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Tag: Travel advice

  • Making the Right Choice: Paid vs. Free Volunteering Abroad – Your Ultimate Guide

    Making the Right Choice: Paid vs. Free Volunteering Abroad – Your Ultimate Guide

    If you don’t know, volunteering is an opportunity to people to experience activities in a chosen field. It is essentially somewhere to learn skills, meet people, experience new things and most importantly, help the organisation with it’s activities.

    Over the last 20 years, there has been a large development in volunteering opportunities. Now we have the internet, you can find many opportunities or organisations online who are requiring volunteers in all types of fields. A lot of people use the volunteering method towards their education and gaining vital experience when looking to go into higher education (some education facilities use volunteering as extra credit) or gain the skills ready for a career in the field they are volunteering in. Or some people just want a change, to do something different.

    Across the world, there are so many opportunities now. I mean the options are endless… you can find a small donkey farm in Peru, go support marine wildlife off of the coast of Belize, build communities in rural Africa, house sit in east Europe or spend time with monks, or help out in a yoga sanctuary in Thailand.

    If you are looking to do some sort of volunteering, I do believe there is a field for you. It’s mostly about finding organisations that align with your goals. To make this easier, there are organisations who will help make this decision for you. They can support you in the process of finding a position, the application process, and even the time you spend out there.

    The amount of opportunity is a blessing, but also a bit of a curse… Even when looking for ourselves, we found so many opportunities that we were overwhelmed. When we were searching, we were set on Costa Rica but hadn’t found the right opportunity yet. There was so many to choose from!

    It got to the point where we had a few websites including Volunteer world where we had 4/5 opportunities, all with amazing benefits and we didn’t know which to choose. In the end we just decided on booking one of them through ‘process of elimination’, and we can tell you now it’s one of the best decisions we ever made.

    Our experience volunteering abroad

    Where do we start!!

    So I (Jack) booked our volunteering in Costa Rica. It was Aimee’s 21st birthday and we decided there was nothing better than being abroad, and Aimee wanted it to be something that we would never forget…

    I had all the pleasure (or pressure…) of booking Costa Rica and organising the whole trip (If you want to see how I organised it, I may do a whole section of the planned itinerary, how I planned it and what we decided to do!). So for the volunteering part, we had a week free to do volunteering, and as someone who has a large interest in animal conservation, there was only 1 real option for us to do! I mean this really worked with Aimee’s favourite animal being the Sloth so I made sure we could see Sloth’s there as that was the number 1 priority!

    We also had to take into consideration the price it would cost for the activity, and what we got in return. This is a huge factor when making the decision as each organisation offer different incentives when volunteering.

    As I got to work, I first decided to look for companies that provided the best opportunities for volunteering on the island. During this research, I found a few including Volunteering World, Volunteer HQ, World Packers and more! I would look through these websites and see what type of volunteering opportunities there was!

    My main criteria was to look for roles where the organisation is animal-friendly and ethical. It’s important for the organisation to look after the animal, and to have programme’s to support the wildlife through releasing them back into the wild and giving rehabilitation.

    As I mentioned, there are a few opportunities in Costa rica that offered this, so I decided to choose one where would could get involved with learning more about the animals and the role having a good variation of responsibility!

    We also had to take into consideration the location of the organisation so it aligned with the itinerary we had planned outside the volunteering. We had plans to visit the west side of the country so it was important to find the right location as we only had 16 days planned in Costa Rica!

    If you don’t know already, Costa Rica is mainly luscious, green forest which is so rich in wildlife. Therefore, there are so many opportunities to help with Animal conservation. We looked at re-wilding programs, short stay farms which looked after farm animals and stray dogs, and marine animals (mainly turtles, as baby turtle releasing is a huge importance in Costa Rica)!

    To be the most efficient, we decided on staying somewhat local to the main capital city, San Jose, which limited any additional travel and kept us close to the activities once we had completed the volunteering.

    We mainly found the best and most affordable opportunities on Volunteerworld, which we would recommend to use when looking for any volunteering worldwide.

    I managed to narrow it down to 3/5 organisations and finally did some last research on how they operate and what animals they had, and came to the decision on Rescate. Rescate is one of the biggest organisations in the country and world alongside the government to protect wildlife areas and protected species from and poaching or endangerment. You can find a more in-depth recount of our experience of Rescate here.

    At the time (December 2022), Rescate cost £450 a week per person which included 5 days of weekly activities – which was roughly 5-6 hours a day, teaching and learning opportunities, accommodation, breakfast, lunch & dinner. For us, it was a steal and it really didn’t disappoint.

    Let’s just say that it’s our favourite experience ever and one we are excited to come back to one day. We loved every second of it and made amazing memories, met some lifelong friends, and learned a lot about what this amazing organisation does for animals across Costa Rica. To learn more on our experience, visit our blog here to see more!!

    Choosing the right opportunity for you is probably the most important thing for you. it shapes your whole experience, and we are so grateful for what we did and would 100% recommend the same!

    So.. what’s the difference between paid and unpaid volunteering, what does it include and what’s best for me? All these are understandable questions and ones you need to answer when making an informed decision on what’s best for you.

    Cost of volunteering abroad?

    The cost is probably the second most important filter when looking to volunteer, only beaten by what the actual field or opportunity is.

    Nonetheless it is such an imperative factor to consider, and will have a large impact on which opportunity you decide. The cost really does vary.. from free to thousands for a week- the cost really can vary!

    Even though we are all looking for the best price for volunteering, it’s important to note that this may affect the experience you will get from it. If you are looking for a cheap/free volunteering, then you can’t expect to have a similar experience to one that’ll cost thousands.

    It is best to have a budget of what you can afford and timeframe of how long you want to do it for before looking into opportunities. If your budget is £500 per week and you are looking to go for 1 month. There’s no point looking at opportunities that cost £1,000 a month and have a minimum duration of 3 months.

    For paid activities you need to compare what you are getting for the cost. It’s likely you have a sector of volunteering that you are looking at, so it’s best to compare different websites and different organisations. It’s important to note that some comparison websites don’t always offer the same volunteering opportunities that others do, so it’s always best to compare the websites first!

    Individual organisations would typically offer volunteering opportunities on their own website, but these tend to be larger organisations who offer premium volunteering opportunities, and have a larger following. These will be ran by professionals who will have set itineraries for the projects at hand. The opportunities are likely to provide a more hands on approach to the sector you volunteer in, and will likely be for longer periods.

    We would look at the reasons of why you are looking to volunteer.. if you are looking to develop your career in a specific field then it makes sense to invest into more. But if you want to experience something new, and just want to experience new cultures and meet new people, it doesn’t matter too much on the project as long as it has the basics.

    The prices for these, when compared to other types of projects, might seem extortionate but are more tailored to people who are looking to develop their already learned skills in this area for employment or educational purposes. This is not to say that you cannot get involved in these projects if you aren’t looking at this sector for a career.

    What do I get from the opportunity?

    Each organisation and project will offer something different. There are so many different aspects of volunteering that every experience would be different. Whether it’s the activities, location, people, learning opportunities, or food!

    To find the most suitable opportunity for you, you really need to figure out what you want to gain from it. As mentioned above, there is so many different opportunities, so it’s imperative to narrow your search to what is important to you. It could be good facilities, good location, the social opportunities, what you can learn- it could be a mixture of a few of these.

    Knowing this will help to hone in the types of projects that would best fit what you are looking for. After all, you want to get the most out of it, as you are committing a lot of time, energy and potentially money for this.

    When researching, it can be quite difficult to find free opportunities. They aren’t as easy to locate and often covered by the thousands of paid volunteering opportunities online. However, there are a few ways to contact organisations or find filters for only free volunteering roles so you can see the opportunities you have.

    I would recommend to keep your expectations low. Not because the opportunities aren’t amazing, because some of them aren’t really worth it. You have to remember that these opportunities are free and anything that is provided (accommodation, food, activities) will cost the organisation time, money, and resources. This is important to consider as organisations are less likely to offer many volunteering add-ons when it’s free. If parts of the experience is included, like accommodation, it’s unlikely to be high quality, more so the standard basic amenities.

    For people who haven’t volunteered before, we would recommend to stay somewhere you are comfortable. If you haven’t stayed in hostels or aren’t well travelled, we wouldn’t recommend trying something too far outside your comfort zone- like volunteering in the mountains of Kenya living in little huts. Who knows, you may thrive in this environment, but it’s a world away from what you are used to.

    Each free volunteering opportunity is different. Some may offer some food and accommodation included, but some may require you to stay at local homestays to volunteer. In our research, there seems to be a larger dispersion in benefits for unpaid opportunities.

    Paid volunteering is slightly different. As we have researched the opportunities in the animal conservation sector, it is best suited for us to use this as an example. We have researched into companies such as Blue Venture who we have followed for quite a few years now. Initially, they only had 3 locations (Belize, Madagascar & Timor-Leste) but have now expanded to many locations across the globe.

    At first glance, rates are a lot higher than most opportunities in the same field. However, they offer a premium service allowing volunteers to support on research-based projects which other smaller organisations may not provide. For someone who is looking to become a marine biologist, or wants to study/build a career in a similar field, this is perfect and can be vital experience moving forward. However, for people who just want to learn new skills, and venture outside their comfort zone, this may not be the opportunity for you.

    The days will be set in a specific format and more likely be flexible for what you are interested in. You will also be given more opportunity and responsibility.

    This is why they are such a good fit for students, if you are looking to study coral reefs, you can find a marine conservation opportunity with a company which would help develop your understanding further and help gain imperative knowledge in that field. Not only this, but it’s a good start to building relations with people who are in a field of interest for you moving forward. Who knows, you may do 3 months worth of volunteering and get offered a role to stay out there. It’s not unheard of!

    There are a lot of opportunities that are almost in between the two opportunities we have detailed above. Somewhere between the premium volunteering and free volunteering, sits small to medium organisations that usually offer a few benefits including accomodation, activities and sometimes food in return of roughly £200 to £1,000 a week.

    This normally comes with more amenities than what the unpaid volunteering does, but doesn’t offer the premium learning resources and developments that more expensive opportunities provide.

    Just like our volunteering in Costa Rica, you are given basic but affective benefits like a dorm room, shared washing and kitchen facilities etc. The costs of the volunteering is used for the up keep of these amenities so that the organisation isn’t monetarily affected by its volunteering program.

    From our experience of participating in and researching activities for these types of projects, you are given a varied option for responsibility and learning opportunity.

    When we volunteered, we were able to speak with the project leaders and inform them of the activities we enjoyed most, and they would structure the week based on this. For Jack, he enjoyed monitoring animal behaviours and spending time building enrichment for the animals. Aimee on the other hand preferred something a lot more creative, and therefore helping towards photography, and painted a mural within the volunteering accommodation! This really helped us hone in our skills and preferences when volunteering to get the most enjoyment and learning from the experience.

    Location

    Location is important to consider.. regardless of if you know where you want to go or not.

    Some people know the exact location they want to go and it’s non negotiable. For some people they will have already booked their trip and/or currently travelling and will be in this location, or maybe it’s a bucket list place they want to visit. Other people maybe open to see what’s available!

    Whatever your reason for the location that you are looking to choose, the options and availability will be reflected. In some places, you may be limited to what opportunities are available. For instance, if you have decided Thailand is the country you want to do volunteering in, then you are more likely to be required to pay for the experience. As not many experiences in the country are free (especially if you are looking for a specific type of volunteering)!

    Being more flexible for location will create for more options for organisations to work with. Who knows, you might be set on a location but find the perfect opportunity in a different location. Therefore, it’s always good to keep your options open and assess what’s available to you. It’s likely that the perfect location with the perfect opportunity doesn’t exist… so be flexible!

    There are places that are more expensive than others. For instance volunteering in cities is likely to be more expensive than rural areas, and it can be the same for expensive countries versus poor countries. I mean everyone would love to do the world famous elephants in Thailand, or release baby turtles in the Caribbean sea, and don’t forget the big 5 in Africa! But there will be less demand for alpacas in the mountains of Argentina, or the dogs in east Europe. Yes the opportunity is very different and may not meet what you are looking to gain from the experience, but you need to find a good balance if you don’t have a large budget- or any budget for that matter!

    We would recommend to always keep some flexibility, regardless of what your budget is. Even if you are set on one country, it’s best to have flexibility to where in the country as what you are looking for may not be possible. You might then decide to split your experience into two trips, or design it in other ways. If you want to visit the gold coast in Australia, and want to do whale conservation for a 1 month duration. You may be required to do 2 weeks in Indonesia for the whale conservation and take a trip down to the Gold coast for the remaining 2 weeks.

    If you are set on a location and activity, it’s likely that it will be paid volunteering so be prepared. You are only limited to that area so try to be open with the different types of volunteering in the area as no all types of volunteering is in each country.

    However, if you are flexible, we would always recommend to look at free or cheaper volunteering opportunities as there are so many to choose from and have so many cool benefits!!

    Beyond just research on comparison websites, there are other ways of looking for volunteering opportunities – we think this is something that deserves a blog on it’s own.

    Conclusion

    We think that both paid and free conservation has amazing opportunities in their own right! It all really depends on your budget and preferences. Budget can always limit your options but even if you have a budget, we would always look at some of the lower cost opportunities as they can offer a more tailored experience to you than more expensive ones.

    You really need to decide what you are looking to get from the experience, and work out what the industry standard is. Like we say, some experiences are more expensive than others. However, there are always budget options so keep your eyes peeled for so good offers and cool projects that will definitely change your perspective.

    If you are looking to develop yourself- such as gaining expert knowledge for education, career or just to develop your skills, then the better opportunities will likely be the larger companies/more expensive projects. This isn’t always the case, but the majority will be. We would focus on companies that offer bespoke volunteering towards whatever the main drive for you is. If you are looking to be a biologist, we would focus on finding organisations that will offer developments and learning to help enhance your experience, to get the most out of the project. If you are a good volunteer, they might give you more responsibility, and who knows, it could be a place return to!

    No matter which you choose, we would both majorly recommend divulging in volunteering as a way to experience the world, you will learn a lot about the place you go, the work you do, and it will develop your skills and understanding so much in such a short time. We have only experienced one so far but we are definitely going to explore more opportunities and join more volunteering opportunities in the future.

    If you enjoyed this blog post, be sure to subscribe, like the post and let us know what your plans are for volunteering in the future. Also, if you do have any questions, do let us know and we would be happy to show our insights!

    We are planning on posting most days and will giving our tips and tricks on how to travel well, on a budget, and get the most out of your experience!

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  • The BEST Foods to Eat in Thailand!

    The BEST Foods to Eat in Thailand!

    Thailand is renowned for it’s all round experience and beauty. It’s a country full of endless possibilities- and therefore is one of the most popular travel spots across the globe.

    When speaking to people who have previously visited, the food is one topic no one forgets to mention! The vibrant flavours are not to be missed.

    Here we have compiled a list of the best foods you MUST try in Thailand! There are so many to choose from so be sure to try them all…

    Thai Omelette

    This is one we had to start on! When travelling Thailand, it was by far Jack’s favourite dish. So much so it was his breakfast EVERYDAY (this is no exaggeration).

    The best part about this dish is the pure simplicity it has. We mean there’s not much to the dish, it’s fried rice with an omelette on top. You can choose to have a veggie, chicken, pork omelette etc, but Jack’s choice was always vegetable.

    It’s just a great way to start a day; and is perfect for breakfast. The crazy part is that the dish is always one of the cheapest items on the menu so you don’t have to spend a lot (so always budget friendly)!

    Pad Thai

    This is known to be one of the most popular dishes people in eat when visiting Thailand. This dish is the perfect balance between salty, sweet and sour, and one we would never get bored of.

    Again, this is one of the cheaper options to eat in Thailand. There are so many varieties on the dish, with most meat and vegetables alternatives available.

    Please be aware that this dish is usually served with a side of chillis and crushed peanuts- so if you do have an allergy, please take precaution.

    Mango Sticky Rice

    Now this is a combination that to many people is weird, including us! And that’s why we never tried it. Seems like a combination of food that would never go!

    However, we have spoken with many people who have dared to try the dish, and say that it is one you should not miss! The sweetness of the mango, with the coconut covered sticky rice is supposed to be a perfect mix.

    Even though we haven’t tried it (yet), it will be top of the list once we go travelling! And I’m sure it will be a meal we revisit regularly.

    Pad See Ew

    This traditional Thai dish commonly consists flat rice noodles, cooked in an array of spices and flavours.

    This is not a dish that either of us have tried, but is a popular dish to have when visiting Asia. It’s a soy-based dish, and one that we have been recommended many times.

    This is definitely added to our to-try list once we go back!

    Panang Curry

    The Panang curry is one of the most popular Thai curries. It’s perfectly spiced, and usually on the hotter side when it comes to heat. It’s infused with red chillies, and is a saucy curry- which is always perfect to mop up with a side of bread.

    Like most of Thai food, it comes with most meats, and can come with veggie alternatives, but our favourite would be chicken or tempeh!

    It’s definitely one of those meals that you need to eat at a traditional restaurant to make the most of the rich flavours that the dish has!

    Massaman Curry

    This is another Thai curry dish you can’t miss out on. The massaman curry is heavily rich in flavour, and is usually accompanied by tender meats like a lamb shank or chicken. It is typically less spicy than some others leaving it good for even the more sensitive pallets!

    The dish for us is best served with beef, and with soft and soaked potatoes in the massaman broth-like sauce (it’s making our mouths water already)! As the same as a lot of dishes in Thailand, it is cooked with coconut milk giving it a sweet taste and fish sauce giving it a sour tinge.

    This dish really does encapsulate the rich flavours of traditional Thai food and one we couldn’t recommend enough.

    We honestly could of kept naming Thai dishes as there is so many to choose from. They are so rich in flavour and spices.

    There is no wonder Thai food is named one of the best cuisines in the world for taste, and something you can only fully experience when visiting Thailand.

    We would always give any Thai food a try, as it’s all freshly made and have never disappointed!

    We cannot wait to visit again and eat their luscious foods (and we will 100% be trying the mango sticky rice this time)!

    Please let us know your favourite Thai foods and inform us if we missed any off of the list that are a must-try!

    Like this post? We have also made a South of Thailand travel guide which you can find here.

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  • The BEST Apps to use for Travelling

    The BEST Apps to use for Travelling

    Travelling can be scary. There is a lot of things to consider and organise before making the leap of faith and getting on that plane. However, not many think about the importance of downloading the right apps on your phone for every situation.

    The apps you download will help you in many scenarios- and may get you out of some sticky situations!

    The apps we recommend will be ones we have used while travelling and we will give our own experiences; and why they are so important for you! There are many apps available and used for travel, so it’s good to have a place where you can download the best ones ready for your trip!

    We have compiled our top applications you MUST download to help you travel!

    *This post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission. However, all opinions are genuine and our own.

    Hostel World

    Hostel world is definitely the first app we would download. When you are travelling to new places, one of the most important decisions is where you are going to stay. This decision can be the difference between enjoy your time in one place or not!

    We understand that not everyone is looking to stay in hostels, and may want to stay in private accommodation when travelling- but the majority will be looking to cut back on spending and stay in hostels! Plus, some hostels do offer private rooms!

    The app is the go-to place to find all the best hostels (with reviews) and is quick and easy to book. You can access all the best hostels anywhere in the world within seconds, and it is very flexible.

    If you stay at a hostel/accommodation that you don’t like, you can easily find a quick alternative at a good price. This provides a good comfort to knowing this is possible.

    If you forgot to book accommodation, or met someone on the same flight as you and wanted to change your stay, you can do it within minutes with no hassle!

    Hostel World now also has more app features that make meeting people easier, and will help you to connect with people in the local area/within your hostel! Find the link here.

    Currency

    This is a MUST download for travellers! Especially people who are looking to travel for a long time.

    When we go travelling, it always gets confusing when changing currencies and figuring out how much stuff costs. I mean in one country some foods are £2-£3 per main meal where others are £20!

    Working out how much you are paying is always something travellers struggle with. When you are bouncing around different countries, you just can’t keep up. We are the same!

    This currency converter app allows you to check within seconds how much something costs based on your home currency. All you have to do is select your currency and choose between the hundreds of currency’s and then type in the amount you want.

    You can also save the currencies so if you are to go back to a location, you can easily access it!

    This is perfect for travelling because if you know your route, you can easily set all the currencies of the countries you are to visit. So once you land, you can instantly see the exchange rate.

    I mean, the last thing you want to do is be stuck awkwardly trying to Google the exchange rate while trying to pay a bill. This app has it covered for you!! It can also be used OFFLINE so is a real winner.

    World Packers

    World Packers is a great way to lower costs, experience personal interests, and travel the world! This app is unique by offering accommodation and other amenities in exchange for volunteering or work.

    Now.. this could be in any niche you like. For instance, if you are an avid animal lover, you could easily find yourself staying and volunteering with wildlife with free accommodation and food in exchange for your time. A majority of the positions are hospitality based, but there is a range! Especially if you have unique skill sets (such as photography or social media).

    This is an amazing way for people to gain experience and learn more about the world without spending extortionate amounts!

    World Packers offer an annual subscription for roughly £40 which would be so worth it even if you did only 1 world packers trip a year! There is also an option to get a ‘couple’ membership, in which you can apply to opportunities as a couple, instead of a solo traveler.

    Airalo

    There’s nothing worse than landing in your next travel location and not having data. You can’t check Google maps, order transport to your accommodation- or for the more unprepared, even book your accommodation!

    It really can be a struggle, and something people often forget about when planning for a new destination! Especially if you are from Europe- most phone providers offer free data across Europe so we often don’t have to think about it!

    Airola is a great app to get cheap data through an E-sim. This removes any issue of finding a provider in the new country you have just landed in as you have it on your phone! Plus no hassle of changing sims, as its all done from within your phone!

    The app is easy to use and you can add top-ups whenever you are running out of data, and they also now offer bespoke packages dependant on the country (and even continent) you are in!

    You can sort out your data with a few clicks of a button, it’s that easy! Click here for more information

    Rome2Rio

    This is the perfect app that is needed for any travel scenario! Even holidays!

    Whether you are looking to make your way to a historical monument halfway across the city, or moving to a different city entirely- Rome2Rio is there to tell you all the ways you can do it.

    The app breaks it down for you and shows you the cost of each mode of transport, and the expected times it will take you. So if you are in a rush, or happy to take the scenic route, you can make that decision easily!

    The variety provided is surprising! If there’s a possible route, it will be given. Car, bus, plane, boat and more.. This works especially well when travelling as you may be able to get a boat/ferry for a lot cheaper than flying or getting a car!

    We made the most of this in Philippines which can be super expensive due to the amount of islands they have!

    Google Translate

    There will be many times where you are attempting to communicate with locals on what to eat, where to go, or just to ask a general question.

    In countries like Thailand you may get away with it, as they probably has some sort of knowledge of English. It seems like a lot of people around the world know at least the basics of English.

    However, when you get into less travelled areas, like villages or rural towns, this may become much harder.

    We all know in life it’s hard to learn a language, and when you are travelling, it’s near impossible to learn multiple for your trip. So, how are you going to communicate?

    Google translate is a great app that can be used to pick up the basics like hello, how are you, thank you etc. You can also use it to take photos of menus or signs where it will translate it for you!

    The great part of this is that it can be used offline so when you are in the middle of nowhere, you are still able to translate and communicate with locals or read any signs in the area!

    Having all these apps will have you covered whether you are going on holiday or have a year trip across a few continents! When you are travelling you will come across many issues, whether it’s transport, language, data, accommodation, currency- they can all be solved through these apps.

    This will be sure to stop any sticky situations from occurring and allow you to travel (somewhat) carefree for your travels. Because after all, there will be issues during travel, but the aim is to minimise these issues.

    These are the 6 apps we would always download and save in “the travel essentials“ corner of our phones!

    One honourable mention would be an app like grab which is a taxi-like app but is only used in select countries!

    If you enjoyed this blog and want to see more travel blogs and inspirational places, be sure to subscribe to the blog for daily uploads!

    Any travel questions? Do let us know and we would always be happy to help!

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  • This is why YOU should travel in 2024!

    This is why YOU should travel in 2024!

    In life there isn’t many things that you ‘should’ do. I mean we learn the simple things in life like brushing our teeth, going to school, or even paying taxes as important things (that are just apart of life). Everyone’s definition is personal to themselves depending on preference- how they were brought up or where they are in life. Some people (like me) would include some variance of exercise as a non-negotiable in life – with others deeming praying as a non-negotiable.

    Everyone is different and that’s the beauty of life. We all have different desires and that’s what makes us human!

    Travel isn’t just the art of visiting a new place and seeing what it offers; I mean that’s just the 2 dimensional view of what it is. Everyone posts photos on Instagram and sees a short snippet of what someone’s trip is like, whether it’s them on a cruise, or in-front of the Eiffel Tower, or at base camp on Mount Everest. People just see the snapshot of that moment. But travelling is far from that.

    It’s the comparison of seeing a successful business but just seeing the successful part. Or the tip of the iceberg if you will. It’s the bit underneath the waters which people don’t see, and more importantly, don’t recognise. This is the part that makes it all worth it.

    A lot of people don’t get to experience travelling, which for us is a sad revelation. To us, travelling is an essential part of life. It’s something I would recommend to people above most things… That does sound crazy really, but what you get out of it can change your life, or at least your perspective. It can teach you things that you weren’t even searching the answers for.

    Change your perspective

    Travelling, especially to different parts of the world, will give you a new perspective. The way people live is the complete opposite to our everyday life. It’s not something you can fully understand until you see it in person, until you live it. Films and stories can only capture a small corner of what life is really like.

    You realise that these people really cherish the small things in life, and I mean some things that we don’t even consider. Something as simple as a new face they haven’t seen before, or just some fresh fruit can be enough to ignite a deep smile in someone’s face.

    Think about all the stresses we have in life? We go to work and we worry about not handing in our work on time.. or worry about studying and not getting the grades we want.. but these are things we should be grateful that we have the opportunity to do. Both of us were privileged enough to have the option to attend University, with Jack getting a masters & Aimee deciding to leave due to not finding the right degree for her career. We are both lucky to be in the position to study, earn and live in the country we do, as most people in the world don’t have this opportunity.

    From our travels, I remember a boat trip in the Philippines where we visited the last island of our boat tour and it was as scenic as the rest and looked like it was pulled straight from Hollywood. It had the perfectly clear blue waters, white sanded beaches, thick greens forest with large rock formations as a scenic background to the perfect island. Here, we met locals who lived on the island.. What did they eat? What did they do? How did they survive? As there wasn’t much there at all; but this was their home.

    Their little corner of paradise was all they needed. They greeted us with great big smiles like we were old friends, and we communicated through the simple English they have picked up by speaking with foreigners before us. We spent 1 hour on this island where we played a game of beach volleyball as the sun set on the horizon (which we won by the way!!). After we collapsed on the beach to enjoy our last snippet of their paradise which they were happy to share with us.

    People back home can take offence when you smile at them, but here we are friends.

    There is nothing like meeting people from different backgrounds. Even the most unexpected people may teach you some life lessons which will stick with you and change your perspective. It really humbles your ego and creates an awareness that we are all the same, no matter our path in life. This is an experience we know many people haven’t experienced and one that many people would majorly benefit from.

    Who knows, this new perspective may be what you are searching for, or the push you needed to pursue the dream you always had but weren’t aware of.

    Enjoy the little things

    We are so submerged in our everyday lives of social media and work, we truly do forget some of the best things in life. Even the simplicity of enjoying time with family, or with a loved one. Away from phones and TVs. This is something we don’t allow ourselves to have, as our brains are constantly stimulated and we ‘need’ to keep our brains occupied. A recent issue we have seen is that with using apps including Instagram & Tiktok, people constantly scroll, and there is too much stimulation constantly, and little attention span.

    Sometimes it’s nice to put down these devices, switch them off and take some time for yourself to be with whatever you want to be with. A memory that stays with us is waking up (absurdly early) at 4/5 am in Costa Rica and going for a long walk around the sanctuary; taking in the morning skies and lively animals before our day started. Phones were placed deep in our pockets and we wandered – with no time constraints – and immersed ourselves in the sounds of exotic birds squawking and the rustling of bushes from mammals scurrying from the sound of our footsteps.

    This experience is a portion of the day we really made the most of and is one not many people did at the sanctuary.

    When travelling, it’s important to really immerse yourself in the activity/location you are in to really get the most of the experience. Sometimes, the simplest of activities, no matter how small they are, can have a long-lasting impact.

    Now that we are back in our home country, I still listen out for birds calling and still get satisfaction from the musical sounds that I hear. Sometimes life gets hard – even now as I am writing this – I’ve had a rather tough day but as I was leaving work all I could hear was warm calls from birds. The sound created a nostalgic feeling, one that put a smile on my face and gave me the kick I really needed. Sometimes, it really is the simple things in life that can matter the most.

    New Cultures

    This is probably the most obvious to people who are looking to travel. As we know, all countries have varying experiences, and ways of living. Therefore, we all have rituals that differ and create distinct cultures, and the only way we can experience others, is to engage in it.

    In some cultures, it is deep-rooted beliefs that have existed for generations. If we think of the simple examples of Mexico, and their Dia De Los Muertos festival (The Day of the Dead Festival) or the Chinese New Year festival, these are both engrained in their culture and something they take good pride in when celebrating.

    It’s a great way to educate yourself on new cultures and beliefs to learn more about yourself, and what you believe in or celebrate. It’s important to celebrate the important things in life, and a lot of travellers get involved in cultural celebrations to show respect and gratitude towards the people or culture who celebrate.

    This is the perfect way to enrich your life experiences and understand different perspectives which will help us grow.

    Meet new people

    A lot of people (especially in today’s age), really struggle when meeting people. It can be a daunting idea to meet new people- and when we are in the comfort of our own home, it is easier to say no and stay in this comfort. If you have found the courage to travel and commit to such an enthralling journey, then meeting people will be something you will have little choice in doing.

    When you travel, you are likely to meet people who are more alike to you than back home. These people you meet while travelling will have similar interests to you as you will meet them in places YOU choose to visit. If you are up a mountain, you probably like hiking- and so does the rest of the group you are hiking with!

    This is the perfect place to meet new people and form some amazing bonds to create some unforgettable memories with.

    These people will also teach you a lot as well! They will take you outside your comfort zone by introducing you to new places, activities & people which you may not have experienced if you didn’t meet them.

    You will meet people who have done some extraordinary things and it may motivate you to find some extraordinary things to do also. Who knows, the people you meet might push you to sky dive even if you are afraid of heights. And doing things like this – outside our comfort zone – will only help us grow and improve as people.

    Travelling is a gift

    The thought of travelling is one that will never change, it’s something inside that will always burn bright in us. We couldn’t recommend travelling enough as we know that you will come back a new person (that’s if you come back)! There is so much to learn in this world, whether it’s new people, cultures, places, languages.

    As you may already know, Jack has the ambition to visit every country. We are so excited to explore and learn about each countries way of living and what it has to offer.

    If you really are unsure of travelling and somehow this blog wasn’t able to persuade you, the check out our other blog ‘Do I want to travel‘. This blog includes some important questions to ask yourself which we hope it helps to answer that big important question.

    Please do subscribe to our Blog as we post daily blogs talking all things travel!

    If you do want to follow our journey, you can follow @ourtwostepstart on our Social Media’s below:

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  • Ultimate Backpacker’s Travel Bucket List for Hanoi: Unveiling Hidden Gems and Must-See Sights in Vietnam!

    Ultimate Backpacker’s Travel Bucket List for Hanoi: Unveiling Hidden Gems and Must-See Sights in Vietnam!

    Hanoi is one of the most popular city destinations in South East Asia for backpackers to visit, however it can become overwhelming to see everything as the city never sleeps! We found the best way to make the most of our stay in Hanoi is by creating a checklist, including places to visit in Hanoi.

    Compiling our checklist of Hanoi things to do doesn’t just allow us to see everything the city has to offer, but also tailors it to what we enjoy and the activities we are most interested in. We could also plan our days dependant on everything we wanted to see and where each activity was in terms of location. If you need help planning your trip, check this post here!

    When travelling, you usually have a limited time in each place so it’s best to have a rough guide to hand so you can get the most out of your stay.

    So, we did the research and came up with the best experiences in Hanoi and have provided it for you to see below!

    *This post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission. However, all opinions we share are genuine and our own.

    Top things to do in Hanoi

    Walk Across Train Street

    Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

    Hanoi Night Market

    Hoa Lo Prison Historical Relic

    Visit Hoan Kiem Lake

    Try an Egg Coffee

    Vietnam Military History Museum

    The Quang Phu Cau Incense Village

    Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum

    Try Banh Mi

    These 10 activities will immerse you in the cities culture and let you see the best of what Hanoi has to offer!

    Best place to stay in Hanoi?

    For your trip to Hanoi, we would highly recommend this hostel here. This was one of the best hostels we stayed in within Southeast Asia, for it’s low price, but high quality features. It was extremely spacious and clean, with a lot of personal space and great attention to detail. Everyone was so friendly, and the location was central- perfect for exploring!

    You can follow our travel journey through subscribing to our blog for daily uploads!

    We also upload to our Social Medias so check them out below!!

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  • How to spend 4 perfect days in Paris – Full Paris Travel Guide.

    How to spend 4 perfect days in Paris – Full Paris Travel Guide.

    Known as the city of love, this French capital is bursting with amazing things to do and see. Perfect for last minute vacations, or to find amazing luxury hotels of world, or even to just see lots of tourist attractions, Paris has it all.

    We visited in February 2023, and it was such a beautiful trip! We visited over Valentine’s Day, and we did have such an amazing time. We were spoilt for choice with activities, and things to do, so we still couldn’t fit in everything we wanted in a 4 day period!

    We couldn’t find many blog posts that shared a variety of activities, and things to do, so we have decided to make our full comprehensive guide, to help others in the same situation! We will share the best places to visit in Paris, the best tourist places in Paris, what to eat here and more!

    *This post includes affiliate links, where we might earn a small commission, however all opinions are genuine and our own.

    How long should I stay in Paris?

    This is such a tricky question, because there isn’t really a right or wrong answer. Due to being such a famous capital, along with the location, the prices are not cheap… This definitely isn’t a fully budget friendly spot!

    We would suggest if you have a flexible budget, to aim for roughly 4/5 days, including room to go to Disneyland Paris (if this is of interest to you). With this you can focus on a lot more sightseeing, alongside seeing some more unique places to visit!

    However, if you are on a tighter budget, we would recommend a 2 day break (maybe just a weekend getaway), so you can still see your most important highlights, but you aren’t having to worry as much about the costs around you! Sadly, money doesn’t stretch far in Paris.

    When to visit Paris?

    This again is very much down to preference. We would mostly suggest the spring and autumn months, due to the crowds being slightly smaller, but the weather being a lot more pleasant! Prices always increase around holidays so this would help with keeping a lower budget!

    Quick facts about Paris

    Currency : Euro €. We found card usage extremely easy here, and didn’t once handle cash!

    Data while abroad : We used international roaming, which was part of our sim-contracts in the UK (most providers offer this so check with your contract).

    SIM card : If you do not have roaming opportunities, you can buy an e-sim from as little as $4.50! We usually use Airalo which you can find here. They also offer a Europe-wide sim starting from $5, so we will link this here for those backpacking around Europe!

    Closures : Paris is known to have some different opening hours/days. Most shops are open Monday – Saturday from 9am to 7pm, however some smaller shops have limited (or none) opening hours on Mondays. Most museums are also closed on Tuesdays. In the lesser touristic areas, a lot more places (including restaurants) are closed on Sundays.

    Transport : There is some great transport options, with the metro being something we used heavily. Just make sure you are getting the right tickets, as we thought we’d found a great discount, which turned out to be the wrong ticket (and we got charged)

    Where should I stay in Paris?

    This trip we were lucky enough to stay with a friend of Jacks, however Paris is full of options for accommodation!

    We are huge advocates of hostels, due to the lower costs, the access to social areas, and generally have found the experience a lot more enjoyable!

    We will share 3 hostels below, for those who like a budget-option, those who like some privacy, and those who want to be in the centre of the city!

    Hostels:

    The budget traveler – Jo&Joe. This hostel is honestly such a great value for money, with dorms starting from only £19. They do offer all-female dorms also if this is something you would be interested in! There is an option for a ‘private space’ from only £24. There is lockers and USB ports within your accommodation, and you can get breakfast included as an option whilst booking! This hostel is on the outskirts of Paris, and the centre can be easily accessed by a train. Find this hostel here!

    The Private Room – We chose this accommodation for it’s great location, the Plug Inn Montmartre by Hiphophostels is a great private option! These private rooms have private bathrooms (which isn’t always a guarantee when visiting regular hostels), and has an impressive location, being only 3 minutes away from the Sacré Coeur, and 2 minutes from the Moulin Rouge. This option is more pricey, being around £90 a night, with the addition of a damage deposit being required. You can find this hostel here.

    The Central Option – Being only a rough 20 minutes walk from the Eiffel Tower, this hostel is great for being central, whilst not breaking the bank! The 3 Ducks offers dorm rooms from only around £33, and fun fact- this hostel is the oldest in the whole of France! You can pay additionally for breakfast whilst booking, alongside offering free wifi, maps of Paris, safety boxes and aircon. They offer live music, due to being attached to a bar, so is great for social travellers! Find this central hostel here.

    Best places to visit in Paris

    Museums

    The Louvre – Home to the Mona Lisa, the Louvre is a world-renowned museum that is a must visit for Paris trips. With entry from €22, there is some budget options here! For the first Friday of the month, after 6pm, visitors can have free entry! There is also free admission for under 18’s, under 25 year old residents of the European Economic Area, and Disabled visitors, Art teachers, journalists etc, with valid proof. This museum is very big, so we suggest leaving a lot of free time to explore! Also be ready to walk a lot! We suggest this museum towards the start of your trip, when you have more energy!

    The Centre Pompidou – Being home to the largest modern art collection in Europe, the Centre Pompidou is a cool museum to explore. The architecture is unique, and is known to be a massively revolutionary museum of it’s kind. Tickets start from roughly €15, and they offer reduced tickets €12. On the first Sunday of the month, admission to the permanent collection, and the Galerie des enfants is free for all visitors. This museum is a great for modern art lovers, however it might not be everyones cup of tea.

    Musée D’Orsay – Sadly, we never found time for this amazing museum, but we still had to include it! Housed in a train station, this museum hosts an impressive collection of artwork, from artists such as Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet and Toulous-Lautrec. It also holds sculptures and a range of arts from the art nouveau era. Admission is €16, with a reduced fee of €12 on Thursdays from 6pm. The first Sunday monthly is free admissions for all visitors, however booking is necessary. There is also free tickets for those with disabilities (with a carer), those under 18, and EU Citizens under 25.

    Musée des Arts Décoratifs – Housing a large textile collection, for fashion-lovers keep an eye on this spot! We recommend checking their exhibition collection for your trip dates, as some of their guest exhibitions have been impressive! Aimee was lucky enough to see the Christian Dior exhibition here a few years ago, alongside some others such as : Barbie, Harpers Bazaar, Thierry Mugler and more, with a current exhibition being for Iris Van Herpen. We would suggest going for the exhibitions, which tickets are roughly €15, which is inclusive of the permanent collections admissions too.

    Galerie de paléontologie et d’anatomie comparée – Who said museums had to be just art? We visited this museum for the first time last year, and it was a great surprise! We haven’t seen this museum on many recommended lists, so we wanted to shout it out! Part of the French National Museum of Natural History, this museum is a unique one, showing the bones of many animals, and explaining the science! We saw the bones of a giant sloth which was cool, alongside dinosaur bones- how cool! Tickets are from €12, with reduced and free fares offered, similar to those mentioned above.

    Tourist Attractions

    The Eiffel Tower – Let’s start this list with arguably one of the most famous landmarks worldwide. The Eiffel Tower is a distinct monument, and one to tick off your list! We must say, our unpopular opinion is that we weren’t overly fussed with the Eiffel Tower, however, if you have never seen it we would suggest still making that a highly on your itinerary. There is options to go up the tower, alongside restaurants, if your budget permits this!

    The Arc de Triomphe – Would you believe we found this by mistake last trip! We were walking along some of the designer shops ‘window shopping’, and ended up coming across this! It was stunning! This is a monument for those who fought and died during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars. We saw it at nighttime, and being all lit-up was really pretty. It a great sight to see and take a photo of, and you can also go into it! Entrance is €13 (or free for certain groups), and is great to see the skyline of Paris!

    The Catacombs – Not for all, but the underground catacombs of Paris is something on our to do list! Containing the remains of over 6 million people, the catacombs is an underground maze under this famous city. Only a small amount has been explored and is open to the public. It is believed it was made due to relocation of the Parisian cemeteries. Admission is from €29, and audio guide purchase is recommended. Reduced and free rates are available for certain groups.

    The Notre Dame Cathédrale – Due to the tragedy of the fire, not all of the Notre Dame has yet been rebuilt. It is due to be reopened in December 2024, but we still recommend going by if you can. We saw some amazing street performances nearby, and it is still something great to see.

    The Palais Garnier – This opera house is beautiful. This historic opera house is a sight to see, with intricate architecture and stunning interiors. Entry is not free, however there is a chance to still see shows here, which if within your budget would be amazing! Even just to view outside is great.

    The Sacré-Cœur Basilica – Being one of Aimee’s favourite Parisian spots, the basilica is such a sight. A roman Catholic Church at the summit of Montmarte, this building is an impressive 83m and is beautiful inside and out. We aren’t religious, but anyone can appreciate this for sure! Entry is free, however due to being up the hill, it is a little tricky to get to! So keep this in mind.

    Other highlights of Paris

    Food

    Let’s be honest, we all know there is many foods to try in France! From sweet treats, to famous dinner dishes, there is a lot to try!

    We would always suggest visiting a bakery, and trying fresh croissants, pain au chocolat, and baguettes- it’s a favourite of ours! We once brought a fresh baguette and ate it while on the metro (maybe we did get some odd looks but SO worth it)!

    For lunches we suggest trying a croque monsieur, which is one of Aimee’s favourites! If not, just a nice fresh baguette sandwich is always so nice. Be sure to try some meats and cheeses- it is Paris!

    For dinner if you feel up to it, escargot is a well known food from France. Alongside cuisses de grenouille… which we would know as frogs legs. Would you be willing to try these? If not, maybe opt for something like coq au vin, or a French onion soup!

    Shopping / fashion

    This isn’t one of the fashion capitals for no reason! Paris is the best excuse to shop till you drop, with so many different places to browse! You will find so many shops, from big scale designers, to small brands you’ve never heard of (but will surely fall in love with)!

    Maybe you would be lucky enough to visit over fashion week and get a ticket to a show! Some big designers do offer off-calendar tickets during Fashion week for others to see (who wouldn’t usually be invited), so if this is your type of thing definitely keep an eye out!

    One other little thing to note is walking along the river, and browsing through artist’s prints and postcards. There is some major talent, and walking here is beautiful and interesting. Maybe you can get a tote bag of a beautiful French painted scenery!

    Souvenirs

    We wanted to add this fun little addition. Some great souvenirs of course include a little Eiffel Tower (usually a keyring), a beret (so iconic!), little music boxes, and snow globes! We also love postcards to collect, and since Paris is full of so many monuments there is such a massive variety of postcards to choose from!

    Day trip from Paris

    Disneyland Paris

    We wanted to add this as an addition, since we don’t think many people think of doing it this way!

    Within the centre, there is an option to train it straight into Disneyland itself! You can from there then purchase a day ticket to explore one, or both parks! Make sure you leave early to make the most of the day!

    You can also book into the themed restaurants, which we did for a buffet dinner!

    Let’s be honest Disney isn’t a cheap trip, but this option of doing it as a day trip does help a bit with that. Disneyland is a magical place, and definitely did enhance our trip even more. You can embrace your inner child for a day! The magic of seeing your favourite characters never dies.

    What do you think?

    Paris is a beautiful city filled with amazing things to do, just remember to budget well, and keep costs in mind!

    We hope this guide helps to build your perfect Paris itinerary for your cheeky trip to the city of love! Let us know your thoughts below, and if you would add anything else!

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  • Paris Travel Guide – How to explore the City of Love

    Paris Travel Guide – How to explore the City of Love

    Known as the city of love, this French capital is bursting with amazing things to do and see. Perfect for last minute vacations, or to find amazing luxury hotels of world, or even to just see lots of tourist attractions, Paris has it all.

    We visited in February 2023, and it was such a beautiful trip! After visiting over Valentine’s Day, we had such an amazing time. Being spoilt for choice with activities, and things to do, we still couldn’t fit in everything we wanted in a 4 day period!

    We couldn’t find many blog posts that shared a variety of activities, and things to do, so we have decided to make our full comprehensive guide, to help others in the same situation! We will share the best places to visit in Paris, the best tourist places in Paris, what to eat here and more!

    *This post includes affiliate links, where we might earn a small commission, however all opinions are genuine and our own.

    Photo collage of our trip to Paris, including the Palais Garnier, the Palaeontology Museum and the Pantheon
    1. How long should I stay in Paris?
    2. When to visit Paris?
    3. Quick facts about Paris
    4. Where should I stay in Paris?
    5. Hostels:
    6. Best places to visit in Paris
      1. Museums
      2. Tourist Attractions
    7. Other highlights of Paris
      1. Food
      2. Shopping / fashion
      3. Souvenirs
    8. Day trip from Paris
      1. Disneyland Paris
    9. What do you think of Paris?

    How long should I stay in Paris?

    This is such a tricky question, because there isn’t really a right or wrong answer. Due to being such a famous capital, along with the location, the prices are not cheap… This definitely isn’t a fully budget friendly spot!

    We would suggest if you have a flexible budget, to aim for roughly 4/5 days, including room to go to Disneyland Paris (if this is of interest to you). With this you can focus on a lot more sightseeing, alongside seeing some more unique places to visit!

    However, if you are on a tighter budget, we would recommend a 2 day break (maybe just a weekend getaway), so you can still see your most important highlights, but you aren’t having to worry as much about the costs around you! Sadly, money doesn’t stretch far in Paris.

    When to visit Paris?

    This again is very much down to preference. We would mostly suggest the spring and autumn months, due to the crowds being slightly smaller, but the weather being a lot more pleasant! Prices always increase around holidays so this would help with keeping a lower budget!

    Quick facts about Paris

    Currency : Euro €. We found card usage extremely easy here, and didn’t once handle cash!

    Data while abroad : We used international roaming, which was part of our sim-contracts in the UK (most providers offer this so check with your contract).

    SIM card : If you do not have roaming opportunities, you can buy an e-sim from as little as $4.50! We usually use Airalo which you can find here. They also offer a Europe-wide sim starting from $5, so we will link this here for those backpacking around Europe!

    Closures : Paris is known to have some different opening hours/days. Most shops are open Monday – Saturday from 9am to 7pm, however some smaller shops have limited (or none) opening hours on Mondays. Most museums are also closed on Tuesdays. In the lesser touristic areas, a lot more places (including restaurants) are closed on Sundays.

    Transport : There is some great transport options, with the metro being something we used heavily. Just make sure you are getting the right tickets, as we thought we’d found a great discount, which turned out to be the wrong ticket (and we got charged)! Trainline offer a variety of train routes in France, so definitely check them out here!

    Where should I stay in Paris?

    This trip we were lucky enough to stay with a friend of Jacks, however Paris is full of options for accommodation!

    We are huge advocates of hostels, due to the lower costs, the access to social areas, and generally have found the experience a lot more enjoyable!

    We will share 3 hostels below, for those who like a budget-option, those who like some privacy, and those who want to be in the centre of the city!

    Hostels:

    The budget traveler – Jo&Joe. This hostel is honestly such a great value for money, with dorms starting from only £19. They do offer all-female dorms also if this is something you would be interested in! There is an option for a ‘private space’ from only £24. There are lockers and USB ports within your accommodation, and you can get breakfast included as an option whilst booking! This hostel is on the outskirts of Paris, and the centre can be easily accessed by a train. Find this hostel here!

    The Private Room – We chose this accommodation for it’s great location, the Plug Inn Montmartre by Hiphophostels is a great private option! These private rooms have private bathrooms (which isn’t always a guarantee when visiting regular hostels), and has an impressive location, being only 3 minutes away from the Sacré Coeur, and 2 minutes from the Moulin Rouge. This option is more pricey, being around £90 a night, with the addition of a damage deposit being required. You can find this hostel here.

    The Central Option – Being only a rough 20 minutes walk from the Eiffel Tower, this hostel is great for being central, whilst not breaking the bank! The 3 Ducks offers dorm rooms from only around £33, and fun fact- this hostel is the oldest in the whole of France! You can pay additionally for breakfast whilst booking, alongside offering free wifi, maps of Paris, safety boxes and aircon. They offer live music, due to being attached to a bar, so is great for social travellers! Find this central hostel here.

    Best places to visit in Paris

    Museums

    The Louvre – Home to the Mona Lisa, the Louvre is a world-renowned museum that is a must visit for Paris trips. With entry from €22, there is some budget options here! For the first Friday of the month, after 6pm, visitors can have free entry! There is also free admission for under 18’s, under 25 year old residents of the European Economic Area, and Disabled visitors, Art teachers, journalists etc, with valid proof. This museum is very big, so we suggest leaving a lot of free time to explore! Also be ready to walk a lot! We suggest this museum towards the start of your trip, when you have more energy! Find tickets here.

    The Centre Pompidou – Being home to the largest modern art collection in Europe, the Centre Pompidou is a cool museum to explore. The architecture is unique, and is known to be a massively revolutionary museum of it’s kind. Tickets start from roughly €15, and they offer reduced tickets €12. On the first Sunday of the month, admission to the permanent collection, and the Galerie des enfants is free for all visitors. This museum is a great for modern art lovers, however it might not be everyones cup of tea. Find self-guided audio tickets here.

    Musée D’Orsay – Sadly, we never found time for this amazing museum, but we still had to include it! Housed in a train station, this museum hosts an impressive collection of artwork, from artists such as Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet and Toulous-Lautrec. It also holds sculptures and a range of arts from the art nouveau era. Admission is €16, with a reduced fee of €12 on Thursdays from 6pm. The first Sunday monthly is free admissions for all visitors, however booking is necessary. There is also free tickets for those with disabilities (with a carer), those under 18, and EU Citizens under 25. Find tickets here.

    Musée des Arts Décoratifs – Housing a large textile collection, for fashion-lovers keep an eye on this spot! We recommend checking their exhibition collection for your trip dates, as some of their guest exhibitions have been impressive! Aimee was lucky enough to see the Christian Dior exhibition here a few years ago, alongside some others such as : Barbie, Harpers Bazaar, Thierry Mugler and more, with a current exhibition being for Iris Van Herpen. We would suggest going for the exhibitions, which tickets are roughly €15, which is inclusive of the permanent collections admissions too.

    Galerie de paléontologie et d’anatomie comparée – Who said museums had to be just art? We visited this museum for the first time last year, and it was a great surprise! We haven’t seen this museum on many recommended lists, so we wanted to shout it out! Part of the French National Museum of Natural History, this museum is a unique one, showing the bones of many animals, and explaining the science! We saw the bones of a giant sloth which was cool, alongside dinosaur bones- how cool! Tickets are from €12, with reduced and free fares offered, similar to those mentioned above.

    Tourist Attractions

    The Eiffel Tower – Let’s start this list with arguably one of the most famous landmarks worldwide. The Eiffel Tower is a distinct monument, and one to tick off your list! We must say, our unpopular opinion is that we weren’t overly fussed with the Eiffel Tower, however, if you have never seen it we would suggest still making that a highly on your itinerary. There is options to go up the tower, alongside restaurants, if your budget permits this! Find tickets here, that allow access to the summit if you want to visit!

    The Arc de Triomphe – Would you believe we found this by mistake last trip! We were walking along some of the designer shops ‘window shopping’, and ended up coming across this! It was stunning! This is a monument for those who fought and died during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars. We saw it at nighttime, and being all lit-up was really pretty. It a great sight to see and take a photo of, and you can also go into it! Entrance is €13 (or free for certain groups), and is great to see the skyline of Paris! Find rooftop access tickets here.

    The Catacombs – Not for all, but the underground catacombs of Paris is something on our to do list! Containing the remains of over 6 million people, the catacombs is an underground maze under this famous city. Only a small amount has been explored and is open to the public. It is believed it was made due to relocation of the Parisian cemeteries. Admission is from €29, and audio guide purchase is recommended. Reduced and free rates are available for certain groups. See this combined tour of the Catacombs, and a river cruise, with audio guide here!

    The Notre Dame Cathédrale – Due to the tragedy of the fire, not all of the Notre Dame has yet been rebuilt. It is due to be reopened in December 2024, but we still recommend going by if you can. We saw some amazing street performances nearby, and it is still something great to see.

    The Palais Garnier – This opera house is beautiful. This historic opera house is a sight to see, with intricate architecture and stunning interiors. Entry is not free, however there is a chance to still see shows here, which if within your budget would be amazing! Even just to view outside is great. Enjoy a full tour and sightseeing river cruise here.

    The Sacré-Cœur Basilica – Being one of Aimee’s favourite Parisian spots, the basilica is such a sight. A roman Catholic Church at the summit of Montmarte, this building is an impressive 83m and is beautiful inside and out. We aren’t religious, but anyone can appreciate this for sure! Entry is free, however due to being up the hill, it is a little tricky to get to! So keep this in mind. This full guided walking tour around Montemarte explores areas around the Sacré-Cœur, visiting sights like the Moulin Rouge and the Place du Tertre. Find tickets here.

    Other highlights of Paris

    Food

    Let’s be honest, we all know there is many foods to try in France! From sweet treats, to famous dinner dishes, there is a lot to try!

    We would always suggest visiting a bakery, and trying fresh croissants, pain au chocolat, and baguettes- it’s a favourite of ours! We once brought a fresh baguette and ate it while on the metro (maybe we did get some odd looks but SO worth it)!

    For lunches we suggest trying a croque monsieur, which is one of Aimee’s favourites! If not, just a nice fresh baguette sandwich is always so nice. Be sure to try some meats and cheeses- it is Paris!

    For dinner if you feel up to it, escargot is a well known food from France. Alongside cuisses de grenouille… which we would know as frogs legs. Would you be willing to try these? If not, maybe opt for something like coq au vin, or a French onion soup!

    This food tour will take you around the 16th Arrondissement with a local, allowing you to try different French pastries and chocolates, all whilst learning about famous French literature from Ernest Hemingway to Victor Hugo. Find tickets here.

    Shopping / fashion

    This isn’t one of the fashion capitals for no reason! Paris is the best excuse to shop till you drop, with so many different places to browse! You will find so many shops, from big scale designers, to small brands you’ve never heard of (but will surely fall in love with)!

    Maybe you would be lucky enough to visit over fashion week and get a ticket to a show! Some big designers do offer off-calendar tickets during Fashion week for others to see (who wouldn’t usually be invited), so if this is your type of thing definitely keep an eye out!

    One other little thing to note is walking along the river, and browsing through artist’s prints and postcards. There is some major talent, and walking here is beautiful and interesting. Maybe you can get a tote bag of a beautiful French painted scenery!

    Paris is always world renowned for amazing fashion and designers, so experience luxury and create an unforgettable souvenir with Lady Gaga’s hat maker, in a truly unique workshop experience! Learn about hat making craftsmanship skills, discover pieces for by Lady Gaga, and choose your colours, shape and accoutrements ready fro your made-to measure hat! Find this experience here.

    Souvenirs

    We wanted to add this fun little addition. Some great souvenirs of course include a little Eiffel Tower (usually a keyring), a beret (so iconic!), little music boxes, and snow globes! We also love postcards to collect, and since Paris is full of so many monuments there is such a massive variety of postcards to choose from!

    Day trip from Paris

    Disneyland Paris

    We wanted to add this as an addition, since we don’t think many people think of doing it this way!

    Within the centre, there is an option to train it straight into Disneyland itself! You can from there then purchase a day ticket to explore one, or both parks! Make sure you leave early to make the most of the day!

    You can also book into the themed restaurants, which we did for a buffet dinner!

    Let’s be honest Disney isn’t a cheap trip, but this option of doing it as a day trip does help a bit with that. Disneyland is a magical place, and definitely did enhance our trip even more. You can embrace your inner child for a day! The magic of seeing your favourite characters never dies.

    What do you think of Paris?

    Paris is a beautiful city filled with amazing things to do, just remember to budget well, and keep costs in mind!

    We hope this guide helps to build your perfect Paris itinerary for your cheeky trip to the city of love! Let us know your thoughts below, and if you would add anything else!

    We really recommend exploring Europe further to see all the diverse beauty it has to offer! So, check out this 7 day itinerary for Croatia, our full guide to visiting Stockholm, or a full guide to Aarhus in Denmark!

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  • Top Tips when Travelling to South East Asia.

    Top Tips when Travelling to South East Asia.

    Travelling to a new place is daunting, especially when it’s completely different to what you are used to. Therefore, it’s important to do some informative research, and learn the do’s and don’t’s of where you are going!

    You have to take into consideration the type of countries you are visiting, the culture, people, weather, foods, visas, communication, and even stuff like the data you use on your phone, the list sometimes feels endless! There really is a lot to consider when you are travelling!

    On the internet there is so much information on the best ways to do it, top tips for travelling, the do’s and don’t’s and so much more – it can get really overwhelming!

    Here, we have created the best comprehensive guide to planning your travels for South East Asia. This will show a start to finish planning guide of how we would go about travelling- so that you can get the most out of your travels!

    *This post includes affiliate links where we might earn commission, however all opinions are genuine and our own.

    Where shall I go to, and how long for?

    I mean this is really step one once you have decided you want to travel, and it’s probably the hardest decision… if you are still unsure, we have made a post (linked here), that can help you on those hard questions! Like we say, there is such much to see and do in South East Asia, it’s easy to get lost in all the information provided out on the internet!

    When researching, it is best to see the Visa situation for each country in South East Asia (that you are considering), as you may not be able to visit them all. We planned to visit India but once out there, found out that getting an Indian Travel Visa whilst being British is very unlikely (and time consuming). This led to shortening our travel experience, and missing out on India and Nepal entirely.

    Unless you are looking to stay long term, people’s travel length is usually determined by their budget. So it’s important to take this into consideration when deciding where to go, and how long for. Some countries like Singapore are a lot more expensive than the cheaper countries like Thailand and Vietnam!

    You really need to look at the motives on why you are going. What’s the reason for the travel, and what do you want to get out of it? It is important to not set expectations on travelling – but rather use this information as a guide to figuring out where you want to go.

    For example, if you are looking to immerse yourself in culture, you may be looking to visit different places than if you were to go to party or looking to work.

    We have split some of the most popular reasons people travel and put them alongside the best countries in South East Asia for this category:

    Work

    – Bali- It’s the most popular ‘influencer’ hotspot as it’s build up and has a lot of digital nomads out there, currently living and working.

    – Thailand (Bangkok) – It’s a cheap location for all living and has good internet access due to being a major city.

    – Vietnam (Hanoi) – Another cheap place to live with good internet access.

    Culture

    Asia is full of culture so it’s hard to pinpoint countries, as they are all rich in history, and all have their own highlights.

    Ones we would recommend would be India, Cambodia & Thailand but most of the countries would fit the bill in South East Asia.

    Party

    Bali – It is the obvious one where a lot of people go to party and enjoy the nightlife.

    Thailand (Phuket and islands including Phi Phi) – has an array of nightlife where many travellers enjoy. It is also home to the famous full moon parties.

    Philippines (Cebu city and some party islands) – This is an unusual pick for some, but through our experience a lot of hostels and cities are big for clubbing!

    Volunteering

    – Sri Lanka

    – Thailand

    – Vietnam

    If you would want to see a more in-depth blog of the best places in South East Asia for each of these reasons, do let us know!!

    When deciding, you may want to experience a bit of everything; so it’s probably worth looking into places that are also not popular for your reason to travel. Who knows, the most unpredictable place may be your favourite!

    What to do in each location?

    Now, you have decided on where you want to go (or at least an idea) and you have a rough timeframe, it’s good to look into each location thoroughly, to fine-tune your route and activity list. Refer back to the reasons you are visiting each country to figure this out.

    My personal reason to travel was to learn about new cultures, and to experience new things. I really wanted to see what the world has to offer. I mainly focused on what would push me outside my comfort zone. To date I have volunteered abroad with a wildlife sanctuary, climbed mountains, eaten local cultural foods, and embraced new cultures to name a few!

    Write down some activities you would like to do, no matter how crazy they seem – now see where you can do them! The countries in South East Asia have an array of activities and experiences so there will always be a place to do what you want!

    It’s important to allocated your time efficiently when travelling to Asia so you can get the most out of the travelling experience. You will need to make time for all your crazy experiences but also downtime to recover – this is something not many people account for!

    Whether you are going for 3 months or 1 year, you need to set aside time for travelling between places (more time in some countries), and resting between busy periods. You can then maximise your energy and time in each location (and avoid the burnout of travel, because it does happen).

    Timeframe!

    A lot of travellers are trying to fit everything in such a small timeframe that they end up missing out on some really cool experiences, or they get too overwhelmed with not having enough time.

    When visiting to South East Asia, it is important to look at the best time of year to go. The last thing you want to do is get stuck in floods in monsoon season in Phuket for the worst one they have seen in 50 years…like we did!

    As a rough guide, mainland South East Asia and Philippines are dry between November to April and Indonesia & Borneo are better from April to October. So take this into consideration! We will soon be releasing a full in-depth travel guide for South East Asia, which will include a travel calendar!

    In reality, all travellers should create a tiered itinerary for their travels.

    For us, this will be split into 3 tiers as shown below:

    Tier 1: Must see and Do’s

    This tier is the activities and places you MUST visit – the non-negotiables if you will. These are the parts of your travel that cannot be negotiated!

    This could be visiting an Elephant sanctuary, or getting a Thai massage or maybe climbing to base camp of Mount Everest. Whatever this may be, you need to figure out how long each activity will take, and include this in the timeframe you have set out. This will give you a good guide to how much time you have remaining for the travelling and any further activities you want to do!

    Tier 2: Cool things to do

    Now, this is a step down from tier 1, and would be all the activities you would like to do across the period. Again, these could be any activities. I would say the plan is to include upwards of 50% of these activities if you are able. However, this all depends on how much time you spend in each location, and how much spare time you have.

    Tier 3: If we have time!

    This tier is the least important, and one you will add things to do if you have a little spare time. This would only be used when in location’s where you have no tier 1 or 2 options left, but still had a day (or even half a day) to kill.

    This method of splitting the activities into tiers will show you a breakdown of priorities, and will make it easier when planning each location.

    For instance, if you are planning the south of Thailand (check our recommended guide here) you may have island hopping and visiting elephants as tier 1, visiting a national park and going to a market as tier 2, and finally going snorkelling as tier 3. If you are only in the South Thailand for 5 days then you will prioritise island hopping and the elephants, with maybe finding time for 1 of the tier 2 activities. I would ALWAYS keep your tier 2 and 3 lists, even if you don’t have time to do all activities. When you are travelling, a lot can change and you may be in places for longer/shorter, or even end up returning! The last thing you want to do is have some time free but don’t know what to do.

    Booking, Packing + Essentials!!

    Now, you have your motive for travelling, the countries you are to visit and when, and the activities you want to embark on. But nothing is booked or sorted yet. This is the stage you start making this real… Scary right??

    It’s time to start looking at flights, purchasing your travel bag, and all other travel essentials. Now it’s a good time to look choose a starting point that fits in well with the countries you are looking to visit. A lot of people start in the Philippines or Indonesia, and make their way north through Thailand and Vietnam, or vis-versa! This way, your travel flows better and you will maximise your time travelling and doing activities, and not spending time in airports or on boats, moving between places!

    When we travelled, we started in Philippines, down into Bali then across to Singapore, Thailand and finishing in Vietnam, working our way South to North in both Thailand and Vietnam.

    There is no right or wrong place to start, but it does help to start somewhere which fits your route!

    You have your flight booked- before you freak out you need to get everything ready! We would recommend buying/bringing cheaper clothes, as they will be in many different situations; whether it’s a sweaty city, on the beach, up a mountain or anywhere in-between- the clothing will wear down. But don’t worry if it does, there are many places out there where you can by clothing for 1/10th of the price you do back home!

    For the travel bag, our personal preference would be to pack as small as possible. When we travelled, we took an 80L +20L backpack which was waaaaayy too big for what we needed it for. We would recommend for first time travellers to go for a 60L backpack- we have found a budget option on Amazon here, or a highly recommended/ socially recognised one here, but this comes at a premium. The only benefit for me for having such a large travel bag is that it came with a 20L smaller bag, which you could take when you go on boat or day trips.

    When we researched the ‘essentials’ to pack when travelling, there were so many places stating we needed electrolytes and nutrient bars etc, but in reality none of this is necessarily required. These were purchased and packed, and just rotted at the bottom of my bag as the food and shops (even in the most remote places) had the basic amenities. We would still pack supply of nutrients (or emergency medication) for the worst case scenario but these won’t be used daily, probably not even weekly or monthly.

    For travelling, we would recommend visiting a medical professional, and finding out what injections you will need for each country you plan to visit. We would highly recommend doing this to protect you from any foreign diseases, or any uncertain medical issues, as the medical care in most Asian countries are a lot less reliable than most other countries.

    Overview

    The thought of travelling is daunting, we get it! There’s a lot more research and planning than meets the eye. Well, you can just book a flight, pack a bag and just go, but it can definitely backfire and lead you to missing out on some amazing experiences!

    We believe that if anyone follows this step-by-step process for their travel planning, they will be well equipped to make the most of this amazing leap of faith you would ever be taking.

    No matter what, you will gain irreplaceable memories and experiences, ones you would never forget. We would always recommend for people to travel and gain the life experiences that come with it.

    If anyone is looking to travel and would like some advice or support, do reach out to us and we would be happy to help in any way! We use instagram daily, so follow us here, and DM us!

    We really do hope you enjoyed this blog, and that it has given you the necessary steps to start your travel journey!

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  • Spending 24 hours in Aarhus, Denmark.

    Spending 24 hours in Aarhus, Denmark.

    In September 2024, we decided to take a crazy trip to Aarhus, Denmark for a trip that we only had 24 hours to spare for. Aarhus was one of the cheapest flights for the date we went (beginning of September), and wow we are SO glad we did this!

    24 hours is not a lot of time. With work, unless you book time off you only really have the weekends to do any form of activities. So, instead of doing a small, local activity, we thought why not take a short flight and have a fun adventure. It felt like we were almost doing something ‘wrong’, we managed a holiday with no time off! How crazy!

    Due to only having 24 hours it made the most sense to stick to a small city, rather than a capital, just so we could maximise our time, and to feel like we didn’t miss out on too much… so naturally Aarhus felt like the best solution! We had never been to Denmark, so this was also a chance to visit a new country!

    Below we will write about our 24 hour trip, what we got up to, and we will explain whether we would do this again!

    *This post includes affiliate links, however all opinions are genuine and our own.

    Time for takeoff!

    We had to leave at around 3am from our home ready to drive to the airport. Our flight was for 06:35, and we made sure to have roughly 2 hours before the flight for arriving at the airport.

    Due to the earliness of the flight, the airport was a lot quieter which is always nice! We flew from London Stansted Airport, so this isn’t necessarily a busy airport anyway. We chilled in the departures lounge, and got ready to board! Let’s go!

    We landed in Aarhus for 09:20, and arrived to what looked like a tent/marquee… it was surprising! This airport was nothing like we had seen, it was such a small airport- it was nice to have something chilled and not hectic, because let’s be honest most airports are insanely busy! We got on the bus to the city, after a quick passport control.

    How we spent 24 hours in Aarhus

    Arriving for around 10am, we were in the city of Aarhus! We were greeted to sunny skies, beautiful sceneries, and a vibrant atmosphere. Although we had researched a bit about this city, we didn’t majorly know what to expect.

    We decided our activities for this first day would be:

    Visit the ARoS Museum + the rainbow roof,

    Have lunch at the Street Food Market,

    Explore the local area

    Head to the hostel to check in

    Visit the Marselisborg deer park

    Have dinner, and then see what happens!

    The ARoS Museum

    Known for its spectacular rainbow roof, we had never heard much about the actual museum. Once we had arrived, we popped our bags into a locker (provided on the first floor), then went up into the museum! There was many surprises within…

    One of the exhibitions we saw was, well, interesting. It was definitely something NSFW! Let’s just say, we saw some “objects” made into things like slugs, dolls made into weird displays… it was odd to say the least! We had a giggle, definitely not family friendly but it was funny!

    Within this museum was also a range of interactive rooms, with one being a Japanese theme, lots of fun mirrors, and quirky decorated illusions!

    Something that we did see, which was a highlight for Aimee, was the “boy” sculpture within this museum. Being 4.5 metres in height, this hyper realistic sculpture truly was something to see! It was almost unsettling how real it looked. You may have seen some of the artists work online, but seeing this Ron Mueck piece here was truly fascinating!

    Our last stop within this museum was visiting the well known rainbow roof. Featuring a panoramic view of the city, this roof was made purely of rainbow glass, so as you walked around the circle room, you moved into each individual colour. Fun fact- your phone screen appeared different in each colour! We found this highly amusing!

    Street Food Market

    After our stop to the Art museum, we were hungry! We had made some food to bring on the flight but that had worn off!

    It was a slight walk between places, so Jack found a hotdog stand and brought one to munch on! We also stumbled across a smaller market hall which we wandered into. We didn’t eat here but it was fun to explore!

    Now, onto the street food market. Wow! This was so cool! Within this building were brightly coloured (and highly decorated) food vendors of all cuisines, from Japanese food, to Nepalese and traditional Danish… there were so many options!

    We found a bench in the middle of the hall to sit at, and we each went to a random stall and ordered something for us both to try (as a surprise). We ended up eating some beautiful rice dish from the Nepalese stall, a selection of empanadas, a traditional Danish pastry, and some Asian fried chicken! We were so full after this… however we found the ice lollies on the way out so managed to sneak one in too!

    Time to Explore

    We decided to explore a bit around the city, while also planning how we would get to the deer park! This was interesting to say the least!

    We didn’t quite read the bus spots/times very well and managed to wait a lot longer than needed to get on the right bus! We also didn’t realise we needed to buy a bus ticket (we couldn’t purchase on the bus), so this made things a lot trickier!

    While exploring, we took in the atmosphere. Aarhus feels extremely upbeat, and is so modern and youthful-feeling. It felt “fresh”, and we wouldn’t be surprised to hear a lot more hype over the next few years!

    Marselisborg deer park

    This was definitely the highlight of our trip. This was a free activity (only purchase needed was the bus ticket, and potentially carrots and/or apples if you wanted to feed the deer), and it was honestly breathtaking. The parameter of the park was fenced so there was no risk of the animals being hurt by the road, but we got to see deer roam around, watching the babies run after their mums… it was magical. We watched the sun set over the park, and the deers wandering in a pack, it’s not something we would forget. We did however forget to bring any carrots or apples… however, we did see some left on the floor, so we just used these.

    We didn’t approach the deer as it didn’t feel fair, so we only allowed them to approach us. One of the deer was extremely inquisitive and got very close to our phone, creating the cutest up close nose photo!

    The evening ahead

    Prior to this trip, Aimee added us into an Instagram group chat for Aarhus Travel, and we managed to find two people who were in our hostel!

    After checking into our hostel (we explain it further in this post here), we freshened up and got ready to meet these two new friends! We had a drink, then the 4 of us went out to find dinner! None of us were good at deciding where to eat, but eventually we settled on a Vietnamese restaurant not too far from the hostel!

    We spoke for ages, getting to know each other, and after we all ate and chilled, we slowly wandered back to the hostel. One of our new friends headed off to bed, as she’d had a busy few days, however the other decided to stay back and have a drink with us! Who else loves a hostel happy hour!

    After having a few drinks in the hostel common area, we decided to head to Kupé, a nightclub in the area. This was a great idea at the time, but remember we said we only had 24 hours?

    We got back to our hostel for roughly 3am, before Jack and our friend decided to go get pizza for us all! Very exciting, however, it was now 4am before we got ready to sleep.

    Rise and shine

    After only waking up at 8am, after under 4 hours of sleep (and a slight hangover), we got ready to check out and eat breakfast.

    This hostel was so cool.. it had an on site mini golf course! So, we had to of course get a game in before we left! We will link the hostel here if you want to check it out directly!

    Breakfast was a large spread of continental buffet food, and alongside the bottomless juices it was greatly appreciated after the night before!

    Getting ready to leave Aarhus

    We left the hostel, and made our way back to the bus stop, taking in the surroundings we would be leaving! We stopped for a coffee and cake at a cute coffee shop, before boarding our bus ready to leave! We highly recommend a Danish Kanelsnegle, it’s divine!

    Aarhus Airport

    And we were off! The airport, like we mentioned before, was so small! There was only duty free as shops we believe, then only really one restaurant! There was a kids play area, and it probably would only take 10 minutes from one end of the airport to the other (if that)! Our flight left at 13:35, ready to signify the end of our trip!

    Would we do this again?

    As a rule, the 24 hour trip was fun. It felt spontaneous, and peaked that fun side of adventure. However, Jack heading back to work the next day did not experience the fatigue after! For those who do have little time to spare around work (and general life), this was such a fun idea. You got to explore without needing additional time off! It’s fun, however probably way too tiring to make a regular activity!

    Our tips

    Are you thinking about taking an extremely short trip abroad? We would recommend having low expectations for having a cram packed itinerary. This might sound strange, but if you are “running around” you don’t always appreciate and take in your surroundings. We suggest making a list of all the activities you would be interested in, and making a “hierarchy” list. Start with your most favoured activities, then if you have more time, find what things are nearby and work your way around!

    For us , we were most excited to see the deer park, and the museum. The street food hall worked great due to needing lunch, and if anything else could fit in then we would’ve, but these were the most important to us!

    We hope you liked our overview of our trip to Aarhus! If you would like to see more blogs, please subscribe to our newsletter for daily blogs and follow our journey on our Social Media down below!

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  • The Best Things to do in Singapore

    The Best Things to do in Singapore

    Singapore is a very small country location in South East Asia which not notoriously known as a travel location.Travellers usually skip over the country into Thailand or on their way down to Indonesia, but they are missing out!

    As a South East Asian country, it is different to their neighbours by being really expensive. It’s pricing is similar to western countries like England and the US (which for the area can come as a shock).

    If travellers are to visit Singapore, they would tend to book 3/5 days to quickly see the sights, and leave before spending their total budget. Even though it is a small country, it is so rich in activities that it could definitely deserve to be a longer trip.

    Here, we have compiled the best and most important things to see and do in Singapore.

    1. Gardens By The Bay

    These are the infamous gardens you likely would’ve seen on social media, which is a nature park of 101 hectares with ‘super trees’ spanning the size of small buildings! People are able to go to the top of these supertrees and walk across interconnected bridges for spectacular views of the nature park, with the huge skyscrapers in the distance.

    This is one of the most popular attractions in Singapore, and is free to enter. There are costs however for some activities, including going to the bridge, or seeing any attractions in the park.

    At night, once it gets dark, the trees offer a display of bright lights and music for entertainment. The trees change from shade to shade, lighting up the park and creating a marvel for viewers.

    2. Marina Bay

    The Marina Bay is a 5 minute walk from the Gardens of the Bay, and is alive at night with people. A water show is shown each night at the bay with lights, music and water used to stop people in their tracks to marvel at the Bay.

    The view covers the whole Marina in the background and usually gets thousands of people watching every night.

    During the day, it is a popular spot for lunch, and is a place you can just soak up the beautiful scenery of where the gardens, buildings and bay all meet.

    3. Jewel Changi Airport

    This well-known location is known as the best airport in the world, and is a must do in Singapore! This airport is huge and has some amazing areas, including a 24 hour cinema, canopy bridges, mazes, thousands of shops and food outlets, and a waterfall and gardens in the centre. It truly is a marvel – one we witnessed by arriving at the airport and staying there overnight. It was so large we got lost in it, and slept in a small area on a small bench (the cinema was in another terminal!!!).

    We spent the first few hours, even though it was past midnight, walking around the gardens and seeing the infamous waterfall in the middle. Even though the shops were closed, you can just imagine how busy and chaotic the airport can be.

    I feel like you could stay in the airport for 2/3 days and still find unexplored areas and activities you have not done! It truly is unique and one we will definitely return to.

    4. Little India

    As you might of guessed, it is like someone picked up a small part of India and placed it somewhere in Singapore. It is filled with street vendors, Indian heritage, museums and history – almost making it their own. The streets were lined with colours and decorations, with music playing in the distance, locals dancing and enjoying themselves.

    The buildings were wearing every colour of paint perfectly designed for maximised beauty. It was such a different style of busy you are used to across the whole of Singapore.

    This is the perfect place to find some local food, look around the amazing hand-crafted stools and quaint shops, and just immerse yourself in their culture.

    The people here are so friendly, and welcome people into the culture… it’s definitely something we would recommend to see. If you are lucky, you may time it perfectly to stumble upon a festival while you are there (which are supposed to be unmissable)!

    5. Universal Studios

    When you are travelling to South East Asia, it’s often that people are missing home and it’s hard to enjoy the simple things in life! However, Universal Studios was the breath of fresh air for us to enjoy a sense of normality. It was almost like teleporting back home to a theme park (and it was very much welcomed)!

    The park was huge and full of films we all love! Including transformers, sesame street, Jurassic Park, Shrek and more. It was a perfect break for the backpacking life – we just spent the day going on rides and exploring the park. Unfortunately, the Madagascar section was under maintenance which I wanted to see but nonetheless, the park was a nice change to our travels and something I would recommend to go visit. The park is perfect for people of all ages, with a lot of theme park rides (some scary), and some younger attractions, making it perfect for the whole family.

    It’s good to arrive early as the park is usually really busy and they have cool events in the evenings once the park closes dependant on the time of year you go.

    Also, outside is a massive mall which can be a great place to quench your thirst and eat some well deserved food when leaving/entering the park!

    6. National Museum of Singapore

    The museum of Singapore is beautifully surrounded by local parks, and is rich with Singaporean history. They have many things on show including wars, fashion, currency, politics and more. They also offer shows and attractions to learn more about the country.

    It is fascinating to learn about the country and it’s unusual history. It’s a great place to get out of the sweltering heat to learn more about the culture of this wonderful nation.

    7. Sultan Mosque

    The Sultan Mosque is a religious spectacle in the heart of the city. There are hundreds of people visiting each day around the Arabic Quarter. It’s a perfect way to understand and witness other cultures and prayers.

    As with any mosque, you are required to take off your shoes and socks, and wear an outfit provided to cover your legs as a sign of respect. The mosque is eliquently built and full of architectuaral beauty.

    Outside the mosque, is loads of restaurants – mainly mediterranean restaurants – which are a perfect spot to grab some lunch!

    Around the corner is a few narrow streets which are brought to life with small, independent shops and bustling people, which is perfect if you like to wander and explore. There is so much to offer- and is the place I got my tarot cards read. I’m not much of a reader, but sometimes it’s good to see what happens! There’s a lot to do in this area and is a perfect place to wander and look at people’s work.

    Our thoughts on Singapore

    All in all, we would recommend 5/6 days in Singapore which would be a rather busy time! There’s so much to do and see that it would be hard to see it all with less time.

    It’s understandable that the cost of the country can limit the time spent, so it is best to find independent/street food spots to save money. However, it is definitely a country I would visit again, and would recommend to anyone who is debating visiting!

    We hope you liked our overview of the best things to do in Singapore! If you would like to see more blogs, please subscribe to our newsletter for daily blogs and follow our journey on our Social Media down below!

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