I used to do it all the time. I’d scroll through my newsfeed and have to bite down a rising sense of envy as I saw that another one of my old school friends had taken off on some kind of once-in-a-lifetime travel adventure – or even just an incredible, sun-soaked two-week getaway. I’d reason …
Search results for: thailand
When was the last time you received a postcard? Go on, wrack your brains and think about it. I was about nine years old and it came from my neighbours who were on holiday in Spain. They sent the postcard because I was looking after their cat while they were away and I have a …
It’s been a while since I’ve done a monthly update here on The Travel Hack. I love reading other blogger’s monthly recaps so I’m not sure what happened to my own. I guess things get busy and priorities change and I forgot how important it is to share something more personal and unstructured on the …
I don’t know about you but I’m always searching for bucket list inspiration. I love it when I scroll through my social media feeds and stumble across something that makes me stop and think, ‘Wow, that looks incredible, I really want to do that!’ Chances are I’ll pause for a few seconds, maybe mention it …
I’ve always wanted to visit Thailand, but somehow I’ve always ended up booking holidays to other destinations, with Thailand sort of glaring at me from the top of my bucket list. The Philippines, however, was never on my radar. I wanted pristine white beaches, unspoiled islands where electricity is hard to come by, epic marine …
You asked for this one – my top travel tips and travel hacks – ever! When I tell people I’m a travel blogger the inevitable questions that follow (in this exact order) are: Where’s your favourite place What’s your top travel tip How do you make money? So it’s time to answer the questions on …
Taking time out to go travelling doesn’t have to mean taking a career break. There’s plenty of ways you can see the world and still further your career at the same time. I’m of the opinion that going travelling proves initiative and a willingness to expand your horizons, but I understand when people are reluctant …
Southeast Asia is one of the most affordable places in the world to grab a little luxury at a reasonable price. Five star hotels which you would pay hundreds of dollars a night for in cities such as London, Sydney or New York sell for a fraction of the price in cities in S.E. Asia. …
I had just spent 5 weeks at a fitness camp in Phuket, Thailand. My body was aching and I was in dire need of a rest, so I booked myself in for a few days of R&R at Layana Resort & Spa, Ko Lanta. Ko Lanta is one of the last remaining quiet spots in the Andaman …
How would you like free nights at a fabulous and luxurious hotel like the Marriott, Phuket in Thailand? Or how about free hotel nights in Costa Rica, perfect for nature lovers, scuba divers and beach lovers alike? Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to enter a competition or spend months (possibly years!) saving …
One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is along the lines of how and why I began blogging. Everyone has a different story as to why they started blogging and we’re all nosy by nature! So without further a do, here goes… I began blogging in 2009. It was a time when ‘professional …
Massive thanks to Jessica from The Belle Voyage for today’s post about immersing yourself into a new culture while you travel. It’s so easy to make the mistake of visiting a foreign country without ever leaving your own world. While there’s something to be said for crossing tourist attractions off your proverbial list, I think …
Backpacking is a style of travelling where you travel on a budget, usually for a couple of months or longer, with a very loose itinerary but often without any fixed plans or schedules. Backpacking is awesome. I’m more of a flashpacker these days but my heart still lies in this carefree travel style. But I …
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. …
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 …
“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 …
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 …
You’ve made the decision you want to travel more this year. You’ve realised experiences are more important than possessions and you’ve put together a plan to start saving for your next big trip. But how are you going to decide where to actually go? Budget and time will undoubtedly play a part in the decision making process but …
The more hotels I stay in, the more I appreciate quirky, unusual and exciting places to stay. Don’t get me wrong, I do love a luxurious 5* hotel but it’s the cool and quirky places I’ll remember for years to come. Here in the UK we have a lot of unusual glamping options – here …
There was a time when I loved being a backpacker. I thought of myself like a little turtle carrying all my worldly possessions as I travelled around Asia. I could quickly pack up my life and move onto the next destination without batting an eyelid. I’m currently travelling around Europe with Citadines and it reminds …
This is a luggage review for all the backpackers and adventurous travellers out there. I’ve recently been testing out the SMASHII Anti Theft Rucksack, a super secure backpack perfect for long-term backpackers and flashpackers. I’ve included flashpackers because as a self confessed flashpacker I know how many gadgets we have so we need somewhere safe …
Packing for Trek America can be tough because you feel like you need so much stuff – but you also need to keep your luggage light because you travel around so much. Predictably, I overpacked but learned a few Trek America packing lessons during my Westerner 2 trip. Hopefully this will make your Trek America …
Update: I’ve owned the Caribee Fast Track Wheeled Backpack for over a year now and I still love it. I test out a lot of backpacks and suitcases and this is still my favourite. I can’t recommend it enough for long journeys, backpacking or any trip where you need a large case! ********** For my last …
Here’s a random assortment of the questions I’m frequently asked. If you still have a burning question after reading through these then please get in touch. Where have you been? Hong Kong Thailand Cambodia Vietnam Laos Malaysia Indonesia Australia Tunisia Jamaica France Spain Belgium Sweden Morocco USA Canada Portugal Italy Copenhagen Russia Andorra South Africa The …
While I was travelling in Australia I spent six months working on a scuba diving island called Mackerel Island. Before this, I’d never intended to learn to scuba dive because: a) I’m a total wuss b) I’m not very good at swimming c) I’m scared of fish d) It’s expensive e) I hadn’t realised how …
London: A foodie adventure through East London with Eating London Food Tours They say the best way to get to know a country is through its food. Seeing how people eat and learning about the history of their food gives you a whole new insight into a country or city that you will never learn …
At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to visit an animal rehabilitation centre in South Africa. It was promoted on the fact that you get to pet a cheetah and after visiting Tiger Temple in Bangkok, where you get to pet tigers until your heart is content, I’m really not sure how I feel …
Everyone makes mistakes when they travel and I’ve made so many it would be impossible to recall them all. I do my best not to dwell on things or regret anything. I think as long as you learn from your mistakes it makes you a better traveller in the long run. Here are a few …
Almost everyone who visits Bangkok ends up going to Tiger Temple and most people aren’t entirely sure how they feel about it.
I’m Monica and I’m a British travel blogger. I began travel blogging in 2009 when I left the UK to travel for two years. I bought a backpack and a one-way ticket to Australia and had the most amazing 2 years of my life as I travelled through Asia and around Oz in a battered old …