Resources

Research your Destination

• Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Forums
  Research and discuss travel destinations, accommodation, political situations, and more.
• Country Specific Info
  American State Department’s general overview of every country including geography, political system, transport system, standard of medical facilites, and overall safety issues as well as visa requirements (for American citizens). All nationalities will want to check general Travel Warnings and recent Travel Alerts
• Transitions Abroad
  A portal for people who want to work, volunteer, study or simply live and travel abroad.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  Discover the world’s most spectacular monuments, natural wonders, and points of cultural interest.
• Craig’s List
  Great resource for finding discount appartments, used cars, temp jobs, shared rides – a must for long term travelers.

Getting to your Destination

• Kayak.com Flight Search Engine
  This is a good place to start when researching flight prices.
• STA Travel
  Travel agency offering discounted flights and tours for students and young travelers. Can purchase tickets online.
• Seat 61
  Excellent source of information on the rail systems of the world. Places an emphasis on rail trips from London, but its extensive information is quite useful to all. Can purchase tickets and railpasses online.

Finding Accommodation

• Lonely Planet Accommodation Search
  Book anything from dormitories to budget guest houses to high-end hotels. Includes pictures, descriptions, and ratings.
• Tablet Hotels
  Book luxury hotels worldwide. For something s little more extravagant!
• Couch Surfing
  An organization of people who offer travelers a free place to stay. Sometimes a couch, sometimes more.

Health and Travel Insurance

• CDC Traveler’s Health Information
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s country-specific index of travel-related health issues including vaccination recommendations.
• WHO Epidemic and Pandemic Alerts
  World Health Organization’s website listing current epidemics and pandemics.
• WorldNomads.com Travel Insurance
  Find affordable travel/health insurance in your country.

Money Matters

• Currency Converter
  Get the latest exchange rates from Oanda.

Region Specific Sites

• 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking
  Nepalese organization providing female trekking guides and porters. Great for independent female travelers.
• Cheap European Accommodation
  Find inexpensive accommodation in major European cities.
• MakeMyTrip.com
  This site is amazing. Book flights, trains, buses and more in India. You will grow to love this site as much as we do.
• Templenet.com – Temples of India
  The ultimate guide to the temples of India. This site is enormous!
• Heritage Hotels in India
  Explore accommodation in luxurious Indian palaces, havelis, and fortresses.
• Trekking in China
  Learn the inside secrets to China’s best hiking and trekking destinations.
• Latest on Visiting Tibet
  This blog has extensive, regularly updated information for those planning a trip to Tibet. Excellent resource for learning the latest about Tibet permits.

Other Useful Sites

• World Weather
  Look up the weather in destinations all over the world.
• World Clock
  Look up current local times around the world.