What bothers you most about travelling? Is it the bouts of food poisoning, the pangs of homesickness, or the stress of navigating a new country? Perhaps it’s the endless preparation and research necessary before you can jet off to a faraway land.
For me, the most frustrating part is the administrative tasks. Finding the cheapest flight, planning an efficient route, and toughest of all, securing reliable travel insurance—some would describe that task as the biggest headache imaginable!
After living in the Philippines and backpacking around Southeast Asia, I’ve gathered my 5 favourite websites that will make organising your trip stress-free!
I can guarantee that most backpackers have asked themselves at least once, “Do I really need insurance?”
Well, a couple of years ago, that was exactly my thought. I had successfully completed six months of backpacking across Asia without a single injury, sickness, or emergency to deal with. Looking back on my naivety as a young backpacker, coupled with my extreme clumsiness, I now realise that was a complete fluke.
A tad overconfident, I leapt into my next travel adventure without insurance. Two weeks into exploring Da Nang, my newfound favourite city, I got chased by a stray dog, which ultimately decided my ankle would be a scrumptious meal! A panicked boyfriend, eight stitches, an x-ray, and multiple jabs later, my bank account was looking worryingly empty.
Try not to end up like me – get yourself some insurance!
Another time, my phone, camera, and wallet got water-damaged beyond repair. Fortunately, I had travel insurance this time. However, I hadn’t done enough research beforehand, and my excess fee was so high that it wasn’t worth making a claim!
After numerous bad experiences with travel insurance, I was fed up with all the hidden terms and conditions and the tedious claims process most insurance companies use, making it feel almost impossible to make a successful claim.
After discovering SafetyWing, an affordable travel medical insurance company, staying covered while travelling has become much more straightforward.
A few details about SafetyWing:
- $0 deductible, meaning you’re covered even for the smallest claims
- Coverage from just a few dollars per day
- Medical expense of $250,000
- You can add-on insurance for electronic theft and adventure sports
To make it even easier, SafetyWing has recently streamlined its claims process. Their simple method requires minimal details—just let them know what happened, upload any supporting documents, and fill in some facts. Within five minutes, your claim will be submitted, and you can sit back with a cup of tea and crack on with the rest of your day.
You can watch a 30-second speed through of their claims process below:
Ultimately, your health and peace of mind are the most valuable things you own in this life. Spending a few dollars a day to protect these is absolutely worthwhile.
If you want to read a little deeper into travel insurance, check out this guide explaining why travel insurance is a must!
Onward Ticket
Undoubtedly, one of the most frustrating parts of travelling in Southeast Asia is the necessary proof of onward travel.
For those new to this concept, proof of onward travel is a legal necessity for entering certain countries like the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. Essentially, you need either a return ticket or a pre-booked transport ticket to your next destination. It’s a bit of a hassle, especially if you prefer to travel spontaneously.
Some travellers try their luck, hoping they won’t be asked for proof. Others reluctantly plan every leg of their journey in advance, sacrificing flexibility. But the savvy travellers? They use a clever hack called Onward Ticket.
With Onward Ticket, you can get a flight reservation for just $16. Within two minutes, you’ll receive an email with a ticket and an airline reference code that’s accepted by Immigration. The reservation remains valid for 48 hours from purchase, giving you ample time to board your flight and clear immigration at your final destination.
Airalo
This clever website has reinvented the traditional tourist sim.
Traditionally, backpackers have purchased a SIM from the airport, allowing them to make local calls and access the internet. These SIMs are usually overpriced and quite frankly, a waste of money.
The other option, for more seasoned backpackers, is to purchase a local SIM from a supermarket or supplier in the city once they have arrived. This won’t always work, particularly if they don’t have any in stock, or if you are staying in a remote region.
Having mobile data in a foreign country is essential. It helps you navigate when lost, book Ubers, track your location, find attractions, and even communicate with locals.
Airalo has bridged the gap between a tourist SIM and a local SIM by creating an eSIM – a virtual SIM card.
With data packs available for over 200 countries and regions, Airalo is guaranteed to have a package suitable for you! Plus, you can purchase a plan that covers multiple countries, saving you significant money and the hassle of queuing at airports!
Kayak
Probably the most famous website on this list, Kayak is a price comparison tool that helps you find the most affordable flights worldwide.
Kayak is undoubtedly my favourite flight tool. It allows me to search for flights from up to three different airports at once. When booking my 24-hour journey from Cebu to England, this feature saves me a significant amount of money by offering various departure and arrival options.
With filters for duration, airline, departure time, stops, and more, Kayak makes finding the perfect flight incredibly easy.
12Go
12Go is a backpacker’s best friend abroad! This website shows you all the possible ways to get from one location to another and even lets you book your transport.
From trains, buses, and ferries to transfers and flights, 12Go makes travelling in a foreign location much easier.
Even after living in the Philippines for the past two years, I’d be lost using the local transport without my boyfriend! That’s why having a user-friendly tool like 12Go is perfect for solo travel and exploring countries that don’t speak your native language.
For more websites and apps we love to use while travelling, check out our resources page – a page dedicated to tried and tested companies that help save you money, make travelling easier and help you find hidden gems!
Further Southeast Asia Travel Advice
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We are Em & Yul – An English & Filipino Travel Couple. Now based in Cebu, we frequently explore the best destinations, hidden gems and cultural attractions across the Philippines.
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