Travelling the world with a chronic illness isn’t something you often see talked about online, especially when the illness doesn’t “look” obvious. From the outside, my travels might seem carefree and high-energy, but behind every trip is careful planning, flexibility, and a deep understanding of my body.

In this episode, I’m sharing something I don’t often talk about publicly: my experience living with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), often referred to as mould illness, and how it impacts the way I travel.

This is a deeply personal conversation about invisible illness, flare-ups on the road, missed moments, and why I continue to travel anyway... just differently. If you’ve ever wondered whether travel is still possible with a chronic illness, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What it’s really like travelling with an invisible chronic illness
• How CIRS affects my energy, cognition, digestion, and resilience
• Why I plan trips months in advance (and how I do it gently)
• How I use Google Maps, social media, and AI to reduce planning overwhelm
• My non-negotiables when choosing accommodation
• What travelling during a flare-up actually looks like
• What I pack in my chronic illness travel kit

Helpful Resources & Links

Related blog post: How I Travel with a Chronic Illness: My CIRS Travel Story

Related blog post: The Future of Travel AI is Here: How AI is Revolutionising The Way We Plan, Book & Experience the World

Connect & Explore

Find destination guides, travel planning resources and more at touristtotraveller.com, and follow along on Instagram @_touristtotraveller for behind-the-scenes planning and future travel inspiration.

Long-haul flights are a fact of life when you’re a frequent flyer. They’re the gateway to bucket-list adventures… but they can also be uncomfortable, exhausting, and wildly unpredictable.

On a recent trip from Australia to the USA, a “quick” stopover in Dallas turned into a 24-hour airport survival situation when a once-in-a-century snowstorm hit Texas. Flights were cancelled, hotels were full, Ubers shut down, terminals were freezing... and when I finally reached my destination, my checked luggage didn’t.

That experience reinforced something I’ve believed for years: what you pack in your carry-on can make or break your journey. In this episode, I’m sharing exactly what I pack in my carry-on for long-haul flights... not for perfection, but for comfort, preparedness, and peace of mind when travel doesn’t go to plan.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why your carry-on matters more than your checked luggage
• How to pack for delays, cancellations, and lost bags
• My go-to carry-on bag setup for long-haul travel
• What always stays with me (and what I intentionally leave out)
• Comfort essentials that make long flights more bearable
• The underrated items that have saved my trips more than once

This episode breaks down my real-world carry-on packing strategy for long-haul flights... especially when travelling from Australia, where multi-leg journeys and long stopovers are unavoidable.

You’ll hear why I always travel with a hard-shell suitcase plus a carry-on backpack, and why I swear by my Tildy Carryall Camera Backpack from taz + tez... a bag that works as my flight carry-on, day pack, hiking bag, and road-trip backpack.

Helpful Resources & Links

• Related blog post: What I Pack in My Carry-On for Long-Haul Flights

Disclosure: This podcast includes affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use these links to make a purchase.

Connect & Explore

Find destination guides, travel planning resources and more at touristtotraveller.com, and follow along on Instagram @_touristtotraveller for behind-the-scenes planning and future travel inspiration.

Before I even landed in Spain, the Caminito del Rey was already locked into my bucket list. I’d seen the photos... narrow walkways hugging towering cliffs, the river below, and views that felt almost unreal.

What I didn’t realise at the time was how misunderstood this hike actually is. Despite its dramatic reputation (and its past as one of the world’s most dangerous walks), the Caminito del Rey today is surprisingly accessible, and absolutely unforgettable if you know how to do it right.

In this episode, I’m sharing what it’s really like to hike the Caminito del Rey, what surprised me most, and the practical tips I wish I’d known before stepping onto that cliffside path.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What the Caminito del Rey actually is (and what it isn’t)
• Where it’s located and how to visit it as a day trip
• How long the hike really takes and how challenging it feels
• What to expect on the trail, from safety briefings to no-stop zones
• The pros and cons of guided tours vs doing it yourself
• Practical tips to enjoy the views properly

Helpful Resources & Links

• I’ve written a full South of Spain travel guide that shows how to fit the Caminito del Rey into a bigger itinerary.
• Dive deeper with my blog post Hiking the Camonito del Rey - Spain's Most Epic Cliffside Walk

Connect & Explore

Find destination guides, travel planning resources and more at touristtotraveller.com, and follow along on Instagram @_touristtotraveller for behind-the-scenes planning and future travel inspiration.