has a wonderful database of quality properties ideal for longterm travelers and digital nomads. Private and shared options are available in more than 70 countries. Membership is currently free. Members get access to additional discounts.
Vrbo is also one of the global peer-to-peer rental accommodation giants, and has been in operation much longer than AirBnB. Vrbo specializes in stand-alone vacation rentals with no shared experiences. Provides 24/7 customer support. All financial transactions done securely online.
Agoda Homes has strong travel booking pedigree as a metasearch engine for air, hotels, and vacation rentals. A great selection of apartments, villas, and bungalows. Provides 24/7 customer support. All financial transactions done securely online.
Alternative Accommodation Sites
Home Exchange is a great alternative to paying for hotels and peer-to-peer rentals. Membership exceeds 400,000. Members essentially swap homes with each other. Ideal if you have a home in a tourist destination. Annual membership is $150. All financial transactions done securely online.
Trusted Housesitters is the go-to site for house sitting all over the world. The site matches house sitters with home owners. House sitters receive free lodging in exchange for looking after the owner's home, plants, and pets. Membership is required.
Outdoorsy is a one of the biggest global peer-to-peer recreational vehicle rental sites. Known for their focus on safety and customer support. Outdoorsy provides roadside assistance, park guides, and insurance. Available in 15+ countries. All financial transactions done securely online.
Harvest Hosts boasts a huge network of free RV (recreational vehicles) dry camping sites across the U.S. and parts of Mexico. Annual membership costs less than $150 and grants access to over 2,000 sites. You are expected to purchase something from each host.
Non-Air Transportation Resources
The Man in Seat 61 is one of the best metasearch sites for worldwide train and ferry tickets and passes. The site is great for reviewing schedules, planning trip segments, prices, and train descriptions. Ticket buying guides are available for many countries.
BlaBlaCar boasts a global network of vetted carpool and bus partners willing to ride share. Customers are matched with BlaBlaCar partners and expected to pay for gas and a small fee. All financial transactions are done securely online.
Vacations To Go is one of the biggest metasearch engines for cruising. Their cruise and pricing database is extensive. The 90-day Ticker tool is effective at identifying highly discounted fares. Use VTG to identify deals, then check with the cruise line to compare.
Zip Car is a global car-sharing network now available in the U.S., Canada, Taiwan, Turkey, Iceland, Costa Rica, and the U.K. Membership is required at less than $100 per year. Members reserve cars for trips as needed. Zip Car is an alternative to owning.
Resources for Starting Your Own Blog
Bluehost is a web hosting company with lots of useful guidance and web tools. For as little as $2.95 per month (with a 36 month commitment), you get a domain name and excellent customer support. Bluehost works very well with the WordPress.org platform.
Thrive Themes provides beautifully crafted website themes and templates designed to fast-track building a professional website. The Thrive Suite has powerful tools that can be used to further customize your site. Thrive works seamlessly with WordPress.org.
WordPress (WP) is the most popular site builder on the internet--over 39% of all sites. WP is a user-friendly content management system and application development framework. WP is also supported by powerful plugins that make design very easy.
Adobe Photoshop Elements (PE) is a very cost-effective ($99) graphics editor for photos and images. PE is all you need to create, organize, share, and edit images before posting them on your blog. Bloggers don't need the full version of Photoshop.
Practical Travel Links
ProjectVisa.com is an excellent global resource for checking on visa requirements and embassy updates. The site is intuitive and easy to use. Country profiles show detailed visa requirements and provide all necessary contacts for the visa process.
The WikiTravel Airline Baggage site has a comprehensive spreadsheet showing all the major airline luggage weight and size limitations--carry-on and checked. Before booking flights, always check with the airline in case there are changes to their limitations.
Trippy.com has a global community of savvy travelers ready to answer your travel questions. Trippy makes it easy to pose questions and to access answers. Answers include detailed maps and photos. Trippy also has a very intuitive mobile app.
Sleeping in Airports provides detailed airport guides describing amenities, WiFi, rest zones, airport hotels, mobile charging stations, food options, luggage storage, ATMs, and airport lounges. They also provide passenger reviews of each airport.
COVID Travel Restrictions
CDC Map & Travel Notices provides color-coded maps for all countries identifying their COVID risk assessment level. The map is interactive for those who want quick access to recommendations. Detailed information is available alphabetically in list format.
KAYAK has an excellent COVID Travel Restrictions by Country map. Easy to use. Choose your country of origin, then click on your destination country to access a summary of restrictions. The Show More link allows for a detailed view of restrictions.
Travel Insurance
World Nomads (WN) travel insurance is highly regarded for global travelers who travel for extended periods. Contracts can be initiated or extended while on the road. WN provides protection for emergency medical & dental, trip cancellations & interruptions, emergency evacuation--and more.
Safety Wing travel insurance is focused more on budget-conscious digital nomads and remote workers who stay in multiple countries for extended periods. Contracts can be initiated or extended while on the road. The basic plan includes a deductible. There is no coverage for stolen electronics.
Health Insurance
IMGlobal insurance is focused more on expats and long-term travelers. Contracts are designed to cover traditional health care--routine check-ups, emergency care, and medications. Plans are available for both U.S. and non-U.S. residents. High deductibles are available at lower prices.
Integra Global offers traditional health insurance for expats and customers with special conditions. Contracts are designed to cover traditional health care--routine check-ups, emergency care, and medications. They are known for excellent customer service and individual attention.
Best Banks for Travel
The Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking Account (CSHY) is a sound choice for long-term global travelers. CSHY reimburses ATM fees and has no foreign transaction fees. You may have to pay the fees charged by the ATM owner. The account must be linked to a CS brokerage account.
Capital One 360 (CO3) is a great choice for long-term global travelers. There are no charges for foreign transactions or ATM fees. You may have to pay the fees charged by the ATM owner. No minimum balance required. Customer service has high ratings. The account also pays interest on available funds.
Adventure Tours and Experiences
Airbnb Experiences offers unique in-person and online experiences all over the world. The Experiences are hosted by skilled and knowledgeable local experts. Experiences include tours, classes, interactive theater, fitness routines, and great entertainment.
Intrepid is a global adventure tour company. Intrepid is highly regarded.They specialize in small group theme-based tours--including family, biking, wildlife, active, food, cycling and polar. Intrepid has a strong social responsibility mission.
Overseas Attractions is a global booking service for attractions and tours. The site has an excellent search tool. Choose a destination, insert your dates, and the search engine reveals all the tours and attractions in the area, along with detailed information.
G Adventures is a global adventure tour company. GA is highly regarded with a vast percentage of return travelers. GA specializes in small group theme-based tours--including wellness, active, rail, National Geographic. GA is all about social responsibility.
Klook aspires to empower "travelers around the world to discover ... and experience ..." Klook specializes in sourcing activities all over the globe, including walking, biking, & historical tours, boat & yacht tours, attraction passes, & museums & galleries.
Dragoman is one of the best regarded global overland tour operators. They specialize in putting together overland expeditions to remote destinations--South America, Central Asia, Southeastern Asia, and Africa. Their itineraries include cultural interactions.
Travel Guides
Lonely Planet is consistently the go-to for travel guide books all over the world. Their website is also a tremendous resource. The destination search tool is a great starting point for any itinerary, with detailed information on attractions, contacts, and maps.
Trip Advisor offers a huge searchable database of travel information and reviews across the globe. Use this metasearch engine to find attractions, places to stay, restaurants, and theme-based travel forums. Reviews reflect real traveler experiences.
Google Maps (GM) is a must for all travelers, both local and global. This important visual guide provides up-to-date directions, locates services, and shows useful local contact information. The search tools are easy and intuitive to use.
Wikitravel offers an amazing travel database filled to the brim with answers to all your itinerary questions--history, attractions & tours, contacts, lodging ideas, restaurants, transport, visas requirements, climate, and so much more. The site is continuously updated.
Remote Work Resources
The International TEFL Academy (ITA) is one of the largest language teaching certification organizations recognized in most countries. ITA is important for those looking to teach English in non-English-speaking countries (online and face-to-face).
Fiverr offers a large global marketplace for freelance contract work. They specialize in small temporary one-off jobs or gigs. Their database has great utility and is easy to use. Be sure to check country-based legal requirements.
Upwork offers a trustworthy marketplace for freelance contract work. Independent contractor skills are matched with client projects from all over the world. Their database has great utility and is easy to use. Check country-based legal requirements.
We Work Remotely (WWR) promotes itself as the target remote work community in the world. WWR charges employers to post remote-only jobs on their job board. Remote workers are vetted and interviewed directly by prospective employers.
Useful Travel Gadgets
With technology a must for most travelers, TravelAndLeisure.com has researched their top picks for gear that can multitask, are dependable, and won't break your back or send you over luggage weight limits. Categorized by equipment type, with Why We Love It and What To Consider insights.
The Good Housekeeping Institute's Media & Tech Lab has compiled a list of the best tech gear to take along for travel. Long-term research includes first-hand testing and gathering top reviews from experienced travelers. Categorized by gadget, with links to best place to purchase.
Restaurants on a Budget
The editors at Condé Nast Traveller have put together an extensive global list of affordable hidden gems that are "the cheapest and nicest restaurants in the world." Includes the website for each establishment and their favorite pick from the menu.
Focusing on meals costing less than $5, Money.com has taken advantage of locals to reveal a global list of places for fabulous fare at unbelievably low prices. Categorized by world regions, with restaurant name, address, and menu descriptions.
Street Food Guide
Compiled from top picks of travel writers, BuzzFeed followers, and their own international editors, the "31 Insanely Delicious and Cheap Street Foods Around the World" lists favorites that cost under $4. First categorized by continent, then the fav dish found in a country's city is described in mouthwatering detail.
"The best cheap eats around the world" is roughguide.com's compilation of favorite meals that won't break the bank, wherever you find yourself. Categorized by dish found in which country, followed by an interesting history of its origins, a description of what to expect when you order, and insights into local prices.
Groceries on a Budget
A compilation of data on "Countries With the Most and Least Affordable Groceries" based on a grocery cart of staples like "milk, cheese, eggs, fruit and vegetable, rice, beef, and chicken." The report explains conditions in various countries that impact the prices you'll find when shopping for food essentials.
Numbeo offers a Groceries Index ranking of 132 countries, with an option to view by Region and date--from 2009 to the most recent collected. The Index is an estimation of a country's grocery prices compared to New York City in the United States. Useful for relative grocery price comparisons.
Meal Hacks While Traveling
Provides budget-friendly eating tips to keep in mind when traveling. From smart packing for staying full and hydrated on the plane, innovative hotel room hacks for meal preparation, and clever ways to extend your eating dollar.
According to Discover.com, experiencing cultural dishes and sticking to your food budget while you travel are not mutually exclusive. Their secret? "Act less like a tourist and more like a local." Offers tips to take advantage of this hidden asset.
Packing & Storage Tips
Rick Steves' Packing List provides a detailed checklist of all the items to pack for an extended trip. The list includes a discussion on why the item should be included. Categories range from clothing, documents, money, travel info, toiletries, and much more.
SmarterTravel.com offers the "Ultimate Packing List." This impressive checklist provides a detailed listing of all the items needed for an extended trip. They also discuss how needs may change depending on the kind of trip to be taken.
Castaway with Crystal (CWC) has one of the most detailed packing lists on the web. CWC prepares travelers for long-term travel. The checklist not only lists and discusses all the items you will need, but, also provides links to possible vendors for those items.
The Unconventional Route (UCR) has an excellent packing checklist specifically designed for women preparing for long-term travel. The checklist not only discusses all the items you will need, but, also provides links to additional supplemental information.
