- Search Please fill out this field.
- Manage Your Subscription
- Give a Gift Subscription
- Sweepstakes
- Travel Tips
- Customs + Immigration
What to Know About Trusted Traveler Programs — PreCheck, Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI
Here’s what you need to know about Trusted Traveler Programs, including TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI.
Harrison Pierce is a freelance writer and digital nomad passionate about personal finance and travel. He is traveling full-time with the help of points and miles and enjoys connecting with people on the ground. His work has been published in Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, USA Today Blueprint, Matador Network, and other publications.
TSA PreCheck
Global entry, which trusted traveler program is right for you.
Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Your time at the airport is precious. You want to ensure you have enough time to enjoy a pre-flight snack or cocktail at an airport lounge, but you also don’t want to get there so early that you’re waiting to board for hours before departure. Luckily, there are programs that can help you more reliably budget the time you need to get through security.
Trusted Traveler Programs are issued through the Department of Homeland Security, and they allow members to move through security more efficiently. There are four main Trusted Traveler Programs offered to regular travelers: Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, NEXUS, and SENTRI. There’s a lot of overlap in what each program offers, so you will likely only need to apply for one. However, requirements, cost, and time to get approved can vary significantly from program to program. I spoke with Steve Orens , a senior vice president at FROSCH Travel and T+L A-List travel advisor, to compile this guide.
The best tip to anyone wanting to apply for these programs is to be thorough, says Orens. “Be prepared, fill out all requested information,” he explains. “Check back on the [application] page on a regular basis to follow the progress or provide any other information requested.”
Although it can take months or more than a year in some cases, these programs provide significant utility to travelers. Here’s everything you need to know about the Trusted Traveler Programs, and who should apply for each.
Meet the Expert
Steve Orens is a senior vice president at FROSCH Travel and a T+L A-List travel advisor specializing in insider access.
John Moore/Getty Images
The first Trusted Traveler Program, and one of the most popular, is TSA PreCheck , which allows travelers to enjoy expedited security benefits. Travelers enrolled in PreCheck will not need to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, belts, or jackets when going through TSA airport security. In 99 percent of cases, travelers will get through security in 10 minutes or less. In my experience, it’s typically even faster.
The enrollment process is quite simple — all you need to do is choose an enrollment provider , submit an application online , and visit an enrollment location for fingerprinting and payment. Once you receive your Known Traveler Number, you can start enjoying your benefits. The cost varies between $78 and $85 for new enrollments and $70 and $78 for PreCheck renewals , depending on your provider. You can even get TSA PreCheck for free thanks to credit cards that will reimburse you for the application fee, making it extremely worthwhile to enroll.
U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents can apply for TSA PreCheck. Most airports will have dedicated TSA PreCheck security lanes. If not, you will receive a card indicating your membership. You will have to go through the regular security line with the card but will receive the same benefits.
Michael Paulsen/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
Global Entry allows travelers re-entering the U.S. from abroad to expedite the customs process. Members can use a dedicated Global Entry lane to proceed to a kiosk, which will capture a photo to confirm membership in the program. Then, proceed to the Customs and Border Patrol officer, and you’re all set. Global Entry includes all of the benefits of TSA PreCheck, so you do not need to apply for these programs separately.
Global Entry is for pre-approved and low-risk travelers. As part of the application, you must undergo a background check and in-person interview to complete enrollment. Typically, the process requires you to visit an enrollment center for your interview before departure. If you cannot, you can complete your interview when you return to the U.S. through Enrollment on Arrival .
It was just announced that you can also complete your Global Entry enrollment with Enrollment on Departure , a brand-new offering only available (for now) at Washington Dulles International Airport. The application fee is $100, but like PreCheck, many credit cards will reimburse you for the fee as long as you have not already been reimbursed for TSA PreCheck.
Global Entry members can also validate their arrival to the U.S. via a Global Entry mobile app at select airports, further improving the process.
The following people are eligible for Global Entry:
- U.S. citizens
- U.S. lawful permanent residents
- Citizens of Argentina
- Citizens of Brazil
- Citizens of Bahrain
- Citizens of India
- Citizens of Colombia
- Citizens of the United Kingdom
- Citizens of Germany
- Citizens of the Netherlands
- Citizens of Panama
- Citizens of Singapore
- Citizens of South Korea
- Citizens of Switzerland
- Citizens of Taiwan
- Mexican nationals
There could be additional requirements to meet, depending on your country of citizenship. Canadian citizens and residents can also be eligible for Global Entry benefits through membership in NEXUS.
Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images
NEXUS is similar to Global Entry but specific to Canadian entry ports. You can use NEXUS when traveling by land, air, or sea. Members use expedited processing lanes when entering the U.S. and Canada: dedicated lanes at northern border ports of entry, NEXUS kiosks when entering Canada by air, Global Entry kiosks when entering the United States via Canadian Preclearance airports, and expedited processing at marine reporting locations.
U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian citizens, Canadian lawful permanent residents, and Mexican nationals who are members of Viajero Confiable are eligible to apply for NEXUS. The process to get approved takes a lot longer than Global Entry or TSA PreCheck because you have to get approved by both the U.S. and Canada. The average processing time is around 12 to 14 months, and the application fee is $50. The process for applying is similar. All you need to do is submit an application and schedule an interview at an enrollment center. Note you will need to be interviewed by both U.S. and Canadian officials. NEXUS includes TSA PreCheck benefits.
The fourth and final Trusted Traveler Program is SENTRI , which allows expedited entry into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico. SENTRI works the same way as NEXUS but enables the benefits on both the northern and southern borders of the U.S. Members can use dedicated processing lanes at southern land border crossings, the NEXUS lane when entering the United States from Canada by land, and Global Entry kiosks when entering by air. There aren’t any citizenship requirements for eligibility into SENTRI. However, Mexican nationals who wish to use the Global Entry kiosk when traveling by air will need to apply for Global Entry through their Trusted Traveler account.
This is the most expensive program, with an application fee of $122.25. The processing timeline is slightly shorter than NEXUS, taking 10 to 12 months to complete. However, the process is the same as the other programs: complete an application, receive conditional approval, and schedule an interview at an enrollment center. You must bring your vehicle registration and proof of automobile insurance in the U.S. to your interview. SENTRI includes TSA PreCheck benefits.
The best program for you depends on your travel habits, budget, and timeline. If you only travel within the U.S., TSA PreCheck is likely the best option. It includes all the security benefits and has one of the quickest processing times. However, if you take a couple of international trips per year, Global Entry is a fantastic option. I have Global Entry, and it has made my life significantly easier. Not only can I enjoy all of the same PreCheck benefits, but I can pass through customs quickly when entering the U.S., whether for a layover or my final destination. There are so many credit cards that will cover this application fee, too.
NEXUS and SENTRI are both excellent programs for anyone who frequently travels between the U.S. and Canada or Mexico. Although they typically include the same PreCheck benefits, they won’t include Global Entry benefits when entering the U.S. from elsewhere, so you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons before applying. Enrollment in each program lasts for five years, so once you’ve decided, you can enjoy the benefits for a long time before having to renew.
You should also think about present and future timelines, explains Orens. “For example, TSA PreCheck comes with Global Entry, but you can also only renew your TSA PreCheck when you renew your Global Entry,” he says. “So, when your Global Entry expires, so does your PreCheck. If you don’t have time to [renew] Global Entry, then you will not have PreCheck back until you do.”
11 BEST Travel Guides for 2024 [Websites & Guidebooks]
* This article contains affiliate links, which help run this site at no extra cost to you.
TL;DR: The two best travel guides are Rick Steves for first time travelers—especially anyone going to Europe—and Bradt Guides for off-the-beaten-path destinations and “Slow Travel.” Both are reliable, will give you ideas for what to do, and help you plan the best trip.
The way we travel has changed drastically in my lifetime. Information is more readily available in the digital age, a massive plus for traveling.
Everyone, including myself, wants to make the most of every trip abroad. That’s why I love reading travel guide books or online guides.
Some of these guide books help you get off the beaten path. Others give information on tours you can take on your own to learn the history of a certain destination you’re visiting.
But which are the best?
After years of reading and doing research, I have found the best travel guides for you to use when planning your next trip abroad!
Note: this article contains affiliate links, which help run this site at no extra cost to you so I can keep providing free travel advice and tips.
Here’s a quick look at our recommendations
- DK Eyewitness
- Bradt Guides
- Rick Steves
- Lonely Planet
- Blue Guides
- Footprint Guides
- Frommer Guides
- Tripadvisor
- Rough Guides
- Moon Travel Guides
- Insight Guides
Table of Contents
#1 DK Eyewitness
DK Eyewitness is one of the best travel guide books on the market today. But they offer more than just travel information.
After publishing books for over 45 years, DK Eyewitness Books cover everything from travel, science, history, pop culture, and children’s topics.
Their travel guides give the information you desperately need for travel– such as maps, itineraries, accommodations, where to eat, and more!
I also love how easy their visuals are to look at. I sometimes get lost in their maps and start imagining myself there (I’m a big daydreamer if you can’t tell!).
DK Eyewitness Travel guide books might not be the most in-depth on a particular location, but they help with travel inspiration.
If you want more information, DK Eyewitness has a podcast called ‘Where to Go,’ which is another excellent way to get your travel information on the go!
- 100+ destinations
- Heavy on history
- It has both outdoor and city guides
- Amazing visuals
- Not as in-depth as other guides
#2 Bradt Guides
A Bradt travel guide is perfect if you’re interested in visiting countries that are less traveled to— written by experienced travelers with fantastic insider tips.
Bradt travel guide books has a reputation as the “World’s leading independent travel publisher.” They are also the best India travel guide company.
Some unique destinations include Iraq, Sri Lanka, Galapagos Islands, and Grenada. But don’t worry. Bradt Guides also has a British series for those interested!
Lately, I’ve been striving to travel like a local. Bradt has a ‘Slow Travel’ guidebook series, which I love using these days because it helps me travel like a local.
The trip ideas are great in detail but might not be for your preferred country to visit.
Bradt Guides prides itself on being the most comprehensive on the market. Their authors give cultural insights and expressions of interest and knowledge.
You can support Bradt’s Guides even further by subscribing to their Patreon! Here you can pay monthly for a specific tier and earn different things like one free e-book a month.
- More off-the-beaten-path destinations
- Slow travel series
- Has a Patreon page
- Unique style of travel not for everyone
#3 Rick Steves
Rick Steves books are the guide books your mom hands you when traveling to your dream destination in Europe. And that’s a good thing! They’re trusted by many for a reason.
These travel guide books are always up-to-date, thanks to Rick Steves’ research partners.
Rick’s books will have you feeling like you’re on guided tours! He ensures you’ll have some fantastic cultural experiences.
I love Europe, but there are many other cultures throughout the world that I’m even more interested in. So, since Rick Steves’ guidebooks are primarily Europe-focused, I’m not as drawn to them.
Also, traveling in Europe long-term can get expensive. His books cater to a more wealthy crowd.
Pick any European country, and you will have high-quality content on that destination. Rick has visited Europe countless times, and other travel websites can’t compete.
Rick’s bestseller is his Italy guide, which isn’t surprising. In that guide, he goes over the best places to eat and sleep and how to beat the crowds.
It’s a good idea to grab a Rick Steves’ book simply for the detailed maps.
- Best guides for Europe
- It gives in-depth information for solo tours
- Perfect for a beginner traveler.
- Catered to upper and middle-class travelers
#4 Lonely Planet
I’m sure you’ve heard of Lonely Planet , as they’ve been a dominant force in the travel scene for quite some time now. Their goal is to make travel planning easy, and they’ve succeeded!
I loved using Lonely Planet books when I first started traveling. These books helped me up my game as a budget traveler.
Lonely Planet dominates the internet with a wealth of online resources. While the information they offer online is easy to access, it can be vague.
You can subscribe to Lonely Planet on their website for free. I’ve done this, but I’ve found that there tends to be some destinations/articles that are low in detail.
Considering Lonely Planet’s sheer amount of content, it’s not too surprising that they sometimes gloss over details.
Their claim to fame is their numerous experts located worldwide. These experts cover adventure travel, family holidays, food and drink, and much more.
Plus, a Lonely Planet magazine is an amazing coffee table piece, am I right?
- Backpacker friendly
- An extensive collection of guides for the entire world
- Free information is available
- Some of their content is outdated or not detailed
#5 Blue Guides
If you love the art and history of Italy, then Blue Guides is for you! People often plagiarize Blue Guide books due to the amount of accurate information each book has.
With over 14 books on Italy alone, you won’t find more detailed information on a particular destination than with Blue Guides– they deliver it all!
Italy was the first country that I visited outside of the United States, and I’m so glad that I had a Blue Guide book with me.
Their award-winning maps and exceptional attention to detail made it feel like I was on a private tour!
Be aware: there aren’t a lot of online articles from Blue Guides or many countries to choose from, which could be an issue if you like to visit more unusual locations.
Blue Guides’ first publication date was in the early 1900s, so it’s undoubtedly a top guidebook for a travel junkie!
- Helps travelers understand art and history
- Multiple guides on Italy
- Extremely thorough in their research
- Not a lot of destinations
#6 Footprint Guides
Footprint Guides is the go-to source for Latin American travel tips for all budgets! My love for this region of the world has only grown since I started using their books.
Even if Latin America isn’t one of your top destinations, they do offer other print books. All Footprint Guides are written by experts who have lived in that destination.
Unfortunately, for North American travelers looking to plan a dream road trip, you won’t find much helpful information here, as their focus is decidedly on the south.
Alongside their practical information, Footprint adds a layer of imagination to their guidebooks, giving them an edge that makes them one of the best travel guide series available today!
- Wide range of budgets
- Specializes in Latin America
- Practical information
- Not much content on the United States
#7 Frommer Guides
Does traveling on $5 per day sound appealing to you? Arthur Frommer thought so when he set out to create his Frommer travel guides .
Alongside some of the best guidebooks, Frommer also offers other forms of information, including podcasts, online articles, and hotel deals!
I love using Frommer guides on road trips because they help me in many different situations.
I usually like to have a podcast for when I’m driving , a guidebook on specific destinations while I’m in a hotel room, and online sources when on the go.
Having Frommer guides in all their varied forms is essential since each one typically doesn’t go into heavy detail.
If purchasing travel guide books doesn’t interest you, then keeping up to date with Frommer’s online travel guides is the way to go.
- Many styles of information are available
- Updates information frequently
- Offer hotel deals
- It covers only the main details
#8 Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor is an online source that most travelers have heard about. It’s unique on this list of travel guides because you interact with other travelers!
If you’re looking for help with trip planning, look no further than the Tripadvisor forum . Here you can talk with fellow travelers about your upcoming trip!
When I have a specific question that needs answering, I always check Tripadvisor first. They have information on most countries, but some info on the forums can be outdated.
Tripadvisor is great because it’s free! But they’re more than just a review and forum-based platform; you can also book different travel deals and tours through their website.
Sometimes the sheer amount of information can be overwhelming to click through. If that sounds relatable, you might want to purchase some guidebooks instead.
Tripadvisor started the wave of online travel planning. They’re worth browsing, even if you just want to write down a few travel tips!
- Multiple reviews from other travelers
- Travel deals available
- Forum can be out of date
- The massive amount of information can be overwhelming
#9 Rough Guides
Rough Guides has grown into a leader in the travel industry with its amazing travel guidebooks and online travel guides.
What I love about these books is their authenticity. Their recommendations from locals helped to grow them into who they are today.
It all started with their Greece travel guide, and it quickly blew up. Demand increased for more and more Rough Guide content; they released a guidebook series for people who were eager for more. In 2017, Rough Guides expanded even further.
Today Rough Guides are more than just a travel guide company that sells books. They offer tours, custom-made itineraries, and more! I love using their website when planning my next trip.
These custom-made itineraries and tours are expensive but for a reason. Rough Guides’ experts are located worldwide to give you the best travel experience ever.
Rough Guides best selling guides offer a ton of background information and local tips, making them worth the high price!
- Detailed itineraries
- Personal recommendations from locals
- An extensive list of countries
- High prices for tours and custom itineraries
#10 Moon Travel Guides
Moon Guides are my favorite guidebooks for traveling around the United States. Planning that perfect road trip is challenging but Moon Guides makes it easier.
Moon’s travel guidebooks are all about traveling sustainably. I’ve used them countless times in the Americas and have found them super helpful.
But Moon Guides don’t focus on the Americas only– they also offer some of the best travel guides for Japan in particular.
I’ve learned to use these books more for research instead of bringing them on my travels– they don’t always hold up with how rugged traveling can get for me.
Moon’s detailed maps are so good in their guidebooks that I fill my phone library with them. They are easy to read and use, which is what I think makes a good map.
The best travel tips are from locals, and that’s what Moon’s travel guidebooks bring. They don’t have a fancy touring app or anything, but they don’t need it.
If you want one of the best travel guides for families, then there’s no better choice than making Moon Guides your tour guide when traveling.
Find your dream destination, get travel inspiration from their maps, and book that plane ticket.
- Emphasis on the Americas and the Pacific
- Easy-to-understand maps
- Many pages of information solely for hotels/accommodations
- Guidebooks aren’t durable
#11 Insight Guides
Insight is one of the best travel guidebooks on the market for a reason. The beautiful photographs in these travel guidebooks will have you daydreaming for days.
Insight guides are perfect for those history buffs out there like me. They combine great information with also some off-the-beaten-track activities.
Insight has produced over 200 guidebooks and language books. Their books provide information on nearly any country you can think of (besides Mexico).
I love their books because they also have a mini-series.
During the Covid years, I was in the mood to read a lot. I picked a different destination each week and bought a new e-book.
I could do this because they only cost five to ten dollars! Most of the best travel guidebooks are double this.
Besides its guidebook series, Insight offers a handmade trip planned by experts to the destination of your choice. What more could you ask for?!
- Multiple countries in each continent
- Has language guides
- Sells hand-picked vacation packages put together by locals
- Offers mini versions of guides to sell for cheap
- No Mexico guide
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Travel Guide
What to Look for in Travel Guides
Is the information up to date.
Picking the best travel guidebooks can be an overwhelming process. But the most important thing to watch out for is making sure the information is up-to-date.
Compared to online sources, guidebook information tends not to get updated as quickly for obvious reasons.
You don’t want a travel guide taking you to a restaurant that doesn’t exist anymore, do you? No. You want to get off the beaten track but not THAT off that it gets you lost.
Pick Locally-Based Travel Guides
My ideal travel style is meeting locals, living, and eating like a local. I have the best travel experiences when I dive deep into the culture.
The best information about a destination comes from locals. When you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, wouldn’t you want to consult someone who has lived there for many years?
When you rely on locals’ recommendations, you’ll truly have an experience of a lifetime.
Know What Type of Traveler You Are
This next tip can be difficult for some, and it can change from year to year. I have gone from being a true budget traveler to somewhere in the middle.
I used to love history (I still do) and would base my travels around that. Now I seek adventure activities.
Different types of guides will focus on different things, such as budget travel, adventure, expensive tours, food, or history.
Finding the travel guide that fits your style will be more beneficial in the long run.
Know Which Destination You Want to Visit the Most
The best world travel guidebooks are often better for certain locations than others. For example, Rick Steves has a reputation for being the best travel guide for Europe and, specifically, the best travel guide for Italy.
So, choose your travel guide based on which one specializes in the area you’re curious about.
Other Helpful Travel Guides
Travel is a huge industry which means there are more guides than you could ever possibly use.
If you prefer your travel content in video form, one of the best travel guide Youtube channels is Ryan Shirley .
His videos showcase the top places to visit in different countries with some of the best drone shots you’ll ever see.
FAQs About Travel Guides
Should You Even Buy a Travel Guide?
A travel guide has its place. It may seem outdated to use one, but you can find some of the best information in them.
Some guides take years to make and are very specific in the details they write for certain locations. The maps tend to be better and easier to read in these types of guides as well.
Which is better: Lonely Planet or Rough Guide?
It depends on the style of travel you prefer. I prefer budget travel and tend to take fewer tours, so I like Lonely Planet. Rough Guide also has amazing tours if you’re interested in those.
What is the difference between Fodor’s and Frommer’s travel guides?
Frommer travel guides are excellent for those who want an easy read. Fodor is typically the better choice if you want more details about your activities.
Fodor also has one of the best travel guides for Ireland, so check out Fodor if that’s your destination.
Is it better to travel with a tour guide or alone with a travel guide?
The answer differs from person to person! If you want your trip planned, then a tour guide is perfect. Going alone with a travel guide is nice because you can go at your own pace.
Do people still buy travel guides?
Absolutely! There’s something different about having a travel guidebook to look at rather than scrolling through a website.
Rick Steves and Bradt are my favorite travel guides.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Phillip Anderson
Phillip Anderson is a freelance travel writer, personal trainer, and adventure enthusiast. With years of travel experience under his belt, Phillip is an expert in finding the best deals through travel apps and websites. He knows how to find cheap domestic and international flights, like a flight to Peru for as low as $350.
When looking for cheap accommodations, Phillip combines his knowledge of websites like Airbnb, Booking.com & Hostelworld with more unique sites like TrustedHousesitters, for even more savings. Whether it’s flights, accommodations, or local experiences, he teaches travelers to make informed decisions, ensuring their adventures are both memorable and economical. For more from Phillip, check out his website, JaywalkTheWorld.com.
Planning your next big adventure? Check out these related articles below!
Skiplagged Review
Best Airbnb Alternatives
Hopper Review
Best Travel Deal Sites
Best Hardside Luggage Sets
Best Travel Purses
Pakt One Review
Best Travel Gifts
Pin this image for future reference
Hi, I'm Mimi! I'm an outdoorsy Californian who has spent over 28 years immersed in the incredible natural beauty that California has to offer. My goal is to inspire others to get out and find their next adventure in California. Whether it’s escaping to an alpine lake in the Sierras, finding peace among the giant redwoods, or road tripping down the PCH, there’s always more to explore in this beautiful state.
Leave a Comment Cancel reply
The Atlas Heart is a California travel website dedicated to showing you the best of the Golden State from a local perspective.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
©2024 The Atlas Heart
Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary
Middle East
- Australia & Pacific
- Caribbean & Mexico
South America
- Central America
- Cruises & Yachts
- United States
- About Wendy
- Meet the Team
- Code of Ethics
- How We’re Funded
- How to Support Us
- How You Can Benefit
- Smart Travel in 2024
- Where to Go When
- Family Travel
- Holiday Travel
- Airline Travel
- Cruise Travel
- Our Own Trips
- Ask a Teenager
- Travel Insurance
- Travel Talk Videos
- Covid Entry Rules
- I Have a Destination
- Tell Me Where to Go
- Just Back: The Latest Reviews
- Anniversary Trips
- Asia WOW Trips
- Christmas/New Year Trips
- Christmas Day Abroad
- Europe in Summer: Beat the Heat
- Europe in Winter: Smart Trip Ideas
- Europe for Winter School Breaks
- Europe’s Secret Spots
- Food-Focused Trips
- Graduation Trips
- Grandparents with Grandkids
- Meeting Noteworthy Locals
- South America WOW Trips
- Spring Break Family Trips
- Sporty Adventures
- Thanksgiving Trips
- Wildlife Encounters
- WOW Moments
- The WOW List
- WOW List FAQs
- Fees/Pricing Tips
- WOW Moment Rules
The 2024 WOW List: 95 Top Local Fixers in Countries Worldwide
The WOW List is a collection of exceptionally knowledgeable and well-connected trip planners around the world. They have been rigorously road-tested, based on my decades of experience as a travel journalist and based on the latest trip reviews from travelers who used my WOW approach to ensure an extraordinary trip. In 2023 they quickly found solutions to the travel complications and disruption that arose: They rerouted travelers away from wildfires and floods, kept them cool and comfy amid extreme heat, helped them bypass unprecedented tourist crowds and lines, restored whole days of sightseeing missed because of flight cancellations, and lessened the impact of hotels’ sky-high prices, understaffing, and skimpflation. We know they did this because of your trip reviews . We continue to monitor trips and update The WOW List in real time.
HOW TO GET A WOW TRIP 1. Find the right local fixer for your needs below. 2. Click their CONTACT button and share the details of your dream trip via my questionnaire. 3. Done! The local expert will reach out to you directly and quickly.
START WITH MY QUESTIONNAIRE • That’s how you get VIP treatment and these WOW benefits . • It’s how the WOW Lister knows that I sent you and that you will be reviewing your trip. Your trip reviews determine who remains on The WOW List. • It’s the only way I can advise you and monitor your trip from the most important moment—the conception and initial design. • It’s the only way your trip will count toward a WOW Moment .
WOW TRIP COSTS AND STYLE What these local fixers do is custom-tailor a private itinerary exactly to your trip goals and travel style, get you special access to iconic sights, and mastermind all the trip logistics so that you don’t have to. Trips start at about $10K to $15K, depending on your destination and timing.
FOR MORE GUIDANCE Not sure where to travel or who is the best fit for your specific trip needs and goals? Click to Get a Personalized Trip Recommendation.
Africa Asia Australia and Pacific Canada Caribbean, Central America, Mexico Cruises and Yacht Charters Europe Middle East South America USA
Egypt Jim Berkeley, Destinations & Adventures International
Read Jim’s Insider’s Guide to Egypt . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Jim Read Trip Reviews
Morocco Hicham Mhammedi Alaoui and Radia Tehitahe, Experience Morocco
Read Hicham and Radia’s Insider’s Guide to the Sahara Desert . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Hicham and Radia Read Trip Reviews
Morocco Michael Diamond, Cobblestone Private Travel
Read Michael’s Insider’s Guide to Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains, Morocco . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Michael Read Trip Reviews
Safaris: Southern and Central Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius Cherri Briggs, Explore, Inc.
Read Cherri’s Insider’s Guides to Namibia Adventures , Zimbabwe , Zambia , and Madagascar . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Cherri Read Trip Reviews
Safaris: East Africa and South Africa Dan Saperstein, Hippo Creek Safaris
Read Dan’s Insider’s Guides to South Africa Safaris and East Africa Safaris . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Dan Read Trip Reviews
Safaris: Southern and East Africa Julian Harrison, Premier Tours
Read Julian’s Insider’s Guides to Botswana’s Small Safari Camps and Cape Town and South Africa’s Winelands . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Julian Read Trip Reviews
Return to Top
Bali and Indonesia Diane Embree, Michael’s Travel Centre/Bali Barong Tours
Read Diane’s Insider’s Guide to Bali . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Diane Read Trip Reviews
Central Asia, the Silk Road, and Uzbekistan Zulya Rajabova, Silk Road Treasure Tours
Read Zulya’s Insider’s Guide to Uzbekistan . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Zulya Read Trip Reviews
China: Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan Mei Zhang, WildChina
Read Mei’s Insider’s Guides to Beijing , Yunnan Province , and China’s Big Cities and Small Villages . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Mei Read Trip Reviews
India, Bhutan, Nepal Sanjay Saxena, Nomadic Expeditions
Read Sanjay’s Insider’s Guides to Agra and the Taj Mahal , Delhi , and Secrets of India . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Sanjay Read Trip Reviews
India Bertie and Victoria Dyer, India Beat
Read Bertie and Victoria’s Insider’s Guides to Rajasthan and Mumbai . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Bertie and Victoria Read Trip Reviews
Japan Scott Gilman, JapanQuest Journeys
Read Scott’s Insider’s Guide to Classic Japan . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Scott Read Trip Reviews
The Maldives and the Seychelles Justin Parkinson, Linara Travel
Read Justin’s Insider’s Guides to the Maldives and the Seychelles . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Justin Read Trip Reviews
Mongolia Jalsa Urubshurow, Nomadic Expeditions
Read Jalsa’s Insider’s Guide to Mongolia . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Jalsa Read Trip Reviews
Sri Lanka Miguel Cunat, Sri Lanka in Style
Read Miguel’s Insider’s Guide to Sri Lanka . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Miguel Read Trip Reviews
Southeast Asia: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos Sandy Ferguson and Ethan Crowley, Asia Desk
Read Sandy and Ethan’s Insider’s Guides to Thailand , Vietnam , Southeast Asia , Bangkok , and Laos . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Sandy and Ethan Read Trip Reviews
Southeast Asia: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam Daniel Fraser, Smiling Albino
Read Daniel’s Insider’s Guide to Thailand Like You’ve Never Seen It . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Daniel Read Trip Reviews
Australia and Pacific
Australia Stuart Rigg, Southern Crossings
Read Stuart’s Insider’s Guides to Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Stuart Read Trip Reviews
French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea) and the Cook Islands Kleon Howe, The Art of Travel
Read Kleon’s Insider’s Guide to Bora Bora, Tahiti and French Polynesia . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Kleon Read Trip Reviews
New Zealand Jean-Michel Jefferson, Ahipara
Read Jean-Michel’s Insider’s Guides to Active New Zealand and Queenstown . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Jean-Michel Read Trip Reviews
New Zealand and Australia Sarah Farag, Southern Crossings
Read Sarah’s Insider’s Guide to New Zealand and Australia . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Sarah Read Trip Reviews
Atlantic Canada: Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island Jill Curran, Maxxim Vacations
Read Jill’s Insider’s Guide to Newfoundland and Labrador . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Jill Read Trip Reviews
French Canada: Quebec Centuries of history, majestic megafauna, indigenous culture, pristine landscapes, and a strong dose of France, all within a short flight (or even a drive) of many U.S. locales: This is Quebec. Browse Montreal’s street art with an internationally acclaimed artist, hop on a seaplane for a picnic on a remote beach, get VIP access to observe whales and black bears in the wild. Click on the button below and we’ll connect you with a side of Canada you’ve never seen before.
Pacific Northwest: British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies Sheri Doyle, Pacific Northwest Journeys
Read Sheri’s Insider’s Guides to Seattle , San Juan Islands and the Olympic Peninsula , and California Coast . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Sheri Read Trip Reviews
Western Canada: British Columbia, Canadian Rockies, Northwest Territories, Yukon Marc Telio, Entrée Canada
Read Marc’s Insider’s Guide to British Colombia . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Marc Read Trip Reviews
Caribbean, Central America, Mexico
Bahamas and Caribbean Yacht Charters Picture sparkling seas, the waves lapping at your boat, a captain who knows every secret snorkeling spot, toes-in-the-sand beach bars where you can stop for a drink, fabulously fresh seafood—prepared by your private chef—to enjoy at night…. All that can be yours when you charter your own vessel. But of the hundreds that are based in the Caribbean and the Bahamas, which to choose? And how do you know that its crew can make the magic happen, and that its water toys are up to snuff? We know yacht-charter experts who spend a good portion of every year inspecting boats and their crews to find the very best. Tell us what you have in mind, and we can match you to the right specialist for your specific needs.
Belize Patricia Johnson and Rachael Wilson, Absolute Belize
Read Patricia and Rachael’s Belize Insider’s Guide: Azure Waters, Green Jungle . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Patricia and Rachael Read Trip Reviews
Cabo Julie Byrd, CaboVillas.com
Read Julie’s Insider’s Guides to Los Cabos Villa Vacations and Los Cabos Beach Vacations . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Julie Read Trip Reviews
Caribbean Islands and Dive Vacations Meg Austin
Read Meg’s Insider’s Guide to the Scuba Diving in the Caribbean and Bahamas . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Meg Read Trip Reviews
Costa Rica Irene Edwards, GreenSpot
Read Irene’s Insider’s Guide to Costa Rica Luxury Eco-Travel . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Irene Read Trip Reviews
Costa Rica Priscilla Jimenez, Costa Rica Expeditions
Read Priscilla’s Insider’s Guide to Costa Rica Adventure . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Priscilla Read Trip Reviews
Yes, you can still travel to Cuba. Legally and privately. The Cuba experts we know have worked in the country for years and are well connected to artists, musicians, historians, TV personalities, and the best privately-owned boutique B&Bs, casas particulares , and paladares . They can have you learning the secrets of a perfect mojito from a local bartender, enjoying a night out at a pop-up jazz club, bird-watching on a day trip into the countryside, and strolling Havana with a former architect or journalist (who now earns more as a private guide).
Mexico Zachary Rabinor, Journey Mexico
Read Zachary’s Insider’s Guides to Puerto Vallarta , Mexico City , and the Riviera Maya . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Zachary Read Trip Reviews
Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua Pierre Gedeon, Costa Adventures
Read Pierre’s Insider’s Guide to Nicaragua . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Pierre Read Trip Reviews
Cruises and Yacht Charters
European Barge Cruises Ellen Sack and Caroline Klein, Barge Lady Cruises
Read Ellen and Caroline’s Insider’s Guide to France’s Waterways . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Ellen Read Trip Reviews
European Rivers and Luxury Cruises Worldwide Tom Baker, Cruise Center
Read Tom’s Insider’s Guides to Alaska Cruises and Mediterranean Cruises . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Tom Read Trip Reviews
Expedition Voyages Ashton Palmer, ExpeditionTrips
Read Ashton’s Insider’s Guides to Antarctica Cruises , Arctic Cruises , and Small-Ship Alaska Cruises . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Ashton Read Trip Reviews
Luxury Cruises Worldwide Mary Jean Tully, Cruise Professionals by Tully Luxury Travel
Read Mary Jean’s Insider’s Guides to Asia Cruises and Africa Cruises . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Mary Jean Read Trip Reviews
Yacht Charters Picture sparkling seas, the waves lapping at your boat, a captain who knows every hidden cove, quaint villages to explore by day, fabulously fresh seafood—prepared by your private chef—to enjoy at night…. All that can be yours when you charter your own vessel. Maybe it’s a sailboat on the Dalmatian Coast, a catamaran in Tahiti, a bareboat charter in the Caribbean, or a mega-yacht on the Great Barrier Reef. But of the thousands out there, which craft and crew to choose? We know yacht-charter experts who spend a good portion of every year inspecting boats and their crews to find the very best. Tell us what you have in mind, and we can match you to the right travel specialist for your specific needs.
Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland Gwen Kozlowski, Exeter International
Read Gwen’s Insider’s Guides to Austria , Hungary , and the Czech Republic . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Gwen Read Trip Reviews
Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg Tom Stinglhamber, Brilliant Ideas
Read Tom’s Insider’s Guide to Belgium . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Croatia (plus Bosnia, Montenegro, Slovenia) Ala Osmond, Exeter International
Read Ala’s Insider’s Guide to Croatia . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Ala Read Trip Reviews
Croatia Jay Ternavan, JayWay Travel
Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Jay Read Trip Reviews
England and the British Isles Travelers bound for the United Kingdom and Ireland seek a broad array of experiences for which there is a broad array of sources. Do you need a castle in the countryside for a 50th birthday party or a manor home for a family reunion near the university where your kid is in college? A week of hiking in the Cotswolds or meeting the most interesting local characters in the hidden pockets of Ireland? The more specific you can be about your trip goals, the better we can direct you to the right fixer for your needs.
England, Ireland, Scotland Jonathan Epstein, Celebrated Experiences
Read Jonathan’s Insider’s Guides to Killarney and County Kerry, Ireland , Scotland , and the Cotswolds . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Jonathan Read Trip Reviews
England, France, and Italy Jennifer Virgilio, Queen of Clubs
Read Jennifer’s Insider’s Guide to Paris with Perks . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Jennifer Read England Trip Reviews
Read France Trip Reviews Read Italy Trip Reviews
France Philip Haslett, French Promise
Read Philip’s Insider’s Guide to Provence and the French Riviera . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Philip Read Trip Reviews
France Michael Eloy and Alex Zglinski, Trufflepig
Read Michael and Alex’s Insider’s Guides to Paris for Food Lovers and Burgundy . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Michael and Alex Read Trip Reviews
Germany and beyond (Austria, the Netherlands, Scandinavia) Claudia Schwenger, Trufflepig
Read Claudia’s Insider’s Guide to Bavaria, Germany . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Claudia Read Trip Reviews
Greece Certain Greek islands, especially those visited by cruise ships, can be a mosh pit in high season, and the logistics of getting between islands can be surprisingly complicated. The right expert can steer you to the most reliable ferry operators, ensure there’s a taxi to pick you up at the pier, even arrange for private boat rides to secret islands. There are hundreds of Greek islands to choose from, of course—each with its own unique character—and the right expert can design an itinerary with just the right combo of ancient history, modern culture, near-empty beaches, sleepy villages, pulsating nightlife, or whatever it is that you want most. Tell us via the button below, and we’ll help as best we can.
Greece Jacoline Vinke, Trufflepig
Contact Jacoline Read Trip Reviews
Greece Mina Agnos, Travelive
Read Mina’s Insider’s Guide to the Ionian Islands . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Mina Read Trip Reviews
Iceland Iceland has awesome landscapes and unusual adventure activities, from volcano diving to geothermal-pool hopping. But it is surprisingly expensive, and soaring tourism has caused demand—for accommodations, activities, all-terrain vehicles, glacier adventure guides, etc.—to outpace supply, driving prices even higher. What’s more, the country’s tourism infrastructure is geared to mass-market group tours. For the right local fixer to deliver a private, custom-tailored itinerary with unique experiences, click on the “Ask Wendy” button below.
Iceland Chris Gordon, Icepedition
Read Chris’s Insider’s Guide to Iceland Adventures . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Chris Read Trip Reviews
Iceland, Denmark, and the Faroe Islands Mads Tange Christensen, Nordic Star
Read Mads’s Insider’s Guide to Off-the-Beaten-Path Iceland . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Mads Read Trip Reviews
Ireland Travelers bound for Ireland seek a broad array of experiences for which there is a broad array of sources. Do you want to hike the trails of Killarney National Park, stroll through Galway with a local musician, meet artisans and farmers in the countryside, overnight in an 800-year-old castle, or rent a Georgian manor home for a family reunion? The more specific you can be about your trip goals, the better we can direct you to the right fixer for your needs.
Italy Andrea Grisdale, IC Bellagio
Contact Andrea Read Trip Reviews
Italy Luisa Grigoletto, Trufflepig
Contact Luisa Read Trip Reviews
Italy, France, England Jennifer Virgilio, Queen of Clubs
Contact Jennifer Read Italy Trip Reviews
Read France Trip Reviews Read England Trip Reviews
Italy and Switzerland Brian Dore and Maria Gabriella Landers, CIU Travel
Read Brian and Maria’s Insider’s Guides to Venice , Florence , Umbria , and Tuscany . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Brian and Maria Read Trip Reviews
Italy: The Cinque Terre and the Italian Riviera Anna Merulla and Emanuela Raggio, BeautifuLiguria
Read Anna and Emanuela’s Insider’s Guide to The Cinque Terre and the Italian Riviera . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Anna and Emanuela Read Trip Reviews
Italy: Puglia Antonello Losito and Alison Pike, Southern Visions Travel
Read Antonello and Alison’s Insider’s Guide to Puglia . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Antonello and Alison Read Trip Reviews
Italy: Sicily and the Aeolian Islands only Marcello Baglioni and Matteo Rota, Agave Travel Creative
Read Marcello and Matteo’s Insider’s Guide to Sicily . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Marcello and Matteo Read Trip Reviews
Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and beyond in Eastern Europe Greg Tepper, Exeter International
Contact Greg Read Trip Reviews
Malta Jason and Damon Camilleri Allan, Exclusively Malta
Read Jason and Damon’s Insider’s Guide to Malta . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Jason and Damon Read Trip Reviews
Norway Torunn Tronsvang, Up Norway
Read Torunn’s Insider’s Guide to Wild Norway . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Torunn Read Trip Reviews
Norway and Scandinavia Jan Sortland, Norwegian Adventures
Read Jan’s Insider’s Guide to Norway . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Jan Read Trip Reviews
Portugal and Spain Gonçalo Correia, Tours for You
Read Gonçalo’s Insider Secrets of Portugal . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Gonçalo Read Trip Reviews
Romania Raluca Spiac, Beyond Dracula
Read Raluca’s Insider’s Guide to Romania . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Raluca Read Trip Reviews
Spain and Portugal Pablo Calvo
Read Pablo and Gonçalo’s Insider’s Guides to Spain’s Basque Country and Portugal . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Pablo and Gonçalo Read Trip Reviews
Spain and Portugal Virginia Irurita, Made for Spain and Portugal
Read Virginia’s Insider’s Guides to Madrid , Barcelona , Andalusia , and The Algarve, Portugal . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Virginia Read Trip Reviews
Spain: Andalusia and Southern Spain Iván Ricoy, Genuine Andalusia
Read Iván’s Insider’s Guide to Southern Spain . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Iván Read Trip Reviews
Sweden, Finland, and Scandinavia Leigh Landis, Exeter International
Contact Leigh Read Trip Reviews
Switzerland and Road Trips Through the Alps Nina Müller, Cosa Travel
Read Nina ‘s Insider’s Guide to the Secrets of Switzerland . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Nina Read Trip Reviews
Turkey Karen Fedorko Sefer, Sea Song Tours
Read Karen’s Insider’s Guides to Istanbul and Turkey’s Aegean Coast . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Karen Read Trip Reviews
Turkey Earl Starkey, Sophisticated-Travel
Read Earl’s Insider’s Guides to Istanbul and Cappadocia . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Earl Read Trip Reviews
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the Arabian Peninsula Nick Rhodes, Arabian Lux
Contact Nick Read Trip Reviews
Egypt and Jordan Jim Berkeley, Destinations & Adventures International
Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and beyond, incl. Central Asia Jonny Bealby and Dan Waters, Wild Frontiers
Read Jonny and Dan’s Insider’s Guide to Oman . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Jonny and Dan Read Trip Reviews
Israel Joe Yudin and Jonathan Rose, Touring Israel
Read Joe and Jonathan’s Insider’s Guides to Jerusalem and Israel . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Joe and Jonathan Read Trip Reviews
Morocco (see Africa, above)
Turkey (see Europe, above)
Argentina, Chile, Patagonia, Uruguay Maita Barrenechea, Mai10
Read Maita’s Insider’s Guides to Buenos Aires and Argentina’s Wine Country . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Maita Read Trip Reviews
Argentina, Chile, Patagonia, Peru, Ecuador, and beyond Tom Damon, Southwind Adventures
Read Tom’s Insider’s Guides to Patagonia and Machu Picchu . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and beyond Paul Irvine, Dehouche Travel
Read Paul’s Insider’s Guides to Rio de Janeiro and Trancoso . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Paul Read Trip Reviews
Chile, Argentina, Patagonia Jordan Harvey, Knowmad Adventures
Read Jordan’s Insider’s Guide to Chile . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Jordan Read Trip Reviews
Colombia Boris Seckovic, Amakuna
Read Boris’s Insider’s Guide to Bogotá, Colombia . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Boris Read Trip Reviews
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Peru Allie Almario, Premier Tours
Read Allie’s Insider’s Guides to Quito and the Northern Andes and the Galapagos Islands . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Allie Read Trip Reviews
Peru and Bolivia Marisol Mosquera, Aracari
Read Marisol’s Insider’s Guides to Secrets of Peru , Bolivia: The Salt Flats Are Just the Beginning and Peru for Food Lovers . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Marisol Read Trip Reviews
Alaska Judith Root, Entrée Alaska
Read Judith’s Insider’s Guide to Alaska . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Judith Read Trip Reviews
American West and National Parks Melissa Ladvala, West Bench Adventures
Contact Melissa Read Trip Reviews
California and Hawaii Jay and Dani Johnson, Coastline Travel Advisors
Read Jay and Dani’s Insider’s Guides to Maui , Oahu , and the Big Island . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Jay and Dani Read Trip Reviews
California and the Pacific Northwest Sheri Doyle, Pacific Northwest Journeys
Read Sheri’s Insider’s Guides to Seattle , the San Juan Islands and Olympic Peninsula , and the Perfect California Coast Road Trip . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Disney and Orlando Michelle Allen, Travel Magic
Read Michelle’s Insider’s Guide to Disney World, Orlando . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
Contact Michelle Read Trip Reviews
Ski Vacations in the U.S. Rockies Meg Austin
Read Meg’s Insider’s Guide to Skiing the Rocky Mountains . Check Wendy’s pricing tip .
* While these Trusted Travel Experts are road-tested and well-respected, and I have known them for years, I don’t make any representation as to their financial stability or the suitability of their arrangements. I am connecting travelers with trip planners, and can help during the travel-planning process, but I cannot be held responsible or accept any liability for what happens after that. As always, to protect yourself, pay with a credit card and buy third-party travel insurance .
Get a Personalized Trip Recommendation
For a travel solution tailored to your trip goals and preferences, click this green box.
Where and When to Travel in 2024
by WendyPerrin.com | January 31, 2024
The Secret to Extraordinary Travel: Here’s Proof That The WOW List Works
by Wendy Perrin | April 24, 2024
How to Get an Extraordinary Trip: Wendy’s WOW Approach
by Wendy Perrin | January 1, 2023
How to Get an Extraordinary Trip at the Best Price: FAQs
Wendy wants to amp up your trip.
by WendyPerrin.com | January 1, 2023
How to Buy Travel Insurance: What It Covers, When You Need It
by Brook Wilkinson | November 7, 2023
Sporty Adventures: WOW Trip Reviews
by WendyPerrin.com | March 27, 2024
Romantic Travel Ideas for an Anniversary Trip, or Any Trip
by Wendy Perrin | February 27, 2024
WOW Asia: Reviews from our Travelers
by WendyPerrin.com | April 16, 2024
Christmas and New Year’s Trips Loved By Your Fellow Travelers
by WendyPerrin.com | February 28, 2024
Secrets of Europe: The Spots Most Travelers Miss
by WendyPerrin.com | November 29, 2023
Food-Focused Trips: Reviews From Our Travelers
by WendyPerrin.com | April 17, 2024
Great Inspiration for Graduation Trips
by Wendy Perrin | March 27, 2024
Best Multigenerational Trips: Reviews from our Travelers
by WendyPerrin.com | January 21, 2024
Honeymoon Ideas That Are Truly Special
by WendyPerrin.com | February 24, 2023
Spring Break: Ideas for an Amazing Family Trip
by WendyPerrin.com | January 8, 2024
Solo Trips Done Right: Traveler Reviews
by WendyPerrin.com | February 27, 2024
Thanksgiving Trip Reviews: Inspiration for a Holiday Abroad
by WendyPerrin.com | January 3, 2024
This Is WOW: Surprise WOW Moments Described by Real Travelers
by Wendy Perrin | April 16, 2024
WOW Christmas Experiences: How Your Fellow Travelers Have Spent the Holiday Abroad
by Brook Wilkinson | January 2, 2024
Beat the Summer Heat in Europe with a Cool Trip Itinerary
by Wendy Perrin | August 18, 2023
WOW South America: Reviews from our Travelers
by WendyPerrin.com | April 3, 2024
European Vacations for Winter School Breaks
by Doug Baker | January 21, 2024
Winter Is Europe’s Secret Season
Real connections with locals: wow trip reviews.
by Wendy Perrin | April 17, 2024
Our Latest Newsletters
Be a Smarter Traveler
Sign up for Wendy Perrin’s newsletter to get essential travel updates and ideas to make your next trip extraordinary.
- First Name *
- Last Name *
We may receive a referral fee from trip planners for trips designed for and purchased by travelers referred through us.
- Insider’s Guides to 177 Destinations
- Travel Tips
- Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
- Where To Go When
World’s best hotels for 2024
Stay somewhere award-winning.
Top experiences on Tripadvisor
More to explore
Top destinations for your next vacation
Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best
Plan, Ready, Go®
The Best Travel Guides (Online and Books)
Even in the digital age, travel guide books are an important part of my travel planning journey. I have read and tried many different travel books and online travel guides. And I pulled together a list of what I think are the best travel guides (books and online resources).
I return to my favorite travel guides again and again with each trip that we plan. Once you find a travel guide series that you know and trust, it can really speed up the travel planning process.
But which travel guides are the best? Keep reading for the full list!
Need help with planning your trip? Check out our guide to the best travel planning resources .
This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See disclaimer.
Are travel guidebooks still used now?
Absolutely! Although you can find a wealth of travel planning help online, the good old-fashioned travel guidebooks are still very much available and in use.
Some people prefer to use paper travel guidebooks. You can flag important sections and highlight things you want to remember. We’ve even ripped our books up (they’re meant to be used!) and traveled only with the sections covering the cities and sites we visited.
E-books are also a great option for travel guides. If you use e-books, you can easily travel with several guides without adding a single ounce to your luggage. It’s a perfect option for those who travel carry-on only .
Rick Steves: best travel guides for Europe
Rick steves guidebooks .
Some seasoned travelers look down their noses a bit at Rick Steves guide books . There’s no reason for that. Rick Steves knows Europe inside and out from decades of traveling, leading tours, writing books, and producing episodes of his wonderful series Rick Steves’ Europe.
Rick Steves books are excellent guides and well worth the money. I highly recommend them, especially for travel planning beginners or for anxious travelers who are looking for an expert to tell them where to visit and how.
His books are kept up to date and quite detailed, even to the point of including full guided walking tours (often several) and detailed guided tours through major sites.
- Steves, Rick (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 604 Pages – 09/06/2022 (Publication Date) – Rick Steves (Publisher)
Rick Steves online
You can also get a lot of good free travel tips and help on the Rick Steves website, including the forums . There are forums specifically for countries, reviews, and several forums about general travel tips topics.
They’re a great way to get insight and tips from other experienced travelers…even those who disagree with Rick Steves itinerary suggestions. (Shocked face.)
Rick Steves Audio Europe Travel App
I also highly recommend the Rick Steves Audio Europe Travel App . It’s loaded with audio guides for walking tours and top travel destination sites like the Colosseum in Rome and The Louvre Museum in Paris.
Download the audio tours for your destination so you can listen to them on your mobile device as you explore your destination.
Rough Guides: my favorite travel guidebooks overall
Super practical and easy to read, Rough Guides are my top choice for any destination that isn’t in Europe (for which I prefer Rick Steves guide books ).
The UK-based company was founded in 1982 with the Rough Guide to Greece . Since then, they have published travel guidebooks for well over 100 destinations all over the world.
In addition to their main guidebook series, they also offer Pocket Rough Guides, On a Budget, Snapshots, phrasebooks, and inspirational guides like “Make the Most of Your Time on Earth.”
- Guides, Rough (Author)
- 840 Pages – 10/18/2022 (Publication Date) – Rough Guides (Publisher)
Rough Guides website
Rough Guides isn’t just a guidebook publisher though. Since 2017 they have offered tailor-made trips to over 70 destinations. created by local travel experts.
Their website provides some basic itineraries, travel recommendations, and basic destination information for free that can help get you started on planning your travel itinerary .
Fodor’s
The great travel writer Eugene Fodor once said “You don’t need to be rich to travel well.” And that’s been kind of my mantra for the last several years.
In 1936 Fodor wrote the first modern travel guide book . It was for British audiences and he wrote all 1200 pages himself. The book was O n the Continent: An Entertaining Travel Annual .
According to Fodors.com , “The guide went beyond reporting on the sights and for the first time included information about Europe’s culture and people, practical information like how to tip, and was the first to be annually updated.”
Since On the Continent was first published, Fodor’s has been a trusted name in travel guides. They now claim that their travel writers have covered more than 8,000 destinations around the world .
In addition to the Signature Guides, their other series include Fodor’s Inside, In Focus, and 25 Best. Fodor’s says that Fodor’s Italy is the company’s top-selling guide book.
- Fodor’s Travel Guides (Author)
- 896 Pages – 12/20/2022 (Publication Date) – Fodor’s Travel (Publisher)
Fodor’s website
Fodors.com was one of the first travel websites when it launched in 1996 . Today the site offers destination guides, general travel content, and forums about specific destinations or general travel topics such as air travel.
Frommer’s
The venerated Frommer’s travel guides were launched by Arthur Frommer in 1957 with a guide to visiting Europe on $5 a day (yup. $5.). That guide followed his book about how to travel Europe as a GI (Frommer was in the Army at the time).
Frommer’s quickly grew to become one of the most trusted names in travel guidebooks.
Several years ago, Frommer’s was acquired by Google, which pulled the plug on their print books in the spring of 2013.
Arthur Frommer reacquired the company shortly thereafter and then quickly made a deal to get the books back in distribution. Frommer’s then started emphasizing their Easy Guides and Day by Day series, which were smaller and easier to read and carry than the typical large guidebooks they saw on the market.
- Gordon, Yvonne (Author)
- 602 Pages – 08/23/2022 (Publication Date) – FrommerMedia (Publisher)
Frommer’s website
Frommers.com is a fine place to start planning for a trip for free. Destination information includes city layouts, how to get around, and their top picks for hotels and dining.
They also provide other general travel content and feature articles plus trip ideas for honeymoons, arts and cultural travel, national parks, family travel, road trips, and more.
The Frommer’s Travel Show (podcast)
Pauline Frommer, daughter of Frommer’s founder Arthur Frommer, hosts The Frommer’s Travel Show podcast . New episodes come out approximately once per week or several times a month.
Bradt Guides
Known for publishing guides for lesser-traveled destinations (though certainly not less deserving), Bradt bills itself as “the world’s leading independent travel publisher.”
Bradt guides are the go-to for destinations not covered by other publishers. They say that “over two-thirds of Bradt guides still have no direct competition from other publishers.”
The Bradts’ first book, Backpacking Along Ancient Ways Peru & Bolivia , was the first to detail the Inca Trail.
Later they became known for writing guides to destinations “post-conflict.” These included Rwanda, Kosovo, and the Baltic States after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
In addition to their destination guidebooks, Bradt also publishes a Slow Travel series of UK destinations, a Wildlife series, and general travel literature.
- McIntyre, Chris (Author)
- 456 Pages – 06/01/2022 (Publication Date) – Bradt Travel Guides (Publisher)
Bradt Guides Travel Club
Avid travelers can support Bradt by joining their Travel Club through Patreon. There are three tiers: Bradtpacker, Globetrotter, and First-Class Traveller. Each tier offers differing levels of subscriber benefits including things like e-books and access to their bespoke travel planning service.
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet books for a long time were quite popular especially with younger backpackers looking to travel on a budget. The books can be light on the details that certain travelers (beginners, anxious travelers) might wish for when making good decisions about where to spend their travel dollars.
Lonely Planet books are good for independent and adventurous travelers . Or for those who just want some recommendations but not a prescribed itinerary with a ton of detail.
In addition to their popular guidebooks, Lonely Planet also publishes phrasebooks, general travel books, food books, and children’s books.
- Mayhew, Bradley (Author)
- 288 Pages – 03/16/2021 (Publication Date) – Lonely Planet (Publisher)
Lonely Planet website
You can get some basic, inspirational travel information to start your travel planning from the Lonely Planet website . Sadly, they set their forums to “read-only” some time ago. In my opinion, the forums were the best (and most valuable) part of the website.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo is best known for its compact and colorful pocket travel guides. They also offer spiral-bound itinerary-based guides, phrasebooks, folding maps, travel handbooks, travel journals, city maps, and road atlases.
- Marco Polo Travel Publishing Marco Polo Travel Publishing (Author)
- 136 Pages – 10/15/2022 (Publication Date) – Marco Polo Travel Publishing, Ltd. (Publisher)
Marco Polo Discovery Tours App
The free Marco Polo Discovery Tours app offers travelers a variety of guided itineraries through many destinations. For example, you can download a 23-day driving tour of New Zealand with a step-by-step driving tour over both islands.
DK Eyewitness: among best travel books for visuals
I enjoy reading DK Eyewitness guides, especially when I’m looking for information about the history and culture of my destination. The glossy full-color books feature beautiful photographs and illustrations perfect for inspiring your travel itinerary. They cover more than 100 destinations.
DK was founded in 1974 by Christopher Dorling and Peter Kindersley. They published their first travel book in the early 1990’s promising to show you “what others only tell you.”
They also cover all the usual grounds for travel guidebooks: itineraries, maps, dining and accommodations recommendations, top sites, etc.
- DK Eyewitness (Author)
- 592 Pages – 04/26/2022 (Publication Date) – DK Eyewitness Travel (Publisher)
Where to Go podcast
Produced by the team behind the DK Eyewitness books, each episode of the Where to Go podcast dives deep into a particular destination. New episodes come out every two weeks or so.
Insight Guides
For more than 40 years, Insight Guides have published guidebooks covering more than 200 destinations.
In my experience, they’re quite a bit heavier on destination history and culture than any other travel guide I’ve encountered. So, if that’s not something you enjoy, then these guidebooks might not be your top choice.
Insight Guides series include: Explore Guides, City Breaks, Pocket Guides, City Guides, and Experience Guides.
- Guides, Insight (Author)
- 144 Pages – 04/01/2018 (Publication Date) – Insight Guides (Publisher)
Insight Guides website
You will find some travel information on the Insight Guides website , making it a decent place to start if you’re unsure of your destination.
The emphasis of their website seems to be on advertising their Insight Guides trip offerings…not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Atlas Obscura
Atlas obscura book .
Unlike all of the other travel guidebooks listed above, Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders is not a series of guidebooks but rather one book that details an incredible array of oddities and wonders around the world.
Here’s how the authors describe their book and website (more on that below):
“The site, and this book, are a kind of wunderkammer of places, a cabinet of curiosities that is meant to inspire wonderlust as much as wanderlust. In fact, many of the places in this book are in no way ‘tourist sites’ and should not be treated as such. Others are so out of the way, so treacherously situated, or (in at least one case) so deep beneath the surface, that few readers will ever be able to visit them. But here they are, sharing this marvelously strange planet with us. Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras & Ella Morton, Atlas Obscura , revised second edition, (New York: Workman Publishing, 2019) vii
The revised second edition (published in 2019) added more than 100 new sites to the 2016 first edition. The book is delightful reading if you’re into oddities around the world. I definitely recommend picking up a copy.
- Hardcover Book
- Foer, Joshua (Author)
Atlas Obscura website
Make sure you stop by the Atlas Obscura website during your travel planning if you like finding out-of-the-way sites, or unusual places to visit, or want to make it a priority to get off the beaten path.
You can even take Atlas Obscura trips to some pretty unusual places and even with some unusual activities…such as assisting biologists with bee research at Redwood National Park.
Atlas Obscura podcast
Atlas Obscura launched a podcast in March 2021, which I’ve really enjoyed listening to. Early episodes covered sites such as the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan, the Museum of Bad Art in Massachusetts, and the old Widow Jane cement mine in Rosendale, New York.
Final thoughts on the best travel guidebooks
The best travel guides will be the ones that you use and that help you plan a trip that you truly love. I personally like to use a combination of travel guidebooks and online travel planning resources.
But don’t just follow my advice. Try these guidebook series and online travel guides for yourself and find the ones that you will like and use for your trip planning.
What are your favorite travel guidebooks?
More articles related to travel guides
- Travel planning resources
- The top books about travel and self-discovery
- Best books to read before you travel to Paris
- The best books about the South
Pin this post!
Darcy Vierow is a busy professional and travel planning expert with years of experience maximizing travel with limited time and on a less-than-average salary. Her tips have been published by Forbes, MSN.com, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, Aol, Newsbreak and GOBankingRates. Read more about Darcy Vierow .
Michelin guides (the green books) are great!
I used to use the “Let’s Go: Europe” guides, which were great. They were targeting college age students mostly, but they had lots of good information re: trip planning for everyone.
Which guidebooks (and/or websites) are best for planning train/plane travel while in Europe? Any standouts?
Thanks for your very helpful information!
You’re welcome, Wayne. The Man in Seat 61 is THE expert in European train travel. His website is: https://www.seat61.com/ . He’s also pretty active on Twitter. I’d also recommend checking out https://www.rome2rio.com/ for helping with planning transportation for any trip. Thanks for reading!
My family had a great time in Paris. We had a wonderful time there and enjoyed the culture of the region. The nightlife was fantastic, and the city’s elegance is indescribable. We are in love with the place and explore so many places like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, Cruise on the Seine, etc. After reading your blog I would like to revisit there.
Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip. Thanks for reading!
Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. *
Privacy Overview
An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Save time getting through airport security with Trusted Traveler Programs
When you become a member of a Trusted Traveler Program such as TSA Precheck and Global Entry, you can spend less time in airport security lines and at border crossings.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) manages the Trusted Traveler Programs. These include TSA Precheck and Global Entry . As a pre-approved member, you can use expedited lanes at U.S. airports and when entering the U.S. by land or sea. TSA Precheck is for travelers departing from U.S. airports. Global Entry is for travelers entering the U.S. from international destinations by air, land, or sea. There are also programs for entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico .
To apply, you will need to pay a fee and provide documents proving your identity. Depending on the program, you may need to complete an interview. If approved, your program membership will last 5 years.
Apply for a Trusted Traveler Program
LAST UPDATED: December 15, 2023
Have a question?
Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.
Trusted Travel
My covid pass.
The African Union Commission and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched the Saving Lives, Economies and Livelihoods campaign to promote hassle-free travel across Africa while, at the same time, preventing cross-border spread of COVID-19 infection.
Together with its partners, African Union and Africa CDC are providing this #TrustedTravel, My COVID Pass tool to simplify verification of public health documentation for travellers during exit and entry across borders.
For enquiries and support, please contact: [email protected] .
Click to view
Trusted Vaccines
The africa union's digital vaccination platform is now open to the public..., trusted health, the africa union and its strategic partners have consolidated the digital vaccination and cross-border digital biosurveillance platform into a single e-network: trusted health., key features.
- Information about the latest travel restrictions and entry requirements applicable to the entire stretch of your journey.
- Database of authorised laboratories and vaccination compliance information.
- Africa CDC “mutual recognition protocol” for COVID-19 testing and test results, and vaccination certificates (including yellow fever and a future COVID-19 vaccine).
- Simplified health-related immigration processing for travellers and port officials.
- The information is supplied by African Union Member States and validated by Africa CDC.
#TrustedTravel Technology Partners are:
The system then retrieves the latest set of restrictions that apply to your journey. The results are close to instant.
For enquiries and support, please contact: [email protected]
How to use the Portal
- 1 On the left side of the page, select your country of departure.
- 2 To the right, the system automatically populates the possible airports of departure in the country.
- 3 Select your departure airport.
- 4 Then select your destination country.
- 5 The system automatically populates the possible airports of arrival.
- 6 Select one.
- 7 Click "Get Restrictions" to see the latest set of restrictions that apply to your journey.
Countries' Travel Guides
Ministry of health - kenya, download resources.
Saving Lives, Economies and Livelihoods in Africa
Promoting harmonized, standardized and coordinated entry and exit for travellers in African Union Member States through digital solutions.
Subscribe for Alerts
The Ultimate New Zealand Travel Guide
This New Zealand Travel Guide aims to provide you with simple and stress-free travel planning information and inspiration for planning a trip to New Zealand.
On this regularly updated page you will find links to useful posts on The Trusted Traveller, budget information, details on types of accommodation available, information on getting around the country and more useful links to resources around the web.
Quick Facts
Capital: Wellington
Language: English
Currency: $ New Zealand Dollars which is made up of 100 cents. Coins come in 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 denominations and notes in $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations.
Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs with two or three flat pins are standard. Outlets for 110 volts for small appliances can be found in most hotels.
New Zealand Itineraries
These are my comprehensive guides to exploring the various parts of New Zealand. These New Zealand itineraries have been designed to help you make the most of your time each place, whether you are here for a quick weekend getaway or a longer vacation, you will find something here to help you with planning your dream vacation to New Zealand.
New Zealand Northland Road Trip Itinerary
Northland New Zealand is an area of green rolling hills, farmlands and great forests. Surrounded almost entirely by water and snaked by rivers and inlets, you’ll…. Read More
Driving from Christchurch to Marlborough
The road trip part of my New Zealand adventure began in Christchurch. I’d already picked up my super comfy and spacious Mitsubishi Outlander from the…. Read More
Driving New Zealand’s Wild West Coast
Leaving Picton or Blenheim in the Marlborough Region of New Zealand’s South Island, there are two routes you can take to reach the Wild West Coast. Both…. Read More
The Spectacular Drive from Franz Josef to Queenstown
I set off on my road trip around New Zealand’s South Island first driving from Christchurch to Marlborough, then across to the Wild West Coast. From there I made our way…. Read More
Day Trip to Akaroa from Christchurch
Taking a day trip to Akaroa from Christchurch is one of the must do things when your visiting Christchurch. Akaroa is perfectly positioned for both a full or half…. Read More
A Self-Guided Wine Tour of the Gibbston Valle y
A visit to New Zealand wouldn’t be complete without a visit to some of its best wineries. And while we love taking a guided day trip through a wine region and think….. Read More
Two Week New Zealand South Island Road Trip Itinerary
New Zealand’s spectacular South Island is on the bucket list of many travellers all over the world. I’ve taken many trips over the pond to visit what is one of my favourite…. Read More
Christchurch to Queenstown Road Trip Itinerary
The drive from Christchurch to Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island can easily be completed in one day, just under six hours if you don’t make any stops…. Read More
Christchurch Itinerary: 2 or 3 Days
This Christchurch itinerary will help you decide how best to spend your time when exploring this beautiful and interesting city rising from the rubble of the earthquakes…. Read More
Queenstown Itinerary: 5 Days
This Queenstown itinerary will help you decide how best to spend your time when exploring this absolutely breathtaking part of New Zealand’s South Island…. Read More
Wanaka Itinerary: 2 or 3 Days
Wanaka, a breathtaking paradise nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s South Island. Surrounded by towering mountains, pristine lakes, and a plethora of outdoor…. Read More
Marlborough 2 Day Itinerary
Discover the beauty of Marlborough, New Zealand, in just two days with this Marlborough 2 day itinerary. Situated at the northern tip of the South Island….. Read More
New Zealand Travel Tips
New Zealand is made up of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island. They stretch from north to south and are separated by the Cook Strait.
The North Island is more developed and home to the country’s two biggest cities, Wellington in the south and Auckland in the north. The island is mostly rolling green hills and farmland, with the central heartland home to geothermal activity like boiling mud pools, geysers and active volcanoes.
The South Island is much more dramatic. Think snow-covered mountains, fjords and glaciers. There are no big cities, rather Christchurch and Dunedin are more like big country towns.
New Zealand Weather
Because of the country’s length, it can, at different times of the year, experience a broad range of weather. It is subtropical in the north and more temperate in the south.
The north has no extremes of heat or cold, while the in the south, winter can be quite bitterly cold with significant snowfalls in the mountains. The eastern parts of the country often experience drought conditions in summer and the west, particularly in the South Island, is likely to receive more rain.
Best Time to Visit New Zealand
If you’re not visiting New Zealand for a specific seasonal reason, then the best time to visit, is October/November or March/April. This is because the weather is good and it is less crowded with other visitors and vacationing locals.
However, if it is winter sports that interest you, then you’ll want to head to the South Island from May to September when you’ll find plenty of snow.
And over summer is when the country really comes alive with tons of great outdoor activities and festivals. If this is what you’re after, then visit from November to March.
Money in New Zealand
It is always recommend to have a mixture of cash and bank/credit card with you when you travel anywhere in the world and this is no exception in New Zealand.
ATM’s are available in all cities and towns across the country and credit cards are accepted in most places too. The exception to this would be in some very small and remote towns where it is recommended to have plenty of cash on hand.
Things to Do in New Zealand
These guides to the top things to do in New Zealand will help you pick from the best there is in each town. No matter whether you have one or many days in each of these places, you will find plenty of interesting and exciting things to do in these guides.
Things to Do in The Bay of Islands
New Zealand offers you the chance to visit some amazing coastal areas and beaches, most of which are used mainly for a stroll and a good view rather than the usual…. Read More
Things to Do in Auckland , New Zealand
What’s the capital city of New Zealand? Go on, have a guess. Most of you will probably guess Auckland and up until a few years ago I thought the same thing. While it…. Read More
Things to Do in Christchurch, New Zealand
Christchurch is one of the many cities around the world to have suffered terrible devastation over the last few years from natural disasters. The 2011 earthquake caused the… Read More
Things to Do in Marlborough , New Zealand
The Marlborough region of New Zealand can be found in the very north of the South Island and makes up roughly 20% of the countries coastline and nearly 80% of the…. Read More
Things to Do in New Zealand’s Glacier Country
New Zealand’s Glacier Country is one area of the country you have to see sooner rather than later. Why you ask? Because the features that give this region its name are…. Read More
Things to Do in Queenstown, New Zealand
The spectacular city of Queenstown, on New Zealand’s South Island, is a mecca for those who love being outdoors and those who love adrenaline pumping activities…. Read More
The Best Day Trips from Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island and third largest in the country. A visit to Christchurch offers visitors a diverse range of things to do in…. Read More
The Best Christchurch Sightseeing Tours
If you are the type of traveller that likes to maximise your time in a destination, then an organised tour can be a really great option to consider in your travel planning…. Read More
9 Best Day Trips from Queenstown
A visit to Queenstown offers visitors a diverse range of things to do in the city itself, but it is also an excellent gateway to the incredible surrounding area. Within easy…. Read More
The Best Queenstown Adventure Activities
Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand and the place where a lot of daring travellers from around the world travel specifically to, to take part in…. Read More
Best Things to Do in Wanaka, New Zealand
Wanaka is a picturesque town located in the heart of the Southern Alps on the South Island of New Zealand. This stunning destination boasts crystal-clear lakes, snow…. Read More
The Best Tours in Wanaka, New Zealand
Are you planning a trip to Wanaka and looking for the best tours to explore this stunning destination? With a plethora of outdoor activities and natural wonders…. Read More
The Best Tours in Marlborough, New Zealand
Marlborough, New Zealand – a paradise for nature enthusiasts and wine connoisseurs alike! Nestled at the top of the South Island, Marlborough is renowned for…. Read More
Things to Do in Lake Tekapo (and surrounds)
One of the most picture perfect regions of New Zealand, Lake Tekapo and its surrounds, lies roughly in the centre of the South Island between the sprawling plain of…. Read More
Spring Time in The Christchurch Botanic Gardens
It’s no secret that I love spring and everything it comes with. I love the bright blue sky’s and mild temperatures of spring in the Southern Hemisphere . The mass planting…. Read More
Sipping Sav: A Tour of the Marlborough Wine Region
When we made the decision to take a road trip around New Zealand’s South Island, top of my list of things to do was to take a tour of the Marlborough Wine Region…. Read More
Cruising Marlborough Sounds on a Mail Boat
I’m always looking for a different way to explore a new destination. I’ve pounded pavement in my trusty walking shoes in cities around the world, seen some of…. Read More
The 10 Most Stunning Lakes on New Zealand’s South Island
After multiple visits to New Zealand’s South Island, I am 100% convinced that the place is heaven on earth. And one of the things that has truly blow me away is the…. Read More
7 Easy Walks in The Catlins, New Zealand
The Catlins is the most southerly region of the New Zealand South Island and is an adventure and outdoor lovers paradise. As part of the Southern Touring Route, The…. Read More
A Walk Around Lake Matheson – In Photos
Have you ever been somewhere so immensely breathtaking that all you could do was sit in silence and let your eyes drink in the view? This is how I felt on my…. Read More
Journey to Milford Sound – In Photos
When we decided to road trip around New Zealand’s South Island there was one place that we absolutely knew we couldn’t miss out on visiting, Milford Sound…. Read More
The Best Tours in Lake Tekapo (and surrounds)
Nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s South Island, Lake Tekapo stands as a jewel in the crown of nature’s grandeur. This stunning alpine haven seamlessly…. Read more
Getting To New Zealand
A selection of major and budget airlines fly direct to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown, from a few cities in Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia, the Middle East and the US. If you are travelling from further afield, you’ll easily be able to find connecting flights through major hubs in Australia, Asia, the Middle East and east coast USA.
Remember, New Zealand is a long way from most other parts of the world. It takes pretty much 24 hours (with a short stopover) to get from the UK and Europe, and 12+ hours from the US. Asia is a little closer with Singapore and Bangkok about 9-10 hours away.
Getting Around New Zealand
New Zealand is a relatively small country making it easy to get around, especially because of the excellent infrastructure they have in place.
Air New Zealand is the country’s national airline and they fly between all the major cities and towns around the country including destinations popular with visitors like Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch, Queenstown and Nelson.
The budget airline, Jetstar, also operates a smaller choice of flights between the above and more cities too.
Because it is a small country, the longest flight time you’d encounter would be up to two hours flying between Auckland and towns in the far south of the South Island.
Doing plenty of research on the cheapest flight routes will help you keep your New Zealand trip costs down. As mentioned earlier, New Zealand isn’t the cheapest country to travel to and the cost of lots of flights can really add up. The alternative means of transport below may be a cheaper option in some case if you are travelling around a lot.
I use and recommend Expedia for researching and booking flights all around the world.
New Zealand is an excellent place for a road trip. The roads are well maintained, routes scenic and you’ll often find that, in some parts of the country, you won’t come across another car for ages.
All of the major car and camper van rental companies are represented in major cities and towns across the country, with outlets in all airports and some city centres. This makes it easy for collecting your vehicle at a time that is convenient to you.
On the South Island especially, we’ve always found having a larger vehicle, like an SUV, more comfortable. The island is very mountainous, so having a larger car has made us feel more safe and it also gives us lots of space to be comfortable for longer driving days.
I use and recommend Expedia for researching and booking car hire all around the world.
For those on a budget, buses are a great way to get around New Zealand and meet lots of like-minded people.
InterCity – These guys cover pretty much every place a visitor might want to visit on both islands. InterCity services run more frequently then the other bus services in the country.
Naked Bus – Similar to InterCity only Naked Bus generally has cheaper fares with one way fares starting from just $1. They follow much the same routes and might run a little less often. This is an excellent option for those on a really tight budget, who know where they want to go.
KiwiExperience & Stray – These are hop-on-hop-off style buses geared towards backpackers. Passes can be purchased for an amount of trips or for a specific route around the one or both islands. You can hop off and stay however long you like before joining up with the bus again when it passes through town.
New Zealand has only three rail lines all of which are more like scenic trains rather than a means to get form one destination to another.
The Northern Explorer bisects the North Island running from Auckland to Wellington showing off the diverse countryside.
The Coastal Pacific Train runs along the coast between Christchurch and Picton. It offers spectacular coastal, mountain and farmland views on the journey through this stunning part of the country.
And finally the Tranz Alpine train cuts right through the centre of the South Island running between Christchurch and Greymouth. It is the most spectacular of the three journeys because it traverses the towering Alps.
Check out KiwiRail for more details.
Getting Around Guides
These guides will give you in-depth knowledge on how to get around some of the bigger cities in New Zealand.
How to Get Around Christchurch
This is your essential guide on how to get around Christchurch’s transportation system and exploring all that it has to offer. Christchurch is a sprawling city…. Read More
Where to Stay in New Zealand
New Zealand caters for everyone when it comes to accommodation. Here is a list of the types of accommodation you’ll find in New Zealand and then below that my posts which will help you pinpoint the exact properties to stay at for your next New Zealand Vacation
Camping/Caravans/Cabins – Most National Parks have at least one campsite and every second or third town has a holiday park with campsites, caravans and cabins available. Free camping is also available in some areas.
Hostels – Take your pick from the range of private and chain hostels located in major cities and popular towns around the country. Accommodation in hostels ranges from multi-bed dorm rooms to private single, double and family rooms, with or without shared facilities.
Budget Motels/Hotels – This type of accommodation is quite popular in New Zealand and you’ll find at least one or two budget motels/hotels in just about ever town in the country. Most will be clean and functional with private facilities and basic amenities.
Hotels/Apartments – You’ll find chain style hotel brands the country’s bigger cities and towns. The good thing about this type of accommodation is in most cases you know what you are going to get, a clean, comfortable and modern room with a decent array of facilities in the room and on the property. Apartments are great for longer stays as they allow you a bit more space and the option to self cater.
Luxury Hotels & Resorts – Every capital city and popular tourist area in New Zealand has its share of 5 star properties, some of which have been named in top lists of accommodation around the world.
B&B’s – Small family run style accommodation like B&B’s can be found all over the country in small towns and popular rural locations. Accommodation is simple yet comfortable and the experience usually comes with friendly hosts and a home cooked breakfast each morning.
I use and recommend Booking.com for researching and booking hostel, motel, hotel, apartment and resort accommodation around the world.
Where to Stay in Christchurch
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, choosing where to stay in Christchurch can make all the difference in making your trip a memorable…. Read More
Where to Stay in Queenstown
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, choosing where to stay in Queenstown can make all the difference in making your trip a memorable…. Read More
Where to Stay in Wanaka
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, choosing where to stay in Wanaka can make all the difference in making your trip a memorable one…. Read More
Where to Stay in Marlborough
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, choosing where to stay in Marlborough can make all the difference in making your trip a memorable…. Read More
Where to Stay in Lake Tekapo
As you embark on your journey to Lake Tekapo, one of the first and most important decisions you’ll need to make is where to stay in Lake Tekapo. In this blog post, I will guide you to exploring the best….. Read More
Eating Out in New Zealand
Eating out in New Zealand can be expensive in comparison to some other regions of the world. There are ways around this, especially if you willing to stay in self catering accommodation and do some simple cooking from time to time.
Supermarkets – New Zealand has quite a few supermarket brands. Countdown will be in every major town while you’ll find a Four Square in just about every town, big or small. New World and Pack’N Save are two more to lookout for because they generally offer cheaper prices.
Fast Food / Take-away – Chain fast food stores are in all major centres of the country. If you’re looking for a cheap and tasty fast food meal, skip the chains like McDonalds and go for a local family owned hamburger or fish and chip shops instead. You’ll find at least one of this style of take-away store in every city and town of the country.
Cafes – Cafes can vary greatly in price and quality depending on the city/town or area of a city/town. Meals range from simple sandwiches and salads to hot dishes made fresh or served from a food warmer. Cafes offer the chance to have a large hot meal at lunch time so in the night-time you’ll only need a snack.
Pubs – Every city or town in New Zealand has a decent pub or two. A beer and a meal at a Kiwi pub is just part of the way of life in New Zealand. Pubs can vary widely in price these days as a lot in the major cities have been converted to trendy venues serving food that can rival some four start restaurants. However in country towns the meals are cheap and usually made using local produce.
Restaurants – You’ll find a reasonably wide range of cuisines in restaurants across the country. Prices in restaurants can vary greatly depending on the location and quality of the food but there are some good cheap ones out there, you just need to dig a little deeper.
Fine Dining – New Zealand is blessed with incredible local produce and this is showcased at it’s best in fine dining establishments across the country.
Leave a Comment Cancel reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .
Ready to start creating your on-demand workforce?
Finding a flexible nursing job you love has never been easier..
PENNSYLVANIA
MASSACHUSETTS
Helping travel nurses and allied health professionals build the lives they want.
Helping nurses build the lives they want., finding a flexible job you love has never been easier., we’ve obsessed over the problems that frustrate you to build new tools that really support you., personalized job matches.
Work-life goals
Honest conversations
Compensation transparency
Dedicated support
Discover and apply to flexible nursing and allied health jobs anytime, anywhere.
Our mission is to help people everywhere get care.
At Trusted we are mobilizing the healthcare workforce to help people everywhere get the care that they deserve.
We all know the healthcare system has problems - problems felt by overburdened hospitals and under-supported clinicians. So we’re tackling some of the biggest hurdles in the industry to ensure that at the end of the day, everyone gets the quality care that they deserve.
We’re working with the world’s most disruptive healthcare facilities.
With help from the best nurses, nationwide..
Free guides and resources written by real clinicians.
Let our team of nurses and healthcare industry pros bring you the latest and greatest in travel nursing and allied health.
Let's Check In
Let's start building the life you want., we're here to help.
COMMENTS
The Trusted Traveler Programs (Global Entry, TSA PreCheck ®, SENTRI, NEXUS, and FAST) are risk-based programs to facilitate the entry of pre-approved travelers.All applicants are vetted to ensure that they meet the qualifications for the program to which they are applying. Receiving a "Best Match" or program recommendation based on eligibility or travel habits does not guarantee acceptance ...
This is the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website where international travelers can apply for Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) to expedite admittance into the United States (for pre-approved, low-risk travelers).
Trusted Traveler Programs are issued through the Department of Homeland Security, and they allow members to move through security more efficiently. There are four main Trusted Traveler Programs ...
Bradt travel guide books has a reputation as the "World's leading independent travel publisher.". They are also the best India travel guide company. Some unique destinations include Iraq, Sri Lanka, Galapagos Islands, and Grenada. But don't worry. Bradt Guides also has a British series for those interested!
Europe Travel Guide. On this page you'll find links to individual country travel guides for each destination in Europe that features on The Trusted Traveller. Each of these travel guides offer an introduction, travel tips and links to resources that are relevant and specific to each destination. With these travel guides I aim to give you the ...
The WOW List is a collection of exceptionally knowledgeable and well-connected trip planners around the world. They have been rigorously road-tested, based on my decades of experience as a travel journalist and based on the latest trip reviews from travelers who used my WOW approach to ensure an extraordinary trip. In 2023 they quickly found solutions to the travel complications and disruption ...
Travel Guides. On this page you'll find links to travel guides for each destination that features on The Trusted Traveller. Each of these travel guides offer an introduction, travel tips and links to resources that are relevant and specific to each destination. With these travel guides I aim to give you the most up-to-date and reliable ...
For over 80 years, Fodor's Travel has been a trusted resource offering expert travel advice for every stage of a traveler's trip. With over 700 local writers and vacation experts offering the ...
You've collected tips from guidebooks, the internet, your social network, your travel agent, and your immediate circle of friends and relatives. Let's rank the advice in order of credibility. 1. Word-of-mouth advice from a close friend, relative or a trusted travel advisor. 2.
Plan your next trip, read reviews and get travel advice from our community on where to stay and what to do. Find savings on hotels, book the perfect tour or attraction, and reserve a table at the best restaurants. ... Small-Group Explore Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour with Guide from Siem Reap. 5,956. from $19 per adult. 2023. Best Seller. San Juan ...
France Travel Guide. This France Travel Guide aims to provide you with simple and stress-free travel planning information and inspiration for planning a trip to France. On this regularly updated page you will find links to useful posts on The Trusted Traveller, budget information, details on types of accommodation available, information on ...
Discover all the top travel guide books and online tools to help you plan the trip of your dreams. The best travel guides inspire and inform. ... Fodor's has been a trusted name in travel guides. They now claim that their travel writers have covered more than 8,000 destinations around the world.
Soak up the sun and the local culture in Portugal with the help of this travel guide. With the inclusion of important phrases and insights into the country's history, music, land and so much more, this can be your trusted travel companion to help you embark on a life-changing adventure. Paperback $22.99. ADD TO CART.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) manages the Trusted Traveler Programs. These include TSA Precheck and Global Entry. As a pre-approved member, you can use expedited lanes at U.S. airports and when entering the U.S. by land or sea. TSA Precheck is for travelers departing from U.S. airports. Global Entry is for travelers entering the U.S ...
Ride through rainforests, local villages, hidden beaches and beautiful waterfalls with ATV Phuket. There's no prior experience needed for this safe and guided tour, and you have the option of riding for 1 to 3 hours total. Go Scuba Diving with All4Diving. Thailand's Andaman Sea is one of the world's best dive spots.
Expert travel tips and advice. Destination Guides. Travel like a local, not a tourist. World's best travel destinations. Solo Female Travel. Adventure Travel. Travel Photos & Videos. ... Exclusive for Trusted Travel Girl Audience. Jan 21, 2024. Jan 21, 2024. Jan 20, 2024. A Beginner's Guide to Planning Your First African Safari. Jan 20, 2024 ...
Australia Travel Guide. This Australia Travel Guide aims to provide you with simple and stress-free travel planning information and inspiration for planning a trip to Australia. On this regularly updated page you will find links to useful posts on The Trusted Traveller, budget information, details on types of accommodation available ...
Expedia. Read 5,806 Reviews. Expedia is an online travel agency founded by Microsoft in 2001. The site helps people find and schedule diverse travel services, including car rentals, flights and ...
Located at the Reach Resort, Barefoot Billy's offers several different Key West tours. Choose from jet skis, bikes, scooters, and catamarans for a fun Key West adventure. On the Jet Ski tour, you get to circle the entire island of Key West and they let you really open up the machines; I got up to 50 mph on mine!
The African Union Commission and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched the Saving Lives, Economies and Livelihoods campaign to promote hassle-free travel across Africa while, at the same time, preventing cross-border spread of COVID-19 infection. Together with its partners, African Union and Africa CDC are ...
Travel nurses and allied health professionals are eligible for benefits, like health insurance, that are typically provided through their agency. The nature and extent of these benefits can vary and it's important to understand your options to optimize your choices. Read More. Here are some further resources to help you in your journey to ...
The Ultimate New Zealand Travel Guide. This New Zealand Travel Guide aims to provide you with simple and stress-free travel planning information and inspiration for planning a trip to New Zealand. On this regularly updated page you will find links to useful posts on The Trusted Traveller, budget information, details on types of accommodation ...
'The difference between being a Trusted nurse and working for another travel company is Transparency. I'm totally in control of my employment because I upload all my information, certifications and preferences to Trusted's portal and then I receive jobs that match my desired location, my department, and the pay rate along with information about the community the hospital serves.