Travel Planning

Budget Travel

Airlines

EasyJet - not the most glamorous airline in the world, but it's handy for short-haul flights to Europe. They offer many flights for under £30, just make sure you get to the airport early as there is a first come first serve seat policy, rather than seat allocation. Queue a lot of shoving...

Ryanair - very similar to EasyJet, not the best but handy for flights to Europe. Flights generally start from £18. 

skyscanner - this sight is fantastic if you want to shop around and compare flights to find the most suitable and the cheapest. 

Rail

Interrail - I love this system. I recently traveled across Europe using an interrail global pass and its perfect for first time travelers to Europe. It allows you to buy a rail package before you go away so there is no hassle when your abroad. There are many packages on offer such as, the global pass which allows one month unlimited access to 30 countries, or a 10 day pass for those looking for a shorter trip away. They also kit you out with maps, leaflets and other discounts. Perfect!

There is also Eurail which is a similar concept for non-EU citizens. 

RailDude - This site is the bible for those who are interrailing around Europe. The forums tell you practically every train time, reservation costs and routes throughout Europe. The bus timetables are also very useful!

Rail Europe - This is a fantastic site where you can research and buy rail tickets within Europe. 

MegaBus - sounds like a haven for hen parties and stag-dos, but for those on a budget this coach company is a good alternative to flying. With a return to Amsterdam starting from £22 you can't really go wrong. Just make sure you don't mind sitting on a bus for hours!

Groupon - As well as advertising discounts in your local area, sometimes the site groupon comes up with a gem and offers low cost packages abroad and weekends away. 

Places to Stay

Hostelworld and Hostelbookers are the bibles of hostel booking abroad. They rank and review each hostel so you know exactly where your staying, and you only pay 10% online and pay the rest when you arrive at the hostel. I have used these sites so many times!

Europe's Famous Hostels is a great site where you can book to stay in the most popular hostels around Europe. Though these tend to be more expensive, they are great for those looking for a lively atmosphere. The Czech Inn, Prague is one of my favourites!

YHA or HI Hostels are great organisations to become a part of. Once your a member you receive exclusive discounts for hostels across the UK and the rest of the world.  

Couch Surfing is becoming increasingly popular and is a fabulous system which allows you to stay at other peoples houses, well their couch, for absolutely free! You may think this sounds a little dodgy but the hosts are rated on the site, their location is verified and regular feedback is posted. It's all about meeting people and showing a little trust. 

WorldCampsites is a free guide to camping around the world. Perfect for nature lovers and tree huggers. Couldn't say it was my cup of tea...

Home Stays are perfect for the more adventurous traveller who wants an authentic experience. They vary in place but are a great way to really get to know a place, or learn a language. Indian home stays are especially popular. 

MindMyHouse - there is something romantic about house sitting, or maybe I've just watched The Holiday too many times...

Best for Working Abroad

Anywork Anywhere - have job listings for around the world, but mainly Europe. Its something I'm definitely considering. 

Bunac offers work abroad programmes in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US. They help you apply for a visa while also offering you opportunities to gain a TEFL. Their KAMP USA placements are very popular and something I've always wanted to do. One day...

Workaway is a great concept where you put in a few hours work in exchange for food and accommodation from your host. Its great for budget travellers, and the jobs are very diverse and sometimes, downright wacky!

HelpXChange is a similar concept of working for free accommodation and food. Though the jobs include a wider range from working in hostels to on sailboats! 

GumTree has frequent advertisements for overseas jobs and is definitely worth a look. 

World Teach is perfect if you love teaching and travel. It's not really my thing though, I think I'm allergic to kids. 

Best For Volunteering Abroad

Original Volunteers is great. Once you pay a small registration fee they offer volunteer places abroad for as little as £30 a week, including food and accommodation. If you lucky you may be able to come across little gems offering free accommodation.  

Blueventures offers volunteer expeditions to countries such as Madagascar.Nothing else to say really, just perfect. 

Frontier can be a little expensive, but if your budget stretches far enough its definitely worth it. They offer a wide variety of volunteering opportunities such as community help, medical, teaching, conservation and marine conservation. With many of their trips they also offer qualifications such as TEFL, PADI, BTEC and field guide courses. Getting qualified while travelling? Sounds like heaven. 

Further Useful Sites For Planning The Perfect Trip

Trip Advisor is a goldmine of reviews. I can guarantee it will have any hotel/hostel review you are looking for. Be careful not to take it too literally though, some people just like to moan about EVERYTHING. 

STA Travel is just fantastic and full of so many inspirations and ideas. Its a good place to look for students on a budget. They always run good competitions (it keeps me dreaming) and their blog section is worth a look. 

Lonely Planet for obvious reasons. It's the God of travel. The website is always fun to look at and literally consists of everything you are looking for. The forums are especially good at answering any queries. 

Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides up-to-date information on whats happening abroad. A great source of practical information. 

BBC languages is a great help with brushing up on your languages before you set up. Then you can wow everyone with your fantastic knowledge of local lingo!