It’s been 6 years on the road now, what are our travel essentials and what should we have left at home? I spent 12 months thinking about what to pack for this, now epic, RTW trip. I wrote a few posts about travel gear and what I was probably going to pack as a way […]
Travel Blog Latest and Most Popular
Thailand With Kids. No Worries!
Are you worrying about travelling to Thailand with kids? We can help you with that. If you'd like to dip your toe in the water of Asian family travel, taking kids to Thailand would be my top recommendation. We have been to Thailand 20+ times, each trip has been fabulous and problems have been few. Hopefully we can help you get your family to Thailand.First let me say hi, my name is Alyson and I've taken my kids to amazing destinations on every continent bar Antarctica. Sometimes I write guides and how-to pieces, sometimes travel stories, sometimes I'm a travel consultant, sometimes just a mum. Have a look around our site when you're done with this Thailand with kids blog and sign up to … read full post...
Europe Travel Blog 2019
Europe travel tips, destinations and guides. Collected blog posts on travel in Europe, from living in London and Romania and driving the full length of Europe, often. Also from visiting the tourist hot-spots of Europe that we'd stop at along the way. What about you ? What are your Europe plans ? Are you just starting to consider a first time visit to Europe or will this be a return trip ? Do you live in Europe and want to see more of the continent of Europe ? We hope to be able to help you with any aspect of travel in Europe, from this page. You'll find Europe travel tips and ideas below as well as more detailed information on some of the best places in Europe for you to see.This travel … read full post...
How to Make Money Travel Blogging ( From Someone Who Does)
I'm asked all the time so here are my best tips on how to make money travel blogging. Blogging funds our life, 2 adults, 2 kids now almost grown, full time travel. Travel blogging and running this travel blog allowed us to see the world. We're 100% legitimate and the money comes from the blog, not selling courses. We genuinely love travel and sharing the world with our readers, we're going to continue to be travel bloggers not course sellers. So here are some pointers and tips to help you make an income from your blog or website.These tips aren't in any particular order and not in huge detail because I'm not writing a book here, but I hope you find these useful.Our story is simple, we … read full post...
Vietnam Travel Blog and Guide
Vietnam is one of our favourite countries, packed with history, stunning landscapes, cultural highlights and amazing food. It's one of the most exciting destinations in South East Asia. We visited back in 1999 for the first time and recently we headed back there to create this Vietnam Travel Blog section for you. We had the luxury of time and 2 x 3 month visas to really get to know Vietnam and share it with you.In this post we'll look at places to go in Vietnam, itinerary ideas, where to stay and how to travel in Vietnam. Links here will take you to more detailed posts. We hope you find our Vietnam tips and guides useful in planning your travel, vacation or holiday in Vietnam. Vietnam … read full post...
GetYourGuide Review. Why We Use GetYourGuide
We've been travelling and taking tours for over 5 years now and more and more we're using GetYourGuide to reliably get us to the places we want to go, on the day that fits with our schedule. We're savvy travellers and we like a bargain, so why, and when, do we use GetYourGuide to book the tours and experiences we need? Also, why is GetYourGuide often our first port of call when researching what to do in a new global location? We present you with a GetYourGuide review to help you decide if this is the reliable tour company you should use, information on Get Your Guide Dubai and Vietnam along with Get Your Guide Harry Potter Tours. Other tour companies and online providers exist, but … read full post...
Anti Theft Travel Bags & Devices. Some of the Best
When choosing a bag ( a handbag, travel purse, daypack or backpack) for travel or city use most people will give some thought to security. It makes sense to buy a bag that makes a bag snatcher's or pickpocket's life as hard as possible. We've taken a look at the best anti theft travel bags for travellers, the ones designed to keep your passport, cash and other travel essentials attached to you but all of these anti theft bags work just as well for daily use, anywhere in the world.If you don't have time to read this full post, our top picks are below. One is an anti theft bag for travel, work or city, the other is an anti theft backpacks ideal for city life or travel days. Find full … read full post...
Breb Maramures. Our Incredible Village in Romania
In the far north of Romania, nestled in a valley below a long extinct volcano, lies the little village of Breb Maramures County. We first came to Romania, Maramures and Breb in May 2015 and fell in love. Today, we are still unable to fully call it home due to visas and officialdom, but to us it feels like home. It's the place that after 50+ countries and 6 years of full time travel, we really want to be.So here, a brief glimpse of life in Breb, 2 Easters, 2 Christmases, 2 harsh winters and 2 glorious summers, absorbing the stunning countryside, the way of life and the traditions of the village of Breb. Breb Maramures Maramures is a magical county, it's famously home to the "last … read full post...
Getting a Traditional Thai Tattoo in Bangkok
I've got my traditional Thai tatto, it's hours old and I love it. It's about hand sized, in the middle of my back and it holds a deep meaning. It was created by a master ajarn with a traditional metal spike. It hurt, a little. Want to know more? There is a lot more to the experience than just turning up at a tattoo shop and picking your design. Sak Yant, the ancient tattoos of Thailand and nearby parts of South East Asia, should be a bit more special than that. This is how I got my traditional Thai tattoo in Bangkok, from a master, with personal consultation, blessings and prayers, and how you can too. I'm a 50 year old woman, a mum, this isn't just for men and it's not just for the young. … read full post...
How to Travel With Carry On Only
If you've been following us right from the start, you'll know that I always said I'd never travel with carry on only. I even wrote a post about why we'd never travel light. We just had too much stuff as long-term travellers and the children were too small for their own, decent sized, packs. Well that was then, this is now and lately we've turned to carry on only travel and become quite proficient as our circumstances have changed.These days we're more like you, we're taking shorter trips and we have our home base in beautiful Romania to stash the toys and school books along with the all-weather travel gear. We no longer need to carry everything, everywhere and that's a relief as carry on … read full post...
How to Save Money on Flights with Skyscanner – But Should You?
Of all the tools we used for finding bargains in the travel world, Skyscanner was number 1, until the day we found ourselves at the check in desk with non-existent tickets. That update and scam warning is further down the page. Our tips on how to save money still stand and are here for you to use. Skyscanner is a great tool, but beware certain 3rd party ticket vendors - Skyscanner have contacted me and this vendor has been removed from its databases. So go ahead and download the Free Skyscanner App right here. Through using Skyscanner and the tips here we saved ourselves £100 per person, £300 total, on our flight to Sri Lanka. Let's take a look at how to use Skyscanner to … read full post...
Best Places To Visit in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich places on the planet. It's one of my personal favourites of the 50+ countries we've visited and I can't recommend it highly enough for your long-term travel or holiday vacation. This post deals with best places to visit in Sri Lanka, the best attractions and historic sites. We have a Sri Lanka travel home page that can help you with all aspects of travel in Sri Lanka including health, visas, practicalities and so on ( click through on the link above) this post is just about places to see and to visit.One of you, our readers, asked me to write this post for them. I don't mind doing this at all, so if you have any questions … read full post...
Christmas Gifts for Kids and Families who Travel
If you are keen world travellers or you know a travelling family, you'll like our ideas for Christmas travel gifts for kids and families.In this post we include travel related gifts, often educational, as well as small gifts to pack in a suitcase or backpack for children and families on the road. We have practical, fun and useful gifts for kids who travel or love to travel.Buying travel gifts for kids on the move is tricky, will they take their gift with them, or leave it at home through lack of space?We know what gifts have worked for our kids and which we've gladly received as a family, from expensive main presents to stocking fillers, from toddlers to tweens and … read full post...
London With Kids
Of all the cities in the world, London is my top pick for children because of the wealth of things to do in the UK's capital, many of them free. Of course London can be expensive too, be ready for that, but the devalued pound and good exchange rates could help foreign visitors a lot. Flights to London have become more affordable lately, download the Free Skyscanner App here and take a look. Some ideas, tips, reviews and guides on London with children, 2019 updated, some are my own childhood favourites, some are things and places my kids loved in London. Visiting London with children by a Londoner, a local, a returned expat and a full-time professional traveller.We returned to live … read full post...
Dubai Travel Blog and Guide
It was love at first sight for us in Dubai. From the moment you leave the airport, Dubai is one big wow. We posted about our fantastically fun camel-riding, belly-dancing, dune-jumping adventure in the desert. We've told you about the cultural heritage tour that took us beyond the glitz into the living heart of Old Dubai. I may have mentioned, more than once, what an incredible experience seeing the dancing fountains at the Burj Kalifa was. Now some tips, guides, things to do, places to stay and more on our Dubai travel round up and blog page. The problem with Dubai is, you need a month to see and do it all. We can't say we've been there that long, but we've been there 3 … read full post...
Harry Potter Sites in London on a Brit Movie Tour
Would you like to grab your wand and tour all the Harry Potter sites in London? That's exactly what we did. We visited some lesser known London sites and Harry Potter movie locations while being entertained by our charismatic guide and discovering diverse trivia about movie making, London herself and everything Potter. Sites included Death Eater Bridge, Gringotts Bank, The Ministry of Magic, Platform 9 3/4 and the Leaky Cauldron. Read on to find out where you can find these Harry Potter sites and what we thought of the tour. There are many and diverse Harry Potter tours and experiences in and around London and throughout the UK. Several companies offer these tours … read full post...
Namche Bazaar
Namche Bazaar or Namche Baza is a town that most trekkers pass through on the Everest Base Camp trek. I'd heard the name, dreamed of going and saw it for the first time a couple of years ago on our first trek in the Everest region. Recently we returned on the Everest Base Camp trek. On most of these treks you will visit Namche twice, it's an up and back route with most people flying in and out of Lukla airport. Namche Bazaar is a real hub and important acclimatisation stop for trekkers and it's grown from a market town to a tourist destination in itself. It's a wonderful town, I love everything about it. If you're heading to Everest, Gokyo Lakes, Island Peak or any of the classic routes, … read full post...
19 Hidden Gems of Canberra
Visiting Canberra used to be rather humdrum and uninspiring. But, Australia's Capital City is finally shaking off its boring reputation to become a destination in itself. Canberra is a bustling cultural wonderland first and foremost. Also, with a range of world-renowned exhibitions at Australia's National Gallery, the fascinating and sombre Australian War Memorial and the interesting and historical Houses of Parliament visitors to the city are spoilt for choice. Furthermore, a visit to the Australian Mint, and the Institute of Sport will round out your usual tour of Canberra experiences. However, as part of its emergence as a captivating city, there are some hidden gems of Canberra that … read full post...
Food in Tibet
It was great to get the chance to try Tibetan dishes, in Tibet. We's skirted around the edges of Tibetan culture in the Sherpa villages of the Everest region and dined in Tibetan restaurants in Kathmandu and Pokhara, often run by Tibetan refugees, but what of food in Tibet ? How would that be. We had an amazing chance to find out during our Tibet tour. Some Tibetan food was amazing, truly delicious, much of it, less so, but on a short tour or trip to a new destination it's always difficult to know where to eat. A look at traditional Tibetan dishes, Tibetan food and what we ate in Tibet because not all of it was Tibetan. Food in TibetThere are many influences in Tibet, Chinese, Nepali, … read full post...
Swimming With Whales
Swimming with whales or any large marine creatures is a breathtaking experience as we'd already discovered with the mantas in Bali. I recently had the chance to go swimming with the minke whales off the coast of Australia. There was no way I was saying no to that! We couldn't make this a family trip and justify the expense, particularly as open, blue water swimming in rough seas, with whales, may be a little challenging for my wife and kids, so I went solo on this minke whale liveaboard, unlike our previous liveaboard from Cairns, which the whole family enjoyed tremendously. Dwarf minke whales migrate each year from cold Antarctic waters up to the warm waters off Australia's … read full post...
Lhasa Tour – 2 Days in Lhasa
Our Lhasa tour was part of a longer 8 day tour of Tibet. We travelled overland from Kathmandu and returned by air from Lhasa airport. Lhasa itself was an incredible highlight not just of this Tibet tour, but of a lifetime of travel. I knew a lot, feared disappointment and was ready for the worst but Lhasa did not disappoint in any way. Our two days in Lhasa blew us away and we would return in a heartbeat. We hope you enjoy learning more about Lhasa, Tibet below, watch our short video, save to Pinterest and make it to Tibet yourselves one day.Tibetans make their kora around the city of Lhasa. This is common, normal, very Tibetan.From here on in, this post is written by D, my elder … read full post...