Month: November 2015

Why Going Travelling Nearly Made Me Have a Nervous Breakdown*

Published by

* Not literally, obvs, but planning a RTW is hard! I had second and third thoughts before I even stepped foot on a plane (let alone another country). I pulled it back though and that’s the important thing, but nevertheless, I found that I had a bit of a wobble a few months before my trip… So, okayyyy, in the big scheme of things, a year or two spent travelling is a drop in the ocean, but when you’re in your twenties, a year is a long time. A whole lot can happen in a year (and often does) and that scared me, I thought ‘sh*t am I wasting my prime years?’. The answer to that is ‘no’, because like Jennifer Lopez, I will not reach my prime until my early 40s which leaves plenty of time for globetrotting. Financially travelling scared me too, this is because prior to actually committing to a year of travel I was a bit ignorant of the costs. I knew about flights and making sure that I had enough cash …

So Why Do I Travel?

Published by

As good a question as any, why do I travel? Perhaps a more insightful question might be ‘what are you running away from?’. Because I am. Running away that is. It was getting to a stage where I was long out of university and I’d been living independently in London for a few years and there was always the pressure of what to do next. I didn’t have, or want (still don’t) a boyfriend, I  certainly wasn’t ready to settle down. Although I had a good job and a nice sideline as a fashion blogger, complete with awards, I was pretty skint. It wasn’t that I didn’t earn enough money, it was that I lived in London which is cray expensive,  so the vast majority of my wage was immediately swallowed up by my huge rent. Mostly though, I found myself thinking, ‘these are the last days of my youth’. Dramatic, sure, but on a real – they totally are. So it was either plod into adulthood feeling totally unprepared and like I had unfinished …

50s flight attendants

In-Flight Skin Saviours

Published by

As a world traveller, you’ll be catching a whole lot of flights, I think I’ll be getting over 20 this year at last count… eep! Personally I like a flight, it means you’re heading to your next destination but the havoc flying causes to your skin is a major beauty dilemma. So, just how do you prevent yourself arriving at the airport with the skin of a sunbed-worshipping 94 year old? Dehydration is the biggest factor in tired and dull looking ‘plane face’ skin, moisture gets sucked out of your skin by the pressurised cabin air, plus the physicality of travelling means you’ll probably be stressed, lacking sleep and maybe you haven’t tended to your skin in 48 hours. So to combat dry skin, drink LOTS of water. Forget your two litres a day. For every five hours you’re in the air, try to drink a litre of water, a lot, I know but it will help keep skin moisturised and prevent headaches and fatigue too. As for getting your forty winks, easier said than …

What That Coffee Can Buy You Around The World

Published by

Let me first level with you by saying that I have never, ever bought a coffee in my entire life. This is because I hate coffee – seriously, I’ve tried it about three times and the last time I had a sip it made me feel violently ill for DAYS. No exaggeration. It’s yukky. BUT I do buy tea, wine, cakes, all sorts of sh*t, so the coffee is a symbol for our mindless consumerism, okay? Now, a lot of people like to tell you that by skipping your weekly Starbucks you can save X amount in a year… blah, blah, blah. But we are the generation of instant gratification, we can’t sacrifice the little things for some unknown future reward.We need them! So with that in mind I’ve taken the liberty of showing you EXACTLY what the price of a Cappuccino (let’s average it out at £3) will you get you around the world. THAILAND £3 = 160 Thai Baht Your Frappuccino will get you a night in a hostel dorm in Thailand – …

4 Tips to Make Long-Haul Flights Less Boring

Published by

If you’re going to be travelling, backpacking or just taking a trip to some far an distant land (lucky you) chances are you’ll be going by plane… I dread to think how long it would take to visit somewhere tropical by water, road or train. While long-haul flights ain’t everyone’s cup of tea, (unless you’re travelling in business or first class, in which case let me know how it is) they can be made way more enjoyable with these four fun tips… The Mile High ‘Club’ NOT THAT ONE, you dirty-minded thing you, no! Turn your seat into an oh-so-exclusive club (capacity: one) with a banging playlist of the latest tunes. Whether you use an iPod, a walkman… maybe not, or your phone, just make sure you get some great quality over-ear headphones. The in-ear ones are useless. Big headphones cancel out noise too. I use Spotify, but remember to download your favourite playlists so you can listen to them offline. Shop headphones>>> Check out my Travel Playlist>>> You Better Werk A lot of travellers …

How To Travel in Luxury… On a Backpacker’s Budget

Published by

If you’re looking for spa and five star hotel recommendations here, then sorry, you’re in the wrong place. I may be fashionable, but I’m still a backpacker – and there’s no shame in that. Some of the most beautiful and fun things you can do in this world a free. Even back home in the UK a £5 Nandos was pretty much my favourite activity (Gosh I miss Nandos). I’m very inventive though and I’ve come up with some tips to make your budget trip that little bit chicer – and remember, luxury is a state of mind.* 1. Take a little luxury with you Whether it’s a Bella Freud top, your favourite beauty product or even a mini Diptyque candle – put it in your backpack and take it with you. A little item that won’t take up much space can give you a taste of the creature comforts you’re used to and make you feel that bit more glam. 2. Hunt for online deals Want to visit that hotel, restaurant, spa or gallery? …

How To Cope With Being a Lone Traveller

Published by

As a lone traveller you will sometimes, or a lot of the time, be alone. The amount of time you spend alone is up to you… you don’t have to spend any time alone if you don’t want to (well, hardly any). But if the thought of flying solo terrifies you that much then you probably wouldn’t be embarking on a round the world trip by yourself anyway, right? I am the oldest of three kids (hi Marcus and Sophie) and as such learned from a young age that I relish time to myself. It’s not that I’m antisocial, far from it, I love meeting new people and socialising. I’m very outgoing and really enjoy the company of others… but I have never yearned for companionship. LEARN TO LOVE YOUR OWN COMPANY I know some people can’t stand to be in their own company and have to be surrounded by people constantly, that’s not me, genuinely. I’m so thankful for that because I’m always happy and I’m not held back from doing things because of …

Best Fast Food From Around The World 

Published by

Food glorious (and I mean glorious) food. I would be telling pork pies, geddit?, if I said that grub wasn’t a large motivation in me travelling the world. Just think of all the delicious flavours and tastes I’m going to get to eat. The world is full of amazing things to eat but it’s the streetfood I’m interested in – not just because of my limited budget – so here are my top 3 fast foods from around the globe. 1/ Istanbul – Dürüm Wrap Dürüm, a tasty wrap with fresh salad and spicy meat paste, is one dish you can find in all of Turkey – whether it’s from a street vender or a super posh restaurants. It’s a delicious and fast food that’s usually surprisingly filling and pleasingly cheap. If you’re in Istanbul, the best dürüm, can be found in Bambi or Kızılkayalar in Taksim Square and even the stalls in the old town that target tourists are still pretty good! 2/Thailand – Mango and Sticky Rice The key ingredients here are sweet juicy ripe mangos. That’s what the Thai’s …

best solo female travel blogs

The 6 Female Travel Blogs You Need to Follow

Published by

As a newbie traveller and a round the world trip planner, I’m pretty into my travel blogs. They’re such a great source of inspiration and information – written from a personal perspective. Let’s face it, the travel supplements in glossy magazine’s are wonderful but unless a hitherto unknown multi-millionaire uncle dies and leaves me a large sum of money, they’re trips out of my league. I like a travel blogger who can tell me how to live it up in Laos for a few dollars, or where the best club is in Kabul. With that in mind I want to share with you some blogs that will really whet your appetite for world travel.  Best For Inspirational Quotes GREASE & GLAMOUR Stylish travel blogger Jenna started travelling after the death of her beloved father, instead of mourning in the traditional way, she got a life size cut-out of her Dad and took him to all the places he never got to see. Her images are dreamy and she’s the master of the inspirational quote. Definitely one …