Comments on: My Favorite Travel Companies http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/favorite-travel-companies/ Nomadic Matt's Travel Site Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ry http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/favorite-travel-companies/#comment-30710 Ry Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:52:19 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2027#comment-30710 Hey Matt, Good post. I just picked up a MARS bag for my upcoming RTW trip in June 2010. Great looking bag, and only $129 on REI Outlet. Sweet deal! Hey Matt,

Good post. I just picked up a MARS bag for my upcoming RTW trip in June 2010. Great looking bag, and only $129 on REI Outlet. Sweet deal!

]]> By: Chris Noble http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/favorite-travel-companies/#comment-9098 Chris Noble Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:01:59 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2027#comment-9098 Matt, I think you're cool too ! (In a rumbly blokey huggy type of way). BootsnAll & Gap are great companies, in fact all the ones you've mentioned are excellent. Carpool guy - we do cover for baggage on most policies, levels depend on country of residence ( and I'll send you a funky luggage tag as well if you want !) Well done mate, keep up the great work ! Matt,

I think you’re cool too ! (In a rumbly blokey huggy type of way). BootsnAll & Gap are great companies, in fact all the ones you’ve mentioned are excellent.

Carpool guy – we do cover for baggage on most policies, levels depend on country of residence ( and I’ll send you a funky luggage tag as well if you want !)

Well done mate, keep up the great work !

]]> By: Kay http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/favorite-travel-companies/#comment-8840 Kay Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:51:40 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2027#comment-8840 Hi! I love your site. As far as the discount cards go, I don't fit into any of the catagories. I JUST turned 26 :( and I'm not a student, and I'm not a full time teacher :( Is there no hope for me?! Hi! I love your site.
As far as the discount cards go, I don’t fit into any of the catagories. I JUST turned 26 :( and I’m not a student, and I’m not a full time teacher :( Is there no hope for me?!

]]> By: James G - Expat Rock Star http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/favorite-travel-companies/#comment-8793 James G - Expat Rock Star Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:32:28 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2027#comment-8793 Another great guidebook (well, it is sort of a guidebook) are the “culture shock” series of books. They are primarily geared towards people moving overseas full time but they offer outstand first hand information about a country and its people written by long term expats. They also have allot of the “hard truths” and non-politically correct stuff that is important to know but isn’t always included in the other guidebooks. In my opinion the bets advice comes from long term expats that have lived in a country for years. I have always felt that you learn more about a country talking to a street noodle vendor or a taxi driver then you ever will visiting a museum Another great guidebook (well, it is sort of a guidebook) are the “culture shock” series of books. They are primarily geared towards people moving overseas full time but they offer outstand first hand information about a country and its people written by long term expats. They also have allot of the “hard truths” and non-politically correct stuff that is important to know but isn’t always included in the other guidebooks.

In my opinion the bets advice comes from long term expats that have lived in a country for years. I have always felt that you learn more about a country talking to a street noodle vendor or a taxi driver then you ever will visiting a museum

]]> By: Mark H http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/favorite-travel-companies/#comment-8791 Mark H Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:29:34 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2027#comment-8791 Cheers for BootsNAll - I agree. For Australia, World Expeditions (thougha fraction pricey) are excellent as well and sound like they have much the same ethic as GAP. For backpacks, I'm a fan of Macpac which is a Kiwi brand - truly excellent gear. And for guidebooks I am also LP and Rough Guides, though for North America, Moon guides have been pretty useful too on a couple of trips. LP has reduced slightly in quality in the last two years. Interesting to hear views of others. Cheers for BootsNAll – I agree. For Australia, World Expeditions (thougha fraction pricey) are excellent as well and sound like they have much the same ethic as GAP. For backpacks, I’m a fan of Macpac which is a Kiwi brand – truly excellent gear. And for guidebooks I am also LP and Rough Guides, though for North America, Moon guides have been pretty useful too on a couple of trips. LP has reduced slightly in quality in the last two years. Interesting to hear views of others.

]]> By: Shawn http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/favorite-travel-companies/#comment-8760 Shawn Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:58:53 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2027#comment-8760 The backpack that fits the person is the most important. Good to have a credit card, but if your bank offers free ATM global transaction fees, like my bank does, don't use a credit card. Have one as a back up only and online transactions. A guide book is helpful, although not essential. For get the rest and save your money, except for the student card. Insurance is a waste of money. I have never read a single traveler blogger that has ever needed to use insurance. Totally avoid tour companies, unless you're on a holiday and you need the help for navigation next to a long term traveler. The backpack that fits the person is the most important.

Good to have a credit card, but if your bank offers free ATM global transaction fees, like my bank does, don’t use a credit card. Have one as a back up only and online transactions.

A guide book is helpful, although not essential.

For get the rest and save your money, except for the student card.

Insurance is a waste of money. I have never read a single traveler blogger that has ever needed to use insurance.

Totally avoid tour companies, unless you’re on a holiday and you need the help for navigation next to a long term traveler.

]]> By: Wendy-Escape NY http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/favorite-travel-companies/#comment-8759 Wendy-Escape NY Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:35:20 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2027#comment-8759 I use the aadvantage card for the same reason:oneworld. I'm a big fan of Cathay Pacific. The miles add up and there are many bonus offers that earn you miles without spending "extra" money. I use the aadvantage card for the same reason:oneworld.
I’m a big fan of Cathay Pacific. The miles add up and there are many bonus offers that earn you miles without spending “extra” money.

]]> By: Soultravelers3 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/favorite-travel-companies/#comment-8758 Soultravelers3 Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:09:12 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2027#comment-8758 It is always interesting to see what other long term travelers like. Our open ended world travel is as a family and our travel has so far been in 4 different continents than where you are, so our needs are some what different. We are into our 3rd year and have not used any of the things that you do. Funny. I would have to agree on bootsnall though as I have been a regular there for many years, especially active in the "traveling with kids" and "round the world" forums. I am pleased to be doing some writing for them now. I only have time for travel forums that are useful and VERY easy to use. Not sure why they would make them hard, but I give up if they are. We have some guide books with us, but we tend to use the internet more or locals. I find my readers often also turn me onto some of the best places and hidden opportunities. We prefer the more authentic and special places and have a knack at finding them far from the maddening crowds. Fun photo! It is always interesting to see what other long term travelers like.

Our open ended world travel is as a family and our travel has so far been in 4 different continents than where you are, so our needs are some what different.

We are into our 3rd year and have not used any of the things that you do. Funny.

I would have to agree on bootsnall though as I have been a regular there for many years, especially active in the “traveling with kids” and “round the world” forums. I am pleased to be doing some writing for them now.

I only have time for travel forums that are useful and VERY easy to use. Not sure why they would make them hard, but I give up if they are.

We have some guide books with us, but we tend to use the internet more or locals. I find my readers often also turn me onto some of the best places and hidden opportunities. We prefer the more authentic and special places and have a knack at finding them far from the maddening crowds.

Fun photo!

]]> By: Monna http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/favorite-travel-companies/#comment-8756 Monna Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:42:34 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2027#comment-8756 For non-backpacking travel in Europe, I'd add Rick Steves guides and Context Travel at http://www.contexttravel.com For non-backpacking travel in Europe, I’d add Rick Steves guides and Context Travel at http://www.contexttravel.com

]]> By: ally http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/favorite-travel-companies/#comment-8735 ally Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:52:25 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2027#comment-8735 Good old REI, always last the distance... A friend of mine bought cheap and got stuck trying to fix the strap whilst trying to run and catch a bus in Namibia that if she missed would be another 48 hours to wait for the next one... Not something I worry about! I'll second HostelBookers, too. Last time I searched on HostelWorld, they kept throwing me 3* hotels that were like £50 a night.... why? why? I'm looking for a hostel, guys, that's what the name suggests...! HostelBookers much more backpacker-friendly :) Good old REI, always last the distance… A friend of mine bought cheap and got stuck trying to fix the strap whilst trying to run and catch a bus in Namibia that if she missed would be another 48 hours to wait for the next one… Not something I worry about!

I’ll second HostelBookers, too. Last time I searched on HostelWorld, they kept throwing me 3* hotels that were like £50 a night…. why? why? I’m looking for a hostel, guys, that’s what the name suggests…! HostelBookers much more backpacker-friendly :)

]]>