Ever wondered how someone can fit their whole life into a carry-on travel pack and travel the world (with no end in sight)? It’s actually not that difficult, even for us women, and once you’ve tried travelling light on a short trip, you won’t want to go back, even...
Practical advice and actionable tips on how to experience more in life
Discover the Joy of Minimalist Travel: The Ultimate Carry-on Packing list for Men
Whether you pack for a two-week vacation or a year-long backpacking trip around the world, you don’t need more than carry-on luggage. How would I know? I have done it all - from giant suitcases and 70-litre backpacks to full-time carry-on travel for the past 7+ years....
Travel Budget Japan: How much it costs and how to save
Are you planning a trip to Japan and wondering how much it will cost you? You've come to the right place. In this article, we outline our actual travel costs during our three-month trip to Japan in 2023. Contrary to popular belief, Japan can be an affordable travel...
How much does it cost to explore Slovenia?
Slovenia is known for its sustainability focus. And it is the only country in the world with love in its name. How could we not be excited to explore this pocket rocket of a country? While we only visited for eight days (as Paul had to leave the Schengen Visa area at...
How to Choose The Best Foreign Language School Abroad
We believe the best way to learn a language is to live in a country where the language is spoken for a period of time and really immerse yourself in the local culture. A little over a year ago, Paul and I attended Spanish school in Quito, Ecuador‘s capital, followed...
Unwind and recharge with a (multi)day trip to the stunning Kerama Islands
With crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches and colourful coral reefs, the Kerama Islands offer a wonderful respite from the busy-ness of Japan's mainland cities. Whether you choose to explore charming Zamami [Google Maps location] on foot or by bicycle, join a...
3-Day Naha/Okinawa itinerary: Off-beat (winter) adventures in the South of Japan
Okinawa might be best known for its stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters, but the Hawaii of Japan (as it is often called), has much more to offer than sun, sand and sea. With a unique history and culture shaped by its geographical location, Okinawa is distinctly...
No single-use: How to limit your plastic waste as a traveller in Japan
Sustainability is one of our shared values. And living our values (as much as possible) means we try and limit our ecological footprint wherever we are in the world. As we prepared for our trip to Japan in early 2023, we realised the biggest challenge while travelling...
Nakasendo Hiking Adventures: Your Ultimate Travel Guide for Japan’s Historic Postal Trail
Are you looking for a (multi)day hike away from Japan's busy cities? The historic Nakasendo offers a unique journey through Japan’s fascinating past and picturesque landscapes. Our in-depth travel guide has all the information you may need to create your very own...
Ready to hike the Nakasendo? Here are the best itineraries for 1, 2 and 3 days
Whether you’re a novice looking for a pleasant day hike or an expert seeking a more challenging multi-day hike, the Nakasendo offers a range of options to suit all interests and abilities. We have collated 1-, 2- and 3-day itineraries along the best-preserved segments...
Want to run a marathon in Japan? Here is your 2024 Nagano Marathon guide
Would you like to run a marathon in Japan but don't qualify for Tokyo and are not keen to join the crowds in Osaka? Well, come to Nagano. Framed by the snow-capped Japanese Alps and with on-course entertainment that puts many majors to shame, the Nagano Marathon makes...
Lisbon + Sintra: 9 low-cost experiences you won’t find in every guidebook
Our plane has started to descend. Below us, a river meanders through the landscape. In the haze ahead of us, the first features of the city appear. Strangely familiar, we have seen these features before, on different continents though: First, there is a bridge,...
Explore St Vincent and the Grenadines as an independent traveller
St Vincent and the Grenadines was our Caribbean destination number five, following Curacao, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Grenada. This exotically named archipelago is 200km west of Barbados and less than 100km north of Grenada. It consists of 32 islands and cays,...
Beyond the famous beef: How to spend 24 hours in Kobe
The name Kobe is synonymous with the famous Wagyu from this region. But there's so much more to Japan's sixth-largest city than a melt-in-your-mouth piece of meat. In this article, we'll take you on a 24-hour journey through Kobe, showcasing the best experiences this...
Nara’s hidden treasures: A 1-3 day itinerary for the offbeat traveller
Usually overlooked in favour of its more famous neighbours Kyoto and Osaka, people who do visit Nara usually come to see just the attractions around Nara Park - including its famous deer. But there is so much more to see and do in Japan's ancient capital. From the...
One Day in Himeji: The Perfect Itinerary for First-Timers
Known for its majestic 17th-century castle, Himeji offers a unique glimpse into Japan's rich history and culture. In this article, we present the perfect itinerary for those who have just one day to explore Himeji. From a visit to the famous castle to strolling...
Experience the Best of Hiroshima and Miyajima in Three Days
Hiroshima and nearby Miyajima Island should be on every traveller's Japanese bucket list. From the iconic A-Bomb Dome [Official website, Google Maps location] in Hiroshima to the giant floating vermilion-coloured Torii off Miyajima [Official website, Google Maps...
One Day in Porto: An itinerary that will make you fall in love with this city
Before we started our first ever Camino de Santiago (we chose the Camino Portuguese), we spent a few days in and around Portugal’s capital Lisbon, followed by a few days in Porto (Portus Cale in Roman times), the city that lent the country its name. If you are in...
Five simple tips to avoid the tourist crowds in Dubrovnik
We were in two minds whether we should visit Dubrovnik or not. Our curiosity and professional ethos won in the end: we want to experience the things we write about first-hand. And promoting sustainable travel also entails visiting destinations that suffer from too...
The best views over Dubrovnik and where to catch them (largely) for free
It’s crazy: people pay HRK200 (EUR27/USD30) and more to walk in blazing sunshine and over 30 degrees heat on top of a 2-kilometre long wall made of highly reflective, light-coloured stone. Now and then, the flow of people grinds to a halt, and they patiently wait in...
How much does it cost to explore Santiago de Compostela AND Barcelona?
Our daily expenses to explore two famous cities in Spain were USD58.44 / EUR52.04 per person per day. Our budget as always is USD50.00 so we were well over. We spent the whole of April in Spain, actually a little more: 31 days to be correct. First, we walked the...
How to protect your personal data and avoid online identity fraud
The cybersecurity statistics are astonishing: According to The Identity Theft Research Center (ITRC) Annual Data Breach Report, 2022 had the second-highest number of data compromises in the USA alone in a single year. At least 422 million individuals were impacted. ...
One week in Western Slovenia: Cool things to see and do beyond Lake Bled
As a true Kiwi, there are few countries in the world Paul considers on par with or surpassing New Zealand when it comes to natural beauty. Iceland, Norway and Ecuador are strong contenders. And now we’re adding another one: Slovenia. We’d even argue that New Zealand...
How much does it cost to explore Trinidad and Tobago?
Have you ever wondered whether you could afford to visit the Caribbean? Below is our financial spend for our journey around Trinidad and Tobago in March 2017. Check out what we did during the nine days we explored Trinidad and Tobago.Sign up to receive our email...