I took a short six-day solo trip to Morocco at the end of March this year.I flew into Fez, where I spent some time exploring the impressive maze of narrow alleyways and beautiful mosques. I then booked a day trip to Chefchaouen, which I found surprisingly relaxing and peaceful. From Fez, I flew to Marrakesh (flying was cheaper than taking a bus). I spent the afternoon and the following day wandering around the expansive and chaotic Medina. During the last two days, I took day trips to the Atlas Mountains, visiting villages at the foot of the mountains, and to Aït Benhaddou, which I found somewhat underwhelming.

The highlights of the trip: The mosques of Fez and the tanneries, which are truly unique. I also loved Chefchaouen, where no one really bothered me and I could actually walk around in peace. In Marrakesh, the only place that really stood out to me was Jardin Majorelle. The main highlight of the entire trip, however, was the Asni weekly market, where we stopped during our day trip to the Atlas Mountains. It was one of the most authentic, vibrant, and bustling markets I have ever seen. Another thing that surprised me was the food, which I found surprisingly good and inexpensive.

Moving on to the negatives. Everywhere around Fez and Marrakesh, I was constantly hassled by vendors, and even more so by people trying to show me the way or claiming that a street is closed. The latter was particularly common in Fez, especially around the tanneries, where at least five people tried to show me the way and be my guide. The solution is pretty simple. I tried to avoid eye contact and ignore them, which usually worked. If it didn't, a simple but firm la shukran ("no, thank you"), repeated if necessary, always did the job. But do expect some disappointed or angry looks and some swear words here and there. Unfortunately, that is just how the situation is and you have to constantly make sure that you are not going to be scammed.

And finally, the photos:

1: Tannery in Fez

2: Asni weekly market, Asni

3: Fez

4: Chefchaouen

5: Asni weekly market, Asni

6: Chefchaouen

7: Ben Youssef Madrasa, Marrakesh

8: Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University, Fez

9: Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakesh

10: Jardin Majorelle, Marrakesh

I'm glad I visited Morocco and got to see everything on my itinerary. It's a vibrant country with amazing natural landscapes, architecture, culture, and food. If I decide to return, I'll definitely take more time and visit the desert and explore some of the less touristy spots.

I spent last weekend in Athens with a friend. It was so nice to get some sun and warm weather and we had a great time. We had three full days to explore the city and went mainly on foot. We visited the main sights, did a walking tour, went down to Piraeus and the beach and indulged in some great food. The portions were hug though! And soo much meat. I was also surprised by the many wild turtles roaming in the parcs. And since I have never visited a Greek Orthodox church before, this was very interesting to me. I especially liked the many smaller ones strewn around the city.

Although we enjoyed our time, it will not be a city I want/need to return to and 1-2 days would have sufficed to see all the major things. Sadly our last day was a very rainy one, otherwise we would have loved taking a boat trip to one of the islands. I was also a bit disappointed by the flea market, which was mostly not a flea market at all imo.

Image 1: Parthenon on the Acropolis

Image 2: Changing of the guards at the Parliament which was really interesting to see. It looks more like a dance. I'm also digging the shoes with the pompoms

Image 3: Votsalakia beach

Image 4: Monastiraki square

Image 5: Meat vendors in the Central Market

Image 6: Olympic Stadium, which was part of our walking tour. Our guide told us lots of interesting things about the history of the Olympic Games.

Image 7: Dionysius Theatre as seen from the slope of the Acropolis

Image 8: Hadrian's Gate

Image 9: Plaka quarter, where we just walked around a while. Nice but also really touristy. Lots of shops and restaurant that very obviously cater to tourists and all sell more or less the same thing.

Image 10: Panagía Kapnikaréa Church

Image 11: Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

Image 12: one of many wild turtles

Image 13: Flea market starting in Monastiraki square

Image 14: Moussaka and lamb shank (here at Bandiera's)

Image 15: Sunset

Image 16: Mikrolimano

Image 17: Gyros platter (here from The Greco's Project), which I had twice. Really good but very filling.

Image 18: Palm tree alley in the botanical garden. One the nicest places we visited because its was really well kept and very tranquil.

Image 19: Frozen Yoghurt (from Yogu Lab). I love Frozen Yoghurt but it's not very popular where I lived and this shop had a huge selection.

Image 20: View over Athens from the Acropolis

I was waiting at the bus stop to take the 203 to the airport, which comes every 20 minutes. 10 minutes before the bus was scheduled to arrive, a taxi driver approaches everyone waiting and says that the bus stopped running and he could take them all to the airport. He beckons everyone over to his van, and surprisingly everyone except for myself got in. The taxi driver then looks at me and asks why I wasn't getting in when I said I'd just wait for the bus, he kept trying to tell me over and over that the bus wasn't coming. I told him I'd wait regardless and he got angry and left with everyone else.

The bus arrived on time and proved the taxi driver was just bullshitting. Just sharing this so nobody falls for this scam. I've seen similar taxi scams before in other cities so I knew not to fall for this but I was surprised everyone else at the stop got in the taxi.

June '25, decided to finally explore one of the prettiest routes in the world - NC500! The entire stretch is beautiful and has many campsites dotted across the coast. We dedicated 4 days for this - which seemed very less considering we had to also include half day to and from edinburgh. From here we drove straight down to Cornwall - bluest waters I ever saw. Plus point of traveling in UK? Brilliant roads with service points every few kms to rest and eat! Truly a trip to remember.

Hello fellow travelers,

these are some of my pictures from my recent trip to Indonesia. What a beautiful country and amazing people.

I stayed for three weeks and mainly on the island of Lombok and one weekend on Bali. It was the perfect location to unwind and forget the stress of home. Indonesia is a country to visit more than once as it is vast and diverse. I'll definitely be back!

Also on my 10 hour layover I had to see the tallest building in the world which was an amazing sight, especially at night.

Picture locations:

1. Jakarta - PIK district

2. Jakarta - PIK district

3. Lombok - Kuta beach

4. Lombok - Mawun beach

5. Lombok - Mandalika circuit (MotoGP)

6. Lombok - Tetebatu rice fields

7. Lombok - Waterfall in Tetebatu

8. Lombok - Another waterfall in Tetebatu

9. Lombok - Selong Belanak beach

10. Bali - Petitenget beach

11. Lombok - Kuta

12. Dubai - Burj khalifa (10 hour layover)

1. PR11 Vereda dos Balcões Hike.
2. Praia do Porto do Seixal, plus Cat.
3. Torre on PR1 Hike (Look closely, there are people in the photo).
4. Sunrise at Pico do Arieiro.
5. PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo Hike

These photos come from a trip to Portugal last August. I went to the mainland for 5 days and Madeira for another 5. I miss the country of Portugal greatly, such a great culture and natural beauty. This was my second international trip of all time and my first independent foreign trip. Hopefully in the upcoming years there will be many more trips like this to come.

Pictured from my visit of March last year to Moldova. Took the Soviet overnight train from Bucharest to Chisinau, then explored Chisinau for a day seeing all the main sites and visiting Old Orhei Monastery in the countryside. On my second day I visited Transnistria, the modern day USSR controlled by Russia, which was fascinating. This included bender which had one of the coolest castles I’ve ever seen & the capital Tiraspol. On my last day I did a self guided brutalist architecture tour of Chisinau before taking a cheap Wizz air flight out. All in all its super affordable(I spent less than $40 a day), has interesting history and definitely worth visiting if your into Soviet history + brutalist architecture.

I went to Portugal for the first time with my girlfriend about four months ago. We spent a couple of weeks checking out Lisbon and the Algarve, but decided to rent a car to explore some smaller coastal towns in between.

I thought Lisbon was really cool. We loved the vibe and architecture, and we walked pretty much everywhere (the hills definitely tired our legs out, though). I had to get some remote work done and found a spot called The VENUE. If anyone's looking for a café with fast WiFi and a great atmosphere for working, this place is perfect.

In the south, Lagos had stunning views around Ponta da Piedade, but the main beaches were honestly way too crowded for us. We ended up liking Salema a lot more. It's much quieter, has a beautiful beach, and a little spot called Solecci does a really solid cortado. We spent two full days there just decompressing.

Vila Nova de Milfontes was the biggest surprise along the coast. We didn't expect much, but it was really relaxed, and Laréu Cafetaria easily had the best coffee of the whole trip.

We also went on a small RIB boat tour out in the Atlantic to see dolphins. It was great having a marine biologist on board, and the dolphins swam right next to the boat. It was wild to see them so close up.

We'd definitely come back and spend more time along the Alentejo coast. If anyone's planning a similar trip, I'm happy to answer any questions!

Pics:

• 1: Lagos, Ponta da Piedade
• 2: Lagos, Dolphins alongside our boat
• 3: São Teotónio, Rota Vicentina cliffs
• 4: Lisbon, Rooftop view over the Tagus River
• 5: Vila Nova de Milfontes, Praia da Franquia
• 6: Salema, Praia da Salema
• 7: Lisbon, Misericórdia
• 8: Lagos, Old Town
• 9: Lisbon, Misericórdia, Azulejo tiles
• 10: Vila Nova de Milfontes, Laréu Cafetaria

So the locus classicus of what I’m talking about is probably Rome. You have sections of ancient ruins like the Foro Romano and the Terme di Caracalla smack dab in the middle of the modern city. There are also examples of ancient ruins that had been adapted for later use like the Pantheon and the Castel Sant’Angelo.

I can think of many examples like this around the Mediterranean and the Near East. So I’m looking for suggestions from further afield.

Anyone had this before? Know how a bag is selected or what sets it off?

Yvr
Vancouver BC

Can't decide where I want to go first since there are a lot of similarities between them

I have many flights all my life never had any issue. I would just pop my ear by yawning etc.

However, the recent flight today was hurting my right ear so bad. And it left me with muffle ear like someone is covering my right ear.

I tried to pop it, yawing, blowing, etc. Nothing works. I had a flu 3 days ago thought. I think it might related.

I wonder anyone else have similar experiences and please share it with me.

I went to Tokyo for a 3-day work trip, so I didn't really have much time to explore, but I managed to go around Shinjuku and Asakusa!

Really enjoyed walking around Senso-ji Temple and exploring the streets nearby. The atmosphere was amazing, especially with all the little shops and food spots around.

Food was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. I tried monjayaki for the first time. A bit greasy and interest tast but very good. Also had Pepper Lunch, which was suprisingly pleasant. I'd definitely recommend trying both if you get the chance!

Also went to Korea too would love to share it if anyone is interested

the photos were taken at tokyo shinjuku &asakusa (food are also from both areas)

Hello!

Spouse and I and our two kids (9 & 5) will be traveling to India in December from the US.

My spouse is American-born and my in-laws are from Kerala. We will be meeting the in-laws in Kerala and traveling together throughout the trip. My spouse has not been to India in 20+ years and the kids and I have never been.

The kids travel to Europe 1-2 times/year and my spouse and I have travelled globally throughout our lives.

We will be visiting Delhi, Agra, Jaipur. We will also be traveling throughout Kerala but based in Cochin. We’re staying at higher-end resorts and have a driver arranged for transport at all destinations.

I’m wondering if there are any suggestions for sightseeing for the kids in Cochin? Any tips or advice for traveling throughout India with kids? Unique things to consider? Budget is not a concern. Interests are varied. Both kids are flexible and enjoy new experiences.

Thank you in advance.

Wanted to offer my take on travelling to egypt as I commonly see a lot of people say to completely avoid it. I’m not here to invalidate anyone’s lived experience but wanted to offer a different view to potential travellers and some helpful advice

I’ve been to Cairo, Luxor, el gouna, hurghada, sharm el sheikh and dahab. Most of the advice and commentary below is more about non- resort places. If you are staying in a all inclusive and doing excursions with your hotel most of this is not applicable

I want to start with the stereotypes I think are true. I went with my boyfriend and would definitely recommend not going alone as a female to Cairo in particular (or most places outside tourist resorts)

Whilst yes people have done it and been fine I do think it’s somewhere that can quickly get uncomfortable fast if you are a foreign female who is alone. The few times I was alone for a few minutes whilst my boyfriend went to buy something I was constantly harassed, and not in a shop vendor come check out my store way. It was noticeably better with my boyfriend around.

I personally am not very sensitive to vendors pushing you to buy things - if you are - Cairo is probably not for you. Think of Marrakech souks but imagine that everywhere. The only places it doesn’t really happen is in hotels resturants and the big museums.

‘Scams’ are quite common. I put it in quotation marks as it’s mostly very typical tourist scams - upcharging you 10x what something costs, tours bring you to papaya museums etc. I feel like if you are a seasoned traveller they are very obvious to spot, and look some of the scams whilst you do get ripped off can be good experiences - e.g. paid some guy to go into a ‘hidden’ pyramid. But if you are bad at spotting scams or hate getting ripped off then it probably is not for you. Also remember it’s probably not a reasonable expectation to pay local prices on everything - despite that Egypt is still very cheap

Always agree on the price before doing something (and be clear about the currency)

But in spite of all of this Egypt is one of my favorite places I have ever been. The architecture is out of the world, the food is amazing and it truly is like another planet. Also most the people I met were lovely - tour guides, drivers etc. I have been to 40 countries and Egypt would be top 5 places I have been. Now I don’t think I’m going to be a regular returner as I have seen most the main sites and as you can tell from the above it’s not the most relaxing pace to go on holiday, but I think it’s a shame to write it off and not go once. Just please please do your research beforehand, try book a private guide etc for excursions, stay in reputable hotels, haggle on prices and if something seems too good to be true it probably is.

Also el gouna/hurghada sharm el sheik) are all very all inclusive vibes to the point where you can’t tell you’re in Egypt anymore. The only reason we went is for the scuba diving (which is amazing) but if you are going purely for a beach holiday there are nicer places that still feel more authentic

Happy to answer any questions!

I'll be turning 30 soon, and I was wondering how travel changes as you get older. I didn't start travelling until 25, and really enjoy it, but am starting to feel like I have to rush to get the travel in as young as possible (which I'm hoping and thinking may not actually be the case!)

I really love travelling, but as I'm getting older, I'm thinking about how my perspectives on life and the world change.

The things I'm wondering are how you interact with the world differently at different ages, the different types of things you choose to do while you travel as you get older, how the world interacts differently with you at different ages, and if you have less energy to do things.

I'm honestly a little worried that travel may not be as good at older ages, but the more I think about it, I think it may actually be better in some ways as you're older, so maybe it's good at any age, but in different ways.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, it's just been on my mind lately. I'd love to hear your stories and experiences, especially from people older than me!

My husband and I are planning a trip to the Netherlands and Belgium. Usually we use a travel agent, but I think it'll be more cost efficient if I plan it myself. We are planning to go in April to see the tulips, but I live in Canada and go to the tulip festival every year. Is it worth going in the fall or are the tulips a major attraction?

The capital city is a popular place to go but for some reason it never been on my radar. Has an extremely walkable historic district full of interesting restaurants, coffee shops and small artisan run tourist oriented local products. The city is also very well maintained and clean. The streets felt safe to walk day or night, even outside the tourist district .The weather when I was there was perfect with low temperatures around 60 and high around 72. I especially enjoyed the variety of local restaurants and street food along with a ridiculous number of coffee shops. I stayed in the historic district and could walk to a local market with food and souvenirs or equally to the downtown tourist District. I took tours to Monte Alban, local cooking class, and a bus ride to the beach town of Puerto Escondido. I would definitely recommend a visit to anyone interested in Mexican food or culture.

Hi fellow travelers, locals, and readers! My girlfriend and I are currently traveling through Asia. We have two sets of friends who are getting married around the time we return, and we thought it would be a great idea to pick up some wedding gifts while on our trip. Our itinerary takes us through Japan, China, Vietnam, and Laos. The first couple loves cooking, baking, architecture, photography, and watches. The second couple also enjoys cooking; they have more affluent, extravagant tastes and appreciate art, vibrant colors, traveling through Asia, and luxury. We’re thinking of a budget of around €200 per couple—and it would be a bonus if the gifts could fit into our backpacks! We’d love to hear your ideas, shopping recommendations, suggestions for unique handmade items—anything at all! Thanks!

​

Video version on YT @hughesfamilyadventures18

It was our second full day in California, and we had another busy one planned! We were heading back to Universal Studios Hollywood for the morning before visiting the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Burbank later that afternoon. Our Universal tickets had included a second day free, which worked out perfectly as there were still a few attractions we hadn't managed to experience the previous day.

We started with something a little different for breakfast, visiting Açaí in Burbank rather than our usual Starbucks. After all the burgers, sandwiches and other American food, we fancied something a bit healthier for a change. we went for an açaí bowl with banana & strawberries granola & fruit. It was really nice and definitely something we'd recommend trying. We were also finally starting to adjust to the time difference, having managed to stay awake until around 10 or 11pm the previous evening and waking up at a much more reasonable 6am.

Back to Universal Studios Hollywood​

We ordered a rideshare back to Universal, although this journey wasn't quite as straightforward as the previous day. For some reason, the navigation was trying to take our driver towards one of the studio entrances rather than the theme park drop-off point. Thankfully, having visited the day before, we recognised where we needed to go and managed to direct him to the correct entrance.

Once inside, we headed straight towards the Lower Lot, as our main priorities were Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge and Jurassic World, both of which we'd missed the previous day. We also booked a return time for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, which was already showing a 90-minute wait despite the park having only just opened.

Our first stop was Super Nintendo World, which looked just as impressive as it had the day before. There's so much going on in there, with all the moving scenery, colours and sounds. It can be a little overwhelming, but the theming really is fantastic.

We'd deliberately skipped Mario Kart during our Florida holiday because we knew we'd be visiting Hollywood, so this was a completely new experience for us. The queue itself was brilliant, taking us through Bowser's Castle with some fantastic scenery and details. I'd honestly say it was one of the best-themed queues we'd ever walked through.

The ride uses augmented reality headsets, allowing you to see the Mario Kart characters and throw shells at targets as you travel around. It took a little getting used to, especially trying to concentrate on what was happening through the visor rather than looking at the actual scenery around us. We all enjoyed it, although it was quite different from what we'd expected. It reminded us a little of Toy Story Mania, with the interactive scoring element. Kelly actually said its better than Toy Story Mania.

Unfortunately, our plans to ride Jurassic World didn't work out, as the attraction was experiencing an extended delay. Even worse, Fast & Furious had also broken down, cancelling our return time. It had been unavailable towards the end of our previous visit too, so we were really glad we'd managed to ride it earlier on our first day. Noah was particularly disappointed as he'd been looking forward to another go.

Instead, we headed back to Revenge of the Mummy, which was showing just a five-minute wait. Kelly had missed it the previous day because she wasn't feeling well, so this time we all went on together. Everyone loved it, especially the sudden launch and backwards section. Looking at our ride photograph afterwards was quite funny, as everyone looked shocked apart from me!

Before leaving the park, we also tried Kung Fu Panda Adventure. I hadn't really looked into this attraction beforehand and assumed it was just a theatre show, but it turned out to be a 4D experience with moving seats, air effects and some brilliant sound. It was much better than I'd expected and definitely worth watching.

Exploring Universal CityWalk​

We left the park at around 11:25am, giving ourselves plenty of time to explore CityWalk and grab some lunch before heading to Warner Bros.

CityWalk Hollywood felt quite different from Orlando. Rather than being spread around a large waterfront area, it was more like one long street lined with shops and restaurants. We had a wander through places including Hot Topic and some of the Universal merchandise shops, although the weather was noticeably hotter than the previous day. With hardly a cloud in the sky, it was starting to feel much more like Florida!

We also found a shop selling signed movie memorabilia, including Back to the Future items, Star Wars collectibles and various autographs. Some of the prices were eye-watering, with certain pieces costing thousands of dollars. Interesting to look at, but definitely not within our souvenir budget!

For lunch, we decided to split up and get whatever we fancied from the CityFood area. Kelly and I went for Panda Express, ordering our usual double orange chicken with fried rice, while Thomas chose Raising Cane's and Noah had KFC. Unfortunately, Noah wasn't particularly impressed with his popcorn chicken, which tasted quite different from what he's used to back home.

After lunch, we headed back to the Frankenstein parking garage and ordered another rideshare to Warner Bros. Studio Tour. We'd allowed plenty of time because we didn't want to risk being late for our booking.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood​

We arrived at Warner Bros. quite early, which actually worked out well as it gave us time to look around the enormous gift shop before our tour. There was merchandise from Friends, Harry Potter, The Big Bang Theory, Looney Tunes and plenty of other Warner Bros. productions. I could have spent a fortune in there!

We picked up a few souvenirs, including T-shirts, a fridge magnet and an official studio tour guidebook. The staff even offered to hold our shopping until we'd finished the tour, which was a really nice touch.

After checking in, we watched a short introductory film about the history of Warner Bros. before boarding a small tour vehicle to explore the working studio lot. Unlike Universal's Studio Tour, this felt much more personal, with a smaller group and opportunities to stop and get off at various locations.

Unfortunately, video recording wasn't allowed during the guided backlot section, which was a shame because there were some brilliant things I'd have loved to show in the vlog. We could take photographs, though, so at least we managed to capture some of it.

One of my favourite moments was visiting a street that had been used in the original Spider-Man film with Tobey Maguire. As soon as we arrived, I mentioned to Thomas that it looked familiar, and it turned out to be the location used for the famous upside-down kiss scene! We also saw the fountain from the opening credits of Friends, the exterior of the Psycho-style streets and buildings used in countless television programmes and films.

We passed sound stages associated with shows including Friends, The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, as well as various backlot streets that could be transformed to represent completely different locations. It was fascinating seeing how much of what appears on screen is actually created using the same buildings and sets.

After the guided tour, we arrived at Stage 48, where we could explore at our own pace. This was probably my favourite part, as I've always been interested in filmmaking and how everything works behind the scenes.

There were exhibits covering casting, animation, visual effects and sound production. I particularly enjoyed a demonstration showing how dialogue, music and sound effects were combined to create a scene from Gravity. There was also an area demonstrating Foley sound effects, where everyday objects were used to recreate sounds for films. It's amazing how everyday things sound when they're put together with the actual footage.

We also explored the Friends and Big Bang Theory sets, including Central Perk, the famous orange sofa and the apartment-style displays. There were plenty of photo opportunities, which kept us busy for quite a while.

The final section featured Harry Potter and DC exhibits, with costumes, props and various interactive experiences. We saw different Batman suits and vehicles, along with Harry Potter displays including the cupboard under the stairs, the flying letters and a potions classroom. Thomas also had a go with the Sorting Hat, which was good fun.

By the time we'd finished, we'd spent around three hours at Warner Bros., and it had absolutely flown by. We really enjoyed the whole experience, particularly the actual working backlot and the behind-the-scenes exhibits. If you're interested in films or television, it's definitely worth visiting.

Dinner at Olive Garden and Back to Burbank​

After leaving Warner Bros., we ordered a Lyft to the Burbank Empire Center, where we'd decided to have dinner at Olive Garden. We always enjoy visiting Olive Garden when we're in Florida, although our last experience in Orlando hadn't been quite as good, so we were hoping this branch would be better.

We were initially told there would be a 35-minute wait, but thankfully our table was ready after only about ten minutes. We ordered a mixture of pasta dishes, including shrimp Alfredo, chicken Alfredo and mac and cheese, along with the usual salad and breadsticks.

The food was really good overall, although a few of the shrimp were slightly chewy. Everyone enjoyed their meals, and the total came to $70.96, which wasn't too bad for the four of us. Definitely a better Olive Garden experience than our previous visit!

Once back at the Airbnb, it was time to start packing everything up, as we'd be leaving Burbank the following morning. We'd bought a few souvenirs already, so the suitcases were starting to fill up. Thankfully, we'd brought a large foldable canvas bag, which came in handy for keeping everything together.

Overall, we'd had another excellent day. It was disappointing that both Jurassic World and Fast & Furious were unavailable, but we were pleased to finally experience Mario Kart and Kung Fu Panda. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour was brilliant too, and something completely different from the usual theme park attractions.

The following morning, we'd be checking out of our Airbnb and heading off on a full-day sightseeing tour around Los Angeles, including places such as Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and the Griffith Observatory, before making our way down to Anaheim for the Disneyland part of our holiday.

Another busy day ahead, but that's exactly how we like our holidays!

Hello!

We are flying in to Puerto Iguazu (Argentina) on October 31st. We were then thinking of doing the Brazilian side November 1st, maybe paired with walking into Paraguay och the bird park, and Argentinian side November 2nd.

I have read that the Brazilian side has a max limit and it’s good to buy tickets beforehand. But how do I know what time I will arrive from Puerto Iguazu?? My experience so far with buses in SA is that you can’t trust them to be in time. How certain can I be? I don’t want to buy a ticket and then miss it and buy a new one. Is it a bad idea to book in the afternoon and take before lunch for the bird park and Paraguay?

The Argentinian side I’ve heard you don’t have to buy in advance, so I think we will maybe skip and just head there early the 2nd.

Hi everyone! I'm looking for some advice on travel insurance for my boyfriend and me, as our itinerary is a bit complicated and I'm struggling to work out the best option.

We're travelling to Singapore, Malaysia and Australia from late November 2026 to January 2027. We both live in England and are registered with UK GPs, but I'm Spanish and live in the UK on a Graduate visa, while my boyfriend has Australian, Greek and British passports.

Our itinerary is:

• We fly from the UK to Spain on different dates, as we're visiting at different times.
• We then fly together from Spain to Singapore, spend a few days in Malaysia, and continue to Australia.
• We return from Australia to Spain and then fly back to the UK.

Our main flights from Spain onwards are booked together under the same Turkish Airlines booking reference.

Ideally, we'd like to get one joint travel insurance policy that allows us to have different departure dates from the UK, but I'm not sure whether any companies offer this.

One thing I'm particularly concerned about is getting separate travel insurance policies, as all our main flights are booked together under one booking reference. If something happened to one of us and we needed to cancel or change our plans, I'm worried about whether having separate policies could complicate making a claim, especially if it affected both of us. Has anyone been in a similar situation, and is this something we should be concerned about?

We're not particularly concerned about insuring the initial UK–Spain flights; we mainly want comprehensive cover for the rest of the trip, including medical emergencies, accidents, repatriation, cancellation, baggage and travel disruption.

Alternatively, we're considering getting separate policies, potentially with different start dates or even different insurers.

Has anyone had experience booking joint travel insurance when travelling together but leaving the UK on different dates? Which companies did you use, and would you recommend them?

I'd also really appreciate recommendations for insurers that cover UK residents on visas, or policies that allow the insured trip to start in Spain even though we live in the UK.

Thanks so much!

I'm looking for an island that feels almost alien, somewhere incredibly peaceful and remote where I can disconnect from everything and spend my days exploring nature. I want that feeling of being somewhere truly different from anywhere I've ever been, with surreal landscapes, unique ecosystems, fascinating biodiversity and beautiful beaches.

Ideally, I'd love to explore by car and on foot, discovering remote corners of the island, hiking through unusual landscapes, finding secluded beaches to swim. What matters most to me is serenity, solitude and the freedom to explore at my own pace, with something extraordinary to discover.

New Caledonia and Niue have caught my attention so far, but I've also considered Vanuatu, the Cook Islands and some of the more remote islands of French Polynesia.

For those who've visited these places, which island gave you the strongest feeling of being on another planet? Where could I find that perfect combination of absolute peace, wild nature, biodiversity, beautiful beaches and genuine exploration?

I'd especially love to hear about lesser-known islands that aren't usually recommended. I'm coming from Europe, so this would be a very special, once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip, and I'd rather discover somewhere truly unique than visit another conventional tropical paradise.