These are the companies and products that we recommend to use when planning and booking your trip. If you have any questions about any of these companies, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, see our privacy policy.
Accommodation
Booking.com – Our go-to site for booking hotels, guesthouses or other budget accommodation around the world. A lot of places have the advantage of being fully refundable up to a certain date.
Hostelworld – The best site to use if you are booking hostels around the world as they have the largest selection and an easy booking interface.
VRBO – A great option if you’re looking for private accommodation such as apartments or holiday homes.
Worldpackers – Work exchange platform that allows you to volunteer your time in exchange for accommodation. Use the code WORLDHEREFIRST to get $10 discount on an annual membership and check out our full Worldpackers review.
Flights
ClaimCompass – If your flight to or from any EU country is cancelled or delayed, you can claim compensation for up to €600 per passenger. Click here to read our detailed ClaimCompass review
Dollar Flight Club – Get the best cheap international flight deals sent directly to your email or phone. They offer a free 7–day trial – check out our detailed Dollar Flight Club Review
Momondo – A flight aggregator that shows you all the available airlines and possible routes to take. Best used if you have a specific flying date in mind.
Skyscanner – Another flight aggregator that we find is best to use if you have flexible travel dates or haven’t decided on your final destination.
Gear
Osprey Farpoint Backpack (also available on REI here) – Our favourite backpack to travel with and one that we’ve used extensively across a number of trips. It’s lightweight, versatile and comes with a lifetime warranty. Maggie uses a 55L backpack while Michael uses a 70L backpack
Eagle Creek Compression Packing Cubes (also available on REI here) – By compressing your items, these are a lifesaver for keeping your luggage organised and space-efficient. These ones are very lightweight and durable!
Ultra-Light Down Jacket (for women’s click here) – A versatile jacket that packs down easily, is affordable and can be worn in a range of different climates.
North Face Rain Jacket (for women’s click here) – There is nothing worse than walking around a city while wet, so always make sure to pack a quality rain jacket.
Getting Around
RentalCars.com – A price comparison website for renting cars anywhere in the world. All the major companies are available here and it lets you easily see what the cheapest option is. Click here to read our detailed review of RentalCars.com
Omio – An easy-to-use website to book train and bus tickets in Western Europe and the UK in advance and get great savings! Click here to read our detailed review of Omio
Outdoorsy – A marketplace for renting campervans, RVs and motorhomes
Insurance
WorldNomads – Our preferred travel insurance company as they offer flexible policies, cover a wide range of activities and let you extend your policy while you are travelling.
SafetyWing – A travel medical insurance provider that offers affordable and flexible policies for travellers and digital nomads. Click here to read our detailed review of SafetyWing
iCarHireInsurance – They offer third-party excess insurance for car rentals which is typically significantly cheaper than what is offered by car rental companies. Click here to read our detailed review of iCarHireInsurance
Photography
Sony A6000 Camera – Michael’s camera of choice, this is a great entry-level mirrorless camera if you want to start taking your travel photography more seriously.
Joby GorillaKit Tripod (also available on REI here) – A fantastic lightweight tripod that has flexible legs, meaning it can be used in a wide range of different environments
Extra SD Cards – Whatever camera you use, make sure to never forget to pack a few extra SD cards so you have plenty of space for your photos.
Adobe Lightroom – The best cloud-based software around for editing and organising your photos
Tours
GetYourGuide or Viator – Tour aggregators that offers a huge selection of organised day tours in many different travel destinations. Click here to read our detailed review of GetYourGuide
