My Travel Recommendations
Travel Smarter With Island Hopper TV
After 10 years and 100+ countries filming Island Hopper TV, these are the tools, services and gear I actually pay for and pack — and exactly why I use each one.
My Travel Recommendations
Travel Smarter With Island Hopper TV
After 10 years and 100+ countries filming Island Hopper TV, these are the tools, services and gear I actually pay for and pack — and exactly why I use each one.
100+
Countries Visited
500K+
YouTube Subscribers
10 Yrs
On the Road
A quick not of affiliate link
Heads up: some links on this page are affiliate links. They cost you nothing extra and help keep my travel guides free. I only list what I genuinely use.
Cards & Points
How I Pay for Travel
The two cards in my wallet. A year of filming trips turns into real flights and free hotel nights.
- My Everyday Travel Card
American Express Gold
Earn on everyday spending
4X points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
Points that go farther
Transfer to top airlines and hotels I actually use.
Travel with extra perks
No foreign transaction fees and great travel protections.
This is the card I put food and flights on all year. The points from everyday spending are what actually pay for a chunk of my airfare.
- My Hotel Card
Hilton Honors Amex Business
Automatic Hilton Gold Status
Free breakfast, room upgrades and late checkout.
Earn More on Stays
12X points at Hilton properties worldwide.
Free Night Rewards
Earn free nights to use almost anywhere.
I check into a lot of hotels. Free-night certificates and automatic Hilton Gold status perks make this one worth its slot in my wallet.
My Approach
I only recommend cards I actually use and keep in my wallet. These two cover my everyday spending and hotel stays so I can travel more for less.
Real World Use
Used on every trip and at home.
Maximized Value
Points and perks that deliver.
No BS
Honest picks from experience.
Start Here
My Top Travel Picks
If you only take three things from this page, take these. They’re the first things I sort before any trip.
- MY PICK
Best Travel Insurance
SafetyWing
Hospitals abroad don’t care that you’re on an adventure — the bills are real. SafetyWing is the travel medical cover I keep active for long-term international travel, and you can sign up even after your trip has already started.
- MY PICK
Best Travel Insurance
SafetyWing
Hospitals abroad don’t care that you’re on an adventure — the bills are real. SafetyWing is the travel medical cover I keep active for long-term international travel, and you can sign up even after your trip has already started.
Worldwide medical coverage
Get protected in 180+ countries with quality medical care.
Flexible monthly plans
Choose and change your plan to fit your trip.
Start or cancel anytime
Sign up before you go or while you’re already on the road.
Best Travel Money App
Wise
I send, receive and spend money in local currency with Wise in every country I film. The conversion rates beat every airport counter and bank card I’ve tried in 10 years of travel.
Best Travel Money App
Wise
I send, receive and spend money in local currency with Wise in every country I film. The conversion rates beat every airport counter and bank card I’ve tried in 10 years of travel.
Low fees
Real exchange rates and low, transparent fees.
Multi-currency
Hold and manage money in 50+ currencies.
Easy to use
Send, spend and withdraw money anywhere.
Visas Made Simple
iVisa
Border rules change constantly. Before every trip I run my passport through iVisa to check entry requirements and sort e-visas online — no embassy queues, no guesswork at the gate.
Visas Made Simple
iVisa
Border rules change constantly. Before every trip I run my passport through iVisa to check entry requirements and sort e-visas online — no embassy queues, no guesswork at the gate.
Easy visa requirements
Check entry requirements before you travel.
Apply for e-Visas online
Complete your visa application without embassy visits.
Fast & convenient
Get your travel documents sorted before you go.
Camera & Gear
What's In My Bag
Everything I film my 4K walking tours with, plus the bags and gear that survive trip after trip.
My Full Travel Kit
My Amazon Storefront
The pocket camera behind my 4K tours, my drone, backpacks, packing cubes and the small stuff that earns its place — my whole kit lives in one storefront, and I update it whenever gear survives (or doesn’t survive) another trip.
My Full Travel Kit
My Amazon Storefront
The pocket camera behind my 4K tours, my drone, backpacks, packing cubes and the small stuff that earns its place — my whole kit lives in one storefront, and I update it whenever gear survives (or doesn’t survive) another trip.
Travel-ready gear
Everything I pack for better trips, from cameras to backpacks.
Gear I actually use
Tried-and-tested travel essentials from my own trips.
One complete travel kit
Packing cubes, gadgets and small essentials all in one place.
Creator Tools
How I Make My Videos
For the creators who ask — this is what’s behind the videos themselves.
The Music in Every Video
Epidemic Sound
Every soundtrack in my videos comes from Epidemic Sound. Copyright-safe on YouTube, and the same library I’ve pulled every track from for years.
The Music in Every Video
Epidemic Sound
Every soundtrack in my videos comes from Epidemic Sound. Copyright-safe on YouTube, and the same library I’ve pulled every track from for years.
Copyright-safe music
Use high-quality music in your videos without worrying about YouTube copyright claims.
Huge music library
Discover music and soundtracks for every type of travel video.
Music I actually use
The same library I’ve used to soundtrack my videos for years.
Travel Apps
Apps I Actually Keep
My phone is my travel office. This one has earned its home-screen spot.
Track Your Travels
Country Days Tracker
The app I use to count my days in every country — genuinely useful for visa limits and tax days, and for settling the “how many countries have you been to?” question with an exact number.
Track Your Travels
Country Days Tracker
The app I use to count my days in every country — genuinely useful for visa limits and tax days, and for settling the “how many countries have you been to?” question with an exact number.
Track your travel days
Keep an accurate record of how many days you spend in each country.
Stay on top of visa limits
Easily track your stay and avoid exceeding visa or entry limits.
Know your travel history
See exactly how many countries you’ve visited and track your journey.
What I'd Skip
Not everything is worth your money.
Airport currency counters (use Wise instead), arrival-hall SIM kiosks, and gear you’ll use once and carry forever. If something isn’t on this page, there’s a good chance I tried it and left it behind.
Tested. Trusted. Recommended.
Every Recommendation Comes From Experience.
I don’t promote things I don’t use. Every product, service, and tool on this page has been tested during my travels across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
I test the product, I do the review — and you decide if it’s right for you. That’s how it has worked on Island Hopper TV since 2016, and this page is no different.