Call me crazy if you want, but I love planning a trip.
I love getting a headache from figuring out the best traveling options.
Yes, sometimes, I just browse airline websites without the intention to go anywhere. Just out of curiosity, to see what's on sale, what's not. I'm probably the same as someone who loves shoes. They will stop by any shop and just look at what's there.
Well, I'm like that...but with flight tickets.
Planning a trip is not everybody's cup of tea. It was not even mine when I planned my first trip to France.
The fact is, I now have a lot more knowledge and tools than then.
I would have loved to come across a blog post about all those great secrets about flights, transportation and accommodation options.
I'm not a travel agent. And there's surely much more traveling tools around the internet than I know... However, I'm going to share my favorites here.
To find cheap flights
Skyscanner.net
This great web site allows you to search for flights in different ways. If you are flexible with your dates of travel of destination, this is your dream come true. You can select a departing airport and select 'everywhere' as your destination. The web page will populate a list of flights from cheapest to most expensive.
You can also select 'cheapest month' as you traveling dates. Which is great if you don't really care when you leave and when you come back.
Expedia.com
I used expedia several times to book flights. It usually has great deals and lists different options with different airlines. This allows you to find a reasonably priced flight ticket with the arriving time or date you are looking for. If you like to get connections less than several hours or don't like to arrive late at night, it's a good way to browse through the airlines options all at the same place.
Cheapoair.com
This is another website pretty similar to Expedia. I love to use both as sometimes flights on Cheapoair are less expensive than Expedia.
Airline websites
Sometimes, though, I find the best options are with airlines themselves. I like to check on them as deals can appear here before other websites that includes several airlines.
Also in Europe there is a lot smaller, cheaper airlines. I found out Ireland has ridiculously low fares (to our great delight of course). So if you're traveling in Europe, check to flights on Irish airlines websites.
A few of these airlines include Ryanair, Transavia, Easyjet... to name a few. Just make sure you travel light or be prepared to pay extra baggage fees with some airlines.
Scared of flights
Yeah, we're not all so excited about flying. Luckily there are other options.
Trains, buses, ferries, carpool... Don't worry you're not alone.
Trains:
They're GREAT in Europe, and they're terrible in Canada. This is from my own experience.
If traveling to Europe, they're generally affordable and frequent. Railways connects from countries to countries and you can even get tickets that covers different countries.
I have travelled in France and Italy by train and found it was a very good way to see to country.
High speed trains are more expensive but get you to destination almost as fast as a plane.
Other slower trains or the ones that are almost like metros are great to get to smaller towns, or from the airport to the city center.
A great website if you are traveling through Europe: RailEurope
Bus:
Honestly, always thought buses where uncomfortable and not the best way to travel.
Well welcome to the 21st century, where buses have curtains, air conditioner, reading lights and have more legroom and comfortable seats than airplanes.
I now love travelling by bus. I did so in Italy, Morocco and Tunisia and enjoyed it.
It's a lot cheaper than the train in some countries and pretty effective.
So it's always a good idea to check the bus lines as well.
There's a lot of them which gives you lots of options too. And the good news is, if you're planning on visiting remote villages, it will most certainly get you there better than the train.
Ferries:
Ferries are generally cheaper than a flight. Also if you're traveling with a car, you might like this option better.
The only down side: It can take 2 days for a 2 hours flight. It's not that bad if you don't mind no cell phone or wifi for a good 48 hour. Where it gets me is at the cafeteria or restaurant. It's usually highly priced... But you need to eat, right? However, the sea adventure is always fun, I have to admit.
Carpool
This is another option that I only tried with people I knew or people who kindly drove two hours to allow me to catch the ferry (WWOOF hosts are that nice sometimes).
The idea of hitchhiking and carpooling with strangers has always made me a little unsure.
I might try it if I travel with a few friends but probably not by myself.
However, I've talked to backpackers who where very happy with the idea.
Hitchhiking has now joined the wonderful world of internet through Blablacar.com and probably
a lot of other organizations if you search a bit for it.
At last, my favorite website that combines all of transportation options is Rome2Rio.com
This website allows you to search a departure city and arriving city and will populate all traveling options and combinations to get there.
It is a wonderful tool!
What about accommodation?
Accommodation can be crazy expensive (especially towards Paris and Venice). From five star resorts to creepy looking no star shacks, how to find something that would best suit you?
A great option, especially if you're a single traveler is Hostels. There less expensive and allow you to meet fellow travelers. Most of them have a common room where travelers can socialize and a kitchen that can be used (great to cut on the restaurant expenses). You can find hostels through hostel organisations or simply by searching for independent ones (sometimes even better than the ones in the organisation).
HIhostels.com
Probably the largest hostel network. You can search by city and find options from there.
Booking.com
It's a great website to find hostels or cheap accommodation.
And if you found something in your price range but not sure if it's nice enough for you, you can always us this website to see what other travelers thought of it:
Tripadvisor
If you're looking for a more authentic experience, you might want to wander off the beaten path.
Here are two of my favorite options to really LIVE the country you're visiting.
Wwoofinternational.org
This organization allows volunteers to work on an organic farm in exchange of food and accommodation.
It required lots of willingness and hard work but is an unforgettable and irreplaceable lifetime experience.
It's the best way to really be immersed in the culture. You get to understand the people and to experience their lifestyle. You get to eat local food and cuisine, be surrounded by the countryside you see in movies but never get to experience as a tourist and socialize with local. All this at the cost of....a sore back and blistered hands. To me it's worth it... up to you to find out if you like it or not.
Couchsurfing.com
This one is also fantastic. This is a network of people offering to accommodate you in their home for free.
Couchsurfing is especially great again to get immersed in the culture and find out so much more about the country you're visiting. And also meet wonderful people!
I only add a few couchsurfing experiences so far but hope to do it again.
Well, that's pretty much all for my favorite traveling tools. I hope they are getting you on your way to great adventures.
And remember: pack light SUPER light, get a good pair of shoes and enjoy!
Traveling is more than traveling it's learning, it's building yourself and better understanding the world.
Safe travels!
n
