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I’ve always loved flying. There’s something about soaring through the clouds in a metal capsule which never ceases to amaze me. Which reminded me of this hilarious Louis CK clip, (the whole thing is worth watching – the flying bit starts 2.40 in). I love airports and always lament how little time I have to do any shopping. I tend to […]
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I talk to so many people about this. They all “wish” they could do it. I don’t know if they honestly do. Such assertions are inevitably followed up by an excuse, a reason as to why they can’t go. The excuses never make sense – to me anyway. There will never be a perfect time to go, or do most […]
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I’m often asked for recommendations on what to pack for extended trips. So, here they are. I know….if you’re saving for travel, the last thing you want to hear is that you need to buy more! But trust me, my advice will enhance your travelling experience 🙂 But first of all: Packing Pack as little as possible. Seriously! A heavy load will weigh you […]
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There is so much to see in Japan! I love love love loved my time there and I hope I’ll get a chance to go back. I agonised over the itinerary for months. Here are a few of the best places to visit in Japan and a few things I wish I would have known in advance when planning my […]
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Naoshima is an island in the inland sea with a few art installations. It’s one of the top picks in the Lonely Planet “Japan” guide book and is highly rated on TripAdvisor. It’s a bit of a trek to get to though, so… Is Naoshima worth visiting? Maybe. If you have plenty of time, it’s a sunny day, you like modern […]
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I’d heard people rave about the long haul buses in Argentina, “they’re like business class flights” I was told, “you’ll love them!”. So, I was pretty disappointed when our first long haul bus journey was on an average looking bus with a stinky broken toilet with the heating cranked up to sauna temperatures. Here’s a take on what I believe […]
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There’s a lot of discussion about the level of planning you should do before embarking on a trip. If you’re leaving for a two week trip then you might want to plan most of your trip to save money on trying to figure it out where you’ll stay and what you’ll do when you’re out there. Any longer then that […]
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So can you really get from Foz do Iguazu from Bonito on public transport? Yes you can. It isn’t a direct bus so you’ll have to change but it’s easy to do and a well travelled route. We weren’t sure of this either. Our guide book didn’t have much information but buses ply this route daily. When does the bus […]
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I’ve been lucky, I’ve travelled a lot. Some of those trips have been on organised tours, the rest I organised independently. There are lots of advantages in taking a tour, same with going it alone. Sometimes the choice is clear. For example, a tour may be compulsory in some destinations, like climbing Kilimanjaro or travelling around Tibet. Other times, it’s not […]
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I’ve written before about why we should all travel more sooner rather than later. I’m currently in Japan, an expensive country which I put off visiting for years. But Japan is one of the most amazing places I’ve visited to date! I recently started thinking about why I had put off so many expensive experiences for so long, and why it […]
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I’m always surprised to see courses set up to help people travel. By all means, if you find these services useful, sign up and pay for them. I really don’t think it’s that difficult however. Here is my take on how to plan your dream trip in 9 easy steps. 1. Figure Out Where You Want to Go If you had all […]
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My Ultimate Packing list is here, but there are also other useful things to pack for your trip depending on what you might be thinking of doing. Here are a few tips: 1. Hiking Gear If you’re doing any walking, then good reasonably priced, non-fake hiking equipment will be best bought before you leave. Cheap fakes are abundant in all hiking destinations […]
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We’ve all dragged things on holiday with us only to never use them. I’ve spent months and months travelling around the world. Here are a few things that might seem like a good idea but you REALLY don’t need. 1. Money Belt Money belts are a useful depository for your valuables while they are in your bag but that’s about it. Most articles will […]
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I’m often asked for recommendations on what to pack on extended trips. My Ultimate Packing List is here, but where do you start? Here is what you need to think about, before you even start thinking about packing, or choosing the best rucksack. I know….if you’re busy saving to go travelling, the last thing you want to hear is that you […]
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Don’t forget, if in doubt, keep it out! Once you’ve chosen and bought your rucksack, fill it with the following. This is my ultimate one and only packing list for big trips: (For more Useful Things You Might Need to Pack, click here. Here’s also my list of things you think you might need, but you really don’t! You might also want […]
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Finding accommodation can be time consuming and stressful, even if you do it in advance. Maximize your chances of finding good quality, cheap accommodation by following these tips: 1. Organise in advance when it counts Be aware of periods when there will be high demand for accommodation. For example, Chinese new year in China or Easter in Europe. During those […]
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When we were planning our trip to South America, we knew we would be pushed for time but didn’t quite realise how much! Time and travel is personal. Some can afford lots of internal flights, others are disgusted by people doing “highlight” tours, and insist on staying for three months in each country. You’ll figure out what’s best for you, […]
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If you’re in Bolivia or the far north of Argentina or Chile, you really can’t miss visiting the Salt Flats. Contrary to what I expected, it isn’t just one big white area – expect emerald green lakes, volcanic landscapes, amazing rock formations, bubbling pools of sulphurous mud, and gorgeous pink flamingo specked lagoons – it is stunningly beautiful! Visiting the area […]
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Here’s the packing list which got us to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. We were backpacking before and after our Kili hike so weight was a huge issue for is. We were planning on doing more trekking too, so whatever we took with us was going to be with us for a long time…. Unless you are a keen walker/camper, (or […]
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Turn up at the station and just buy them – yes? No. If you’re used to making your trip up as you go along, travelling on the trains in India is not for you. Regardless of what the movie, Darjeeling Limited, may lead you to believe, gone are the days when you can spontaneously buy a ticket, hop on to a train and […]
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Unless you have lots of money and are happy for Audley or Abercombie & Kent on call, organising a safari can be extremely stressful. Everything is expensive, and TripAdvisor is littered with fake reviews. In the absence of personal recommendations, so where do you start? How do you organise a safari? When do you want to go? Knowing when you will be travelling can […]
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Where to stay and when to go in London will depend on what you want to do. When you’re planning your visit, think about what you want to do and see – in advance if possible, and figure out where you’ll be arriving from. What to Think About Tickets for any events The best tickets for plays and concerts will […]
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Iguazu Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world. It is huge, and sits across three countries – Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. It’s easy to visit both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides of the falls. Both are very different experiences, so it’s worth visiting both. The Brazilian side is known for sweeping views of the falls, whereas on the Argentinian […]
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How Much Time Do You Need? How much time can you take off? We could only take two and a half weeks, so spent three days each in St Petersburg, Irkutsk, Mongolia (not enough at all), and a couple of days in Beijing (could have spent longer). Take more time if you have it. Consider stopping off at Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Suzdal, […]
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Getting to Torres del Paine can be a bit of a mission, but it’s well worth it. If you don’t have your own vehicle then you’ll need to get a bus from Puerto Natales. Puerto Natales is a 3 hour bus ride from Punta Arenas or a 6 hour bus ride from El Calafate. You can fly to either from […]
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The Grey II is a tourist boat that leaves Hosteria Lago Grey and makes it way up Lago Grey to collect people near Refugio Grey. The boat then makes it way up to Glacier Grey so that tourists can get a closer look at the glacier while drinking a pisco sour made with ice from the glacier. It then returns […]
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Seeing mountain gorillas in Rwanda in the wild is one of the most memorable experiences you can have. Here’s how you can do it: Where do you need to go? You can see gorillas in their natural environment in Rwanda and Uganda. Parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo are a possibility, but the political situation is volatile at the moment. Best time to […]
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1. The Boring but Essential Bit – DO NOT SKIP This is tedious but you’ll gain a lot from spending a couple of minutes looking at the W Trek map (above). It is a bit out of date but is useful to look at while you are reading this post. It also has useful approximate walking distances. The red line is […]
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First of all, make sure you’re aware of the highlights. It’s a tough walk but nothing that a reasonably fit person can’t handle especially if you’re not camping and carrying 15kgs of gear on your back. Dealing with the wind People talk a lot about the wind in Patagonia. I didn’t really know what to expect but I’ve never experienced […]
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The W trek is a multi-day trek through Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia (see below for details on how to get there). It’s called the “W” trek because the walk traces the shape of a “W”. There are other legs that you can add on to do a whole circuit, the “O”. There is also a “tail”, best done as […]
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Why go? Burma/Myanmar is a beautiful country with a wealth of things to see and do. It is like no where else in the world and we loved it (despite getting sick for a few days, which pretty much everyone we met did too)! The country’s changing all the time, and developing quickly, so visit sooner rather than later if […]
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So what are the best places in Myanmar? Where should you stay and how long should you stay in each place? The list below indicates how long I’d recommend you need in various places in Burma/Myanmar. How do you book accommodation? It’s becoming easier to book online via Booking.com or using e-mail. However, some places still need you or someone […]
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We did one 17 day trip with Intrepid Overland Travel to Rwanda and Uganda, and then a trip that took 42 days with Dragoman from Zanzibar to Cape Town. If you’re trying to choose between Dragoman or Intrepid for an overlanding trip, I would recommend Dragoman. (Intrepid sell Dragoman trips – the trip code usually has a D in it […]
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Should you really bother taking a big conspicuous DSLR camera on vacation with you, even if you’re going to potentially dangerous or non-camera friendly places? Yes. Definitely. If you have one – take it. They aren’t the most subtle of cameras, and I wouldn’t walk around some cities with my DSLR hanging off my arm. Despite the extra weight, I would have deeply regretted […]
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If you are a tourist visiting Argentina, bring plenty of US dollar notes with you. To get the best exchange rate, exchange the US dollars using the blue dollar exchange rate – a more favourable exchange rate than the official one. In 2012/2013 the blue dollar rate was 50-60% higher than the official rate. This meant that tourists saved 50-60% […]
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I’m still getting used to being home and catching up with friends. Some people have no interest in our trip, others are too bitter to enquire. But, among the usual, “What was your favourite country?”, and “Would you do it again?” questions from the generous few who ask, I’m constantly hearing “I really want to go travelling”, “I so wish I could […]
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Twelve months in, homeless, jobless, savings severely depleted, and any chance of getting a mortgage in the near future completely screwed. People talk about having no regrets – I’m not one of those people. I have loads of regrets! I’ve made so many mistakes! The important thing is to take note, learn, and try to not repeat the same errors…. […]
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Sleeping in hostels, and sharing bathrooms is not for everyone, but even if I was going to be travelling in luxury, many people couldn’t understand why I would choose to take an extended break at this time in my life. After all, work was good, I loved where we lived, I had started to save for a mortgage deposit, why […]
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Having spoken to everyone I know who had travelled, read countless blogs and books, researched countless websites and created a myriad spreadsheets and lists, we were pretty prepared – or so I thought…. With our departure date set, I was looking forward to de-cluttering my flat, catching up with friends for relaxing goodbye meals, heading over to the airport early, chilling […]