General flights and round the world tickets are found at STA Travel, it is amazing for deals (especially if you are lucky enough to be under 26 years old!!) as is Flight Centre. Both websites have bespoke websites for several countries and local offices to go to or ring if you cannot find exactly what you are looking for online. Some flight deal websites only find deals flying out of -and into- one country such as Kayak from the UK or Vliegticktets from the Netherlands. Try them all and search on Google too.
click here for Flight Centre
click here for Kayak
click here for Vliegtickets
Accomodation is always easy to find, the cheapest places to stay are hostels. If you’re going to travel for more than a few months it is a good idea to become a member of Hostelling International, they provide good quality and value for money hostels and usually the card gives you discounts on your accomodation and local tourist attractions too. However, if you are on a budget, do not limit yourself to these hostels only, a lot of great hostels are not a member of HI, so look in your guide book and search online for that perfect deal.
click here for Hostelling International
click here for Lonely Planet
click here for Amazon
THE best travel guide you can have is Lonely Planet. You can find these in most bookshops, but you can also buy them on line where they are usually cheaper – try places such as Amazon (UK or US) or Bol.com (Netherlands) or even Ebay.
Make sure though, that you do get the latest and newest version as you want to have up to date phone numbers/ prices/ opening times of all the hostels/restaurants/attractions you want to go to.
The online version of Lonely Planet is -like the book- also jam packed with information. It also has very useful forums where you can ask questions or read advice from other travellers. Just don’t forget, use your guide as a guide only (hence the name) and always get up to date and ‘off-the-beaten-track’ info from fellow travellers, locals and/or staff at your hostel.
It is easy to be overwhelmed with too much information, so stick to advice from others and/or ask at the local information centre. If you are on a tight budget, shop around, you’ll find it cheap eventually!
click here for Bol.com
click here for Ebay
Click here for Foreign Commonwealth Office
Each country where you live, should have a Governmental Travel Advice website such as The Foreign & Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is a good idea to check this out before you go, for information on Visas, Immunization and wether it is safe to travel there, particularly if you are going on your own and especially if you are a woman!!
Last but not least, make sure you have a quality and comfortable backpack if going for a few months or longer and make sure you do not pack too much (you will buy plenty of clothes on the way-trust me!). Bring deet or other insect spray if going to the tropics. Bring a camera, charger, world travelplug, plenty of memory cards and/or laptop with storage space.
And most importantly: bring a smile, your good mood and HAVE FUN!
Advice on traveling in specific countries (that I have been to), you can find in the dropdown menu under links and next to General tips for traveling (this) page. Currently I have only had time to write Tips for traveling in Australia and will write others when I have spare time. If you are thinking of going to any of the places I have been to and wouldn’t mind some specific advice, then don’t hesitate to contact me via the ‘contact me’ link above.
xoxo mafgirl
