Itinerary Planning

The Internet has opened up a whole new world of travel, allowing most of us to plan itineraries without having to visit a travel agent. It can offer an amazing freedom. But it also means we need to become our own experts in planning itineraries and putting together trip planning.

Having travelled to over 60 countries including two round the world trips and nearly 6 years living out of a suitcase, as a digital nomad, I have learned plenty of tips for planning an itinerary.

Whether you’re taking a long beach vacation, a city break or a gap year, I can help you plan your trip itinerary.

Start with How to Plan a Trip Itinerary – Step-By-Step Guide.

Or if you’re off around the world, my Backpacking Checklist – Plan A Round The World Trip in 4 Weeks should help.

And don’t miss my popular guide: Top Travel Sites – Over 100 Links for Trip Planning

Itinerary Planning Guides

Your Ultimate Trip Planning Guide – Save Time & Money

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Welcome on board! Don’t you love it when you hear those words on a flight? I do, and I guess you do too, which is why you’re here. In this guide I’ll share my best time and money saving travel tips. Here’s what we’ll cover: Taking the pain (and expense) out of trip planning Anybody else hate packing? How to do it properly Destination guides to make your trip great What to do when your trip goes wrong How to make your solo or long term trip happen I send out occasional emails with updates – sometimes personal, sometimes chit-chat, … Read more

101 Travel Themed Things To Do When You’re Bored At Home

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Bored? Read on for 101 things to do when you’re bored. They’re all travel themed so you can scratch your travel itch and satisfy your wanderlust all without leaving home. If you are stuck at home for a prolonged period, unable to travel, it’s very likely you’re bored. Here’s my suggestions for 101 travel themed things to do when you’re bored. In the order that they came out of my head:  1. Make a list of the favourite foods you’ve tasted on your travels – okonomiyaki and guacamole are on my list. Look up the recipes, track down the ingredients and cook … Read more

The Only FREE Printable Packing List You Need

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The ultimate travel packing list - with packing tips and packing hacks it's the only travel packing checklist and packing template you'll need

Note: A link to the high-resolution printable packing list PDF is at the bottom of this post. I’ve used this packing list template for a 14 day trip and a 14 month trip. The difference: I take my clothes to a laundry service about every 2 weeks when I’m away for longer. And if you’re looking to pack carry-on only, focus on those items with a * next to them. This list is suitable for a wide variety of destinations. You might want to do a little adaptation – a second base layer instead of a second bikini if you’re off to … Read more

21 Long Haul Flight Essentials: What to Take In Your Carry On Bag

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I fly long haul a lot, so it’s a good job I’m one of those people who loves flying. Still, what you take on board a long haul flight can make all the difference to your flying experience. I’ve created this list over years and now they go into my hand luggage every time I fly for more than a few hours. Here’s my list of long haul flight essentials. 1. Collapsable water bottle If there’s one thing a long haul flight is guaranteed to do (apart from get you to your destination), it’s dehydrate you and those tiny bottles … Read more

Backpacking Checklist – Plan A Round The World Trip in 4 Weeks

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Looking for a backpacking checklist? Read on… I bought my first around the world ticket in 2010. I spent the next 5 years buying 5 tickets more. Not all of them took me in a complete loop around the world but they took me on adventures that lasted several months each time: Latin America, Asia, Africa, North America and Europe. Although the landscape, accents, experiences and faces changed with each new trip, one thing didn’t: my backpacking checklist. In 2016, I took an unintended break from travel (courtesy of an unintended break of a knee ligament) but as the curtains … Read more

Top Travel Sites – Over 100 Links for Trip Planning

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Planning a trip can be a hassle. There are so many different travel resources out there from review sites to flight search tools to maps and apps. Even as someone who has spent the past 5 years travelling full time, it can all get a bit confusing and, usually, the second you think you’ve settled on your favourite websites, someone tells you there’s another much better/cheaper/faster way to do it all and – boom – you’re back to square one. Well, my plan with this article is to share with you what I think are the top travel sites. I’ve even … Read more

50 Best Travel Books of All Time

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What is it about a book that can transport you to a new destination in just a few pages? Whether you’re planning a trip or just dreaming of taking one, picking up a book about travel – or even a book that has such an evocative setting, it has the same effect, it’s one way to travel when you can’t quite get there in person. In this list, I’ll share what I consider are the best travel books of all time. There’s be a good smattering of the top travel books that rightly deserve to be on a list like this, … Read more

Traveling in Europe with Kids – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

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When I want to take a trip, I book a ticket, pack a bag (a small one at that) and go. And then I look at my friends with children and watch in awe at the planning, packing, cajoling, refereeing and excitement containing that goes on when they, likewise, take a trip. And that’s not to mention the bags – usually enough of them to fill a car all by themselves. Every time I’m intrigued by the details of what family travel looks like…but every time I’m too nervous to ask – I just imagine it’s an idyllic journey with … Read more

What To Do When You Feel Lonely Travelling Alone

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I’ve been at this solo travel a while now – in fact, last week marked five years since I quit my job as a lawyer and set off on a one-year adventure that still hasn’t come to an end. And along with the highs of travelling solo, of which there have been many, there are still times when I’m consumed by an overwhelming sense of loneliness. Yesterday was a perfect example: it was 9 p.m. in  Montreal and I was wandering the streets looking for something to eat, yet I couldn’t make a decision because everywhere I looked there were couples, families … Read more

The Best Travel Backpacks – Tried & Tested

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There are a lot of articles on the internet about the best backpack for travel, so why read this one? Because I travel. A lot. I spent over 6 years as a digital nomad living out of a bag, and for the most part, that bag was one of these backpacks. From epic round-the-world trips to summers in Europe to long-stays in cities and weeks trekking through jungles, I’ve packed and re-packed more times than I can count. And I’ve worked my way through a few backpacks in that time, too. What follows is a guide to choosing a bag together with a … Read more