Here's a fun fact for you: In Russian, a large train station is called a "vokzal" (вокзал), and it gets its name from London's Vauxhall. Vauxhall was my first local tube station when I moved to London in 2010, and a vokzal was where I found myself on a sunny...

Note: This post was originally written for a trip I took in 2024. In 2026, I'm planning another trip to Thailand, and have updated this post with the process as it is today. The overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is pretty much a rite of passage for...

Venice is one of the world's most famous and most visited cities, and while it is beautiful, it can be overwhelming with crowds and tour groups. A train to Venice from Verona is a little over an hour, so if you're staying in the calmer Verona, you can still get...

Everyone knows the stereotype of an Awful Tourist: the loud, boorish figure causing a pile up at the bottom of an escalator, dragging too many bags into rush hour public transport, or speaking English really loudly in the hopes that it magically translates into the local language. Having lived in...

Italy's largest lake, Lake Garda, is well known for its gorgeous scenery, pretty lakeside towns, and a refreshing, relaxing pace of life. If you've visited the lake before, you'll have seen plenty of tourists from other parts of Italy, Austria or Germany - usually with a car that's bursting with...

If you've decided to swap the peak of the Shard for the peaks of the Dolomites, you've made an excellent choice. Getting from London to Bolzano is pretty easy, but it can seem a little complicated at first glance. I've lived in London since 2010, and over the years, I've...

In my earlier post, a guide to the JR Pass, I was pretty upfront with my opinion on "is the JR pass worth it?". But now I want to put my money where my mouth is and show you what the maths looked like for both of my trips to...

Japan is an incredible country, with so much to offer. From the bright lights of Tokyo, the serene temples of Kyoto, the late night convenience store runs, and the iconic Shinkansen that spirits you across the country with speed and efficiency that would make even Germany jealous. Seriously, for an...

You've booked your bike, you've stuffed your packing cube, you've planned your stopover and now you're asking: How do I get to the Shimanami Kaido? Japan's famous cycle route runs between Onomichi and Imabari, and most cyclists start at either end. I've put together this Shimanami Kaido access guide to...

Introduction If you've ever spent time scrolling through Instagram Reels about Japan, you've probably come across the videos of adorable deer bowing in exchange for crackers. This is Nara, Japan's ancient capital. From Osaka or Kyoto, a Nara day trip is a wonderful way to venture out of the cities,...