Tasha’s Travel Resources
Flights, Accommodation, Activities
Here’s a list of my compiled travel resources that I personally use on my travels. From flight booking platforms to sustainable travel products (good for the Earth + good for me and you!), these resources make my life easier while exploring. Please use this as a checklist to reference before your next adventure!
I always use Expedia to book flights because it’s convenient and cheaper. I feel secure buying from this third party site knowing it is legitimate.
Remember to search in incognito code — their calendar and multi city tools make it easy to find the best route for the lowest price.
This is great for booking hostels if you want to pay cheaper in cash when you arrive. I personally love hostels as a frugal nomad and they are great for meeting other travelers. Many hostels have deals on trips, restaurants, ferries, and local activities.
The prices in Klook are almost always cheaper than booking through other platforms or directly, especially for experiences in Asia!
These two platforms are great for finding accommodation around the world in exchange for working. WWOOF focuses on sustainable farming for cultural exchange and Workaway volunteering has a broader range from working with hostels, families, farms, and projects.
Couchsurfing is great for budget travelers! Staying for free with a host that can show you their city is a game changer! I suggest you use with caution, use filtered searches, and check the host’s last login date before sending a request. You will have to pay for a yearly subscription fee (about $15 USD) but it’s worth the experiences alone.
Good for flight price comparisons and initial searching. I love the “Everywhere” feature–it’s perfect for finding the cheapest destination to fly to if you’re spontaneous.
I use this as a backup when I would like to book accommodation by card rather than cash. Also great for when you want to be flexible and use their free cancellation option.
Great for booking tours, activities, and local activities. My friend used Viator to book her entire Machu Picchu trip–guided tour, transportation, and hostel.
Great for booking local activities like outdoor adventures or guided tours. Everything from whale watching to theme park tickets to hot air balloon rides!
MAPS.ME
A great app for downloading maps with Wi-Fi for areas you will visit, then accessing the maps offline!
This traveler’s health insurance is the most flexible one that I’ve found. They let you pay a weekly rate per month and don’t require you to share exact countries or dates of your travel plans.
Sustainable Travel Products and Shops
Hannah Pads – I bought two Hannah reusable period pads when I first arrived in Australia seven years ago and I still use them! I have saved so much money by avoiding disposable pads and kept so much plastic out of the ocean! The button attaches the pad to your underwear and also keeps it folded into a neat square after washing. I always hand-wash them to keep them in good condition. Made from unbleached organic cotton and all with a cute design! The brand even has designs printed on their pads by Vincent van Gogh, Gustav Klimt, and other artists, you can see these beautifully crafted pads here.
BeEco – I use their bamboo toothbrushes and reusable glass jar dispensers for floss. They offer refillable biodegradable floss spools–in charcoal and regular mint–and I love the glass dispenser because it helps reduce plastic waste. This is an Australian company I’ve been using for years!
Teva sandals – I’ve been wearing Teva sandals for years! They are great for hiking, trekking through rocky waters, and looking cool. My sandals even survived walking through the muddy entrance of the Bexhill Quarry Lake near Byron Bay after a cyclone (would not recommend). Here’s some good and bad days with my Teva sandals:
BADGER BALM and LITTLE URCHIN – A zinc mineral sunscreen is crucial in any travel situation! When I’m in the United States, I use Badger Balm and Little Urchin when living in Australia. Zinc-based sunscreens don’t contain oxybenzone, a chemical found in many conventional sunscreens that has been shown to absorb into the bloodstream and can interfere with hormone function. Oxybenzone has also been linked to coral bleaching, which can damage ocean ecosystems. Both of these brands are reef-safe and sheer which means they are easy to spread and don’t have that thick, white texture! I also use a tinted zinc sunscreen from Sun and Earth Zinc for my face and neck when doing skiff sailing, snorkeling, or surfing–it’s a thicker texture to prevent sweat or water washing the sunscreen into your eyes!
BLK + GRN – A website with artisanal products that are good for our bodies and kind to the environment and every product is curated from a Black artist. I love that they offer natural soaps, shampoos, and reef-safe sunscreens—perfect for traveling while supporting a company that prioritizes sustainability, low-waste practices, and Black folx.
EARTH HERO – A website that is similar to that well-known online marketplace named after the Amazon Rainforest that I avoid supporting when buying art, books, etc., as it takes a significant percentage of profits from artists and it fuels unnecessary waste and overconsumption. I understand using *that* website for camera gear, traveling items, and using the affiliate program (we do what we can to survive). Earth Hero is a broad marketplace for sustainable, eco-friendly products and it also gives back to environmental causes. They have a range of products for home, beauty, clothing, and traveling. This site also has refillable floss jars that are great for traveling! Great if you are located in the United States, for the site BeEco where I get my floss is in Australia.
VINTED, ETSY, and DEPOP – Thrifting reduces the environmental damage caused by fast fashion! I’m a huge advocate for buying clothing, camping gear, traveling items, and supplies for Burning Man second-hand! I love thrifting because it not only saves money, it supports local charities and individuals who run vintage shops, while promoting sustainability by reducing textile waste.
