Recently I have been seeing a lot of chatter about the use of Pinterest for travel businesses. The number of bucket lists on Pinterest suggests this may be a reasonable proposition.
It’s definitely an area that businesses can use very well! However, I do recommend that most business begin with Facebook and Twitter, and then decide which other platforms would be most beneficial to them.
Pinterest is a great idea for tour organisers, definitely, and an expanding market for hotels to look into.
It can pay to engage professionals to prepare a good website and for SEO. An effective professional will pay for themselves giving the owners time to do what they do best. Another idea worth exploring is BBX, a virtual currency that allows businesses to exploit spare capacity. BBX works in a good portion of the world with China franchises currently being let.
There is a alternative tip for Berlin: A very special christmas market in Prenzlauer Berg called “Lucia Weihnachtsmarkt”. A scandinavian type of christmas market in the historical sorounding of the “Kulturbrauerei”. For me the best christmas market in Berlin.
I would add that you can also get to Budapest very conveniently from Bratislava, the train fare costs around 10 euros (it´s a return ticket) and gets you to Keleti station in about 4 hours. Bratislava is also on the Danube and is one hour ride from Vienna. 🙂
I usually stick to public transportation, because I am terrified of a cab experience such as yours! But it happens, sometimes it’s late, we’re tired, and only have taxi’s as an option. Good for you for standing your ground! Even though they tried scamming you, at least it was all they did. Good for you, #Girlpower
It’s a really scary story about your cab driver. I absolutely hate things like that. I’m glad you made it out and you’re safe but really its so unnecessary for such things to happen.
I am headed to Plovdiv next month and may just have to make a stop here in Bucharest. Looks very interesting. I appreciate your pictures and descriptions. That church is verrrry different from any I have been seeing in Poland/Croatia/Italy. Great post
Really enjoyed reading this 🙂 I went to Macedonia a few years ago and absolutely fell in love with the country! It’s now one of my fav places I’ve visited, and I always recommend it to friends travelling that way. I’d def recommend Lake Ohrid for your next trip too 🙂
I have never before of that place. It seems so fun and interesting. What I admire is your determination, so many hours in bus and train to get there. You definitely have the travel bug. I like your writing style.
Thanks so much for including my post to Where to Eat in Prague. This guide has seriously got EVERYTHING you need to know. Wish I saw before I went! Well I’ll be back again and using this.
This post has come at exactly the right time. I am planning a trip to Prague and Eastern Europe soon. That hostel sounds ok if you are female….. not fair they left out the lads though lol 🙂 I really like the fact that the city is walkable. You see so much more when walking around than using public transport all the time.
Perfect! There are some other really good hostels in Prague so check out the link, tell us what you thought when you get back! Where else are you heading to?
I found Duolingo to be to messy for me 🙁 I might try it again. Found so many new websites so waitin for time and energy to start and see which one is good. I’m struggling to pick up Spanish, which I mostly understand basic convo but need to learn how to speak and don’t know why it’s been so hard 😀 I also need it for Central America
They’ve lost my luggage on my way to Cuba, they left me there 2.5 weeks with literally nothing, no clothes and no toiletries, no medicines. They never answer the phone, not even if you wait for one hour and they offered me 80 euros as compensation. I had to go through a “war” with them to recover the damages. And they still haven’t refunded the money to my account yet. And the funny part is that I have booked KLM, but for some reason I ended up flying with AlItalia. Never again, haha! Joanna recently posted… Varanasi – Contrasts, fascination, death – Part 2
WHAAAAAAAT that’s SO bad! Ridiculous! I had an awful experience luggage-wise with EgyptAir (although now this has given me an idea for a collab blog post haha)
Haha! Yeah, it was horrible. I am also writing a blog post about how to make the airline respect your rights and pay you for the damage. 🙂 Joanna recently posted… Varanasi – Contrasts, fascination, death – Part 2
Yeah I really want to! It’s €251 (now I’ve checked all the prices dependent on credit card) so about £200… and it’s skipping uni… and I feel like that’s being a really bad student haha because I already do it way too much!
Damn, this sounds too good to be true – I miss Brazil terribly! Im so sad Im in the middle of my exams – I would love to go there! Tell me, if you go for it 🙂
Jeeeepers…this is an amazing fare!! Wish I could go :((((( I have noted down HolidayPirates.com as I’ve never heard of the website before – who knows? I may be lucky and find some amazing fares myself :))
I just keep an eye on a whole load of error fare and cheap flight Twitter accounts as I don’t have the software to find them myself! So there was an account that had found Milan – Rio – Frankfurt and with a bit of checking I found you could do it to and from Milan. Then a bit later I saw Secret Flying also had the deal so I knew it was good!
Oh my gosh! I’m the same way! I always miss fare deals. When I do see them posted it’s like “Posted 8 hours ago”. So, yeah…they are good and sold out by that time lol. And am I the only one that sees a fare deal and want to travel to the place of origin JUST so I can take advantage of the deal? lol
Nope not the only one!! Haha. Tip for not missing out – check out Twitter accounts like @cheapflightsEUR @error_fares @SecretFlying and get notifications from them!
Times like these I wish I was based in Milan, haha. I would’ve booked this on impulse even if I had work or no money. BRAZIL! Next time there’s a deal, don’t hesitate 🙂
Hello I am so glad I found your website, I really found you by accident, while I was browsing on Digg for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a remarkable post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the awesome work. Lino recently posted… Lino
As a resident of Gothenburg, I have to say that you definitely visited some of the best places in town. Brewers Bar is my personal favourite. Well written and fun to read! Keep it up!
Hmm, it all depends on what one is in the mood for, but if you were to check out some clubs and stuff, Pustervik and Nefertiti would be my top choices.
– 7:ans ölhall. The most genuine bar experience in Sweden. This place has a long history, lots of regulars, and a very, very mixed crowd. – Ölrepubliken. Probably the widest selection of beers in the city. A bit pricey, but worth it. – Pustervik. A cultural centre in Gothenburg. Lots of small to medium sized concerts, great atmosphere. Usually calm and relaxed on off-hours.
Cafés:
Unfortunately, I don’t think the café scene is anywhere near as good these days as it was 10 or so years ago. Lots of weird, wonky little cafés have closed, and coffee chains have taken their place. Having said that:
– Bar Centro. Used to be coffee and italian sandwiches/pastries only, but these days they serve proper food and wine (and probably beer and spirits) as well. – Da Matteo. Prepare for hipsters and hefty prices, but the coffee is very good. – Ahlströms konditori. Basically the antithesis to the hipness of Centro and Da Matteo. Old school Swedish pastries and sandwiches. Quiet, lots of old people.
Also, I’d recommend taking a tram to Saltholmen and taking one of the ferries out to the archipelago. A great way to kill off a few hours and experience some neat and very “Gothenburgian” scenery on a sunny day. On the way there, hop off the tram at Mariaplan and experience the old working class district of Majorna with its distinct houses. Quite a few decent cafés and bars in the area, too.
Going to Stockholm to see Sweden is like going to New York to see America, it doesn’t really work, you don’t get the real feel. They are not good representations. Gothenburg where I am from and the costal town south, Varburn, Falkenburg and Malmo. Malmo is where the bridge to Copenhagen is, this route is my favorite. Just north of Gothenburg are the most beautiful small sailing and old fishing villages you can imagine. Marstrand, Smogen Stromstad. The west coast has the feel you are most likely looking for. Think driving the gulf cost in the US compared to the California coast highway all the way to Oregon. There is just more to see.
I really like what you guys are usually up too. Such clever work and coverage! Keep up the amazing works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. Alonzo recently posted… Alonzo
There are! I’ve definitely gone through a LOT to find the ones that are worth it! TripIt is so handy – I’d be lost without it! Probably the only reason I’m always on time to my flights… Haha!
Penelope, First – wow! That’s a lot of info…so I love it. Second, I’ve pinned your post, because quite frankly apps is my husband’s bailiwick…I’m too busy taking pictures to follow any kind of route/map/app. I’m hopeless. I did like the Tripomatic and GPSMyWay apps; both look very useful. Great info.
I can’t travel without TripIt. I have the pro-version and so worth it. Also, I love how it works Concur (I think it’s owned by Concur?) with business travel, too.
I’m glad it helped out!! Subscribe if you want to be kept up-to-date with my other posts (including more about apps) 🙂 also don’t forget to take part in the giveaway if you haven’t already!
ROME2RIO IS THE BEST. I swear I spend 6 hours a day on it planning random trips hahaha. Thanks for the other suggestions too, I’m definitely going to check them out!
HAHA omg I do exactly the same! Like ‘ooh how would I get from Bath to Vilnius without flying?’ haha. No problem – don’t forget to subscribe for a chance to win a free app! Thanks for the comment ^_^ always love to hear that people find my recommendations handy aha
I don’t have any of these, but definitely will be downloading a few of these! TripIt sounds so useful! I try to print all my travel and trip plans and end up losing most of them, so this will be a great way to have them all in one place!
I used to do that too and it just failed miserably, haha. I ended up finding printed boarding passes and coach reservations in my bag weeks after I was back half the time!
Great tips. Thanks so much for sharing. I’ve been looking for an app to store all my reservations in one place. Will have to check out Tripit. Pinning this for future. Great resource 🙂 Rosemary recently posted… The 6 Criollo Dishes You Should Eat in Peru
Happy to hear it helped! TripIt is so handy, you don’t even need to get the pro version for it to be super useful 🙂 thanks for pinning! Don’t forget to enter my giveaway!
Those photos are gorgeous! In Scandinavia I have only been to Copenhagen, but I would love to spend some time in Norway, especially in the countryside! Stella @ Travelerette recently posted… Approximately Five of the Best Places to Eat in Kyoto
Wow, these are amazing. They compel me to go to Norway but it is so expensive. I will have to figure out how to do it frugally because these images are incredible. Thanks for putting this together.
Norway is SO beautiful. I went last year on a 12 day trip from Bergen up through the fjords to Tromso (stopping at Alesund and Trondheim) and then to Oslo. I share your dream of going to Svalbard!
I think I don’t need any inspiration for visiting Norway – It’s already high on my list for the northern lights. Thanks though – these IG pics (Esp those of the lights) simply make me wanna go NOW! 🙂
Norway was on my bucket list for years! It’s still there – I’ve only visited Oslo so far and I so want to see so much more! I’m glad you enjoyed the article and hopefully you get to go soon!
I have not been to Norway. I really want to go to Norway! I was just doing research on hiking Pulpit Rock, definitely something to add to the bucket list!
This is a great post – sometimes I like them just short and sweet with EYE CANDY. I will definitely be checking out these accounts – and yours 🙂 I visited Norway for the first time last year and was awestruck by Alesund!! Such a beautiful country. The Sidetracked Blog has some excellent photos and posts of Norway also.
Whats up! I just would like to give an enormous thumbs up for the good information you’ve got here on this post. I will be coming again to your weblog for more soon.
Thanks for sharing list of travel apps, TripIt would be the best choice for travel apps. I have one website called “The Great Apps” where you can have so many apps along with travel.
Thanks for the great recommendations. I haven’t been to Berlin, but will definitely visit one of these places when I do – especially those with vegan options. Vegan chili or cheesecake? I am SO there
Your food photography totally slays. How do you get those great angles?! The vegan chilli looks delicious – and I’m loving the touch of a little teaspoon full of M&Ms with your iced soy coffee! Yum! Bookmarked for my next trip to Berlin!
Pub crawl in Berlin would sound great! I’m not a big coffee drinker myself, but I could definitely see why you say that Berlin is a haven for coffee lovers–and foodies in general!
Norway looks incredible! Do you think it’s a good destination during the summer as well? I’d love to see the Northern Lights but I do not handle the cold well – at all.
I just got back from a week-long vacation in Stockholm and enjoyed my time in Sweden so much that I’m considering going back again soon. I’ll have to keep Gothenburg in mind – it looks pretty interesting! Oh, and that bilberry crumble looks absolutely delicious. Danny recently posted… Watching the Sunset from Stockholm’s Monteliusvägen
Thanks for this awesome list. I recently discovered TripIt and am now addicted to posting my itineraries, flights, and other details. I’ll definitely check out the rest of the apps,
I didn’t realize that they renamed the river! Crazy! I was in Kanchanaburi last spring for about a week total. I worked at a zoo near there for 10 days, but stayed in Kanchan before and after. I was there by chance, and during my first stay I sat at a cafe near the bridge, then saw a map that said Kwai River and it clicked. After doing some research it definitely resonated more on my second stay there. Thanks for sharing this info!
Visiting the JEATH War Museum was really impactful. Learning about everything that happened while I was in the place and seeing their work was a really powerful experience. I’d second your recommendation — it’s something we should all see.
I haven’t been to Thailand in years!! I wish I had a chance to go to Bangkok during my last visit, but I guess that just means I’ll have to come back soon and check this place out!
What amazing stories! I’ve never been near Bangkok, let alone Kanchanaburi, but its history certainly is a grimly fascinating one — so much brutality and the survival tales are so inspiring.
It’s crazy that they renamed it! The things media makes us do… But yes, the history is certainly fascinating but so tragic. I recommend a visit if you are in Bangkok!
Awwww thank you!! It’s so funny they renamed the river (although seriously, do your RESEARCH when writing, ugh) – I think I need to tell my marketing lecturer to use this anecdote in his lectures, haha.
I have a fear to visit war museums and find out about the history because it’s so painful to learn about the people’s past sufferings. With that said, I’d visited Kanchanaburi in my teenage years so it’s cool to read about it again in your blog. Great post you did! These are the kinds of trips that change us forever ya? At least for me so. Kristine recently posted… One idea that keeps me present when I travel
That’s true – they do change us! And hopefully for the better. I quite like visiting war museums as I think it’s so very important for us to understand the causation of the events to know how to spot it if it’s happening again and how to prevent history from repeating itself.
Thanks for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more from this post. I’m very glad to see such great info being shared freely out there.
I try to share as much information as I can without overloading people, but still making sure people can visit these types of site and be informed and aware. I’m glad to see it’s working! Enjoy your trip.
Usually I don’t read post on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do so! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice article.
[…] the bus from Ljubljana to Niš in Serbia. I stayed in Niš for a day and then took a bus onwards to Skopje, Macedonia (FYROM). I stayed in Skopje for three days and I LOVED it. In Serbia and Macedonia, people weren’t […]
I definitely relate to most of this post! I get stir crazy after a couple of months in a new city (I’m already trying to plan my next adventure from NYC) and I get really bad post-travel blues. It happened after I spent a year of university abroad in London and then had to return to small-town North Carolina. There are just too many places to see to be stuck in one place forever 🙂
Love your story. I can definitely relate! Since I starten my business there is no way back. I could never work for a boss again. Unfortanetely despite that, travelling as a start up (without money) is a huge Challenge. Have you got any tips?
Thank you! I recommend checking Skyscanner initially – it’s great to see where you can go and when on very little money. Where are you travelling from?
Travel has also slightly ruined my life plan. I travel a bit differently than you do, but it still has altered my priorities. I travel slower since I work with a traveling organization and I’m also with my husband. However, once I left home, I realized that I didn’t have as much desire as I used to for the typical life plan.
So yes, I’m ruined too, but I think it’s better this way 🙂 I think you agree?
Travelling is very addictive! I had never been overseas until I met my husband (he had travelled a lot) and now we go overseas at least one a year (twice this year) and I’m sure we will continue to do so more and more in the future.
It’s funny how you have a plan for how your life will be and then throw it out the window as other things come along. Everything will fall into place at the right time. Until then, I hope you continue to enjoy your travels! 🙂
Yes, yes, yes. This article is spot on – on all counts. I have been travelling for more than 3 years now for all of the above reasons. Maybe we will bump into each other somewhere along the way
I can completely identify with your post. What becomes most obvious: You definitely love travel. 🙂 Thanks for this great thoughtful post which I enjoyed reading much.
Wow, this article really speaks to me. I relate to each and every one of these points! In a way, I feel like it has ruined me as well! I don’t take pleasure in things i once used to and I’m always looking for the next place to visit (sometimes I cant even enjoy where I am because thats always in my head!). And forget about my life plan haha. But ya, glad someone else can relate! So where to next? hehe 🙂
That’s so true!! Sometimes I’m too busy trying to do and see everything I forget to actually live in the moment… I’m in Warsaw right now and off to Gdańsk and Malmö!
This is so true, Penelope! I also have the ‘after-travel blues’ once in a while and a luxury problem of not having the time to plan next year’s trips because I’m traveling now.. And yes, you do have to plan in advance when traveling with 3 kids during school holidays… When I read your post, I am just glad I caught the travel bug AFTER my studies and after I met my husband. Otherwise I would have probably ended up without a degree and no kids… 🙂 You’re still very young – don’t worry about making plans for the future. Enjoy the moment – it will all work out just fine! Jurga – Full Suitcase recently posted… Our 2016 Summer Vacation: Fun, Crazy, Unforgettable
Great post and hey who needs a life plan?! Live in the present that’s what I say and what will be will be. And if one day you decide to settle somewhere, you can start a University degree or new career at any age. Amanda recently posted… A Wet and Wild Green Man 2016
Thank you for writing about the things that a lot of travelers fail to write about. It is easy to take pretty pictures and paint travel as living the dream- which may be true- but there are def negatives as well. It was great to read this perspective because it helps give you the pros and cons before you commit to a life of travel
I’ve found a great way to beat the post-holiday blues – I always make sure I’ve got another trip planned before coming home, even if it’s just a short city break 🙂
i’m not a full time traveler so can’t relate but it is refreshing to see the ‘real’ downside to long term travel and how you can try and overcome! most travel experiences are enriching after all. 🙂
yup to pretty much all except i made the mistake of staying in the long distance relationship.. really messes with things.. then tried to find excuses to work abroad.. and of course, the anxiety of … where to travel and when. it’s a disease
I thought I was the only one going through #3, thank you for posting this! I’m not an irresponsible grown up failing at adulthood or maybe I am but at least we can do it together. Seriously though, I have really been struggling with #3 recently cause im gonna be 30 this year and I actually just started traveling, I have so much more to see and do but society and my OCD brain tell me that I need a plan and I need to figure out my future. Anyway, thanks for showing me I’m not the only one who is having trouble dealing with the “no plans.”
I think your so very lucky….I didn’t discover travel till I turned 50! I can’t even see/hear a plane above without wanting to check my boarding pass! I feel incredibly blessed to get the chance to travel once a year..but I try to make the most of it! In Turkey now and it’s amazing!
I picked up your post over facebook and your catchy title got me 😉 I had my jaw dropping when I looked over your profile and saw that you are 21. Wow! Wow, because of these toughts: -NEVER would have assumed that just from reading your post. It has such a high level of old granny wisdom(been everywhere, did everyrhing) combined with an easygoing, smooth writing style. Something I would expect from a 50+ traveler! Big like -doesn’t ist come down to: we always want (or at least think we should have it too) what we don’t have? In the end it’s a tradeoff: stable social contacts vs giving in to you constant itch of curiosity. Find your sweet spot -so your 21. 21! While you’re right in every aspect, there’s more than enough time to completely change and do things differently if you feel the urge. Careful with words like “ruined”, which has a very final touch. At your age you can ruin and rebuild it again. And ruin it once more 🙂 Sweet travels, Matt
I made my very first solo trip to Germany in June…just a month which at the end was too short and I wish I could have stayed for way longer and I already felt the way you feel..I’ve been always wanting to travel the world…and I’m desperate to go somewhere else or everywhere…there’s so much to see and enjoy of this planet and I can’t wait to be able to go away as soon as I finish with damn Uni. Hope you can make it to Chile next time 😀 let’s meet if you come here!! I love to meet people from abroad
I can relate so much, I’m studying at University now, so I can’t travel as much as I’d want.. But I love it so much that I leave every single time I can instead of going back home.. This sometimes annoys my parents, but I really can’t help myself! It’s like a drug, now, as soon as I finish my exams next stop will be Berlin, any advice?
Really enjoyed reading this post! I’m going in December cannot wait!!! Can’t wait to try everything you recommended especially the lab soup 🙂 http://Www.therealboni.wordpress.com
This is absolutely perfect because I’ve been trying to plan my next trip abroad and Iceland is a major possibility! Loving this post and the inspiration and tips that are in it!
It is definitely possible to fit a lot of Iceland’s highlights in 48 hours, though more time is always nice. Though limited in time, an Iceland stopover sounds like such an incredibly convenient way to explore the country, especially since the airfare is usually just as cheap if not cheaper than a ticket that goes directly across the pond. Beautiful photos of the day you spent exploring the Golden Circle 🙂 Erika Bisbocci recently posted… Hiking with Komodo Dragons: Komodo and Rinca
This is a great guide as Iceland is usually included in trans-atlantic stopovers. I hope to visit there one day too, even for 48 hours would be great already!
Definitely – IcelandAir and WowAir have some amazing deals for it right now, such a good opportunity! I hope you get to go soon – tell me when you do, I’d love to hear about it!
Wow! I desperately want to visit Iceland! It’s on top of my list for when I will be back to Europe. Bookmarking this, thank you! And oh! love the design of your blog! 🙂
Wow, great post! Thank you for sharing. As for many others, Iceland is one of those places I REALLY want to visit! All of the pictures are just stunning, and it looks like a paradise on earth. I never realized that some of the natural sights in Iceland were so close to Reykjavík! I always assumed that you would have to go for at least a week to really be able to see anything besides the city – so it’s cool to see that you were able to do so much in just 48 hours! 🙂
This is a fantastic comprehensive review!! I love your detailed take on everything from language to literature. Thanks for the recommendation of Yrsa Sigurðardóttir – you can never have too many crime novels 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed your time with Greyline but I have to admit I had the opposite experience. Our tour guide was TERRIBLE!! She was the least charismatic person I’ve ever met and she was saying things on the tour that we knew to be untrue – like the fact Icelandic horses have four gaits when in fact they are famous for being the only breed to have five
Also, I liked your picks for museums and things to do on Day 2. I recommend adding Einar Jónsson sculpture garden (maybe on a future trip ❤️). It’s right by Harpa, free, and breathtaking.
Oh really? I’m surprised about that with Gray Line – this is the second time I’ve used them in Iceland and they’ve been amazing both times! I’ve done about six tours with them in total, I’m sorry you had a bad tour guide, that really sucks!
And you’re welcome for the book recommendation – I love them!! Thanks for the tips too!
This is great. It takes me back a few years when I was travelling in Iceland. Thank you for the memories. My favorite part was the Geysir’s. I remember standing there with my camera waiting to catch the perfect opportunity to take a nice photo 🙂
Yum! These photos are divine, and I knew literally nothing about Lithuanian food prior to this post. It’s fun to learn about “unknown” cuisines like this, thanks for enlightening me! Alex recently posted… Getting an Indian visa in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
There should be a disclaimed on this post that you’ll be ravenous by the end of it! Lithuania is somewhere I’ve always fancied going to but never knew much about the food. The pancakes look fantastic 🙂 PACKTHESUITCASES.COM recently posted… A day in Kirkby Lonsdale
I read this first thing in the morning and I’m starving. I never thought of Lithuania as a foodie destination, but all this looks really unique and tasty! I enjoyed the recipe at the end and the pancakes sound so good!
I don’t think I have ever tried Lithuanian food before! That potato pancake looks really good. I am going to see if I can find a Lithuanian restaurant, but if not I may have to try making them.
So, I was in Lithuania a couple weeks ago and returning Nov 3. Thank you for the primer on the foods you like best. We had potato pancakes when we were there and they were awesome. We went to a traditional Lithuanian restaurant and the food was quite bland. We will search for more of the foods you mentioned when we return in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the post.
These all looks so good, I can’t decide which one is my favourite. I guess I’ll just have to visit Lithuania and try them all (especially tinginys) to decide 😉 P.S. I love that you included some of the pronunciations because it made this awesome post even cooler.
[…] the five hour journey to the Macedonian capital from Berat, stopping at Lake Ohrid and spending two days in Skopje, but after realising that ‘five hours’ in the balkans meant nothing we shelved that […]
My favourite is ‘Šaltibarščiai’ 🙂 Everyone has a different recipe so the taste varies in different parts of Lithuania 🙂 I also love Lithuanian bread, maybe it’s because I grew up here and I am being biased, but I haven’t come across a tastier bread anywhere in the world 😀
Have you tried the pickled herring? My mum makes a layered herring dish for Christmas every year without fail. It might sound weird, but it’s so delicious. The pickled herring is layered with fried onions, carrots and mayonnaise and decorated with peas on top. It’s the top Christmas dish in my family 😀 Kristina@maptrotting recently posted… Singapore – The Ultimate Guide to Visiting
Ooh I didn’t try the pickled herring! That sounds really good – I loved all the dishes with herrings in Sweden and I think Lithuania would be just as good! Yum!
I knew nothing about this! I’m so glad you shared your experience. It’s always a good idea to try to get to know more about history that you aren’t necessarily taught in class!
Hi Syu – yes I have done! Sometimes I do freelance work and I also earn through my Instagram with some sponsored posts. In some EU countries I have also worked part-time (e.g. in Austria I worked as a waitress over Christmas one year).
[…] shops in Bath, UK. Why? Because I have lived there (on and off) since 2013 and have a minor major obsession with coffee. So here is my round-up of my favourite coffee shops in the […]
I love coffee and I love beer , but mostly I love reading your blog!, I have not been to Berlin, But hope to visit it this year, Thanks for sharing those photos, I hope to also visit them. Hey, what;s your favorite place in Berlin ( the coffee and beer places)?
This was a very useful article as I am going to Colombia in March, thank you. So I gather that when I get to Medellin, I should rather take a cab straight away, as I might not get the friendly help you got!
Love it. Loves everything about Colombia. We spent an entire month here and I have to agree it felt very safe and friendly the only issue we had was when Jamie left his small day pack in the back of a taxi but through no one fault than his own we didn’t get it back. No biggie.
The price yes – the food is amazing and for a fraction of the price of Panama and Ecuador. Cartagena was a dream for street food and I know you’ll agree!
Loved this. Thanks for making me feel nostalgic. Gonna send to a friend who’s asked for tips on Colombia x
You are so right Brendel I love my colombia I wasn’t born there live in Canada and I tell everyone I meet to go and visit. .the food is great ..the people are freindly ..
This is such a grey and mysterious area in the blogging world. I have been there and believe many are aswell so thank you for sharing this very useful info with us!
All these are new to me, though I’ve received requests of guest posts in my blog. Very interesting to read and to see the case studies you gave! Saving your post as a great resource! Thank you for putting this together 🙂 Kristine Li recently posted… Hiking Mount Takao in Tokyo as a day trip!
Thank you for sharing! it’s so hard to get an idea about this stuff, but thanks to bloggers groups and people like you it gets easier 🙂 On the SEO sharks: recently i got a few generic emails like that – they didn’t even bother writing my name or adding their website. I didn’t bother answering in turn. Karin recently posted… No, you can not travel for “free”. Here is why.
Really great breakdown! Thanks for being so transparent, and for sharing your resources. I’ve had to figure this out as I go along, and articles like this really help bring more credibility to the industry!
I’m glad you enjoyed it – I would have loved to have more of an insight into what other bloggers actually charged when I was starting out (and I still do!) but I think it’s so important for the conversation to start!
This was an interesting lengthy read, but also not giving me much hope for the future! I think you must really just love blogging to keep at it Dinah recently posted… Top 3 Glam Hikes around Cape Town
Thank you for this informative post! I’m a total newbie wit no expectations of monetization for many months to come, but it’s good to gather knowledge on the subject.
Absolutely loved this! It’s so important for bloggers to discuss their earning potential because it puts everyone on the same page and it’s important to know your worth both for yourself and so you don’t undervalue yourself and thus create a company mindset they can charge bloggers so little.
“Why bloggers should discuss their income” suggests that it is something we ought to all be doing… and with that I disagree – I believe it should be down to personal preference whether someone does or doesn’t discuss their own personal business affairs.
I acknowledge that in the article you later say “When I say that bloggers should discuss their income, I mean that this subject should not be taboo.” – I agree with that (for the same reason), but it isn’t what is stated in the title.
OMG! I can’t explain how helpful this post is! As a blogger who is new to sponsorships, it can be daunting pitching to potentials or figuring out what to charge people who contact me. This is super helpful and is now bookmarked!
I’m glad you’re sharing this. The more we talk about our income, the higher the industry standard will be for bloggers. I just got signed on my first 4-digit long-term project and plan on sharing income reports/ helping other bloggers get to this point! Sarah Kim recently posted… Photos: Standing United at the Women’s March in Amsterdam
Absolutely agree! Not saying that everyone should necessarily post all over the internet about how much they’re making, but an honest discussion will help to move the influencer market forward. Thank you for being honest about your sponsored posts! Eva Casey recently posted… What You Need To Know About El Nido in The Philippines
Thanks Eva! Producing income reports isn’t for everyone (and there’s definitely no reason that everyone should be doing them) but more open and honest discussions need to happen. Thanks for reading!
Great breakdown! I find it really insulting when big brands ask for a dofollow link with little payment. I don’t do dofollow links anyway, but even if I did I certainly wouldn’t risk my website for them for peanuts! I truly think they try and take advantage and it’s really unfortunate because some people who don’t know any better will accept it, and the practice will continue. You’re right, we need to band together and discuss it much more!
Definitely! I get so mad about it because, even though I know it’s not okay, others don’t realise that and just think ‘yay I can get paid!’ (Which is definitely what I thought the first time I got those emails!)
Great post, although we’re stuck right in the middle.
In our ‘normal’ jobs, we’d never discuss our salary, however in the blogging world, we feel it’s important to discuss income to better understand the ‘going rate’ for things such as Instagram posts, sponsored posts or promoted links. That being said, we very rarely ask someone directly and rather try to gauge through various facebook or instagram groups!
We’re with you – 2017 is all about monetizing our channels (in the right way), but never for anything less that what we believe we’re worth!
Thanks for reading! Personally, I don’t see the issue in discussing my salary in my normal job but yet so many people feel that’s weird/taboo/not acceptable.
I definitely feel that there needs to be open discussion on pricing and knowing what to charge – good luck on your monetisation!
[…] you haven’t already then check out the prequel to this post on Why Bloggers Should Discuss Their Income! In that article, I discuss why talking about our income and how much we charge for sponsored […]
Unfortunately until people will keep on working for free, there’s no easy way out. Honestly, brands try to just pay with products if they can, it’s up to you to convince them that it’s not enough. And tell them “no, thanks” if they offer mediocre deals. 3 or 4 posts for a product worth 20$? Are we really that desperate? Or those who go with “start by posting a premade picture with this code, if you sell X products with the code, I’ll give you one for free.” I said no, but the same brands get more and more exposure, because I keep on seeing other influencers posting their pictures. Of course they won’t feel forced to change their ways, it’s up to us to make them! The same goes for hotel stays and such. I still have never been offered anything for free. And even if I’m Italian, my worst and most rude experiences have been with Italian hotels: sometimes they didn’t just say they were interested, but they even insulted me (true story: an hotel owner in Florence). Which is why I’m not pitching anymore Italian hotels unless they contact me with a clear explanation of what they want and what they offer. Platforms are also a big no-no for us in Italy. Buzoole offers very cheap campaigns, if even. Others like Tribe often look for influencers from AUS, UK and US. Italy is almost never considered, so we don’t really get much work from them (Tribe in particular wants you to buy products beforehand and this is beyond us because we don’t have the advertised products in Italy). Now, as you see, things are already difficult enough. That’s why I get mad at the so called “influencers” who’d sell their soul for a tiny bracelet worth 2$ (true story). Until people won’t understand that we can monetize our account, by working hard and knowing our worth, things won’t change. It’s not the brands fault, it’s ours!
Really nice collection of destinations! I love northern Europe due to Northern Lights and dog sledding. I’ll be adding some of them to my bucket list 🙂
This was a very interesting and detailed article, Penelope. I met up recently with a long-standing blogger who also does social media for clients and she said that they no longer look at number of likes and comments on Instagram but instead will only work with those that take amazing photos – so also good to know! Suze – Luxury Columnist recently posted… The Best Places to Eat and Drink around Naples, Florida
That’s very true! The absolute foundation of Instagram is quality photos – I feel a lot of people forget about this a little when they are concentrating more on the numbers game. Thanks so much!
Thank you for all this useful information. I haven’t considered approaching any companies for the time being, as my social media readership is rather small. Your article has helped me gauge where I am, so that I can price my services properly. Violeta recently posted… What a Mud Volcano Can Do for Your Travel Photos
Wow, that was really comprehensive and open.. I totally agree it is hard not to almost take each client as a unique prospect thanks to the fact they all have different goals and budgets but it is so good to have a benchmark for your own value x
I found this to be extremely helpful. I’m just getting started, but my numbers area steadily increasing and it’s important to know your worth. I really like the bit about Instagram going off of engagement. I have around 2.5k followers – but my engagement is around 30%. I’ve wondered if that’s enough to be going after anything. Seems like it might be if the fit was right with the brand!
Hi Meg – I’m glad you found it useful! It’s definitely worth a try, especially if it’s a brand you follow already and who really fits your niche etc! The first few pitches are the scariest – tell me how it goes 🙂
Wow, your engagement is great!! That’s really good and I’m glad I could help. Don’t hesitate to email me (or DM on Instagram) if you have any questions!
This! This is just awesome! Finally someone that’s not afraid to talk about numbers… One of the best and most helpful posts I’ve read in a long time! Thank you 🙂
Aw Chantal!! Thank you SO much! That really means a lot. I’m such a numbers nerd, if I’m honest, so it’s the only way that I CAN put it. I hate it when I see it all in really vague terms – like ‘don’t overcharge but don’t charge too little’… WHAT ARE THESE MAGICAL NUMBERS!? haha. Thanks again!
Great article with relevant info! I like your take that as bloggers we should be talking about this and not have it be a taboo subject! #bloggingcommunity
Thank you for the great article! It felt good to see that I had intuitively done the math right myself as well 🙂 Alina from Reverie Chaser recently posted… Greece: Then and Now
Great post and break down of the price. I made a classical rookie mistake and overcharged a company once (they offered a free camera and asked how much I’d like to get paid for a review. I could keep the camera). So I offered them 100$. They never wrote back 🙂 Next time this happens I’ll consult with your post
Thanks Nicole! When I first started getting offers I had no idea what I should be charging and I just accepted everything!! And yes – Social Bluebook is one of my favourite tools, haha.
Great tips, really really useful, Penelope. It also reminds bloggers that their work is worth more than many companies actually offer. Pinning this as I’m sure I will be needing those formulas again. Jurga recently posted… Affordable Family Skiing in Switzerland
That’s so true Jurga!! If I valued myself by what a lot of companies try and offer, I would not be feeling great at all! Thanks for sharing, really appreciate it!
This was a really awesome post! Thank you for all the specific numbers that you gave – that is definitely more what I was looking for. I really appreciate the help! 🙂 – Rachel
This is such a great topic. It is very hard to find information on standard pricing in the blogger world. It’s easy to look up “average salaries” in the job market and it’s public information, but when it comes to bloggers it’s not really public information yet.
Very true – websites like GlassDoor make it easier to find ‘normal’ or ‘average’ salaries in the standard job market, but it’s definitely harder for bloggers and other influencers! I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
I made a brief visit to Gothenburg last year after a friend raved about it. Unfortunately it was at the end of several week’s worth of travel and I was pretty pooped. I did go on a really long boat trip, where I had a grand old time writing in my journal and swigging wine, whilst sitting by myself in the cabin, haha. It would be nice to go back and actually do things in the city (and eat all the foods), but I still look back on my time there fondly. LC recently posted… What to Wear in Svalbard – An Illustrated Guide
I ended up going to Gothenburg three times in 2016 so it’s safe to say I love the city! I really want to go back again to do the archipelago (plus more of Sweden) – I’m glad you enjoyed your time there, even though you were exhausted!
You’re very welcome! Thanks so much for writing for me! I loved Ethiopia – wish I had more time there (it was a long layover) as I only saw a few things in Addis!
I am extremely offended and astonished that you would recommend the Faroe Islands. How could you not be aware of the hideous, despicable,barbaric,and illegal slaughter of hundreds of pilot whales and other cetaceans which goes on every year in this nasty place? Boycott the Car or Islands. How can you “not think of any reason” not to go there?
Hi Kerry. My comment refers to the ease of getting to the islands, when put in the right context. Whaling in the Faroe Islands is an ancient tradition (known as the Grind) that I definitely don’t agree with. However, many countries around the world have practices that outsiders will not understand and that the countrymen themselves may not actually agree with. So, yes I think it is important to travel to places like the Faroe Islands, particularly those that have been closed off to the rest of the world until very recently, in order to promote cultural understanding. In any case – we’re slowly poisoning our oceans WORLDWIDE through our use of plastic and other pollutants, which I find to be a truly horrifying and more pressing issue. LC recently posted… What to Wear in Svalbard – An Illustrated Guide
As long as my resolutions are travel-related, I always stick to them 😉 These are all great suggestions for destinations! I dream of going to Finnish Lapland, and so many people keep recommending Romania that it must be awesome! Hope your travels this year will lead you several places on this list 🙂
Haha I think they are the only resolutions I ever keep! oops… I would love to go to Finnish Lapland and Romania is INCREDIBLE! I was there for a week last January and I fell in love!!
Thanks so much and thank you for the amazing Armenia post!
These are all great destinations! I definitely have Armenia and Romania on my list this year. I’m always hoping to find new destinations for off-the-beaten-path since I can’t stand fighting my way through crowds in over-touristy areas. Susanna recently posted… Day Trip from Munich to Dachau Memorial
Romania is incredible – you’ll love it! I’m exactly the same with not liking the tourist traps and wanting to head somewhere different – I can’t stand big tourist crowds (Paris/Rome etc are not my thing, haha).
[…] buses also operate from Belgrade (5 hours), Niš (3 hours), Vienna (15 hours), Paris (36 hours), Berlin (28 hours), Budapest (12 hours) and Prague (21 […]
Ooh I love this! I haven’t heard of many of these places and those are usually the best ones that aren’t super popular yet! Thanks for sharing these gems 🙂
I’m sorry you experienced that but sharing your story is so powerful. It helps other women become more aware of how they can help protect themselves from similar situations and what to do when in such a predicament.
Sending you SO MUCH LOVE, Penelope. It was so brave and must have been very difficult to write about your experience here, but I know that in writing it down and sharing it you will heal yourself a little more and allow the collective of people around the world who have gone through similar experiences to heal. Personally I can definitely relate, though my assault was not sexual, but rather I was mugged at gunpoint in my apartment building. Many people in my life were kind to me, but some did suggest that “maybe I should have done this or that, etc” and even inside I felt that I “should have” handled the situation differently. But truly you never know how you will react until you are in the moment. And every reaction is okay and valid. I still struggle with feeling safe, but what you said about it being okay to take care of yourself is SO TRUE. Don’t ever feel silly/ashamed for having to care for yourself first. It’s necessary when you’ve been through a trauma. Again, really proud and in awe of you for sharing your experience <3
It sucks that we have this threat hanging over us as women, not only when we travel but in our day to day lives. And I’m really sorry it happened to you. Thanks for writing about it… I’m in awe with the way you dealt with this situation (and was upset to learn that it was one of many terrible things that happened to you that day!).
I think the thing that really got me with this experience was that it was in my HOME country – people always say to be careful when travelling (and have highlighted certain countries to be really careful in, and have asked my mum if she was worried about me when I was in ‘dangerous’ countries like Honduras or South Africa) and yet this has made it so much more obvious that it isn’t travel that’s the issue. People like this are everywhere – even in the countries we regard as ‘safe’.
And yes, that day really did suck… I definitely cried a lot (not helped by lack of sleep) and was so thankful when I finally got back home to my parents’ house. But what did I do then? Booked a trip for the next week to go to Spain! I needed sun, haha.
Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment.
Thank you for sharing your story. It’s so brave to come out and write about this. I agree writing can often lead to healing. I hope this is a string in a strong healing process for you. I’m so glad the bus drivers handled this well. That would have made the difference! I’m glad to see you’ll still be traveling. hang in there!
Yey! Super nice to found out that you liked Bulgaria even though your short stay. I’m sure that if you visit Bulgaria again and have more time to explore the country you will love it!
It is always best to tell someone of anything that is weighing you down! Yours was a serious case, so makes all the more sense… and I am glad you reported!
It takes time to heal… but you were brave and did whatever you could do. Sad incident though.
Wow stunning shots Penelope! I spent a month in neighboring Qatar last February and see many parallels between the 2 places. Little country or city in the middle of nowhere. Then oil/natural gas is found and look out! Money money money. The buildings, city engineering and overall vibe seems super duper similar to Doha, in Qatar. Like its next door neighbor.
[* Shield plugin marked this comment as “0”. Reason: Human SPAM filter found “posts!” in “comment_content” *] Hey Penelope! This is crazy. 🙁 I’m so sorry this has happened. But, you are so brave to share these to others. KEEP TRAVELLING! <3 I love your photos and posts! Sending you love. xoxo
WOW. I know it isn’t easy sharing something so personal on your travel-based blog but i think it is so brave and could help so many others a similar situation. I am so sorry you had to go through this! And on top of that, all the things that went wrong afterwards! I’m glad you’ve continued travelling even after it all. Sending loads of love and support! Cant wait to see where you travel next.
Paris itself is beautiful! to find insta places in Paris is not blasphemy? 😛 just kidding. Beautiful pictures. And you look marvelous. Such an infectious happy face. This is what travel does to one!
Well, I’m definitely missing Paris right about now! You managed to get some incredible photos. We loved the view from Tour Montparnasse last time, but definitely need to check out the rest of these spots next time we are in Paris. Sacre Coeur is at the top of my list!
This post is awesome!! I love knowing where I can go for great views within a city. Great for photographers, Instagram lovers and people who just love views 🙂
I have never been to Paris so I can;t tell about how touristy the locations are, but your photos are so beautiful! You have definitely found Instagramable spots and angles in the city of love that make it look so romantic.
This is such a comprehensive yet creative post – well done! And you look so happy in these pictures. I mean, no surprise considering those gorgeous spots. Oh yeah and the shopping centers… #thestruggleisreal
I have never heard of this place until now. I like the fact that it’s cheap, has good eats and the buildings look amazing! The cobblestone street looks like it’s a fun place for a stroll, as well.
I must admit I’ve never heard of Riga until now. It does look like a nice place to visit though.. It even looks pretty charming despite the not-so-sunny weather that you captured on your photos. Or is just my eyes? haha. Anyways, the food, history and affordability is good enough for me to be convinced to visit Riga! 🙂
Hi! I stumbled upon your blog from the photographers without borders website and am currently living in southern Switzerland! I’ve been having a hard time trying to find trains that are inexpensive… I’m finding it impossible to see Switzerland by train like so many blogs I’ve read have posted! How were you able to find cheap train tickets? The funiculars are pretty cheap, but a train ticket from the south to Lausanne can run $300 round trip! Do you have any suggestions?
Riga is indeed cool. We would definitely head out first to those cobblestone streets and classic cafes. What we love about cities and towns like Riga is that the people are able to preserve their history, culture, and architecture. Unlike other cities where everything is replaced by soulless glass and steel.
I absolutely adored Riga! I visited last February and we arrived whilst it was snowing, the whole city looked so pretty under a light dusting of snow 🙂 I was also really impressed with the food there and how cheap everything was. I went with two friends and we had a whole apartment with its own hamman for just over £10 per night each!
Well! you’ve convinced me. not going to lie, I’d never heard of Riga until reading your post, but gosh it looks beautiful!! I also like the point about coffee and beer! Sounds like my kind of place 🙂
I usually don’t comment this because it seems such a lame thing to say but SERIOUSLY your photos look good. They are beautiful and make me want to not only go to Riga, but take some photography classes beforehand haha. I’ve never been to Riga and it hasn’t been on my list, but I think I could be missing out. Thanks for sharing!
Man, I had the chance to go to Riga this year, and now I’m bummed I passed up on it! I can’t get over those views! Guess I’ll have to give it a chance another time.
Good coffee and beer for cheap plus lots of cool stuff to see? Sounds like Riga has all you can ask for in a city break. This is an area of Europe we haven’t explored yet so it would be a good jumping off point to see the surrounding area like you suggested.
I am so glad you started this website. I was attacked for over two hours in a foreign country 28th of Feb 2017. Two teeth missing, broken nose, brain injury, rape…all leading to months of many surgeries and having to relearn how to read, walk, cook (a total passion for me), sing (another total passion), brush my teeth, etc. Still having seizure-like activity now almost 8 months later and have adjusted my life to trying to fit in all of my activities of daily living like showering (ugh lol I’m gross, but thankfully do not come from stinky genes), but I’m back at work.
Taking back the night has been a beautiful thing for me. I live in a relatively safe neighborhood and being able to enjoy the starry sky whether here or wherever planes take me is something I definitely do not take for granted. EMDR Therapy has been a way to regain my ease in this world. Another way has been to draw everyone in. My therapist has told me that most people in my situation hide away from the world and never really adapt. Scary.
When I returned to the US, friends asked what they could do. I asked them to make sure I was fed mainly, a very difficult task at that time. From one friend, I asked her to throw a party to make sure everyone was on the same page. That party and my attack started many conversations about self-defense courses and what we, as travellers, can do to protect ourselves and/or how to wrangle the court system abroad. The guy who attacked me got 22 years.
As for travelling again, I went for the court case a few months later and don’t remember packing. (The brain is a fascinating organism.) Thankfully, months before, I had bought a cheap ticket to Iceland with a few friends, and the trip came due in May after the courts. I hedged on going but was egged on by friends and doctors alike. As I was packing, I asked a roommate for help, and immediately had a huge brain glitch. Last image: my roommate leaping on my suitcase, trying to zip it up. Another girlfriend who was going on the trip, leading me to the car and gently placing me in the seat. :). Since then, I’ve been to Seattle a couple of times, B.C. Mexico, Houston, and the Caribbean. Hawaii and St. Croix are next.
Love, support, being gentle to yourself (total yes on the yoga, walking, and meditation!), and letting people hear your story and allowing them to tell you theirs or their fears about it. Definitely EMDR Therapy, although in my past life, I would have never in a million years think about going to a freakin’ therapist. And tickets. Keep them tickets!! Keep buying them. Keep forcing yourself to leap out the windows of your world to see others.
Thank you ladies. And thank you Penelope for sharing yourself with us.
Monica – you are incredible! That is a truly harrowing story and I can’t even begin to imagine what you went through. But it makes me SO happy that you are still travelling, that you are talking about what happened and that you are loving yourself <3
Sending you all of the hugs from the UK! Keep up the travelling - I can't wait to hear about where you go!
Awesome read! I’m so jealous that you got to see the Cleaning of the Corpses. Not sure how I would’ve felt about it (lol) but what a unique experience. Coming here was one of the highlights of my Indonesian trip too so it was great to relive it through your words/photos. You captured everything so well!
This was certainly interesting! I know it’s morbid, but I find it fascinating how different cultures around the world treat the subject of death. I’m in Oaxaca, Mexico, at the moment and festivities for the Day of the Dead are well underway. It’s a bit weird to see little kids with sugar skull facepaint, as if they’re dead, but I guess no more strange than Halloween? Haha!
Indonesian beliefs customs and traditions are fascinating and i am so happy that this trip gave you the opportunity to experience the diversity of the culture . Amazing articulé !
Ugh just take me everywhere here! I’ve never been to any of these places (specifically – country yes, actual place, no haha) and I LOVE the snow so this is just a dream.
I loved it! I have been to a few of these destinations but only in the summer… I cannot imagine how Lake Garda would look in the winter! Also, I am surprised that no one recommended Iceland and their Northern Lights!
Such great gift suggestions. As a millennial, a few of these things are on my list 😉 including the Airbnb gift card! That would definitely make any traveler happy!
Take me there now please! I want to go to every single one of these places and even though I’ve been to London more times than I can count – I have to say I haven’t been to many of these places.
I also studied in Bath! Which uni are you at? I feel like I would have been a lot more productive if I’d had this list whilst I was doing my studies. I used to drink in the society cafe and really loved it, I’ll have to check out the other independent coffee shops next time I’m back as I don’t think I’ve been to the others.
Beautiful photos! And I totally agree with the Bahia Palace. I was so enchanted with it when we were there last year, My boyfriend had to literally drag me out of that place. There’s also a great restaurant outside this palace which serves great kheema. Don’t know if you check that out and don’t remember the name, but it was fantastic. Made my day on our 3day trip to Marra.
Great review of the year and you have visited so many places. these are awesome and so stunning photos you just shared on your trips. Can’t wait to see where you are off to in 2018. Anyway, I will travel to London next month!
That new pink cafe full of flowers is one I want to go to, also neals yard! thanks for this post, been to most and I can safely say theyre all beautiful. I recently went to the coloured houses and it was the best time lol.
Dubai is the famous place for sharing Instagram photos. There are many hidden treasures which you might not have known before. You are sure to visit luxury hotels, artificial islands, and beautiful sculptures.
Thanks so much for this! If i every get anywhere with blogging I will definitely be back! I have so much to learn, but communicating back and forth with brands seems stressful! One wrong step and suddenly no response! I’ll be sure to consult this post next time 🙂
Wow a lot of beautiful pictures, why don’t mine look as good … And reading this article, I swear I want to go back to Marrakech and try out your adresses !
I’ve not been to Greece since I was a teenager, but I remember that friends of my parents live on Samoa- maybe it’s time to visit them! Your photos make me want to book a flight and grab my bags!!
Wow, I love these villages and those cute cafes. There’s not even a single one which I would miss on my (future) trip to the Cotswolds. Thanks for the amazing recommendations!
It seems like a good luck for me that I’ve got your awesome guide before visiting the badlands. I really appreciate your hard work, you’ve put a lot energy to make this happen for your readers. And thanks for introducing me to the app “Roadtrippers” I’ll give it a try!
As beautiful a vista as a person can experience. The adjectives wild, rugged, untamed, majestic and beautiful all apply. In the fall the weather proves unpredictable. You must have clothing for warm or cold weather. Dressing in layers is preferred. The most difficult element is the Dakota winds. They can just over 30 mph. Bring a camera! We saw deer, mountain goats, rams, buffalo, and hundreds of cute, active prairie dogs. An entry fee is charged because it is a national park, but driving the loop is worth the fee. Yolanda recently posted… Best Lightweight Sleeping Bags for Backpacking 2019
While we did recently visit Moab – Loved that area – We have yet to dive into the Badlands, which according to your article and photos are so aptly named. Thanks for sharing and for the inspiration to head that way! Kevin recently posted… Leaf Blower Techniques
Wow these places look incredible and have given me some really hard decisions to make for travel this year! We live in China so I would love to get over to Mongolia at some point this year! Kaikoura looks stunning too!
[* Shield plugin marked this comment as “0”. Reason: Human SPAM filter found “article!” in “comment_content” *] Really great article! In fact, one of the most clear I’ve read so far. I totally get the need for greater transparency but some of these guidelines aren’t very clear / are overkill.
What I’m most curious about is the bit concerning “product, brand or service is tagged, linked or endorsed in any way.” For example, I post a lot of flatlays and often there’ll be a product in shot that was once gifted to me in a goodie bag or something. It’s not there because I’m seeking to endorse it and it’s not mentioned in the caption. It’s just part of the photo because it’s a nice prop! If I don’t tag the brand, reference the product etc., does that mean I still need to tag it as an ad? It’s all very confusing.
When it comes to travel blogging I’d love to hear what they have to say about posting a pic of London when you’ve previously worked with Visit London, for example. If that does require disclosure then I can see travel blogger feeds becoming ad, ad, ad, which will only be more confusing (and off-putting!) for the consumer.
Some of the guidelines completely undermine the fact that good bloggers only work with brands they truly love and therefore those brands are going to crop up again and again in both a sponsored/own purchase capacity. It’s a classic case of a few people flouting the rules and ruining it for everyone else! Laura Hartley recently posted… The 11 Best Free Things to Do in Oxford
100% agreed! If I mention Leeds in a comment, do I need to mention that I worked with Visit Leeds? And if I travel there just for fun and take a photo or post a story, do I need to specify that I have a prior relationship with the tourism board? It’s mad!
I would assume that if you don’t tag the brand or product in any way (e.g. you don’t mention it in the caption, you don’t tag the brand) you likely do not need to tag it as an ad. If you tag the brand and it was gifted, I would think that the regulations would say that you should mention that it was gifted. It’s pretty ridiculous, agreed.
I’m hoping to hear back from the CMA in regards to clarification on some of the points so hopefully they get back to me early next week!
You can buy a swisspass for example 7 days for 300 Swissfranks, every bus and train in the country would be included. Check offers on http://www.sbb.ch, but still switzerland is a super expensive country but totaly worth a visit!
My vote goes to Yellowstone for sure! Spending time with wolves at minus 20 degrees is an experience you’ll never forget! And the keep the road through the Lamar Valley in surprisingly good shape all winter! Hal Brindley recently posted… Top 8 Florida private island rentals on VRBO
[* Shield plugin marked this comment as “0”. Reason: Human SPAM filter found “excellent article” in “comment_content” *] Excellent Article, Looking really amazing, Thanks for sharing.
Great post, I didn’t know about the Seaplane harbour! I’d also really recommend the KGB museum at the Hotel Viru, it’s really interesting and there’s a great view from the top floor.
Ah how cool! 🙂 I haven’t been to Tallinn in almost a decade, but would love to go back one day 🙂 The Old Pharmacy sounds really exciting 🙂 A very nice inspiring post! 🙂
it’s so beautiful! How unfortunate that this is the first I’ve heard of Tallinn. It looks like a mix of Russian cultures from the architecture and some eastern European from the villages.
love this post! I’ve been considering taking myself on a lil trip to Riga and potentially Tallinn as well – this definitely made me more keen to add Tallinn to my itinerary!
This post is so well written. Really interesting, I had never even considered the term could be derogatory! Thanks for sharing! Stumbled across your blog on Instagram and have been low-key stalking since haha! I’m from Southampton too and entering the world of blogging, so it’s inspiring to see how your blog has grown! Also, love the hometown insta-highlight – best shopping centre!
Hawaii Big Island has to be my choice. Been there before, last time we were on a cruise and saw the lava flow from the sea at night. What a site that was.
Lorraine Bielckus
August 20, 2013 at 5:02 pmAnd parents have now got a very quiet home… Enjoy your journey and we will see you in Bamberg.
Moritz
June 24, 2015 at 9:46 pmSounds amazing. I’d love to see some photos of your journey included in your next review! 🙂
Colin Bielckus (@ColinABS)
July 14, 2015 at 9:47 pmRecently I have been seeing a lot of chatter about the use of Pinterest for travel businesses. The number of bucket lists on Pinterest suggests this may be a reasonable proposition.
Penelope
July 14, 2015 at 10:00 pmIt’s definitely an area that businesses can use very well! However, I do recommend that most business begin with Facebook and Twitter, and then decide which other platforms would be most beneficial to them.
Pinterest is a great idea for tour organisers, definitely, and an expanding market for hotels to look into.
Colin Bielckus (@ColinABS)
July 14, 2015 at 9:58 pmIt can pay to engage professionals to prepare a good website and for SEO. An effective professional will pay for themselves giving the owners time to do what they do best. Another idea worth exploring is BBX, a virtual currency that allows businesses to exploit spare capacity. BBX works in a good portion of the world with China franchises currently being let.
Penelope
July 14, 2015 at 10:02 pmExcellent advice, Colin. Websites such as Elance can provide a great way of finding freelance professionals to design a great website for a business.
And you’re absolutely correct – the right professional will pay for themselves!
Jon Miller
December 7, 2015 at 8:08 pmGreat article!
Glad you found my pages on Salzburg helpful (http://www.bigboytravel.com/europe/austria/salzburg/freewalkingtour/)
Thanks
Jon
Bigboytravel.com
Penelope
December 10, 2015 at 2:38 amThank you! I love Salzburg – I only live 3 hours away, I wish I could go more often!
Thanks again,
Penelope
Hans-Christian
December 10, 2015 at 4:13 pmThere is a alternative tip for Berlin: A very special christmas market in Prenzlauer Berg called “Lucia Weihnachtsmarkt”. A scandinavian type of christmas market in the historical sorounding of the “Kulturbrauerei”. For me the best christmas market in Berlin.
Penelope
December 12, 2015 at 3:53 pmThanks for the tip!
colinabs
December 10, 2015 at 10:54 pmI remember Koln very well. Excellent Gluhwein. Four or was it five markets? And massive compared with many I’ve seen since.
Penelope
December 12, 2015 at 3:53 pmYes! Great Kinder-Glühwein too, if I remember rightly!
GirlAstray
January 14, 2016 at 7:46 pmI would add that you can also get to Budapest very conveniently from Bratislava, the train fare costs around 10 euros (it´s a return ticket) and gets you to Keleti station in about 4 hours. Bratislava is also on the Danube and is one hour ride from Vienna. 🙂
alyssaacree
January 19, 2016 at 5:58 amReblogged this on She Went To Spain.
voyaging vanessa
January 25, 2016 at 10:13 pmI usually stick to public transportation, because I am terrified of a cab experience such as yours! But it happens, sometimes it’s late, we’re tired, and only have taxi’s as an option. Good for you for standing your ground! Even though they tried scamming you, at least it was all they did. Good for you, #Girlpower
The Flyaway Girl
January 25, 2016 at 10:54 pmYeah I’m not a huge fan of taking them but when it’s late and public transportation is difficult (and I had a lot of luggage) then I’ll go by taxi.
Sarah
January 26, 2016 at 12:57 pmI really enjoyed reading this post!
Skopje is amazing city!
The Flyaway Girl
January 26, 2016 at 1:24 pmThank you! I loved it – definitely have to go back soon!
Rob
January 26, 2016 at 4:33 pmI once planned to transit through Skopje, as it happened there was a delay. I have now visited 5 times and I love it. One of Europe’s best. Enjoy!
Rob
January 26, 2016 at 4:34 pmP.S. Definitely check out the cities of Ohrid, Bitola and Prilep next time. Also the wine region around the town of Veles is to die for!
The Flyaway Girl
January 26, 2016 at 5:05 pmSounds amazing! I definitely want to visit Ohrid. Thanks for the tip!
Faria
January 27, 2016 at 9:38 amif you are planning to visit Macedonia again, i would recommend you to visit Ohrid! The breathtaking city !!!
The Flyaway Girl
January 27, 2016 at 9:45 amI definitely want to! Thanks!
whereisnoodles
January 27, 2016 at 9:55 pmI love hearing about new destinations! I’ve never considered Skopje before but your post has inspired me!
The Flyaway Girl
January 27, 2016 at 10:13 pmAwesome! I’m so glad!
Roaming Required (@RoamingRequired)
January 27, 2016 at 10:04 pmIt’s a really scary story about your cab driver. I absolutely hate things like that. I’m glad you made it out and you’re safe but really its so unnecessary for such things to happen.
The Flyaway Girl
January 27, 2016 at 10:16 pmYeah – it was so frustrating! But the rest of the trip was great.
The Perpetual Tourists
January 27, 2016 at 10:20 pmI am headed to Plovdiv next month and may just have to make a stop here in Bucharest. Looks very interesting. I appreciate your pictures and descriptions. That church is verrrry different from any I have been seeing in Poland/Croatia/Italy. Great post
The Flyaway Girl
January 27, 2016 at 10:33 pmDo you mean Skopje? I’m currently in Bucharest and will be writing a post about it soon!
kachinasnomaddiction
January 28, 2016 at 1:12 amReally enjoyed reading this 🙂
I went to Macedonia a few years ago and absolutely fell in love with the country! It’s now one of my fav places I’ve visited, and I always recommend it to friends travelling that way. I’d def recommend Lake Ohrid for your next trip too 🙂
The Flyaway Girl
January 28, 2016 at 7:08 amThank you!
Nicole
January 28, 2016 at 5:59 amLooks beautiful! I have never been there, but it looks and sounds like a place worth visiting!
Gabi @ Books & Trips
January 28, 2016 at 7:35 amI should definitely visit one day, it’s so close by! Thanks for the inspiration!
Liesbeth
January 28, 2016 at 11:30 amLooks like a great destination! It’s one of those you never put on your list until you kinda just stumble up on them 🙂
Cynthia
January 28, 2016 at 10:11 pmI’ve never heard of Skopje but it looks and sounds amazing! Thanks for the interesitng read!
Francia Benson
January 29, 2016 at 4:59 amI have never before of that place. It seems so fun and interesting. What I admire is your determination, so many hours in bus and train to get there. You definitely have the travel bug. I like your writing style.
The Flyaway Girl
January 29, 2016 at 9:02 amThank you!
Amy JB Smith (@AmyJBSmith)
January 31, 2016 at 2:12 pmHi! I love your blog, looking forward to reading about your European galavants! x
The Flyaway Girl
January 31, 2016 at 2:16 pmThank you!
Sarah from Tales From a Fork
February 6, 2016 at 6:08 pmThanks so much for including my post to Where to Eat in Prague. This guide has seriously got EVERYTHING you need to know. Wish I saw before I went! Well I’ll be back again and using this.
The Flyaway Girl
February 6, 2016 at 6:09 pmThank you so much! Your guide on Where to Eat is awesome – wish I’d had that for when I went!!
Sarah
February 10, 2016 at 5:41 pmDo you ever post on reddit? I posted this there. Hope people find this info helpful!
Sarah recently posted… Daydream in the desert at Joshua Tree National Park
Dave (Silverbackpacker)
February 8, 2016 at 2:24 pmThis post has come at exactly the right time. I am planning a trip to Prague and Eastern Europe soon. That hostel sounds ok if you are female….. not fair they left out the lads though lol 🙂
I really like the fact that the city is walkable. You see so much more when walking around than using public transport all the time.
The Flyaway Girl
February 8, 2016 at 2:26 pmPerfect! There are some other really good hostels in Prague so check out the link, tell us what you thought when you get back! Where else are you heading to?
Peter Novak
March 21, 2016 at 2:10 pmCzech Republic is geographically in Cetral Europe. Like Germany, Switzerland, Austria and other countries 😉 Please rememeber that 🙂
Pam @ Skinny chick travelling
February 11, 2016 at 2:33 amI found Duolingo to be to messy for me 🙁 I might try it again. Found so many new websites so waitin for time and energy to start and see which one is good. I’m struggling to pick up Spanish, which I mostly understand basic convo but need to learn how to speak and don’t know why it’s been so hard 😀 I also need it for Central America
Penelope
February 11, 2016 at 2:40 amAh really? I liked it! The app has improved from when I used it before though.
Colin Bielckus
February 11, 2016 at 5:26 pmAt least the public transport fines in Prague are cheaper than Bratislava…
Joanna
February 17, 2016 at 1:01 pmThat’s a very good deal, take your credit card out! That’s what I do when I find a good deal and I have the time to travel, and I’ll pay it later. 🙂
However, I found never fly with AlItalia again in my life, even if they would give me a free ticket!
Penelope
February 17, 2016 at 1:03 pmOoh what happened with Alitalia? Yeah I don’t know if I can justify ditching uni to go to Brazil, haha.
Joanna
February 17, 2016 at 1:06 pmThey’ve lost my luggage on my way to Cuba, they left me there 2.5 weeks with literally nothing, no clothes and no toiletries, no medicines. They never answer the phone, not even if you wait for one hour and they offered me 80 euros as compensation. I had to go through a “war” with them to recover the damages. And they still haven’t refunded the money to my account yet. And the funny part is that I have booked KLM, but for some reason I ended up flying with AlItalia. Never again, haha!
Joanna recently posted… Varanasi – Contrasts, fascination, death – Part 2
Penelope
February 17, 2016 at 1:14 pmWHAAAAAAAT that’s SO bad! Ridiculous! I had an awful experience luggage-wise with EgyptAir (although now this has given me an idea for a collab blog post haha)
Joanna
February 18, 2016 at 12:26 pmHaha! Yeah, it was horrible. I am also writing a blog post about how to make the airline respect your rights and pay you for the damage. 🙂
Joanna recently posted… Varanasi – Contrasts, fascination, death – Part 2
Penelope
February 18, 2016 at 7:48 pmOoh I can’t wait to read that!
Arzo Travels
February 17, 2016 at 1:07 pmThat is crazy 🙂 I am never lucky to find flight that cheap! Would go if I were you 🙂
Penelope
February 17, 2016 at 1:13 pmYeah I really want to! It’s €251 (now I’ve checked all the prices dependent on credit card) so about £200… and it’s skipping uni… and I feel like that’s being a really bad student haha because I already do it way too much!
…but I really want to go.
Yvonne
February 17, 2016 at 1:31 pmTraveling are your studies of life – Im sure Uni won’t mind ;)!
Yvonne recently posted… NEXT STOP: PARADIES ILHA GRANDE
Yvonne
February 17, 2016 at 1:29 pmDamn, this sounds too good to be true – I miss Brazil terribly! Im so sad Im in the middle of my exams – I would love to go there!
Tell me, if you go for it 🙂
Penelope
February 17, 2016 at 1:44 pmAw that’s a shame! I will do!
Sensuous2Spiritual
February 17, 2016 at 3:01 pmGo for it!!! 🙂
Penelope
February 17, 2016 at 3:08 pmThe dates I wanted sold out 🙁
DrifterHannah
February 17, 2016 at 3:11 pmWow, I never knew about this! Definitely something to keep an eye on. Thanks for posting!
Catriona
February 17, 2016 at 3:31 pmWow! Great deal! So jealous ha ha.
Serendipity Tess
February 17, 2016 at 6:02 pmJeeeepers…this is an amazing fare!! Wish I could go :((((( I have noted down HolidayPirates.com as I’ve never heard of the website before – who knows? I may be lucky and find some amazing fares myself :))
Penelope
February 18, 2016 at 4:47 amYep! Check out The Flight Deal and Secret Flying too.
Gennaro Grasso
February 17, 2016 at 10:53 pmHi
Great post, now I’m following you on twitter too 😉
Keep on and if you want visit my blog, I’m starting now
Tamar
February 18, 2016 at 2:03 amWow that’s an amazing fare! How did you manage to find it??
Penelope
February 18, 2016 at 4:51 amI just keep an eye on a whole load of error fare and cheap flight Twitter accounts as I don’t have the software to find them myself! So there was an account that had found Milan – Rio – Frankfurt and with a bit of checking I found you could do it to and from Milan. Then a bit later I saw Secret Flying also had the deal so I knew it was good!
Colby
February 18, 2016 at 3:01 amOh my gosh! I’m the same way! I always miss fare deals. When I do see them posted it’s like “Posted 8 hours ago”. So, yeah…they are good and sold out by that time lol. And am I the only one that sees a fare deal and want to travel to the place of origin JUST so I can take advantage of the deal? lol
Penelope
February 18, 2016 at 4:58 amNope not the only one!! Haha. Tip for not missing out – check out Twitter accounts like @cheapflightsEUR @error_fares @SecretFlying and get notifications from them!
Mel | illumelation ✈ (@illumelation)
February 18, 2016 at 3:44 amTimes like these I wish I was based in Milan, haha. I would’ve booked this on impulse even if I had work or no money. BRAZIL! Next time there’s a deal, don’t hesitate 🙂
Penelope
February 18, 2016 at 4:48 amYeah I know! Such a shame.
Heather Ditmars
February 21, 2016 at 4:44 amOmg! Such a great deal! Thanks for sharing!
Lino
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I was browsing on Digg for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say kudos
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Lino recently posted… Lino
Penelope
February 21, 2016 at 3:09 pmAw thank you!! That’s the nicest thing I’ve heard all day. Hope you enjoy my articles!
By Road and Rail - Prague, Vienna and Budapest (Part 1: Prague) - The Flyaway Girl
February 23, 2016 at 12:40 am[…] CHECK OUT Part 2 – Vienna! […]
Colin Bielckus
February 24, 2016 at 12:54 pmNo mention of my favourite bar!
Penelope
February 24, 2016 at 12:55 pmOoh I had forgotten about it! I can’t remember the name though…
Jo
February 28, 2016 at 9:07 amWell it wasn’t on my bucket list….till I read this article. Amazing pics and for 2 pounds..I would fly out right now if I could.
Penelope
February 28, 2016 at 9:08 amIt wasn’t on mine until I got ridiculously cheap flights haha! But now I really want to go back and stay for way longer, I loved it!
Emma @ Adventures of a London Kiwi
February 28, 2016 at 7:58 pmYou have just put Gothenburg on my ever-growing visit list!
Penelope
February 28, 2016 at 8:01 pmI’m glad!! Ryanair does great deals from London – my flights were £2 during a sale!
Michael
February 29, 2016 at 11:32 amAs a resident of Gothenburg, I have to say that you definitely visited some of the best places in town. Brewers Bar is my personal favourite. Well written and fun to read! Keep it up!
Penelope
February 29, 2016 at 7:49 pmThank you!! Anything I missed that you would have included?
Michael
February 29, 2016 at 8:59 pmHmm, it all depends on what one is in the mood for, but if you were to check out some clubs and stuff, Pustervik and Nefertiti would be my top choices.
Penelope
February 29, 2016 at 9:09 pmAwesome! I’ll bear that in mind if I visit again! Any other good cafes?
Michael
February 29, 2016 at 9:13 pmI’d say Viktors Kaffe, Kafé Marmelad and Kale’i Kaffe.
Pelle
March 30, 2016 at 2:40 pmGreat read! Glad you enjoyed it here.
Bars I would recommend for your next visit:
– 7:ans ölhall. The most genuine bar experience in Sweden. This place has a long history, lots of regulars, and a very, very mixed crowd.
– Ölrepubliken. Probably the widest selection of beers in the city. A bit pricey, but worth it.
– Pustervik. A cultural centre in Gothenburg. Lots of small to medium sized concerts, great atmosphere. Usually calm and relaxed on off-hours.
Cafés:
Unfortunately, I don’t think the café scene is anywhere near as good these days as it was 10 or so years ago. Lots of weird, wonky little cafés have closed, and coffee chains have taken their place. Having said that:
– Bar Centro. Used to be coffee and italian sandwiches/pastries only, but these days they serve proper food and wine (and probably beer and spirits) as well.
– Da Matteo. Prepare for hipsters and hefty prices, but the coffee is very good.
– Ahlströms konditori. Basically the antithesis to the hipness of Centro and Da Matteo. Old school Swedish pastries and sandwiches. Quiet, lots of old people.
Also, I’d recommend taking a tram to Saltholmen and taking one of the ferries out to the archipelago. A great way to kill off a few hours and experience some neat and very “Gothenburgian” scenery on a sunny day. On the way there, hop off the tram at Mariaplan and experience the old working class district of Majorna with its distinct houses. Quite a few decent cafés and bars in the area, too.
Penelope
March 30, 2016 at 10:07 pmWow! Thanks for those tips! I’m back in September so I’ll definitely be checking some of these out!
Roberta
February 29, 2016 at 5:18 pmGreat post. Thanks for sharing. I got really interested and you are right when you say there is more than just Stockholm to visit in Sweden!:)
if you would like to see some ideas for smoothies check my new blog post at:
adventurousmiles.com
Have a great week! xx
Penelope
February 29, 2016 at 7:49 pmThanks! I’ll be sure to check it out.
Fred Nilsson
May 16, 2016 at 4:32 amGoing to Stockholm to see Sweden is like going to New York to see America, it doesn’t really work, you don’t get the real feel. They are not good representations. Gothenburg where I am from and the costal town south, Varburn, Falkenburg and Malmo. Malmo is where the bridge to Copenhagen is, this route is my favorite. Just north of Gothenburg are the most beautiful small sailing and old fishing villages you can imagine. Marstrand, Smogen Stromstad. The west coast has the feel you are most likely looking for.
Think driving the gulf cost in the US compared to the California coast highway all the way to Oregon. There is just more to see.
Ölstugan Tullen | Ölstugan Tullen omnämnd i The Fly Away Girl
February 29, 2016 at 8:26 pm[…] Läs gärna vad hon har att säga: http://theflyawaygirl.co.uk/2016/02/28/gothenburg-bucket-list/ […]
ERin
March 1, 2016 at 2:03 pmLove the flying app! I think I will be downloading it 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Penelope
March 1, 2016 at 2:05 pmNot a problem! Connect with me on there too – Penelope Bielckus!
Nancy
December 22, 2016 at 7:59 amI love Tripit
Penelope
January 13, 2017 at 12:11 amI love it!
Alonzo
March 2, 2016 at 1:57 pmI really like what you guys are usually up too. Such clever work and coverage!
Keep up the amazing works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll.
Alonzo recently posted… Alonzo
Penelope
March 2, 2016 at 2:49 pmHi Alonzo – thank you so much!
Shatia
March 2, 2016 at 4:27 pmThere are so many travel apps out there that it can be overwhelming to pick one. I’m definitely going to download TripIt. Thanks for sharing!
Penelope
March 2, 2016 at 4:28 pmThere are! I’ve definitely gone through a LOT to find the ones that are worth it! TripIt is so handy – I’d be lost without it! Probably the only reason I’m always on time to my flights… Haha!
Corinne
March 2, 2016 at 5:25 pmPenelope, First – wow! That’s a lot of info…so I love it. Second, I’ve pinned your post, because quite frankly apps is my husband’s bailiwick…I’m too busy taking pictures to follow any kind of route/map/app. I’m hopeless. I did like the Tripomatic and GPSMyWay apps; both look very useful. Great info.
Penelope
March 2, 2016 at 6:24 pmHaha – I’m glad you liked it! I’m a photographer too but absolutely love my apps!
solestraveling
March 2, 2016 at 5:35 pmI can’t travel without TripIt. I have the pro-version and so worth it. Also, I love how it works Concur (I think it’s owned by Concur?) with business travel, too.
Penelope
March 2, 2016 at 6:25 pmYup it is! It’s such a good app and saves me so much time and hassle.
Kaci
March 2, 2016 at 7:42 pmYes!!!! I needed this post so badly haha thank you! I will be downloading TripIt tonight!
Penelope
March 2, 2016 at 7:44 pmI’m glad it helped out!! Subscribe if you want to be kept up-to-date with my other posts (including more about apps) 🙂 also don’t forget to take part in the giveaway if you haven’t already!
Liz
March 2, 2016 at 7:47 pmROME2RIO IS THE BEST. I swear I spend 6 hours a day on it planning random trips hahaha. Thanks for the other suggestions too, I’m definitely going to check them out!
Penelope
March 2, 2016 at 7:51 pmHAHA omg I do exactly the same! Like ‘ooh how would I get from Bath to Vilnius without flying?’ haha. No problem – don’t forget to subscribe for a chance to win a free app! Thanks for the comment ^_^ always love to hear that people find my recommendations handy aha
Kaylene Chadwell
March 2, 2016 at 10:44 pmI don’t have any of these, but definitely will be downloading a few of these! TripIt sounds so useful! I try to print all my travel and trip plans and end up losing most of them, so this will be a great way to have them all in one place!
Penelope
March 2, 2016 at 10:46 pmI used to do that too and it just failed miserably, haha. I ended up finding printed boarding passes and coach reservations in my bag weeks after I was back half the time!
Kristina
March 2, 2016 at 11:30 pmAhhh I didn’t know about a few of these apps, will be checking them out for sure on my next trip! Cheers!
Penelope
March 3, 2016 at 12:13 amGlad I could help! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a free city app for your next trip, too!
Ivy
March 2, 2016 at 11:32 pmI love Tripit! The best part is the countdown haha makes my work week go by quicker 🙂
Penelope
March 3, 2016 at 12:12 amYes! Also I love the little reminders, like IT’S ALMOST TIME AHHHHH.
Tamar
March 3, 2016 at 1:34 pmThese are great apps! I use Tripit all the time but am considering using Rome2Rio and Spendee now too. Great roundup!
Penelope
March 3, 2016 at 6:19 pmI’m glad I could help! Thanks!
Rosemary
March 4, 2016 at 2:56 amGreat tips. Thanks so much for sharing. I’ve been looking for an app to store all my reservations in one place. Will have to check out Tripit. Pinning this for future. Great resource 🙂
Rosemary recently posted… The 6 Criollo Dishes You Should Eat in Peru
Penelope
March 4, 2016 at 2:58 amHappy to hear it helped! TripIt is so handy, you don’t even need to get the pro version for it to be super useful 🙂 thanks for pinning! Don’t forget to enter my giveaway!
Candice
March 29, 2016 at 3:32 amLove the photo’s. It makes me want to take my husbands and mine dream second honeymoon! Following you!
Penelope
March 29, 2016 at 4:52 amThank you! If you need someone to plan that second honeymoon, give me a shout!
Roland Edwins
March 30, 2016 at 7:04 amI’m so glad to hear the tips it helped me a lot.Thanks for sharing with us.
Penelope
March 30, 2016 at 7:07 amYou’re welcome, I’m glad it helped!
Stella @ Travelerette
March 30, 2016 at 9:27 pmThose photos are gorgeous! In Scandinavia I have only been to Copenhagen, but I would love to spend some time in Norway, especially in the countryside!
Stella @ Travelerette recently posted… Approximately Five of the Best Places to Eat in Kyoto
Penelope
March 30, 2016 at 10:18 pmNorway is amazing! I have so many places there I want to go. Sweden-wise, Stockholm and Gothenburg are awesome too!
Natasha
March 30, 2016 at 11:23 pmI looooove Instagram roundups — there are so many awesome instagramers out there 🙂
I really hope to make it to Norway someday — it looks amazing!! 🙂
Penelope
March 31, 2016 at 11:14 pmSo true! I end up following pretty much everyone from round-up posts! Thanks!
Christine K
March 30, 2016 at 11:24 pmWow, these are amazing. They compel me to go to Norway but it is so expensive. I will have to figure out how to do it frugally because these images are incredible. Thanks for putting this together.
Penelope
March 31, 2016 at 11:15 pmIt’s actually not TOO bad if you do it the right way! I can give some tips if you like!
Kat
March 31, 2016 at 4:54 amNorway is SO beautiful. I went last year on a 12 day trip from Bergen up through the fjords to Tromso (stopping at Alesund and Trondheim) and then to Oslo. I share your dream of going to Svalbard!
Penelope
March 31, 2016 at 11:18 pmOoh I do want to do the fjords and the north! How was the trip?
DrifterHannah
March 31, 2016 at 7:46 amNice! I have a friend who runs a campsite in Norway every summer, so I have to go. This gives more incentive!!
Penelope
March 31, 2016 at 11:18 pmAwesome! Where in Norway? Sounds great!
Samantha
March 31, 2016 at 11:02 amWow! I Need to go to Norway! I want to see those Northern Lights for myself!!!
Thanks for posting 🙂
Penelope
March 31, 2016 at 11:21 pmSeeing the Northern Lights is incredible – I saw them in Iceland but I’d love to see them in northern Norway!
Carla Abanes
March 31, 2016 at 2:14 pmLove the photos! I followed you and you also have nice photos!
Penelope
March 31, 2016 at 11:23 pmThank you very much! I’m glad you enjoyed the article!
Jo
March 31, 2016 at 6:01 pmI think I don’t need any inspiration for visiting Norway – It’s already high on my list for the northern lights. Thanks though – these IG pics (Esp those of the lights) simply make me wanna go NOW! 🙂
Penelope
March 31, 2016 at 11:25 pmNorway was on my bucket list for years! It’s still there – I’ve only visited Oslo so far and I so want to see so much more! I’m glad you enjoyed the article and hopefully you get to go soon!
Katie
March 31, 2016 at 11:11 pmI have not been to Norway. I really want to go to Norway! I was just doing research on hiking Pulpit Rock, definitely something to add to the bucket list!
Penelope
March 31, 2016 at 11:27 pmSounds great! Hope you get to go soon!
Danielle Des
April 1, 2016 at 3:18 amI need to head over to Norway ASAP! Love Max Rive’s photos.
Beth
April 1, 2016 at 4:11 amThis is a great post – sometimes I like them just short and sweet with EYE CANDY. I will definitely be checking out these accounts – and yours 🙂
I visited Norway for the first time last year and was awestruck by Alesund!! Such a beautiful country. The Sidetracked Blog has some excellent photos and posts of Norway also.
Penelope
April 1, 2016 at 5:22 pmOoh I’ve seen wonderful photos of Ålesund! (By the way, love your blog name!)
Thank you!
Ellie
April 14, 2016 at 8:14 amGreat article… Wish I had the space on my phone for any of the apps haha!
Ona Weitnauer
April 19, 2016 at 1:47 pmWhats up! I just would like to give an enormous thumbs up for the good information you’ve got here on this post. I will be coming again to your weblog for more soon.
Linda
May 3, 2016 at 1:50 pmI like Duolingo. Really liked Live Mocha too, but unfortunately that no longer exists. 🙁
Anna Rosemend
May 18, 2016 at 11:41 amThanks for sharing list of travel apps, TripIt would be the best choice for travel apps. I have one website called “The Great Apps” where you can have so many apps along with travel.
Laura @ Grassroots Nomad
June 22, 2016 at 6:03 pmGreat list! Love the look of that vegan chilli – mmmmmmmm!
Penelope
June 22, 2016 at 6:49 pmIt was delicious!!
Sixtina
June 22, 2016 at 6:11 pmI don’t like coffee but I love beer. I am going to check out those places!
Penelope
June 22, 2016 at 6:49 pmEnjoy! Berlin is a beer lover’s paradise 🙂
GlobalMary
June 22, 2016 at 6:22 pmThis is a great selection, thank you! Berlin has so many options that sometimes it is impossible to choose and decide. I am bookmarking your list!
Penelope
June 22, 2016 at 6:50 pmAw thanks! I’m glad I could help! Sometimes too much choice is a bad thing, haha
Melissa Douglas
June 22, 2016 at 10:19 pmGreat list! I love Berlin!
Your photography is stunning 🙂 I will have to bookmark this for next time!
Lusine Margaryan
June 22, 2016 at 10:59 pmGreat guide for coffee and beer lovers (I’m the second type, haha). Will bookmark the article and check it out again when visit Berlin!
Adrienne Lee
June 23, 2016 at 12:17 amThanks for the great recommendations. I haven’t been to Berlin, but will definitely visit one of these places when I do – especially those with vegan options. Vegan chili or cheesecake? I am SO there
Mel | illumelation ✈ (@illumelation)
June 23, 2016 at 2:13 amYour food photography totally slays. How do you get those great angles?! The vegan chilli looks delicious – and I’m loving the touch of a little teaspoon full of M&Ms with your iced soy coffee! Yum! Bookmarked for my next trip to Berlin!
Erika Bisbocci
June 23, 2016 at 8:56 amPub crawl in Berlin would sound great! I’m not a big coffee drinker myself, but I could definitely see why you say that Berlin is a haven for coffee lovers–and foodies in general!
Julie Kern
June 23, 2016 at 10:16 pmthis is making me want to get to Berlin right now!! Thanks for this
Laura
June 24, 2016 at 6:41 amI am always on the look out for coffee wherever i go! I love finding new places that aren’t Starbucks or Costa.
Laura recently posted… The abandoned dogs of Dubai! | Stray Dogs Center UAQ
Flo
June 24, 2016 at 11:11 pmNorway looks incredible! Do you think it’s a good destination during the summer as well? I’d love to see the Northern Lights but I do not handle the cold well – at all.
Penelope
June 25, 2016 at 6:37 amDefinitely! It’s a great destination all year round.
Laura
June 26, 2016 at 9:18 amI love reading posts about my hometown! There are definitely some spots that I want to try 🙂
Jenn Flo Taylor
June 27, 2016 at 7:20 amAwesome list! I’m a huge coffee fan! Can’t wait to try some out in Berlin.
Might even have a few pints just for good measure!
Danny
July 19, 2016 at 9:50 pmI just got back from a week-long vacation in Stockholm and enjoyed my time in Sweden so much that I’m considering going back again soon. I’ll have to keep Gothenburg in mind – it looks pretty interesting! Oh, and that bilberry crumble looks absolutely delicious.
Danny recently posted… Watching the Sunset from Stockholm’s Monteliusvägen
Penelope
August 14, 2016 at 2:30 amOoh lovely – I really need to visit Stockholm!
Alyssa
July 23, 2016 at 3:52 amThanks for this awesome list. I recently discovered TripIt and am now addicted to posting my itineraries, flights, and other details. I’ll definitely check out the rest of the apps,
Penelope
August 14, 2016 at 2:29 amYay! haha I’m totally addicted to TripIt and Flying!
Paige Wunder
August 1, 2016 at 3:55 pmI didn’t realize that they renamed the river! Crazy! I was in Kanchanaburi last spring for about a week total. I worked at a zoo near there for 10 days, but stayed in Kanchan before and after. I was there by chance, and during my first stay I sat at a cafe near the bridge, then saw a map that said Kwai River and it clicked. After doing some research it definitely resonated more on my second stay there. Thanks for sharing this info!
Penelope
August 1, 2016 at 4:39 pmYou’re welcome! I loved visiting it there and I definitely found it amusing that they renamed the river!!
Cori
August 1, 2016 at 4:34 pmVisiting the JEATH War Museum was really impactful. Learning about everything that happened while I was in the place and seeing their work was a really powerful experience. I’d second your recommendation — it’s something we should all see.
Penelope
August 1, 2016 at 4:39 pmThanks Cori – glad to hear you enjoyed your visit and learnt a lot too.
Christine
August 2, 2016 at 2:11 amI haven’t been to Thailand in years!! I wish I had a chance to go to Bangkok during my last visit, but I guess that just means I’ll have to come back soon and check this place out!
Penelope
August 14, 2016 at 2:27 amDefinitely! I loved Thailand – I recommend a visit to Ayutthaya as well if you get the chance.
Patricia
August 2, 2016 at 4:21 amWhat amazing stories! I’ve never been near Bangkok, let alone Kanchanaburi, but its history certainly is a grimly fascinating one — so much brutality and the survival tales are so inspiring.
And I can’t believe they renamed the river!
Penelope
August 14, 2016 at 2:27 amIt’s crazy that they renamed it! The things media makes us do… But yes, the history is certainly fascinating but so tragic. I recommend a visit if you are in Bangkok!
Kristina
August 14, 2016 at 3:39 amOK I had no idea they renamed the river, that’s hilarious… and also smart marketing, ha! I loved all your photos from this trip.
Penelope
August 14, 2016 at 4:15 amAwwww thank you!! It’s so funny they renamed the river (although seriously, do your RESEARCH when writing, ugh) – I think I need to tell my marketing lecturer to use this anecdote in his lectures, haha.
Kristine
August 14, 2016 at 4:18 amI have a fear to visit war museums and find out about the history because it’s so painful to learn about the people’s past sufferings. With that said, I’d visited Kanchanaburi in my teenage years so it’s cool to read about it again in your blog. Great post you did! These are the kinds of trips that change us forever ya? At least for me so.
Kristine recently posted… One idea that keeps me present when I travel
Penelope
August 14, 2016 at 4:22 amThat’s true – they do change us! And hopefully for the better. I quite like visiting war museums as I think it’s so very important for us to understand the causation of the events to know how to spot it if it’s happening again and how to prevent history from repeating itself.
Elias
August 17, 2016 at 5:40 amThanks for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more from this post. I’m very glad to see such great info being shared freely out there.
Penelope
August 21, 2016 at 2:27 amI try to share as much information as I can without overloading people, but still making sure people can visit these types of site and be informed and aware. I’m glad to see it’s working! Enjoy your trip.
Ludivina
August 17, 2016 at 6:16 amUsually I don’t read post on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do so! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice article.
Penelope
August 21, 2016 at 2:26 amThank you so much! That really means a lot and is great to hear. I hope you decide to visit again – thank you!!
Five Ways Travel Ruined My Life - The Flyaway Girl
August 22, 2016 at 10:23 pm[…] Visiting Kanchanaburi in Thailand, June 2016 […]
Five Ways Travel Ruined My Life - The Flyaway Girl
August 22, 2016 at 10:24 pm[…] the bus from Ljubljana to Niš in Serbia. I stayed in Niš for a day and then took a bus onwards to Skopje, Macedonia (FYROM). I stayed in Skopje for three days and I LOVED it. In Serbia and Macedonia, people weren’t […]
Five Ways Travel Ruined My Life - The Flyaway Girl
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Alex
August 23, 2016 at 12:44 amI definitely relate to most of this post! I get stir crazy after a couple of months in a new city (I’m already trying to plan my next adventure from NYC) and I get really bad post-travel blues. It happened after I spent a year of university abroad in London and then had to return to small-town North Carolina. There are just too many places to see to be stuck in one place forever 🙂
Penelope
August 23, 2016 at 12:51 amExactly!! I really hope we get to meet in NYC – you sound exactly like me haha
Emma @ Adventures of a London Kiwi
August 23, 2016 at 3:03 amPreach! So many yesses…
Penelope
August 23, 2016 at 3:04 amWhich do you get the most with your travels?
Kim
August 24, 2016 at 7:01 amLove your story. I can definitely relate! Since I starten my business there is no way back. I could never work for a boss again. Unfortanetely despite that, travelling as a start up (without money) is a huge Challenge. Have you got any tips?
Penelope
August 24, 2016 at 3:34 pmThank you! I recommend checking Skyscanner initially – it’s great to see where you can go and when on very little money. Where are you travelling from?
Ivanna | Provocative Joy
August 25, 2016 at 9:22 amTravel has also slightly ruined my life plan. I travel a bit differently than you do, but it still has altered my priorities. I travel slower since I work with a traveling organization and I’m also with my husband. However, once I left home, I realized that I didn’t have as much desire as I used to for the typical life plan.
So yes, I’m ruined too, but I think it’s better this way 🙂 I think you agree?
Penelope
August 26, 2016 at 1:47 amI think I’m ruined for good (and for the better) haha!
anna
August 26, 2016 at 10:34 pmI totally agree. A relationship issue has been solved, but the life plan thing? Well, I have to use my imagination twice as hard.
anna recently posted… Potatoes, coca and baby alpacas: the beauty of Cuzco.
Penelope
August 31, 2016 at 9:16 amHaha I feel you!
Dominique @ Ohbeehave
August 27, 2016 at 12:15 amTravelling is very addictive! I had never been overseas until I met my husband (he had travelled a lot) and now we go overseas at least one a year (twice this year) and I’m sure we will continue to do so more and more in the future.
It’s funny how you have a plan for how your life will be and then throw it out the window as other things come along. Everything will fall into place at the right time. Until then, I hope you continue to enjoy your travels! 🙂
Penelope
August 31, 2016 at 9:16 amSo true! And thank you so much. Enjoy your travels!
Jane Clements
August 27, 2016 at 3:39 amYes, yes, yes. This article is spot on – on all counts.
I have been travelling for more than 3 years now for all of the above reasons.
Maybe we will bump into each other somewhere along the way
Penelope
August 31, 2016 at 9:16 amMaybe! Where have you been recently?
Punita
August 27, 2016 at 8:44 amSymptoms of incurable wanderlust..listed wonderfully.
Penelope
August 31, 2016 at 9:17 amThank you!
Antonio
August 27, 2016 at 8:51 pmMe gusta♥
Penelope
August 31, 2016 at 9:17 amThanks!
Ellen
August 28, 2016 at 7:05 amGoing through the post-travel blues right now. It really does suck! Haha but this post makes me feel better 🙂
Penelope
August 31, 2016 at 9:17 amAw yay I’m glad I could help!
Sarah
August 29, 2016 at 3:54 amCompletely agree with the Instagram thing… haha, I’m always trying to find photos that I haven’t posted before.. it’s a real life struggle!!
Penelope
August 31, 2016 at 9:17 amHahaha it really is!!
Ricarda Christina Hollweg
August 31, 2016 at 9:15 amI can completely identify with your post. What becomes most obvious: You definitely love travel. 🙂
Thanks for this great thoughtful post which I enjoyed reading much.
Penelope
August 31, 2016 at 9:18 amThank you! And I do, maybe a little too much love hehe
Crazy Travelista
August 31, 2016 at 9:24 amWow, this article really speaks to me. I relate to each and every one of these points! In a way, I feel like it has ruined me as well! I don’t take pleasure in things i once used to and I’m always looking for the next place to visit (sometimes I cant even enjoy where I am because thats always in my head!). And forget about my life plan haha. But ya, glad someone else can relate! So where to next? hehe 🙂
Penelope
August 31, 2016 at 10:01 amThat’s so true!! Sometimes I’m too busy trying to do and see everything I forget to actually live in the moment… I’m in Warsaw right now and off to Gdańsk and Malmö!
Anne
August 31, 2016 at 10:00 amThis all sounds so familiar! Totally agree with all the points here.. Can’t wait to go on my next adventure 🙂
Penelope
August 31, 2016 at 10:01 amThank you and enjoy!
Georgia
August 31, 2016 at 10:07 amGreat article and so true. I can especially relate to #1 and #5! They can suck at times, but aren’t they all totally worth it… 🙂
http://www.bohemianbythesea.com
Lucine
August 31, 2016 at 10:08 amI can especially rely to those post travel lows. When im comig home, first thiong i do is always planning a new trip 🙂
Jurga - Full Suitcase
August 31, 2016 at 10:34 amThis is so true, Penelope! I also have the ‘after-travel blues’ once in a while and a luxury problem of not having the time to plan next year’s trips because I’m traveling now.. And yes, you do have to plan in advance when traveling with 3 kids during school holidays…
When I read your post, I am just glad I caught the travel bug AFTER my studies and after I met my husband. Otherwise I would have probably ended up without a degree and no kids… 🙂
You’re still very young – don’t worry about making plans for the future. Enjoy the moment – it will all work out just fine!
Jurga – Full Suitcase recently posted… Our 2016 Summer Vacation: Fun, Crazy, Unforgettable
Penelope
September 6, 2016 at 1:02 amIt’s so tricky trying to study while wanting to travel everywhere – I never know what to prioritise or what to do… Haha
Hayley
August 31, 2016 at 11:01 amLove this! These things are so true, I think most travellers would agree!
Amanda
August 31, 2016 at 11:12 amGreat post and hey who needs a life plan?! Live in the present that’s what I say and what will be will be. And if one day you decide to settle somewhere, you can start a University degree or new career at any age.
Amanda recently posted… A Wet and Wild Green Man 2016
PACKTHESUITCASES.COM
August 31, 2016 at 1:46 pmLove this post, we’ve just blogged about Gothenburg too, have to admit, although we love Stockholm, Gothenburg was even better!
Jessica
August 31, 2016 at 2:06 pmThank you for writing about the things that a lot of travelers fail to write about. It is easy to take pretty pictures and paint travel as living the dream- which may be true- but there are def negatives as well. It was great to read this perspective because it helps give you the pros and cons before you commit to a life of travel
Daniela @ Grumpy Camel
August 31, 2016 at 8:32 pmI’ve found a great way to beat the post-holiday blues – I always make sure I’ve got another trip planned before coming home, even if it’s just a short city break 🙂
Penelope
September 6, 2016 at 12:58 amHehe I love doing that!
Fee
September 1, 2016 at 1:12 pmi’m not a full time traveler so can’t relate but it is refreshing to see the ‘real’ downside to long term travel and how you can try and overcome! most travel experiences are enriching after all. 🙂
5 ways travel ruined my life
September 6, 2016 at 12:10 am[…] This post has been published and edited with permission from The Flyaway Girl. […]
5 ways travel ruined my life - Startupnet
September 6, 2016 at 1:13 am[…] This post has been published and edited with permission from The Flyaway Girl. […]
Turner
September 6, 2016 at 5:19 amWe’d get along just fine.
Lauren
September 6, 2016 at 1:13 pmI know what you mean with dating.
I’m going through such a crisis about that one. Is there a support group for us?
Penelope
September 6, 2016 at 7:40 pmHaha I wish there was!
MTravels
September 7, 2016 at 3:03 amyup to pretty much all except i made the mistake of staying in the long distance relationship.. really messes with things.. then tried to find excuses to work abroad.. and of course, the anxiety of … where to travel and when. it’s a disease
Mandi
September 7, 2016 at 6:33 pmI thought I was the only one going through #3, thank you for posting this! I’m not an irresponsible grown up failing at adulthood or maybe I am but at least we can do it together. Seriously though, I have really been struggling with #3 recently cause im gonna be 30 this year and I actually just started traveling, I have so much more to see and do but society and my OCD brain tell me that I need a plan and I need to figure out my future. Anyway, thanks for showing me I’m not the only one who is having trouble dealing with the “no plans.”
Karen Hurry
September 7, 2016 at 7:12 pmI think your so very lucky….I didn’t discover travel till I turned 50! I can’t even see/hear a plane above without wanting to check my boarding pass! I feel incredibly blessed to get the chance to travel once a year..but I try to make the most of it! In Turkey now and it’s amazing!
Matthias
September 7, 2016 at 9:06 pmI picked up your post over facebook and your catchy title got me 😉
I had my jaw dropping when I looked over your profile and saw that you are 21. Wow! Wow, because of these toughts:
-NEVER would have assumed that just from reading your post. It has such a high level of old granny wisdom(been everywhere, did everyrhing) combined with an easygoing, smooth writing style. Something I would expect from a 50+ traveler! Big like
-doesn’t ist come down to: we always want (or at least think we should have it too) what we don’t have? In the end it’s a tradeoff: stable social contacts vs giving in to you constant itch of curiosity. Find your sweet spot
-so your 21. 21! While you’re right in every aspect, there’s more than enough time to completely change and do things differently if you feel the urge. Careful with words like “ruined”, which has a very final touch. At your age you can ruin and rebuild it again. And ruin it once more 🙂
Sweet travels,
Matt
Andrea
September 9, 2016 at 3:26 amI made my very first solo trip to Germany in June…just a month which at the end was too short and I wish I could have stayed for way longer and I already felt the way you feel..I’ve been always wanting to travel the world…and I’m desperate to go somewhere else or everywhere…there’s so much to see and enjoy of this planet and I can’t wait to be able to go away as soon as I finish with damn Uni.
Hope you can make it to Chile next time 😀
let’s meet if you come here!! I love to meet people from abroad
Sally
September 10, 2016 at 4:30 pmLove your blog! It’s so well done
http://Www.flyingfoodninja.com
Penelope
October 10, 2016 at 10:28 amThank you Sally!
Cami
September 13, 2016 at 6:06 pmI can relate so much, I’m studying at University now, so I can’t travel as much as I’d want.. But I love it so much that I leave every single time I can instead of going back home.. This sometimes annoys my parents, but I really can’t help myself! It’s like a drug, now, as soon as I finish my exams next stop will be Berlin, any advice?
Penelope
October 10, 2016 at 10:29 amBerlin is amazing! Check out my article on the best beer and coffee there – some real gems!!
Laura
September 21, 2016 at 9:21 amReally enjoyed reading this post! I’m going in December cannot wait!!! Can’t wait to try everything you recommended especially the lab soup 🙂
http://Www.therealboni.wordpress.com
Penelope
September 22, 2016 at 8:28 amTell me how you enjoy Iceland! The lamb soup is perfect for winter. Have a great trip!
Joy Sheehan
September 28, 2016 at 7:19 pmThis is absolutely perfect because I’ve been trying to plan my next trip abroad and Iceland is a major possibility! Loving this post and the inspiration and tips that are in it!
Penelope
October 14, 2016 at 1:28 amI totally planned it that way 😉 I look forward to hearing how your trip goes!
Erika Bisbocci
September 28, 2016 at 8:40 pmIt is definitely possible to fit a lot of Iceland’s highlights in 48 hours, though more time is always nice. Though limited in time, an Iceland stopover sounds like such an incredibly convenient way to explore the country, especially since the airfare is usually just as cheap if not cheaper than a ticket that goes directly across the pond. Beautiful photos of the day you spent exploring the Golden Circle 🙂
Erika Bisbocci recently posted… Hiking with Komodo Dragons: Komodo and Rinca
Naomi
September 28, 2016 at 9:56 pmThis is a great guide as Iceland is usually included in trans-atlantic stopovers. I hope to visit there one day too, even for 48 hours would be great already!
Penelope
October 14, 2016 at 1:28 amDefinitely – IcelandAir and WowAir have some amazing deals for it right now, such a good opportunity! I hope you get to go soon – tell me when you do, I’d love to hear about it!
Perrisha
September 28, 2016 at 10:35 pmIceland is on my bucket list! With all this info, I’m definitely bookmarking this post. 🙂
Penelope
October 14, 2016 at 1:27 amYay! Tell me when you go and what you do – I’d love to hear about your experiences!
sabrina
September 28, 2016 at 11:02 pmWow! I desperately want to visit Iceland! It’s on top of my list for when I will be back to Europe. Bookmarking this, thank you! And oh! love the design of your blog! 🙂
Penelope
October 14, 2016 at 1:27 amTell me what you think when you visit – I’d love to hear what you did and how you found it! And thank you so much, that means a lot <3
Jaye Shields
September 28, 2016 at 11:35 pmThis past year almost all of my friends have gone to Iceland! Guess I better jump on the wagon 😉
Penelope
October 14, 2016 at 1:27 amHaha I think you should! Go while IcelandAir and WowAir have amazing deals 😉
Marie
September 28, 2016 at 11:41 pmWow, great post! Thank you for sharing. As for many others, Iceland is one of those places I REALLY want to visit! All of the pictures are just stunning, and it looks like a paradise on earth. I never realized that some of the natural sights in Iceland were so close to Reykjavík! I always assumed that you would have to go for at least a week to really be able to see anything besides the city – so it’s cool to see that you were able to do so much in just 48 hours! 🙂
Penelope
October 14, 2016 at 1:26 amIt’s amazing and yeah – really not that far from the capital, it’s great! I hope you get to visit soon 🙂
Nicole Janeway
September 29, 2016 at 8:42 amThis is a fantastic comprehensive review!! I love your detailed take on everything from language to literature. Thanks for the recommendation of Yrsa Sigurðardóttir – you can never have too many crime novels 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed your time with Greyline but I have to admit I had the opposite experience. Our tour guide was TERRIBLE!! She was the least charismatic person I’ve ever met and she was saying things on the tour that we knew to be untrue – like the fact Icelandic horses have four gaits when in fact they are famous for being the only breed to have five
Also, I liked your picks for museums and things to do on Day 2. I recommend adding Einar Jónsson sculpture garden (maybe on a future trip ❤️). It’s right by Harpa, free, and breathtaking.
Penelope
October 14, 2016 at 1:26 amOh really? I’m surprised about that with Gray Line – this is the second time I’ve used them in Iceland and they’ve been amazing both times! I’ve done about six tours with them in total, I’m sorry you had a bad tour guide, that really sucks!
And you’re welcome for the book recommendation – I love them!! Thanks for the tips too!
kathy
September 29, 2016 at 1:15 pmThis is great. It takes me back a few years when I was travelling in Iceland. Thank you for the memories. My favorite part was the Geysir’s. I remember standing there with my camera waiting to catch the perfect opportunity to take a nice photo 🙂
Penelope
October 14, 2016 at 1:24 amHaha yes!! There’s something about catching that perfect moment when it erupts!
Adrienne Justine
September 29, 2016 at 9:41 pmWow Iceland is so beautiful. I really hope to go there one day 🙂 Your photos are incredible. I had no idea that GOT was filmed there. So cool !
Penelope
October 14, 2016 at 1:24 amThank you! You’ll absolutely love it – it’s amazing.
Paula
October 3, 2016 at 6:09 amsuch a lovely post and thanks for sharing my recipe! <3 so sweet! Xx
http://enjoybypaula.com
Penelope
October 14, 2016 at 1:24 amYou’re very welcome!
Alex
October 8, 2016 at 6:18 pmYum! These photos are divine, and I knew literally nothing about Lithuanian food prior to this post. It’s fun to learn about “unknown” cuisines like this, thanks for enlightening me!
Alex recently posted… Getting an Indian visa in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Penelope
October 14, 2016 at 1:23 amYou’re welcome! Before living with two Lithuanian flatmates and going to Lithuania, I didn’t know much either! All the better now though, haha.
PACKTHESUITCASES.COM
October 8, 2016 at 6:25 pmThere should be a disclaimed on this post that you’ll be ravenous by the end of it! Lithuania is somewhere I’ve always fancied going to but never knew much about the food. The pancakes look fantastic 🙂
PACKTHESUITCASES.COM recently posted… A day in Kirkby Lonsdale
Penelope
October 14, 2016 at 1:23 amhahaha this made me laugh!! The pancakes are amazing – I could eat them every day! (probably shouldn’t though…)
Susanna Kelly
October 16, 2016 at 8:08 amI read this first thing in the morning and I’m starving. I never thought of Lithuania as a foodie destination, but all this looks really unique and tasty! I enjoyed the recipe at the end and the pancakes sound so good!
Anisa
October 16, 2016 at 10:48 amI don’t think I have ever tried Lithuanian food before! That potato pancake looks really good. I am going to see if I can find a Lithuanian restaurant, but if not I may have to try making them.
Rob Taylor
October 17, 2016 at 6:09 amI love the menu I could make from these. Having tried a few of them already, I know I’d be quite happy eating my way across the country.
Penelope
October 18, 2016 at 12:52 amI could eat my way across Lithuania any day – especially if beer if also involved. I’m glad you enjoyed reading!
Stephanie
October 17, 2016 at 11:23 pmI think I’ll like Lithuanian food. I could eat potatoes stuffed with meat every day!
Penelope
October 18, 2016 at 12:52 amHaha me too! It sounds a little boring at first but with the bacon and the sour cream dip it’s so good – perfect for chillier days too!
Marita Stenersen
October 18, 2016 at 12:45 amThanks for sharing this! I’m a real foodie, but had no idea Lithuania had so much nice food! Just another reason so visit I guess 😉
Penelope
October 18, 2016 at 12:53 amI definitely recommend Lithuania (for the sights, the people, the landscapes) and definitely the food! (Okay, and the beer)
I hope you get to visit soon and try some of the dishes – tell me what you think if you do!
Christine K
October 18, 2016 at 2:12 amSo, I was in Lithuania a couple weeks ago and returning Nov 3. Thank you for the primer on the foods you like best. We had potato pancakes when we were there and they were awesome. We went to a traditional Lithuanian restaurant and the food was quite bland. We will search for more of the foods you mentioned when we return in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the post.
Penelope
October 19, 2016 at 4:14 amI hope you enjoy going back! I’m glad you enjoyed the pancakes.
isabella
October 18, 2016 at 3:10 amsounds Yummy indeed! I’ve often heard about lituania and really want to see it. thanks for the post.
Penelope
October 19, 2016 at 4:14 amYou’re welcome, thanks for reading!
Alex | Life Well Wandered
October 19, 2016 at 1:05 amThese pictures make me want to go to Iceland so badly! It’s been on my list for ages so I hope I can go soon!
Penelope
October 19, 2016 at 4:14 amYay!! I can’t wait to hear what you think of it.
Anne
October 19, 2016 at 3:29 amThese all looks so good, I can’t decide which one is my favourite. I guess I’ll just have to visit Lithuania and try them all (especially tinginys) to decide 😉 P.S. I love that you included some of the pronunciations because it made this awesome post even cooler.
Penelope
October 19, 2016 at 4:13 amHaha you definitely have to! I’m glad the pronunciations were handy.
Kevin Wagar
October 19, 2016 at 7:07 pmThis definitely gives me inspiration to eat my way through Lithuania. The food looks delicious.
Chelsea
October 24, 2016 at 8:00 pmI’ve been wanting to go to Iceland so bad! So this just pushed me to finally book a trip
Penelope
October 30, 2016 at 12:32 amAh yay! That’s amazing! Let me know how it goes. Enjoy it!
Penelope
December 29, 2016 at 4:33 pmAh that’s amazing!! Feel free to get in contact if you have any other questions that I haven’t covered here. You’ll have an incredible time!
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October 30, 2016 at 1:57 pm[…] Five Foods You Have to Try When in Lithuania […]
Loren
November 6, 2016 at 9:27 pmYummy some of my favorite things! xo Loren // http://www.thinkelysian.com
Vacations with Mom
November 15, 2016 at 10:54 pmGreat recap of what to do on a brief trip to Iceland. And I enjoyed the rye bread ice cream, too. I went back for seconds the same day! 😉
Penelope
December 2, 2016 at 10:20 amThank you! I like your style of travel, haha – seconds are always a good idea!
Kristina@maptrotting
November 16, 2016 at 7:46 amThis is a very lovely post, thanks for sharing 🙂
My favourite is ‘Šaltibarščiai’ 🙂 Everyone has a different recipe so the taste varies in different parts of Lithuania 🙂 I also love Lithuanian bread, maybe it’s because I grew up here and I am being biased, but I haven’t come across a tastier bread anywhere in the world 😀
Have you tried the pickled herring? My mum makes a layered herring dish for Christmas every year without fail. It might sound weird, but it’s so delicious. The pickled herring is layered with fried onions, carrots and mayonnaise and decorated with peas on top. It’s the top Christmas dish in my family 😀
Kristina@maptrotting recently posted… Singapore – The Ultimate Guide to Visiting
Penelope
December 2, 2016 at 10:19 amOoh I didn’t try the pickled herring! That sounds really good – I loved all the dishes with herrings in Sweden and I think Lithuania would be just as good! Yum!
Leah
December 2, 2016 at 3:45 amI knew nothing about this! I’m so glad you shared your experience. It’s always a good idea to try to get to know more about history that you aren’t necessarily taught in class!
Penelope
December 2, 2016 at 10:17 amThank you!
Syu
December 7, 2016 at 4:12 amHi Penelope, did you work while traveling?
Penelope
January 13, 2017 at 12:14 amHi Syu – yes I have done! Sometimes I do freelance work and I also earn through my Instagram with some sponsored posts. In some EU countries I have also worked part-time (e.g. in Austria I worked as a waitress over Christmas one year).
Monica @ Not a nomad blog
December 8, 2016 at 9:22 pmHopfenreich is excellent — thank goodness for the checkins indeed!
Monica @ Not a nomad blog recently posted… Ultimate guide to viewing cherry blossoms in Japan
The Best Coffee Shops in Bath, UK
January 3, 2017 at 3:02 pm[…] shops in Bath, UK. Why? Because I have lived there (on and off) since 2013 and have a minor major obsession with coffee. So here is my round-up of my favourite coffee shops in the […]
David
January 7, 2017 at 8:32 amHi Penelope!
I love coffee and I love beer , but mostly I love reading your blog!, I have not been to Berlin, But hope to visit it this year, Thanks for sharing those photos, I hope to also visit them. Hey, what;s your favorite place in Berlin ( the coffee and beer places)?
Thanks for sharing
David recently posted… Buyers Guide on Choosing Best Beverage Coolers
Penelope
January 13, 2017 at 12:11 amAw thank you so much David!
Val
January 15, 2017 at 2:14 amLovely post! I wanna go ! Your pictures are great… sounds like a great place in SA to check out!
Penelope
January 15, 2017 at 3:05 amThank you! Brendan totally made me want to book a trip to Colombia now!
Dinah
January 15, 2017 at 8:40 amThis was a very useful article as I am going to Colombia in March, thank you. So I gather that when I get to Medellin, I should rather take a cab straight away, as I might not get the friendly help you got!
Penelope
January 16, 2017 at 1:11 amYou’ll have a great time – have fun there!
Nuria Vidal
January 15, 2017 at 10:22 amThis makes me want to be there right now! Heading to Colombia in March so i’ll be checking your page for more info! Pinned !
Penelope
January 16, 2017 at 1:11 amOh you’ll have an amazing time! Enjoy!
Bryony Clapperton (travelsandmore)
January 15, 2017 at 10:24 amLove it. Loves everything about Colombia. We spent an entire month here and I have to agree it felt very safe and friendly the only issue we had was when Jamie left his small day pack in the back of a taxi but through no one fault than his own we didn’t get it back. No biggie.
The price yes – the food is amazing and for a fraction of the price of Panama and Ecuador. Cartagena was a dream for street food and I know you’ll agree!
Loved this. Thanks for making me feel nostalgic. Gonna send to a friend who’s asked for tips on Colombia x
Penelope
January 16, 2017 at 1:11 amI’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading.
Dragana
January 15, 2017 at 7:55 pmGreat post! I would really want to see Columbia after reading this 🙂 I love your photos, great work!
Penelope
January 16, 2017 at 1:06 amThank you!
Sam (The Manini Experience)
January 16, 2017 at 5:15 pmColombia is a MUST visit for the food alone! LOVE that shot of the frozen treats! Great article.
Sam (The Manini Experience) recently posted… What to Do in Iceland – Top 10 Tips for the Southern Coast
Penelope
January 21, 2017 at 8:21 pmThanks Sam! Love your blog!
Fernando rivera
January 16, 2017 at 5:50 pmYou are so right Brendel I love my colombia I wasn’t born there live in Canada and I tell everyone I meet to go and visit. .the food is great ..the people are freindly ..
Matas
January 16, 2017 at 11:58 pmYour parents did a good job !
Why Bloggers Should Discuss Their Income | The Flyaway Girl
January 22, 2017 at 3:44 am[…] Why Gothenburg Should Be On Your Bucket List – 2 comped nights at Slottsskogens Vandrarhem & Hostell (saving me approximately €53) […]
Claudia @Zeebalife
January 22, 2017 at 4:32 amThis is such a grey and mysterious area in the blogging world. I have been there and believe many are aswell so thank you for sharing this very useful info with us!
Kristine Li
January 22, 2017 at 5:46 amAll these are new to me, though I’ve received requests of guest posts in my blog. Very interesting to read and to see the case studies you gave! Saving your post as a great resource! Thank you for putting this together 🙂
Kristine Li recently posted… Hiking Mount Takao in Tokyo as a day trip!
Karin
January 22, 2017 at 8:14 amThank you for sharing! it’s so hard to get an idea about this stuff, but thanks to bloggers groups and people like you it gets easier 🙂
On the SEO sharks: recently i got a few generic emails like that – they didn’t even bother writing my name or adding their website. I didn’t bother answering in turn.
Karin recently posted… No, you can not travel for “free”. Here is why.
Penelope
January 22, 2017 at 2:39 pmAh SEO sharks truly send me mental – some are super blatant and clearly dodgy but some are so sneaky!!
I definitely agree that bloggers groups are so useful and can really help! I love a lot of the groups I’m in! Glad you enjoyed reading 🙂
Eulanda
January 22, 2017 at 8:31 amReally great breakdown! Thanks for being so transparent, and for sharing your resources. I’ve had to figure this out as I go along, and articles like this really help bring more credibility to the industry!
Penelope
January 22, 2017 at 2:37 pmI’m glad you enjoyed it – I would have loved to have more of an insight into what other bloggers actually charged when I was starting out (and I still do!) but I think it’s so important for the conversation to start!
Dinah
January 22, 2017 at 8:56 amThis was an interesting lengthy read, but also not giving me much hope for the future! I think you must really just love blogging to keep at it
Dinah recently posted… Top 3 Glam Hikes around Cape Town
Penelope
January 22, 2017 at 2:34 pmOh no! Don’t feel that way – it’s definitely possible and you shouldn’t ever give up!
Ioanna
January 22, 2017 at 11:10 amThank you for this informative post! I’m a total newbie wit no expectations of monetization for many months to come, but it’s good to gather knowledge on the subject.
Have a good one!
Ioanna (A Woman Afoot)
Penelope
January 22, 2017 at 2:35 pmThanks for reading! I actually had my first sponsored stay in the first month I had my blog – it’s definitely possible!
Hannah Stein
January 22, 2017 at 1:03 pmAbsolutely loved this! It’s so important for bloggers to discuss their earning potential because it puts everyone on the same page and it’s important to know your worth both for yourself and so you don’t undervalue yourself and thus create a company mindset they can charge bloggers so little.
Penelope
January 22, 2017 at 2:34 pmExactly – being on the same page is vital. Thanks for reading!
Paul (@luxury__travel)
January 22, 2017 at 3:06 pmI think the title is misleading.
“Why bloggers should discuss their income” suggests that it is something we ought to all be doing… and with that I disagree – I believe it should be down to personal preference whether someone does or doesn’t discuss their own personal business affairs.
I acknowledge that in the article you later say “When I say that bloggers should discuss their income, I mean that this subject should not be taboo.” – I agree with that (for the same reason), but it isn’t what is stated in the title.
Annette Richmond
January 22, 2017 at 9:22 pmOMG! I can’t explain how helpful this post is! As a blogger who is new to sponsorships, it can be daunting pitching to potentials or figuring out what to charge people who contact me. This is super helpful and is now bookmarked!
Penelope
January 22, 2017 at 9:24 pmI’m so glad you found it helpful!
Sarah Kim
January 22, 2017 at 10:51 pmI’m glad you’re sharing this. The more we talk about our income, the higher the industry standard will be for bloggers. I just got signed on my first 4-digit long-term project and plan on sharing income reports/ helping other bloggers get to this point!
Sarah Kim recently posted… Photos: Standing United at the Women’s March in Amsterdam
Penelope
January 23, 2017 at 12:46 amSo true!! I look forward to seeing your income reports – I love reading them!
Eva Casey
January 23, 2017 at 7:46 amAbsolutely agree! Not saying that everyone should necessarily post all over the internet about how much they’re making, but an honest discussion will help to move the influencer market forward. Thank you for being honest about your sponsored posts!
Eva Casey recently posted… What You Need To Know About El Nido in The Philippines
Penelope
January 24, 2017 at 5:43 amThanks Eva! Producing income reports isn’t for everyone (and there’s definitely no reason that everyone should be doing them) but more open and honest discussions need to happen. Thanks for reading!
Sarah
January 23, 2017 at 8:24 amFab post full of useful information I was crying out for! SEO sharks are the worst.
Sarah recently posted… Going on a cruise? Check out these top health tips
Penelope
January 24, 2017 at 5:42 amI’m so glad you found it helpful Sarah! SEO sharks really are the worst, for sure!
Sonja
January 23, 2017 at 10:43 amGreat breakdown! I find it really insulting when big brands ask for a dofollow link with little payment. I don’t do dofollow links anyway, but even if I did I certainly wouldn’t risk my website for them for peanuts! I truly think they try and take advantage and it’s really unfortunate because some people who don’t know any better will accept it, and the practice will continue. You’re right, we need to band together and discuss it much more!
Penelope
January 24, 2017 at 5:41 amDefinitely! I get so mad about it because, even though I know it’s not okay, others don’t realise that and just think ‘yay I can get paid!’ (Which is definitely what I thought the first time I got those emails!)
Thanks for reading!
The Common Wanderer
January 23, 2017 at 3:51 pmGreat post, although we’re stuck right in the middle.
In our ‘normal’ jobs, we’d never discuss our salary, however in the blogging world, we feel it’s important to discuss income to better understand the ‘going rate’ for things such as Instagram posts, sponsored posts or promoted links. That being said, we very rarely ask someone directly and rather try to gauge through various facebook or instagram groups!
We’re with you – 2017 is all about monetizing our channels (in the right way), but never for anything less that what we believe we’re worth!
Good luck
Mark and Mim x
Penelope
January 24, 2017 at 5:40 amThanks for reading! Personally, I don’t see the issue in discussing my salary in my normal job but yet so many people feel that’s weird/taboo/not acceptable.
I definitely feel that there needs to be open discussion on pricing and knowing what to charge – good luck on your monetisation!
How Much Should I Charge for Sponsored Posts? | The Flyaway Girl
January 24, 2017 at 5:26 am[…] you haven’t already then check out the prequel to this post on Why Bloggers Should Discuss Their Income! In that article, I discuss why talking about our income and how much we charge for sponsored […]
Why Bloggers Should Discuss Their Income | The Flyaway Girl
January 24, 2017 at 5:38 am[…] Interested in learning how I decide how much to charge brands? Read my article on How Much You Should Charge For Sponsored Posts! […]
Monika
January 24, 2017 at 5:40 amThis was great advice! Especially about tailoring prices based on location of company.
Penelope
January 24, 2017 at 5:46 amThanks Monika – I’m glad you found it useful!
Travelling Dany
January 24, 2017 at 1:43 pmUnfortunately until people will keep on working for free, there’s no easy way out. Honestly, brands try to just pay with products if they can, it’s up to you to convince them that it’s not enough. And tell them “no, thanks” if they offer mediocre deals. 3 or 4 posts for a product worth 20$? Are we really that desperate? Or those who go with “start by posting a premade picture with this code, if you sell X products with the code, I’ll give you one for free.” I said no, but the same brands get more and more exposure, because I keep on seeing other influencers posting their pictures. Of course they won’t feel forced to change their ways, it’s up to us to make them!
The same goes for hotel stays and such. I still have never been offered anything for free. And even if I’m Italian, my worst and most rude experiences have been with Italian hotels: sometimes they didn’t just say they were interested, but they even insulted me (true story: an hotel owner in Florence). Which is why I’m not pitching anymore Italian hotels unless they contact me with a clear explanation of what they want and what they offer. Platforms are also a big no-no for us in Italy. Buzoole offers very cheap campaigns, if even. Others like Tribe often look for influencers from AUS, UK and US. Italy is almost never considered, so we don’t really get much work from them (Tribe in particular wants you to buy products beforehand and this is beyond us because we don’t have the advertised products in Italy).
Now, as you see, things are already difficult enough. That’s why I get mad at the so called “influencers” who’d sell their soul for a tiny bracelet worth 2$ (true story). Until people won’t understand that we can monetize our account, by working hard and knowing our worth, things won’t change. It’s not the brands fault, it’s ours!
Maria
January 25, 2017 at 11:01 amReally nice collection of destinations! I love northern Europe due to Northern Lights and dog sledding. I’ll be adding some of them to my bucket list 🙂
Suze - Luxury Columnist
January 25, 2017 at 3:10 pmThis was a very interesting and detailed article, Penelope. I met up recently with a long-standing blogger who also does social media for clients and she said that they no longer look at number of likes and comments on Instagram but instead will only work with those that take amazing photos – so also good to know!
Suze – Luxury Columnist recently posted… The Best Places to Eat and Drink around Naples, Florida
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 2:07 amThat’s very true! The absolute foundation of Instagram is quality photos – I feel a lot of people forget about this a little when they are concentrating more on the numbers game. Thanks so much!
Evelien
January 25, 2017 at 4:08 pmAmazingly helpful post!! Thanks so much Penelope 🙂
Violeta
January 25, 2017 at 4:08 pmThank you for all this useful information. I haven’t considered approaching any companies for the time being, as my social media readership is rather small. Your article has helped me gauge where I am, so that I can price my services properly.
Violeta recently posted… What a Mud Volcano Can Do for Your Travel Photos
Tessa White
January 25, 2017 at 8:50 pmWow, that was really comprehensive and open.. I totally agree it is hard not to almost take each client as a unique prospect thanks to the fact they all have different goals and budgets but it is so good to have a benchmark for your own value x
Bekah
January 25, 2017 at 9:29 pmGreat read! That was always something I was unsure about. When I get to be big enough to do sponsored posts, I’ll refer back to this. Thank you!
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 2:06 amDon’t be afraid to start while small either – you can still provide a lot of value! Good luck!
Meg
January 25, 2017 at 10:42 pmI found this to be extremely helpful. I’m just getting started, but my numbers area steadily increasing and it’s important to know your worth. I really like the bit about Instagram going off of engagement. I have around 2.5k followers – but my engagement is around 30%. I’ve wondered if that’s enough to be going after anything. Seems like it might be if the fit was right with the brand!
Thanks!
Penelope
January 25, 2017 at 10:43 pmHi Meg – I’m glad you found it useful! It’s definitely worth a try, especially if it’s a brand you follow already and who really fits your niche etc! The first few pitches are the scariest – tell me how it goes 🙂
Penelope
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 2:05 amWow, your engagement is great!! That’s really good and I’m glad I could help. Don’t hesitate to email me (or DM on Instagram) if you have any questions!
Chantal @ Translating Traveler
January 25, 2017 at 10:55 pmThis! This is just awesome! Finally someone that’s not afraid to talk about numbers… One of the best and most helpful posts I’ve read in a long time! Thank you 🙂
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 2:03 amAw Chantal!! Thank you SO much! That really means a lot. I’m such a numbers nerd, if I’m honest, so it’s the only way that I CAN put it. I hate it when I see it all in really vague terms – like ‘don’t overcharge but don’t charge too little’… WHAT ARE THESE MAGICAL NUMBERS!? haha. Thanks again!
Tiffany
January 26, 2017 at 2:16 amGreat article with relevant info! I like your take that as bloggers we should be talking about this and not have it be a taboo subject! #bloggingcommunity
Bri
January 26, 2017 at 3:29 amThanks so much for this post! It is so helpful to talk real numbers.
Alina from Reverie Chaser
January 28, 2017 at 10:37 amThank you for the great article! It felt good to see that I had intuitively done the math right myself as well 🙂
Alina from Reverie Chaser recently posted… Greece: Then and Now
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 2:00 amThat’s great! Good luck with your sponsorships – I’m glad I could help somewhat!
Ioanna
January 28, 2017 at 10:48 amThanks for this post! It’s very informative and educational for a newbie like myself.
Ioanna recently posted… How to Hike The Old Man of Storr and Enjoy Breath-Taking Views of Skye
Maria
January 28, 2017 at 11:10 amGreat post and break down of the price. I made a classical rookie mistake and overcharged a company once (they offered a free camera and asked how much I’d like to get paid for a review. I could keep the camera). So I offered them 100$. They never wrote back 🙂
Next time this happens I’ll consult with your post
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 2:00 amOh no! Maybe now that you’ve been blogging for longer you can email them and see if they still want to collaborate 😉
Travelgal Nicole
January 28, 2017 at 6:57 pmI’m glad you’re putting this out there. Most people are unsure of where to start. I love using social blue book. Good point on the different budgets.
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 1:59 amThanks Nicole! When I first started getting offers I had no idea what I should be charging and I just accepted everything!! And yes – Social Bluebook is one of my favourite tools, haha.
Jurga
January 28, 2017 at 9:17 pmGreat tips, really really useful, Penelope. It also reminds bloggers that their work is worth more than many companies actually offer. Pinning this as I’m sure I will be needing those formulas again.
Jurga recently posted… Affordable Family Skiing in Switzerland
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 1:58 amThat’s so true Jurga!! If I valued myself by what a lot of companies try and offer, I would not be feeling great at all! Thanks for sharing, really appreciate it!
Sabine
January 29, 2017 at 11:10 amVery interesting read, thanks for breaking down all the cost and charges. It really gives a great insight!!
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 1:57 amI’m glad you found it useful! Thanks Sabine!
Rachel@Tidy&Teal
January 29, 2017 at 10:01 pmThis was a really awesome post! Thank you for all the specific numbers that you gave – that is definitely more what I was looking for. I really appreciate the help! 🙂
– Rachel
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 1:58 amI’m so glad it was helpful, Rachel – feel free to send me an email any time if you have any further questions! I’m always happy to help.
Candy
January 31, 2017 at 4:47 amThis is such a great topic. It is very hard to find information on standard pricing in the blogger world. It’s easy to look up “average salaries” in the job market and it’s public information, but when it comes to bloggers it’s not really public information yet.
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 1:56 amVery true – websites like GlassDoor make it easier to find ‘normal’ or ‘average’ salaries in the standard job market, but it’s definitely harder for bloggers and other influencers! I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Madeleine Barón
February 1, 2017 at 1:42 amI’m so happy to read this about my country! :), I’m really glad you had a really good time in here! come back anytime!
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 1:55 amAw thank you so much Madeleine!
LC
February 5, 2017 at 1:24 amI made a brief visit to Gothenburg last year after a friend raved about it. Unfortunately it was at the end of several week’s worth of travel and I was pretty pooped. I did go on a really long boat trip, where I had a grand old time writing in my journal and swigging wine, whilst sitting by myself in the cabin, haha. It would be nice to go back and actually do things in the city (and eat all the foods), but I still look back on my time there fondly.
LC recently posted… What to Wear in Svalbard – An Illustrated Guide
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 1:55 amI ended up going to Gothenburg three times in 2016 so it’s safe to say I love the city! I really want to go back again to do the archipelago (plus more of Sweden) – I’m glad you enjoyed your time there, even though you were exhausted!
LC
February 5, 2017 at 1:55 amGreat round up Penelope! Thanks for the inclusion. 🙂
LC recently posted… What to Wear in Svalbard – An Illustrated Guide
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 3:07 amYou’re very welcome!
Travelgal Nicole
February 5, 2017 at 2:36 amThanks for the inclusion. Some great places on the list!
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 3:06 amYou’re very welcome! Thanks so much for writing for me! I loved Ethiopia – wish I had more time there (it was a long layover) as I only saw a few things in Addis!
Lauren West
February 5, 2017 at 3:23 amOh this is incredibly helpful, chica!
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 4:23 amGlad you enjoyed it!
Kerry B
February 5, 2017 at 3:39 amI am extremely offended and astonished that you would recommend the Faroe Islands. How could you not be aware of the hideous, despicable,barbaric,and illegal slaughter of hundreds of pilot whales and other cetaceans which goes on every year in this nasty place? Boycott the Car or Islands. How can you “not think of any reason” not to go there?
LC
February 5, 2017 at 5:10 amHi Kerry.
My comment refers to the ease of getting to the islands, when put in the right context.
Whaling in the Faroe Islands is an ancient tradition (known as the Grind) that I definitely don’t agree with. However, many countries around the world have practices that outsiders will not understand and that the countrymen themselves may not actually agree with. So, yes I think it is important to travel to places like the Faroe Islands, particularly those that have been closed off to the rest of the world until very recently, in order to promote cultural understanding. In any case – we’re slowly poisoning our oceans WORLDWIDE through our use of plastic and other pollutants, which I find to be a truly horrifying and more pressing issue.
LC recently posted… What to Wear in Svalbard – An Illustrated Guide
Top Off The Beaten Path Destinations for 2017 | The Flyaway Girl
February 5, 2017 at 5:17 am[…] Don’t forget to check out our round-up for the Top 10 off the beaten path destinations for 2016! […]
Boris
February 5, 2017 at 6:13 amThanks! You are great blogger. I like very much Rovaniemi , and also Yerevan.
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 6:17 amThank you!
Alex
February 5, 2017 at 8:45 amAs long as my resolutions are travel-related, I always stick to them 😉 These are all great suggestions for destinations! I dream of going to Finnish Lapland, and so many people keep recommending Romania that it must be awesome! Hope your travels this year will lead you several places on this list 🙂
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 4:03 pmHaha I think they are the only resolutions I ever keep! oops… I would love to go to Finnish Lapland and Romania is INCREDIBLE! I was there for a week last January and I fell in love!!
Thanks so much and thank you for the amazing Armenia post!
Susanna
February 5, 2017 at 9:51 amThese are all great destinations! I definitely have Armenia and Romania on my list this year. I’m always hoping to find new destinations for off-the-beaten-path since I can’t stand fighting my way through crowds in over-touristy areas.
Susanna recently posted… Day Trip from Munich to Dachau Memorial
Penelope
February 5, 2017 at 4:04 pmRomania is incredible – you’ll love it! I’m exactly the same with not liking the tourist traps and wanting to head somewhere different – I can’t stand big tourist crowds (Paris/Rome etc are not my thing, haha).
Why I Plan to Return to Bulgaria... | The Flyaway Girl
February 5, 2017 at 4:46 pm[…] due to a delay in leaving Austria, I only got the opportunity to spend one night there which meant my entire stay in Sofia totalled […]
Why I Plan to Return to Bulgaria... | The Flyaway Girl
February 5, 2017 at 4:47 pm[…] buses also operate from Belgrade (5 hours), Niš (3 hours), Vienna (15 hours), Paris (36 hours), Berlin (28 hours), Budapest (12 hours) and Prague (21 […]
Why I Plan to Return to Bulgaria... | The Flyaway Girl
February 5, 2017 at 4:47 pm[…] flights go to and from Sofia from Italy, Sweden, Belgium, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Norway and more. In short – Sofia is pretty accessible […]
Rimsha
February 6, 2017 at 9:06 amI had so much fun reading this post! I’d love to add these destinations to my bucket list. Bookmarking this post for when I next make travel plans 😀
Penelope
February 6, 2017 at 5:54 pmI’m so glad you enjoyed the round up! Any particular favourites on this list?
Fee
February 6, 2017 at 10:02 amGreat destinations on here, I’d definitely love to visit Jordan (for Petra!) and Lebanon one day.
Penelope
February 6, 2017 at 5:55 pmMe too! they look absolutely incredible.
Felicia
February 7, 2017 at 1:55 amOoh I love this! I haven’t heard of many of these places and those are usually the best ones that aren’t super popular yet! Thanks for sharing these gems 🙂
NieNie
February 7, 2017 at 2:15 amTravel an addiction we all can’t shake! But honestly, who’d want to? We only have one life, live it to the fullest!
Steph
February 12, 2017 at 5:01 amI’m sorry you experienced that but sharing your story is so powerful. It helps other women become more aware of how they can help protect themselves from similar situations and what to do when in such a predicament.
Eva Casey
February 12, 2017 at 5:14 amSending you SO MUCH LOVE, Penelope. It was so brave and must have been very difficult to write about your experience here, but I know that in writing it down and sharing it you will heal yourself a little more and allow the collective of people around the world who have gone through similar experiences to heal. Personally I can definitely relate, though my assault was not sexual, but rather I was mugged at gunpoint in my apartment building. Many people in my life were kind to me, but some did suggest that “maybe I should have done this or that, etc” and even inside I felt that I “should have” handled the situation differently. But truly you never know how you will react until you are in the moment. And every reaction is okay and valid. I still struggle with feeling safe, but what you said about it being okay to take care of yourself is SO TRUE. Don’t ever feel silly/ashamed for having to care for yourself first. It’s necessary when you’ve been through a trauma. Again, really proud and in awe of you for sharing your experience <3
LC
February 12, 2017 at 8:20 amIt sucks that we have this threat hanging over us as women, not only when we travel but in our day to day lives. And I’m really sorry it happened to you. Thanks for writing about it… I’m in awe with the way you dealt with this situation (and was upset to learn that it was one of many terrible things that happened to you that day!).
Penelope
February 12, 2017 at 10:35 pmI think the thing that really got me with this experience was that it was in my HOME country – people always say to be careful when travelling (and have highlighted certain countries to be really careful in, and have asked my mum if she was worried about me when I was in ‘dangerous’ countries like Honduras or South Africa) and yet this has made it so much more obvious that it isn’t travel that’s the issue. People like this are everywhere – even in the countries we regard as ‘safe’.
And yes, that day really did suck… I definitely cried a lot (not helped by lack of sleep) and was so thankful when I finally got back home to my parents’ house. But what did I do then? Booked a trip for the next week to go to Spain! I needed sun, haha.
Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment.
457 Australian Visa
February 13, 2017 at 1:20 amLovely read! after reading your article some of it has been added on my bucket list this year. Thanks for sharing.
Susanna
February 13, 2017 at 11:29 amThank you for sharing your story. It’s so brave to come out and write about this. I agree writing can often lead to healing. I hope this is a string in a strong healing process for you. I’m so glad the bus drivers handled this well. That would have made the difference! I’m glad to see you’ll still be traveling. hang in there!
Bilyana | OwlOverTheWorld
February 16, 2017 at 7:33 amYey! Super nice to found out that you liked Bulgaria even though your short stay. I’m sure that if you visit Bulgaria again and have more time to explore the country you will love it!
Alok Singhal
February 19, 2017 at 12:06 pmIt is always best to tell someone of anything that is weighing you down! Yours was a serious case, so makes all the more sense… and I am glad you reported!
It takes time to heal… but you were brave and did whatever you could do. Sad incident though.
Penelope
September 28, 2017 at 6:53 amThank you for your kind words!
KAVI MANI KUMAR K S
March 27, 2017 at 12:58 amInformative and interesting read. Been to Thailand. But Kanchanaburi has been out of reach so far! Seems like I missed a real deal.
Would check it out next time!
Delphine
June 13, 2017 at 12:57 amWhat an awful experience… But you’ve obviously come out of it and will keep on travelling… Well done on your bravery…
Robert
June 23, 2017 at 2:00 pmSo many beautiful places, so little time! Still yet to visit Costa Rica. Definitely on my “Must Travel To” List. Great post and travel inspiration! 🙂
Penelope
July 16, 2017 at 7:10 pmThank you! I hope you get the chance to visit soon!
Ania | Snow to Seas
July 15, 2017 at 9:39 pmI totally agree! These are all extremely photogenic and instagrammable sites in Dubai! I would love to visit each and every one. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Penelope
July 15, 2017 at 10:13 pmThank you! I hope you visit soon – would love to see your photos!
Kat
July 15, 2017 at 10:01 pmWow, I love all the photos, especially the one you took from the helicopter! Dubai is pretty high on my bucket list so I’m glad to hear it’s safe!
Penelope
July 15, 2017 at 10:11 pmAw thank you! You will love it if you visit!
Candy
July 17, 2017 at 2:27 amWow, that photo of Sheikh Zayed Mosque is amazing!
Ryan Biddulph
July 20, 2017 at 1:37 pmWow stunning shots Penelope! I spent a month in neighboring Qatar last February and see many parallels between the 2 places. Little country or city in the middle of nowhere. Then oil/natural gas is found and look out! Money money money. The buildings, city engineering and overall vibe seems super duper similar to Doha, in Qatar. Like its next door neighbor.
Lyndsy
July 21, 2017 at 7:02 pm[* Shield plugin marked this comment as “0”. Reason: Human SPAM filter found “posts!” in “comment_content” *]
Hey Penelope! This is crazy. 🙁 I’m so sorry this has happened. But, you are so brave to share these to others. KEEP TRAVELLING! <3 I love your photos and posts! Sending you love. xoxo
Leigh
August 2, 2017 at 11:42 amWOW. I know it isn’t easy sharing something so personal on your travel-based blog but i think it is so brave and could help so many others a similar situation. I am so sorry you had to go through this! And on top of that, all the things that went wrong afterwards! I’m glad you’ve continued travelling even after it all. Sending loads of love and support! Cant wait to see where you travel next.
orangewayfarer
August 19, 2017 at 3:08 pmParis itself is beautiful! to find insta places in Paris is not blasphemy? 😛 just kidding. Beautiful pictures. And you look marvelous. Such an infectious happy face. This is what travel does to one!
Nikki
August 19, 2017 at 3:43 pmThis is a great guide for photographing Paris. You took some amazing shots!
Kelly | A Pair of Passports
August 19, 2017 at 3:44 pmWell, I’m definitely missing Paris right about now! You managed to get some incredible photos. We loved the view from Tour Montparnasse last time, but definitely need to check out the rest of these spots next time we are in Paris. Sacre Coeur is at the top of my list!
Missy
August 19, 2017 at 4:29 pmThese spots are great, both instaworthy and places you’d want to check out anyway! And sign me up for the wine and views!
Brianna
August 19, 2017 at 6:13 pmThis post is awesome!! I love knowing where I can go for great views within a city. Great for photographers, Instagram lovers and people who just love views 🙂
Joanna
August 19, 2017 at 6:17 pmI have never been to Paris so I can;t tell about how touristy the locations are, but your photos are so beautiful! You have definitely found Instagramable spots and angles in the city of love that make it look so romantic.
Jean
August 20, 2017 at 12:41 amSo many amazing and beautiful places. Makes me want to get my camera and go back to Paris!!
Christina
August 20, 2017 at 11:53 amThis is such a comprehensive yet creative post – well done! And you look so happy in these pictures. I mean, no surprise considering those gorgeous spots. Oh yeah and the shopping centers… #thestruggleisreal
Sara Broers
September 19, 2017 at 12:00 amI have never heard of this place until now. I like the fact that it’s cheap, has good eats and the buildings look amazing! The cobblestone street looks like it’s a fun place for a stroll, as well.
Marvi
September 19, 2017 at 7:31 amI must admit I’ve never heard of Riga until now. It does look like a nice place to visit though.. It even looks pretty charming despite the not-so-sunny weather that you captured on your photos. Or is just my eyes? haha. Anyways, the food, history and affordability is good enough for me to be convinced to visit Riga! 🙂
Julia
September 22, 2017 at 4:13 pmHi! I stumbled upon your blog from the photographers without borders website and am currently living in southern Switzerland! I’ve been having a hard time trying to find trains that are inexpensive… I’m finding it impossible to see Switzerland by train like so many blogs I’ve read have posted! How were you able to find cheap train tickets? The funiculars are pretty cheap, but a train ticket from the south to Lausanne can run $300 round trip! Do you have any suggestions?
Penelope
September 28, 2017 at 6:51 amHey! We did a road trip so we didn’t take many trains! I have heard that buying in advance or getting a rail pass can be cheaper!
Adrenaline Romance
September 23, 2017 at 8:06 amRiga is indeed cool. We would definitely head out first to those cobblestone streets and classic cafes. What we love about cities and towns like Riga is that the people are able to preserve their history, culture, and architecture. Unlike other cities where everything is replaced by soulless glass and steel.
Kiara Gallop
September 23, 2017 at 8:59 amI absolutely adored Riga! I visited last February and we arrived whilst it was snowing, the whole city looked so pretty under a light dusting of snow 🙂 I was also really impressed with the food there and how cheap everything was. I went with two friends and we had a whole apartment with its own hamman for just over £10 per night each!
Alina
September 23, 2017 at 4:30 pmI am glad you enjoyed my hometown! It was a pleasure to meet you for that coffee/tea/lactose free meal and if you are in town again, let me know 🙂
Portia Jones
September 23, 2017 at 5:38 pmI loved Riga when I visited years ago. Such pretty streets and quirky finds. I really need to get back there asap. xx
Eryn C MacGillivray
September 23, 2017 at 7:29 pmWell! you’ve convinced me. not going to lie, I’d never heard of Riga until reading your post, but gosh it looks beautiful!! I also like the point about coffee and beer! Sounds like my kind of place 🙂
Maria
September 23, 2017 at 8:52 pmI usually don’t comment this because it seems such a lame thing to say but SERIOUSLY your photos look good. They are beautiful and make me want to not only go to Riga, but take some photography classes beforehand haha. I’ve never been to Riga and it hasn’t been on my list, but I think I could be missing out. Thanks for sharing!
Penelope
September 28, 2017 at 6:49 amOh thank you so much!! Feel free to ask me any photography questions too!
Brianna
September 24, 2017 at 12:39 amMan, I had the chance to go to Riga this year, and now I’m bummed I passed up on it! I can’t get over those views! Guess I’ll have to give it a chance another time.
Wanderlust Vegans
September 24, 2017 at 7:16 pmGood coffee and beer for cheap plus lots of cool stuff to see? Sounds like Riga has all you can ask for in a city break. This is an area of Europe we haven’t explored yet so it would be a good jumping off point to see the surrounding area like you suggested.
Monica
October 22, 2017 at 10:38 pmI am so glad you started this website. I was attacked for over two hours in a foreign country 28th of Feb 2017. Two teeth missing, broken nose, brain injury, rape…all leading to months of many surgeries and having to relearn how to read, walk, cook (a total passion for me), sing (another total passion), brush my teeth, etc. Still having seizure-like activity now almost 8 months later and have adjusted my life to trying to fit in all of my activities of daily living like showering (ugh lol I’m gross, but thankfully do not come from stinky genes), but I’m back at work.
Taking back the night has been a beautiful thing for me. I live in a relatively safe neighborhood and being able to enjoy the starry sky whether here or wherever planes take me is something I definitely do not take for granted. EMDR Therapy has been a way to regain my ease in this world. Another way has been to draw everyone in. My therapist has told me that most people in my situation hide away from the world and never really adapt. Scary.
When I returned to the US, friends asked what they could do. I asked them to make sure I was fed mainly, a very difficult task at that time. From one friend, I asked her to throw a party to make sure everyone was on the same page. That party and my attack started many conversations about self-defense courses and what we, as travellers, can do to protect ourselves and/or how to wrangle the court system abroad. The guy who attacked me got 22 years.
As for travelling again, I went for the court case a few months later and don’t remember packing. (The brain is a fascinating organism.) Thankfully, months before, I had bought a cheap ticket to Iceland with a few friends, and the trip came due in May after the courts. I hedged on going but was egged on by friends and doctors alike. As I was packing, I asked a roommate for help, and immediately had a huge brain glitch. Last image: my roommate leaping on my suitcase, trying to zip it up. Another girlfriend who was going on the trip, leading me to the car and gently placing me in the seat. :). Since then, I’ve been to Seattle a couple of times, B.C. Mexico, Houston, and the Caribbean. Hawaii and St. Croix are next.
Love, support, being gentle to yourself (total yes on the yoga, walking, and meditation!), and letting people hear your story and allowing them to tell you theirs or their fears about it. Definitely EMDR Therapy, although in my past life, I would have never in a million years think about going to a freakin’ therapist. And tickets. Keep them tickets!! Keep buying them. Keep forcing yourself to leap out the windows of your world to see others.
Thank you ladies. And thank you Penelope for sharing yourself with us.
Penelope
October 25, 2017 at 12:22 amMonica – you are incredible! That is a truly harrowing story and I can’t even begin to imagine what you went through. But it makes me SO happy that you are still travelling, that you are talking about what happened and that you are loving yourself <3
Sending you all of the hugs from the UK! Keep up the travelling - I can't wait to hear about where you go!
Monica
October 25, 2017 at 4:45 amA big hug to you! You made a space where people can share their thoughts…a beautiful gift. ❤️
Sonya
October 25, 2017 at 12:24 amI love this article … so well written. Such an interesting tradition … not exactly for the squeamish (i.e. me)….
Penelope
October 25, 2017 at 1:17 amHaha thank you Sonya! I’m glad you still found it interesting!
Christina
October 28, 2017 at 7:28 pmAwesome read! I’m so jealous that you got to see the Cleaning of the Corpses. Not sure how I would’ve felt about it (lol) but what a unique experience. Coming here was one of the highlights of my Indonesian trip too so it was great to relive it through your words/photos. You captured everything so well!
Penelope
October 28, 2017 at 10:06 pmThanks Christina! It was pretty interesting and yes, definitely unique!
Amy Poulton - Page Traveller
October 28, 2017 at 9:46 pmHey Penelope,
This was certainly interesting! I know it’s morbid, but I find it fascinating how different cultures around the world treat the subject of death. I’m in Oaxaca, Mexico, at the moment and festivities for the Day of the Dead are well underway. It’s a bit weird to see little kids with sugar skull facepaint, as if they’re dead, but I guess no more strange than Halloween? Haha!
Penelope
October 28, 2017 at 10:05 pmI love the Day of the Dead traditions! It’s such an interesting festival and I’m pretty jealous you’re getting to experience it!
Julie
October 29, 2017 at 2:55 amIndonesian beliefs customs and traditions are fascinating and i am so happy that this trip gave you the opportunity to experience the diversity of the culture . Amazing articulé !
Penelope
November 5, 2017 at 11:25 amMerci Julie! They are certainly fascinating – I’m glad you enjoying reading about them!
Shibani
November 5, 2017 at 12:03 pmWow!! This is a super useful guide and I literally love your pictures. I am also a sunrise lover, will remember your tips when I’ll be there.
Penelope
November 16, 2017 at 7:37 pmThank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Hannah
November 18, 2017 at 5:16 pmUgh just take me everywhere here! I’ve never been to any of these places (specifically – country yes, actual place, no haha) and I LOVE the snow so this is just a dream.
Jenn - The Solivagant Soul
November 18, 2017 at 5:29 pmI loved it! I have been to a few of these destinations but only in the summer… I cannot imagine how Lake Garda would look in the winter! Also, I am surprised that no one recommended Iceland and their Northern Lights!
Adrienne
November 25, 2017 at 9:36 pmSuch great gift suggestions. As a millennial, a few of these things are on my list 😉 including the Airbnb gift card! That would definitely make any traveler happy!
Scarlett
November 27, 2017 at 6:39 pmLove this round up from different people with different ideas! I’ll definitely be heading to some Christmas markets!
Aneesha
December 2, 2017 at 11:18 amYour pics are just so so stunning! Hope you’re well Penelope x
Penelope
December 3, 2017 at 10:13 pmThank you Aneesha!!
Lisanne
December 2, 2017 at 12:58 pmLove this post! I’ve been to London very frequently but still have so much to discover!
Penelope
December 3, 2017 at 10:13 pmThere’s always more in London to discover – I could live there for 10 years and still be finding more haha. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Hannah
December 4, 2017 at 2:55 amTake me there now please! I want to go to every single one of these places and even though I’ve been to London more times than I can count – I have to say I haven’t been to many of these places.
Phoebe
December 9, 2017 at 12:12 pmI also studied in Bath! Which uni are you at? I feel like I would have been a lot more productive if I’d had this list whilst I was doing my studies. I used to drink in the society cafe and really loved it, I’ll have to check out the other independent coffee shops next time I’m back as I don’t think I’ve been to the others.
Penelope
December 28, 2017 at 9:38 pmI’m at University of Bath! I hope you come back and visit – I love these spots!
Vania
December 20, 2017 at 8:46 amInteresting information for us to try these coffee shops Penelope, thanks.
Suze
January 1, 2018 at 7:01 pmI’m impressed at how much you packed in! I remember seeing your German castle pics on Instagram, it looked amazing. Have a wonderful 2018
Penelope
January 11, 2018 at 7:25 pmOh thank you Suze!
Yuki Anggia Putri
January 2, 2018 at 8:12 pmOh my, I haven’t went to most of it, shame on me, lol. I should explore Bali more I guess. 😛
Penelope
January 11, 2018 at 7:25 pmHahaha you really should!
Matt
January 12, 2018 at 1:02 amWOW! I had no idea it’s so beautiful!!
Tajinder
January 13, 2018 at 9:07 pmLoved this post, thanks for sharing some great spots around London. I want to visit more hidden gems of the city so this is awesome!
Tx. // MusicGeekOnline.
George, St Petersburg Russia cruise guide
January 18, 2018 at 10:50 amWow! Riga is my love! When I was young, I spent many wonderful days there. Thank you!
Venna JS
February 10, 2018 at 9:22 amBeautiful photos! And I totally agree with the Bahia Palace. I was so enchanted with it when we were there last year, My boyfriend had to literally drag me out of that place. There’s also a great restaurant outside this palace which serves great kheema. Don’t know if you check that out and don’t remember the name, but it was fantastic. Made my day on our 3day trip to Marra.
Amy Morgan
February 17, 2018 at 12:13 pmSuch gorgeous photos! It looks like an incredibly photogenic place. Love the lights in the first picture too.
Joanne Smith
February 20, 2018 at 4:43 amGreat review of the year and you have visited so many places. these are awesome and so stunning photos you just shared on your trips. Can’t wait to see where you are off to in 2018. Anyway, I will travel to London next month!
Ian bannon
March 7, 2018 at 8:44 pmThanks penelope, great read and fantastic advice on beer & bars! Going Berlin in a couple of weeks time, thanks for sharing, ian
Lorna
March 17, 2018 at 4:07 pmWow, Riga looks amazing! I really enjoyed visiting Vilnius and have always had an interest in Riga, but will definitely add it to my list now…
xtine
March 21, 2018 at 12:36 amThat new pink cafe full of flowers is one I want to go to, also neals yard! thanks for this post, been to most and I can safely say theyre all beautiful. I recently went to the coloured houses and it was the best time lol.
Disha Singh
April 3, 2018 at 6:18 pmDubai is the famous place for sharing Instagram photos. There are many hidden treasures which you might not have known before. You are sure to visit luxury hotels, artificial islands, and beautiful sculptures.
Babeesh
April 18, 2018 at 6:00 pmThanks so much for this! If i every get anywhere with blogging I will definitely be back! I have so much to learn, but communicating back and forth with brands seems stressful! One wrong step and suddenly no response! I’ll be sure to consult this post next time 🙂
Miranda| Migration Expert UK
April 24, 2018 at 1:38 amThere are some gems in London, enjoy and happy snapping !
Roy
April 24, 2018 at 8:45 amInspired by your blog, I have tried the Heli-Tour of Palm Jumeirah and it was wow!
aFabulousTrip
May 17, 2018 at 11:08 amWow a lot of beautiful pictures, why don’t mine look as good … And reading this article, I swear I want to go back to Marrakech and try out your adresses !
Kathi
June 30, 2018 at 9:27 amI’ve not been to Greece since I was a teenager, but I remember that friends of my parents live on Samoa- maybe it’s time to visit them! Your photos make me want to book a flight and grab my bags!!
Penelope
July 16, 2018 at 9:36 pmI’m dying to go back to Samos pronto!!
Anisa
September 2, 2018 at 6:01 amI really want to go to the Cotswolds. All these villages look so lovely, hopefully I can make it there next summer.
Penelope
September 3, 2018 at 4:06 amOh that’ll be amazing!
Shivani Sharma
September 2, 2018 at 6:24 amWow, I love these villages and those cute cafes. There’s not even a single one which I would miss on my (future) trip to the Cotswolds. Thanks for the amazing recommendations!
Penelope
September 3, 2018 at 4:06 amThanks so much! Hope you get to make the trip soon!
Louise
October 3, 2018 at 6:13 amI’ve only been to Bath once to visit a friend, didn’t even know the sham castle existed! I will definitely go back one day! X
Julie Laundis
October 6, 2018 at 4:33 pmWe made it to Moab but haven’t been to the badlands yet – your post and these gorgeous photos are making me put this on my list of parks to visit !
Penelope
October 6, 2018 at 7:22 pmYou definitely should visit! Thanks!
Emma Megan
October 7, 2018 at 3:31 amIt seems like a good luck for me that I’ve got your awesome guide before visiting the badlands. I really appreciate your hard work, you’ve put a lot energy to make this happen for your readers. And thanks for introducing me to the app “Roadtrippers” I’ll give it a try!
Yogesh
November 19, 2018 at 8:22 amWow beautiful places
Yolanda
January 1, 2019 at 8:40 amAs beautiful a vista as a person can experience. The adjectives wild, rugged, untamed, majestic and beautiful all apply. In the fall the weather proves unpredictable. You must have clothing for warm or cold weather. Dressing in layers is preferred. The most difficult element is the Dakota winds. They can just over 30 mph. Bring a camera! We saw deer, mountain goats, rams, buffalo, and hundreds of cute, active prairie dogs.
An entry fee is charged because it is a national park, but driving the loop is worth the fee.
Yolanda recently posted… Best Lightweight Sleeping Bags for Backpacking 2019
Kevin
January 4, 2019 at 1:22 amWhile we did recently visit Moab – Loved that area – We have yet to dive into the Badlands, which according to your article and photos are so aptly named. Thanks for sharing and for the inspiration to head that way!
Kevin recently posted… Leaf Blower Techniques
Jess
January 13, 2019 at 2:06 pmI’m visiting Morocco & Montenegro this year and cannot wait!
xoxo
Jess
Penelope
January 14, 2019 at 5:53 pmOh have an amazing time!!
Jess
January 16, 2019 at 4:19 pmWhat an incredible train journey! Definitely adding it to my NZ bucket list!
xoxo
Jess
Penelope
January 16, 2019 at 4:42 pmIt was seriously amazing!
Linnea
January 26, 2019 at 2:03 amI’m going to Kotor this year! Georgia and Greenland really caught my eye from your list! Do you have any of these places you’re looking forward to?
Penelope
January 26, 2019 at 5:41 pmI am hoping to go to Montenegro for a week or more in spring or summer!
Katie
January 26, 2019 at 5:19 amWow these places look incredible and have given me some really hard decisions to make for travel this year! We live in China so I would love to get over to Mongolia at some point this year! Kaikoura looks stunning too!
Penelope
January 26, 2019 at 5:41 pmOh that will be amazing! Yes – Kaikoura is seriously incredible, I’d love to go back!
Anna
January 26, 2019 at 6:20 amIstanbul is one of the most beautiful cities. I went there last year, but I would love to go back for more.
the Curious Pixie
January 26, 2019 at 12:54 pmGreat inspo list. Uzbekistan looks very tempting!
Penelope
January 26, 2019 at 5:42 pmHaha it definitely is! Plus totally visa-free for UK citizens so that’s a bonus!
Sudeepta Sanyal
January 26, 2019 at 3:45 pmLooks like a detailed list and gives me many year end goals! 🙂 Cant wait to go to Georgia this year!
Penelope
January 26, 2019 at 5:42 pmOoh where are you going? I would love to go back to Georgia (again) – so many incredible places there.
Laura Hartley
January 26, 2019 at 6:49 pm[* Shield plugin marked this comment as “0”. Reason: Human SPAM filter found “article!” in “comment_content” *]
Really great article! In fact, one of the most clear I’ve read so far. I totally get the need for greater transparency but some of these guidelines aren’t very clear / are overkill.
What I’m most curious about is the bit concerning “product, brand or service is tagged, linked or endorsed in any way.” For example, I post a lot of flatlays and often there’ll be a product in shot that was once gifted to me in a goodie bag or something. It’s not there because I’m seeking to endorse it and it’s not mentioned in the caption. It’s just part of the photo because it’s a nice prop! If I don’t tag the brand, reference the product etc., does that mean I still need to tag it as an ad? It’s all very confusing.
When it comes to travel blogging I’d love to hear what they have to say about posting a pic of London when you’ve previously worked with Visit London, for example. If that does require disclosure then I can see travel blogger feeds becoming ad, ad, ad, which will only be more confusing (and off-putting!) for the consumer.
Some of the guidelines completely undermine the fact that good bloggers only work with brands they truly love and therefore those brands are going to crop up again and again in both a sponsored/own purchase capacity. It’s a classic case of a few people flouting the rules and ruining it for everyone else!
Laura Hartley recently posted… The 11 Best Free Things to Do in Oxford
Penelope
January 26, 2019 at 8:30 pm100% agreed! If I mention Leeds in a comment, do I need to mention that I worked with Visit Leeds? And if I travel there just for fun and take a photo or post a story, do I need to specify that I have a prior relationship with the tourism board? It’s mad!
I would assume that if you don’t tag the brand or product in any way (e.g. you don’t mention it in the caption, you don’t tag the brand) you likely do not need to tag it as an ad. If you tag the brand and it was gifted, I would think that the regulations would say that you should mention that it was gifted. It’s pretty ridiculous, agreed.
I’m hoping to hear back from the CMA in regards to clarification on some of the points so hopefully they get back to me early next week!
Megan McC
January 27, 2019 at 4:20 pmStunning photos! My bucket list just doubled in size. Happy travels in 2019!
Inge
January 30, 2019 at 11:49 pmI realllllllly love your blog and handy tips!
Penelope
February 3, 2019 at 3:40 pmThank you!
Valenica Abbott
February 8, 2019 at 7:27 amExcellent article. Dubai is on my to do list – like Vegas a place I think I must do once.
Penelope
February 11, 2019 at 2:52 pmThank you!
Luna
February 16, 2019 at 2:13 pmYou can buy a swisspass for example 7 days for 300 Swissfranks, every bus and train in the country would be included. Check offers on http://www.sbb.ch, but still switzerland is a super expensive country but totaly worth a visit!
Hal Brindley
February 22, 2019 at 2:23 amMy vote goes to Yellowstone for sure! Spending time with wolves at minus 20 degrees is an experience you’ll never forget! And the keep the road through the Lamar Valley in surprisingly good shape all winter!
Hal Brindley recently posted… Top 8 Florida private island rentals on VRBO
Rashel Ahmed
March 30, 2019 at 8:54 am[* Shield plugin marked this comment as “0”. Reason: Human SPAM filter found “excellent article” in “comment_content” *]
Excellent Article, Looking really amazing, Thanks for sharing.
Penelope
April 3, 2019 at 1:30 amThank you!
Rashel Ahmed
April 3, 2019 at 10:51 amReally excellent blog, I really appreciate.
Lisa
April 20, 2019 at 8:55 amWhat a lovely post! I’m visiting next month so this couldn’t have come at a better time!
Helen
April 20, 2019 at 9:16 pmGreat post, I didn’t know about the Seaplane harbour! I’d also really recommend the KGB museum at the Hotel Viru, it’s really interesting and there’s a great view from the top floor.
Darja
April 21, 2019 at 2:26 amAh how cool! 🙂 I haven’t been to Tallinn in almost a decade, but would love to go back one day 🙂 The Old Pharmacy sounds really exciting 🙂 A very nice inspiring post! 🙂
Eve
May 7, 2019 at 8:54 amit’s so beautiful! How unfortunate that this is the first I’ve heard of Tallinn. It looks like a mix of Russian cultures from the architecture and some eastern European from the villages.
Jen
May 7, 2019 at 12:05 pmlove this post! I’ve been considering taking myself on a lil trip to Riga and potentially Tallinn as well – this definitely made me more keen to add Tallinn to my itinerary!
Tiff
May 9, 2019 at 4:54 amThis post is so well written. Really interesting, I had never even considered the term could be derogatory! Thanks for sharing! Stumbled across your blog on Instagram and have been low-key stalking since haha! I’m from Southampton too and entering the world of blogging, so it’s inspiring to see how your blog has grown! Also, love the hometown insta-highlight – best shopping centre!
Penelope
May 25, 2019 at 7:39 amAhh thank you so much!!
Celine
May 15, 2019 at 11:51 amCan‘t wait to go to Paris tomorrow- thanks for the tipps
XX Celine
http://www.celinesofficial.com
Penelope
May 25, 2019 at 7:38 amAh have an amazing time!
Sharon McKenzie
May 30, 2019 at 4:52 amHi Penelope,
Hawaii Big Island has to be my choice. Been there before, last time we were on a cruise and saw the lava flow from the sea at night. What a site that was.
Cheers Sharon…
Sharon McKenzie recently posted… The Best Hawaii Snorkeling Tours – Bring your Full Face Snorkel Mask!
Coni
June 9, 2019 at 6:35 amNZ was so high on my list already, but now you made me not wanting to wait! Stunning photos of an amazing country! Hope I can visit soon! ❤️