Blog Archives

Aruba Opening For Happiness Again!

Posted on June 20, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 12 Comments

Aruba, like the rest of the world, has been hit hard by the Coronavirus outbreak, but you can’t keep such a happy island down for long and Aruba is starting to open up and welcome visitors once again!

Tagged with: Aruba, Aruba independent travel, Aruba reopening, Coronavirus, covid19, lockdown restriction Aruba
Posted in Travel Talk

What Travellers Need To Know About Sharia Law In The United Arab Emirates.

Posted on May 25, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 4 Comments

The United Arab Emirates, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is a Muslim state that has a culture and a legal system based largely on Sharia law. As travellers to the UAE, it is always worth familiarising yourself with the laws, rules and customs so you don’t find yourself unexpectedly in trouble. Here is everything all travellers need to know about Sharia Law when travelling to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or the wider United Arab Emirates.

Tagged with: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, sharia law for travellers in the UAE, UAE, United Arab Emirates
Posted in Travel Advice, Travel Talk

How The Coronavirus Pandemic Will Change Travel In The Future.

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 30 Comments

The Coronavirus pandemic has been unprecedented, not in the scale of the disease, but the scale of the response. It has shut down the world on a level never seen before and could have a profound impact on the way we travel in the future. It is important to remember that we will travel again and the travel industry will resume, but some changes may be with is for a long time yet.

Tagged with: airlines, Coronavirus, covid19, how travel will change, ne normal, overtourism, travel
Posted in Travel Talk

A Rare Travel Surprise In The United Arab Emirates.

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 10 Comments

After 20 years of travel I still haven’t lost a sense of wonder or bemusement about the world, but it is not often now that a destination can really surprise me. A recent visit to Abu Dhabi not only threw me a huge curve ball with how much I ended up loving the country, but gave me a timely reminder of why I love travel too.

Tagged with: Abu Dhabi, gap year, travel, UAE, United Arab Emirates
Posted in Travel Talk

Why Air Travel Needs To Return To Normal Soon, And Also Why It Shouldn’t.

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 31 Comments

The Coronavirus pandemic has shut down the world on an unprecedented scale. Never before have so many borders been closed, airlines shut down and people all over the world faced social isolation and quarantine edicts on such a mass scale. But as time goes on it becomes increasingly imperative that airlines need to start flying again and return to normality as soon as possible, and yet at the same time it is clear that they should never be allowed to operate as normal again.

FAQ About Travel During The COVID 19 Outbreak.

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Bemused Backpacker — 56 Comments

The COVID 19 Pandemic has caused mass disruption in the travel industry, and many travellers have been left lost, dizzy and confused at the rapidly changing situation. Here are the most common questions and answers about your consumer rights, how to deal with the coronavirus pandemic disruption to your travels and what to do next.

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.

The Great Himalayan Road Trip.

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Bemused Backpacker — 16 Comments

What started as a simple idea, a road trip through some of the most pristine and undisturbed locations in the Himachal Himalayas, led to an epic adventure that none of us could have prepared for. Heroic landscapes, surprising cultures, laughter,…

Tagged with: Himachal Pradesh, Himalayas, India, road trip, road trip Himalayas, road trip India
Posted in Destinations, Travel Talk

The Sacrifices Of Long Term Travel.

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Bemused Backpacker — 94 Comments

You are so lucky to travel so much. That is perhaps one of the most common things people say to me when they hear about what I do, but it isn’t luck. Travelling the world is a conscious choice that involves a lot of sacrifices of things other people take for granted. If you want to follow your dreams and travel the world as well, especially in the long term, then you will have to make the same sacrifices.

Should Travellers Boycott Controversial Destinations?

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Bemused Backpacker — 51 Comments

There are plenty of destinations around the world that have controversial political or cultural stances on many issues, from women’s rights and human rights abuses to LGBTQ rights and oppressive dictatorships, but does that mean you should boycott a destination? Should your ethical or moral viewpoint dictate where you travel to? What would you do?