Travel Links

Services :: Equipment :: Tools

Travel Services

Expedia (UK site)
Useful to check up on the latest flight offers. I haven't used them though, and think that STA tend to find better deals - especially for students.
Nationwide Bank Travel Money
Of course, loads of banks offer good rates for buying currency. However, I recommend the Nationwide for their service and value. Note that you can't buy any Nepali Rupees outside Nepal, but travellers' cheques and dollars are easy to exchange.
Qatar Airways
I flew with Qatar in 2004, and will be flying with them again in 2005. They're expanding big style and, offering some very competitive rates, and the service I received was without fault.
STA Travel
A great travel agent for students, but they also have good deals for grown ups too. Their staff are well-travelled and this really helps in knowing about the practicalities of cheap travel. They also have a large network of branches throughout the world... there's an affilliated agent in Kathmandu, which is just useful to know in case of queries or problems with flights/insurance etc.
Student Flights (UK)
A competitor for STA Travel, these friendly people might find you an even better deal.

Travel Equipment

Balloons & Gas
Balloons and Gas is where I got the balloons supplies - they can mail order, or if you're in Glasgow the store is on Dumbarton Road, just along from Crow Road.
Blacks Outdoor Gear
Good quality, value clothing. Make sure you claim the 10% student discount!
Cotswold Leisure Gear
Cotswold Leisure have a website, but the best feature is their store in Glasgow which is massive - on Crow Road, next to Sainsbury's. They also do a 10% discount for students.
Jessops
Good for getting bulk-buy film and other supplies. Ask about a student discount!
Lifesystems and Lifeventure
Actually the same company - they do great travelling equipment from medical kits and earplugs to daysacks and quick-drying towels. I've found the quality to be really good on their products - everything seems well thought-out and durable.

Useful Tools for Travelling

Blogger
Offers free services to keep an online journal (weblog, called a blog). It's not as geeky as it sounds, and is a great alternative to sending loads of group emails to keep in touch with folk.
Fotopic
Allows you to have an online photo gallery - so you can upload your scanned-in or digital photos, again for a similar purpose as keeping a blog. Fotopic gives 250Mb free - it can also act as backup space in case anything happens to your digital memory.
Lonely Planet
Does some of the best travel guidebooks to be had, and the website has all the information about the full range available. The website also has a forum which is updated by people who are currently travelling.

SmugMug
A super online photo gallery. You need to pay an annual subscription ($30 at the time of writing) after a 7 day free trial, but the service is excellent and the site is easy to use. Highly recommended. You can see my gallery here.

TravelBlog
A site for all travelling bloggers. Usually has very up-to-date personal experiences of travelling in all countries in the world - including Nepal.

www.xe.com xe.com Currency Converter
A really easy to use currency converter for nearly every country that exists!

Travel Services
	Expedia (UK site) Useful to check up on the latest flight offers. I haven't used them though, and think that STA tend to find better deals - especially for students.
	Nationwide Bank Travel Money Of course, loads of banks offer good rates for buying currency. However, I recommend the Nationwide for their service and value. Note that you can't buy any Nepali Rupees outside Nepal, but travellers' cheques and dollars are easy to exchange.
	Qatar Airways I flew with Qatar in 2004, and will be flying with them again in 2005. They're expanding big style and, offering some very competitive rates, and the service I received was without fault.
	STA Travel A great travel agent for students, but they also have good deals for grown ups too. Their staff are well-travelled and this really helps in knowing about the practicalities of cheap travel. They also have a large network of branches throughout the world... there's an affilliated agent in Kathmandu, which is just useful to know in case of queries or problems with flights/insurance etc.
	Student Flights (UK) A competitor for STA Travel, these friendly people might find you an even better deal.
Travel Equipment
	Balloons & Gas Balloons and Gas is where I got the balloons supplies - they can mail order, or if you're in Glasgow the store is on Dumbarton Road, just along from Crow Road.
	Blacks Outdoor Gear Good quality, value clothing. Make sure you claim the 10% student discount!
	Cotswold Leisure Gear Cotswold Leisure have a website, but the best feature is their store in Glasgow which is massive - on Crow Road, next to Sainsbury's. They also do a 10% discount for students.
	Jessops Good for getting bulk-buy film and other supplies. Ask about a student discount!
	Lifesystems and Lifeventure Actually the same company - they do great travelling equipment from medical kits and earplugs to daysacks and quick-drying towels. I've found the quality to be really good on their products - everything seems well thought-out and durable.
Useful Tools for Travelling
	Blogger Offers free services to keep an online journal (weblog, called a blog). It's not as geeky as it sounds, and is a great alternative to sending loads of group emails to keep in touch with folk.
	Fotopic Allows you to have an online photo gallery - so you can upload your scanned-in or digital photos, again for a similar purpose as keeping a blog. Fotopic gives 250Mb free - it can also act as backup space in case anything happens to your digital memory.
	Lonely Planet Does some of the best travel guidebooks to be had, and the website has all the information about the full range available. The website also has a forum which is updated by people who are currently travelling.
	SmugMug A super online photo gallery. You need to pay an annual subscription ($30 at the time of writing) after a 7 day free trial, but the service is excellent and the site is easy to use. Highly recommended. You can see my gallery here.
	TravelBlog A site for all travelling bloggers. Usually has very up-to-date personal experiences of travelling in all countries in the world - including Nepal.
www.xe.com	xe.com Currency Converter A really easy to use currency converter for nearly every country that exists!