Travel Resources

Useful links for travel

CabinMax backpacks: designed specifically to fit the 40x30x20 cm limit for free hand luggage on Ryanair and other budget airlines.
Google Flights: still the best place to search for flights.
Wikivoyage: a wiki full of ideas for attractions, restaurants, accommodation and day trips in cities all over the world.
Wikitravel: Same kind of idea, but feels less up to date.
Atlas Obscura: Website collating obscure, lesser known 'off the beaten path' attractions.
Caravanistan: Forum with an absolute wealth of knowledge on Central Asia.
GetYourGuide: Tour booking site, worth checking what's available.
Numbeo: Allows you to compare the cost of living in different countries.
Xe: Converter with live foreign currency exchange rates.
Seat 61: The most comprehensive international train travel guide.
Passport Index: Useful for checking visa/entry requirements.
Maps.me: Allows you to download a city or even country map - vital if you won't have mobile data for part of your trip.
FlightRadar24: Real time flight tracking.
Mullvad: My recommended VPN service when travelling to countries with internet restrictions. Also good for bypassing the UK's Online Safety Act.

FlixBus: Extremely cheap long distance bus tickets across Europe.
LuxExpress: Somewhat more comfortable, albeit slightly pricier bus tickets around the Baltics, Poland, Finland and Russia.
Jakdojade: The only app you need for navigating public transport within Poland's cities.
Mobilly: Purchase bus, train and tram tickets in Latvia. Mobile tickets available in the form of QR codes.
LeoCard: Mobile ticketing for public transport (trams, buses, trolleybuses) in Lviv, Western Ukraine. App only available in Ukrainian language.
Bolt: Rideshare app operating in 600+ cities around the world.
Yandex Go: For booking taxis in Russia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
Bitaksi: Official taxi app for Turkey.
Karwa Taxi: If you ever find yourself on a long layover in Doha (Qatar), this is the app you want for calling a cab.
Uklon: Ukraine's best ride hailing service.

See my railways page for some train resources.

MuseumPass İstanbul E-Card: Since the pandemic, Turkey has adopted the highest tourist surcharge that I've seen anywhere, charging €45 EUR for Topkapi Palace alone. If you want to see the main attractions in Istanbul, do yourself a favour and drop €105 on the museum pass to get access to Topkapi, Galata Tower, the Mevlevihouse, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Archaeological Museum, Maiden's Tower, Rumeli Fortress and various other attractions.
Astana CityPass: A single tourist card that provides access to the top sights and excursions of Astana, Kazakhstan.
KrakowCard Museum and Travel Pass: A tourist card that provides access to 40 museums and galleries around Krakow for a specified period of time. The more expensive option even includes public transport within the city at no additional cost.
Belgrade Card: Offers free entry to some museums, discounts on others and some perks at restaurants/bars around one of Europe's most underrated cities.
Museum Pass Berlin: allows entry to more than thirty museums and exhibitions around the German capital for a specified period of time. Offers a nice student discount.