November 03, 2023

Ten Tips for First-time Travellers to Japan

November 03, 2023/ Ken Hardaker

During a recent trip to Japan a few simple things made the travel experience a little easier and a little more enjoyable. There are many travel blog posts and vlogs which provide useful travel tips for Japan. A lot cover the etiquette that is so much a part of Japanese culture; or great places to visit such as onsen and sacred shrines; or how to buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets, to name but a few topics. But for us, these ten simple things are what we’d recommend to any first-time traveller to Japan.

January 11, 2020

Our Top Tips for Independent Travel in China

January 11, 2020/ Ken Hardaker

In September 2019 we spent a month in China. We were surprised at the relatively small number of independent foreign travellers we met along the way. There seems to be a view held by many in the West, that China is a difficult country in which to travel as an independent traveller, unless you can speak Chinese. It’s true that there are a few tricky aspects to navigating China, but with a bit of pre-planning, and a relaxed attitude, these can be either overcome or ignored. Overall China is a safe and fairly easy place to visit on your own. Here are a few things we identified before going or learned along the way which made our life on the road easier.

November 21, 2019

Our Top Tips for Travel in Mongolia

November 21, 2019/ Ken Hardaker

In August and September 2019, we spent a month in Mongolia. Before going we did some research as to what to expect in terms of weather, culture, food, in-country travel, etc. This turned out to be very useful as we were reasonably well prepared for our Mongolian adventure. But we also learned a lot while there that helped ensure a culturally sensitive and enjoyable trip. While we don’t pretend to be experts on Mongolia, we do believe that some of the tips we’ve come across are worth sharing with anyone planning their own trip to the country. Here’s what we recommend.