Weekend Reads #17

I’ve had a fairly chilled out week this week. Well, as chilled out as it can get when you’ve got a 3 month old baby, you’re renovating a house and you’re expanding your blog to include a whole team of bloggers! I’ve had over 200 applications from people who would like to join The Travel Hack team. I’ve been absolutely blown away by the response (and kept very busy reading all those emails!) I’m so pleased so many people would like to join the blog but I’m also amazed by the variety of people from all over the world. It’s going to be a really exciting few weeks as I select the team and we start working together on new projects.

I also want to say a huge shout-out to everyone who attended Blogtacular last weekend! I was speaking at the blogger’s conference about travel blogging and I’ve had such a lovely response from everyone who came to my talk. Thank you!

Anyway, back to some weekend reading. Here’s what I’ve found around the blogosphere this week…

Ditch the tie: 5 things Dad really wants for Father’s Day {Apartment Therapy}

I LOVE this list of things to get your dad for Father’s Day. I don’t know about your dad but my dad is really difficult to buy for. He’s such a happy guy and always tells me he has everything he wants already. This list makes you realise that you don’t need to buy your dad any crappy presents or novelty gifts; spend some time with him and have an adventure because that will be the best gift of all.

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Dubrovnik Photo Essay {We took the road less travelled}

Have you considered visiting Dubrovnik in Croatia? No? You should! Take a look at this gorgeous photo essay to see why.

 

 

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Getting your landscape photography right {Travelettes}

If you love travel and you love photography then there’s a high chance you’ll take lots of landscape photos. This is a great intro guide to landscape photography, especially if you’re the kind of person who thinks, ‘how on earth did they manage to get such a good shot!?’

 

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Hand Luggage Size Guide {Expedia}

Hands up if you’ve ever had to pay a small fortune to get your oversized bag onto a plane? Or you’ve been that person at the front of the check-in queue desperately trying to remove all the heavy objects from your suitcase? Yes, I’ve been there. I’m very pleased Expedia have put together a quick cheat sheet with the size, capacity and weight for hand luggage for most airlines. They also have the weight for checked luggage too. Thanks guys!

 

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My £6 Million Notting Hill Townhouse {Vicky Flip Flop}

While I was at Blogtacular Vicky came along as my +1. We both live outside of London so we stayed overnight before the conference. Vicky told me she’d sort out somewhere for us to stay and I didn’t give it a second thought until 15 minutes before I arrived in London. I was expecting an average hotel or a small apartment. What I didn’t expect was a 4-storey townhouse just off Portobello Road. It was a-mazing. Take a look at the photos and you’ll see what I mean.

 

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Highlights from 10 days in Norway {A Dangerous Business}

Have I mentioned that I’d like to go to Norway? Maybe once or twice or possibly a million times!? This sounds like an epic 10-day trip and it seems like it’s impossible to take a bad photo from Norway, it’s just so darn photogenic! This post by Amanda has made me want to go even more and I look forward to seeing more of her posts from Norway.

 

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4 things help make Japan Japan {Looptail blog by g Adventures}

Did you know Japan has an umbrella sharing initiative? Or did you know about the different types of seaweed? No, me either. This is a great post if you’re considering visiting Japan but don’t know much about this incredible country.

 

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Real life Lion King in the Serengeti {Getting Stamped}

Wow, just wow. I’ve been to the Serengeti but my experience was nothing like this. Lions are just hanging off the trees like apples! I can’t say I like the idea of camping in the Serengeti though. I’d want four strong walls to protect me from all those lions!

 

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10 tough things about travelling around Europe with kids {Flashpacker Family}

I love this post. Any family who pretend travelling with kids is easy is lying. It’s not easy. But it’s much easier when you know what to expect and you have a few handy tricks and tips up your sleeve to make it easier!