TRAVEL RESOURCES
The Universal Traveller Toolkit
The booking platforms, travel tools and gear we actually use when planning luxury stays, active trips and longer journeys.
Built from the tools founder Tim Kroeger has used across more than 15 years of international travel and 112+ countries.
What you will find here
Places to book.
Tools that make travel easier.
Gear worth carrying.
How this page works
These are services and products we use or consider useful for the kinds of trips Universal Traveller covers. Some links are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you book or buy through them, at no additional cost to you.
Commercial relationships do not determine inclusion. We focus on what a tool is good for, who it suits and what is worth knowing before you use it.
Book a Stay
Where we compare hotels
No single platform has the best rate every time. These are the places we regularly check when comparing availability, room types, cancellation terms and final prices.
01
Booking.com
Best for
Broad hotel searches and flexible international bookings.
Booking.com is one of the first platforms we check because of its wide accommodation inventory and the ability to compare multiple room and cancellation options in one place.
Worth knowing
Always compare the final price, taxes, cancellation conditions and room type against the hotel directly before booking.
02
Agoda
Best for
Hotel searches across Asia.
Agoda is one of the platforms we check most often in Southeast Asia, where its inventory and rates can differ noticeably from other international booking sites.
Worth knowing
Compare the final amount after taxes and fees, and check whether the rate is refundable before confirming.
Plan Experiences
GetYourGuide
Useful when you know where you are going but have not yet decided what to do when you arrive.
Best for
Tours, activities, attraction tickets and day trips in unfamiliar destinations.
We use GetYourGuide as a discovery tool when researching a destination and when advance booking makes sense for popular attractions or limited-capacity experiences.
Worth knowing
Read the individual operator details and recent reviews rather than judging an experience only by the marketplace listing.
Longer & International Travel
Tools for staying mobile
SafetyWing
Best for
Travel medical coverage for people spending extended periods abroad.
SafetyWing is designed around travellers and remote workers who move between countries rather than taking a single conventional holiday.
Worth knowing
Insurance needs vary significantly. Read the current policy wording, exclusions, geographic restrictions and eligibility requirements before purchasing.
ExpressVPN
Best for
Travellers regularly using hotel, airport and café Wi-Fi.
A VPN adds an encrypted connection between your device and the VPN service, which can be useful when travelling and relying on networks you do not control.
Worth knowing
A VPN is one part of digital security, not a replacement for strong passwords, software updates or sensible use of public networks.
Distinctive Journeys
Virgin Voyages
A different kind of cruise for travellers who prefer an adults-only ship, contemporary design and a more flexible onboard experience.
Why it is here
Tim spent 13 days travelling with Virgin Voyages from Portsmouth to Barcelona while continuing to run Universal Traveller from the ship, giving us direct experience of the product as both a traveller and remote worker.
Worth knowing
Cruise fares and inclusions vary by sailing, cabin category and promotion, so compare the total trip cost rather than the headline fare alone.
Travel Gear
RIMOWA
Premium hard-shell luggage built around durability, repairability and a design that works particularly well for frequent travel.
Best for
Frequent travellers who value robust luggage and are comfortable paying a premium for it.
RIMOWA is known for its aluminium and polycarbonate cases, smooth multi-wheel systems and distinctive design. It makes the most sense for travellers who use their luggage heavily rather than occasionally.
Worth knowing
It is expensive, and aluminium luggage will show dents and scratches with use. For some travellers that is part of the appeal; for others, a lighter and less costly case will make more sense.
How We Choose
A useful recommendation has to earn its place
It needs to solve a real travel problem for the kinds of journeys we cover.
We favour tools we have used ourselves or can evaluate meaningfully through our travel work.
Affiliate relationships are disclosed and do not guarantee inclusion.
Where to Next?
Find the trip worth taking
Use the toolkit to plan the practical details, then explore our first-hand hotel reviews, adventure stories and travel intelligence for the trip itself.
Stay
Luxury Stay Reviews
Personally tested hotels and stays, with an honest look at what works and what does not.
Explore
Adventure Travel
Bikepacking, sailing, trekking, road trips and journeys that go beyond the ordinary.
Understand
Travel Insights
Travel trends, hotel intelligence and useful context for making better travel decisions.
