Blog Archives

Human By Nature In Kerala, India.

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 2 Comments

The state of Kerala is like no other in India. Intensely laid back and uniquely spiritual, the lush, tropical landscape, spectacular festivals and mysterious culture has fascinated travellers for thousands of years, but it is the people that keep bringing travellers back to God’s Own Country time and time again.

Tagged with: Gods Own Country, Human By Nature, India, India travel, Kerala
Posted in Destinations

The Truth About Travel Safety During The Coronavirus Outbreak.

Posted on February 24, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 126 Comments

The novel coronavirus (also known as COVID 19 or 2019 nCoV) that originated in Wuhan China is one of the biggest public health emergencies that has emerged in recent years, and has had a significant impact on the travel industry and traveller confidence in the early months of 2020, but what is the truth about the coronavirus outbreak? What are the facts and what is just media scaremongering? Are travellers really at risk from coronavirus or is it just media hysteria?

Tagged with: China, Chinese city lockdown, Coronavirus, coronavirus outbreak, coronavirus travel, Novel Coronavirus, travel health, Wuhan China, Wuhan Coronavirus symptoms
Posted in Travel Health

Top 10 Tips To Make Backpacking India Easier.

Posted on February 19, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 12 Comments

India is one of the biggest adventures any backpacker will ever have and it is a firm fixture on any gap year bucket list, but it isn’t always the easiest destination for first time backpackers. From dealing with culture shock and Delhi belly to navigating awkward visa issues, here are the top 10 tips to make sure your trip to India is much smoother and easier.

Tagged with: backpacking india, eVisa, eVuisa India, India, India travel, india visa
Posted in Travel Lists, Travel Tips

The Final Word On Reclining Airline Seats. It Is Rude And They Should Be Banned.

Posted on February 17, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 142 Comments

The controversial debate about reclining seats on airlines has once again reared its head, and after years of debating this issue there finally seems to be a general consensus. It is rude and inconsiderate to recline your seat in modern economy class, recliners are obnoxious and selfish people and reclining seats themselves should just be banned outright.

Tagged with: air travel, airline seats, airlines, airplane knee defender, airplane reclining seats debate, airplane reclining seats etiquette, airplane reclining seats fight, airplane seat recline blocker, airplane seat recline lock, annoying passengers, economy class, economy cramped conditions, is it rude to recline your seat, knee defender, passenger rights, passengers who recline seats on airplanes are the worst, recline, reclining airline seats a right or impolite, reclining seats, reclining seats passenger fight, right to recline, rude passengers, rules for reclining your airplane seat, seat recliners, should reclining seats be banned, should reclining seats be banned on long haul flights, which seats don't recline on an airplane, who owns the spac between reclining airplane seats
Posted in Travel Talk

10 Essential Castles To Visit In Ireland.

Posted on February 10, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 10 Comments

Ireland is one of the most magical places in the world, with myth and legend rolling seamlessly into history, melodic green landscapes and a well earned epithet of the Emerald Isle, one of the best ways to immerse yourself into the history, legend and culture of Ireland, outside of the bars and pubs of course, are its castles! Here are 10 essential castles that you have to visit in Ireland.

Tagged with: castle, Ireland, Ireland's heritage trail, Irelands Ancient East, things to do in Ireland, UNESCO Ireland, what to do in Ireland
Posted in Travel Lists

Top 10 Ethical Wildlife Experiences For Your Gap Year Bucket List.

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 17 Comments

Many people who dream of traveling the world have a bucket list, and wildlife experiences are quite often right at the very top. The big problem is ensuring that you aren’t contributing to the widespread abuse of animals in the tourism industry and that you are instead observing animals in an ethical and sustainable way to ensure that travel and tourism has a positive impact on wildlife. Here are the top 10 ethical wildlife activities you can safely add to your bucket list right now.

Tagged with: bucket list, does wildlife tourism harm animals, how to interact with wildlife on your gap year, illegal wildlife trade, responsible wildlife tourism, safari, travel, volunteering with wildlife, wildlife, wildlife conservation, wildlife exploitation, wildlife exploitation in tourism, wildlife tourism, wildlife volunteer work abroad, zoo
Posted in Responsible Travel

100 Expert Travel Tips After 20 Years Of Travelling The World.

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 40 Comments

I have been travelling the world now for 20 years. I have travelled to over 100 countries on all but one continent in every way imaginable, and with all that experience here are my top 100 tips for travelling the world after 20 years of backpacking.

Tagged with: backpacking, backpacking tips and tricks, expert travel tips, gap year tips, Tips for travelling the world solo, top tips, top travel tips after 20 years if travel
Posted in Travel Tips

Yes Solo Travel Is Scary, But You Should Go Anyway.

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 18 Comments

The thought of solo travel can be scary at first. The idea of travelling around the world on your own, with no back up and no safety net to fall back on can be intimidating. But just because something is…

Tagged with: backpacking, backpacking solo around the world, can I travel the world on my own, can I travel the world solo, gap year, gap year on your own, gap year without a partner, how can I travel the world solo, how to go backpacking solo, how to take a solo gap year, how to travel the world solo, is solo travel safe, Round the world solo, solo backpacker, solo backpacker safety tips, solo backpacking, Solo backpacking empowering, solo female backpacker, solo female backpacker safety, solo female travel, Solo female traveller, solo holidays last minute, solo travel, solo travel ideas, solo travel is awesome, solo travel tips, solo traveller, the benefits of solo travel, travelling the world solo, travelling without a partner, why should I travel solo, why solo travel makes you awesome, will I get lonely travelling solo
Posted in Solo Travel

Top 15 Alternative Bucket List Experiences.

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 14 Comments

Gap years are all about the experiences, but the big problem is most travel bucket lists are all the same. Once you have seen one you have seen them all and everyone ends up on a gap year adventure doing and seeing the same thing. So how do you make your gap year bucket list different? Here are some alternative bucket list ideas to make your gap year completely unique.

Tagged with: alternative bucket list, alternative gap year ideas, bucket list, gap year, Gap Year adventure, gap year ideas, what to do on your gap year
Posted in Travel Lists

The Best Destinations For First Time Backpackers.

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 14 Comments

Planning a gap year can be exciting, but it can be hard to choose where you want to go. Here are my picks for some of the best destinations for any first time backpacker, including a few surprising ones!

Tagged with: backpacker, best destinations 2020, best first time destinations, first time travel, where to go, where to travel, where to travel 2020
Posted in Travel Video