Getting Naked and Renting out a Gay Russian Bath House
So apparently Russian bath houses are all the rage, a bit like the Scandinavians and their saunas, so being the willing tourist I am I thought I’d sample a bit of it. My guidebook had it down as a ‘must [...]Read More..
2 Days in St Petersburg
St Petes is to Moscow what Beauty is to the Beast. After a month in Russia I thought I had worked out Russian cities, with their Soviet hangover still lingering, mass apartment blocks, they were interesting if not pleasing to [...]Read More..
Backpacking in Moscow – 5 Best Things I saw
It only cost me $300 in visas, 10 nights on trains and too many bottles of vodka to county to finally make it here, and it was worth all the effort. Moscow, I’d heard, was in the top 5 most [...]Read More..
What to See in Almaty, Kazakhstan
I had planned to dip in to Kazakhstan, visit Astana in the north, near the Russian border and then nip back to Russia a couple of days later. But after telling people I was coming to Kazakshtan, the (very) few [...]Read More..
What to see in Astana, Kazakhstan – The City of the Future
My first stop in Kazakhstan was Astana, aptly dubbed ‘The City of the Future’. Astana was declared the new capital in 1997, with plans to make it a city of the future, a gleaming beacon proudly boasting of Kazakhstan’s success [...]Read More..
Backpacking in Kazakhstan – the Lo-Down
After Borat well and truly put Kazakhstan on the map, people drew misconceptions about the country, their people and the level of development within. Nowhere highlights the radical progression Kazakhstan has made more than their new Capital city, Astana know [...]Read More..
Backpacking in Mongolia; What to See in Ulaan Bataar
My first proper stop of my Trans Siberian trip was Mongolia. After a 30 hour train from Beijing to Mongolia’s Capital Ulaan Bataar, I arrived around 8am and went straight to my hostel. I only had a day and a [...]
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How much does it cost to travel in China?
This is my 5th time in China and once again I’m loving every second. Hopefully you guys are seeing another side to this massive country, different to the one the western media try to propagate (big factories, communist government, stifled [...]Read More..
Visiting the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China
If you’re staying in a hostel in Beijing, chances are it’ll be around the city centre, hopefully walking distance from these two iconic areas in Beijing. I’m typing this from my hostel, 400m from Tiananmen, sitting in the 6th floor [...]Read More..
Things to See in Ranong, Thailand
I was off to find a true island paradise in Koh Phayam and on the way there I stopped off in Ranong to recover from the night bus journey from Bangkok. The boat to Koh Phayam leaves from Ranong so [...]Read More..
The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland – UNESCO World Heritage Site
I’m a proud Irishman so I thought I’d take the opportunity to promote Northern Ireland, my home country. Northern Ireland has a very chequered recent past with its religious issues, I wrote a quick explanation here, but with all that [...]Read More..
5 Best Places to Shop in Bangkok
Sorry about this article gentlemen, it could cause a few very comfortable days getting dragged around Bangkok by your enthusiastic better halves (queue sexist furore). Bangkok is a huge international city, but it’s still much cheaper than our home countries [...]Read More..
Koh Phayam – Thailand’s Best Kept Secret Island
I’ll take your Koh Samuis, Koh Changs and Koh Phangans and raise you my perfect Koh Phayam, an island on Thailand’s Andaman coast that the tourist boom seemed to bypass, and it’s all the better for it. I just [...]Read More..
Climbing Mount Teide, Spain’s Highest Mountain
After climbing Kilimanjaro, checking out Mount Fuji, hiking up Mount Kinabalu and trekking to Everest base camp, I’m starting to get a thing for mountains, so the next one I’ll be taking on is Mount Teide in Tenerife, Spain in [...]Read More..
Backpacking in North Korea (Yes, I did it!)
With only around 1800 visitors per year, North Korea is one of the least visited countries in the world. That, coupled with it’s role as one of the few ‘functioning’ communist states around mean that’s is arguably the most intriguing [...]Read More..
A Backpacking Guide To Cuba
The largest island in the Caribbean and one of the most politically charged countries in the world, Cuba is most famous for Che, rum, cigars and and communism! Cuba has only been open to the modern world since the 90s [...]Read More..
Is Dubai A Country? What is the UAE?
So I had a conversation with an American dude the other day, and he had never heard of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he though Dubai was he capital of Saudi Arabia and he through their nationality was Muslim. Where [...]Read More..
Top 10 Things to See in Western Australia – amazing pics!
When people backpacking in Australia all you hear about is the trip down the east coast – Sydney, Cairns, Whitsundays etc and while that is undoubtedly awesome there’s more to see in Australia. Locals will tell you if you wanna [...]Read More..
Backpacking in Sri Lanka – Colombo
Sri Lanka is a great way to escape the madness of India during your sub-continent backpacking trip, although it can still be pretty manic itself. It’s a slightly cleaner, less chaotic version of it’s Indian big brother but it still [...]Read More..
Backpacking in Kanchanaburi
So I finally made it to Kanchanaburi, and what a place it is. It’s about 2 hours from Bangkok and has become quite a traveler hangout. Laid back atmosphere, plenty of stuff to see and do, dirt cheap accommodation and [...]Read More..
Backpacking in Pai, Northern Thailand’s travelers retreat
I’ve just spent the last few days in Pai, Northern Thailand. A place I’ve never been to before despite living 100km away in Chiang Mai for over a year, criminal I know. Anyway, I had clearly been missing out – [...]Read More..
Best 5 nightclubs in Beijing
Backpacking in China is real traveling – difficult language, huge culture shock, crazy foods and general mass confusion so when it all gets a little much for you, find a place to kick back, grab a long-island and forget all [...]Read More..
Backpacking in Malta: Top 6 things to see in Malta
100 km south of Sicily, Italy Malta is the sort of island country where people seem to live forever. The country is actually made up of three islands (Gozo and Comino) where Malta is the largest. With Malta being accessible [...]Read More..
Top 5 things to see in Hanoi
Vietnam features heavily on the South East Asia tourist trail, and rightly so. Thanks to the Vietnam war there’s plenty of opportunity for some morbid tourism (grim), along with endless beautiful beaches and a great modern party scene, everyone should [...]Read More..
Backpacking in the Peak District
After chatting about the things to do when you go backpacking in Wales and Scotland last week, I thought I’d being it back to England. The general backpacking trail in England struggles to get out of London, and if it [...]Read More..
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tunisia
After getting far too excited about all the awesome UNESCO sites in Turkey I thought I would spread the love to Tunisia. Other than Ethiopia, Tunisia has more UNESCO world heritage sites than any of the other 54 African countries, [...]Read More..
Top 5 sights in Sydney
I lived in Sydney a while back saving cash from my trip across Africa from Cape Town to Cairo. Australia is a great country and there’s loads of stuff to see and do, aside from following the hordes of backpackers [...]Read More..
The Perhentian Islands, Malaysia’s best kept secret?
After me singing the praises of Langkawi last week I thought I should let you in on another of Malaysia’s backpacking secrets, the Perhentian Islands. The Perhentian Islands consist of 2 main islands – Pulau Perhentian Besar (The Large Perhentian [...]Read More..
Backpacking in Langkawi, Malaysia. Cheap Island Paradise!
I just spent the last week or so in Penang and Langkawi so I wanted to let you guys know about this gem of an island. Langkawi is island paradise, and a tax free haven to boot ($0.45 beers anyone?!), [...]Read More..
2 Days in Berlin
Berlin is a massive city, and it’s pretty tough to squeeze it all into a couple of days but us hard-core backpackers need to undertake a spot of speed-tourism now and again to keep costs down and experiences up! This [...]Read More..
What is a Visa Run?
I’m writing this sitting on a local bus to Cambodia from Bangkok on a ‘visa run’. Basically, a visa run is a trip you have to take in order to remain in a country where you’re visa is soon to [...]Read More..
The 5 Coolest Things to See in Jamaica
Home to Bob Marley, some of the funkiest, greenest grass and insane beaches – Jamaica’s is a hotspot for package tourism BUT it doesn’t have to be that way. Independent travel is easy in Jamaica, and if you can prise [...]Read More..
Top 5 Destinations in Cuba
Cuba – famous for Che, big cigars, cracking rum and package holidays. I’m a big fan of delving deep into the first 3 but package holidays really aren’t my thing. The resorts are strewn across the (very beautiful) Northern beaches [...]Read More..
Bucket List: Running of the Bulls
Straight to the top 10 in my bucket list is the ‘Running of the Bulls’, held in Pamplona, Spain each year from the 6th to the 14th of July. What is the ‘Running of the Bulls’? Held in a few [...]Read More..
A Backpackers Guide to Nepal
One of my favourite ever countries Nepal is a backpacking feast! It’s a landlocked country flanked by Bhutan to the east, Tibet to the North East, India to the south and China all around so it offers some great overland [...]Read More..
Things to See in Bangladesh – Top 5 Sights
Bangladesh is a country that most people skip on their Asian backpacking trip, and it’s a real shame. Sandwiched between 2 backpacking hotspots, India and Thailand, I’m surprised that more people don’t take the plunge and visit a country where [...]Read More..
Loy Krathong Festival – Thailand
Another Awesome Thai Festival: I’ve waxed lyrical about the Thai festival ‘Song Kran’ on my site countless times before, but Loi Krathing is another festival that should demand your attendance too. Less chaotic and fast paced than Song Kran, Loi [...]Read More..
Day trip to Macau
Macau, ‘Vegas of the East’, lies very close to Hong Kong, and so most tourists nip on a ferry for day at this place and then make their way back to the city. A day will give you enough time [...]Read More..
The Top 5 Sights in Cairo
Touristy it may be but Cairo is so popular for a reason. Arguably the most visited city in the world, this place has sights to impress even the most disinterested of backpacker. The Egyptian capital is a sprawling city along [...]Read More..
The Top 5 Sights in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is one of Africa’s hidden backpacking gems – this place propelled itself to one of my top 5 countries to visit. It’s nothing short of amazing. It has a magnificent cultural heritage, seven sites of which are included in [...]Read More..
Top 5 Sights in San Francisco
San Francisco, many people’s favourite city in the whole of the US, offers backpackers a real treat. The cosmopolitan vibe that lurks in every corner of San Francisco lends a charm that is irresistible. Once there you will be strongly [...]Read More..
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market – Day Trip From Bangkok
Another great day trip from Bangkok is the much-fabled floating market. Bangkok attracts tens of thousands of backpackers every day but few make the effort to visit this cool site. Found west of Bangkok, Thailand’s most famous floating market is [...]Read More..
Ayutthaya – Awesome day trip from Bangkok
I don’t know what it is about temples but I’ve got them on the brain at the moment. After a full temple session in Burma last week at the Bagan Temples, I took another trip to a vast temple complex [...]Read More..
5 Cool Day Trips from New York City
I love NYC, it’s a city like no other and it’s well worth a week or so of your time on any backpacking trip to the US – last week I wrote an article about how to spend a weekend [...]Read More..
How to spend a weekend in New York City
NYC – the city that never sleeps. What a place, this was one of the first cities I ever truly traveled through and what a time I had (lost my wallet, passport, phone, camera and bag in a drunken stupor [...]Read More..
The 5 Best Beaches in Sydney You Never Heard Of
When I was living in Sydney, people were always harping on about bloody Bondi beach so I wanted to show you guys a few other (better?) places to spend your Sunday afternoons! Nature’s bounty gets amplified in the hidden beaches [...]Read More..
2 day itinerary for London
London town – everybody gets here eventually! When you finally make the journey to England’s capital you’re going to want a set itinerary otherwise you’re budget will be straight out the window, London is pricey so my advice is to [...]Read More..
5 sites not to miss in Edinburgh
The Whisky capital of the world? Maybe, and that should be enough to draw the tourists in. If not, there’s a lot more to boot! Though the essence of the cosmopolitan world has started looming large in the city it [...]Read More..
Best 5 Nightclubs in Bangkok
Bangkok rocks every night of the week, and if you’re here you have to party! But forget your conceptions of Thailand being all flip-flops, vests and cheap drinks – these clubs can charge $30 cover charge, $10+ drinks and require [...]Read More..
Mexico’s Top 5 Attractions
If world wonders, tasty tequila and cheap Spanish lessons sound appealing then Mexico is the next spot for you. There are lots of awesome places to backpack in the world these days but some people are getting a bit jaded [...]Read More..
What is there to see and do in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong’s tourism industry is booming and it’s easy to see why. As I mentioned in my previous Hong Kong article, you need 3 or 4 days to truly appreciate everything that Hong Kong has to offer – when you’re [...]Read More..
Siam Park City – Bangkok’s Best Theme Park
Bangkok is an international metropolis full of shopping malls, movie theatres and starbucks but a common complaint about BKK is that there simply isn’t that much to do there. Well, if you find yourself with a day to spare make [...]Read More..
A Quick Guide to Backpacking in Paris
Paris oozes culture, sophistication and style which is why it is so often the highlight of a trip around Europe. With so many monuments, museums and old architecture to feast your eyes on, you’ll find it difficult to leave (until [...]Read More..
10 Cheap Things To See and Do in Tokyo
Fly to New York, Bangkok, Cairo, Paris and, sure you’ll see some amazing sights and see some awesome cultures, but deep down you know you’re in the conveyor belt of travelers, fly to Tokyo and you’ll feel like you’re really [...]Read More..
Climbing Mount Kinabalu in Borneo
At 4,095 (13,435ft) Mount Kinabalu is the tallest mountain in Borneo (20th tallest in the world) and to normal backpackers and travelers alike, takes around 2 days to summit and descend. After conquering the mountain, prepare to have your ego [...]Read More..
Taking a political tour in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Belfast, the Capital of Northern Ireland, is a city with a distinctly checkered past, a past that belies the laid back, welcoming nature of the people who live there. One of the most poignant, fascinating and eye-opening things to do [...]Read More..
How Much Does it Cost to Go From Cape Town to Cairo?
Cape Town to Cairo may be a classic backpacking route but what a trip it is! From snorkeling in the azure blues of the Indian ocean, the white beaches of Zanzibar, wildlife galore in the Serengetti, standing on a glacier [...]Read More..
A Backpackers Guide to Jordan
If Indiana Jones felt the need to visit Jordan then who are we to argue with its merits? What Jordan lacks in geographical size it more than makes up for in world class attractions. In Wadi Rum, Petra and the [...]Read More..
A Backpackers Guide to Egypt
Taking a picture of you pretending to pick up the Pyramids of Giza must be the most over taken tourist picture in the world…. still it’s a classic isn’t it?! Egypt plays host to some of the World’s most famous [...]Read More..
A Backpackers Guide to East Timor
Portuguese flavoured East Timor became the newest country in the world when it was finally granted its official independence in 2002. Due to that face and the political turmoil its found itself in, this country is almost untouched by tourism [...]Read More..
What to Do with a Couple of Days in Luxor, Egypt
If your impression of Egypt is well refined tourism, world-class ancient sites and too many pairs of fake ray bans then Luxor is its poster child. That being said, it’s a tourism hub for a reason so prepare to be [...]Read More..
A Backpackers Guide to Ethiopia
Ancient temples, wild hyena feedings, the most delicious cuisine in Africa, cheap as chips – now that sounds like a backpackers dream. Welcome to Ethiopia! I spent just shy of a month in Ethiopia and even that didn’t seem to [...]Read More..
Visiting the Pyramids of Sudan
- “Have you ever seen the pyramids?” - “The ones in Egypt or the ones in Sudan?” Instant backpacking points! Seriously though, when people talk about the pyramids they are generally referring to the ones in Egypt. Then again that’s [...]Read More..
A Backpacking Guide to Sudan
Sudan is reportedly the place where Africa meets Arabia and I would struggle to disagree with that. I suppose I should add that despite what people’s preconceptions of Sudan may be, as long as you stick to the approved areas [...]Read More..
A Backpacking Guide Djibouti
Djibouti – the only country name I’m aware of that contains a synonym for ass, that alone should be enough to justify a visit but if that doesn’t quite do it for you, there are a few other gems in [...]Read More..
A Backpackers Guide to Tanzania
Tanzania, blessed with some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. Not an expensive country yet if you want to ‘do everything’ here you’ll spend a fortune and be heading home before broke before you know it! Highlights [...]Read More..
Backpacking in Somalia – How To Get There
The last frontier of traveling? Perhaps, but in reality it’s really not that daring – that’s not to say, however, that Somalia isn’t a great place to go if you’re trying to get off that well trodden path because after [...]Read More..
A Backpacking Guide to Somaliland
Somaliland may not have the Taj, the Statue of Liberty or even a Macdonalds but I’d trade all three of these for one trip here. Really, of all the places I have been Somaliland really shakes up your preconceptions. You [...]Read More..
Backpacking in Malawi – Guide to Malawi
Goodbye to the Portuguese-flavoured Mozambique and on to a whole new world – hello Malawi! I hate to repeat myself time and time again but Malawi is yet another amazing country (thinking about it, maybe it’s the traveling that’s always [...]Read More..
Chiang Mai – Travel Guide
This is the one place where I feel fully qualified to chat about and having spent over 18 months here I can truly say I love this city! It’s the first place outside Europe I could really consider ‘home’ and [...]Read More..
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