Travel Itineraries
If you're a real planner, you can check out travelitineraries.com or tripit.com to create a general layout for your trip.
Getting Around
If you're traveling long distances in Europe, a rail pass is almost a must. In the United kingdom, there is the Megabus, which will get you around town for as little as one pound. Smaller continental airlines are very common, and keep their prices low because of their popularity.
Travel in Africa is commonly done by bus. There are many places in Africa that are considered war zones or no go zones, so there will naturally be many places that travelers cannot see. For everywhere else, take the bus.
Australia and New Zealand are great places for road trips, so many people rent cars or campervans. Bus companies such as Greyhound and McCafferty are also available. Most driving transportation is done on the eastern side of Australia because there are more towns. If you decide to travel the western side, which is sparse, it is often best to fly.
Asia offers a wide variety of low cost airlines. They also offer a lot of trains and buses through which you can travel at a great rate, and the drivers may haggle with you. These options vary in terms of comfort - obviously some companies aren't going to offer too much luxury, but it all depends on what you're willing to pay.
When traveling in North America, flying is best for going long distances. However, this is a very expensive option. For the best scenery, consider renting a car. Buses are available too, but you'll spend a lot of time waiting on the rest of your bus mates to finish going to the bathroom at the rest stop when you could be looking over Pike's Peak.
South and Central America offer a lot of buses and cars. In South America, going by bus may be the best option because they tend to be luxurious. If you're needing something more along the lines of a taxi, consider a Tuk Tuk. They are small, three wheeled open air taxis that will take you reasonable distances, and you get to enjoy the wind in your hair!
Guidebooks
Here is a list of some of the best ones. Keep in mind that some information may be out of date (because it takes a long time to publish a book) and some information may be vague. These books cover entire countries and continents and they simply don't have time to tell you everything.