This is a post I’ve been excited about sharing for about 9 months now. I’d like to introduce you to the new little man in my life. This is George! He was born on March 11th weighing a perfectly tiny 6 lb 11. He’s less than two weeks old and already he’s stolen our hearts …
Monica
Today’s post is from Paula from Through the Looking Glass and is her survival guide to Songkran Festival in Thailand. Get this festival on your bucket list because it sounds amazing! Songkran festival in Thailand is the Buddhist equivalent of our New Year celebrations, and officially takes place over the 3 days from 13th-15th April. …
Climbing Mount Kinabalu was the highlight of my trip to Borneo. It was tough but it was worth each and every step towards the summit. I loved the way the scenery changed every few hundred meters and the sense of achievement when we reached the top was unbelievable. Watching the sunrise from above the clouds …
It’s been a couple of years now since I completed my NCTJ journalism course and I still get lots of emails from readers who ask me if I think it was worth it. One question I’m regularly asked is if it’s worth doing for someone who would like to become a professional blogger. It’s hard …
Today’s guest post is a fabulous guide to San Diego by Jessica over at The Belle Voyage. Keep reading to find out more about Jessica and about the best things to see, do and eat in San Diego. 1. How would you describe San Diego in 5 words? Laid-back, beachy, vibrant, diverse, and beautiful. 2. …
With just a few days until my due date all of my thoughts are baby, baby, baby. I’ve been desperate to decorate a nursery but we’ve been living with my parents for the past few months as we’re renovating our new. It’s a massive project and seems to get bigger every month as we add …
The USA is massive, and there is more to explore than you could ever fit into one trip. But there are a few more obvious items that you might already know you want to do and if you’re reading this post then I’ll assume that the iconic road trip is one of them. Taking a …
If you’re visiting a hot beach destination it’s easy to find free things to do. Swimming, sunbathing, reading and strolling can keep you entertained for days. But when you’re in a city it isn’t so easy and your budget can quickly spiral out of control. There’s just so much to spend your money on in …
Today’s post comes from Hannah, the fabulous blogger behind That Adventurer. Hannah has shared some of her top tips to bring adventure into the everyday. This is the perfect read if you’re in between trips and you need a bit of excitement and adventure in your life! Adventure. It means something different to everyone. Often, …
Do you remember me telling you last month about the Corinthia Hotel sale? They have some great offers with 50% off many of their gorgeous European properties. And do you know what, the sale has been extended until the end of March! So today I wanted to tell you about one of their properties in …
Starting a blog from scratch can be a daunting process. Where do you even begin? There’s so much to do, so much to learn and so many people offering conflicting advice. When I first began blogging there weren’t as many bloggers on the block so I didn’t have as many people to compare myself to. …
Photo credit: Red bicycle Everyone thinks they know what Amsterdam is going to be like before they visit and I’ve spoken to lots of people who love Amsterdam and lots who hate it with equal measure. Personally, I love it and I think it’s a great city for a long weekend break. Parts of Amsterdam …
I’m always harping on about how important it is to travel light. Travelling light gives you extra freedom and flexibility that you just don’t have with heavy luggage. You can move quickly through airports and train stations and it’s so much easier to take public transport with a small bag. You’ll save money by not having …
I’m really excited to bring you an insider’s guide to Goa by Sheena, the blogger behind This is Sheena. I’ve been desperate to visit Goa for years and Sheena’s guide has made me want to visit even more! 1. Can you begin by telling us how/why you know Goa so well? I’ve been spending my …
“Quit your job and travel the world!” Ahh, it’s the dream isn’t it? The pipe dream that everyone is aspiring to. But it doesn’t have to be a pipe dream and today I’d like to show that it is achievable – even if you’re a student, on minimum wage or simply think it’s impossible Before …
If you missed last week’s #TravelBookChat on Twitter, do not fear because Jayne has put together a great roundup on Girl Tweets World. #TravelBookChat Australia Round Up & Reading List The book we read for February was Tracks by Robyn Davidson, an autobiographic book about Robyn’s time walking across Australia’s outback with nothing but her …
I’m just a couple of weeks away from having my baby boy and already my thoughts are turning towards travel. Actually, who am I kidding, my thoughts are always on travel! But now I’m really starting to think about my first few trips with the baby. I have a couple of trips booked in the …
37 weeks. How have 37 weeks passed so quickly? I will have a baby in about 2 weeks time! When I first found out I was pregnant I thought the following 8 months would be the longest 8 months of my life. Imagine booking the most incredible holiday of your life and then the excitement …
Do you wish you had more money to travel? If your answer to that question is a big, fat ‘YES!’ then you need to join in with the #Save4Trek Twitter chat on March 5th. Pretty much every single person I know (myself included!) wishes they had more money to travel. Whether they’re young or old, …
Bruges is one of the most magical cities in Europe with a quaint and pretty charm unlike anywhere I’ve ever been before. I visited last year for a long weekend and it quickly became one of my favourite places for a European city break. What’s not to love about the beautiful architecture, striking landmarks and the …
What not to pack for travelling I moved house recently and I came across the battered and bruised backpack I used for my two year trip around Asia and Australia. Prior to the trip I spent more than a year planning and plotting and excitedly scouring the internet for tips and advice. A lot of …
I’m delighted to welcome Rachel Kershaw to the blog today. Rachel is the blogger behind Life in Geordieland, an awesome blog about Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead in the UK. She’s bringing us an Insider’s Guide to Newcastle, which is the UK’s favourite city. Keep reading to find out why…. Photo credit: Mick_Gallagher_1959 1. Can you …
I’m absolutely unashamed to admit that I’m a fake tan fanatic. Having a tan makes me feel happier and healthier. When it’s applied well it can give you a natural looking glow that is impossible to achieve during the British winter. Let me just reiterate the ‘when it’s applied well’ part. Badly applied fake tan …
Do you remember a few weeks ago when I asked in my weekly email if you had any travel questions you’d like me to answer on the blog? One of the first questions to come through was from Nadia and she asked how she can maintain a travel lifestyle when her long term boyfriend wants …
I’m sure you’ve read the title of this post and you’re thinking I’m crazy. How can pregnancy be anything like travelling? But stick with me and I might be able to convince you otherwise. Over the past 7 years my mind has been consumed by nothing but travel. Now over the past 7 months my …
Sign up here to receive updates about my 12-week blogger e-course It wasn’t long ago that I was calling myself a ‘freelancer’ and I’d correct anyone who referred to me as a ‘full time blogger’. When I first quit my job to work for myself the majority of my income came from freelancing copywriting and …
Today’s guest post comes from Jessica Dante and it’s all about delicious Italian food. Jess lived in Italy so she’s knows what she’s talking about and is proving there’s more to Italian cuisine than just pizza and pasta. Prepare to drool! Before I moved to Florence, I thought that “good” Italian food only came in …
Welcome to the first edition of Friday 5’s. This is a new weekly feature on The Travel Hack (or possibly bi-weekly feature once baby arrives!) with 5 things I’ve loved this week. I’m always coming across quick and simple things I want to share on the blog but they’re not quite enough for a blog …
We all know that travel hacking in the US is big business and many travel hacking experts are reaping the rewards. They’re spending money wisely, using the right credit cards or loyalty cards in all the right places and benefiting from discounted travel and free upgrades. But travel hacking in the UK doesn’t seem to …
Calling all book worms and travel lovers! #TravelBookChat, the Twitter chat all about travel and books, is back. This is the chat for anyone who loves reading but also loves the sociable side of books. Reading is a solitary activity but it’s so nice to have someone to share the experience with during and after …
It might not be the most exciting topic in the world but it’s one of my many FAQs. ‘What shoes should I take travelling?’ or ‘What shoes should I take to (insert destination)?’ I’m always harping on about travelling light and one of the easiest ways to keep your luggage down is to avoid packing …
I’m absolutely delighted to have Angie Silver from Silver Spoon London as the second guest blogger on The Travel Hack. Angie is such a romantic so I can’t think of anyone better to tell us about 5 of the most romantic hotels around the world. She’s also seriously well travelled and has stayed in some …
Last year I took part in a yoga retreat with Azul Fit on the island of Fuerteventura. It was a fantastic week and it left me feeling fitter, healthier, slimmer and more relaxed. I vowed to make yoga retreats a yearly ritual and I’m desperate to take another one this year. Ibiza looks like the …
One of the best things about travelling is trying new food. I know I’m not alone in this foodie obsession because there are so many food and travel blogs popping up all over the internet. We are a nation of food fanatics and any blog that combines food and travel is a winner in my …
January and February are two of the most depressing months of the year. Well, it is for us Brits who are stuck with cold and miserable weather, dark evenings and unpredictable snow storms. And the summer still seems so far away… I’ve been obsessively stalking my friends and family in Australia and drooling over their …
If you subscribe to my email updates you will have seen that in last week’s email I asked you guys to send me any travel questions you have. One of the first emails to come through was from Bethan Jackson (thanks Bethan!) and she said: I want to go to New York for a long …
It’s time for the first guest blog on The Travel Hack! Today’s awesome post comes from the very lovely Ellie who blogs over on The World and The Some. I’ve been following her adventures as she went on a RTW trip and now lives a seriously exciting life in London. During her big trip, Ellie …
If you’re looking for a perfectly located and budget friendly hotel in London then you can’t go wrong with Mercure London Bridge. It’s stylish, friendly, clean and comfortable and most of the rooms have been recently refurbished so they’re modern and sleek. This isn’t a ‘blow your socks off’ boutique hotel, but it’s the kind …
We all love a good travel competition, especially when there’s an awesome prize involved. And when I say awesome, I really mean it. Today I want to tell you about Mercure Hotel’s #6FriendsTheory competition. I popped down to London last Friday to find out all about the competition and for a fabulous night out with …
Since I’ve been writing these blog posts about how to travel more, I’ve noticed a common theme in the comments. Lots of people want to travel more but they have no one to travel with and they don’t want to travel alone. This is a problem and something all travel lovers face at some point. …