the weekend wanderer

What is the best time to book tickets to Europe? What is the proper tipping etiquette? Should I get a rail pass? Is it better to book with hotels directly or through a third party? These are all questions I asked myself before I became the travel geek (I would say expert but frankly it sounds way too serious) that I am today. It definitely wasn’t smooth sailing and, yes, I made a fool out of myself more times than I can count but I lived to tell the tale and tell you how NOT

If you’re looking to save money on weekend trips then you’re in the right place because I have lots of great tips and travel hacks to share! Weekend breaks are on the rise and more people than ever before are ditching the traditional 2-week holiday in favour of lots of shorter holidays throughout the year. But weekend breaks can be expensive so keep reading to find out how to cut the costs and enjoy more weekenders! Weekend breaks are the best. If you book a few weekend break

Travel to Europe is a little different now that we are no longer a Member of the European Union (EU), so it's important you plan early to make sure you have everything in place in time for your trip. As well as reading through our guidance on the main changes below, it’s important to check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice for the destination you are visiting for country specific advice. If you’re visiting Ireland, plus Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle

These days most travellers want to be able to get online regularly while traveling to check email, get directions, check hotel and restaurant reviews, upload photos, update social media, and stay in touch with those back home. Travel routers can help with this. It is definitely easier to stay connected as wireless internet is now widely available in most parts of the world but there are still a number of situations when it can be tricky (or expensive) to connect. As a travel

Although credit cards are widely accepted in Europe, in some corners (Greece, for example) cash is still king. Here an overdependence on plastic can shape the Europe you experience. Finding Cash Machines In most places, cash machines are easy to locate. Ask for a distributeur in France, and a Bankomat just about everywhere else. Small towns may have a limited number of (or even no) ATMs. To avoid getting into a bind, make sure you have some cash before heading to a small-town

In Europe, day-to-day spending can be more cash-based. So when I'm there I rely mostly on cash, though I appreciate the convenience that credit cards offer. For me, it all comes down to maximising ease and minimising fees. I pay for as much as possible with cash, using a bank that charges no or low fees for international ATM transactions, and withdrawing large amounts at each transaction. I never exchange pounds for foreign cash at a currency exchange booth, and I don’t bothe

Europe is an ideal place to visit if you want to see other parts of the world but don’t feel comfortable being too far away from home. It is easily reachable and you have a whole wealth of countries you can visit during your trip. Northern Europe If you are planning to visit northern Europe, you would be wise to take a few layers with you. The weather is, as you would expect, a lot cooler than what you may be used to in the UK. However, you’ll also find that these countries o

Packing can be one of the most stressful parts of going away; finding the balance between packing too much and not enough is very difficult. Here are my top useful tips to stress free and successful packing: Forget everything you knew about packing, do not fold your clothes, roll them to reduce space and prevent creasing. Remember that airlines have size and weight restrictions on hand and hold luggage, check and weigh your luggage before you leave home to avoid expensive fin

When planning a trip, no matter how short it is extremely important that you invest in quality travel insurance – especially if you have any pre-existing medical conditions. Sometimes travel insurance can seem like an unnecessary precaution, however without insurance you leave yourself vulnerable to potentially massive bills if something goes wrong abroad. Here are my top tips for buying affordable and quality Medical Travel Insurance; Make sure you have declared your conditi

When travelling, it pays to be prepared as failing to be organised can cost you valuable time and sometimes money! Here are my top 10 tips & tricks. Passport Holder So, there’s always one person who takes charge of the passports, but for security you will individually need them. If there are more than two of you travelling it can get confusing and take time dishing them all out again. Although you will need to take them out of the covers in most airports for security, the tim