If you’ve never gone on a long-term trip yourself, knowing what gifts to give someone travelling for the first time can be a little confusing. There are tons of posts listing off top gifts for backpackers, a lot of which are full of utter rubbish – a scratch off map poster (this isn’t going in anyone’s backpack! Sorry!). A lot of new backpackers will already have done their research and picked up a lot of their own gear. If you’re looking to add to that, try looking for some cool travel gear that they might not have a budget for/haven’t thought about themselves. In this list, I’ve pulled together some of…
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Ultimate comfort tips for your long haul flight
The ultimate tips to ensure you have a comfortable flight in economy class.
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Picking up hitchhikers
Ever hitchhiked/picked up a hitchhiker? Here's why I recommend you do...
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Backpack relationships
Holiday relationships. So many of us have had them, right? But does the significance of them change when the holiday isn’t a holiday, but a backpack trip? I wrote this post a day before learning that a man with whom I’d had a very short backpack ‘fling’ had died, only a few days before. After returning from the trip on which I met him, we kept in touch for over a year. This June he was supposed to visit me as an add on to a family trip. A month before, he cancelled. Turns out, he knew about his illness but was too stubborn to tell anyone. I dedicate this…
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How to get a Couchsurfing host to say yes
Couchsurfing is undoubtedly one of the best thing to happen for budget travellers. This guide should help you secure the host you want.
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How to travel with Couchsurfing
A guide to couchsurfing; what is it? how do you do it? and how to be safe
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How to plan your first solo travel
“I’m thinking about quitting my job and going travelling by myself, can you help me?” I wish I had a pound for every time a newbie solo traveller said this to me! Travelling by yourself for the first time is terrifying. I remember sitting on the plane thinking “god what am I doing?”, frantically trying to identify people that could be my potential new friend as we landed. The key to getting rid of your nerves (or at least calming them), is to plan. These are my top solo travel tips, for helping to feel less stressed. Your first solo travel destination is important I always recommend Bangkok as a starting point…
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Trust your gut whilst travelling
OK, before I start … DISCLAIMER: This is not a huge prompt for you to go running off into the Brazilian favelas because you think it’ll make for a good story if you come out unscathed. There’s a big difference between trusting your gut and avoiding something because it’s been confirmed unsafe! There’s been a large number of occasions where I’ve been somewhere where an opportunity has presented itself and I’ve thought, “I’m in an unfamiliar place. Is this safe”? I touch on this during my posts about picking up hitchhikers. My gut instinct really paid off in Cambodia. I couldn’t have bought this experience it gave me and (to…
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What not to pack for Thailand
Two years living in Thailand means that every time I go back, I pretty much go with an empty bag. Thailand was my first ever solo backpacking stop, and I wish I’d known not to take the following as a backpacker/someone who set up camp for years… (sorry if this feels a bit female orientated, but… er.. I’m female?) Mosquito repellent It was one of the first things I was told to buy.. “get yourself down to Boots and buy a huge bottle of the strongest Deet you can find”. …..Don’t bother! First of all, those wee Thai mozzies don’t give a rats ass about your Deet.. they’re still going…
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How to choose the right hostel
A simple guide to choosing your first hostel.
