A Guide to Planning Your Next Adventure: My Favourite Resources
My Favourite Resources
One of the most frequent questions I'm asked is, "What do you use to plan your holidays?" .
Planning a journey can be quite overwhelming, tempting some to either abandon their plans or understandably hand it over to a travel expert.
However, for those who prefer to take the reins, I thought it would be helpful to share the resources that have become my trusted companions for crafting the perfect getaways over the years.
Transportation: Mapping Out the Journey
This is my starting point for flight searches due to its unparalleled flexibility.
While direct booking isn't possible, ITA Matrix excels in providing a snapshot of potential costs and identifying the most cost-effective travel dates. One thing to note, is that it does not take low-cost airlines into account.
Navigating its advanced search feature may seem daunting at first, but mastering it unlocks its full potential. This is particularly beneficial for travelers with flexible itineraries or those comparing multiple destinations.
Flight Search Engines
With insights from ITA Matrix, I then move onto search engines like Skyscanner, Kayak, Google Flights, Momondo, and Travelstart. These platforms are essential for encompassing a wider array of options, including low-cost airlines.
It's crucial to verify essential details such as baggage allowance, cancellation policies, and layover times when comparing flight prices. While some options may appear cheaper initially, they may lack certain benefits offered by others.
Additionally, many flight search engines now offer an Explore feature. This innovative tool allows users to input their departure airport and visually explore prices for different destinations on a map. It's particularly advantageous for travelers who do not have a destination in mind.
Airlines and Loyalty Programs
After identifying the most suitable flight options through the above-mentioned search engines, I always make it a point to cross-check the prices directly on the airline's official website. Should the prices mirror each other, my preference leans towards booking directly with the airline. This approach significantly enhances the convenience and efficiency of managing any potential changes to the flight details.
Furthermore, I strongly recommend enrolling in airline loyalty programs if you haven't already done so. Reflecting on my own experiences, one of my initial oversights was not joining such programs from the start of my travels, resulting in a considerable loss of valuable points. These points could have been instrumental in offsetting expenses for other trips (cry with me). I'll also mention that belonging to a certain loyalty program may also factor into your final flight selection.
Among the loyalty programs that I frequently use are Emirates Skywards, Qatar Airways' Privilege Club, and Star Alliance. Yours may differ depending on your location and frequently used airlines.
Credit Card Loyalty Programs
Travelers, particularly from the US and Europe, often benefit from credit card loyalty programs, using accumulated points to purchase flight tickets. However, as a South African, my options for such programs have been somewhat limited.
Nonetheless, I am a member of Discovery Bank, which offers a points system along with a travel booking platform. It's important to highlight that the best rewards from this program are accessible primarily to those who are deeply engaged with other Vitality products and services. This integration provides a unique opportunity to leverage health and wellness activities for travel benefits.
Rome2Rio is the perfect starting point when you have no idea of how you would get from point A to point B. By simply inputting your departure and arrival locations, the platform presents you with all available transportation options—including bus, train, plane, or boat routes—along with their respective costs.
Google Maps has also advanced its offering when it comes to public transport, which I use religiously when assessing distances and exploring local transport options for navigating my way around a city.
Accommodation:
Finding the Perfect Stay
My preferred platforms for booking accommodation are Airbnb, which offers unique local stays, and Booking.com, which provides a wide range of hotels and hostels suited to a variety of preferences.
I love using Airbnb if I want my own space or a more homely feel. I find that most of the time it gives me greater insight into the experience of living in the respective city. You also gain direct access to the host who is usually able to provide you with more local recommendations.
Booking.com is an excellent platform for finding places that offer flexibility, especially if you might need to cancel or modify your booking later on without paying anything immediately. This is perfect if you need to book accommodation for your visa application. You are able to filter the results so that it only displays places that offer free cancellation with no prepayment. Just make sure to note the final date by which changes can be made without a penalty.
As both Airbnb and Booking.com have expanded their range of listings, it's not uncommon for the same property to be featured on both platforms, often at different prices. Therefore, it's beneficial to compare the offerings on both sites to secure the best deal.
Agoda is particularly useful in Asia, often featuring deals not available on other platforms. Once I have whittled down my options on Airbnb and Booking.com, I would do a final check on Agoda to see if there are any better options.
In the past I have also used Trivago and Expedia, however, not that much anymore.
Couchsurfing & Volunteering
For those seeking immersive experiences or who are traveling on a budget, Couchsurfing or volunteer work are the perfect options for you.
Couchsurfing is a platform that connects members with a global travel community, offering genuine insight into what it's like living in the respective city. Its greatest advantage is that accommodation is free; however, you'll be staying in someone's home, and your accommodation can range from a couch in the living room to a private guest room.
To get started with Couchsurfing, you’ll need to create a profile and gradually accumulate reviews. These reviews are important as they help potential hosts decide whether they'd like to welcome you into their home.
Reflecting on my own experiences, I actively engaged in Couchsurfing during my younger adult years and even hosted fellow travelers in Cape Town while I wasn't on the road myself. It truly provides an opportunity for deeper cultural exchanges.
Platforms like Workaway, World Packers, and HelpX offer opportunities to exchange work for food and accommodation, providing a unique lens into local life while also giving back. There are a wide variety of projects available, from permaculture to hostel building, or even working at an NGO or school. Although these platforms require a membership fee, it's reasonable, ranging between $20-$129 for 1-2 years.
Activities: Crafting Memorable Experiences
When planning your trip, it's essential to consider the range of activities available. While I tend to avoid over-scheduling, preferring to leave room for spontaneity, I make exceptions for activities with limited availability or specific timing requirements. I do, however, thoroughly research and compile a list of activities. This preparation ensures I have a quick reference for making informed bookings when the time comes.
Below are some of my preferred resources for finding activities. Each offers a variety of options, making it beneficial to explore them all:
For organized tours and activities, these platforms offer a range of options, from unique cooking classes to "free" walking tours (where donations are appreciated).
For unique and authentic experiences in a city. These experiences usually feel more intimate to me than other group experiences.
Tripadvisor is my usual go-to for reading user reviews, as it has a broad spectrum of activities and experiences, and is widely used across the world. You are also able to make activity bookings through it.
For home-cooked dinners with locals. Every host sets their own price , but this is a great way to do something different, pick a local’s brain, and make a new friend.
For those looking to engage and connect with locals or like-minded travelers. This is also a great networking opportunity.
For Michelin recommended restaurants all over the world. Great resource for finding delicious food wherever you are.
For discovering electronic music events all over the world. I've found many unique parties through this site in the past.
For exploring retreats in any city. However, there are many retreats which are not advertised on here.
For country-specific or activity specific LGBT friendly service providers around the world. Utopia Asia is solely focused on Asia.
Other Essential Resources
Numbeo allows you to compare approximate day to day expenses between cities. This is useful for budget planning.
For checking visa requirements for your destination, given your passport.
Recommended for travel insurance, offering coverage tailored to the needs of travelers and digital nomads. It is, however, worth first checking with your bank if they provide you with free travel insurance.
Embarking on Your Next Adventure
I hope that this initial guide provides you with the necessary resources to start planning your next adventure. Should you have additional favourites that I have not covered, please let me know in the comments. I would love to add them to my toolbox.
Happy Planning :-)
