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Skin Safety 101

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If you’re travelling, chances are at some point or another (or most of the time in my case) you’ll be subject to some pretty epic heat. Sunshine and travel go hand in hand and while a dose of the yellow stuff is great, too much can be dangerous.

So in the interests of health, happiness and comfort, here are some tips to keep you safe in the sun.

Wear Sunscreen

Baz Luhrman was right about this, wear sunscreen, every day. I am mixed race and have pretty dark skin that tans at the mere thought of sunlight but even I wear the highest factor I can at all times. It’s a common misconception that SPF stops you tanning, it doesn’t, it just increases the time you can spend in the sun. Use a good quality SPF on your face of factor 30 or higher. This will stop you burning and most importantly prevent your peachy skin wrinkling up like an old prune.

A Few Sunscreen Tips…

I’ve already told you to wear sunscreen but here’s how to do it right. Apply liberally! When SPFs are tested, dermatologists (?) use far greater amounts than an average person would put on. Typically three times more. This means when a normal person applies Factor 15, they’re only getting Factor 5 protection. Don’t forget ears, hands and feet; ears because they burn easily and hands and feet because they show your age and wrinkle easily. Also protect your scalp and hairline and reapply if you’ve been swimming.

Read more travel beauty tips here.

Cover Up

… a bit. When it’s hot hot hot, you’re going to want to beat the heat in your skimpiest outfits. Do this, you’ll look great, but also travel with something light like a Kaftan, long-sleeved maxi dress or Kimono and cover your skin when the sun is at it’s hottest. This will give your delicate skin a much-needed break and you’ll feel much better than if you were overexposed to the sun’s rays.

Check out more travel fashion tips here.

 

Hydration is Key

Drink as much flipping water as you can, in the heat you sweat and loose water way faster than you would normally. Sometimes the heat can make you feel a bit woozy and you forget to drink. Don’t forget! Make a habit of having a drink of water every hour – this will keep skin hydrated, as well as make sure your body has all the water it needs to function – dehydration from heat can cause lethargy, headaches and cracked, dry skin. Not nice.

Read my tips on drinking water safely abroad here.

 

Accessorise, Accessorise, Accessorise

A fashionista’s favourite three words. There are numerous accessories you can use to avoid too much sun. A big hat will protect your face from harsh rays, some stylish sunglasses will ensure your peepers don’t suffer any sun damage and a nice sarong can be used as a headscarf, to protect shoulders or as a blanket while you snooze in the sun.

Check out some great sunglasses here.

How to Stay Hydrated in Hot Climates 

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Twice in my life I have thrown strops in airports because I was too thirsty. I may have done so many more times in a non-airport setting. I’m a chill person, but I have a massive fear of dehydration. If you’re dehydrated you feel sluggish, tired, weak, head achey and you look like sh*t too. Thirst is the last warning sign of dehydration, so if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. water filtration.

At home it’s easy to have a routine and stay well-watered but if you’re o the road, how do you do it? A big concern is water-safety in foreign countries, mostly you’ll have to buy bottled water which can become very expensive, even if water is cheap. A 50p bottle of water, if you’re drinking 4 a day for a month, quickly amounts to £60 – not good for budget conscious travellers.

Buy a Steripen

You can buy sterilising tablets but I’m wary of any chemicals you ingest. A Steripen works like this: “UV light purifies water without harmful chemicals and without changing the taste, odour or colour of the water.” Most importantly they are proven to destroy harmful bacteria that can cause illness. You can pick one up for around £40-£60 which is a lot but if you’re travelling for an extended period of time it could save you a lot of money.

Always carry a bottle of water with you

If you’re travelling in hot countries don’t even think about heading out without some water, if you don’t know the area you might not be able to easily purchase one. There’s noting worse than being tired and thirsty so take some aqua with you everywhere.

Save empty bottles

Save money and the environment by reusing your water bottles. You can buy larger water bottles with friends and decant into the smaller ones. Plus you can refill any time you pass a (safe) tap.

Eat cleverly

There are hydrating foods like juicy fruits and vegetables and there are dehydrating foods like salty junk food and high carb snacks. Eat fresh salads and smoothies to up your water intake easily.

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Avoid fizzy drinks

Sodas and soft drinks are so full of chemicals and caffeine that they’re really not good for you and can actually dehydrate you. Not to mention they’ll cause your blood sugar to spike which can bring on headaches and nausea. Stick to water, juices and herbal teas. Oh and take it easy on the coffee and alcohol too.

On that note I’m going to pour myself a drink – but remember these easy tips so you’re never left gasping for a drink on your travels again. 

The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Gap Year in Your Twenties

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A

dvice from someone who has done it. From initial idea, to route-planning, saving and all that admin – this guide is absolutely everything you will ever need to know to plan your Round The World trip, adult gap year or career break.

Decide you want a break, a long one…

Maybe you’ve had a bad break up, your career has hit the skids or you’re just plain bored, at this point in your life you’re never going to go on a gap year on a whim. There’s always a reason, for me I guess it was a combination of burnout, boredom and hopelessness at the financial crisis a lot of young people are in. Thanks David Cameron you d*ck.

stylish travel blog

Reduce your outgoings

You might have to give up your house or flat to save on rent, sacrifice a lot of nights out or quit your job. I had to do all three. My monthly income when I lived in London was £1,700 after tax. Of that £700 went on rent, £250 on bills, £55 on the gym, £100 on travel, and that’s before I thought about food, going out, clothes… tampons. So when I decided to travel, I knew even if I did get a considerable pay rise in London, it would have to be a VERY big one to even think about saving. So I quit my job, moved out of London, to my mum’s house in Leeds and temped for a year. I was earning a about 10k less but I had almost no outgoings so I was able to save a decent amount each month. Without this major sacrifice there’s no way I would have been able to save for a RTW trip in a year. It would have taken me about 8 years, I reckon. You may have a job and lifestyle that enables you to save, but I bet most people don’t save that much.

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I’m quite glad I had to spend a year solidly saving, it recalibrated my relationship with money and spending – although I never had any money before, I now realise I wasn’t very careful with it at all. Forcing myself to look at my finances and really appreciating every penny was the best practise I could have asked for in preparation for budgeting on a round the world trip. After I get back I’m definitely going to prioritise saving, so I already benefitted from this gap year before I left the country.

Where Do You Want To Go?

Everyone has a wishlist of places they want to visit, so now’s the time to do visit them all. You may as well check them all off the list. Watch films, documentaries and books to give you some more ideas of places to visit – I learned 99% of what I know about world geography planning for this trip (really).

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Plan it Alone, or Enlist The Experts?

There’s something to be said for doing something all by yourself and you can get a huge sense of achievement. However, experience taught me that I do not enjoy booking things, whether you talk to a robot, a person or do it online there are soooo many variables that can go wrong and that stress is just not worth it for me. So I got STA travel to help plan my route and book my plane tickets and although I may have paid slightly more I probably saved 10 hours of my life. I also booked a tour with them as I didn’t fancy booking various trains, tours and trips in India by myself. There are many tools that you can use to help you DIY it like Hostelworld for accommodation, Gapyear.com for tips and the NHS website for medical advice.

Budget, Budget, Budget.

Really get to grips with your budget. To the last penny. You need to tot up absolutely everything so you don’t get any nasty surprises. Flights, transport, kit, insurance, visas, injections… it all adds up. Just make sure it doesn’t take you by surprise. The skills you learn budgeting for a long trip will stand you in good stead for the rest of you life. I created a big document listing every single thing I would need for the trip (before and during) so I had everything in one place. I then assigned a monetary amount to each item, I also counted the number of days I’d be away and multiplied it by my daily allowance.

So for example if you’ll be away for 250 days and your budget (for accommodation and travel) is £20 a day then you’ll need to save £5,000. Add onto that the cost of everything else (flights, visas, injections, backpack, other travel, travel gear) for example £4,000 and add that to your daily budget. £5,000 + £4,000 = £9,000 . Then add another £1,000 for contingency and you’re looking at £10,000. 

To save that work out how many days it is until you leave (eg. 200) and divide the monetary amount by that number, then multiply by 7. This is the amount you need to save each week. Stick to it. Write down your savings each month.

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Get Organised!

Remember you document detailing every thing you’ll need. Keep looking at it and aim to get things done ahead of time. You may need to start getting injections up to 6 months before you leave so don’t leave them until the last minute. Get your visas in good time as these things inevitably get delayed. Check you have enough time left on your passport, countries vary but many insist you have at least 6 months on your passport. So if you’re leaving in 6 months and visiting Australia 6 months after that, you’ll need at least 18 month left on your passport.

Aim to buy a bit of gear each month so you don’t have to get it all at once. Buy your backpack in good time as then you’ll be able to see how big (or small) it is, get to know the features and do some practise runs with it filled.

Cancel all bills and contracts in good time too, you don’t want to be paying for something you’re not using. Let people know your plans. Start reading travel blogs. Start your own travel blog. Don’t forget to think about your technology (adapters, chargers, cameras, phones, Kindle books – what’s your plan?). Check your bank card works abroad, get a spare bank card, a credit card, cash card. Use your planning time to get so organised you won’t have to be stressed-out while you’re travelling.

Finally… Have fun! This is going to be the trip of a lifetime.

Tips for backpacking

Check these posts for more planning tips!

Movies to Get You In The Mood For Travel

Why Travelling In Your Twenties Is Never A Bad Idea

The 6 Female Travel Blogs You Need to Follow

Round The World… My Itinerary

The 7 Best Money Saving Tips for Backpacking

7 Amazing Tips For Staying in Hostels

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Let’s face it, staying in a hostel is no one’s dream situation. Ideally I’d be staying in 5 Star hotels every night… but until they become free, or I become rich, then it’s not going to happen. So hostels it is.

These days there are actually some super cool, chic hostels that combine great design and great prices – admittedly most of these are in western Europe or more westernised places – but hostels can be seriously fun! Plus you’re way more likely to meet fellow young travellers in a hostel than the Four Seasons.

Here are 7 golden rules for happy hostelling.

1. Take Earplugs

My Dad runs a clubnight with a very loud soundsystem and a lot of people complain it’s to loud when they go, the obvious response would be ‘well, if you can’t stand the heat…’ but the staff dole out earplugs. And they work! Don’t be a moaner, just stick a plug in it. You can buy them mega cheap off eBay.

2. And a sleep mask

I’m a great sleeper but errant shafts of light niggle me to the point of distraction. Get yourself a fabulous eye mask to block out all the light, iPhone blue rays and other things you just don’t want to see. Also good for pretending you’re asleep so people don’t bother you.

3. Network, network, network

I truly believe it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Life is a series of networking, meeting and greeting and schmoozing – man is not an island – or however the saying goes. You’ll meet loads of fellow backpackers and they could give you travel tips, lend chargers, provide company, snogs, laughs… the possibilities are endless. Take some business cards and give out your Twitter handle.

4. Keep your sh*t safe

Exercise extreme caution, I’m not saying every one is a thief but don’t give anyone the temptation. You’ll kick yourself if you leave your worldly good lying around and the actually go missing. Most hostels have lockers – use them. And hid things like cash and electronics or lock them away. You can buy portable safes and laptop padlocks and all manner of things to prevent theft. Boring but necessary.

5. Swap books

If you’re backpacking you don’t want a load of novels taking up valuable safe, by heaven take a Kindle, they’re amazing (1000 books in about 10g weight of machinery). I am quite the bibliophile though, and I get nostalgic for paperback so I will be taking one book and swapping as I travel. Hopefully it’ll work out that I always have a physical book and my original will make its way across the globe too. You should definitely get in on the backpacker book club, again, put your twitter handle and a message in the cover and who knows who might have your book in years’ time.

6. Take a sleep sheet

Hostels ain’t all the Ace Hotel, some may be grim but when you’re paying £4 a night then it would be rude to complain. To avoid less-than-pristine bedding take a sleep sheet with you. These silky sheaths fold down to nothing and are perfect for slipping in your backpack. Tip: your Mum would LOVE to buy you this.

7. Make friends with the staff

At school I was always the teacher’s pet, I used to straighten my head of year’s hair before assembly – and do you know what? I got preferential treatment. Suck up to the people in power and it could work to your benefit – use of the hostel computers, transport, local insider knowledge – it’s the staff that hold the key. If you’re a genuinely nice person this will probably just come naturally to you.
with the staff

Check Out These Stunning Photos of Beaches by Massimo Vitali

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Massimo Vitali of Como, Italy began his career as a photo journalist in the 1970s and it wasn’t until 1995 that he began taking photos of the vast, detailed landscapes he is best known for.

His evocative scenes of beaches, pools and other public spaces were captured from super-high podiums (sometimes 4 or 5 metres high, yikes), observing his subjects from a distance. This gives a glimpse into the behaviours of people in their leisure time, from all around the world – Vitali is something of a globe-trotter. It’s hard not to feel moved by the little figures and clean, bright colours. Especially if you’re a globe-trotter yourself!

Massimo Vitali: Natural Habitats

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Papeete Beach Regatta, 2004 Massimo Vitali

Papeete Beach Regatta, 2004

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6 Inspiring Books to Load on to Your Kindle Before a RTW Trip

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What would life be without books? Boring probably. What would an eight hour flight be without books? Unbearable! My Kindle is the only travel partner I need and my number one backpacking essential. Here are six inspiring books I read this year that you should definitely download…

Animals by Emma Jane Unsworth

This book is like the anti-Sex and The City, it’s gritty (ish) realness appealed massively to me as did the fact it’s set in Manchester and not London. It follows two twenty-something girls who are best friends and housemates. Despite being highly educated and savvy the two are still pretty juvenile and working dead-end jobs whilst navigating unfulfilling relationships. I like it for the fact it’s a truer depiction of twenty-something life than anything I’ve ever read and that the girl’s friendship, not the men in their lives is the strongest theme.


How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran

If you’re anything like me then columnist, feminist and all-round super hero Caitlin Moran’s first book How to be a Woman is your modern-day feminist bible. If not, then you probably haven’t read it… go read it. This book is her first work of fiction although based heavily on Moran’s formative years as a fat kid growing up on a council estate whose mega-brains see her winning a job as a teen at a nationwide music magazine. You will relate to so many of the feelings of inadequacy, not fitting in and bodily self-hatred all teen girls feel and it will make you look hard at where some of your adult neuroses came from.

 

Champagne Supernovas: Kate Moss, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, and the 90s Renegades Who Remade Fashion

This is a fascinating triple biography about darlings of the 90s Kate Moss, Marc Jacobs and the late Alexander McQueen. Three individuals who shaped the landscape of fashion and pop culture forever. It’s their vastly different backgrounds, Marc is from a wealthy Upper East Side New York Family, Kate a middle class suburban life and McQueen from more turbulent beginnings but their lives all intertwined and the parallels of success and personal demons that make this such an interesting read. The excess, the drugs and the parties also make for a riotous read that will make you question how fun your own life is. They knew how to party.

The Woman I Wanted To Be by Dianne Von Furstenburg

DVF is a wonderful role model and poster ‘girl’ for empowerment and strong business women everywhere. Aside from the savvy business acumen that birthed a multi million pound company, it’s her attitude to life that’s an inspiration. Dianne has been a princess (yes and actual princess), partied with Warhol at Studio 54 and continues to be glamorous well into her 70s. Every ambitious girl can take something away from this autobiography.

Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

Girls addicts rejoiced when we heard Lena ‘voice of my generation’ Dunham was releasing a series of essays, rather prodigiously, at the age of 27 (queue feeling like a massive failure). While her upbringing is so extraordinary that it’s nigh on completely un-relatable – she grew up in New York, daughter to very successful artist parents and has had a therapist since childhood – there are issues in the book that all young women have had to deal with. When Dunham talks about her issues with food and body image it’s particularly compelling, however her romantic anecdotes I found weird. I think she’s just bad with men. It’s laugh out loud funny from start to finish, though, so read it.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

This is a book that just stayed with me, it stayed with me and I still get a chill when I think about it. Not to give the story away but it’s a tale of a young man which spans most of his life and although some of the subject matter and settings are quite mundane and domestic Tartt paints them so richly, it’s like you’re there. The characters are so rounded and full and the tale so heartbreaking but exciting – it’s just f*cking fantastic. I’m going to re-read it, many times.

Aesop- London Travel case review

The Aesop London Travel Case

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Aesop is the Australian skincare brand that is most coveted by, well, me. And they have created the perfect travel companion – ideal for an inflight kit or to put in your backpack..

aesop London travel-kit 2

The fabric travel case houses 8 miniature products from the coveted Aesop Parsley Seed range including a shampoo and conditioner, body wash, body balm, face wash, toner, facial moisturiser and the cult Aesop mouthwash.

All these lovely products come in the signature apothecary-style brown glass bottles, which are the ideal size for travellers and as a bonus can be refilled (hello siphoning off hotel shower gel). The beauty of Aesop products is that they contain no nasties and lots of natural botanicals to soothe skin that’s frazzled from the jet-set lifestyle.

Buy The Aesop London Travel Case HERE

The Worst Things About Planning a Round The World Trip

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I’m going to, in this article, try to cover everything I wish I’d known when I started planning my Round the World trip. Full disclosure, there’s a lot of admin and crazy amounts of planning that go into travelling for an extended period of time… which probably doesn’t come as a shock. I think that a lot of travellers like to perpetuate the ‘pack your bags and go’ myth, but there are quite a few loose ends you’ll need to tie up before you leave.

Everyone’s got an opinion

You will have to deal with your friends, family and colleagues questioning your decision, constantly. And until you fly away from home, this will probably be your sole topic of conversation. Which is sometimes nice but when your Dad just won’t quit giving you murder stats for female travellers and your mates are talking about how you’re so ‘brave’ (read mental) for giving up your WHOLE LIFE… it gets a bit old.

My suggestion is to memorise a small speech about why you’re going on a round the world trip and simply regurgitate it to anyone who asks. This should include an abridged version of why you’re leaving, the pros and cons, and a firm but friendly closing statement about how you’re totally happy with your choice to travel but you understand it’s probably not for everyone. You could maybe add a joke in about Delhi Belly or something.

bikini and passport

Travel is a sacrifice…

From the moment I decided I wanted to up sticks and say au revoir to my life in the UK, there was a never –ending succession of things I had to give up, compromises and just general horror. I had to quit my job so that I could leave very, very expensive London. I had to move back in with my parents (shout out to Linzi & Mark) so that I could save money on rent. This meant I had to live ion my hometown for months, which was boring… so boring.

Other things I had to give up: Cocktails, Diptyque candles, impromptu Nandos trips, Topshop, Starbucks, nights out on the town, haircuts, hobbies other than trip planning.

So, be warned, unless you already have a nest egg of a few thousand pounds, a rich family, or a winning lottery ticket, you’ll probably have to make a lot of changes in order to save up for your travelling. But don’t worry, it’ll be worth it in the end!

So, you want a love life

In the 9 months from when I quit my job and moved back home to start saving I went on about 3 dates but didn’t even kiss any of them, let alone, er, you know. This is because in the back of my mind all I was thinking was ‘I’m outta here soon mate’. So my love life suffered to say the least, I guess if you’re already in a committed relationship you’re probably not considering roaming the world solo for a year or longer. Or if you were you’d do it as a pair? A final note on this is that backpackers f*ck like freshers (here’s hoping)… so, you know, you’ll get yours. It might just be in Thailand instead of Tunbridge Wells.

Welcome to admin hell

If you though you were going to chuck a sarong and your passport in a backpack then head off into the sun #YOLO, you’re sorely mistaken. Before you leave you will have to endure more paperwork than you ever have in your life. On the plus side, that’s a life skill that will stand you in good stead should you ever wish to, for instance, represent yourself in a small claims court… maybe not.

Here is a short and un-definitive list of things you’ll have to sort out before you travel: Cancelling bills, sorting out your phone contract, handing your notice in, travel insurance, doctors, dentists, contraception, injections, visas, flights, connections, hostels, tours, bank accounts, getting a credit card, selling all your worldly goods… and worst of all, PACKING!

Okay, so I didn’t cover everything, it would be impossible to… the levels of excitement. nerves and anticipation are probably on a par with being pregnant. Except your child is… the world. Hmmm. Bad analogy. Anyway, Just remember, whatever you’re feeling or whatever questions you have there are a million resources to turn to. Let’s get planning!