Jonistravelling

Backpacking in Laos: Costs, Tips and Places to See

August 19, 2016December 9, 2014 by Jon Algie

A bird cage at a riverside restaurant in Luang Prabang, Laos

Laos probably isn’t the first place you think of when planning a trip to Southeast Asia. There is no world famous cuisine, exotic beaches or crazy nightlife, but the stunning mountain scenery and laid back attitude of the locals make it my favourite country in the region. Backpacking in Laos is a far more relaxing … Read more

Visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum: A Day Trip to the Past

January 5, 2016December 4, 2014 by Jon Algie

A day trip to Pompeii and Herculaneum, Italy

There’s nothing quite like a volcano to bring death and destruction to a town while ironically preserving it for tourists to walk around 2000 years later. You’d be forgiven for thinking only one town, Pompeii, was destroyed when Mt Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, but the small town of Herculaneum also met its unfortunate end, … Read more

Cheap Romance in Venice

January 5, 2016November 30, 2014 by Jon Algie

If bank accounts could talk they’d probably spin all sorts of stories to put you off going to Venice. It’s a cheapskate’s nightmare destination, but if you’re travelling around Europe with your girlfriend then chances are you’ll end up there. I’m here to show you how to get a taste of cheap romance in Venice, … Read more

Lake Bled in Autumn (Fall): Fairy Tales and Rain Clouds

January 5, 2016November 21, 2014 by Jon Algie

The church on the island in Lake Bled, Slovenia

You’ve probably seen Lake Bled somewhere on the internet, most likely in one of those “10 Fairy tale Places That Are Actually Real” articles, where the sun is always shining and the lake’s water looks like it’s been flown in from the Maldives. You can imagine royals from centuries past getting married in the island … Read more

Rise of the Robot Travellers: Technology on the Road

December 13, 2014November 16, 2014 by Jon Algie

As my girlfriend and I sat in the common room of a hostel in Central London I noticed we were the only ones not using a phone, laptop or tablet. I’m not old enough to remember the “good old days” of travelling, when everyone involved themselves in deep discussions around candles and camp fires, but is this new, connected and robotic way of travelling really as bad as the old timers make it out to be?

Old Towns and Castles: A Week in Transylvania

February 2, 2017November 12, 2014 by Jon Algie

The Black Church in Brasov, Transylvania - the base for our week in Transylvania

After a month travelling in Europe, I’ve reached an insightful and possibly world changing conclusion: There are lots of old buildings in Europe. Do people get sick of seeing old town after old town? I haven’t yet, but it’s going to be hard to beat some of the places I went during my week in … Read more

Southeast Asia Backpacking Highlights (Part 2)

January 5, 2016November 6, 2014 by Jon Algie

Here’s part 2 of my Southeast Asia backpacking highlights series (it’ll probably be the last, so I’m not sure if that’s really a series…). Check out part 1 here.

Searching for Robert Pattinson at Bran Castle, Transylvania

November 15, 2018November 1, 2014 by Jon Algie

Bran Castle in Transylvania - apparently it's Dracula's castle!

Vampires used to be cool. Gary Oldman was great in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, as were Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in Interview with the Vampire – even old timers like Bella Lugosi portrayed the undead in a far more interesting light than we’ve seen lately. Teenage girls are to blame, and even though I’ve only … Read more