# Country and Travel ### **Country Profiles and Travel News/Advice** * Travel guides by [Nomadic Matt](http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-guides/) * [CIA World Fact Book](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/) * [National Geographic Countries Profiles](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/) * [World Travel Guide](http://www.worldtravelguide.net/) * [Travel Advice from UK Government](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) * [Matador Network](https://matadornetwork.com/verticals/travel/) ### **A few resources for planning your trip(s)** * [Travelstart.co.za](https://www.travelstart.co.za/) (online travel agent) * [Hostelworld.com](https://hostelworld.com) (for youth hostels, backpackers and motels) * [Deutsche Bahn](http://www.deutschebahn.com/de/start.html) (for train schedules in Germany) * [STA Travel](http://www.statravel.co.za/) (online travel agent) * [Airbnb.com ](https://www.airbnb.com/) * [Kayak.com](https://kayak.com) (aggregator and search engine) * [Wikitravel.org](http://wikitravel.org/en/Main_Page) * [Cool article from Kayak about how to stretch your budget, while you are travelling](https://www.kayak.com/news/4-budget-stretching-hacks-next-vacation) * [World Travel Resources by Legal Nomad (Amazing Resource!)](http://www.legalnomads.com/wds) * Your local friendly travel agent > It is sometimes argued that online travel search websites or price comparing websites will always give you the best deal – that is however not always true. Booking directly at the airline or hotel is sometimes still the best choice. ### **Travelling Tips** * Many big cities (particularly in Europe) have city passes. The pass will have different options, but will give you access to museums and other attractions. The [Berlin WelcomeCard](http://www.visitberlin.de/en/welcomecard) is an example of such a pass. * Make use of different payment methods * Check for restaurant specials by using internet sites like [Groupon.com](https://www.groupon.com/) * Make the most of your status as a student. Check all possibilities for discounted rates and *freebies*! (Remember to take your student card with you to qualify) * Remember to drink enough water to avoid dehydration * Get a map at the nearest tourism bureau * Make sure that the battery of your camera / phone is charged, or that you have a power bank on hand. * Wear comfortable shoes, that also keeps your feet dry when it is raining or snowing. * Leave a copy of your travel itinerary with a friend * Don’t travel with all your valuables. Leave items that you will not need on the trip with friends or in a safe place. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://maties-abroad.gitbook.io/matiesabroad/country-and-travel.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.