General guide for travelers
Here you will find tips, as well as a list of services and applications that I use myself
Affiliate advertising only allows me to monetize my little blog. Thanks for understanding!
Before you start, check visa requirements, passport validity and required documents for your chosen destination
Buying tickets
Aviasales²
A search engine for cheap air tickets, no matter how trite it may sound. Even those who do not live in Russia use it
Google flights
Air ticket search engine from Google, where you can also compare prices and go to the airline’s website to purchase
I recommend signing up for loyalty programs with popular airlines to earn miles. Buying air tickets directly is more profitable
Medical insurance
Travel insurance will never cover elective treatment, but it can save you hundreds of thousands in emergency situations. After all, for foreigners there is always a special price for calling an ambulance.
However, with due persistence and a long wait, you can check, for example, aching pain in the abdomen.
The more often you apply for insurance cases, the higher the cost of subsequent insurances in the same company will be
Сервис поиска страховок³
Insurance price comparison service for Russian citizens
Тинькоф страхование⁴
Medical insurance for Russian citizens
Accommodation
All good types of accommodation’ll always be presented on popular platforms.
An option for booking directly is to find accommodation on Google maps and contact the owner at the specified phone number (there is a risk that they will forget about your reservation).
Another option is telegram chats, there are no reviews here, there are various risks
Booking.com⁵
The largest service for booking hotels, apartments and inns.
The cost is often cheaper for regular customers through the Genues loyalty program, as well as when booking through the mobile app
Airbnb
A platform for booking accommodation with locals around the world, where you can find unique options and feel at home anywhere in the world
Agoda⁶
Platform for booking hotel accommodation and other services, specializing in Asia.
Beneficial only if the same options are not available on other sites
Attractions
The most convenient way is to mark places of interest and see their rating on Google maps. You can find the top places in the countries I visited at the link
Klook⁷
A platform for booking tickets for excursions, entertainment and other local events, where prices are often cheaper than official sites.
Purchasing SIM cards
In 100% of cases, buying a SIM card locally will be more profitable than buying an international e-SIM card.
Sometimes you can also buy an inexpensive SIM on the website Klook.
Аiralo⁸
An international company that offers access to digital eSIM cards from more than 200 countries and regions around the world. Use if there are no other options
Taxi
Uber⁹
The main company in the taxi industry today, operating in many countries around the world.
Use promo code for your first purchase bptr4bxxbe4u
If there are other apps in the country, they will be cheaper
Yandex Go
A popular application for ordering a taxi with a wide selection of cars and a convenient payment system
Operates in the following countries: Georgia, Serbia, Israel, UAE, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan
Grab
A convenient application for calling taxis and motorcycle taxis in various cities of the world, which makes moving around unfamiliar places interesting.
Operates in the following countries: Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam
Bolt
A convenient taxi app that offers fast and affordable rides around the city.
Operates in more than 500 cities in more than 45 countries in Europe, Africa, Western Asia and Latin America
Car rent
It’s best to rent a car from the locals. Most companies can be found on google maps
Maps.me
A navigation application with offline maps that helps you navigate in unfamiliar places without access to the Internet. Just download the country map in advance. There is voiceover of the route
Thanks to it, you can sometimes travel without buying a SIM card
Language and communication
Google translate
The most convenient tool for translating text and speech, which helps overcome the language barrier in communication with locals
Advice and support
Telegram
This is not only a messenger, but also a huge community of travelers, where you can find chats in any country and city and ask any question about travel
Additional Information
It will never be superfluous:
- Save contact information for your country’s embassy in the country of travel and emergency telephone numbers
- Study the country’s customs regulations. Sometimes the transport of drones is prohibited, and sometimes you can get a fine for sausage or chewing gum in your luggage
- Learn the rules of behavior and clothing recommendations
- Choose a good time to visit. During the season the weather will be good, but in the off-season there will be fewer tourists
¹⁻⁹ Affiliate advertising