Travel Resources and Tips

Useful Online Resources

• Trip.Me – We have used this resource a lot to organize trips to places that are so different culturally from my own that i’m in need of assistance.  This site puts you directly in contact with LOCAL travel experts who will assist you planning any kind of trip.  By using local people you can customize your trip to be exactly what you want, weather full out adventure or cultural immersion.  Trip.Me experts will help.
• The Clymb Adventures –  If you are an adventurer then this site is for you.  Not only do they sell great gear at reasonable prices but their travel portion is very inspiring.  I used them to travel to Peru and was VERY pleased with my experience.  They are responsible about the companies that they use for travel and also provide short reviews of each trip.
• Trip Masters – A great resource for putting trips together as well as having suggested itineraries to look at.  You can chose flights, hotels, and activities from their extensive list.  The prices are good on here as well.  Just remember different days bring different prices so check the same trip several times over a few weeks.  Get an idea what you’d like to pay and wait for that price.
• Vacation Packages:  Some of the major players offer discounts on hotels or flights when you book as a package.  Look for the ‘vacations’ or ‘packages’ on their sites  Kayak, Orbitz, Travelocity, Priceline
• Travel Zoo – This site offers some very great deals at times.  To get full use you’ll have to subscribe to their news letter, you never know whats going to come up.

Online Resources we find unreliable

• Trip Adviser – Although you can learn some interesting things from trip adviser I find it unreliable as it is simply too easy for businesses to fake reviews.

In addition to the normal sites like Kayak, Orbitz, and Travelocity you should check out these sights.  Each one has its own strengths.

• AirBandB  –  A large inventory of independent places to stay.  You have to pay upfront so it is easier to be sure you can use your points card.
• VRBO  –  AirBandB’s biggest competitor sometimes they have a different inventory.  Make sure to check both of them before making a decision.
• Trivago  –  Searches other websites for lodging deals.  Sometimes finds some very out of the way places.  Always worth a look.
• Booking.com  –  Has a larger inventory of smaller places to stay.  Many times different places than the larger sites.  Make sure that you scroll down and check out all of the places they offer.
• Hotels.com  –  Usually dealing in larger hotels, provides a dedicated search for better deals than some of the larger sites.

• The Points Guy – This website offeres a great resource for which travel cards offer the best perks, which loyalty programs are top notch, and suggestions on how to get the most from your points.  Remember points can make an expencive trip into something managable so use them wisely.
• Lonely Planet –  A good place to go and find out of the way things to do and see, as well as major things.
• Atlas Obscura  – Want to find weird things to do or see that most people don’t know about?  This is a great place to start.

Below are some very useful apps for traveling.

• Netflix – I mean really, who doesn’t have Netflix.  But did you know you can download movies to watch on the airplane or train?  Its a great idea to download some entertainment just in case.  But do it before you leave as not all media is available in every country.  (for example The Office isn’t available in India)
• Google Translate – This remarkable app offers an incredable star trek like ability to translate other languages in real time.  It isn’t perfect but it does an excellent job.  You can download the language of the country or area you are going to and use it for everything from negoataing prices to getting directions.  Its pretty impressive.  The link above will take you to their active website.  Read this article to learn more about how it works!
• Mobile Passport – This is the most underused app I know of.  Mobile Passport gets you through customs for the US very quickly.  It operates simply, you fill out your customs form on your phone while on the airplane, when you land you submit it.  Then you follow the signs for Mobile Passport to get through customs.  It is much faster than standing in the normal lines.  Get it, you’ll thank me later.  FOR MORE INFORMATION READ THIS ARTICLE!
• Oruxmaps – I use this app to track my trekking progress.  It has a large user interface, allows downloading maps from multiple sources, and uploading to major hiking and trekking apps.  I really enjoy the ability to take photo way points.  It can track distance covered, altitude gain and loss, locations, time traveling as well as stopped, global position, and many more things
• Spotify – If you like music then use spotify.  The pay service downloads music to your phone for listening off line.  If you don’t want to pay for a year then just pay for the month you are traveling.   Many times I’ve used spotify to help pass time in airports, train stations, and in cars traveling between locations.
• Any Currency Converter – Allows you to see the going rate for conversions.  Shows you only the currency that you chose and allows you to chose which currency is your home.  Its very useful to help know if you are getting a good conversion rate.
• Priority Pass – The app downloads all the places where you can use the pass to your phone.  Make sure you update it before you leave so you can check to see whats available on your journey.

The single most important travel document you need to have is a Passport.  However there are a few things you need to know and do with your passport that will ensure that your travel go smoothly!

• Keep your passport handy when you’re traveling by putting in a pocket on your person.  Cargo pants are great for this, they have secure pockets, easy access, and don’t bend your passport when you sit.
• Make a photo copy of your passport before leaving and keep it in your wallet or pocket at all times.  This will help you when you need it and don’t have it, or in case you lose it
• Take a picture with your cell phone of your passport.  Serves as a backup in case you lose your passport or don’t have it when you need it.
• Use Mobile Passport if you don’t have Global Entry.  Look at the App’s tab for more information on this
• If your passport will expire within 6 months, go ahead and get another one.  Many countries will not accept travelers with passports that expire within 6 months. Best not to chance it.

  IF YOU ARE SPENDING MONEY WITHOUT GETTING POINTS OF SOME SORT STOP IT RIGHT NOW!

Every purchase you make can help you get to your next trip.   My suggestion is get a travel card that gives you the most points in the area that you spend the most.  For instance, some cards give you 2x points for gas station purchases while others give you 3x points for restraunts.  Do some reasearch and fingure out which one gives you the most bennifit.   If you need some suggestions head over the The Points Guy to find out more about each card and which ones might suit you the best.

Here is an excellent article about the bennifits of the different avalable travel credit cards.

Here are the rewards cards that I use and why:

Chase Sapphire Reserve:

We carry one credit card when traveling.  It covers all my needs and is widely accepted.  Here are a few of the major benefits to the Sapphire Reserve:

• Travel Insurance Built in, as well as rescue insurance
• Primary Auto Insurance
• No exchange fees and 3x points for travel oriented purchases and 1.5x value when redeeming for travel.
• The ability to transfer your points to travel partners such as airlines and hotels.
• $300 travel credit
• Priority Pass lounge access (in airports) for you and your party.

We think that paring this card with the Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5x points on every purchase) or Freedom (5x points on selected catagories) is a great way to build points quickly.

Charles Schwab Debit Card

Carry one debit card and very little cash.  There are a few major reasons we chose the Charles Schwab Debit Card:

• No exchange fees (normal exchange counters charge a fee of 1%-5% just to change your money!)
• No ATM fees charged by Schwab
• Reimbursement for ATM fees charged by other ATM owners
• No minimum balance (this means even if my card is stolen I don’t keep much money in there so there isn’t much to steal)

Here are a few things that I’ve found make air travel more fun!

• Global Entry – This program also includes TSA precheck.  It speeds your way through security lines as well as helps with re-entry into the US.  There are a few other countries around the world that allow easier access with Global Entry as well.  It isn’t too expensive and saves a lot of frustration.  If you don’t have Global Entry then check out Mobile Passport on my Apps tab.
• Priority Pass – Using lounges in the worlds airports is an absolute must if you travel regularly or have long layovers.  Having access to these lounges changed the way i travel.  And it was all included with my credit card.  You can, however, purchase lounge access independently as well.
• Bose Headphones – The sound reducing qualities of these headphones are amazing.  You don’t HAVE to get Bose though, there are many other options out there.  Any way you slice it you need these headphones in the airport and on the airplane.  They help you relax and enjoy the trip.
• After getting through security go directly to your gate so you know exactly where it is.  Then explore the lounge, terminal, or airport making sure you always know how to get back to your gate quickly.

Its always an awkward moment when you begin to bargain to get something from a vendor in a foreign country.  So here are a few tips to help you be more at ease when bargaining.  And a few thoughts on carrying cash.

• When you arrive at the foreign airport use your Charles Schwab debit card to get cash out of the ATM.  I never travel with more than $100 in USD.
• Divide the cash you do have between your pockets.  A small amount in one, a medium amount in another and the rest in your wallet.  This will help you when bargaining and also keep you from losing all your money in case you are pick pocketed.
• Pay for everything you can with a good travel credit card.  You will get the best conversion rates as well as build points.
• When you find something you are interested in buying ask the price first.  You never want to be the first person to give a price.  This allows you to have the upper hand and know the highest price.  NEVER EVER PAY THE PRICE THEY SUGGEST.
• As a general rule of thumb cut the initial price in half to begin bargaining.  Always remember that you can come up but you can never go down.
• If you want more than one item bargain for them individually then combine them later and offer a lower price for all items.
• DO NOT be guilted into buying anything.  If the price isn’t right you will find it somewhere else and know what the previous price was.  This gives you power to know what a good price for things are.
• The vendor WILL NOT sell you something at a loss.  So ALWAYS bargain for the best price.
• When paying in cash use only the pocket with the closest amount of cash to the price.  You do not want the vendor or others around you to know how much cash you are carrying.