From booking a hotel room to finding epic bucket-list experiences, this handpicked list of essential travel resources includes all of the tools you need to plan and book your trip independently.
I’ve been using these websites for the past 6 years of full-time travel and have now partnered with them. This means that they will pay me a small commission when you use my link and then go on to make a purchase. But remember, companies don’t have a say in my recommendations and I only list websites that I trust and use myself!
Save Money on Accommodation
Booking.com
Booking.com is my go-to for booking hotels, guest houses, and accommodation in general.
I usually hit up Booking.com before any other site since they have awesome map-searching tools and the most comprehensive review system.
HostelWorld
I've staying in hundreds of hostels around the world and many of them I've booked using Hostelworld.
This is the best all-around resource for finding budget backpacker lodging, with reviews from like-minded travelers.
Agoda
While Booking.com is my favorite, I sometimes use Agoda for accommodation too, especially in Asia.
Double check Agoda before making a booking. You'll sometimes find a much better deal for the same hotel.
Tip: If you find an awesome place to stay, I recommend searching it on all three booking sites as there are often great deals available only on one!
Save Money on Tours & Experiences
Get Your Guide
GetYourGuide is my go-to booking site for tours and experiences around the world. They have the most comprehensive database, the easiest booking layout, and offer the best peace of mind (free cancellations).
GetYourGuide is almost always the same price as booking directly with a tour provider.
Viator
Viator is another great booking website that I use a lot. It's very similar to GetYourGuide but sometimes has more offerings.
Similarly, Viator offers free cancellations and really easy bookings. You get an email confirmation and a code that you just show when you rock up or get picked up by the operator.
Backpacker Deals
Backpacker Deals is a great online booking platform where you can find excellent deals on day tours, experiences, or multi-day trips all over the world.
The best part is you don't need to be a backpacker to take advantage of the cheap rates. We Seek Travel readers get $5 off every tour using code OLLY5.
This is the best way to support this site for free as you'll pay the same price whether you click my link or not. If you want to be a super supporter, bookmark this page and use it when planning your travels.
Save Money on Travel Insurance
HeyMondo
HeyMondo offers comprehensive coverage at an affordable rate. You'll see that they have amazing reviews for their customer service and their app, which makes claim management easy.
I like them so much that I reached out to them and they now offer We Seek Travel readers 5% OFF travel insurance!
Safetywing
SafetyWing offers travel insurance to world travelers and full-time digital nomads like me. In my home country, Australia, I was paying $100's in insurance every month.
Now with Safetywing, I get all the coverage I need, all around the world for around $40 a month...
Global Rescue
When I go on any trips to Nepal or on Himalayan expeditions above 4,500 meters, I always buy Global Rescue on top of my SafetyWing plan.
This is the best trekking travel insurance you can buy, with dedicated teams that will pull you out of danger from some of the world's most remote places.
Save Money on Flights
Skyscanner
Skyscanner is a flight booking website I've been using to book almost every flight since 2015.
Input your dates and your desired location and it'll search for the cheapest fare options around the world instantly.
CheapOAir
This is a new kid on the block that is very similar to Skyscanner.
I always check both Skyscanner and CheapOAir when I need to book a flight. Between the two I always find the cheapest fare possible.
Tip: Search "whole month" or "everywhere" options if you're flexible to find the absolute cheapest fares possible.
Save Money on Transport
BookaWay
Looking for cheap long-distance buses, ferries, or trains? BookAway always gets my first search and has saved me hundreds.
For example, I was told by everybody (locals and bloggers included) that there wasn't a direct ferry from Gili Islands to Nusa Penida (Indonesia). After checking BookAway, I found an awesome ferry that saved me annoying layovers and a decent chunk of Rupiah too.
12GoAsia
If you're in Asia and wondering how to get from A to B, you'll want to check out 12GoAsia.
I've used them several times to book overnight trains, long-distance buses, and ferries. They're usually the cheapest in Asia and save you time and effort haggling down ridiculous prices on the street.
Discover Cars
Looking for a car rental? Similarly to SkyScanner, DiscoverCars sorts and compares all of the best rental dealerships in your region so you can find the best price.
Generally speaking, Discover Cars offers the best deals and the most comprehensive database. However, it's always a good idea to compare on RentalCars.com as well.
More: Best Travel & Outdoor Gear
Below is a list of great products and online stores that I've been using for years or recently discovered. Some of these companies aren't even partners (yet), but I just love them all and want to share them with you.
Grayl
Would you think it was ever possible to drink water from the tap in Mumbai?
I've done it, and no I didn't get giardiasis. The secret is this awesome travel/outdoor water filter bottle: The Grayl. It's the same size as a regular water bottle and filters out 99.99% of bacteria, viruses, and particulates.
Basically, it turns shitty water into drinkable water. I've saved loads of plastic bottles from landfills by relying on this bottle for the past few years.
REI
Adventurers need adventure gear. If you live in the states, then you already know that REI is the best outlet ever for purchasing high-quality outdoor, trekking, and even alpine gear.
I'm waiting for the day REI comes to Australia and Europe, but if you're lucky enough to be in the USA, then you get the cheapest deals on the best gear at REI.
Osprey
Google who makes the best travel backpacks. Or, don't and take my word for it, it's Osprey.
I've been living out of my Osprey pack now for the past few years after upgrading from a Deuter (I miss you buddy).
I use my Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 for both travel backpacking and overnight hikes. It serves both purposes and I couldn't think of swapping to another bag anytime soon.
Amazon
Everybody shops on Amazon, that's a fact. You're probably already saving money by shopping on Amazon. But, a great way to support me is to click my affiliate link before filling your cart. Again, this won't cost you a cent extra, but helps to keep this site up and running.
Safe Drinking Water Anywhere!
The Grayl GeoPress Purifier Bottle is my favorite travel product. I take it on every hike & use it to filter water all over the world, from hiking trails in Colombia to sketchy taps in India.
Compare how the GeoPress stacks up against the best water bottle filters on the market.
This is How to Support We Seek Travel & Save Money
Everyone loves free stuff...
Why would you pay for adventure travel guides when you can find all the information you need online? That's the model that I roll with, and one that benefits everybody.
Yes, you'll see ads and display advertising on We Seek Travel, and that's a small way I'm able to support this website and help keep me creating detailed adventure travel guides.
I won't ask you to disable your ad blocker, because you have the right to use one. Who likes ads anyway right?
Instead, the best way to support this website is to book your travel experiences, hotels, flights, and products using my affiliate links. Read my affiliate disclosure.
I have partnered with my favorite online resources and travel booking companies so that I receive a commission on the sale when you make a purchase through my links. And, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This doesn't cost you anything extra and you'd pay exactly the same amount of money if you were to book directly. No company has a say in this process and all my recommendations and endorsements are based on my personal experience, expertise, and thorough research and are aligned with my travel ethics statement.
This is a win-win situation for everybody. Here's why:
- You win: All my recommendations are hand-picked and based on my personal experience. I always do the research to ensure I recommend the best booking resource, hotel, tour, or product with the best available prices online. You win big time since you've just saved yourself hours of research and a few bucks picking the best-value recommendation.
- My partners win: I love all of these companies and the truth is I've used all of them much longer than I've been partnered with them. They win by getting your sale, but they've had to earn it by being awesome enough to get my recommendation.
- Lastly, I can keep creating free guides!! My partners pay me a commission, which comes out of their pocket, not yours.
See, this model is great for everybody. It keeps things free, meaning no paywalls or annoying, begging pop ups or me asking you to pay for content.
So, whether you're looking for a way to support us, or you just want to save money and time researching travel-related purchases, the above products and websites will do all of those things.
If you want to be a super-supporter, bookmark this page and use it each time you go to book flights, search for tours, or find an awesome hotel/hostel.