Travel Health & Safety

My 20 Worst Travel Stories (Part 2)

Published on 12 September, 2014

September 2014 marks four years since I quit my job as a lawyer to travel the world – and it seemed about time I shared with you my 20 worst travel stories. This article is in two parts. This is part 2. You may want to read part 1 first. 11. Having my passport confiscated at the Mexico-Belize border There… Read more →

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Sleeping in a rat-riddled room, falling into a fire and panicking in Mexican drug territory, travel isn't always fun. Here's 20 of my worst travel stories.... Read more →

How to Speak to Someone who Doesn’t Speak Your Language

Published on 18 March, 2014

I have a missing brain cell…actually, there’s discussion between my family and friends that I might be missing more than one, but there’s a particular brain cell I’d like to talk about – the one that covers learning a language. Ever since I first set foot in Spain, then Latin America, I’ve been trying, painfully slowly and with a great… Read more →

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I'm not gifted at languages and some people are better than others at helping me practice. Here's how best to speak to someone who's learning a language... Read more →

What Does Travel Insurance Cover (and What’s Excluded)?

Published on 4 February, 2014

UPDATED 2017 – What does travel insurance cover? It’s a good question that many people don’t ask; a fact that’s surprising when you think about the cost and importance of buying travel insurance. As a former-lawyer, I’ll guide you through what is covered by travel insurance, what is not covered, what level of cover is typically good enough and how to… Read more →

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UPDATED 2017: What does travel insurance cover? Find out what is usually covered, what isn't, what level of cover you need and are your valuables covered.... Read more →

Should You Give Up Alcohol For 30 Days (or more)?

Published on 29 September, 2013

The Travel-Drinking Lifestyle Do you drink alcohol more than usual when you travel? I certainly do. The problem is I have FOMO (fear of missing out) – a few beers at the hostel bar, sunset cocktails, free pasta and wine nights, checking out a new club, ladies’ night (a.k.a. free alcohol), rum around a bonfire on the beach. Every few… Read more →

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Do you drink more than usual when you travel? I do. After 3 years of travel I decided to give up alcohol for 30 days - here are the results.... Read more →

Tips For Your First Time Stay In A Hostel

Published on 9 September, 2013

A couple of weekends ago I spent a day in London catching up with my old college room-mate, co-conspirator and long-term best friend. Of course, we see each other when we can but between her adorable children and my flighty nature, getting a full 24-hours together free of laptops and nappies is near impossible. So, we booked a date months… Read more →

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Hostels can be daunting to the uninitiated. If you've never ventured into a hostel and are planning to, here are my tips for a first time stay in a hostel.... Read more →

Is Naples Safe? – The Answer From Someone Who Has Been

Published on 5 September, 2013

Beyond stupid in Naples yet strangely safe It was 3 a.m. and I was wandering the streets of Naples, lost, alone, under the influence of alcohol and with little choice but to check my location on my iPhone. I was breaking every rule on my travel safety list and a few besides. I was stupid beyond belief and yet I… Read more →

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The promise of the world's best pizza and some of Italy's best architecture, but is Naples Safe? As a solo female traveller I felt as safe as in any city.... Read more →

Dealing With Bed Bugs When You Travel

Published on 1 June, 2013

Fresh from my third encounter with bedbugs in as many days (three out of my last five beds had the critters – a bad ratio by any standards), it seemed an appropriate time to share my tips on dealing with bed bugs when you travel. Some facts about bed bugs Most people have heard of bed bugs but few know… Read more →

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Fresh from my third encounter with bedbugs in as many days (three out of my last five beds), here are my tips on dealing with bed bugs when you travel.... Read more →

What is the Best Mosquito Repellent?

Published on 17 March, 2013

UPDATED NOVEMBER 2015 After more than five years of full-time travel, often visiting mosquito ridden countries, I’ve finally found of what is the best mosquito repellent. When I first wrote this post in 2013, I was about to travel to Africa and planned to put some repellents to the test. I trialling a DEET based product, Repel 55, and a natural product, Incognito,… Read more →

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With 10 days in Africa coming up I will be trialling two products (one with DEET and one natural) to see which is the best mosquito repellent.... Read more →

Is it Safe for Women to Travel Alone?

Published on 12 February, 2013

Is it safe for women to travel alone? As a girl who wanders the world by herself I get asked this question a lot. However, the subject has received even more attention in recent weeks following media coverage of the rape and death of a young woman in India, the tragic murder last month of an America woman in Turkey… Read more →

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I often get asked if it is safe for women to travel alone. For more than 2 years I have travelled solo. These are my tips on increasing your travel safety.... Read more →

The 10 Travel Essentials I Wouldn’t Travel Without

Published on 17 December, 2012

As I pack my backpack for the last time this year, wondering why I’ve bought so much fresh coffee to take home, and what on earth I need to throw away in order to fit it into my bag, it occurs to me that after two years of travelling, there is very little in my backpack that isn’t a travel… Read more →

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Travel Essentials to pack if you're taking a long term trip or going around the world. Here are 10 items that are travel essential.... Read more →