How to Find Cheap Flights (Overview)

Skyscanner – I always start with Skyscanner when looking for cheep flights. It’s extremely customizable so you can let it tell you when to travel and what countries are cheapest to visit.

1. Their ‘Fly to Anywhere’ feature lets me find the absolute cheapest flight, because I don’t care what country I’m going to as long as it gets me to the right region
2. Their ‘Whole Month’ feature is the single best tool for seeing which days have the cheapest fare without running multiple searches and recording the results.
3. Once you’ve found some good flight options, jump over to the airline’s website (not a booking site) to make your final reservation. That way you’ll get all the protections if something goes wrong.

Use the Airport Lounges!

Priority Pass – Get into lounges for free with Priority Pass. You’ll be able to travel in style without the cost. This is probably my biggest travel hack (especially if like me you decided to take 4 flights instead of 1 to save a few $$). Simply transitting through a priority pass lounge lets you;

• Have a shower – get rid of that greasy airplane feeling and feel human again!
• Grab some food and drink – all you can eat and all you can drink complimentary food. I probably get my money back on this alone!
• Connect – Lounges all have free unlimited wifi so you don’t have to try in vain to connect to the dodgy free airport wifi (that never works!).
• Charging stations – No more sitting on the floor in the corner of the airport to get your phone just enough juice to survive the next leg of your journey
• Safety – I feel a wave of calm when I enter a lounge as I can leave my bags unattended (without being yelled at by airport security) and leave my electronics on charge while having a shower. It’s a small thing but makes such a difference to your state of mind while traveling which is already stressful enough!

How To Find the Best Accommodation

Booking.com – This is my number 1 booking service! – Every hotel you’ve ever thought of is on booking.com. I use Booking.com when I know where I want to stay and need the cheapest price.

Hostelworld – Looking for the best hostel? Check out hostel world’s helpful rating systems. I’ve used them across New Zealand to find affordable accommodations.

Airbnb – Get the feeling of home abroad by renting an Airbnb. Now adays the price of AirBnBs have shot up, and it’s often cheaper to grab a hotel instead, but I always check Airbnb as well to see what the offerings are like

Get A Good (Affordable) Rental Car

Discover Cars – Discover Cars compares the prices for a vehicle from a variety of suppliers to ensure you get the cheapest rate. It’s like Skyscanner for car rentals! I used to go to each rental company separately but this saves a bunch of time and guarantees you the cheapest rate every time.

Best Tours and Activities

Skyhook Adventures – I LOVE ‘adventure hiking’.. which is how I describe traveling to a country with the purpose of doing a hike and then getting a holiday as collateral damage. Whether it’s Machu Picchu, Kilimanjaro, or Everest base camp, Skyhook offers professional yet reasonably priced tour booking (and it means I don’t have to worry about finding a reputable operator). Give them a look if you’re planning a hiking holiday next!

Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is my favorite platform for booking local tours in all the major cities I visit. My favorite way to see a new city is to do a free walking tour the day I arrive. Then I’ll also look at doing a food tour, historical tour or even a nightlife tour too. These can all be found on Get Your Guide!

Viator – Viator is similar to get your guide. I always check both when looking for a walking tour, food tour, or cooking class.

Travel Safety Essentials

World Nomads Travel Insurance – The best travel insurance for adventure travellers and digital nomads.. Actually, anyone who plans to venture outside their hotel room. I spent days researching the best travel insurance for my Kilimanjaro hike, and my India motorbike trip. World Nomads was the only company that offered simple addons that allow me to easily customize the policy to covery these ‘riskier’ activities.

Best Travel Money Cards

Wise.com – I have a stack of credit and debit cards, each with their own features and drawbacks. In fact, my regular bank cards will accrue hundreds of dollars in fees over the course of my trip. Wise is the only card that I use now as it has the lowest conversion fees, automatically converts into local currency, and waives many (tho not all) of the local ATM fees.

Packing Essentials

The Best Travel Backpack

The Osprey FairPoint 40 is honestly the best thing I’ve ever bought (lame.. but also completely true) I’ve used this bag for 7 years, and taken it to 35 different countries. I’ve lived out of it (carry on only) for 4 months in South America. And have also taken it hiking to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro with me.

• It’s 40L – the perfect size for carry-on so you can save money on inflated checked baggage airfares.
• Has pockets for a laptop, a mesh liner for delicates, and opens flat for easy packing.
• It has super comfy hip straps so can be used as a hiking pack.
• And can be transformed into a sleek satchel bag by zipping these away and clipping on the strap*

TIP: I always switch it into ‘satchel mode’ when checking into my flights. As a backpack it looks a bit bulky and airlines may ask the check that you’re under the cabin baggage allowance. Wearing it as a satchel I’ve never once been questioned. (Even on Ryan Air)

Portable Power Bank

Never get lost because your phone died! Get a full day of exploring in without having to go back to your hotel to recharge. And feel safe on a multiday hike when you’ve got no electrons till you’re back in civilization.

I did waaay too much research and discovered Nitecore power products. These are a traveler’s dream, as they have the lowest weight per amp-hour, as well as the highest efficiency on the market. That basically means you get the most power for the least weight!!

I use their 10,000mAh (small) power bank for overnight hikes and in my daypack. Then I also have their 20,000mAh (big) power bank for longer multiday trips.

International Adapter

I’ve wasted what must amount to days of time wandering around looking for a local (NZ to XYZ) travel adaptor when I arrive in a new country. Don’t be like me. Get a good quality multicountry adaptor before you leave.

Microfiber Towel

The softest and easiest to pack towel on the market. I use them for the gym, the beach, and travel. Yeah, they don’t dry the best and feel weird but you can’t go past the light weightness (is that a word) and convenience when travelling.

Portable Scale

This little guy gives me peace of mind when repacking for the next leg of the trip. I usually travel carry-on baggage only which means a hard 7kg limit. With this little guy, I can weigh my bags before heading to the airport and never be forced to pay for extra luggage!

SIM Cards and Internet while Travelling

Airalo eSIM Card – Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards) that work in over 200 countries! I’ve always been a bit old school, and just buy a local sim when I land, but this is huge waste of time, especially if you’re travelling through multiple counties!

• No more physical SIM cards – With eSIMs from Airalo, travelers can download and install a digital data pack for over 200 countries/regions and get connected anywhere in the world as soon as they land.
• Coverage of 200 countries and regions. Travelers can find suitable rates for their next trip among local, regional, and international eSIMs.
• Versatile product. Airalo offer both eSIMs (my preference) but also physical SIM cards as well if your phone doesn’t accept an eSIM.