As someone who has been without a home base and traveled full time I understand what can be helpful when traveling and what can be burdensome. From planning resources to hotel stays, my recommendations are all from personal experience.
General Travel Resources
✔️ GetYourGuide.com – Great for booking tours and day trip excursions! I find them particularly helpful in local guides and activities.
✔️ Viator.com – Another great option for day tours, booking local activities, and guides.
✔️ Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card – The best credit card with a low annual fee for easily racking up points that can help you travel for less. I’ve been using it for 10+ years. They often have great sign-up bonuses so watch out for one!
✔️ G Adventures – Best group travel company. They offer a perfect blend of adventure and cultural immersion, with expertly crafted itineraries that take you off the beaten path. Their small group sizes allow for a more personalized experience, while their focus on responsible travel ensures that your trip supports local communities and minimizes environmental impact.
✔️ 12go.com – Best for train travel in Asia. I used them for booking my train travel throughout Sri Lanka and it was super easy!
✔️ Booking.com – They offer a wide selection of accommodation ranging from hostels to luxury, and everything in between to fit your preferences and budget. They often have free cancellation options if your plans are tentative and, most importantly, they have lots authentic reviews from fellow travelers so you know what to expect.
I found Booking.com to be particularly helpful during a couple unpleasant travel challenges. Once, a property in Singapore cancelled my reservation last minute without warning so they could put the room back up for triple the price because it was the weekend of the F1 Grand Prix. The property was very rude and unhelpful but Booking.com covered the difference in cost for us to book a similar accommodation since the prices had increased so much because it was only a couple days before the Grand Prix.
Another time I was traveling around the South of France and making plans as I went. An apartment style accommodation I had booked only a couple days before took my non-refundable payment but was not confirming the details needed to check into the apartment. Booking.com refunded us the money even though the reservation was non-refundable since we were unable to get in touch with the property manager.
✔️ Safetywing – Great option for travel insurance. They have affordable and flexible trip insurance that’s perfect for digital nomads and long-term travelers, providing coverage even if you’re already abroad. Their policies include essential benefits like medical coverage, trip interruption, and emergency evacuation.
India Travel Resources
These recommendations are specifically helpful when navigating the challenges of traveling in India.
✔️ MakeMyTrip.com – My top choice for booking travel within India, offering a wide range of options for flights, trains, and hotels. Best for planning travel between your destinations within India so you explore with confidence.
✔️ Yatra.com – Another great platform for booking travel across India, offering comprehensive options for flights, trains, and hotels.
Join my Facebook group, India For Foreigners, if you have more specific questions, want to chat with other international travelers looking for India advice, or just want some India travel inspiration.