Here are my suggestions of links to some of the best web resources available for planning a trip, either around-the-world or just next door. All of these services and website I have researched and used in the process of planning my own around-the-world trip. I have received no compensations, monetarily or otherwise, to include these links on this website, but I have included them here solely because I’ve found them useful or of exceptional quality or value. I’ll update this list as things come up, so check back regularly.

Travelogues

• Vagabonding.com: One of the first online around-the-world travelogues I ever read, and it was a big initial inspiration for my own trip. Despite being four years old, its still a well written website with fun videos and photos.
• Vagablogging.net: One of the guru’s of around-the-world travel, Rolf Pott’s website offers excellent advice, information and tips on all types of travel. If you have a moment, read his book Vagabonding, it might be my favorite non-fiction book on around-the world travel.
• The Lost Girls: These three ladies made quite a splash in the web world as they documented their one year around-the-world adventure and the stories of their trip can be an inspiration to all of us to travel—especially young women.
• Brave New Traveler: One of my favorite travel related blogs, because not only is the information pertinent and interesting, but Ian and his crew update the site very regularly.
• Mom Says I’m Running Away If you’re a visual person like me, you’ll love this travel blog, a professional photographer who uses his profession to travel and take some amazing photos along the way.
• The Written Road: Do you ever dream of travel writing, this is one of my favorite travelogues dedicated to the subject.
• Learning Cantonese: From well-known travel writer Daisann McLane, written mostly from her home in Hong Kong, this is one of the most well-written and educational travelogues I’ve seen on the web, each post is well crafted, interesting, and often quite insightful into Hong Kong and its culture through the lens of tis language Aspiring travel writers, take notes.
• Exploring the Unknown: An award winning journalist and a friend of mine from college, Brian Triplett’s eight-month around-the-world trip, that coincided with part of mine, is full of great stories, fun pictures, and some crazy adventures. Want to get inspired to travel, read Brian’s travelogue.
• Big in Asia: These guys absolutely crack me up. Post-college they headed to Asia with backpacks and a video camera with the sole goal of becoming “Big In Asia.” Their videos will probably be some of my all-time favorites from the YouTube generation. Haven’t seen new content from them in a while, but well worth your time to peruse what they’ve already posted.

Planning, paperwork and bureaucracy

• World Nomads Insurance: Travel insurance is an absolutely necessity when traveling, in my opinion. While traveling on a 2-week vacation, a person’s normal health insurance usually covers you, but if you’re traveling around-the-world for a year and some, your policies at home might not be in effect. I’ve been using World Nomads, which is designed with the independent backpack in mind, and I like it because it can be purchased by the month and can be extended from on-the-road (online). Although I’ve yet to have to file a claim (cross your fingers), research seems to indicated that its a good insurance company to work with.
• Travelex Insurance: A little more robust and comprehensive (and expensive) then World Nomad’s insurance, Travelex seems to be another good insurance option.
• Backpack Budget Estimator: Though estimating your budget for backpacking is complicated because of all the factors involved (where you’re traveling, what your travel style is, exchange rates, etc) here’s a great web tool that can help you at least get a ball park figure.

Equipment

• Chaco Sandals: I wear my Chalco sandals 90% of the time I am traveling (so much so, I am considering discarding my hiking boots), and their unique strapping system is what makes them extremely comfortable for me.
• Patagonia Capilene: I love this stuff despite it being a bit yuppie and pretty pricey. Of all the gear I’ve taken with me on the trip from various outdoor companies (Nike, Pearl Izumi, Columbia, Adidas, Eagle Creek, etc.) Patagonia’s Capilene gear is the most durable, fastest to dry, and lightest to pack. I’d recommend spending the little bit more to get the Capilene gear, as in my experience, it will outlast the other stuff.
• PacSafe: If you’re traveling with a large amount of valuable electronics or equipment (computers, cameras, etc), having a PacSafe is a must. It is essentially a lockable mesh wire bag. On the road in many countries its not safe to leave your valuables in your hotel/hostel room or even in the hotel’s “safe.” They come in various sizes and shapes, and their cost will be a savings if the alternative is getting your stuff stolen.
• Eagle Creek: Possibly the biggest name in travel gear, Eagle Creeks got some useful and great equipment, though its often a bit pricey. I like Eagle Creeks stuff, because its clearly thought out and designed by someone who has traveled.
• Lonely Planet Thorntree: The 10,000 lbs giant of the travel industry Lonely Planet is the most well-known name in independent travel and I hesitate to include it here, since I assume most people know of the company. But I decided to include it because I wanted to point out the Lonely Planet’s message board system called the ‘Thorntree’. These geographically specific message boards are amazing sources for the latest and up-to-the minute information when backpacking. When I was in Yunan, China the day after a landslide killed two backpackers in an area I was planning on hiking, the Thorntree message board was the only place I could get reliable information. Check it out at.

Travel & Transport

• Airtreks.com My support on the ground for much of my trip, Airtreks, based in San Francisco, specializes in multi-leg and around-the-world tickets. They’re agents and staff an extremely helpful, patient and informed and can help you get about anywhere from about anywhere. Their cheapest around-the-world ticket packages run as cheap as $1,500 USD plus tax. A good place to start your planning and dreaming about a trip-around-the-world is with their cool Flash-based online fare/map tool here. My agent at airtreks, Daniel Gamber is a seasoned traveler and agent and can be reached at +1 415.977.7100 ex 146.
• STA Travel: If you’re a student or a teacher, you can get exceptional airfare deals through STA Travel, an agency specializing in student and teacher travel. They have offices around the world, find the closest one to you at www.statravel.com.
• Cathy Pacific Asian Airpass: Possibly the greatest airline ticket deal in the world. Travel for 21 days through up to 22 nations in Asia for prices starting at $1300 USD!
• Zuji.com: A great source for good airfare in Asia.
• Kayak.com: It’s famous, its award winning, and its all for a good reason. Kayak is a great site to do web search for airfare and I wouldn’t be caught going around-the-world without it.
• India Discount Airlines: India is chalked full of discount airlines and they are a fabulous way to move about the country for relatively cheap. There are many, but some of the most well known are Air Deccan, Spice Jet, and Indigo, or check out a few Indian websites that search all these airlines for the best price: faresearch.rediff.com. www.yatra.com and makemytrip.com, three I’ve used successfully. (Warning: some of these discount airlines do not accept non-Indian credit cards!)
• The Man In Seat 61: Arguably the most useful travel website on the web, Seat 41 contains endless, extremely accurate, and valuable information about traveling by train (and sometimes other overland methods) in all parts of the world. If it were up to me, Mark Smith , the sites creator would get a “Lifetime Achievement Award’ for contributions to the encouragement of travel.

Housing and Accomodations

• Finding Hostels: There are a number of comprehensive websites that can help you find hostel and guesthouse accommodations throughout the world, some of the best ones I often use are: www.hostelz.com/ and www.hostels.com
• Couchsurfing.com: To be honest, I’ve never used this website, but its seems to be the latest rage on the backpackers circuit and I’ve met a number of people who’ve had good experiences using it. It sure looks cool.
• Servas: An international peace organization founded after WWII, once you become a member you can staying with any of the other 24,000 members worldwide in their home for 2-3 days. Servas has offices in numerous countries, the US office is on the web at www.usservas.org and the international office is at www.servas.org.
• The World’s Best Hostels In the course of my trip around-the-world, I’ve stayed in dozens and dozens of guesthouses, hostels, homestays, and hotels, here’s some of my favorite (well, at least those on my ‘best of the best’ list that have websites):
  • Siem Reap, Cambodia: Bou Savy Guesthouse, big clean rooms, friendly, free airport/ferry pickup, and FREE fruit smoothies on arrival—all for about $10USD/night. services@bousavyguesthouse.com
  • Kathmandu, Nepal: Hotel Great Wall, www.hotelgreatwallnepal.com, clean rooms, 24 hot water, and Mahendra is possibly one of the nicest and friendliest owners I’ve met anywhere. info@hotelgreatwallnepal.com.
  • Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam: Miss Loi’s: With a location a bit outside the backpacker ghetto but in walkable distance to most things, Miss Loi’s makes the list for its friendly and helpful staff and inexpensive prices. Despite its simple rooms and quirky lobby, I enjoyed my stay here. missloi@hcm.fpt.vn

Experiences

• Tour de Afrique: Ok, so I haven’t actually done this, but I’m posting this here so that maybe one of you might agree to do it with me. Its a four-month bike ride across Africa from Egypt to South Africa. Who’s in?