Travel Resources

Here you can find all of the links to the various partners we have featured, or used in our travels. Some of these links are affiliate links and if you use our links we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We update this page monthly so be sure to check back.

If you wish to show your support for our project, please consider using our links when booking accommodation, insurance, a vehicle, an activity or anything else from this page.

Insurance

Insurance is important especially when traveling to far off places. Here are the companies we have used or partnered with to keep us and/or our stuff protected when we travel.

Travel Medical Insurance

• SafetyWing Nomad Insurance – Travel Medical Insurance SafetyWing offer two options now, Essential and Complete. Essential provides you with coverage for unexpected issues while traveling including hospital stays and includes coverage for lost luggage, travel delays and more. While Complete has everything in the Essential and adds more robust health coverage like routine medical care, wellness and additional travel coverages.
• Genki Explorer – Travel health insurance with maximum flexibility for frequent travelers like digital nomads and backpackers. Monthly insurance subscription – from one month up to two years. Extensive cover for medical treatment around the world. Any citizen, any residence, ages up to 69
• Genki Native – Health care wherever you go with long-term, worldwide cover for medical treatment. Perfect for digital nomads, expats, and families living abroad. From routine doctor visits to hospital stays and medical procedures (like surgeries, dialysis, and chemotherapy).

Flight Delay & Cancellation Solutions

Be mindful of possible interruptions, such as delays and cancellations, that could occur during their trip. Some travel medical insurance like SafteyWing and some Credit Cards offer some protections but may are limited in coverage. You may want to consider purchasing travel insurance to protect against these setbacks and familiarize yourself with airline compensation policies.

• Compensair – Online service that helps air travelers to receive up to €600 compensation from airlines in case of a flight delay, cancellation, or denied boarding.
• AirHelp -Service that helps passengers understand their rights and receive up to €600 in compensation for delayed or canceled flights. All you need to do is to submit your flight details. If your flight is eligible, AirHelp will handle the claim process on your behalf for a 35% fee (50% if legal procedures are necessary)*.
• AirHelp also has a prepaid service, Airhelp Plus, that gives customers full access to Airhelp’s expertise, should a flight disruption occur. There are two types of AirHelp Plus coverage to offer: Essential and Complete.
• Use our Discount code AHPLS5 for a 5% discount on AirHelp+ plans

Electronics Insurance

• Professional Photographers of America (PPA)

Accommodations

Finding a place to stay while traveling is honestly our least favorite thing to do. We have had good luck finding stays that usually fit our budget through these sites below. This list is not entirely inclusive as we just don’t have room to cover every type of stay we have had. This list covers our main go to websites we use on a regular basis to find our temporary homes.

• Flatio – Our primary go to for accommodations in Europe. They have many nomad friendly stays including high-speed internet and a workspace. Most stays are available from as little as 5 days to 6 months or longer.
• Booking.com – Great for city breaks or when on a layover while en route to your next destination. We have also had good luck with longer stays of up to a month.
• Hotels.com – Another great option for a few nights up to 28 days. Like booking, they have many apartments and alternative stays available on the platform.
• Facebook Groups – Fantastic place to find private owner accommodations all over the world. We have not found one single group but rather Search “facebook group apartments for rent in ______”
• Airbnb – We have not had great luck with Airbnb over the years and really only use it to se the high end of pricing in a city. occasionally we are forced to use it if we have exhausted all of our other options, with about a 50% chance of a decent stay.
• VRBO – For years VRBO was a great option for our travels mainly due to the cancelation policies being more forgiving. Over the last few years it seems to have gotten less flexible and more costly. Still we prefer VRBO over Airbnb any day.
• HostelWorld – Hostelworld is a global hostel-focused online booking platform with more than 13 million reviews across over 17,000 hostels in more than 179 countries.
• Tripadvisor – A great place to start looking when planning travel. They sometimes have good deals on accommodations, experiences and more.

Phone & Data

When we are traveling overseas, we find it’s crucial to stay connected. There are various options available for phone and data communication while abroad. Here are some of the ones we have used and recommend.

eSims

• Yesim – Great if you use a lot of data every month. They offer unlimited data packages across 150+ countries. Yesim offers a diverse range of data plans, including single-country, regional, and global eSIM packages. Another cool perk the makes Yesim stand out are virtual numbers in key regions like North America, the EU, and the Middle East.
• Airalo
  • NEWTOAIRALO15, new users a 15% discount for one booking
  • AIRALOESIM10 10% discount for one booking (existing users)
• BNESIM
  • Use coupon code HARTZ20 20% discount. (1 time per user)
• Jetpac
  • Special 10% off code for you JPHARTZ10
• Sparks – Offers plans of 45 days (sorry we dont have any discount codes)

Mobile Wi-Fi

• Travel Hotspots
• RoamWiFi
• Netgear Nighthawk

Physical Sim Cards

• travSIM Cards
• Europe Sim Card
• Local Sim cards

Phone Carriers with International Roaming

Here are the top common U.S. carriers that offer international data roaming coverage. Generally you get access to a certain amount of highspeed data, texts and WIFI calling back to the United States on the premium plans. International calls are billed at the carriers predetermined rates per minute.

• T-Mobile + International Pass
• AT&T + Day Passes
• GoogleFi
• Verizon + Travel Pass

International Roaming Passes

Unlike the above common carrier plans with International Roaming included, These U.S. carriers offer data and/or calling “Passes” good for one day all the way up to a month for a fee.

• T-Mobile International Pass
• AT&T Day Passes
• Verizon Travel Pass
• Mint Mobile Minternational Pass
• Ultra Mobile Uproam Data Pass

Travel Credit Cards

If your form the U.S. (like us) or Canada consider yourself lucky. We get access to some of the best credit cards that reward you with points that you can use to get free hotel nights and reward flights. Here is what we are using (or have used).

• Chase Southwest Premium
• Chase Sapphire Preferred
• Capitol One Venture

Banking & Debit Cards

Here’s a selection of top-notch online banking resources that offer excellent travel debit cards with no foreign transaction fees. These options will help you manage your finances efficiently while you explore the world without worrying about extra costs.

• Charles Schwab – The Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking® account provides a Schwab Bank Visa® Platinum Debit Card with no foreign transaction fees and unlimited ATM rebates, making it ideal for international travel. It opens alongside a Schwab One® brokerage account, has no monthly service fees or minimum balance requirements, and insures funds up to $250,000. The account earns a variable interest rate, giving travelers freedom to withdraw cash globally without needing to research ATM locations.
• T-Mobile Money – Free checking account that earns interest and comes with a MasterCard Debit card offering ATM fee rebates at over 55,000 Allpoint ATM locations around the world (Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Australia and the United Kingdom). However we have used it in Portugal, Bulgaria and Vietnam without any fees at select ATM’s.
• Betterment – Betterment offers investment services and a mobile-first checking account with a Visa debit card. The card has no foreign transaction fees, reimburses all ATM fees, and has no overdraft or monthly service fees. Betterment is not a bank, but funds are FDIC-insured and you can earn cashback rewards on purchases.
• Fidelity Cash Management Account – Fidelity Cash Management Account is a brokerage account for saving and spending, includes a debit card that reimburses ATM fees at ATMs with Visa®, Plus®, or Star® logos, providing flexibility for international withdrawals. It has no minimum balance requirements or monthly service fees, and any uninvested cash balances are transferred to FDIC-insured accounts at participating banks, ensuring the protection of your funds and enabling you to earn interest.

Alternative Payment Apps and Money Transfer

Our top alternative payment apps and services, as well as money transfer solutions with foreign exchange options. These resources will ensure seamless transactions and transfers, making your global financial interactions hassle-free.

• Revolut – Send and receive money in 25+ currencies, exchange currency with no fees, transfer money between revolut accounts for free. Comes with a debit card that can be used at 55,000 ATM’s world wide. Additionally you earn interest on money held in FDIC insured savings vaults.
• Wise – The Wise multi-currency account offers low fees and transparency, making it ideal for international travel. It allows you to hold and convert funds in up to 40 currencies at the mid-market rate, and provides local account details for up to nine currencies for receiving international payments. The debit card offers up to two free withdrawals per month with a maximum value of $100 (2% thereafter), charges small fees for conversions, and offers an interest-earning account option for USD balances.
• Paypal
• Apple Pay
• Google pay

Data Privacy & Security

Want to watch your favorite streaming service while on the road? Protect your online transactions from bad actors (not Tommy Wiseau) but those trying to steal your banking info or passwords?

This is where a good VPN or Virtual Private Network comes in handy. We religiously use a VPN while on the road, in our apartment, cafes, airports. They are also especially handy when we want to access a geo-blocked TV show or website. They are inexpensive and totally worth it.

• Nord VPN
• SurfShark
• NordPass – Password locker

Car Rentals & Scooter Rentals

We have had good luck finding car rentals through the following websites through the years. We added a website for scooter rentals around the world for good measure, although at the time of writing this we haven’t used them yet. They are highly rated, but we can’t personally vouch for them.

Car Rentals

Rentalcars.com

Rentalcars – Find the right car in over 60,000 locations across 160 countries

LocalRent

Localrent – They only work with local national car rental companies

DiscoverCars

DiscoverCars – An award-winning car rental comparison website on which customers can find, compare, and rent cars around the world

Ground Transportation

Our favorite ways to book getting from one place to another without a rental car or by using local public transportation. Rideshares, Trains, Buses and more!

• 12go – Offers booking of ground and water transport services in Southeast Asia, Oceania and Europe
• Omio – Book travel tickets by comparing trains, buses, and flights in Europe with one search
• Kiwi Taxi – International airport transfers in 100 countries with various vehicle classes and English-speaking drivers
• Busbud – Busbud is an online bus-booking platform that has compiled the world’s largest selection of bus tickets. Easily compare bus tickets from different companies and book the best option for your next trip.
• Flixbus – FlixBus has the largest transport network in Europe, covering 26 countries and serving more than 60 million passengers.
• GetbyBus – Another great bus option for Europe.
• Rail Europe – Rail Europe works with over 50 European train companies.
• Get Transfer – The number one marketplace in the world for booking transfers, long distance travel, cab rides, hourly chauffeured car rentals and delivery services anywhere in the world.
• Welcome Pickups – Welcome Pickups is a premier provider of seamless airport transfers and personalized sightseeing rides, committed to enhancing every traveler’s journey from the moment they land.
• Bolt – Use Code JOELH9Q to get 50% off your first trip! Our go to rideshare app for Europe & beyond, serving over 50 counties worldwide. In certain countries you can also have food delivered. using their sister app Bolt Food.
• Grab – Our go to rideshare app for Asia. They also deliver food and groceries all in one app!

Travel by Air or by Sea

Here are some excellent websites for finding air and sea transportation for your travels. Whether you’re booking a flight or planning a cruise, these resources will help ensure smooth sailing and flying.

• KAYAK
• Google Flights
• CheapOair – CheapOair is a leading provider of airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars and vacation packages. 
• Expedia.com
• SEARADAR – SEARADAR is a professional concierge service specializing in sailing yacht rentals worldwide.

Finding Amazing Experiences and Activities

Once you have arrived at an amazing destination what do you do? Well we use a combination of prior research, asking around, blind luck and these sites to find experiences to literally write blog posts about!

• Viator – Find activities, adventures and even shuttles all over the world.
• GetYourGuide – Helps you discover the best things to do, including niche offerings they won’t find anywhere else.
• Tiquets – Directly bookable and instantly available mobile tickets for attractions around the world.

Passport and Visa Services

• Rushmypassport – Rushmypassport.com excels at what its name implies – expediting the passport as well as the visa application process. If you find yourself in need of a quick visa or passport renewal, this site can deliver it to you just as quickly, or even faster, than other online services.
• VisaHQ – VisaHQ.com boasts a vast network, offering a wide range of visa application resources and information available on their website. Their platform guides users through the application process for most countries, which is a great way to alleviate much of the stress often experienced by anxious travelers.

Virtual Mailboxes

A virtual mailbox is basically a digital way for people and businesses to handle their mail online. You get a physically address where the service receives, scans and forwards your mail. You also get a customizable online address where all your mail gets sorted let you receive, sort, and send your mail digitally, giving you a safe and convenient way to manage your postal needs from anywhere in the world. This is super handy for slow travelers, expats, or anyone who doesn’t have a permanent place to live.

• Traveling Mailbox – They’ve got various plans that include mail scanning forwarding and online document management. You can check your mail anytime through their platform which is a big plus for busy travelers. A big perk is that the monthly scan allowance rolls over on the middle and higher tiers.
• Postscan Mail – They have a bunch of solid features including mail scanning, forwarding, storage for unopened mail and digital archiving options. This makes keeping track of important documents easy no matter where you are. Additionally they have both domestic and international locations.
• iPostal1 – This service is flexible and great for personal or business use. If you are running your business while traveling, iPostal1 also has virtual office options both domestic and abroad. With many location options and an easy-to-navigate interface you can handle your mail smoothly while on the move.

Storage Solutions

Are you need of short or long term storage for your most important things? If you don’t have some really cool friends or family and you dont have time to find new ones then consider the following:

• Sparefoot – An online marketplace to find local storage units for everything from your boxes to RV’s!

Everything Else we Use to Travel the World

Our ever-growing list of other websites and brands we use to make our lives easier while we travel. From travel accessories to camera gear we have used these companies to make our travels easier and for the tools of our trade. For a few we have even arranged some discounts or special offers for you!

Airport Lounge Access

• Priority Pass – Priority Pass provides frequent travelers with independent airport lounge access to more lounges, in more cities, in more countries than any other competitor worldwide.
• Dragon Pass
• Lounge Buddy
• Jetpac

Quick Start Guides & eBooks

Wandering Hartz Store

• Saranda QS
• Bansko QS
• Hua Hin QS
• Brasov QS
• Thriving Abroad Overcoming Loneliness and Building Connections
• ETIAS
• Virtual Mailboxes

Thank you for your continued support for our Wandering Hartz project! We appreciate each and every one of you and hope our articles and guides help you in your travels. If your feeling a bit tipsy you can also buy us a glass of wine (or whiskey)!

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