I recently explored Russia, Belarus and the Baltic States and here are some of the resources I used to find out more about Russia. Sir Winston Churchill once famously coined the description "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma" in relation to Russia's behaviour in 1939. Others have said "Russia cannot be understood" and "Russia is impenetrable". This mystery has always been a fascination and the chance to explore modern day Russia and the now independent countries that were once … [Read more...]
12 Must-Have Travel Toiletry Items
You need to think more carefully about your travel toiletry items if you are travelling for a longer period of time and staying in 2-3 star hotels or other accommodation away from major cities than if you are staying in a big hotel or resort for a few days. This post describes some of the items that over the years I have found to be essential in my toiletry kit when I travel to some of the more remote and unusual destinations. First step is to get a good toilet bag - I travel with two … [Read more...]
Solid Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
In an earlier post I wrote about the simple recipe I had found for a solid moisturiser stick that was perfect for travel. After the success of that, I had to try making solid shampoo and conditioner bars for travelling too. They will be great for cutting down volume and weight, and they're not liquids or gels so you can take them on the plane with you as well if you want. The recipes are from Go Native (I have their permission to reproduce them on my blog) and you can buy all the ingredients … [Read more...]
Solid Moisturiser Stick
A solid moisturiser stick is a great option for travelling (and many other activities) and this recipe is very easy to make yourself. I tend to have dry skin and use lots of moisturiser, but when I travel I always struggle to work out how much I need to take with me. Most moisturisers are considered gels or liquids so you are limited in how much you can take on the plane with you, and because they are gels or liquids you are also carrying around extra weight in the form of water. I usually … [Read more...]
Preserving Your Travel Memories
Travelling exposes you to so many new experiences, people, arts and crafts. Most people want to take some memento of these home with them to remind them of the remarkable new things they've seen and done. So what are some options for preserving these memories? Small cheap souvenirs Everywhere that is remotely touristy now seems to have its own selection of (usually cheap and nasty and often not even locally made) souvenirs for you to purchase. They can seem like a good idea at the time … [Read more...]
Comparing Travel Styles
In an earlier post I described how I had found my perfect travel style in Intrepid's Original style tours. You might like some of the same things in a trip that I do but there may be other aspects that suit you better. In the table below I compare a range of different tours that are available that should meet most needs whether you want an 18-30 age group, an independent tour, a family trip, or more comfort. Most of the styles cater to a range of different activities (e.g. trekking, cycling) … [Read more...]
Packing for Your Trip
Packing for your trip can be a daunting task, particularly if you are going to urban and non-urban environments; expecting hot, cold, wet and dry conditions; and needing to include gear for a range of different activities. Even worse if you are going for a longer period of time and need the whole thing to be light enough that you can carry it on your back if you need to. What Bags Do I Need? If you are going back-packing, then clearly you will need a back-pack. I use a combination bag … [Read more...]
Travel First Aid Kit
Whatever sort of travelling you are doing it is advisable to take some form of medical kit with you. What you need in it depends on where you are going and what you will be doing (and of course your own medical history). If you are going to a resort or mainly urban areas you will need a more basic kit to cover traveller's diarrohea, pain relief, and minor cuts, scratches and sprains. But if you are visiting more out of the way places that are 'off the beaten track', and for a longer period … [Read more...]
Plan to Enjoy your ‘Staycation’
I love to travel but I also love spending time at home. Spending time in your own area especially when everyone else has headed out of town can be a lot of fun. I wrote in an earlier post that anticipation can be half the fun and this applies equally to whether you are heading to an exotic destination or staying around home, for a long weekend or a month long holiday, on a tight budget or more relaxed about spending, want to be active or just mooch around. Do some research first and come up … [Read more...]
Pre-Travel Checklist
Even though it sounds far too organised for many people, it really does pay to start organising everything you need to sort out before a trip at least a couple of months in advance. Things that on the surface seem simple can end up being more complicated and take much longer than expected. For example, I needed to renew my passport and thought "Great! I can do that online now. That ought to be easy". But it actually took over a month and several unexpected visits to get it sorted. First of … [Read more...]