Travel Resources

Speedboat+Alaska=Life

Kayak.com

This is an amazing website to find awesome deals on flights. Taylor and I recently found a flight to Miami for as low as $49 one way. There are many things you can do on this website such as hotel and car rentals, but the best is the flight matrix. It gives you a matrix of all the dates you are looking at leaving and the prices of the tickets. Make sure to click the flexible dates button and include nearby airports to make the best of your search. Also check Wowair.com because I recently found a flight from Boston to Iceland for $99 one way and I would have booked it if I didn’t have school.

Airbnb.com
Airbnb is an excellent way to find accommodations for short or long-term stay. This is a great way to meet locals and stay for lower rates. You can also bargain with them on the prices in order to get lower prices, especially if you are planning on staying for a month or two.

Couchsurfing.org
This is a way for you to stay anywhere in the world for free. Set up an account and get it verified to stay at a local’s house and immerse yourself into the culture of that region of the world. I love meeting new friends through staying at their house and you will also learn the best food places, transportation routes, and make long-lasting friendships through this experience.

WWOOFing
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms is a definite way to see Australia or New Zealand or even Hawaii. You apply and go to work on a farm for 4-6 hours a day and they pay for your accommodations and sometimes food. It is a great way to get a free place to stay if you don’t mind picking fruit, tea-leaves, or other organic foods for part of the day. In your free time you can use it to explore the surrounding areas.

Camp in my Garden
This is another way to keep your spending low. It allows you to camp in someone’s backyard for around $10 a night. If you love to surround yourself in the outdoors then this is the place for you. It also is a great way to meet locals and have some quiet time unlike some of the Hostels where they can become loud.

No place I would rather be!

Hostelworld.com
Hostels provide cheap accommodations for budget travellers. They can range from $10-40 a night depending on if you get a private or dormitory style room. In personal preference the dormitory room provides you with more contacts with travellers who can point you in the right direction of what to see and what to do. It is also a good way to save money especially if you cook for the other people staying at the hostel, because then they will most likely return the favor.

Boots n’ all
If you are planning an around the world trip or extensive multi-city trip, then Boots n’ all is the place for you. They will help out every step of the way and are very prompt with sending emails. I believe they send you one everyday whenever you are in the planning stages and then will periodically check in to see how it is progressing for you.

Mint.com (app)
Carin and Ridlon our mentors showed us this app and it has helped us immensely. It is an app that syncs all of your banking accounts, credit cards, and debit cards all into one place. It show how much you spend monthly and helps you to where you can create several different budgets. This is great especially if you have a spending problem like I used to have. This will help you save money and budget for that big trip you are planning for!

Trover (app)
I rate this app with 5 stars!!! We have used this app repeatedly in Alaska, Alabama, Florida, Mexico, Georgia, Grand Cayman, and Canada with excellent results. I found an awesome food place called Glady’s Chicken and Waffles in Atlanta and have also been featured on the “What’s Hot List” for a photograph of an eagle I took in Alaska. It shows attractions and cool places around you within a certain mileage radius. It is a great way to veer off of the original route and go see an exotic, fun, interesting, or unique site that you most likely never would have known about had it not been for this app.

Housecarers.com
Have you ever had to housesit for someone? Wouldn’t you rather do that in New Zealand or Thailand? Well with this website you can stay for free in someone’s house as long as you maintain the house and pets while the owners are gone. With this gig you only have to keep the house clean and do the chores which shouldn’t take to long and in the free time you can go scuba diving, hiking, or just exploring the surrounding regions with your free time.

Snorkeling in the Caribbean