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Tag: travelling

  • Top 7 Must-Visit Places in Vietnam: Your Ultimate Travel Guide for 2024

    Top 7 Must-Visit Places in Vietnam: Your Ultimate Travel Guide for 2024

    Vietnam is a stunning location that is rich in culture and beauty. The Vietnamese people are very proud of their countries heritage, and has some beautiful historic monuments that thousands of travellers visit each week.

    The country has so much to do, there are mountains in the north, forests in the west, a stunning coastline on the east and little tropical Islands dotted about.

    Out of the countries in South East Asia, it is not as popular as Thailand or Indonesia, but is just as beautiful. It’s a country that has months worth of places to visit, and some of the kindest people in the world; but a place not many take the time to discover.

    In this list we have narrowed the activities and places to visit down to 7, so when you are backpacking Vietnam you can see the best things to do, and not miss out on seeing what the country has to offer! These are based on our personal experiences, and those we have met travelling that have given their views on Vietnam and the best things to do.

    This list is the things we would recommend all travellers/backpackers to do when visiting Vietnam. These are ones that we couldn’t miss out on and will make your time one to remember!

    *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 🙂

    1. Hoi an

    Hoi An is a small city located on the east side of Vietnam just south of Da Nang. This archipelago is a beautiful setting which we stumbled upon, filled with markets and a river that runs directly through the middle. This welcomes Vietnamese boats and boat rides in traditional circular boats down the river. Hear you can experience some of the countryside and learn more about the area!

    Further in the city, they have the most stunning tradition to light lanterns on the river to create a beautiful view. It’s something that is unique and really sets a lovely tone in the city when you wander. You can actually create your own foldable lantern in this workshop here, which can collapse nicely to fit in your luggage home, for a stunning authentic souvenir home! In the city there are so many local shops that offer real leather products and jewellery which would be perfect to shop at!

    They are some awesome food spots as well so make sure to take your time in this area, and we would recommend a 1 night stay to make the most of your time in Hoi An. You can enjoy a small group food tour around Hoi An with a guide to experience the best local foods here.

    2. Ha Long Bay

    This is known as one of the natural wonders of the world, and a place that is like no other on our planet. It’s located on the coast which is east of Hanoi and has over 1,600 islands to explore!

    You can experience an overnight cruise which you stay on the boat and spend the night on the water in nature, such as this beautiful 5 star cruise here, or the day cruise to visit many islands, like this one here where you can see caves, go kayaking, swimming and more! During thie trip you will have opportunities to stop at the islands to explore. These includes the famous Titop island named after the Russian Cosmonaut that was the 2nd person to ever orbit the Earth.

    Activities include kayaking in natural waters, wildlife watching (including wild monkeys) and cave exploring! There’s so much to see and do and the views are breath taking. We would definitely take the time to travel to Ha Long Bay and and experience the natural wonder!

    However, there’s not much to do in Ha Long as it’s very quite and a lot of the city is closed so be prepared to keep yourself busy. We would only recommend 1/2 night max as you will run out of things to do in the city very quickly!

    3. Ha Giang Loop

    When travelling South East Asia, we wasn’t even aware of this as an activity and was only told during our first outing in the Philippines. We met a local traveller who had spend 6-12 months in Asia and said this is the BEST thing he has done so far while here.

    The Ha Giang Loop is a small village in the north west region of Vietnam and is located just south of a hundreds of miles of open roads, peaks and tiny villages high up in the mountains. This is a largely undiscovered area which has seldom roads weaving in valley and alongside mountains.

    As expected, it is home to some of the most amazing views we have EVER witnessed and really connects you back with nature.

    If is recommended to book the Ha Giang Loop with hostels or activity companies, like this one, as it is safer and they have a set route. However, if you are adventurous you can hire your own motorbike and head into the mountains yourself! Please note that the region is vast and you could easily get lost so we would only recommend this if you are an avid bike rider and know the area well, or have planned this thoroughly.

    When booking, you can choose anywhere between 2 – 4 days and they provide you with a full breakdown of everything you will do while completing the loop. No matter the length of time you will see breath-taking views, eat some amazing food deep into the mountains and visit isolated waterfalls.

    Unfortunately we only did 2 days worth and loved every second of it! We would tell everyone that they need to do the 4 day Loop which will take you further into the mountains, go to the China border, visit cliffs and so much more!! It’s an experience that changed our outlook on our travels, and we have vowed to go back and complete the full loop in the future!

    During the first day we started out early around 9 am and get to meet your personal rider (if you have chosen this). You can ride the bike yourself but we would only do this if you are a competent rider and know rode motorbikes confidently before. We opted for a driver to be safe!

    It’s important to note that you will only take a small bag that is taken on the bike so pack light! You can rent protective gear for the ride which you should do! Normally you can get up to 60 km so falling off can be very dangerous. It’s cheap and could save your life if the worst was to happen. We would also recommend to take long sleeve clothing and long trousers so protect your legs. It can get warm on the back of the bike but it will protect you if you were to fall off.

    During the rike, you will take a break every 1 – 1 1/2 hours to stretch your legs, nip toilet and eat some food and drink before heading off again! You will stop for lunch in a small town on Day one and have food included which is a buffet. The food is beautiful and a great place to fill yourself up and meet your fellow riders!

    The place to stay is hidden in a small town and offers another buffet for dinner which includes the BEST food we have ever tasted… and this was veggie spring rolls. Drinks are available and you can dance the night away with music and get to know all the amazing people around you. It really is a great experience! The next day you leave early and head forward further into the mountains but we headed back another way and made stops at some beautiful locations where we took photos and met some amazing people. This included taking a break at a waterfall and going for a swim. Me and the rider took turns jumping off the rocks into the waterfall and even rock, paper, scissor to see who jumped first… (Jack won!!).

    It was an out of this world experience and will definitely be the best thing you do in Vietnam! It’s just beautiful.

    The Ha Giang loop is usually booked through local (Jasmine Hostel) hostels or on activity companies in Vietnam

    4. Da Nang – Marble Mountains

    The Marble Mountains are located in Da Nang and is a great way to learn about the history of Vietnam, and explore cultural caves. The marble mountains include many steps which take you past sculptures, pagoda’s, religious caves, and old relic houses.

    It would take roughly 3-4 hours to explore and offer some amazing views of the city and beach from above. You can climb all the way to the top and even stop off for a quick ice-cream as you recover for the humid weather. The marble mountains get the name by being made from marble which is shown through sculpture shops surrounding showing off their amazing work. A lot of the statues are taller than us and are perfectly created!

    It’s such an amazing part of Vietnam to walk through and there really is no place like it. When leaving the mountain you can enter some souvenir shops that have small marble items you can purchase to remember this beautiful place by!

    5. Cu Chi Caves

    In Ho Chi Minh you can get a bus to the caves and learn more about the history of Vietnam. Vietnam were involved in a civil war between the 50s and 70s which saw many thousands of lives lost. During the war, the Vietnamese used tunnels as a way of hiding from the enemy and built a small tunnel civilisation which they would live in to survive.

    This is now available to visit and go into to see how they lived and learn more about the war. During this, you will be able to see the tunnels they walked and lived in, how they hid the entrances and many traps that they would lay to kill any enemy and how it was used. Find a half-day tour here, with an informative guide straight from Ho Chi Minh City.

    This really helps understand the war more and is a great way to spend half a day near Ho Chi Minh City.

    6. Hanoi Tailored Clothing

    Hanoi is a well known location for travellers to pick up tailored clothing to take home. There are so many tailored clothing shops and the quality of the maker and materials is amazing. They will show you different materials and designs to choose from and will let you design and create your own clothes and make it fit you perfectly.

    Once you place your order, you then leave it with them for a few days so it is designed and put together before picking it up. A lot of people struggle with finding a suitable place to keep/pack the clothing once purchased but you can now get the clothes sent home which they will sort at an extra cost.

    This is a rather expensive experience which can cost upwards of £100 – £200 as a minimum. You can easily spend close to £1,000 on tailored clothing but the clothes will last due the use of some top quality material and the expertise of the makers. For men it’s great to get a suit for home and for the ladies a dress that can remind you of your times in South East Asia.

    7. Mui Ne

    This is a place not many know about in Vietnam but definitely will be popular in the future! This hidden gem is a beautiful paradisal beach which is located next to sand dunes. These sand dunes are red, yellow and white so you can experience some amazing colours dependant on what part of Mui Ne you are.

    This is a perfect spot to do sandboarding activities and hire quad bikes/dune buggies to ride across the sand and have the best time. Once you are tired after a long activity in the sun, there’s no better place to collapse and enjoy the crystal clear waters and soak up the sun with an ice-cream or a fresh coconut.

    These sand dunes make you feel like you are in the Sahara Dessert and there is not any similar locations in South East Asia so make sure not to miss out on this!

    Vietnam is a must visit spot!

    Vietnam is an amazing country that is a must to explore for all travellers. There is so much to explore and learn whilst being here and it’s a place you are sure to make memories.

    Make sure to check out our backpackers guide to Hanoi and our other blogs on how to backpack South East Asia and other countries across the world.

    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!

    You can follow our Backpacking and travel journey through our Social Medias below:

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans!

    Leave a comment

  • Vietnam Travel Guide; Top 7 Must-Visit Places in Vietnam

    Vietnam Travel Guide; Top 7 Must-Visit Places in Vietnam

    Vietnam is a stunning location that is rich in culture and beauty. The Vietnamese people are very proud of their countries heritage, and has some beautiful historic monuments that thousands of travellers visit each week.

    The country has so much to do, there are mountains in the north, forests in the west, a stunning coastline on the east and little tropical Islands dotted about.

    Out of the countries in South East Asia, it is not as popular as Thailand or Indonesia, but is just as beautiful. It’s a country that has months worth of places to visit, and some of the kindest people in the world; but a place not many take the time to discover.

    In this list we have narrowed the activities and places to visit down to 7, so when you are backpacking Vietnam you can see the best things to do, and not miss out on seeing what the country has to offer! These are based on our personal experiences, and those we have met travelling that have given their views on Vietnam and the best things to do.

    This list is the things we would recommend all travellers/backpackers to do when visiting Vietnam. These are ones that we couldn’t miss out on and will make your time one to remember!

    *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 🙂

    1. Hoi an

    Hoi An is a small city located on the east side of Vietnam just south of Da Nang. This archipelago is a beautiful setting which we stumbled upon, filled with markets and a river that runs directly through the middle. This welcomes Vietnamese boats and boat rides in traditional circular boats down the river. Hear you can experience some of the countryside and learn more about the area!

    Further in the city, they have the most stunning tradition to light lanterns on the river to create a beautiful view. It’s something that is unique and really sets a lovely tone in the city when you wander. You can actually create your own foldable lantern in this workshop here, which can collapse nicely to fit in your luggage home, for a stunning authentic souvenir home! In the city there are so many local shops that offer real leather products and jewellery which would be perfect to shop at!

    They are some awesome food spots as well so make sure to take your time in this area, and we would recommend a 1 night stay to make the most of your time in Hoi An. You can enjoy a small group food tour around Hoi An with a guide to experience the best local foods here.

    2. Ha Long Bay

    This is known as one of the natural wonders of the world, and a place that is like no other on our planet. It’s located on the coast which is east of Hanoi and has over 1,600 islands to explore!

    You can experience an overnight cruise which you stay on the boat and spend the night on the water in nature, such as this beautiful 5 star cruise here, or the day cruise to visit many islands, like this one here where you can see caves, go kayaking, swimming and more! During thie trip you will have opportunities to stop at the islands to explore. These includes the famous Titop island named after the Russian Cosmonaut that was the 2nd person to ever orbit the Earth.

    Activities include kayaking in natural waters, wildlife watching (including wild monkeys) and cave exploring! There’s so much to see and do and the views are breath taking. We would definitely take the time to travel to Ha Long Bay and and experience the natural wonder!

    However, there’s not much to do in Ha Long as it’s very quite and a lot of the city is closed so be prepared to keep yourself busy. We would only recommend 1/2 night max as you will run out of things to do in the city very quickly!

    3. Ha Giang Loop

    When travelling South East Asia, we wasn’t even aware of this as an activity and was only told during our first outing in the Philippines. We met a local traveller who had spend 6-12 months in Asia and said this is the BEST thing he has done so far while here.

    The Ha Giang Loop is a small village in the north west region of Vietnam and is located just south of a hundreds of miles of open roads, peaks and tiny villages high up in the mountains. This is a largely undiscovered area which has seldom roads weaving in valley and alongside mountains.

    As expected, it is home to some of the most amazing views we have EVER witnessed and really connects you back with nature.

    If is recommended to book the Ha Giang Loop with hostels or activity companies, like this one, as it is safer and they have a set route. However, if you are adventurous you can hire your own motorbike and head into the mountains yourself! Please note that the region is vast and you could easily get lost so we would only recommend this if you are an avid bike rider and know the area well, or have planned this thoroughly.

    When booking, you can choose anywhere between 2 – 4 days and they provide you with a full breakdown of everything you will do while completing the loop. No matter the length of time you will see breath-taking views, eat some amazing food deep into the mountains and visit isolated waterfalls.

    Unfortunately we only did 2 days worth and loved every second of it! We would tell everyone that they need to do the 4 day Loop which will take you further into the mountains, go to the China border, visit cliffs and so much more!! It’s an experience that changed our outlook on our travels, and we have vowed to go back and complete the full loop in the future!

    During the first day we started out early around 9 am and get to meet your personal rider (if you have chosen this). You can ride the bike yourself but we would only do this if you are a competent rider and know rode motorbikes confidently before. We opted for a driver to be safe!

    It’s important to note that you will only take a small bag that is taken on the bike so pack light! You can rent protective gear for the ride which you should do! Normally you can get up to 60 km so falling off can be very dangerous. It’s cheap and could save your life if the worst was to happen. We would also recommend to take long sleeve clothing and long trousers so protect your legs. It can get warm on the back of the bike but it will protect you if you were to fall off.

    During the rike, you will take a break every 1 – 1 1/2 hours to stretch your legs, nip toilet and eat some food and drink before heading off again! You will stop for lunch in a small town on Day one and have food included which is a buffet. The food is beautiful and a great place to fill yourself up and meet your fellow riders!

    The place to stay is hidden in a small town and offers another buffet for dinner which includes the BEST food we have ever tasted… and this was veggie spring rolls. Drinks are available and you can dance the night away with music and get to know all the amazing people around you. It really is a great experience! The next day you leave early and head forward further into the mountains but we headed back another way and made stops at some beautiful locations where we took photos and met some amazing people. This included taking a break at a waterfall and going for a swim. Me and the rider took turns jumping off the rocks into the waterfall and even rock, paper, scissor to see who jumped first… (Jack won!!).

    It was an out of this world experience and will definitely be the best thing you do in Vietnam! It’s just beautiful.

    The Ha Giang loop is usually booked through local (Jasmine Hostel) hostels or on activity companies in Vietnam

    4. Da Nang – Marble Mountains

    The Marble Mountains are located in Da Nang and is a great way to learn about the history of Vietnam, and explore cultural caves. The marble mountains include many steps which take you past sculptures, pagoda’s, religious caves, and old relic houses.

    It would take roughly 3-4 hours to explore and offer some amazing views of the city and beach from above. You can climb all the way to the top and even stop off for a quick ice-cream as you recover for the humid weather. The marble mountains get the name by being made from marble which is shown through sculpture shops surrounding showing off their amazing work. A lot of the statues are taller than us and are perfectly created!

    It’s such an amazing part of Vietnam to walk through and there really is no place like it. When leaving the mountain you can enter some souvenir shops that have small marble items you can purchase to remember this beautiful place by!

    5. Cu Chi Caves

    In Ho Chi Minh you can get a bus to the caves and learn more about the history of Vietnam. Vietnam were involved in a civil war between the 50s and 70s which saw many thousands of lives lost. During the war, the Vietnamese used tunnels as a way of hiding from the enemy and built a small tunnel civilisation which they would live in to survive.

    This is now available to visit and go into to see how they lived and learn more about the war. During this, you will be able to see the tunnels they walked and lived in, how they hid the entrances and many traps that they would lay to kill any enemy and how it was used. Find a half-day tour here, with an informative guide straight from Ho Chi Minh City.

    This really helps understand the war more and is a great way to spend half a day near Ho Chi Minh City.

    6. Hanoi Tailored Clothing

    Hanoi is a well known location for travellers to pick up tailored clothing to take home. There are so many tailored clothing shops and the quality of the maker and materials is amazing. They will show you different materials and designs to choose from and will let you design and create your own clothes and make it fit you perfectly.

    Once you place your order, you then leave it with them for a few days so it is designed and put together before picking it up. A lot of people struggle with finding a suitable place to keep/pack the clothing once purchased but you can now get the clothes sent home which they will sort at an extra cost.

    This is a rather expensive experience which can cost upwards of £100 – £200 as a minimum. You can easily spend close to £1,000 on tailored clothing but the clothes will last due the use of some top quality material and the expertise of the makers. For men it’s great to get a suit for home and for the ladies a dress that can remind you of your times in South East Asia.

    7. Mui Ne

    This is a place not many know about in Vietnam but definitely will be popular in the future! This hidden gem is a beautiful paradisal beach which is located next to sand dunes. These sand dunes are red, yellow and white so you can experience some amazing colours dependant on what part of Mui Ne you are.

    This is a perfect spot to do sandboarding activities and hire quad bikes/dune buggies to ride across the sand and have the best time. Once you are tired after a long activity in the sun, there’s no better place to collapse and enjoy the crystal clear waters and soak up the sun with an ice-cream or a fresh coconut.

    These sand dunes make you feel like you are in the Sahara Dessert and there is not any similar locations in South East Asia so make sure not to miss out on this!

    Vietnam is a must visit spot!

    Vietnam is an amazing country that is a must to explore for all travellers. There is so much to explore and learn whilst being here and it’s a place you are sure to make memories.

    Make sure to check out our backpackers guide to Hanoi and our other blogs on how to backpack South East Asia and other countries across the world.

    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!

    You can follow our Backpacking and travel journey through our Social Medias below:

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans!

    Leave a comment

  • Ultimate 2-Day Fez Itinerary: Unveiling the Best of Morocco’s Cultural Gem

    Ultimate 2-Day Fez Itinerary: Unveiling the Best of Morocco’s Cultural Gem

    Morocco is a vibrant, scenic country which is full of rich histories! There is so much to love about and it is surprising with the amount of places you must visit in the country!

    Ideally, to get the most out of the country you probably would need 1 month worth of travelling to visit all of the must see places. These include seaside towns/cities like Tangier or Agadir with beaches that you need to see. But also they have many beautiful locations inland like Chefchaouen which is a completely blue town or Mergouza which is on the cusp of the Sahara desert which is perfect for a range of activities!!

    It’s definitely a location we will be revisiting but for now, 7 days is all we have so lets make the most of it!

    We have filmed a Vlog for Fes which is up on our YouTube which you can find here or below.

    *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 🙂

    How to spend 2/3 days in Fes!

    If we are honest, we looked at the cheapest flight across Europe and countries just outside and this jumped out as one of the cheapest! We initially were looking to fly to Ouarzazate for £30 return but we didn’t book them tickets in time- but rather saw a cheap flight to Fes for £50 which we couldn’t pass up!

    So it’s not as if we chose to visit Fes.. more-so it was meant to be. The city really didn’t disappoint!!

    As we booked the flights 36 or so hours before departure, we didn’t know a whole lot about the city. What activities to do, where to stay, what and where to eat etc! We pretty much spent the day before brushing up on the best things to do.

    For Fes, we kept an open mind on whether to travel around Morocco, or to just take it easy and explore the city more! We didn’t have many plans, but rather we would make decisions on a day-to-day basis depending how we were feeling, and if we wanted to venture to different places.

    As we landed in Fes first thing on a Monday morning, we navigated the city into the marina and wandered through the favela-like streets to our stay. We were very lucky, we outreached to hostels and AirBnB’s in Fes to see if we could get any gifted stays to keep costs down on our trip, and we spoke with a lovely hostel who were very happy to support our trip with content in return!

    If you have the tools, this is a great way to keep costs down but don’t be discouraged if you can’t get gifted stays, not everywhere does them!! Let us know if you would like us to talk more about how we have gotten gifted stays!

    So we had this hostel for 2 nights and it was BEAUTIFUL!!!!

    A traditional Riad building located in the heart of the Medina, and only a stones throw from local Souks that you can wander for hours on end! Find the link to this amazing Riad here.

    Our stay was magical! On arrival we were taken to the rooftop which had stunning views over the medina and the whole city, with old ruins standing tall like they once did centuries ago. At the rooftop, they offered sweet tea which is a family recipe.. one they were reluctant to spill the beans on!

    After settling in and dropping off our luggage at the Riad, we ventured out in the rough direction of the Souks, and took in the scenery around our new home for the next 7 days or so.

    We winded through the tight streets, passing children playing football in makeshift goals, and family members wheeling foods to and from their shop. The atmosphere was happy and subtly busy. The narrow streets creates a somewhat chaotic atmosphere as the buildings overhang to make the medina streets smaller.

    Once we hit the Souks, we started from (somewhat) the top and wandered down admiring the vast shops, activities and products on offer. Each shop was totally different and had it’s own stamp of traditional creativity. From local spices, to handmade leather bags and soft silky dresses, the Souk was full of product diversity- a place you can revisit later, and see completely different products on the same stalls as before.

    After wandering down the hill and the shops either side, we were looking to find a place to settle down to have our first proper meal in Morocco. Of course, we visited the country during the awkward period of Ramadan so all Muslims were fasting from dusk till dawn.

    If you are to visit during this time, we would recommend to be respectful to the locals and avoid eating or drinking in public/busy places if it can be helped.

    We found a highly recommended restaurant in the heart of the Medina called The Ruined Garden, which was only a 5 minute or so stroll from our hostel. As we arrived, we had a short 20 minute wait for the restaurant to open and we were actually the first people to enter for lunch. The aesthetic was amazing!

    The front doors were huge, almost castle-like, with a small staircase leading up to the seating area. It was pretty enclosed up until this point but once you turned the corner onto the top step, the room opened up and in the centre was a fountain with beautiful gardens surrounding. Vines were strung from above to create a beautiful ambience and we were gratefully seated amongst it.

    As we sat down, we were greeted by 2 adorable cats who clearly are pets to the owners of the restaurants. We ordered traditional dishes – the B’stilla – being an oddly sounding sweet and savoury, pastry-like filled pie. Yeah this was typed right.. Once we received this, we were pleasantly surprised with the taste as it was dusted with cinnamon and icing sugar. This was a very enjoyable meal, and one we decided to recreate once we arrived back home. Wasn’t quite the same but one we did enjoy for sure!

    At the restaurant, we both shared the meal and the portion was super filling that we couldn’t finish it between us! It’s one that we would definitely recommend for any visitor to try. It’s really got everything, from traditional flavours to strange flavour mixes. If anyone has tried this dish we would love to know your views and know your thoughts as we both loved it!!

    Towards the end of the meal we were delight to have the visitors of tortoises who suddenly woke up from the back of the gardens and wandered around the courtyard. There were 2 large tortoises who decided to wander around and visit some of the lunch-goers. It was a surprising but welcomed introduction as it’s not one you expect in the centre of the old medina!

    Just as we were to pick up the bill and leave the restaurant, we looked back to see a tiny, baby tortoise who was slowly munching on a rather large piece of watermelon (for his size!). It was so small that the garden area it was in prohibited him from escaping due to a small 2-inch wall which he couldn’t master no matter how hard he tried!

    Upon leaving, we decided to wander back to our hostel and relax for a few hours, after travelling since 1 in the morning. We spent time on the rooftop and enjoyed the chilled atmosphere, while being served endless cups of traditional sweet Moroccan tea.

    As the sky darkened and the mood changed, we were informed that the hostel were hosting dinner as part of the stay! We ended up breaking the fast with the local Moroccans as they served a buffet fit for a king! A sea of plates filled the table, full of colourful traditional Moroccan foods with a soup perfectly placed in front of each guest and a freshly squeezed orange juice to wash it all down with. Here, we conversated with other travellers and ate till our hearts content!

    After finishing our meals and thoroughly thanking our hosts for the lovely spread, we headed back to the rooftop to carry on socialising and enjoy our first night!

    If you thought the hostel hadn’t done enough, we were also given free popcorn (salted of course) and provided a Shisha for all guests. We spent time eating the popcorn, playing card games and practicing our newly learnt skill… smoke rings!!

    We soon headed off to bed and called it a night so we could get ready for a fun and adventurous day tomorrow.

    Day 2

    The next day started with a little lay-in. We would always recommend that if you are travelling, or even on a holiday, to make sure to take time to rest when needed as no one can be on the go 100% of the time! So Aimee slept in to 9:30 am so she felt energised for the day!

    During this time, Jack went upstairs and ended up socialising with some travellers whilst enjoying a complementary breakfast. Once Jack finished, Aimee joined and had her fruit breakfast before we got showered, changed and ready for our busy day!

    By this point we didn’t have a plan beyond Fes; but just planned each day the night before and kinda just winged it! If you have travelled before, it’s probably the best way to do it (if you don’t mind the odd panic and stress that comes with it!).

    So today we headed outside the medina to a local shopping mall called Borj Fes which is recommended to visit while in Fes! It’s 4 stories tall and filled with a variety of shops! We initially wandered around some of the clothing shops just having a wander, and comparing it to home shopping malls. After a while, we stumbled upon a supermarket on the lower floor which we looked for snacks!

    We found a bakery full of cakes, pastries and many quirky looking sweet treats! We took about 10 minutes, but finally decided on grabbing a few of each, a drink and headed out! If you are looking for snacks or looking to make your own food in Fes, we would recommend visiting this supermarket! It’s a lot cheaper than most other shops as mostly locals shop here! It’s so cheap- we got a 2l bottle of water for 3.50 Dirhams which is roughly 30p which is a bargain! We spent £2 on 6 pastry/cakes, which we found a table outside and enjoyed! The snacks were lovely and it perked our appetite ready for heading to Burger King!

    Burger king was a lot cheaper in Morocco and we bought some cool items which we have never seen before! All in all, this mall was a great place to spend a few hours eating lunch, venturing shops and taking a break from the hot sun!

    In the afternoon we left the mall to head back to the medina. We decided to wander the local souk and embrace the beauty of the old medina. Here we found ourselves wandering for an hour or so before finding a quaint, local restaurant which we chose to be where we ate our dinner.

    Luckily, we ordered and received our meal before the sun went down. As we received our meal, the Ramadan fasting ended as spoken through loud speakers informing everyone and the restaurant closed to any further customers. The owners and staff all sat down with their freshly prepared meal and broke their fast!

    If you are ever to go to a Muslim dominant country during Ramadan, it is important to find out when the sun sets and the fasting stops as all restaurants will close. The last thing you want to do is go out for your dinner but be stuck wandering looking for a place that is open (like we did…). Once we finished our meal we headed back to the hostel to relax in the evening, look at the beautiful nightly view and social with some travellers.

    We soon played cards into the evening before deciding to go sleep!

    Once the morning came and we woke up, we came to the conclusion that we wanted to explore more of Morocco, and decided on moving to Meknes which is a small city, 40 minutes west of Fes on the train. We got our breakfast, picked up our snacks and headed to the train station!!

    We really enjoyed Fes and it is a beautiful place which we couldn’t recommend it enough. We would say that 2/3 days is enough time there and there are so many places to visit in Morocco so we wouldn’t stay much longer!

    Did you like Fes?

    This blog is the 1st of a 3-part blog. Next up is our experiences and activities in the small city of Meknes!

    We post regular blog content related to all things travel so if you want to keep up with us, please consider subscribing to the blog as it does go a long way for us!

    You can also follow our journey on the Social Media’s below!

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  • Barcelona Bucket List: Your Ultimate Guide to Must-See Attractions and Experiences

    Barcelona Bucket List: Your Ultimate Guide to Must-See Attractions and Experiences

    Known as a main hotspot in Spain, Barcelona is well known for a variety of things! From a massive football club, to beautiful grand buildings and delicious food, this city is bursting with life and things to do!

    Being a seaside city, Barcelona can be a great summer destination to enjoy dining, exploring and relaxing in a stunning European city!

    You can be a boujee traveler and stay at massive 5 star hotels, or find a budget route for those wanting to spend a little and explore a lot!

    Check out our bucket list collection of things to do in Barcelona, from expensive activities to free things to do and see! Enjoy!

    *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 🙂

    Our top list of things to do in Barcelona!

    • Visit the Sagrada Família
    • See the Foods at Mercat de la Boqueria
    • Catch rays at the beach
    • Walk around the Picasso museum
    • Eat traditional paella
    • Wander the gothic quarter
    • Eat tapas with friends and family
    • See the views at the Park Guell
    • Visit the wonders of Gaudi throughout the city
    • Shop at Passeig de Gracia

    Places to stay

    Here are some of our recommendations for staying in Barcelona

    Budget Traveler :

    Generator Barcelona

    For the budget traveler, we have found a hostel for around €37 a night in dorms, with stunning views of the Sagrada Familia! Find it here

    Hostelle

    This women only hostel is a great find at only around €20 a night in dorms! We understand some don’t like being in mixed dorms so this is a good option! Find it here

    Mid Budget Traveler :

    Catalonia Atenas

    Boasting a rooftop pool in a prime location, this hotel is a great option for those willing to pay a bit more for a mid range Barcelona cost. At roughly £130 a night, you can relax in luxury for a slightly cheaper cost than some other Barcelona hotels! You can find it here

    Chic & Basic Velve

    Serving daily buffet breakfast, with a terrace at the top of this hotel, it is a great mid range option! This modern hotel boasts some 1950’s decor for an interesting mix and beautiful place to rest from your busy days! Check it out here

    Luxury Traveler :

    Gran Hotel La Florida G.L Monumento

    Experience world-class treatment at a 5 star hotel offering city views over Barcelona. Starting from around £230 a night, this hotel has spas, swimming pools, panoramic views, with multiple bar to try Spanish foods! Find it here

    Claris Hotel & Spa GL, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World

    Offering a rooftop pool with stunning views over Barcelona, this hotel boasts beautiful artwork in a stunning building to immerse yourself in the best luxury experience. From around £275 a night, this is a spot to experience the best of accommodation in this Spanish city. You can find it here

    Have you done any of these things?

    Would you add anything else to this list? If you have been previously, what is your favourite thing to do? And if you haven’t been, what is your most idolised thing to do?

    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!

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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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  • 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!

    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!

    Also check out our Social Media’s below!!!

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans!

  • 56 Instagram Captions for Your Trip to Paris – Quotes, Jokes and Quirky Captions

    56 Instagram Captions for Your Trip to Paris – Quotes, Jokes and Quirky Captions

    Let’s be honest, if you went on a trip and didn’t get any photos… did it really happen?! Clicking away to get those picture-perfect moments is always so fun, and is one thing we always try to do when we go away! We get that perfect photo, edit the colours, brightness etc… but then it’s time for the caption (something that can always be so difficult on the spot)!

    When we visited Paris, we knew there were SO many photo opportunities, and we wish we’d thought of some fun captions to pair with these images! And honestly, some captions help inspire the photos!

    So, as you get ready for your trip to Paris, or maybe you have just came back with a full camera roll of photos (lucky you!), we will be sharing some fun captions ready for your instagram uploads!

    56 Instagram Captions for Paris Travel

    Quote-Inspired Captions

    1. “I like The Eiffel Tower because it looks like steel and lace.” ― Natalie Lloyd
    2. “Even the pigeons are dancing, kissing, going in circles, mounting each other. Paris is the city of love, even for the birds.” ― Samantha Schutz
    3. “There is but one Paris and however hard living may be here…the French air clears up the brain and does one good. ― Vincent Van Gogh
    4. “A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life.” ― Thomas Jefferson
    5. “To know Paris is to know a great deal.” ― Henry Miller
    6. “Secrets travel fast in Paris.” ― Napoléon Bonaparte
    7. “As an artist, a man has no home in Europe save in Paris.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

    Pun-Inspired Captions

    1. This is in-Seine!
    2. Quite frankly, I couldn’t give a Notre Dame.
    3. I can’t wait to escargot back to Paris.
    4. Eiffel hard for Paris
    5. Straight away Eiffel in love
    6. Holy crêpe, what a trip!
    7. Seine-sational
    8. What’s not to Louvre?
    9. Paris, till we croissant paths again.
    10. I’m in Paris, I give zero faux.
    11. I’m in Louvre with you
    12. From Paris with Louvre
    13. Oh crêpe, here’s another photo!

    Cute Captions

    1. Dreaming of Paris…
    2. Je t’aime
    3. Wandering in the City of Love
    4. Will always be obsessed with Paris
    5. Can I go back now?
    6. Give me a bow and a coffee
    7. In Paris, I am home
    8. I am all for the Parisian lifestyle
    9. It’s the beret season
    10. All these clothes… how could I resist?
    11. Window-shopping in the fashion capital
    12. Call vogue
    13. Loving Life in the City of Love
    14. It’s called fashion, darling
    15. Au revoir Paris
    16. Merci Paris, until next time

    Food-Related Captions

    1. Coffee and Croissants
    2. Teatime in Paris
    3. All we need in life is good coffee and French baguettes
    4. Is it crêpe time yet?
    5. Coffee, crêpes and croque monsieur
    6. Cannot get enough Crème Brûlée
    7. Oui Oui Baguette
    8. Sippin’ wine in France
    9. Squashed grapes are the best
    10. Squashed grapes are my kind of juice
    11. I met a real ratatouille
    12. Remi made my food
    13. Biting on Baguettes in Paris
    14. Croissant obsessed

    Inspirational Captions

    1. Paris is only step one…
    2. Paris is the city where my dreams were made.
    3. Working for that Paris lifestyle.
    4. Livin’ it up in Paris
    5. One day, walking these streets won’t be a trip, but rather home instead.
    6. Paris is the place where anyone can find themselves, and this is that place for me

    Here is our share of the best instagram-worthy captions ready for your Paris snaps! Let us know your thoughts, and if you would add any!

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  • Our Top 3 Bucket List Locations : Europe Edition.

    Our Top 3 Bucket List Locations : Europe Edition.

    As travellers, Aimee and I have highlighted many… and I mean many places we both want to travel and explore. I mean for me it’s every country in the world, and Aimee’s isn’t far off! So, we tasked ourselves to find the top 3 countries we would like to visit in Europe.

    As I am working full time, it is hard to plan many trips throughout the year, and we really are limited to picking and choosing when, and most importantly where, we go to maximise the time. So, creating this Blog doesn’t only help you learn more about some European countries (and get your tastebuds tingling for more travel), but also helps us work out how we can plan our trips/holidays for the year!

    Below we have detailed 3 top locations each in Europe, with the reasons why we are looking to visit each spot. Our aim for the year is to try and tick off one place from each list!

    Jack’s List

    Iceland

    First up on my list is Iceland. I think the country speaks for itself to why it was on our list. There are so many things to do! From whale watching, to swimming between tectonic plates, to waterfalls, riding snowmobiles and so much more! The list is endless on things we want to do here.

    Funny story: during the end of lockdown and covid-19, Aimee and I spontaneously booked a 4/5 day trip to Iceland and we had a plan to try do everything we wanted here. I mean what’s not to love about the place! However, due to money constraints and work issues, we were unable to get on that plane. This leaves Iceland as the country “we almost went to” which makes me want to go even more!

    One of the main issues with Iceland I have noticed is the cost of travelling in Iceland. From research, it seems to cost a lot more than your average cost around Europe which over 4/5 days can stack up to a pretty hefty cost!

    Even with all this, the country has so much to offer, and has been on my to do list for some time now. As a lover of Astronomy, nothing excites me more than the Aurora Borealis. It’s something I saw when I was younger, and I have been fascinated by ever since. I couldn’t think of anything better than laying in the middle of nowhere, at night, marvelling at the sky. This is also a reason I want to visit Morrocco and do the same in the desert – this is a story for another blog!

    The lagoons are picturesque and so beautifully placed in the natural lava fields; a place to relax which is completely different to anywhere else in the world. We would normally find a beach and enjoy the heat from the sun, but here… no! It’s naturally heated pools from lava. It doesn’t get better than that!

    All in all, it’s a country that is probably top of my list and one we plan to visit within the coming years. It’s a difficult one to plan as the itinerary is likely to require at least a week in the country so we would need to save ALOT to afford this trip.

    However, this trip for me is a once in a lifetime holiday, one that I would recommend to anyone so for me, it is so worth it!

    Switzerland

    Now, Switzerland for me is a rogue one. From choosing a cold country like Iceland, to a cold country in the Alps, it seems like I don’t like the warm (not true). Switzerland is a country that seems to fall under the radar for a lot of people, and certainly looks beautiful no matter where you visit there.

    There are 2 main reasons why Switzerland is included for me..

    1 – is the beautiful countryside and astonishing views you get with the lakes and mountains. I truly believe that I could live in some of these locations- and no matter how sad I am, the view could change my mood. Aesthetically, it seems like one of the most beautiful parts of Europe and one I do not want to pass up on. Also, it’s important to note how beautiful some of the towns and buildings are!

    The 2nd reason is because I have always wanted to try skiing or snowboarding. I hate the fact that I am 25 and still haven’t experienced it yet. The Alps seem like the perfect place to experience this to the fullest! I mean I could of chose a few countries in this region that have amazing Skiing and drop-dead views!

    Greece

    I have visited Greece before.. Well, some of the islands (that have been amazing and so fun in their own right). But mainland Greece is on this list for a whole different reason.

    Mainly, I want to visit mainland Greece to learn more about the history, and to visit the old ruins that have stood for thousands of years. I have visited Rome to see the Colosseum and local ruins which was something I really enjoyed. And I want to do the same with Greece!

    Greece has a rich history but unfortunately a lot of the structures have been destroyed through historic battles, or natural erosion over the years. However, there are still ancient buildings such as the Acropolis (which is such a great monument).

    The Greek people have always been kind and fun to be around, and the food is to die for! Tzatziki, Souvlaki & Gyros are some amazing foods which I love to eat when in England so when we travel to Greece, it will be at the top of my list to try and experience! I love trying new foods, so visiting Greece for this reason is exciting! Also, with it being on the mediterranean, the fish and fresh foods will be so worth the trip.

    Greece has so much to offer, from the ancient history to beautiful islands and warm waters, to yummy foods – it’s definitely a place I can explore for weeks and never get bored.

    Aimee’s list

    Italy

    Italy is a place I have wanted visit since I was young. The food alone is enough to draw myself to the country… as some of my favourite food is pasta and pizza! I literally cannot get enough of it! A creamy carbonara is my favourite.. but imagine how nice it is from Italy! Going here would just be us eating pasta and pizza, with Jack drinking Italian wine, what’s not to love?

    The country has so many regions that speak to me. Rome and it’s architecture. Florence and it’s artwork. Milan and it’s fashion! The Amalfi coast too?!

    I feel like each area of the country is divided into different experiences, and would be the perfect place to travel for months as it would feel like you are entering new countries for every city you visit.

    One thing for sure is the buildings ad architecture is something that I have admired across Europe, and something I definitely want to marvel at in Italy. There are so many picture-perfect spots in Italy, places to just wander and find little niche shops, whether it’s fashion, food spots, gelato parlours, you name it. There’s so much to explore round every corner, and is a place I do not want to miss out on.

    Albania

    A beautiful mediterranean country which I have only recently discovered. Everyone knows about Greece, Italy, and some of the local islands in south Europe but many do not mention Albania- and I’m unsure why!

    From research, the cities are colourful and scenic with spectacular views. It has a perfect balance of luscious countryside’s, picture-perfect beaches and traditional cities which are just awaiting to be explored. There is such variety in the country- each day can be so different from the next.

    It is also known to be such a friendly place with some amazing architecture and markets which are perfect to explore in the cities.

    There aren’t many countries that offer such variety when visiting and therefore it definitely deserves a spot on my list, and a country I cannot wait to visit!

    Turkey

    This has been a place close to my heart since I was little. It was a popular place for my family to visit which we met locals that I have been friends with for years. However, I never really explored the culture/city side of the country. It would usually be sun, sea and all-inclusive holidays!

    Since getting older, I have learned a lot more about the rich history in Turkey, and it has made me fall in love with the country more. Istanbul is a city full of adventure, beautiful stories and markets, which I can only dream of exploring. The architecture and religious mosques are stunning and something I would love to witness when visiting.

    As I have been Turkey many times, I have had the pleasure to eat many local dishes which always taste as good as the first time I tried it. A particular favourite being the sweet treat baklava! Something on my bucket list would be to find local street markets and delve into their culture and cuisine to immerse myself into such a beautiful country.

    When writing this blog, we really had to evaluate many countries as there are many, we dream of visiting which weren’t included into this list. We honestly could sit here for hours researching, writing, and daydreaming of being in all these countries. That’s why they call it a dream!

    I mean this is just a little snapshot of our reasons to why these places are the top of our lists and many other travellers. Sometime in the future – hopefully soon – we will be writing about our experiences in each of these countries and how AMAZING each one of these were! But for now, let’s just dream of being there.

    A few honourable mentions that just missed out on this list are Croatia, Germany, Poland & Estonia!

    We would be interested to learn any countries that are a MUST DO for us in the future! Please let us know your top 3 countries to visit in Europe are!!

    Thank you for reading this blog post and we have fun on your travels!

    If you want to keep updated with our journey, you can follow us on our social medias below!

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  • Do I Want To Travel?

    Do I Want To Travel?

    Do I Want To Travel?

    This can be a tough question… When I was younger it was certainly a dream of mine. Mostly because I didn’t really know what it meant. Exploring the unknown was always a wonder for me. This is probably why I enjoyed subjects that are discovery-based – space (astronomy) and dinosaurs (Palaeontology).

    So to me, travelling was a dream. I mean when you see the pictures and videos online there’s no wonder so many people want to do it. White sandy beaches, clear blue waters, tropical rainforests, you name it! There’s so much to see and do- I believe that if you dedicated your life to travel, you still will miss out on some amazing things!

    But we can’t do that as we have school, work, or family and relationships to consider. This makes things complicated beyond belief. There is so much more to consider as travelling isn’t an easy, straightforward decision. Even thinking about travelling will take hours of research and planning, not to mention the money worries that happen. Unless you are spontaneous and whimsical, then I mean you can just book a plane ticket tomorrow, and well… you can figure out the rest later. Some people can do that, but for the rest of us, we have a lot more to think about our current responsibilities.

    It doesn’t matter what stage of life you are in; travelling is something you want to do or not. Whether you decide that you want to travel as a child (like me) or it’s a new thing you discover once you retire. We aren’t all the same- otherwise that would be boring. You must look into what you want to achieve in your life. What are your goals to achieve? What would give you fulfilment in life? I know full well that sitting in sales for the next 40 years and retiring on a small (or even large) amount of money won’t satisfy me.

    And you might feel the same. Some people have the drive to live in the corporate world to earn and live well in a city or town, settle down, have kids, and live the somewhat traditional life our ancestors lived. There is nothing wrong with living life like this, as it suits a lot of people, and it may be your absolute dream. But we aren’t all like this. We don’t all want to wake up at a set time each day, go to the same place of work and complete the same or similar tasks day in and day out. See our family on weekends and wind down with a film on a chilled Sunday afternoon before kickstarting a heavily scheduled week tomorrow.

    Plenty of us are privileged enough to have the opportunities that the Western world provides. Whether it’s free education, high-earning opportunities, good health care, and gratitude for the life we are given. Some don’t want to leave the comfortable life that is set up for us once we are born. I really don’t blame them as I am very grateful for everything I have. But I still want more…

    Today there is such an opportunity to express yourself even in the way you work and live. You can travel with work or move to a totally different continent and way of life if that’s what you desire. And some people do this. Just search it online and there are thousands of people taking that step to move themselves or even their families to another corner of earth.

    But what really makes you want to travel? For me, it’s always been a burning passion of mine since I stumbled upon the beauty that’s out there. For others like my partner, it’s been introduced through exposure to what is possible. Some people just need to see the opportunities that are available with travelling to find that passion. It can be like an addiction. It certainly is for me.

    I never truly travelled until the last 12 months. My only taste of travelling was the brief holidays I had as a child or the countless short holiday with friends around Europe. The most adventurous family holiday would be to Egypt. Other than that, it was a sunny beach trip to Malta or Kos. Egypt for a 12/13-year-old was a wonder within itself. Who knew there was so much to see? It absolutely baffled me, and as I was taken by my dad, we stayed at a posh hotel and enjoyed some of the coolest activities I still have done!

    During the two holidays we had in Egypt, we saw the pyramids- which within itself was purely amazing. The structure that still stands and the only ancient wonder of the world that still exists. It’s truly a sight to see. We also visited the Valley of the Kings, saw pharaoh’s tombs, stayed on the river Nile, snorkelled for the first time, and saw the infamous Tutankhamun mask. It was really an eye-opening experience for a teenager to experience. It was a totally new culture, a different way of life. It really made me appreciate what I had and how lucky I am.

    Beyond the trips to Egypt, I would go on Lads holidays to party islands like Malia and Kavos. It wasn’t really my thing, but we had a good friend group and we made some of the best memories during those holidays. It was almost like being in the inbetweeners if you have seen it. As I am not a big drinker, it can become boring. I was more into the chill days by the pool with friends and booming music and having laughs than going to the clubs to get hammered. But it was an experience nonetheless and taught me a lot on the way.

    We did do a city trip as a smaller group and visited Rome for the football and sights which was a totally different style of holiday we were used to at the time.

    So all in all, I would say I was quite limited with holidays beyond the typical family trip abroad.

    But travelling has always been on my bucket list. And since experiencing it recently I am now driven to try and experience all I can.

    I believe that to discover whether travelling is for you, you need to ask yourself a series of questions.

    Firstly, you must determine whether you are looking to travel for a short-term/temporary or for a long-term/permanent.

    Some people look at travelling as a break from life, whether it’s a few weeks or even a few months. You can remove yourself from the stresses of your current life and experience a long-term break to help discover personal/individual goals before jumping back into the busy life you were in. Some people use it as a coping mechanism to hit an invisible reset button. Others just love to have holidays every so often to break up their lives.

    A much smaller percentage of people want to commit long-term to travel – or as I describe it, having the travel bug. Being able to travel long-term is no easy feat. Take me for example who is currently writing this blog on a wet July morning. The opportunities to see just make it all worth it. But there are a lot of changes one must make to enter that style of living. It’s more of a full commitment; less so like a change of careers. For some people who take this path, they don’t have plans to return, others look to live a simpler life.

    What do you want in life/What would make you happy?

    What are you drawn towards? It’s no easy question to answer, but it’s a stepping stone to deciding whether this life is for you or not. It’s not something you have to answer straight away or even something you are certain about. It may come to you like an epiphany, who knows? But to make this decision, you need to hit a certain level of agreement to make this step.

    No matter how you answered that last question, you can still look at the next question as a way of finding yourself.

    If you could close your eyes and imagine yourself doing anything in the world right now, what would you choose?

    This could be anything! Whether it’s your dream job of becoming a footballer, surgeon or running a charity to help children in Africa. There’s something inside of all of us that gives us a burning passion for something. You might not know it, but it’s there. It’s taken me many wrong turns and mistakes to even get close to finding out what this is and I’m ready to make more to figure it out.

    I for one, imagine myself on a quiet sandy white beach, with a fresh coconut, reading a book or getting ready for a snorkelling/scuba diving trip. What comes to your mind? It doesn’t need to have anything to do with travelling at all!

    This gives you a simple view of something you want to reach, some goal that you desire to reach.

    Are you willing to make this a reality?

    This is an important question to ask. A lot of people have dreams and personal aspirations they want to reach, but not everyone is willing to make the necessary sacrifices to make this possible. To me, it comes down to what’s more important. what you need to sacrifice to achieve this or your need or want to make it happen.

    You might have a high drive to become a traveller but are held back by the lack of drive or motivation to make it happen. This could be saving the amount you need for a travel package or prioritising a better lifestyle. Anyone looking to travel would need to look at making some life changes to make their dreams come true. For some, the sacrifice will be greater. It really comes down to how much you want to reach your dreams.

    These fundamentals are here to challenge your current situation, and your future ambitions, to figure out how happy you are vs where you can be. I hope you can use these questions to understand more about yourself. Travelling is something that I would recommend to all to learn about the world and most importantly, themselves.

    Thank you for taking the time to read our blog post. I hope that you were able to learn more about your desire to travel and the fundamental considerations to think about.

    For those who make the decision to travel, you will not regret it. And for those who don’t, I hope you find happiness in what you are doing. It’s not built for everyone, but for me and Aimee, it is.

    This is Jack’s past experiences and perspectives regarding travel, as part of Ourtwostepstart. For more travel content, check out our content on Instagram and YouTube, which you can find on this website!