Layover in Copenhagen - How to spend your time

“To Travel is to live ”

— Hans Christian Andersen

The reason I start with this quote is because I couldn’t help to think of Hans Christian Andersen and his fairytales during my short trip to Copenhagen. You can understand how this city became his inspiration for his magical stories. Castles, princesses and narrow mysterious streets all come to life in Copenhagen.

Can you really see the city in a few hours though? Is there enough time to explore the streets and do some sightseeing during your layover? The answer is Yes, yes YES! Even though Copenhagen is by far the largest city of the country everything is quiet close and is by far one of the most relaxing European capitals with unique café and culture. Make sure to bring your camera though as this city is extremely photogenic with plenty of great spots to visit.

We found a very good deal from London to Athens with a 14 hours layover in Copenhagen and this was our question as well but we decided to give it a shot. Seeing a city, even a small one with the size of Copenhagen demands a big amount of research. You need to make a plan and check what you want to see in advance so that the moment you arrive you start exploring.

Copenhagen is such an easy city to explore. Most of the main attractions are clustered in the town centre around Slotsholmen and at the island of Christian Town which you cross by a pedestrian/bicycle bridge. There are many attractions to check such as the parliament, the old town hall, Nyhavn, The Black Diamond, just to name a few. Most of the attractions are easy to be covered in a short time but of course cities like Copenhagen are made to be explored slowly.

Here you can see the route we followed. Our layover was during the night so all the museums, palaces and churches were closed so it was a very interesting walking-at-night exploration. Since we stopped constantly to take photos and took our time to explore the surrounding streets, we spent roughly 5 hours walking.

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Start from any point of the map. Just make sure to explore the small streets around the monuments.

If you fancy something more interesting, you can rent the City Bikes which you can find throughout the city. They feature a tablet on the handlebars with built-in GPS which makes it easy to get around. You just need to register on the tablet, put your credit card information and you’re good to go. The touchscreen tablet will help you explore the city and guide you to points of interest in Copenhagen.

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Below you can see some of the highlighted places from the route map. Not in particular order, just my favourite ones.

Nyhavn

The historic waterfront of Copenhagen. You probably know Denmark by this spot you see on the postcards. Colorful 17th century townhouses with wooden ships docked out front. I really enjoyed walking there at night so I visited again at sunrise. It really feels like it hasn’t been touched by time.

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The most iconic spot of Copenhagen shot from a different spot.

Strøget Street

The longest Pedestrian Street in Europe. Bring your girlfriend there and you doomed to spend an evening strolling around the shops. Strøget itself is ideal for Street Photography so that’s something I enjoyed a lot.

Rådhuspladsen

It is the main square of Copenhagen which is the main square of the city. There you can find the Townhall which is a really impressive Italian Renaissance building. On top it has one of the most accurate clocks for its scale in the World.

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Rådhus view from Tivoli Gardens

Tivoli Gardens

In my opinion one of Copenhagen’s busiest attractions. One of the oldest amusement parks of Europe and the world. It really is worth it to visit. It opened in 1843 which makes it the second-oldest operating amusement park in the world. You can go crazy with roller coaster rides, grab a bite in one of the numerous restaurants or just scroll around and snap some cool pictures. 

Amalienborg Palace

The home of the Danish Royal Family. A very interesting location with four identical palace façades in an octagonal courtyard. Each building is guarded by soldiers similar to those in Buckingham Palace. Very close by is Frederik’s Church which is another must-see attraction.

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One of the Façade buildings of Amalienborg

Christiania

Copenhagen’s original Hotspot. It used to be an abandoned military based and it was taken over in the 70’s by hippies and artists. It is a very interesting and vibrant community to visit. Plenty of graffitis, street art and music. Strolling around Christiania’s streets you can feel this alternative positive vibe and it is something different from Copenhagen’s city centre. It is a also a place where Marijuana and other soft drugs are available among the Cannabis Shops there. Although Marijuana is technically illegal here, it is openly sold and tolerated.

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One out of many Graffitis in the buildings of Christiania FreeTown

St. Alban’s Anglican Church

Although quiet unknown, St. Alban’s Church is an ideal place for photography. The architecture really caught your eye and the nature around is just incredible. Just a few steps away from the Little Mermaid.

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Night Photography of the impressive St. Alban's Church

 

The Marble Church

The church and the place are just incredible. It can be seen from the courtyard of Amalienborg Palace so it is pretty easy to tick another location of your checklist quickly. The exterior is definitely something to photograph and I am sure you will be as amazed as I was.

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Frederik's Church or Marble Church from Amalienborg

Despite my 14 hour stay, I felt in love with Denmark’s capital. Even if you stay just for few hours, it is definitely worth taking this 30 minutes metro ride to the centre and explore its little secrets. I assure you that they are too many to be unravelled, so, take it slow. Throughout the city, there’s always this relaxing vibe reflected in the colourful homes bicycle paths. Take your time and enjoy it. After all, Cities like Copenhagen always makes you feel like there’s some unfinished business and you need to visit again. So, have fun, or should I say ‘’ha’ det sjovt’’

Have you ever had a long layover and visited the city? How was your experience?

Differences between Tourists and Travellers

“A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving”

— Lao Tzu


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What is really the difference? Is there any? Welcome to the backpacking world. You’re looking at a very popular debate among travellers.

Everyone has a different opinion. I travelled both as a backpacker and as a tourist so in this article I will try to write my opinion and point out the differences I’ve observed so far. If you guys agree, disagree or just want to point out an argument, I would really love to discuss this in the comment section.

When I was 14, I went on my first trip abroad with my school. It was a 9 day trip to Venice, Switzerland, South Germany and Innsbruck, Austria. It was a short trip for such distances. We were sitting most of the day in comfortable bus seats, glancing through the rainy stained window the foreign landscape. The first city we visited (and my first foreign city) was Venice in which we spent 2 hours because there wasn’t simply enough time if we wanted to see all the cities. 2 hours because we simply had to tick everything off the tour list. I simply couldn’t comprehend the beauty of this city. All I wanted was to leave the group and get lost in the tiny medieval streets of the city. That was a no go though. The very first day of the tour I was tired of being a tourist. I didn’t know the name back then but I knew I was a traveler.

What are the main differences though?

Tourists compare everything to things back home, travellers feel like home.

Tourists miss their home, their local food, their comforts. They tend to compare everything to the way things back home are. Too spicy, too dirty, too noisy, too hot, too different. Everything makes them feel homesick. Is there anything better than walking up in the early dawn in a completely different place? Travellers embrace the different and that is a big part of this lifestyle.

Tourists squander; travellers wander

Surely, there is no right or wrong on travelling but there are definitely better ways. A tourist visits a place with a group and a tour guide. Following a checklist that need to be ticked off. They don’t visit a place to explore it. A few pictures are more than enough. Don’t get me wrong. I just did a Charles Dickens tour in London and it was absolutely fantastic. It would be so hard to gather all this info and do this tour alone. The thing is that tourists stick just on these tours. They are either too afraid or they don’t know how much more is there on travelling. Travellers are trying to get lost. To observe the local life and the real country behind the travel guides.

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Tours are absolutely a great way to see the city in a different perspective

Tourists have maps, travellers discover routes

There is nothing wrong with preparation but if you have every single detail planned, you leave no space for adventure. A tourist has pretty much everything planned out before they even board on the airplane. Touristic places are popular for a reason. They are unique and admirable. There is more than just Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower though. A traveller would prefer to just take a bus, end up on the other side of the city and start discovering rather than getting on a hop-on-hop-off bus and tick every attraction off the checklist in 2 hours.

Tourists eat at the centre, travellers locally

A tourist never leaves his comfort zone. They prefer an overpriced ‘’traditional’’ restaurant experience with menus in 10 languages rather than moving a bit away from the centre. one reason is convenience, the other reason that they just wanna say they’ve tried it. Once you go to London, fish & chips is a must. 11£ for a meal is an unreasonable price in my opinion. Me and my girlfriend decided to take the metro and just stop after 6 stops. Not only we payed only 5£ for a much bigger portion, it was also freshly made for us and gave us a chance to chat with the owner and find out more about the local life there. A traveller doesn’t just travel for the picture on Facebook rather than the experience itself.

Time is the big difference

A tourist is bound by time. A traveller might spend one month to explore a place but a tourist has to get done everything in a week. The idea of travelling for most is that you have to visit all the historic sites, see all the museums and take pictures in front of them to show them to your friends. A traveller is more interested in the experience though. It is much better to explore slowly a small part of the country rather than rushing out to cover everything and at the end don’t enjoy your precious days off. Afterall, a person with limited days off travels to escape his daily routine and relax, not to adopt a more stressful lifestyle than the one he/she has at home.

Tourists expect everyone to speak English, a traveller tries to learn the local language

When we travel, we are ambassadors of our own culture and country. With our actions we represent our homeland. I always despise when I see the angry tourists expecting the same standards of service with their country.  The tourist lifestyle builds a huge wall between them and the potential of exploring the new culture. Not everyone had the chance to go to school and learn English. Sometimes you need to learn a few basic words to maneuver through the language barrier. Learn as much of the language of your destination as possible. Even if it is just thank you and hello. A few basic words not only will help you making your life easier but also to make new friendships and get closer to the locals. You can read more on this topic here. One day in Jaipur India I was setting up my tripod to take a sunset picture of the Pink Palace. By accident I bumped into a woman. I just said ‘‘excuse me’’ in Hindi.  It is polite but also strange for a westerner to say something in Hindi so this woman started chatting with us and at the end she invited me and my friend to join her and her family for a home-cooked dinner. Who can say no to that? I assure you that this unique experience was as rewarding as seeing all the sightseeing I did combined and all this from a simple ‘‘excuse me’’.

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There is a reason monuments are touristic. They are just unique and a trip is half if you don't visit them

The main difference in my opinion though is that travellers care. They care about the culture and the local customs of the destination they are visiting. They care about interacting with the locals and trying to discover as much as possible. They care about the local lifestyle and try to adapt to it. They simply care… 

For travellers, a new destination is an opportunity to learn something. It is truly a learning experience. A place where you will practice your skills and develop new. A lot of things can go wrong on the road. A traveller has to use or develop his set of skills to overcome those issues. A great opportunity to learn more about your surroundings and yourself. A tourist travels just to escape his daily routine. Relax and get away from his stressful lifestyle he/she has back home without the necessity to see more. They are protected inside a hotel with international comforts, restaurants and buses that are all designed for this reason. Arrive, visit and leave without any further interaction with the country. If something goes wrong, the travel company is to blame and a bad review will do it. A traveller has no one to blame though. He/she takes leadership of the actions and the bad times are those which are remembered the most and teach a lesson.

A traveller seizes the very same opportunity a tourist flushes down the drain. A traveller always seeks for the unknown.  He travels for the experience.

The biggest difference? A traveller already plans his next destination the moment he lands home.

A tourist would never leave his comport zone a traveler aims to find the adventure. It is the mentality that is different

Where do you stand on the topic? Do you agree or disagree? Leave a comment and let’s discuss it.

Flying around Europe on a Budget

What if I told you that travelling across Europe can be cheaper than a restaurant meal? You’re probably thinking that I am goofing on you and I don’t blame you. A few years back, travelling around Europe by plane used to be a very expensive hobby. Today catching a plane from London to Rome for a weekend is easier than ever before. But before jumping into that, let’s rewind a bit.

 

What are budget Airlines?

Budget airlines are very popular in Europe for a reason. They offer significantly lower prices compared to standard carriers to the same destination. Nowadays, with the increase in low cost airlines it is one of the cheapest ways to get around. Not onlyare new airlinescoming into existence but also more and more destinations in Europe are becoming available. In most cases flights are much cheaper than traveling by bus or train. For example a bus from Athens to Thessaloniki in Greece takes 6-7 hours and costs 63€ (roundtrip). The same roundtrip would cost as low as 40€ flying with Ryanair. Not bad, huh?

Apart from the “big three” - Ryanair, Eurowings and EasyJet -  most of the budget airlines operate in small regions. FlyNiki for example flies mainly in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Italy specialising in key cities such as Berlin, Vienna and Munich. In summer their flights are more frequent and many more European holiday destinations are available.

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Some of the biggest Budget Airlines next to each other.

What makes them so cheap though?

 

1) You will need to pay for extra luggage

Rather than having a higher price ticket which would include a 23kg bag that not everyone needs, they allow a small 8kg carry-on bag (which is more than enough for a small trip) and then you can pay extra if you need a big one. Keep in mind that it is MUCH cheaper to buy ahead online.

Make sure to stick to the size and weight mentioned on the terms and conditions you agree upon. DO NOT GUESS. Measure and weigh your luggage ahead. Most of budget airlines adhere to this and most likely you will pay a big fine in the airport that would cost you as much as the ticket you paid.

2) You won’t have any free drinks or food during your flight.

Nothing is free. The ‘’free’’ food and complimentary drinks you get in a flight are paid in your higher priced ticket. To avoid this, get some food with you (it is allowed to get through security control) andget a foldable water bottle which you can fill up after security control. If you don't wanna get into the trouble of preparing food last minute, you can always order in the airplane. You save more than 100€ flying with a budget airline. Spending 10€ on a meal isn't that bad.

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A ham & Cheese sandwich, hot chocolate and chips cost less than 10€ in an EasyJet Aircraft

3) Print your ticket

Most of the Budget carriers give you the option to print your own ticket in an A4 printout. If you decide to print it at the airport desk this will cost you about 20-25€. Some airlines give the option of paperless ticket simply by scanning your phone screen. So, check before you fly.

4) The airport will be outside the major city

Many times the airlines land in destinations further away from the destination. This might not be always the case but it is very common in Europe.

Last year I flew from Bratislava Paris and from there to Morocco. I decided to spend 5 days in Paris to see the city as well. RyanAir offers flights on the fraction of the cost comparing to other airlines but it lands in the city of Beauvais which is about 90km away from the centre. You can reach the centre via Bus (8€ cost) or visit blablacar.com to find a shared car ride. This happens because those airports have much lower taxes in comparison to airports closer to the city. For me it was a great opportunity to spend a day in Beauvais and also explore this small town. 

This is the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais. An impressive 13th century Gothic architectural masterpiece

5) Read Terms and Conditions

Almost always the tickets are non refundable nor able to be changed. Always make sure to read the terms and conditions.

6) The aircraft is very basic inside.

The interior of the airplane and NOT the airplane itself have some eye catching differences. Seats are less comfortable with hard cushions and no reclining option and no TV. itis also noticeable that there will be tons of ads inside the airplane just like the metro or the bus. But again, this is an 1 to 4 hours flight max. It is not the end of the world so bring a good book and rock your earphones on.

Before booking with a Budget airline always make sure to keep in mind all these extra costs and decide if it’s worth it.

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A photo of my seat on my recent trip to London.

Are Budget Airlines safe?

Many times the word ‘’budget’’ implies cheaper quality. People are worried travelling with a flying metal coffin that can potentially fall apart at any moment. This is not the case in Europe and North America. The USA and EU have some of the strictest aviation safety laws in the world. Nothing that doesn’t fulfil these requirements is allowed to fly through European or American soil. Those companies go through the same checks are all airlines do.

In Europe, neither EasyJet nor RyanAir have had any fatal accidents nor have lost any aircraft the past 40 years. In the 10 worst aviation accidents in Europe (https://aviation-safety.net/statistics/worst/worst.php?continent=EU) no budget airlines were involved

One of the reasons Budget Airlines are much cheaper is the cost efficiency. Just like in Costco when you buy in bulk you have a premium price, in the same way RyanAir and EasyJet buy more than 100 aircrafts at the time so that the price is cheaper as well as they save on training costs since all the pilots just need to be trained on a specific type of aircraft.

Which are some of the best Budget Airlines in Europe?

 

• Air Baltic: Based in Latvia, it flies over 50 destinations including St. Petersburg and Prague.

• Air Berlin: German airlines to operates to the most popular European holiday destinations including the Greek islands and Spain.

• Blue Air: Romanian Airlines that connects East and West European destinations.

• EasyJet: British airlines operating both domestically and internationally with more than 600 destinations in 32 countries.

• Eurowings: Budget German Airlines that operates mainly in the European continent with some flights in Thailand as well.

• FlyNiki Even though it is a budget airline you always get refreshments and newspapers on flight.

• FlyBe: Air Devon-based Airline operates to over 65 European airports.

• GermanWings Airlines: Cologne Based German airline operating mainly in Europe.

• Iberia Express: Best way to fly to Spain on a budget. It operates to 22 European destinations including Berlin, Mykonos and London

• Monarch: One of the oldest budget airlines. It is based at Luton Airport and operates to more than 65 destinations.

• Norwegian: They fly to over 126 destinations and recently they introduced long haul flights to NYC and LA

• Pegasus Airlines: The Budget version of Turkish airways. It operates to more than 100 destinations in Central Asia, Europe and N. Africa.

• RyanAir: Probably the biggest Budget airline in Europe. It flies in pretty much every country in Europe in more than 190 (!!!) destinations.

• Transavia: Dutch based airline operating mainly in Europe.

• Wizz Air: This Hungarian low-cost carrier operates to more than 45 countries

• WOW Air: Iceland's very own Budget Airline. Operates flights to 16 destinations including London and Milan

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Are Budget Airlines actually Cheaper?

AYE! Even after adding all the extra expenses, it is almost always cheaper to fly with a budget carrier. I recently booked my tickets for 5 cities. London, Copenhagen, Athens, Istanbul and Rome. I paid 320€ for 7 flights whereas if I booked through non budget airlines the cost was over 700€ so even if you don’t get free coffee and sandwich on the airplane you can spare 5-6€ since you saved over 50€-100€ for a single flight.

There is a reason they are called budget. If you can live without any unnecessary luxuries for a couple of hours, the savings are definitely worth it.

What is your experience with Budget Airlines? Do you prefer spending the extra money for activities in your destination or for a much more comfortable flight?

Why and how to add Travel on your CV

“All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.”

— Samuel Johnson

I decided to start with this quote because the first sentence “All travel has its advantages“ basically sums up the mood of this article and in this article I want to discuss about the skills you gain from traveling in terms of “employability“. If your travelling was mainly partying and drinking there isn’t much I can help you with. Though, if you traveled with a purpose and believe that your travel experiences will be valuable in your future career but you don’t know how to include them in your resume this is an article that might worth your time.

Why do we travel though?

We are naturally curious. Since we are children we are trying to unravel the small secrets of our room, then the house, the neighbourhood, our city and when we reach adulthood our very own planet. We have the instinct of discovering. There was a point in your 20's where you wanted to leave everything behind to travel and follow the very same instinct that we share with billions of people. The only thing that withholds us is the pressure of the society to settle down and a gap year could be disastrous for a upcoming career.

Leaving for a gap year isn’t an easy decision and definitely not an easy accomplishment let alone decision.  It requires a set of skills which if you don’t have, you develop through time. It requires lengthy planning and determination to save for the trip. A trip like this requires:

• Planning: All this research that you have to do in order to arrange the trip. Find the ideal destinations, accommodation, plan and book the ideal routes etc.

• Communication: Travelling to foreign countries requires basic local language knowledge and/or having to try to use words in English to focus on the main part while eliminating all unnecessary parts. 

• Adaptability: No trip is perfect. Delays, cancellations, mechanical mishaps  and many more will be a routine on your trip. How do you cope with it? Did you had to make any on spot decisions?
• Cultural acceptance: On the road we have constant encounters with local and international travelers from around the world. How did the different cultures and customs affect you? Did it made you more tolerant? Accepting other people’s cultures?

Leaving all behind once in your life instead of filling your resume with impressive work titles doesn't have to make sense to every potential employer. It has to make sense to those you really care for. Your interest in this article proves that you are ready to go forward into a new chapter that many would not even attempt.

An employer will inadvertenly be interested in your travelling experience as it will benefit both the enterprise and the surrounding employees

Strategic, editorial, organisational, leadership, multitasking, flexibility and many more skills which take years of working experience to develop them and this is why they are valuable and worth mentioning in your resume which sums up yourself, your accomplishments and your expertise. 

Choose wisely were your hard earned experience is shared with .  Your career is totally priceless 

We tend to settle in life and become creatures of habit . Settle for jobs which brings simply a pay check home. This is because we are more focused on how we don't want our life to be rather than how we want it to be.

It is best to master CHANGE as it brings the best opportunities in life .

But how exactly do we add traveling on our resume?

There is no magic recipe on how can you add travelling on your resume. Every resume is different. In my case, I added the travel blogging as work experience at 2015 and after, since it is my main work after quitting my job. There I mention all my everyday responsibilities and skills gained.

Wording plays an important role. Here are some examples:

• Adventure Travel
• Personal Travel
• Full-Time Study & Travel

In Skill Based CVs you have the opportunity to include implementations of your skills. For instance you want to talk about your communication skills, you may decide to talk about:

‘’ During my travel in Southeast Asia, I volunteered teaching English in a school. The children never had encountered a native English speaker and that required me to learn how to rephrase, clarify and focus every individual student. Lack of textbooks made me think out of the box and come up with efficient teaching techniques so that the students focus more on practice rather than long theory writing’’.

This kind of personal touches show a personality that isn't reluctant of taking risks. Great social skills and out of the box thinking as well as flexibility of decision making if classic methods don't apply. It’s important to have such anecdotes to support your skill list. Mainly because you have no-one to confirm any of these (except if you volunteered). So my advice is, if you can’t explain it, better keep it off. 

I understand that these methods are different from the traditional CV structure.. Travel experience is a great way to differentiate yourself and your CV from the mass. This is why I mentioned earlier to put them in your cover letter. It is a space which allows you to explain the story more extensively.

Don’t be afraid if your resume looks different than the others. You stand out from the rest and the chances are people will take a second look.

Just Go

“Traveling leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”

— Ibn Battuta

The perfect time to leave is now!

The other day I listened to a TED talk. I found myself more motivated than I ever had been to take that leap and JUST GO! Most people harbor a deep rooted desire to explore this Earth, but many of those people will never view travel as a priority. There are any number of things that can hold us back in life; but overcoming those obstacles is worthwhile. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and cannonball into the adventure at least once in your life. Traveling can open your eyes to new experiences if you only make it happen. If this boldness excites you as it does me perhaps it is time to reevaluate your own priorities. The following reasons are my own, my motivation and I hope that they strike a chord with you as well. 

Time is running out!

Time is an element that none of us can escape; minutes turn to hours. Hours turn into weeks. Weeks to months, months to years. Time is somehow always present and yet always elusive. The ticking of the clock reminding us that the time we posses isn’t infinite. We don’t have forever, so why not make the most of our time here. 

Every minute spent on a couch scrolling through Facebook could have been a minute spent creating a moment. Dreams begin shiny and full of life, but if they are constantly cast aside they fade and in time make their way to that corner of our mind, the “Unaccomplished Dream Box”. Most dreams that enter this box will never come out. Breath life into the dream and take a chance. We create excuses in our heads, that if we take time for ourselves the world will somehow fall apart without us. But if traveling is important to you be flexible. Humans have an amazing ability to make things happen. 

It is easier than ever before

Thirty years ago, traveling was a luxury for a privileged few. Flights were far more expensive, the destinations were far fewer, and discounts such as Mile Programs were practically non-existent. Today there are numerous Budget Airlines that offer great deals. In many cases it is cheaper to fly from one European country rather than going out two nights in a row. The world is more connected than ever before and the internet is the most valuable tool a budget traveler has. Couchsurfing, WWOOFing, AirBnb, all available at our fingertips allowing travel on a shoestring budget. With a bit of research it is possible to accomplish your traveling dream cheaper than you would have thought. 

There is never a perfect time to travel

Three years ago, I planned a backpacking trip with my girlfriend. I wanted to go to India and SouthEast Asia. I had the perfect picture in my mind of how this trip should be. So when things weren’t perfect I didn’t go. I wanted a great camera to capture the moments, a good backpack and many other silly things. I neglected the true purpose of travelling. Self fulfilment of my dream! Here I am again, three years later. I might have lost that particular chance of going but many other chances await me and it is never too late. After all, the perfect time to travel is when you actually decide you want to go. 

It will make you wiser

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These people were complete strangers before I took the decision to go to Thailand. Now they are lifelong friends!

Very few things will be the same as in your home. You will be exposed to new cultures, new flavours, new sounds and most importantly new people. These experiences force you to get out of your comfort zone and talk to strangers. You become more open minded and tolerant. Most people who have traveled to a land outside of this comfort zone learn how others who are struggling want to be treated. Compassion grows wild in those who travel. 

Because it is what you want the most

The desire to travel will always be present in your mind until you take action and JUST GO!

Every second of your life is a potential adventure waiting to be revealed! What excuse could possible be so important that you miss it? 

How to mentaly prepare yourself for the next trip

Traveling gives sparkle to many people’s life. It fills them with unique experiences, exposes them to new cultures and makes them see things from different perspectives. On this I think we all agree. But everything has a cost. Traveling can also be expensive and very tiring after a long period of time. Once in a while you just need some time off to settle down for a while. Time to find a routine, work hard and save enough to hop on a plane and jet off to your next destination.

Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Most of the travellers out there face these same difficulties. Saving up while planning the next destination can be exciting and frustrating at the same time. The first few days are usually great; the days you reconnect with old friends, family and start making plans. However, as time passes your days become filled with work and as the monotany begins to bore you, you may find yourself in need of something, anything to break the mold.
 

So, what can you do to spice up your daily routine even if day trips are out of the question?

Try cooking foreign cuisine

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My first attempt to cook Pad Thai! 'Nuff talk!! Num Num Num!

Food can definitely be a type of mental travelling destination by itself. Bizarre, new, interesting tastes that connect you with the origin. Visit different restaurants; order something different from the menu. Wanna take it a step further? Pass by your local Arab, Asian, Indian, African, Korean, (Or wherever you plan to explore) store and get some ingredients for your kitchen. Experiment with new flavours. This method has definitely worked for me. Not only can you prepare yourself mentally for the next trip but also your stomach as well. In many S. American, Asian or even African countries, spices are a big factor in the local cuisine and when you finaly make it to your destination you won’t wanτ to get caught off guard and spend the first days in the bathroom.

Learn a new language (get a partner)

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People from 9 different countries, 3 different continents. Not only I practiced my Spanish but I also made some very strong friendships along the way!

A new language is never useless. Sure it takes a quite a long time to master, but even basic writing and communication skills can be very handy in remote areas. Plus it is polite and friendly to greet people in the local language. It can change the way the locals see you! Nowadays, there are several ways to learn a new language for free. Duolingo for instance helped me imporove my German to a decent communication level. Also, there are several language exchange groups on Facebook that you can get connected with a native speaker.
 

Go out into nature

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Hiking is a great way for clearing your mind and in my case practice my hobby! Photography!

We all need to clear our minds once in a while. The point is to escape from the everyday routine and set your restlessness at ease. Get away from your laptop and the TV. Try out walking with your backpack to get used to it. After all, it will be your home with your belongings when you’re on the road. Grab your camera and capture the moments, any moment. Experiment and get a small taste of how it is to be out of your comfort zone.
 

Learn a new skill

Not only will it break up the day to day snooze fest, it will also keep you pumped for your upcoming trip. What about blogging? It is a great way to organise your thoughts, share your findings from research with others and keep your family and friends posted on your adventures when you are on the road? For me it was photography. It started as an idea and now it is a true inspiration. I always try to top my previous work and it was a great way to explore the local Thai culture on my short visit in Bangkok. Try something new. Maybe guitar, handcrafting, drawing, hiking. Find what speaks to you.

Read Travel Blogs

If someone knows about long term travelling that would be the travel bloggers. Learn from first hand what it is like travelling for a long period of time, how to prepare yourself and expose yourself to ideas and destinations you never heard of. Most of the people around you might think you’re a lunatic because they believe long term traveling is impossible. Blogs can give you great motivation, as well as teach you a thing or two. Perhaps even help you avoid some rookie mistakes and make your journey more pleasant.

Βοοκ

No matter how many blogs you read, nothing can replace a good book. Reading to relax after a long day can also be a mental escape from the ordinary. Choose a book that will get you in the mood for your next destination. I am currently reading ‘’Around India in 80 Trains’’ by Monisha Rajesh which is a travelogue about travelling India by train and oh boy, I am already so psyched to pack my bags and experience that myself. In this way you will gain a better understanding of the country, the culture and its people.

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Many people like myself, even though they are super excited about their next adventure, after a period of time can lose the fire. These are the things I do to keep me motivated and prepared. What about you? What is your secret? Your question? Your thoughts? Share them with us!

London on a Budget

London is notorious for being a very expensive city and it really is. If you are travelling on the budget, the first moment you get into the city you might get overwhelmed by all the overpriced street and restaurant food. It might look this way at the first glimpse but this isn’t the rule.

As in every city, London has tons of free attractions and they are just waiting to be discovered. I agree, some attractions can be a bit pricey. You can’t visit a city though and skip everything though.

Flight:

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With prices as low as $40 roundtrip, it is very convenient to move around Europe and N. Africa

London has 4 airports. 2 of them (Standsted & Luton) are quite far from the center. This is where all Budget airlines fly to (such as RyanAir and EasyJet). Except if you have enough miles or you find a great deal, I would suggest you to consider those airports. I paid 70€ with RyanAir for a roundtrip to Standsted Airport. Of course this includes just a small luggage and not a suitcase but you don’t need anything more than a small backpack for a short trip. Even with a luggage (e.g. a 70L backpack), if you book early, the extra luggage cost would set you back about 50€. 

Transportation:

Transportation cost from the airport is something you cannot avoid. Nowadays, there are several bus companies with offices located in the airport and due to the competition, prices tend to be quite low. 

A rountrip ticket to London from Stansted Airport will set you back only £18 for a roundtrip bus ride   ( so just £9 one way for 1 hour ride).

Metro, Subway, Tube (or however you wanna call) it is with no doubt the fastest and cheapest way to travel within the London metropolis. Better check in prior in which zone is your accommodation and the attractions you are planning to visit are located so that you buy an Oyster Card just for those zones! You can find more information about the fares here

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Accommodation:

In many cases, Central London hotels are overprices and undersized. Most of the times, it is much cheaper to find a place outside Zone 1 (such as Campden Road). Rooms are usually better quality for the same price and the surrounding shops are cheaper (check out the Food & Drinks section). hostelworld.com is a great website to look for hostels. If you are into the international vibe, parties and look for cheap accommodation, this is what you’re looking for.

couchsurfing.com another great website. People from all over the world are registered here. A website where you can offer a room or a couch of your house for free or you can look hosts online. Not only you save money, but you socialize with dwellers of the city who can share tons of inside tips about the area and the city but you also get to see how London’s everyday life looks like!

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Food & Drinks:

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There is great variety of food in Campden market. Everything is affordable and you know what? Everyone hands out free samples... Woohoo!

Here, the same rule applies as in Accommodation. London is well known for its variety in restaurants. Due to the high rent though, Food tends to be overpriced and scare off most of the budget travellers. This is why I chose a hotel out of Zone 1. In the London Suburbs (but still very close to the center) such as zone 2, there is always a tremendous variety of food options. Lebanese, Indian, Kebabs, Chinese, you name it!

Oh and did I mention how much cheaper Beer is there? You have a great number of pubs in every neighbourhood where beer is much cheaper (£3-4 comparing to £5-6 in the Center) and you get to connect with the locals. Londoners are really fun and friendly! It is a great opportunity to experience ‘‘real’’ London and get a taste of a lifestyle, most of the tourist do not experience!

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Attractions:

    Free Attractions: 

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Night walks are always a great way to explore the city for free!

London is not about Madam Tussaud’s and the London Eye. There are tons of free attractions you can visit just by metro (using your Oyster Card). in fact, there are so many free attractions that it might take you about 3 days to visit most of them. 

Some of them are:

• National Gallery,
• The British Museum
• Borough Market
• Natural History Museum
• Science Museum
• St. Paul’s Church
• Campden Market and many many more…

Of course, free, doesn’t necessarily mean museums and galleries. There are so many great things you can do in London that will be truly memorable to you. You can visit Greenwich, take a stroll in Thames or simply enjoy Hyde park.

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Primrose Hill offers a fascinating view of London's skyline

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Night walks are a great free way to explore the city

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Kingston is only 30 mins away from the city by bus and it is a great way to stay on a budget while exploring the point where the history of England began.

 London Pass:

Some attractions are touristic for a reason and it is a must to visit them. The notorious London Tower would be on the top of my list. Check out London Pass (http://www.londonpass.com/london-attractions/london-attractions-guide.html) and all the attractions you can visit. A 2 days pass will cost you about £75 which might sound like a lot but it can save you 50% or more if you add up the prices of all the attractions you visited. Just try to do the free attractions before you buy the pass or after it expires. 

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Free Walking Tour:

Free Walking Tours are a great way to see the city. This is your-own-price tour. They are usually about 3 hours long, full with interesting facts, enthusiastic guides and reveals the true history of the buildings and area. The only thing to consider is to tip the guide at the end of the tour. Check it out here

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Roo Tip: For cheap food in Zone 1 visit ChinaTown. Specially its street food is half price of what you find a few meters out of ChinaTown

What are your experiences with London? How do you manage staying on a low budget? 

How to Avoid a Delhi Belly

One of the main reasons that we travel, is food. It is one of life’s daily pleasures. Cuisine is a doorway to that allows us to step into a piece of culture that would have otherwise been closed to us.

My all time favourite Thali

When you are traveling on a shoestring budget in countries such as India, street food is a good way to coordinate your wallet with your desire to sample local delights. You can find a great variety of food vendors on every corner and with prices under $1, I dare you to resist. In most cases, these vendors specialize in cooking one particular food, which makes their dishes more often than not, irresistibly delicious. Unfortunately, Delhi Belly has been linked to unpleasant stomach experience rather than the explosion of flavours Indian food should give you. I know one of the first things you want to do after you get off the airplane is to intake the real flavours of India. And I don’t blame you. So many aromas, textures and flavours to try! But be careful.

In one way or another, most western travelers will unfortunately experience the diabolical Delhi Belly, especially those of us who intend to travel on a budget. In most cases, you can walk away with just a minor case of diarrhea or The Serpentine Syndrome as I like to call it; but there are occasional cases which are more severe and can make a trip supremely unpleasant. Some people assume that Delhi Belly is simply an unavoidable part of the experience. And up to a certain point, they might be right. But keep in mind, that the consequences of the dreaded Delhi Belly  could mean that you’ll spend much of your valuable vacation time in bed missing out on important and awesome things. Occasionally people assume that they simply “cannot handle” the local cuisine, but more often the problem is that we aren’t taking enough care with our food. Even a local can get food poisoning (definitely not as often as a tourist but they do). The advantage they have is that they know where to buy their food.

I wouldn’t dream of suggesting you take street food off the menu, what I do suggest is being smart about the vendors you visit. Nobody can guarantee your gastronomical security, but here are some tips to get you thinking like a smart hungry traveler.

Play it safe the first days:

When you are traveling to countries with different climate than your own, it is important to give your body some time to adjust to the new environment. Heat can be overwhelming when it comes to temperatures, and food. Countries like India have a tropical climate and in hot countries, bacteria tend to grow faster. Also, there are certain types of curries which contain about 30 different spices and ingredients and I’m guessing that your body is not used to that. You can try family restaurants at first. Maybe leave street food out of the menu for a week or so. Letting your body adjust to the local hygienic standards.

Water:

Water is the most common carrier for stomach ache inducing bacteria. Especially in developing countries, water is not usually safe to drink. Be extremely careful when drinking. It is always preferable to drink bottled water, and use it even when you are brushing your teeth. Same goes for ice cubes. A friend of mine recently visited Egypt. He was really careful with the food and he was always buying bottled water. One day, as they took a day cruise on the Nile, he ordered a coke which came with ice cubes. That was it, he spent the next few days befriending the toilet. And the same goes for salads, fruits and anything that is washed. If you can’t peel it or cook it, my advice is to stay away from it.

With so many bizarre food around you, street food is irresistible...

Utensils and Hands:

This tip may be a bit exaggerated for destinations in the west, but when traveling in budget countries, chances are, your hands will be pretty dirty; carrying all sorts of bacteria from touching bus poles, tuk tuk seats, animals, and the most important, MONEY…. These countries are largely cash based and thousands of hands have touched those bills. I recommend  keeping a small bottle of antibacterial gel handy. It is small, light weight and you won’t need to find a bathroom every time you need to wash your hands. The same goes caution should be applied to utensils. Just give them a quick clean with a cloth and the antibacterial gel.

Follow the locals: (This is and ever will be my golden rule)

Ok, this might seem logical but I needed to mention it. Always try to go to street food stands that are busy. Especially busy with locals and families with children. Nobody would take their children to a place with questionable cleanliness. Of course, sometimes, it might not be peak business hours and everything is quiet. In that case, try to choose the place which has the least variety on their menu. When a stand specializes only in a few dishes, they usually aren’t trying to pass off yesterdays warmed up leftovers as fresh.

And last but not least

Follow your senses:

Delicious Moroccan CousCous

Since we are used to highly sanitized and fresh food its usually pretty easy to spot when something seems a little off. Instinct can be your best friend. You see that this person handles the money and another person cuts fruits? It should be safer to eat there than a place where one guy is handling money and preparing food without washing his hands.  

Even after following all these tips, there is also an element of luck to the eating game. Most people will at some point experience a bout of food poisoning whether it’s in the comfort of their own home, at a restaurant in their town, or in the colorful exotic streets of India. What’s important is recognising the signs of the illness and not panicking. Rest and staying near a toilet is the best cure. Remember to keep your fluids up as diarrhoea seriously depletes your body’s water supply.  

Don’t be paranoid. Just be careful. Sometimes, street food can be much safer than you think.

Roo Tip: Always wash fruits and vegetables with bottled water.

Have you ever gotten the Delhi Belly? Any other tips you’d like to share? Let’s discuss this on the comments.

Learn a few local words before travelling

I was always fascinated with other languages. Amazed about the different accents, hand gestures and vowels which sounds seem physically impossible to pronounce at first. It somehow gives you a brief taste of the country itself.

I tried many times to learn a new language. French, Italian, Japanese, Romanian. I failed in all of them. I failed miserably in every single one of them. It was like a gypsy witch cursed me and I was on a quest to go find the cure. Even though I don’t speak those languages fluently, the basics have helped me communicate and made my travels much easier.

Many times you find yourself in situations where you are too far away from the tourist spots in the bazaar, in a remote area or simply trying to ask for directions from somebody who doesn’t speak English. Learning phrases from the local language could help you make a good impression and make your experience much smoother.

Greetings: Good morning, good evening, good night, hello, goodbye. Words that will help you greet and break the ice.

Introduce yourself: In many cases you would like to introduce yourself and get to know the other person. You appear friendly without having to make a long conversation. 

Numbers: For me the most important from the list. Numbers could be really useful and you will use them on a daily basis. Especially during budget travel, negotiating prices happens is as common as a spaniard taking a siesta. This can save you a lot of money and time!

Food allergies: Equally important. If you have food allergies I would highly suggest you that you learn the word allergy in the local language as well as the words for the things you are allergic to.

Other random words could be words that you will be using very often such as water, toilet and your favourite food.

Learning so many words can be intimidating but a great way to memorise them is by finding words or phrases that sound similar into your local language so every time you try to recall a word, you remember the story you made in your mind. Pretty handy!

Too hard? There are plenty of exchanging language groups on Facebook for many cities so you can connect with a native speaker and besides the language, get some inside tips about your destination :)

Don’t worry though. You will not get perfect in the language. Just make a plan and study a few minutes every day and you’ll get it in no time!

Roo Tip: A great FREE website to help you learn languages on a basic and intermediate level is duolingo.com

Was there a time for you where a few words you learned turned up to be handy? I’d love to hear some other stories!

Wake up Early

You get to be the only person enjoying those beautiful colours in a small town in Morocco

For those of us who aren’t morning people, this is absolutely not negotiable. For some others, children will wake you up no matter what. For some travelers though, I think this is the key point to real travelling. 

I understand it can be pretty hard to do this but there are so many great things to do and at the end of the day you really feel like your day was full. I know, I know, the snooze button is too damn tempting. This is why I always put my phone at the other end of the room.  Or I guess you could always drink a lot of water before bed and let nature be your alarm clock. Doesn't really work? Do you enjoy morning exercise? Maybe you should try  Clockie

Why is it so important though to get on the road before the break of dawn? 

The only people around the empty streets are locals.

The world you experience is completely different and almost completely untouched by tourism (even if it’s just for a few hours).  You see everything from a different perspective. With completely different colours and sounds the same city can seem like two different places in the early hours and the middle of the day. In my opinion, this is the essence of travelling. With an early start the entire day lies before you, with infinite possibilities; an exciting prospect for the eager traveler.

You get to taste a real slice of local life.  And as if that wasn’t enough reason, you’ll be the first customer in bakeries and such!) You get to taste all the local delights freshly baked! (And take your typical touristy pictures without a million people in the background) 

Early in the morning beaches are mostly empty and your pictures will more closely resemble the pictures advertised. Your beach will be “like a virgin, touched for the very first time”. Whereas, after 9am they are most likely full of umbrellas and chairs.   Everything is very peaceful during the early hours. Beautiful hues of red and yellow setting the sky ablaze. Besides, what is more exciting than an empty day and a world full of awesome.

Who else enjoys waking up early? Leave your comments below.