Travel Gear & Services I Recommend
The Toolkit
Travel Gear & Services I Recommend
I've been traveling the world since March 2013, and along the way, I've figured out which companies actually work, through a lot of trial and error. The brands listed here are the ones I personally use because they help me get the most out of every trip.
Over the years, I've built strong relationships with some of these companies, and because of that, I'm sometimes able to offer exclusive deals to my readers. I only share these when I genuinely believe they'll add value to your travels, the same way they've added value to mine.
How I Book My Hotels
Different trips call for different platforms. Here's exactly how I split my hotel bookings depending on where I'm going and what kind of stay I want.
Trip.com
My go-to for premium hotels where I want to collect points and unlock loyalty perks. Great for long flights and Asia-based luxury stays.
Book on Trip.com →Booking.com
My favorite for weekend getaways and last-minute deals. Free cancellation on most stays gives me the flexibility I need on the road.
Find a stay →Agoda
My pick for cheaper hotels in Asia. Their inventory and pricing in the region consistently beat the bigger platforms.
Search Asia deals →Expedia
What I use when traveling around the United States. Bundle flights and hotels together for the biggest savings.
Book USA travel →Hotels.com
For cheaper US hotels with rewards stamps that stack up quickly. Every 10 nights gets me one free.
Search Hotels.com →Hostelworld
My platform when I'm backpacking on a budget and want to meet fellow travelers. Honest reviews and beds from a few dollars a night.
Find a hostel →Tours & Experiences
From hop-on hop-off buses to skip-the-line passes, these are the platforms I use to actually do things in a new city.
GetYourGuide
My main platform for things to do anywhere in the world. Clean app, instant mobile tickets, and free cancellation on most experiences.
Browse experiences →My Curated City Lists
The exact things-to-do lists I've curated on GetYourGuide for cities I've visited. Skip the research, just book what I'd book.
See my picks →Big Bus Tours
Easy hop-on hop-off tours in major cities. My move when I want to cover a lot of ground fast on a first visit.
Find your city →Tripadvisor
Read the reviews, then book. Still the most honest review system online for tours, restaurants, and attractions.
Read & book →Viator
My backup when GetYourGuide doesn't have what I'm looking for. Huge selection of unique day trips and excursions.
Browse Viator →GoCity
One pass, dozens of attractions. Pays for itself fast if you plan to hit the major sights in a city.
Get a pass →Cars, Bikes & Airport Transfers
Getting from A to B without the airport scam or the surprise insurance fee.
Kiwitaxi
Pre-booked airport transfers worldwide. Never haggle with taxis after a long flight again. Driver waits with your name.
Book a transfer →LocalRent
Local car rental rates across Europe, Asia and Africa. Cheaper than the big chains and you support smaller operators.
Rent a car →BikesBooking
Scooters and motorbikes anywhere in the world. Perfect for island-hopping in the Philippines or coastal towns in Asia.
Find a bike →Trains, Buses & Ferries
One ticket platform per region. These three cover most of the world.
Rail Europe
European train tickets in English with seat selection. Way easier than navigating each country's national rail website.
Book a train →Omio
One app for trains, buses, and flights across Europe. Compare every option side by side in one search.
Compare on Omio →12Go
The only platform I trust for ferries and trains in Southeast Asia. Booked countless boats around the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam through them.
Search 12Go →My Filipino Travel Services
Services I personally built for fellow Philippine passport holders. My team handles these directly.
Visa & Immigration Agency
My licensed team helps Philippine passport holders apply for tourist and business visas worldwide. Real humans, real guidance.
Start your visa → My AgencyOFW Services
Dedicated support for Overseas Filipino Workers. Documentation, papers, and processing help from a team that gets it.
See OFW services → 9+ Years RunningRent a Flight
Need a flight reservation for your visa application without paying full price? My service has been doing this since 2017, with 3 to 6 week validity.
Rent a flight →Luggage Storage
For those layover days and early checkouts. Drop your bags off safely while you explore.
Digital Nomad Essentials
The tools that actually funded and powered my early travel years, and still do.
Wise
How I move money across currencies without losing it to bank fees. Multi-currency account, real exchange rate, every time.
Open Wise account → Code: KACH50 — 50% offmyTEFL
How I funded my early travel years, teaching English in Hanoi for $17 to $25 an hour. Get TEFL certified with code KACH50 for 50% off.
Get certified →Travel Insurance
After my serious accident in Pakistan in 2019, I do not travel a single day without coverage. Pick the one that fits your trip type.
SafetyWing
Monthly travel insurance built for digital nomads. What I have used personally since I started traveling full-time.
Get insured monthly →AirHelp
Get compensated for cancelled and delayed flights. They handle all the paperwork and take a small cut only if they win.
Claim compensation →EktaTraveling
Short-trip travel insurance with quick claims. Solid option for one to two week trips when monthly coverage is overkill.
Cover a trip →Insubuy
Specific insurance for travel to the USA. High coverage, affordable rates, and a must with American healthcare costs.
Insure US travel →eSIM & Connectivity
I check all of these before each trip and pick whichever has the best deal for that country at that moment. No loyalty here, just data.
Airalo
The most popular eSIM with the biggest country selection. My default starting point for almost every new destination.
Get an Airalo eSIM →Saily
Monthly eSIM plans for long-haul trips and slow travel. Set it once and forget it.
Try Saily →Yesim
Flexible eSIM with strong global coverage and competitive regional bundles.
Browse Yesim →Drimsim
A reliable backup option to have in your phone. Useful when your main eSIM has weak signal in a country.
Get Drimsim →Travel Gear I Pack
Everything below is what literally lives in my bag. All linked to Shopee Philippines so my fellow Filipinos can grab them with COD.
Taipei 3.0 Suitcase
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Waist Stash
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Resealable Pouch
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Toiletries Bag
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Packing Cubes
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Digital Weighing Scale
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Locker Lock
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Anker Nano Travel Adapter
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