FLIGHTS
Great email subscription that sends flight deal/mistake fare alerts that usually last about 48 hours. So far through this site I’ve scored three round trip tickets for a fraction of the normal price: Philly to Milan, Italy for 400$, JFK to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for 360$, and New Orleans to Honolulu, Hawaii for just under $500. The trick is to act quick!
Comprehensive search engine comparing millions of flights to find you the cheapest deal. My favorite feature is the option to put in your departure location then select ‘everywhere’ and it will find you cheap destinations for your dates. Sky’s the limit!
Can’t go wrong with good ol’ Google flights. Their search engine offers the most broad range of airlines and booking options, and is especially useful when buying multi city tickets for one trip. The price calendar feature is great too, being flexible on dates can save a ton of cash.
- Flying with miles via airline credit card
Often when sitting on a flight, an exclusive in flight credit card offer is announced over the intercom. Opening a credit card through an airline has a TON of benefits … an initial lump sum of miles for opening the account, bonus opportunities for using the card early on, and turning your everyday expenses into miles to name a few. I currently have a Chase United card, through which I earned 50,000 bonus miles upon opening the account and meeting the initial three month spend goal – enough to fly roundup from the East Coast to Hawaii valued at over $700. Alongside turning my everyday spending into miles: I have priority boarding, checked bags are free and tagged priority (so come out first in baggage claim!), lounge passes, and more. Basically I feel like Beyonce when traveling!
(Airline credit cards offering great bonuses can usually be found online, too. I love the perks of credit cards but always play by the rules and pay off the balance each month – earning interest will quickly outweigh the miles!)
ACCOMMODATION
Super user friendly site that finds you accommodation at a discounted price (heavily used in Asia). I’ve booked so many great deals on quality accommodation (resorts/bungalows/hotels/guesthouses). Sometimes even up to 80% on 4-star hotels/resorts. They also offer free cancellation most of the time up to 24 hours in advance and give you promo codes to add on and money back in the form of gift cards to use on future bookings. This has been my go to so far throughout SE Asia. Ballin on a budget!
Can’t go wrong with Airbnb, especially economically speaking when you are in a group of four or more. Why not just rent the whole house? It’s also a nice opportunity to get comfortable and feel homey for a few days to break up the daily hotel life.
This pertains to lesser developed countries but numerous accommodations in SE Asia/ Latin America do not have websites or an internet presence. By searching “accommodation” or “guest house” on Google Maps in a specific area you are targeting, you’ll find businesses pop up with a phone number or email address. Take a gamble and contact them directly for rates/booking. It has worked out for me quite a few times and turned out to be much cheaper than their counterparts on the same street. It’s all about location, in my opinion!
CURRENCY CONVERTER
It’s so important to know the exchange rate before entering a new country with different currency. This site gives real time rates as some countries fluctuate quite often. By knowing the rate beforehand you can pass on getting ripped at the airport currency counter and get a rate closer to the exact rate online with street changers or exchange houses. This site is also great to give you more detailed information on the currency and view the historical trend with it. The more info, the better! It IS money, after all!
ESSENTIAL ‘BACKPACKING’ PACKING LIST
- Need help packing? Check out what I packed for 6 months abroad in SE Asia.
OTHER USEFUL LINKS