Greetings from Nairobi, Kenya π°πͺ
I've been in the Kenyan capital for a couple of weeks and I'll be here until late January.
It's been a busy year of travel. I visited 15 countries this year and entered Greece 4 times. Some visits were just for a day, others were for several months.
South Africa was probably the highlight. I was blown away by just how friendly the people are, how beautiful the country is, and the endless possibilities for adventure, enjoying great food, and experiencing culture.
I'm still looking for a base to spend at least half the year. Suggestions welcome π
Nairobi National Park, Kenya
QUIZ TIME
Name the five countries with one-syllable names?
Which country is home to the world's largest natural harbour and the world's largest monolith?
Answers at the end of the newsletter
πΈπ¨ Seychelles
I spent a few days in the Seychelles (official name: Republic of Seychelles) this year and I can report that the beaches are as good as they say they are.
Quite a few people told me that there was nothing to see here. But from first-hand experience, let me just say that the beaches are excellent and uncrowded, there's forest canopy everywhere, and there are plenty of good hiking opportunities and ways to get lost in nature.
The Seychelles is a small archipelago of 115 islands located in the Indian Ocean, east of Africa.
In terms of culture, the Seychelles has a unique blend of African, Asian, and European influences. The people are friendly and welcoming, and the cuisine is a blend of Creole, Chinese, and Indian flavors.
It's also a lot cheaper than I expected. Certainly cheaper than Kenya, which lies immediately to the East, for example.
π€ Misconceptions
As a geography nerd, I found this excellent presentation quite interesting.
This multimedia-heavy article by John Nelson discusses common geographic misconceptions, such as misplacing the continent of Africa and Europe further south than they actually are.
He also talks about South America being misplacement east of North America and closer to Africa.
Nelson discusses how these misconceptions can be dispelled by using visual explanations such as maps and globes. He also provides links to websites and other reading materials to further explore these geographical misconceptions.
My geekiness shows in the fact that I knew 90% of what this excellent presentation revealed.
Common geographic mental misplacements
π¦π± Albania
I wrote a piece about Albania some months ago but forgot to include it in the last newsletter. Instead of a list of the best things to do, this is more of an introduction to the country, its people, and its history.
Although Albania has a lot going for it, there are plenty of hyped-up places that don't deserve the attention. So I tried to be honest about my experience without being overly critical or fawning over what everyone else calls "the best European country you've never heard of." (I don't work for tourist boards or write sponsored content.)
And keep in mind that if you come to Albania only for its beaches, you're missing out on the real beauty of this place.
Albania's wild history and unique culture make it one of Europe's most singular countries. Interested in finding out more about this Balkan gem?
Albania: Travel in a different Europe
π¨π³ Would you live here?
Here's a video of a train that runs through residential apartments in China.
π§ Travel Podcasts
I just had to call it the "best travel podcasts of 2023" because, well, that gets attention and clicks. I wish there was another way :-)
One podcast that I need to add to the list, despite the fact that it's quite niche-specific, is the Bangkok Podcast. Aimed at people ling in or interested in living in Bangkok, this show is entertaining and full of great tips. Interviews with expats, diplomats, and nomad creators are always great for understanding how Bangkok ticks.
The Best Travel Podcasts of 2023 β Eargasms For Wanderlusters
πΉπ Bangkok old vs new
Greg, one of the hosts of the excellent Bangkok Podcast , also has an equally-impressive blog about living in one of the (in my humble opinion) world's best cities.
In of his latest posts, Greg examines the differences between old Bangkok and new Bangkok through the eyes of photographer.
I love looking at old photos of places and seeing how they have changed over time.
π¨ How luxury hotels are faking it to compete with Airbnb
Hotels are getting creative with their marketing, and are now posting fake reviews to compete with AirBnb. Some hotels are going so far as to create new identities and post fake positive reviews of their own properties.
Others are paying for positive reviews, or even offering guests freebies in exchange for a good review.
It's all about staying competitive in the ever-changing world of hospitality, but it's not good for the customer.
βοΈ Sleeping on airplanes
Looking to catch some Z's on your next flight? Lufthansa's got you covered with their new "sleepers row" feature! Now you can book a whole row of seats to yourself and enjoy some well-deserved rest. Just make sure you don't snore too loudly...
π Train Travel
I've started using Trainline to buy tickets for trains in advance. I used it a lot on Italy just recently.
You might be asking why bother when you can just buy the tickets at the station? Well, here's why:
1. You're guaranteed a ticket
2. You don't have to mess around or queue at the station
3. You can easily find cheaper tickets near the time you plan to travel. Or if you're flexible on travel times, you can save plenty of cash by looking at the best times to travel.
There are many advantages to traveling by train.
Turn up 5 minutes before it leaves.
No complicated boarding procedures
Plenty of room, especially in higher classes, which are nothing like as expensive as Airline classes
No turbulence
No weight restrictions on bags (there is, but most people won't have an issue - don't bring your drum kit)
The list goes on.
The main drawbacks are that train travel is slower than air travel and you can't take the train everywhere. But maybe one day, trains will cross the world and gives us a much more pleasant travel experience.
Trains are also approaching the speed of airplanes. Who knows? Maybe one day they will be just as fast. Japan's Maglev has a top speed of 602km/h. Airliners typically reach a top speed of around 900km/h.
π "I'd never visit that place again"
Well, I've got no idea how I stumbled into this Reddit thread filled with people complaining about countries they hate - but boy. oh boy, one spot is getting a lotta hate.
And that place is Egypt. Here's the discusion.
Keep in mind that Reddit can be an incubator for complainers and lunatics. But in the end, many of their complaints are about things that don't matterβthings that are part of a culture and shouldn't be changed just to suit tourists.
I would return to almost every country in the world that I've already visited. In my experience, places change and, at the same time, we change over time. Our second experience in a city or country could be vastly different to the first.
I've been to Egypt twice, but never to Cairo and the pyramids.
Have you been?
Which countries would you never visit again?
π Time to stop using Google Flights?
Google Flights, how I used to love thee. I'd search for hours and hours and hours, just to find the right flight. Until one day, I realised that this site that pretty much everyone uses by default is really not the best place to search for cheap flights or the most convenient flights.
The thing is, Google doesn't cover all airlines. And it doesn't understand all of the complicated routing.
Here's how to get better prices:
1. Search for low-cost airlines and the destination or departure airport or country. Type "low cost airline [departure] [destination]" into Google. There are many low-cost, smaller airlines that never appear on Google flights yet are often direct and inexpensive.
2. Use FlightConnections.com. It's free to use and will give you a better idea of prices than Google flights.
FlightConnections.com provides a database of all available flights around the world and includes flight schedules, airline routes, and connections. The flight finder can be a very valuable tool for planning your next trip by providing you with information about airlinesβ route networks so that you are able to create itineraries based on cost efficiency rather than simply relying on well-known travel websites like Expedia or Orbitz which donβt include every single destination in their databases.
Here's an example of a route I wanted to book. I first used Google flights:
Best price: β¬579 with one stop
Here's an example of the same route with a local airline (that Google doesn't even know about):
Best price: β¬49, direct.
So that's β¬49 with no stops vs β¬579 with one stop. Pretty clear who the winner is here.
π·π΄ Romania's 'Camino'
Romania has a hidden gem that is its answer to the El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Spain.
The route is called the "Romanian Way" and it winds through some of the most spectacular landscapes on the continent. Hikers get stunning views of mountains, forests, and valleys on this challenging hike. Romania's hiking trails are becoming increasingly popular with travelers looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience.
The most spectacular landscape on the continent
π§πΉ Book recommendation
License to Travel: A Cultural History of the Passport explores the history of the passport, its influence on art, thought, and human experience, and its power to shape our movements and emotions.
It explores the documents' implications for identity, mobility, citizenship, and state authority, and shows how passports have been used by artists and intellectuals, writers and musicians, ancient messengers and modern migrants.
It also examines how the passport is a tool of government surveillance, and how it has the power to define our very humanity.
π‘ Airbnb's Seriously Out-There Ideas
Airbnb putting it's money where it's not really needed?
A group of 100 people were given $10 million by Airbnb to pursue their "out-of-this-world" ideas - The recipients include a woman who wants to build a "Hansel and Gretelβs Chocolate House", a "Giant Pig in Meadow at Pig Sanctuary", and plenty of treehouses.
While this is cool, I would prefer Airbnb use the money to improve the service and address the out-of-control "cleaning fees."
Maybe I'm just boring, but I'd rather stay in a comfortable place for a reasonable price with no crazy owners, than a floating avocado.
πͺπΊ A map of every European city
Map by @TerribleMaps
𧳠Carry on vs Checked Bag
This article by Tim Leffel talks about one of travel's endless questions: should I travel with carry on only or check a bag?
Many travelers have strong beliefs about which is best, but the truth is that it depends on the trip and the individual. Some people love the convenience of carry-on bags and the time they save, while others prefer to avoid the overhead bin struggle and check their luggage.
Flexibility is key for savvy travelers, as the right choice can vary from trip to trip.
πΉπΌ Coast down East Taiwan by rail in 7 days
While some people might be put off by China's sabre rattling at Taiwan, it's a very safe place and an amazing destination.
I spent some time there a few years ago and loved it. I plan to go back for at least a month. If you visit (and I recommend you do) this 7-day train journey along the east coast sounds like a great way to see the country.
Train travel > Air travel.
Answers:
CHAD, FRANCE, GREECE, LAOS, and SPAIN.
Australia
π USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
π NordVPN - probably the best value VPN for travellers
π italki - online language tutors to help you prep for your next trip.
π Bookshop.org - Support independent booksellers. There's one Amazon that doesn't need saving.
π Safety Wing Borderless - Get updates and email alerts on travel restrictions, containment measures and vaccination information around the globe.
π Priority Pass - get access to premium lounges worldwide
π LingoPie - learn a language for travel by watching TV