I love using travel blogs to research destinations. Blogs have the personal opinion and authenticity most guidebooks are missing and it’s great finding a likeminded to make suggestions you know you’ll love. I used loads of travel blogs when researching my trip to Budapest. I’ve collated some of the best travel blog posts about Budapest …
Singapore is an island city-state in Southeast Asia. Back in 2015 it received the title of ‘top country to visit’ from Lonely Planet and today it boasts a tropical climate, a multicultural population and the long list of things to do in Singapore will shock any tourist visiting the city. The sheer volume of activities, places …
It’s fairly common knowledge that Singapore is a great stopover destination, especially for those venturing to or from Australia or New Zealand. Singapore’s airport, Changi, is a veritable playground for in-transit passengers, as proven by the fact that it constantly tops lists of best airports in the world. It’s a lesser known fact, however, that …
If you’re easily spooked, it’s best not to walk around Edinburgh alone at night. The old town is made up of dark, narrow alleyways, with hundreds of years of history clinging to its walls. Without a doubt, nefarious characters skulked these cobbled streets, mingling with wealthy residents, merchants and the city’s hoi polloi. Many of …
MARSEILLE, France – France’s second largest city is known for having dirt under its fingernails. Founded by the Greeks some 2,600 years ago, it has uncoiled itself inland from gritty docklands over the centuries and grown a reputation as port with a seedy character. The Marseille I saw on my second Silversea shore excursion, however, (my …
It’s easy to fall in love with Budapest. Made up of two cities, Buda and Pest are divided by the majestic River Danube. And although both sides are now joined by a number of spectacular bridges, they’re two very different places, each with a unique character, and each offering plenty to keep you busy. There …
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 …
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 …
This week’s Insider’s Guide is by Samantha from SamanthaAngell.com. She’s taking us across to Stockholm to tell us about the best things to see and do in the city and a little introduction to my favourite Swedish speciality, fika! 1. Can you begin by telling how/why you’re a Stockholm expert? I moved to Sweden two …
Nothing can induce the jealousy in me like someone who lives in Thailand. Yes, actually lives in Thailand. And that includes all Thai people because Thailand is one of my favourite countries in the world. That’s why I’m really pleased to have an Insider’s Guide to Chiang Mai on the blog this week. Big thanks …
In theory, Iceland shouldn’t be this beautiful. Iceland is a harsh, lonely country. It’s volcanic and rugged with vast spaces of desolate land. There are very few trees and it can be hard to differentiate between the grey of the cloud and the grey of the earth. The land is flat for miles and …
The term ‘hidden gem’ gets thrown around a lot when talking about Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It’s partly because we all like to think we have a secret place that few people know about but it’s mainly because, well, barely anyone knows about it. I fell head over heals in love with Slovenia and …
When staying in a city for more than a few days I like to have my own space. I like to set up a temporary home where I can laze around and not worry about making a mess. I also like to make myself snacks and stock up my fridge with booze and local produce. …
Some travellers get snobby about taking tours. I understand why. No one wants to spend their holidays being bused around a city in a 53-seater coach with someone makes jokes on the microphone. But a tour is one of the best ways to see and learn more than you ever would on your own. I …
I’m pretty sure you’ve already guessed that I loved Ljubljana. This list could go on into the 100’s but here are 10 reasons why I loved Ljubjlana and why I think you’ll love it too! #1. The castle Each time you look up in Ljubljana you’re greeted by the castle, a medieval fortress with a …
I’ve spent the last few weeks telling everyone that they just HAVE to take a weekend away or a short holiday to Ljubljana. If you’re not convinced, take a look at my post 10 reasons to love Ljubljana. So, for all those people who are starting to get the message, this is for you… How …
Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city, is exactly how I imagine European cities should be. There are certain cities, such as Paris, Barcelona or Venice, and you know exactly what they will be like before you ever set foot there. You’ve seen so many photographs, or snippets on TV and heard countless recollections from starry-eyes friends who …
One of my challenges during my trip to New York with American Express was to crowd source places to visit and things to do in the city. I was sent so many recommendations but something that almost everyone suggested was visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visiting the Statue of Liberty initially seemed …
Everyone has a routine when they travel somewhere new. I like to go straight to my hotel and get rid of my bags. I then head down to reception and ask the receptionist for a large map and for all their recommendations on places to go, see, eat, drink and things to do. I then …
At 6.30am I sleepily stumbled up the stairs and onto the roof of my hotel in Khajuraho for my early morning yoga session. India is such a chaotic place so it was eerie but beautiful to see the town when the streets were silent, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, there was no tinny …
I’ve been banging on about my trip to South Africa for long enough now, it’s time to tell you what I’ll be up to while I’m there… I’ll be following in the footsteps of Charley Boorman and if anyone has been watching his African Adventure on Channel 5 then you’ll already know that it’s going …
A few weeks ago I was incredibly honoured and excited to be invited to Google HQ in London. I was asked to speak on a panel focusing on the opportunities and challenges for travel brands. When on Earth did this happen? When did I become the kind of person to speak on panels? But apparently …
Anne’s latest travel hacking advice is all about how you can earn more airline rewards with airline alliances. As always, she’s broken it down to make it super simple for beginner travel hackers! If you who have been following my travel hacking tips, you will be aware that I talk about British airways rewards (AVIOS) …
In case you missed this announcement in my weekly newsletter…. As many of you have already guessed, the exciting announcement I’ve been hinting at is a second baby! I’m 21 weeks pregnant with another baby boy!! 🙂 I went to the hospital last week for the second scan and was told he’s a healthy (and …
If you’re anything like me you’ll agree that travel and music go hand in hand. I can’t imagine a long journey without a great soundtrack and I love it went songs remind me of awesome travel memories. I can’t listen to the Of Monsters and Men album without thinking of snowy road trips through …
It’s been such a long time since I’ve put together a Weekend Reads post and I thought it was time to revive it. Since having George I’ve spent A LOT of time reading blogs and it’s turned out to the perfect way to keep me entertained during those long night feeds. Here’s what I’ve been …
I’m so excited to introduce you to the new Travel Hack Team! For nearly four years this blog has been a one-man-band and all of a sudden we’re a team of 10. I had over 280 applications to join the team. I was absolutely amazed that so many people were interested and I’d like to thank …
If you’re looking to plan a 5 day trip to Spain’s third-largest city then read on for my guide to Valencia. In today’s Valencia guide, you’ll find my full five-day itinerary and suggestions on places to eat, see and stay while you’re in the city. If you saw Sunday’s post then you will already know …
I’ve just returned from a weekend in Valencia and I’m still buzzing from the trip. It had everything I could possibly want from a weekend away; culture, history, art, shopping, great food and drink, affordable prices and easy flights. Everything about it was absolutely perfect and Valencia makes such a great city for a weekend …
If you’ve ever heard Budapest being described as a ‘fairytale city’ it’s because of this place; Fisherman’s Bastion. Fisherman’s Bastion is in Budapest’s Castle District located next to Matthias Church on the Buda side of the city. This gorgeous, neo-Gothic viewing platform is dramatically medieval looking and provides one of the best viewing spots …
Solo female travel is one of the hottest trends in the travel blogging community right now. I feel so proud to be part of a movement that encourages women to live out their travel dreams and not sit at home waiting for their perfect travel buddy to magically appear. Most of the time I don’t …
It’s been such a long time since I’ve written any kind of personal blog post so I thought a quick catch-up was long overdue! You may have noticed that last week was a worryingly quiet week on The Travel Hack. Just one post in 7 days. What on earth is going on!? Here’s what… Home, …
This is the second post in my new series about how you can travel more in 2015. If you missed it, here’s last weeks post: How to travel more with the 12 Trips Challenge. This week’s post is all about saving money for your travels and how simple lifestyle changes can have massive results. The …
Bilbao in Northern Spain is a perfect city for a relaxing weekend escape. It’s big enough to keep you entertained with the restaurants and cafes, the beautiful buildings and gorgeous scenery. The nightlife is great and of course there’s the incredible Guggenheim Museum which you won’t want to miss. There is plenty to do but …
I started using Blogger a couple of years ago when it was recommended to me by the online editor of my local paper. I happily set up the account without considering any other options and I created Total Travel Bug. This was a blog that followed my travels around the world and was featured on my …
I’m very excited to announce that I’m part of the Post Office Save More Squad! I feel like I’m on a really geeky superhero team! The Post Office is encouraging people to be more conscious with their spending so we’re able to save money with less effort. Sounds like my kind of saving! If you’re …
You all know how much I love Wales so I’m excited to have Bonnie Friend from the Good Hotel Guide share 10 of the best hotels in Wales. I live on the England/Wales border so, while I spend a lot of time in Wales, I don’t visit many hotels in Wales so Bonnie is here …
This post about tips for planning your holiday to Kerala has been sponsored by Kerala Tourism. If you’re planning a holiday to Kerala, or you’re still in the early stages of deciding whether Kerala is the holiday destination for you, then this is the blog for you! Today I’d like to share why Kerala …
If you’re looking for sustainable Christmas gift ideas for your loved ones this year then you’ve come to the right place! I love Christmas and, if I’m totally honest, I love all the excess and abundance of presents that comes with it! But what I don’t love is the waste and the cheap tat and …
Whether you’re visiting Rome for the first, second or seventh time, there are so many things to do in Rome I doubt even the locals have seen, visited or eaten everything on this list! They say Rome is the eternal city and I honestly think you could spend every day of your life in a …