Partners in Local Travel
Tripbod believes strongly in 'Local travel': connecting travellers directly with the grassroots of the destination they visit - with local people, communities and businesses – for a deeper understanding and more authentic experience of a new place.
Cut out the middle men and instead of drifting in the limbo between the familiar and the unfamiliar created by many traditional travel services, go local and be a part of your new surroundings!
We actively promote partners who share our vision of local travel, help you to connect directly with the grass roots and have a positive impact on local communities.
Here are our 'better alternatives' to booking flights, accommodation, tours and sources of local travel services, selected because they are trusted, safe and fighting for a better deal all round.
Ethical Travel Agent: North South Travel
North South Travel offer a friendly, efficient and competitive flight service specializing in complicated itineraries. Profits from the company are paid out in grants twice a year to selected charities. Their motto is 'Every Flight a Fight Against Poverty'.
Book flights with North South Travel
Local Activities: Tourdust Adventure Travel
Tourdust is an online travel agent specialising in one-of-a kind adventures and cultural journeys. All trips are operated by a handpicked selection of local providers with a genuine passion for the place they live.
Book activities with Tourdust
Local Guides: Rent a Local Friend
Through RLF, locals show visitors around their favorite spots – what better way to experience the latest local haunts than with a local friend?
"For everyone who has experienced a trip with a local friend, you know exactly the difference it makes! We are journalists, writers, photographers, designers, but overall we are local people who are passionate about our city and will help you to be a local rather than a lost tourist"
Your local friend will design and accompany you on a local tour avoiding the tourists traps and bring you up to date with the city's cultural agenda.
Visit Rent a Local Friend
Local Accommodation: WHL.Travel
WHL.travel is a global network of local market operators who hand select accommodation and tours for independent travellers. WHL.Travel are not only committed to sourcing and developing responsible tourism, they also support local operators to become more responsible and sustainable through their Caring for Destinations initiative.
Visit WHL.Travel
Local Information: Make Travel Fair
Make Travel Fair is a multi-award winning interactive platform to encourage education amongst travellers and to promote travel itself as a means of education.
Visit Make Travel Fair
Local Volunteer Projects: Volunteer South America
This site lists the free and low-cost volunteer opportunities in South & Central America. The site is designed for backpackers and independent travellers looking for a real volunteer experience abroad, without paying any middle-man or agency fees.
Visit Volunteer South America
Local Charities and Volunteering: Globalgiving
Globalgiving partners with local organisations worldwide helping them to raise funds and awareness for their projects. Although GlobalGiving does not offer any formal volunteer programmes, people can get involved with a GlobalGiving featured project by making short visits or even informal volunteer placements where possible.
Visit GlobalGiving
Local Courses: GoLearnTo.com
GoLearnTo.com are learning holiday specialists with over 1000 holiday courses in over 30 countries worldwide to suit all timescales and budgets. Learn to cook in Tuscany, surf big ones in Costa Rica, make your own perfume in France, Flamenco dance in Spain...
Visit GoLearnTo now to learn more
Local Courses: Learn2lingo.com
Learn a new language via your webcam using Learn 2 Lingo's live online classroom and get private one-to-one lessons from a qualified native speaker at times that suit you. Get a handle on the local language before you leave home and get more from your experience whilst you're there!
Visit Learn2lingo to sign-up today
Local Phone Calls: GO-SIM
GO-SIM provides an International network that will save you up to 85% on your mobile phone call charges whilst abroad.
Visit Go-Sim