If you’ve ever tried flying anywhere on a budget, you’ve no doubt run into low-cost airlines like Ryanair, Wizz Air or easyJet. With fares that are often dirt-cheap, it’s hard not to be lured in…
But when it comes to actually booking your flight, you quickly find out that these prices come with seemingly endless additional fees for things we used to take for granted. Sitting with your travel companions, having a drink (even water!), and—their top moneymaker—bringing a regular-sized cabin bag onboard can apparently be classified as true luxury these days.
That’s where so-called “one bag travel” comes in. More than just a logical way of being tight-fisted and sticking it to the man by refusing to pay up, it’s become a whole way of life with a passionate online community. In fact, many travellers prefer the one-bag life, even when they don’t have to pay extra for a checked bag
how on earth are you meant to pack for anything longer than just a couple of days using only a “personal item”?
The community of minimalist packers over on One Bag Travel has most of the answers you could possibly want.
Their example packing lists for different lengths of trip and destination are good for inspiration, but it’s the Carry-On Travel Backpacks section that is worth its weight in gold (or would be, if it weighed anything). It’s basically a comprehensive database of backpacks suitable for use on different airlines, including dimensions, capacity, user reviews and links straight to Amazon.
Rummaging around the site, I also spotted an ‘ Ultimate Guide to Packing for Carry-On Only Travel’. There are lots of handy pointers there to get you thinking practically before you pack, especially when it comes to being selective about the clothes you bring. That said, I personally draw the line at the suggestion of only bringing one pair of underwear!
For anyone who isn’t familiar, it’s a charge that anyone travelling alone may have come up against when booking hotels or cruises in particular—especially if the room you book is designed for multiple occupancy. To make up potential losses from one less person in a room, guests have traditionally been expected to pay extra on top of the standard rate.
These days, hotels tend to be priced by the room regardless of how many people are occupying it. On top of that, it’s much more common to find single-occupancy rooms at lower prices. The same goes for cruises, with cabins designed for solo seafarers commonplace on newer ships.
When it comes to booking tour packages, there are also quite a few operators that won’t charge you double for going it alone. In fact, there are now so many companies that specialise in running tours for solo travellers that we would likely be here all day if we tried to list them.
That said, getting a private room is not a given if you join a solo tour. As anyone who’s ever booked a hotel will know, the cost of a single-occupancy room is rarely half that of a double. Many operators keep costs down by pairing you up to share a twin room with another traveller, unless you choose to pay a little extra for a private room.
Here are our top recommendations for tour operators that won’t charge you a hefty single supplement, if at all:
Intrepid Travel – More than half of travellers taking an Intrepid tour are going it alone, so you can decide whether to buddy up and share a room or pay a “small extra charge”. Trips range from exploring the streets of Budapest and Transylvanian castles to a gruelling trek to Everest Base Camp, and they run tours catering to various demographics and budgets.
G Adventures – Another one that receive rave reviews for their solo trips. They also work with the “modest additional fee” approach to private rooms for anyone who wants their own space. Around 40% of their guests are solo travellers, with ages anywhere from 20s-60+. They also offer tours for all kinds of travel styles, be it 18-35, wellness or a spot of luxury.
Flash Pack – Specialising in solo travel for those in their 30s-40s, 98% of Flashpackers join trips alone. They focus on once-in-a-lifetime experiences, so you can generally expect these trips to be a bit fancier and more expensive than other companies. They’re big into the social aspect of their tours, and take great care to pair travellers with a roommate they’ll mesh well with. Once again, single rooms are available upon request for an extra fee.
Jules Verne – Unlike the rest of the pack, JV negotiate special “No Single Supplement” dates on over half their group tours, where single travellers can actually get a room to themselves for no additional cost. They also run solo-only tours, so you can be sure you won’t be surrounded by couples or groups of friends who already know each other.
One Traveller – These trips cater exclusively to the mature solo traveller, with most travellers in their 50s-70s. All their trips prices are based on single-occupancy rooms with ensuite facilities, so you won’t have to worry about sharing at all. They’re based in the UK, but offer trips all over the world.
It’s the time of year when we might be planning our summer vacation and looking to treat ourselves to a well deserved camping trip/seaside adventure/tropical getaway. So, let’s take a look at common holiday scams and top tips to protect your money this summer.
Holiday booking scams
Looking for the perfect getaway? Then searching online seems like the ideal place to start. But first things first – is the website you’re looking at what you think it is?
Criminals will set up fake websites offering deals that are ‘too good to miss’ so you need to do some research to make sure that you’re not sending a fraudster on the trip of a lifetime.
Check the URL. Is someone trying to impersonate a legitimate company? Make sure the company name is spelt correctly and check the domain; retail sites rarely use .org for example
Make sure you have a secure connection. Check the address starts with https:// and ensure the padlock symbol is shown next to the URL
Look out for spelling/grammatical errors or links on the page that don’t work. Genuine companies will make sure there are no silly mistakes on their sites!
Don’t click on links sent to you by unsolicited emails. This is a big red flag.
Check reviews. Sites such as Tripadvisor or Trustpilot will tell you if people have had a good experience with a company. Watch out for fake reviews though; if multiple comments were posted at the same time or have similar content, this could indicate they’re not real
Thinking of a package holiday? Make sure it’s ATOL protected. This means that if the company collapses, you’ll get support and financial help. Find information on how to check if your holiday is protected on the ATOL website
Fraudsters will also use social media to advertise non-existent flights and holidays. Just because a social media profile or post has lots of followers and positive comments, it doesn’t mean it’s legitimate, so it’s of utmost importance to thoroughly research any companies advertising deals on Facebook, Instagram or other sites. Look for the company’s website using the above tips and never send money by bank transfer to a company you’ve not investigated.
Accommodation booking scams
There are numerous legitimate websites that list properties available for holidaymakers to rent. Scammers may post fake listings on sites like this, so make sure you follow the guidelines on the company’s website. Sites like Airbnb will often direct you to their own payment platform, so use this to take advantage of the protections they have in place.
Holiday cancellation refund scams
In the unfortunate event that your holiday or flight gets cancelled by the provider, be cautious of anyone approaching you offering to help you with obtaining a refund. Make sure you deal directly with the company you booked with originally as criminals may contact you in the hopes of getting hold of your personal details.
When you’re abroad
So you’ve finally made it to your dream destination… but criminals never rest! Continue to protect your money by ensuring you:
Don’t let your card out of your sight, especially in bars and restaurants
Never give out your PIN, even if someone tells you they’re the police
Cover your PIN when making any purchases or withdrawing cash
Make sure transaction notifications are turned on in the app. If you don’t recognise any payments, lock your card straight away
Keep your bank phone number handy and let them know as soon as possible if your card or phone is lost or stolen.
The Taj Mahal is near the top of every traveller’s list as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, but it’s only one of the amazing sites of India’s “Golden Triangle”.
The established tourist route includes the home of the Taj Mahal, Agra, the city of Jaipur, and the country’s capital, New Delhi. Convenient air connections mean most people begin their trip in Delhi
Old Delhi is full of chaotic energy, where livestock, vehicles, and street food vendors all weave frantically between one another. It’s an assault on your senses that you have to experience at least once.
On now to Agra, and the thing we’ve all been waiting for—the Taj Mahal. You can absolutely do it under your own steam, but to get the most out of your visit, members recommend hiring one of the government-certified guides waiting outside or booking a private tour.
Once again, visiting early tends to be the best way to avoid huge crowds, although sunrise is a popular time to get the classic Taj picture. Don’t try to wait for a moment without other people in the background, that time is unlikely to come!
If you have more time, the gardens (and wildlife) surrounding the intricately designed Tomb of I’timad-ud-Daulah (aka the Baby Taj) are a dreamy spot to explore. Agra’s own Red Fort is another great example of Mughal architecture, even better preserved and more accessible than its namesake in Delhi.
Around 25 miles from Agra, the fortified ancient city of Fatehpur Sikri is often missed off tight schedules. It’s easy to spend a day here, soaking in the grandeur of the palace buildings, mosque and pavilions, which were designed as the first permanent Mughal settlement.
For those who’ve had enough of the red sandstone, it’s on to Jaipur, which is called the “Pink City” due to the colour of the buildings.
While Jaipur may not be as hectic as Delhi on the whole, it’s still a very busy place, so allow yourself a couple of days there. As well as the essential visit to the Amber Fort make time to see the Patrika Gate, and its daily musical fountain show, and the iconic Hawa Mahal palace.
You can spend hours just photographing the colourful buildings as you walk onwards to the City Palace and make sure you include Nahargarh Fort at the end of the day for sunset views over the city.
Zion is the 3rd most visited National Park in the US, but only the 36th largest, and most of that land is wilderness that tourists can’t easily access. The main canyon area is a patch of lush, overgrown oasis between soaring tall peaks of red rock, surrounded by desert. This combination of tight space and popularity means that this skinny strip of Eden is pretty bogged down by crowds.
But if you want to get away from the noise, there’s an option — trek deeper down the Virgin River to where Zion Canyon narrows into a slot, aptly named “the Narrows.” While still considered a popular hike, the deep, ice-cold water and miles of boulders are enough to scare off the bulk of the tourist crowd. A couple miles in, and you might feel like you have the park nearly to yourself.
Here’s what is is actually like to hike the Narrows. if you are not accustomed to this sort of thing it can be a pretty difficult journey.
You won’t make it very far into the canyon without gear, so unless you already own the tools for river hiking, your first stop will be the rental shop. The most popular rental shop seems to be Zion Outfitter, since they’re right by the park entrance. I instead went with Zion Adventures (a few minutes from the entrance in the town of Springdale) for the more flexible pick-up time. This worked out nicely, because without the giant crowd that always surrounds the more popular shop, I was able to talk to the employees and work out my route.
They provided me with a walking stick, neoprene socks, water shoes, and dry pants with a bib. All of these items are 100% necessary if you want to make it in and out of the canyon without tripping, freezing, drowning, or generally having a miserable time. It was $60 for a day rental, which is around average compared to other shops.
Next you must find your way to the Temple of Sinawava. While the name sounds grand, it’s really just the end of the drivable path through the canyon. It’s around here where the canyon begins to narrow and the smooth rock walls close in tighter. The sandy riverbanks start to shrink and eventually disappear, until the only path through the canyon is the river itself. Get to this spot, and you can begin your adventure.
The scenic drive out to the Temple is only accessible via park shuttle for most of the year. I parked at the history museum, so I had to shuttle back to the visitor’s center, get off, wait in line, and then shuttle all the way to the Temple. From my arrival in Springdale to my arrival at the trailhead, two hours had gone by.
When you get off the shuttle at the Temple, you won’t see much. Just more trees and another view of the creek. But continue down the paved path called the Riverwalk, and you’ll find the edge of the water. The canyon walls that seem distant in the rest of the park start to form a passageway—this is the mouth of the Narrows. It’s also your cue to get wet.
The first few steps in the river feel strange as the water soaks into your neoprene socks. It’s chilly in the canyon, with your legs in icy water and minimal sunlight reaching your head. The temperature seems to drop dozens of degrees almost immediately. It feels less like starting a hike and more like entering some sort of massive and drafty stone building.
Soon, the trail weeds out those who aren’t prepared – right before Mystery Falls, a trickle that splays out over the right-hand cliff. This is where the water is deepest, and the reason why dry packs are recommended. The river here came up to my chest.
While the earlier part of the trail was alive with chit-chat, everyone in this section was silent and focused, fighting the current and trying not to trip. This bit only lasted about 25 yards. From here the path was much easier, and the water never reached my waist again.
The further you go, the more the crowd thins out, and the more you feel like you’re in an alien landscape. The cliffs gradually become higher and narrower, and you have to look straight up to see the tops of them. In some spots, the river was clean enough to look crystal blue. In others, it takes on the trademark Utah redness. Maidenhair ferns peek out from rocks and feed on the drippy dampness at the bottom of the canyon.
After about two hours, I decided to head back to the entrance, I’d heard that the return trip was faster because you’re going with the current instead of against, and that was my experience too. It only took about an hour and fifteen minutes to get back.
It felt lightning fast, like a blink. Stepping back onto dry land and out of the damp corridor feels like crash-landing back on Earth.
Although the original Panama canal was completed in 1914, in 2016 the expansion project was completed. This added 2 new sets of locks, one each on the Atlantic and Pacific sides which doubled the canal’s capacity and allows larger vessels to pass. The ship I was on would not have been able to get through the original locks but we were able to transit the new Agua Clara 3-step locks. At dawn we cruised under the new Atlantic bridge which was built in 2019 to make a 3rd crossing over the canal.
Shortly after the bridge the canal separates, the new canal to the left and the old one to the right. Approaching the locks we are greeted by 2 tug boats to guide us through, one in front and one behind. A pilot also needs to come aboard our cruise ship to navigate us through the 3 new locks. This takes about 2 hours until we pass the visitor observation point and enter the Gatun lake.
The new locks are built with sliding gates and each lock has 3 water saving basins to reduce the volume of water that is needed from lake Gatun for lock operation. The operation of the new locks uses gravity and valves. There is no pumping involved. It was an amazing experience to watch the opening and closing of the gates.
Our cruise was staying on the Atlantic (north) side of the canal which meant that we were only going as far as Gatun lake before turning to go back through the same 3 locks. Once we had passed through the 3rd lock into Gatun lake, we stayed there for about another 2 hours while some of the passengers left the ship in tenders to go on various excursions.
The length of time in Gatun lake depends on how many other ships are coming through the canal as we needed to wait for them before going back through. Once back through the 3 locks we docked at Port Cristobel to collect the passengers who had been on excursions.
What is it about castles that are so alluring to travelers? Aside from getting us one step closer to living out our fairytale fantasies, the staggering structures showcase some of the world’s best architecture and most stunning landscapes—and maybe even a ghost story or two.
There’s perhaps no better place on earth to find awe-inspiring castles than in Europe, where it seems like you can’t visit a city or take a road trip without stumbling upon some sort of royal residence. Here you’ll find medieval stone walls, sky-high towers, and bridges arching over glittering moats, everywhere from the Bavarian Alps to the Mediterranean coast
Pena Palace, Portugal
Inspired by German Romantic architecture, Pena Palace—situated on top of a hill in Sintra—looks like a Disney castle with its pink and yellow towers, ornamental buttresses, and cartoonish gargoyles. The interiors are equally dramatic. Don’t miss the intricately carved ceilings and walls of Queen Amelia’s apartments and the striking all-white reception room. (Bonus: Sintra is only 40 minutes from Lisbon, meaning you really have no excuse not to visit.)
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Neuschwanstein Castle is not only one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, but it is also one of the most recognizable castles on the planet—thanks in large part to the fact that it served as inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Originally built at the behest of reclusive King Ludwig II as a private retreat in 1886, the majestic structure boasts a clifftop location and ornate rooms; today, it attracts some 1.4 million visitors every year.
Guaita Tower, San Marino
San Marino may be tiny—under 24 square miles, and completely surrounded by Italy—but it still has some pretty impressive sites. The capital city is known for its three hilltop towers (you can even spot them on the country’s coat of arms), the prettiest of which is Guaita Tower. It was constructed atop Monte Titano in the 10th century, and it is now open year-round to visitors.
Alcázar of Segovia, Spain
The Alcázar de Segovia was once a medieval fortress, but it was rebuilt in its current, castle-like style following a fire in 1862. Today, visitors can explore its museum, multiple halls and secret passageways, and towers overlooking Segovia’s town square. Then, be prepared for some equally impressive interiors. They’re marked by stained glass windows, polished suits of armor, lavish dining and dancing halls, and so many canopied beds.
Hohenwerfen Fortress, Austria
Another medieval, mountaintop castle, Hohenwerfen Fortress is one of the most stunning sites in all of Austria—and that’s saying something. The 11th-century castle overlooks the scenic Salzach River Valley (about 35 miles south of Salzburg), offering Christmas markets and falconry demonstrations along with its daily tours.
Bled Castle, Slovenia
There’s a reason (well, many reasons) why Lake Bled is one of Slovenia’s most popular sites, featuring emerald waters, a church-dotted islet, views of the Julien Alps, and, of course, a Disney-like castle on a hill. Climb your way up the forest trail to see Bled Castle’s orange-roofed towers and 11th-century walls up close, then turn around to be afforded some of the most picture-perfect views of the lake you’ll ever find.
The salt flats are probably what you picture when you think of Death Valley – and they are indeed a sight to behold. Badwater Basin stretches out into the valley as a great white plain and visitors are invited to wander across as they please.
The basin is where the literal hotspot broke the North American records for the lowest and driest place, as well as the world record for hottest at 56.7° C. Not only can you fry an egg on the pavement there, so many people did it that the park had to ask them to stop.
Then there are the dunes dotting the valley, the best being Mesquite Flats – so otherwordly you might think you’ve gotten woefully lost and ended up in the Sahara.
The park is about 150 miles from downtown Vegas and takes about two hours to drive there. You can break up the trip by stopping in the ghost town of Rhyolite
This is the classic day trip from Vegas. It’s only about 30 miles from the city centre, and in a seemingly endless dry desert, it’s a bit of an oasis.
It’s got every outdoor activity covered: hiking, swimming, camping, boating, you name it. What this region lacks in foliage, it makes up for in sheer space. You could easily spend a week here exploring every craggy peak and shore.
It also includes the Hoover Dam, where the scale of the structure is pretty impressive.
If you’re looking for a one-stop outdoor adventure without sitting in the car for hours, Lake Mead is your place.
The Grand Canyon is one of those things that everyone should experience at least once in their life. It’s not just a “big hole in the ground”; it’s so massive that it’s hard to believe it’s real when you’re looking right at it.
If the main spots were more accessible from Vegas, this would easily win this category. It still deserves a mention because the West Rim is way, way closer than the more popular viewpoints (125 miles from Vegas versus 290) while also providing some pretty sweet canyon views.
The West Rim’s unique attraction is the Skywalk, a glass-floored lookout point allowing you to peer deep into the abyss of the canyon (and your soul).
Oktoberfest is a celebration of all things beer and Bavaria, its origins date back to 1810 and a royal wedding between Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The meadow in front of Munich’s city gates was named Theresienwiese in her honour, and it remains at the epicentre of all the Oktoberfest.
The Bavarian charm has spread far and wide, however, and most of us can enjoy a special Oktoberfest Mass or two without even hopping on a plane. But that’s no fun, really. So we say, why not mix it up a little and visit one of the world’s other great Oktoberfests instead?
Blumenau, Brazil The (joint) second-largest Oktoberfest in the world is held in the Brazilian city of Blumenau. Having been founded in 1852 by German colonists, the city’s heritage is still clear to see in its architecture, restaurants and—you guessed it— beer. The area is frothing over with exceptional breweries, so you might need to work on your bar crawling stamina in advance.
Festivities at the 19-day event serve up everything you could hope for, with Lederhosen, beer tents, parades and live music all on offer. Plus, there’s an added splash of Samba to spice things up. But it can also get slightly surreal at points. Just know that you’re not imagining things if you spot a giant herring named Rollmops presiding over a herring-eating competition.
Blumenau will undoubtedly transport you right back to Munich, but no matter how much you like beer, you probably aren’t going all the way to Brazil just to drink a pint.
Right on its doorstep is the Spitzkopf Ecological Park, where you can sweat off the hangover with a hike along rainforest trails towards panoramic views, before a refreshing dip in a river or waterfall. Keep your eyes peeled for protected species, like the white-bearded antshrike, white-necked hawk, cougar and margay.
Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada Also in the running for second place after Munich is the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest in Ontario, Canada. This is another area with deep German roots, having been settled by German Mennonite farming families from the early 1790s. In fact, until a referendum in 1916, Kitchener was actually called Berlin.
Known as the Twin Cities, Kitchener and Waterloo both take Oktoberfest seriously. What started out as a modest trial run in 1969 has become three weeks of partying, feasts, and family-friendly fun across the two cities.
The official keg tapping is the ceremonial opening event, but it’s the Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade that really gets attention. The floats, marching bands and dancers make up the nation’s only Thanksgiving parade, drawing thousands come rain or shine.
