2025 has been an awesome year so far, and there’s still so much opportunity to make more amazing memories. But with 2026 approaching, we all are ready to turn the page and start planning our trips for 2026.
Even if you aren’t planning your trips, you certainly will be making a rough plan to what you want to see and do over the next 18 months. And we are all here for it!!
This is where we step in!
We all know the world is full of wonder.. So what wonder are we going to see in 2026? Don’t know?
*This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂
Then you have come to the right place – these are the top 25 countries that you must visit as they are criminally underrated.
Albania
Kyrgyzstan
China
Oman
Uzbekistan
Romania
Morocco
Tunisia
Estonia
Pakistan
Micronesia
Nicaragua
Mongolia
Papua New Guinea
Argentina
Canada
Iraq
Latvia
Tanzania
Andorra
Scotland
Norway
Poland
Timor-Leste
Tuvalu
On this list sits an array of different holidays.. from the winter tundra of Norway to the perfect beaches of Tuvalu. So no matter your preference of hot, cold, or just anywhere, you are totally covered.
So get researching into one of these up and coming countries before it’s too late. Organise your trip, book that flight, and take that plunge for 2026. We know we will be doing taking our advice, so you should to.
If you want to see more of our Blogs and travels, make sure to visit other posts or check us out on YouTube here. We have been to Morocco, Thailand and more with soooo many more planned… including China.
Find our Travel Essentials!
We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:
We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!
Trip.com– Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
Eat With– Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!
We post Youtube Videos now! Please check out our newest Vlog!
If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!
Travel fears are real, especially if you are younger. Just because you are older and more travel-wise it doesn’t mean that the fears are gone at all. The travel fears are super real and can be apparent even for the most experienced travelers. Anywhere you go will offer new challenges and create new fears. But the real question is, how do you overcome those fears?
A lot of fears from travel come from the unknown and unexpected outcomes. This can be new locations, new people or new activities. But there are definitely ways to not only overcome them, but thrive during this time. It’s not simple at all but if you follow these steps then you will be well on your way to getting there.
Fear Identification
First of all you have to identify the fear. This may seem very obvious but it isn’t as straight forward as you may seem. If you are looking to book your first solo travel trip and come to a sticking point when booking – even though it’s the perfect trip, it is most likely due to fear/worry. You know you haven’t done this before, and I’m sure you have friends or family who are worried on your behalf which hasn’t helped. This seems pretty obvious what the fear is. But for other circumstances it may not be so clear.
You have to figure it out the problem before you can look to solve this problem. The solving can be mighty difficult if you don’t know what you are supposed to solve.
The fear could be an activity you have done previously and enjoyed thoroughly, or a place you love. Sometimes it’s the things you can be most comfortable with that can include or build up fears. Maybe it’s a previous experience or maybe a high expectation that you’ve set or maybe it’s slightly different? There’s many factors that can alter and develop old feeling and turn them into fear.
So the best way to identify this would be to break the idea down. Split it into parts to help see where the fear is located. If you are worried about going to a conference, then is it due to meeting new people, or having to do a speech, or maybe something simple like eating in public? There will be an isolated fear somewhere, you just may have to dig further down into the activity or place to locate it.
Gradual Exposure vs Instant Exposure
Now these two cannot work hand-in-hand but is the main two ways in which people can overcome a fear which is preventing them. They both work towards the same goal of breaking that fear and reaching that ultimate goal. But it’s done in different ways so let’s delve deeper into what they mean and how they can help.
Gradual Exposure
Gradual exposure is the art of taking things slow to reach the goal. This will be part exposure to get comfortable. An example would be if you are scared of spiders, you would start with being in the same room with one. Once this becomes comfortable, you will then get a little closer and with time, get to the point you can stand by them without sprinting out the room. This is a ‘gradual’ process that can take up to weeks or months to master. It allows your body to be at ease with whatever your fear is.
This is aimed towards more reserved people who are less impulsive and spontaneous, but still have a desired goal at hand. They are to edge closer at their pace where they can comfortably go and make progress this way as they aren’t able to move any quicker. Which leads perfectly into Instant Exposure.
If we use a bungee jump or sky dive for example, someone who looks to use gradual exposure may start of with a small ledge, then onto diving in a pool. All the way up to a cliff jump and then onto the idea, the final fear.
Once they reach this fear, they will see it as a 3 metre dive or a cliff jump. In an attempt to trick the brain and reassure that we have done something similar before. The brain is more comfortable as it’s done something that’s somewhat similar, regardless of the scale and becomes more confident
Instant Exposure
Instant exposure is the simple decision to throw themselves into it in any means. This may not be directly into the fear, but into something similar that can massage that fear and allow for an easy jump next time. An example of this is a visiting a new place. A new place is scary and way outside your comfort zone. However, booking a flight may not be, neither is getting on a plane or being in an airport.
The idea of a new place is what you focus on though. But you know it’s very similar to what you have done many times before. You may even be staying at a hotel/hostel chain you have stayed at before, just at a different location. These familiarities is growing the confidence your body has.
For the instant exposure, it’s more of ‘faking it till you make it’ and being spontaneous by dealing with the ‘fear’ later. You are to trick the brain that you can’t go back as you have booked it. Another example would be an interview. We have all been nervous and wanted to cancel an interview right before attending it. Your brain will come up with excuses or reasons why you shouldn’t go, but these aren’t real reasons but more-so any excuse not to turn up.
The actual hardest step of conquering that fear is to simply accept you are doing it. Just booking it in, whether it’s a scary sky dive or an interview. Your body will kick in and complete the fear, but booking it can be the real sticking point. So sometimes your brain works better when you just book it and deal with the fear once you are in front of it.
Examples of Travel Fear & Overcoming Them
Skydiving
Sky Diving or any sort of fear that drives from height is tough to overcome. We know people who have legitimate crippling fear of heights and it’s not fun to watch. However, if you take the gradual exposure approach, you will start with something that’s comfortable, your limit which may be a 2 metre ledge or looking down out of a 3/4 story window. As you are in control of the situation, you are likely to get comfortable and feel safe at some point which allows the opportunity to increase the levels. You are to increase it as close to the fear as possible. So, if you are comfortable with the height but don’t like the jumping aspect, you start with diving in a pool and work your way up.
You end when you feel ready to book that sky dive and feel satisfied that what you have achieved so far, is close to the overall goal.
For instant exposure, it’s the hurdle of booking it. A good way to get comfortable with the idea of booking it is speaking with people who have done it before. A positive response will lower the fear a little, and make you one step closer to booking that skydive. When it comes to the sky dive, you will recite what you have learned from either of the types of exposure and use that to fuel the almighty jump. Remember, there will be many reasons flowing through your brain on why you shouldn’t do it. Such as what if the parachute doesn’t pull or you faint. But in reality, this is there to put you off so just focus on the end goal.
Instant exposure is the task of small steps in the process, whereas gradual is small experiences towards the process.
Solo Travel
Solo travel is probably one of the hardest to overcome for travelers, as it combines many different fears in one. It’s worrying how to meet friends, or reacting to any problems that may occur, or even visiting a new place which adds further fear. For gradual fear there are a few ways to dealing with this. You can tackle the fears individually or at a scaled level.
Individually might be visiting a new place in locally for you, with a friend or family member. You are likely to be comfortable with this and enjoy it. You then can build it up by visiting this place again but by yourself. This will allow you to be more confident in your own presence and learn to enjoy your company. The next step could be to visit somewhere close-by on your own which you haven’t been before. You can just do a small time there or just a walk to get comfortable. Maybe even stop for a coffee or a small lunch here.
You will become accustom to being in your own company and in new/different places which is imitating the feeling of what you are likely to feel when you solo travel. So you are forced to ask for help if you need or ordering food at the bar to strangers, it’s all a step in the right direction and will build up your confidence in being a solo traveller.
Instant Exposure is a simpler path but a lot harder to conquer, it’s all about mental reassurance and attempting to book the experience and ‘go with the flow’. Doing it this way can be helped by speaking to people who have experience solo travelling or even reaching out to groups online who are planning to be in the same place as you at the same time. If you meet fellow travellers, you can support each other in booking that solo trip and making that leap into the fear. After all, the booking is the hardest part. If you can create friends who are to be there when you are, it will feel like you are travelling with a friend rather than being a solo traveler meeting strangers.
Conclusion
These examples and types of exposures can be assigned to any type of fear you have when travelling. You either need to imitate a scenario and almost role play to get comfortable, allowing your body to understand the task and how to overcome it. Or rather find ways of booking the opportunity with the support of others and using your own experiences as you know booking the fear, is usually always the hardest part.
We have both experienced many travel fears in which we have overcome many. This includes solo travel, meeting new people, new experiences and so much more. It’s becoming accustom to venturing outside your comfort zone and a whole lot of f**k it moments.
So you are aware, Aimee runs off instant exposure and normally books before realising what the fears are or look to face them head on. Whereas Jack is somewhere in between depending on the scenario. You have to find what works best for you and decide on how you want to attack the fear. As no one can conquer it for you but you!
Thank you for following the blog and we hope this truly helps you overcome those long or newly developed fears with travel or even other aspects of your life. If you did find this helpful, do like the blog and subscribe for more blogs to come!
Do let us know what your travel fears are in the comments below! We may talk in another blog regarding our experiences of overcoming our own fears and how we did it so if you want to know more, let us know.
You can follow our daily travels and experiences using our social media’s below! Do check it out as we are heading off to Thailand soon with a whole lot of Thai content to come!
Find our Travel Essentials!
We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:
We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!
Trip.com– Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
Eat With– Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!
We post weekly Youtube Videos now! Please check out our Latest Vlog here!
If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!
Wanting to visit a city free of tourism while traveling Croatia? Meet Osijek! This smaller city packs a punch, and is a great place to spend 1-2 days while in Croatia! It was an amazing spot to slow down, and really take time to breathe!
So, here is our travel guide to Osijek in Croatia! We will share some things to do, places to eat, where we stayed, and some other helpful top tips!
*This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂
With Osijek being a smaller city (well, 4th largest in Croatia), it isn’t as cram packed as Zagreb, but still there are some great things to do!
Wander Ante Starčević Square
Ante Starčević Square is in the centre of Osijek city, surrounded by shops and cafes! Here you will find a cute water feature, alongside a statue of Ante Starčević himself! It is a great place to take time to relax and wander, as it is very quiet and peaceful.
Visit Petar Pan!
We’ll be honest this place was so yummy it really deserved a spot on the list! Perfect for a hot sunny day, we stopped here for an ice cream break and was not disappointed! With a menu full of ice cream sundaes, they had ones designed to look like Disney characters which was so fun. The only downside was they didn’t take card (we believe), so make sure to have some cash!
Look how cute this Pinocchio themed ice cream was! Yum!
SS Peter & Paul
This Neo-Gothic co-cathedral in Osijek is really stunning! We saw this cathedral on the walk through to the city square, and it is breathtaking! We didn’t go inside, however we have heard some great things about the people running the cathedral.
Find the 8 statues!
Find the 8 statues of Osijek! We saw three of the eight and they are really special! Some include a mum holding her baby, the Croatian Paganini, an elephant, and a writer (one of Croatia’s most famous statues)! This can be a great way to explore and take in the city atmosphere as you find all of the statues!
Franjo Krežma – the Croatian PaganiniŠetač – a writer in eternal walk
Walk along the Drava River
With a nice breeze, you will appreciate walking along the river in summer! We spotted some boats, and took this time to chat and decompress.
Osijek Zoo
We didn’t actually go to the zoo, however this is a recommended spot in Osijek. You can find tickets here! Some animals they have include lions, bison, zebras and giraffes!
Where to eat
We will be honest with you, the night we stayed in Osijek we struggled to go out due to Aimee’s health, so we got some snacks from the shop!
Mlinar bakeries
These are dotted around Croatia, but we made sure to grab snacks from here! Our top recommendation would be a chicken burek (we miss them very much)!!
Restaurants
As we didn’t visit any set restaurants, we will share a list of some recommended ones for you to try!
Travelling Osijek was pretty straight forward, but these are some top things we recommend!
Croatian eSIM
For a ‘set’ amount of data, we found Airalo to be the best choice! You can find their packages here.
You can find bundles with unlimited data, that span across the whole of Europe, perfect for those backpacking around multiple countries… Find them here at Yesim!
Google translate app
Osijek was a little harder to navigate due to not everyone knowing English (it was a lot less touristic). Therefore, having the translate app was a godsend! The best thing about having the app version is you can use your camera to scan your surroundings (think menus, signs etc), and it will translate it to your language in real time!
Pre-booked transfer
If you are flying into Osijek (yes they have an airport!!), please try to book prior transfers. We struggled to find a bus and ended paying for taxi transfer, which we aren’t sure was the best deal. This was just based on our own experiences.
Where to stay
For this trip we stayed in such an amazing airbnb! We only spent £29 for a night, which at the time was a lot better than hotels in the area at our time of searching! We genuinely are so happy we stayed here, we will leave the link here, this isn’t an affilate link, just somewhere we wish to get the love they deserve!
We hope this guide helps you for your next trip to Osijek! It is an amazing city to visit for a stop-gap, and was a place to stop and breathe.
Find our Travel Essentials!
We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:
We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!
Trip.com– Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
Eat With– Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!
We post weekly Youtube Videos now! Please check out our Osijek Vlog here!
If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!
Stuck on your Instagram design? Captions are the perfect way to complement your travel photos and create the ultimate aesthetic feed! Don’t underestimate the power of a good caption—choose ones that will grab your audience’s attention and elevate your posts. Let’s get ready to explore New York!
New York is a vibrant city full of iconic landmarks, dazzling skyline views, amazing food, and endless adventures! This post includes quotes, cute, inspirational, and food-related captions to match your New York moments. Make the most of your trip and use these captions to capture your best memories in the city that never sleeps! 🌆✨
*This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂
We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!
Trip.com– Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
Eat With– Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!
We post weekly Youtube Videos now! Please check out our newest Vlog!
If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!
Stuck on your Instagram design? Captions are the perfect way to complement your travel photography and create the ultimate aesthetic travel feed! Don’t underestimate the power of a great caption—choose ones that will grab your audience’s attention and make your posts shine. Let’s get ready to explore Austria!
Austria is a breathtaking destination filled with stunning alpine landscapes, charming villages, grand palaces, and rich cultural history! This post includes quotes, cute, inspirational, and food-related captions to match your Austrian adventures. So, make the most of your trip and use these captions to capture your best memories in this fairytale-like country!
*This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂
We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!
Trip.com– Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
Eat With– Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!
We post weekly Youtube Videos now! Please check out our newest Vlog!
If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!
Bangkok is famous for its vibrant street food culture, and few dishes capture this spirit like boat noodles. These tiny bowls of flavor are not just budget-friendly but also offer a taste of Thai culinary traditions. With prices that won’t break the bank, you can enjoy a satisfying meal while exploring the city’s lively food scene. So, we bring you Boat Noodle Alley.
The late 1700’s saw Bangkok canals being a big place for trade, and vendors in wooden boats would paddle up to potential customers with shallow bowls of noodle soups (to avoid spillages), however, as the 1970’s came vendors were forced to come to land. Now, you find an alley of noodle spots north of the Victory Monument, where you can have your own taste of these authentic Thai foods!
In this adventure, we visited two popular noodle shops: Pa Yak Boat Noodles and Baan Kuay Tiew Ruathong Noodles. Each offers a unique experience, showcasing their take on this beloved dish. One is all about quality over quantity (both are v good though), while the other cranks up the heat for spice lovers.
Cost-effectiveness and spice levels stand out as key features in our noodle exploration. Whether you’re looking for a tasty meal on a budget or a fiery culinary challenge, Bangkok’s boat noodle stalls have something for everyone.
This blog post is based on our newest vlog which you can check out here!
*This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂
Pa Yak Noodles
Noodle Variety and Prices
At Pa Yak Boat Noodles, the menu is limited to just four variety options. Each bowl costs a mere 18 baht, roughly 40-45p. This price is hard to beat, especially in a city noted for its street food. When you think about dining out in Europe or North America, you could pay four times that amount for just a snack, making this a fantastic deal for travelers.
Flavour Profile and Texture
The dishes here feature an interesting range of noodles. Options include slippery glass noodles and wide, flat noodles. The rich broths are packed with flavor, accompanied by various toppings like tender meat and veggies. We also got the best bowl of crispy pork crackling. The overall experience is marked by complex flavor profiles, making each bowl stand out, despite the limited variety.
Ambiance and Service
Situated by the river, Pa Yak Boat Noodles offers a unique dining atmosphere. Though the view may not be picturesque, the lively vibe adds to the experience. However, the service was a bit direct, which can be common in tourist-heavy areas. A bit of patience goes a long way when navigating a language barrier.
Baan Kuay Tiew Ruathong Noodles : A Spice Lover’s Dream.
Expanded Menu and Options
In contrast, Ruathong Noodles boasts a more extensive menu with nine options. Diners can choose from a variety of noodle types and proteins, including pork and beef. This breadth makes it appealing to those looking to explore different flavors in one visit.
Spice Levels and Flavor Intensity
Ruathong Noodles is a haven for those who enjoy spicy food. The heat levels vary dramatically from one dish to the next. For example, the glass noodles come with a mild broth, while other options fire up your taste buds with intense heat. The lingering spiciness makes for an exciting meal, but be warned: not all dishes are suitable for the timid (like us).
Ambiance and Service at Ruathong Noodles
Ruathong Noodles offers an energetic atmosphere. You can see chefs crafting noodle dishes right before your eyes. This behind-the-scenes look can be quite entertaining and adds to the overall dining experience. The service was friendly, making it a more welcoming spot compared to Pa Yak Boat Noodles.
Comparing the Two Boat Noodle Experiences
Price and Value
When it comes to overall cost, both restaurants offer amazing value. At Pa Yak Boat Noodles, four small bowls and a large bowl can leave you full for about 150 baht (around £4). Meanwhile, Ruathong Noodles, with its more extensive menu, still maintains a comparable price point for the quality and variety offered.
Flavour and Spice Comparison
Both of these establishments on Boat Noodle Alley deliver impressive flavours, but they cater to different taste preferences. Pa Yak Boat Noodles provides a delightful experience with its well-balanced flavors. In contrast, Ruathong Noodles is perfect for those who crave spicy dishes. In essence, both places deliver satisfying meals but appeal to different preferences.
Recommendations Based on Spice Tolerance
If you enjoy a mild meal and are exploring local fare, Pa Yak Boat Noodles is the place to go. On the other hand, for the spice aficionado, Ruathong Noodles is a must-visit. Understanding your spice tolerance can help you choose the right spot for an unforgettable meal.
Beyond the Noodles: Tips for Exploring Boat Noodle Alley
Navigating the Language Barrier
Communicating in a non-English speaking environment can be daunting. Learn a few basic Thai phrases or use translation apps to help order your food smoothly. Keep it simple; locals often appreciate the effort, even if you stumble over the words.
Exploring Other Food Options
Boat Noodle Alley is bustling with street food vendors offering various delicacies. Take your time to explore beyond noodles. You might discover hidden gems, like fresh fruits or savory snacks that complement your meal.
Budgeting for Your Trip
When planning your food budget, consider that meals at these noodle spots range from 18 baht to about 50 baht per bowl. With such low prices, you can try multiple dishes without worrying about costs.
Conclusion: A Delicious and Affordable Bangkok Adventure
Visiting Pa Yak Boat Noodles and Ruathong Noodles on Boat Noodle Alley reveals the rich diversity of Bangkok’s food scene. Each place brings its unique flavor and experience to the table. While Pa Yak Boat Noodles stakes its claim on affordability and classic flavors, Ruathong Noodles fires up the palate with spicy selections.
Boat noodles in Bangkok offer a tantalizing and budget-friendly culinary adventure. Whether you’re wary of spice or eager for a challenge, these establishments have something for every palate. Dive into the delicious world of boat noodles, and don’t forget to share your experiences with fellow travelers!
We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!
Trip.com– Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
Eat With– Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!
If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!
Flying long haul can be scary, especially when you have never done this before. It’s such a different experience to flying locally. The plane is larger, you get food, and special amenities including a screen to watch movies, shows and play games! But where do you start and what’s the best tips and tricks for the flight?
As some of you may know, we had an amazing trip to Thailand at the end of August ’24, and therefore had a long haul flight recently. We thought there is no better way to share our experience than to write a blog so you can see all the little tips to use as well.
*This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂
Comfortable clothing is a NECESSITY when traveling on a long haul flight. A simple yet effective outfit like joggers and a baggy top would be perfect. The last thing you want to is constantly toss and turn trying to be comfortable. Or even worse – have to try change in one of those tiny bathrooms that you can barely go toilet. A hoodie would be prefect for this situation, a great multi-use item that can keep you warm but also act as a makeshift blanket or pillow if you need it.
However, if you are looking to take a hoodie be aware that this is something you will need to carry on the duration of your trip. So if you don’t have space in your luggage for it, you might need to compromise.
Bring Snacks
Now, as budget travelers, we always look to find ways to cut down on costs but also to have the top experiences we can. So unless you want to spend £4 for a chocolate bar you wouldn’t normally choose when you are home, then make sure to be prepared. We look to bring our own foods to the airport to avoid the prices and this is the same for the flight. Usually we pack rolls/baguettes for the airport AND for the plane ride with some additional sweets/snacks. However, you can’t just pack your whole bag full of snacks and food otherwise you won’t have all the other important things for your trip. We would recommend bring a meal deal or a roll as a snack between meals, as well as some sweets of your choice.
After all, you will be sitting for a large amount of time and likely to get bored, so hunger will strike.
Small Carry on Bag
Now this seems counter-intuitive as you’ve just been told to pack snacks and food alongside the important items in your bag. But you need your bag small enough to save yourself a lot of time and effort during the flight. Picture this, you pack your bag and it doesn’t fit under your seat. That’s fine, you just pop it in the overhead compartment and it’s out the way. Time to kick back and relax right?
What if you want snacks?
Or your phone runs out?
Or you realise there’s something in your bag that you need? Like a toothbrush as after all, it is a long haul flight.
It could be anything and you don’t want to keep jumping up and down to grab it as it will become annoying for you and your fellow travelers.
So the solution?
Find a bag that has good space but is also perfect to slide under your seat with still having a decent amount of leg room. This will allow for sure an easy grab for any unexpected issues or objects that you need to get from your bag.
Have your charger in your carry-on
If you never have been on a long haul flight before, then you may not know that the screens you have for entertainment also include a charging port and a headphone port for you. This is super important as you are likely to run out of charge on your device so make sure to pack your charger in a convenient spot.
The last thing you want to do is realise it is right at the bottom of the bag and have to pull EVERYTHING out to just to reach it, or worse! Put your charger in the holder so you have no charger during the whole flight. No one wants that problem.
Get up and walk around
It’s very easy to just sit in your seat and sleep, eat and watch your way through the flight but your body won’t be happy after it. You are likely to be very achy or tired by the end of the flight or maybe even light headed. You have to think, there’s not many times in your life where you are sat down in the same position for longer than 8 or so hours. Yes, we have sleep but that is usually in a more comfortable position than you one you will be in during a flight. It is recommended to get up and stretch every 2 or so hours.
However, we would recommend to not only do this, but walk up and back down the aisle once or twice to stretch your legs and get the blood flowing. This will help your body regulate and keep yourself from getting stiff.
Remember, after a long haul flight you will likely have after affects from jet lag so the last thing you want to do is add to that by making your body achy and stiff.
Plan your flight
Now this isn’t planning it to the minute. You don’t have to schedule each activity during the flight and keep to time constraints. That isn’t what we are saying. However, you will have 8+ hours worth of travel time with not a lot to do. So, how can you fill this time?
We would recommend to have multiple ideas of ways to keep you busy during this time. We have even seen people take Nintendo switch as a good activity which would definitely kill a few hours on the flight. However, you will soon get bored so what else is there to do. We would recommend having 2/3 other options on top of what they provide on the flight.
They provide great entertainment with many new and classic films, popular TV Shows, and music and even some pretty cool games with who wants to be a millionaire and popular games like battleships being available. For us, a great way to enjoy the first 30/60 minutes is to scroll through to see what they have to offer and pick out a few films/shows you will want to watch during the flight. We also do this with the games, have a little scroll and find games that will occupy us during the flight.
We would recommend to have a pack of cards, or a travel game to bring that is small as well as some games on your phone. But be sure that they are games that work offline as you won’t have any internet connection during the flight. Also include some sort of chilled activity like a book or E-book that you can read or a diary/journal that can occupy you.
Having these vast options will give you the option to change when you are bored and not run out of things to do. And worse case, you can just go sleep for a few hours to kill time!
Dietary requirements
Now this may not be important to everyone, but if you have any allergens or dietary needs such as being vegetarian, then make sure to communicate this. This is done BEFORE your flight and is necessary to put the steps in place to avoid any problems during this flight.
If you have an allergy with peanuts for example, it is a MUST to let them know beforehand. They will make an announcement during the flight that passengers are not to open any packets of peanuts during the flight. They will also make sure that the meals provided don’t include any peanuts. This will save any last minute conversations and problems during the flight.
For dietary requirements, such as being veggie, they usually take your meal orders when you book so that they can allocate enough to bring on board before the flight. The last thing you would want is for meal time to come around and there are no veggie options available because you didn’t let them know ahead of time. They will have a list of all those who have requested dietary specific requirements which likely means you will get your meals before the rest of the passengers which is a little bonus if you are super hungry.
These are super important to know so you don’t run into any problems during the flight and so you can enjoy your experience before heading off on your backpacking journey. These tips and trick will guide you through a smooth ride and allow you to make the most of your time in the sky.
If you did enjoy this blog, do let us know below by liking, subscribing or leaving a comment, it would be much appreciated.
As mentioned above, we are soon to be heading to Thailand so we will be using this tips ourselves! But also, look out for some amazing Thailand Vlogs, Blogs and much much more on our socials which is linked below.
See our Long-Haul Experience!
We recently uploaded our full travel vlog for our flight with Gulf Air to Thailand! So, if you want to see how a long-haul flight works out, then check out our vlog!
Find our Travel Essentials!
We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:
We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!
Trip.com– Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
Eat With– Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!
We post weekly Youtube Videos now! Please check out our newest Vlog!
If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!
Now as we enter the new year, it’s the exciting time to ponder the travels and adventures you look to embark on.
Hopefully, 2024 included some of your best travels yet and you made the most amazing memories to cherish. But let’s make sure 2025 can top this!
When looking for inspiration it can definitely be overwhelming as there are so many options and opinions expressed and you just can’t decided on which one can you? Well.. this is where we come in!
We are going to breakdown all the best locations to visit and categorize them so you can tailor your searches to EXACTLY what you want to get out of your travels in 2025.
But before we begin, it’s important to reflect on the travels you embarked on in 2024. So tell us yours in the comments below once you read ours!
Our Travels
March 2024
To start our travels we have to revisit March where our first journey of 2024 began. Here, we took 7 days to not only experience but also explore different parts of Morocco!
Morocco was very different to a lot of the travel we were used to but dove in head first and enjoyed every second of it.
We spend 3 days exploring the old Medina in Fes; which are small, narrow streets squished between tall, antique style buildings. Like we were stuck in the maze runner’s maze (if you have seen it!).
After long we then moved to a small city called Meknes around an hour or so train ride away for 2 days, before hitting our last location of Rabat (the capital). Rabat was a beautiful split between being a built up city, full of local markets, and an unique way of life.
Morocco was a lovely place to visit and one we would always recommend to readers to explore! Check our Morocco blogs and YouTube videos below!!
June 2024
Here we headed on a relaxing, all-inclusive family trip with family to the lovely seaside town of Side, Turkey. This was a quaint location which we plan to visit again, but more-so to explore the ancient areas and activities in the town. It was super vibrant and of course included a beautiful beach which was boasted lovely weather.
August/September 2024
For Jack’s birthday, we decided to plan and embark on a last minute trip to Thailand! Now, this was Aimee’s first time in Thailand and even Asia so she was super excited!
We left a few days before Jack’s birthday and celebrated it in Bangkok eating food, walking around markets and living our best life. We spent a total of 4 days here before moving north to Chiang Mai, one of Jack’s favourite places in North Thailand. Unfortunately Jack was ill (with a respiratory infection) the duration of Chiang Mai, but we managed to see a few markets and temples on the better days. We did manage to see the elephants of course though!
After leaving here we went to Pai and explored the beauty of the village going on tours, walking markets and making the most of our time in the north.
We finally finished Thailand with a 4 day stint in Koh Tao, an island south of Bangkok. Here we rested up the best we could after a busy travel schedule and illnesses. The beach was paradise, and a place we wish we didn’t have to leave. We spent time snorkeling looking for turtles (sadly didn’t find any), and seeing many colourful fish.
The food across Thailand is wonderful and super fresh, and we made sure to make the most of it haha!
Unfortunately, this was our last trip of 2024 with only a seaside U.K. trip in October rounding off the year with our old dog Bruce.
Bruce’s 17th Birthday at the beach.
2025??
Now, what’s in store for 2025? Travel plans definitely differ person to person, with some looking to organise their year before it even begun, whereas some like to be spontaneous and let their impulses decide. Neither of these options are right or wrong, it just depends on who you are, and what you want.
For longer trips, you have to consider more of course (including flight price etc). But for shorter flights, you could even book just before you take off!
So how are we planning it?
We have broken it into the months we are looking to travel, and times where it’s best to go to make the most of the time we have.
Jack as you may know is working full time, and Aimee is recently out of surgery (for more information on our daily lives check out ourInstagram), so getting out isn’t realistic for now. But we have a plan!
We have decided on a break, no matter small or large, every few months so we have explore and have time off from our busy lives. So the schedule is as follows:
March
April
June
August
October/November
Disclaimer** Now this is subject for change but it’s a rough plan
March
March is the first trip after Aimee’s surgery and will be a small one together (likely with a family member). We plan on a 3/4 day trip to somewhere quaint like France, in a town that is less busy.
We have a rough plan but these types of holiday are great when you are working with limited days off, and a great way to travel during the winter months. Across Europe are some beautiful areas (one coming to mind being Aarhus- Denmark) which many people wouldn’t think about visiting. So why not choose somewhere you might not usually consider and give it a whirl?
It would likely be a quiet, less busy style of trip, where we would go to a smaller area and spend our time exploring the lesser-known location. You don’t necessarily need to know everything you are doing here, the trip would be split between some planned activities and some spontaneous.
April
April would be more exploratory for us. This would likely be a 2 location trip over 4/5 days which again would be relaxing like the March trip but a little more adventurous.
Examples would include trip that consist of either of the following:
2 town/small cities in a larger, popular country like Spain or Italy. Like Gijon and Oviedo in the north of Spain!
2 cities from neighboring countries. Examples would be like Eastern European countries who are close to each other. Like Podgorica and Dubrovnik or Rotterdam and Antwerp.
The trip again would be like March’s trip, but with more activities and planning involved (with a likelihood of more days than less). For sure it should be warmer than the other trip so why not explore more and spend more time here!
June
Our plans for June are likely to be a warmer location. The summer time has started and there’s no better way to celebrate it than going to a warm country! This trip is likely to be a longer trip than the previous 2 of the year, so let’s dig in.
The trip would be to a location similar to Greece or Turkey – probably sticking to Europe somewhere.
For us, it will be at the start of June to avoid the busy months of the summer holidays and to also skip the hottest months of July and August which can definitely get too hot. This trip could be completely different, and is likely to be either of the 2 below:
A, recovery holiday that is very relaxing and a time to just enjoy the sun and being in a different country.
Or B, a busy experience holiday of trying to see the most of a country.
I suppose it depends on how we both feel when we are looking to book, and whether we need a detox or are ready for a busy adventure. Either way, June is a super good time to go away.
August
Now, at the end of August 2024, we were in Thailand so that would be very hard to beat but we can definitely try. This trip could be a big one for us and likely to be at least 1 week depending on whether Jack is still working. This trip could be the first of the year that would be outside Europe but may not be as spectacular as last year. We would choose an exotic place that is a warm location where there is a lot to do. Examples would be Egypt, or like our trip last year to Morocco.
As Aimee would be over 6 months through recovery we would plan to be super busy and plan to explore each location/region we visit; so we can gauge how prepared we might be for our next trip of 2025.
October/November
This is where, at the start of 2025 at least, we have the plan to potentially take a leap towards long-term travel to some degree. Whether this would be a few months abroad or the start of a one-way trip with no planned end… we don’t know.
Sounds super exciting right?????
This would likely be a trip to South East Asia, more specifically, Vietnam! Vietnam is a place you may know Jack has visited, and Aimee is highlighting it as her next bucket list location. Now, Aimee has a family member here which she hasn’t seen for a decade which means that Hanoi is a great place to start our travels (since that is where they live). In Vietnam, we would likely look to slowly travel through Vietnam to explore each location thoroughly. Here, we would be looking to spend close to a week in each location and soak up what we are actually doing.
Vietnam is such a diverse country and the perfect start for travel as it has a blend of bustling cities, beautiful beaches, rural towns & natural delights.
It’s likely from here, we would move to bordering countries like Cambodia or Laos, with another trip back to Thailand.
If you aren’t already aware, we would be looking to earn for ourselves during our trip and therefore would stick to the ‘cheaper countries’ so our money can stretch us for the longest time whilst we earn/save.
This is something we are working towards even now, and cannot wait to start this new chapter in our lives. Closer to the time we will design ideas and travel plans ready for this big trip.
A trip we plan to last us into new year and hopefully further beyond!
This is SOOOOOOOOO exciting for us and we cannot wait to experience all of this, and bring YOU along with our traveling journeys and experiences.
Not only do we want to show you our life of travel, but also motivate you to take this leap of faith as we plan to do soon so that your dreams can also come alive.
Be sure to follow along for more travel stories, trips and so so much more!
Check Out Our Latest YouTube Video!
Find our Travel Essentials!
We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:
We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!
Trip.com– Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
Eat With– Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!
Also, check out our Social Media’s for our amazing travelling journey! Hint Hint: we have just came back from our trip to Thailand!!
Slow travelling is something we touched upon in a recent blog called ‘Fast Travel vs Slow Travel‘ which compared slow travel and fast travel. It’s understanding what they both are and which would be better suited to your travel needs and plans. It’s not a topic many think of when deciding to travel but really provides insight on how to plan your trip and helps you to make the most everyday.
For those who aren’t aware of what slow travel is, it’s pretty simple. Slow travel is the design to travel at a slower pace. Now, this can be for a number of reasons. And this is what we look to delve deeper into later on in this blog. But slow travel isn’t usually the common type of travel for most.
Fast travel seems to be a lot more popular and here’s why. The main benefit of fast travel is so you can see more place compare to slow travel. It’s like visiting a sweet shop and buying one of everything. You know you are buying too much, but you don’t know when you will be in the sweet shop again so you make sure you don’t miss out. When travelling there is so much to see and do, travelers often get FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). It’s common and leads people to visit more places just to cram it all in. This partnered with the fact that many travelers only do this part time or rarely meaning they aren’t likely to be back at this corner of the globe any time soon. So they think ‘while I’m here I might as well make the most of it.
But this is enough about fast travel, after all, it’s not the topic of conversation.
Benefits of Slow Travel
As mentioned above, slow travel comes with a lot of benefits which we will put under the microscope now.
Becoming A Local
The main benefit of slow travel is being able to enjoy the places you visit more. Picture this, you have 2/3 days in each location and you are constantly rushing around to complete to ‘top things to do in each location’. By doing this, you will be missing out on the rest of the activities in the location as well as a host of things to do there. This includes the best coffee shops, places to eat and so much more.
Slow travel really allows you to savour each moment and enjoy the little things. If you are just racing through each place you may not remember much about it other than the ‘big activity’. Some of the fondest memories is the ones where you weren’t necessarily doing the craziest of activities, rather, the most simple. An example of this would be enjoying a late night sing along with locals in Indonesia where a local was playing guitar and we sat with him and his friends for hours singing. It was amazing!
Sometimes you need to just embrace the place you are in, take a moment to be present to enjoy it the most.
Recovery Days
Traveling will be an amazing experience no matter where you go. Whether you enjoy partying, living off grid or just exploring new cultures, you will be sure to have the time of your life. So many memories will be made and you will likely see more than most. However, a lot of people don’t mention one of the downsides to travel.
It. Is. Exhausting.
First of all, living out of a backpack or suitcase is pretty simple for a few weeks but when you are venturing into months or even years, it can be quite a challenge. Not to mention the endless activities you have planned each day to make the most of each trip. The last thing you want to do is have an ‘off day’ and miss out on some awesome experience!
So don’t!
It’s super important, if not a necessity to allow for down days. Days where you can relax and allow your body to recover. You have to think, a lot of your travel time will be lugging round a heavy bag and moving from place to place so 1-3 days every so often is so needed.
For traveling, we would recommend roughly a 2 day break every 3-4 weeks depending on how fast you travel and how much of a veteran you are at traveling. After a busy few weeks jumping from place to place and completing daring, once-in-a-lifetime activities, there’s no better way to spend some time.
For this, we would recommend you to find a place near the beach (if possible), a pool would work well also. And spend time to yourself, reading a book, or relaxing in the sun and taking the days easy. For adrenaline seekers, this may seem boring. However, your body cannot keep going at a fast pace forever when travelling so make sure to take this breaks to avoid travel burn out.
We would suggest to maybe revisit some old fond memories you enjoyed before travelling such as tennis or hiking but do it without feeling the need to be somewhere. Have a wander up the beach or through some shops and really let your body recover. It’s important to note that your mind would need a rest also. Having a few days without a packed schedule might help with this.
Avoid Missing Out
Travelling really is an open ended book. You have the possibility to experience whatever you want in each location and it’s your job, as the author, to make these decisions. A slow travel plan will allow you to learn about travelling on the way and maybe even be informed by fellow travellers of new, unheard of experiences that you are interested in. Research can only give you so much.
The idea of slow travel is learning more about each place and embracing the little things so when you go you will have added time in each location. This will give you a buffer so that if there are any other activities in a location you might not of planned for, then you have the time to schedule it in.
If you are running off a fast paced travel schedule, you will either have to miss out of the activity or substitute it with another which either way, you will be missing out.
Flexibility
Even if you have done hours and hours of research into where you are heading, and planned it perfectly, it doesn’t mean your schedule will work perfectly. You have to understand you are heading into new places which running totally different to what you are used to. They may have poorer transport, or different open and closing times which you can’t always plan for.
Slow travel lets you substitute your time and move about days to suit any issues that may arise. An example would be in Philippines which have poor transportation links which require a few days buffer. If not, you will have to lose out on parts of your plan. If we had planned slow travel, then we could of worked around it with the added days as safety. This is a mistake we aim to not make again as we missed out on one of our top activities because of this and we don’t want you to do the same.
Overview
Slow travelling is, at least for us, the desired way of travelling. It really allows you to make the most of your time and be flexible when deciding on your plans. There’s so many things that can delay your travels that are out of your hands, it’s best to have a little buffer. Therefore, you can still see everything you want plus more without missing out on your bucket list activities. Obviously, this is location specific but we would look to use this method when visiting most places. Your body will always need a day or more to recover when travelling so make sure to adhere to your bodies needs before getting travel burnout.
Thank you for reading this blog and we hope you enjoyed! If you did, make sure to subscribe for more blogs and check out our social media’s below to follow along with our daily travels. This includes a VERY exciting trip to Thailand over the next month where we will give you loads of Thailand related content!!
We post weekly Youtube Videos! Please check out our newest Vlog from Bangkok!
We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!
Trip.com– Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
Eat With– Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!
Bangkok is a bustling city that truly never sleeps so make sure your Instagram posts don’t either! There’s an endless supply of activity so make sure to keep your posts booming for all your followers and get them dreaming of their own Bangkok adventure’s!
Also, check out our Social Media’s for our amazing travelling journey! Hint Hint: we have just came back from our trip to Thailand!!
Planning a trip to Chiang Mai? This hostel is a top pick for visiting, from top-tier trips and discounts, social evenings, free dinners, a pool, the list goes on! Carry on reading to find out exactly why we loved Revolution hostel so much, and how you can visit when you go Chiang Mai, Thailand!
*There are affiliate links in this post – they do not come at any extra cost to you, but just means we can earn commission to help us pursue this further 🙂
Chiang Mai is one of the largest cities outside of Bangkok in the north of Thailand. However, the centre of Chiang Mai is a small quarter which is surrounded completely by an old moat with a few bridges crossing. The Revolution Hostel is located on the east side of the centre inside the moat allowing for easy walks to the centre and even perfectly placed between the two largest markets in the area.
Also, around the corner are quite a few breakfast and food spots which are highly rated, and bars across the road if you like some nightlife. Don’t forget there is always a 7/11 around the corner which is always handy for snacks, drinks and more.
Hostel Room Experience
The hostel room we stayed in was a 4 person dorm right next to the pool which was perfect! The room itself had good space and much needed luggage room under the bed for storage. The bed were suuuper comfy and had shelves for storage as well as a curtain if you aren’t feeling too social.
The en-suite is one of the better touches with a large bathroom. It’s rare to find an en-suite in Thailand with a hostel that is large enough to separate the toilet and shower to avoid any issues. The room overall was a great offering for the price and had all you needed in a dorm room in Chiang Mai.
The Hostel has many other rooms available for your preference. These include a 4/6/9/10 bed dorms as well as private rooms. Some of these dorms have a unique style. The 9 bed dorm is a 3 tier bunk bed which we have never seen before. The other dorms are as usual and offer the same facilities as the 4 bed dorm we described above.
The private rooms are a great spot for a small group of friends or couples. Sometimes you need a break away from the busy dorms so do check out the private rooms available. Some of the private rooms offer 3 beds so if you have 2 friends then why not. The rooms are super spacious and are actually tucked away from the social areas of the hostel which offer a quieter experience.
Social Areas
The hostel has 2 main social areas with one being the pool area. Here is it busy during the day with many enjoying the pool and the games in the area – whereas others might just be enjoying the weather and relaxing ready for the evening. Considering you are in a large city, it’s pretty surprising to see a hostel with a pool. But it definitely changes your experience so much! There are also tables alongside the pool for games such as beer pong and a newly opened drinks bar where you can enjoy alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks during the day.
The main social area around the reception at the entrance to the hostel. Here you have benches which are ideal to social on with a bar to get drinks throughout the day and into the evening. This space also has an upstairs area which unfortunately was being renovated during our stay but is perfect for travellers who are working while they travel. Its can also be used as a quieter space. In the social area they have a large board which outlines the evening activities alongside tomorrows evening activities and a whole host of tours that the hostels provide – but we shall get onto this later.
An important but small addition to this area is a water outlet for drinking. It costs 1 Baht to fill up a normal sized water which is crazy cheap but also stops people from reusing plastic bottles to help the environment. Lovely touch.
This area is usually where the hostels evening events will start. The people attending will be given a time to meet in this area and mingle before heading out for the evening. It’s a great spot to meet people and have a few drinks before the event.
Events
The hostel offers a wide range of events for their guests and they really don’t disappoint. The one we enjoyed the most was the elephants we visited! This experience truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one we won’t forget. The best part of the experience really was that the elephants were protected and are allowed to roam. During our trip, we spent the time looking for the elephants and finding them. The elephants were of course eating and relaxing where we spent some time stroking and taking photos of them. Once we finished, we went on a short walk to a local waterfall and enjoyed the water which was super relaxing. For Aimee, it was her 1st waterfall so she absolutely loved it!!
We wandered back to the main area where the elephants were enjoying time in the local river and we joined in! We ended up washing the elephants and spending time with them before have a lovely lunch overlooking the elephants enjoying their lunch also. The experience was honestly amazing and we would totally recommend anyone who visits Chiang Mai Revolution to go on this experience! The other events include a pub crawl, watching Muay Thai fighting, Cooking classes, sticky waterfall and Drag Queen Cabaret!
The events are very broad which caters to many people and are very reasonably priced for the experiences. We would recommend doing atleast 2 experiences while at the hostel as all the people we spoke with during our stay said they were totally worth it.
Would We Recommend
The hostel offers a whole host of room options to stay with the needed amenities in each. The beds were comfy and there was ample space for your luggage to store. The social areas are really the highlight of the hostel with a swimming pool and loungers! This is pretty rare for a hostel in the city and is a great addition. They also have a bar so if you want a chill day, you can enjoy the pool and drinks at the bar in peace. However, they also have an evening social spot to enjoy and meet people. It’s the perfect place to meet fellow travelers and like-minded people.
The events and activities during the day and in the evening really are the star of the show for the hostel. You can enjoy some crazy nights and unforgettable experiences with the hostel and we couldn’t recommend it more!
The hostel is more than just a nights stay, they provided a family feel and allow you to get the most of your experience in Chiang Mai whether it’s a 2-day stop or you are here for weeks!
We also wanted to highlight a big thank you to Lyndsey, the manager at Revolution Chiang Mai; Jack fell extremely ill during his stay in Chiang Mai, and needed a hospital visit. Lyndsey and the Revs team did everything they could to help in this situation, and we were SO grateful of their help and assistance throughout our stay.
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