No matter where in the world you are going, try these resources to get the best deals on flights, hotels, car rental, travel insurance and more!
Tips for Safe Travel
Safety should always come first. These sites have a wealth of information on how to travel as safety as possible around the world. The information available through these sites will help you get the most from your travel by avoiding common traveler pitfalls. You want to arrive home safely after your trip and be able to look back on your travel through the lens of great experiences and memories. By following the tips and advice on these sites you will have a great chance of ensuring your memories are unblemished!
I have included links to some of the best government-run travel safety related websites. I think these sites probably cover just about anything international travelers will need to keep safe on their travels, but I will add links to other sites over time as I continue to make this site a helpful resource for all travelers.
Travel Aware – The U.K. government’s travel safety website. Although focused on U.K.-based travelers, I think most travelers around the world will find the site’s foreign travel checklist particularly useful.
U.S. State Department Travel Advice – The site is especially helpful for U.S. citizens traveling abroad but much of its content will be helpful for all travelers. The U.S. government’s country travel advisories are always helpful. U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with STEP to obtain the latest travel advisory updates.
Travel Safety for Canadians – The Government of Canada has a comprehensive travel site aimed primarily at Canadian citizens. I particularly like the travel health kit, which many travelers will find of great benefit. The tips on cyber safety and protecting your digital devices while traveling are also useful.
Smart Traveler – The Australian government’s site for travelers. This site has lots of helpful information and advice for travelers from “Down Under.” The site includes a useful description of the different types of travel risks and how to avoid or minimize them.
Safe Travel – This site is run by the government of New Zealand. I really like the design of this site, and its easy-to-use navigation. The site includes a comprehensive list of what to do “when things go wrong” and a checklist of quick travel tips. The site is obviously aimed primarily at travelers from New Zealand, but I recommend that all travelers check out this site and benefit from its sage advice.
The U.S. Travel Association – Although this organization is primarily focused on promoting the travel industry in the United States, its website contains a lot of information that will be useful for travelers, both inbound and outward bound. For example, there are explanations of trusted traveler programs for U.S. citizens.
International Travel Insurance Group – A comprehensive travel site, focused on travel insurance options, The website’s travel tips and country guides are very helpful.
Travel Guides
Blue Guides – Excellent guides to the culture and architecture of major world cities.
Lonely Planet – Detailed guides for learning about sights to look out for in cities and countries around the world. Very useful for “insider” information on hotels and what specific destinations are really like; especially useful for travelers on a strict budget.
Flights, Hotels and Car Rentals
CheapAir.com – I really like the design of this site. It is one of the most user-friendly travel sites I’ve found for searching and purchasing flights.
Skycanner.com – A great site – also with an easy-to-use interface – for comparing options for flights, hotels and car rentals.
Agoda.com – I have used this site to find high quality hotels at inexpensive rates. This Singapore-based site’s search feature often finds hotels not available through other popular travel sites.
Travel Insurance
World Nomads – Great rates on travel insurance can be found on this Australia-based site.
True Traveller – Flexible insurance products for all types of global traveler. A U.K.-based company.
International Travel Insurance Group – This U.S.-based website includes lots of helpful resources for obtaining travel insurance.
Tips for Getting the Best Deals
Search for flights using a site like CheapAir.com and skyscanner.com and then compare prices on the airlines’ own websites. Sometimes, better deals can be found on airlines official websites. Personally, I prefer to buy tickets from the airlines’ own websites because it is often easier to make changes to flights through these sites.
Luxury Travel Resources
These resources provide the information you need to reward yourself with the benefits of high-end travel while at the same time making the most of your hard-earned travel funds.
Robb Report. This website offers information on hotels, destinations and services for travelers who appreciate exclusiveness.