After more than 20 years of travelling, I’ve learned that travel isn’t just about where you go. It’s about how you show up while you’re there.

I’ve experienced some truly magical moments on the road… and I’ve also been stuck next to some wildly uncomfortable travel behaviour. The kind that doesn’t ruin a trip entirely, but subtly drains the joy out of flights, airports, tours, and group adventures.

This episode of Tourist to Traveller is a candid, good-humoured look at my biggest travel icks... shared not with judgement, but with the hope that we can all travel a little more consciously, respectfully, and confidently.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The most common airport and plane behaviours that frustrate travellers
• Why small actions can have a big impact in shared travel spaces
• Cultural travel habits that disrespect destinations
• Group travel dynamics that can derail an otherwise great trip

Helpful Resources & Links

• Read the full blog article My Biggest Travel Icks (And How Not to Be That Traveller).

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.

If you’ve seen the news lately, chances are you’ve seen headlines about escalating conflict in parts of the Middle East and Europe. And when those headlines start appearing, many travellers immediately ask the same question: Should I still travel?

It’s a complicated space to navigate. Safety matters, of course. But the world is also far more nuanced than a breaking news alert or a dramatic headline.

In this episode of Tourist to Traveller, I’m sharing the process I personally used when this event impacted my travel plans, and how I recently made the decision to pivot my upcoming trip.

Because becoming a confident traveller isn’t about ignoring risk, it’s about learning how to navigate uncertainty with clarity and good judgement.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The simple “pause, re-assess, pivot” framework I use when evaluating destinations
• The exact decision-making process I used when reassessing my own upcoming trip
• Practical ways to adjust your itinerary rather than cancelling travel entirely

When global tensions rise, it’s natural for travellers to feel uncertain about their plans. Ultimately, this episode is about shifting the mindset from fear-based travel decisions to informed travel decisions. With the right information and a flexible approach, travellers can continue exploring the world responsibly, even when global events create uncertainty.

Helpful Resources & Links

If you’d like a simple framework to help you plan your next trip, my guide Travel Planning Like A Pro In 5 Easy Steps walks you through the same decision-making process I use so you can plan trips with confidence.

If this episode helped you think differently about travel during uncertain times, feel free to share it with a fellow traveller who might need the same reminder: pause, re-assess, and pivot... but don’t stop exploring 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.

Some travel memories blur with time. Others stay so vivid you can almost taste them again.

For me, so many of those lasting memories are tied to food... not just what was on the plate, but where I was sitting, who I was with, and that exact moment when I took a bite and knew it was special.

In this episode, I’m sharing the most unforgettable meals I’ve eaten around the world. These aren’t fancy fine-dining experiences or viral Instagram spots. They’re the meals that made me pause and smile, the ones I still think about years later.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why food creates some of our strongest travel memories
• The meals around the world that left a lasting impression on me
• How simplicity often beats complexity when it comes to unforgettable food
• Why food-led travel creates deeper, more meaningful experiences

Helpful Resources & Links

• Related Blog Post: The Best Food I’ve Tried Around the World: Meals I Still Dream About Years Later
• Explore More: Destination guides, itineraries and travel tips over on the Tourist to Traveller blog.

And if you loved this episode, head to the blog to explore the full food guide, or browse other Tourist to Traveller episodes for more inspiration to help you move from tourist to traveller.

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.

Have you ever scrolled through Instagram, saved a hundred dreamy travel posts… and then felt completely stuck on where to start? Like everyone else has some secret system for planning epic trips, and you somehow missed the memo.

I’ve been there. And after more than 20 years of fitting bucket-list adventures around full-time work, and real-life responsibilities, I’ve learned that great travel doesn’t come from over-planning... it comes from smart planning.

In this episode, I’m sharing the exact five-step framework I use to plan my own trips... the same process that helps me find hidden gems, incredible food, and experiences that actually live up to the hype.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How to plan travel like a pro (without spreadsheets taking over your life)
• My five simple stages of stress-free travel planning
• How to turn inspiration into a realistic, enjoyable itinerary
• Why mapping your trip changes everything
• How to balance structure with spontaneity
• Practical booking tips that save time, money, and energy

Helpful Resources & Links

• Related Blog Post: Travel Planning Like A Pro In 5 Easy Steps
  A practical checklist and planning framework to help you follow this exact five-step process for your next trip.
• Tools Mentioned:
  Google Maps, Skyscanner, Expedia, Booking.com

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.

Tasmania is one of those destinations people think they understand, until they actually go.

It’s often labelled as cold, quiet, or somewhere you just “do a quick lap.” But spend any real time there and you realise Tasmania is layered, wild, creative, and deeply rewarding for travellers who are willing to slow down.

In this destination deep dive, I’m sharing how to experience Tasmania... from choosing the right regions to avoiding the biggest planning mistakes I see time-poor travellers make again and again.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How to choose regions based on your travel style (not a checklist)
• How much time you actually need, and where it’s worth slowing down
• Unmissable experiences that go beyond the obvious highlights
• Practical planning tips for weather, distances, and limited annual leave

Quick note: the audio quality in this episode isn’t perfect in parts due to recording conditions, but the content is solid and absolutely worth a listen if Tasmania is on your bucket list.

Helpful Resources & Links

If you want to go deeper after listening, I’ve shared detailed Tasmania guides on the blog, including:

• Tasmania Regional Guide - to help you choose where to go
• Unmissable Things to Do in Tasmania - experiences worth prioritising
• Fascinating Facts About Tasmania - great context before you visit

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.

For every dreamy travel photo you see online, there’s usually a moment behind the scenes where something didn’t go to plan. A missed flight. Accommodation that looked nothing like the photos. Or that sinking feeling when you realise you’ve packed your itinerary so tightly there’s no room to actually enjoy the trip.

After more than 20 years of travelling, often squeezing bucket-list adventures into annual leave, I’ve had my fair share of travel fails. And while they were frustrating at the time, they’ve shaped the way I travel today far more than the “perfect” trips ever did.

In this episode of Tourist to Traveller, I’m getting honest about when travel goes wrong, what those moments taught me, and how you can avoid common mistakes... without overplanning, stressing yourself out, or losing the joy of travel.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why travel going wrong is more common than social media makes it look
• My most memorable travel fails (and what I learned from each one)
• How travel fails can actually make you a more confident traveller

Helpful Resources & Links

• Free Resource: Travel Planning Like A Pro In 5 Easy Steps
  A practical guide designed to help you avoid common travel mistakes before you book. Perfect for busy travellers who want better trips without overthinking every detail.

And if this episode resonated, explore more Tourist to Traveller episodes to help you travel with confidence, clarity, and intention.

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.

Most travellers have never heard of Palau, and that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating.

Palau is one of the most unique destinations in the Pacific. With more than 300 islands and one of the world’s largest marine sanctuaries, Palau offers a very different experience to more commercialised tropical destinations.

Tucked away in Micronesia, Palau is a country where visitor numbers are intentionally low, where you sign an environmental pledge on arrival, and where entire islands remain uninhabited.

In this destination deep dive, I’m unpacking what Palau is really like to travel, beyond the photos and the hype. From when to go and how to get there, to what’s actually worth your time once you arrive, this episode is designed to help you decide whether Palau belongs on your bucket list.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Where Palau is and why it remains under-the-radar
• The best time of year to visit Palau
• The top things to see and do
• A realistic 7-10 day Palau itinerary
• Practical Palau travel tips

Destinations Mentioned

Rock Islands, Koror, Badrulchau Stone Monoliths, Ngardmau Waterfall, Palau National Capitol, Kuabes Park Beach, Belau National Museum, Mesekelat Waterfall, Etpison Museum, Jellyfish Lake, Natural Arch, Milky Way Lagoon, Blue Corner, German Channel, Shark City, Airai Bai, Japanese WWII Lighthouse, Japanese WWII Communications Centre.

Helpful Resources & Links

• If Palau’s now on your radar, download my Palau Destination Guide, it pulls everything from this episode into one practical, easy-to-use resource.
• And if you want to keep planning, head to touristtotraveller.com for my full Palau travel guides and itinerary breakdown.

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.

Travel is changing… and if you’ve felt that pull towards slower, more meaningful adventures, you’re not alone. The way we travel in 2026 looks very different to the whirlwind, checklist-style trips of the past. Travellers are craving depth over speed, intention over excess, and experiences that actually enhance their lives.

In this episode of the Tourist to Traveller Podcast, I explore the 10 biggest travel trends shaping 2026, from iconic road trips and underrated destinations to off-grid escapes, wellness travel, AI trip planning and the rise of overwater villas beyond the Maldives.

It’s about understanding where travel is heading, and how you can use these shifts to plan smarter, more fulfilling bucket list adventures… even with limited time and annual leave.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Global travel trends shaping 2026
• Why slow travel and road trips are having a major comeback
• How eco and regenerative travel are becoming non-negotiable
• How AI is changing the way we plan and experience trips
• New destinations offering overwater villas beyond the Maldives

Helpful Resources & Links

• Blog: Why Everyone Should Do a Yearly Off-Grid Tiny House Stay (And How to Plan Yours)
• Blog: The Future of Travel AI Is Here: How AI Is Revolutionising the Way We Plan, Book & Experience the World

Until next time, go beyond the tourist track and level up your travel experiences.

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.