Egypt had been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember.

Growing up, my dad would read us books about the world, ancient history, animals and different countries instead of the usual bedtime stories. Somewhere amongst those books were the pyramids, the Sphinx and the stories of ancient Egypt. So when I finally stood in front of the pyramids, it wasn't just another travel experience. It was a childhood dream coming to life.

But Egypt also surprised me in ways I hadn't expected.

From discovering that our tour bus had an armed guard, to navigating persistent sellers, unexpectedly long travel days and an unauthorised road that put our group in a very uncomfortable situation, there were plenty of things I wish I'd known before travelling to Egypt.

There were also moments that completely blew me away... exploring ancient tombs with an Egyptologist, learning to understand hieroglyphics, sailing the Nile on a traditional felucca and seeing just how much ancient history is woven into everyday Egypt.

In this episode, I'm sharing the things I wish I knew before visiting Egypt, including the good, the challenging, the surprising and the practical lessons I'd want another traveller to know before they go.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why safety was one of my biggest considerations
• Why I chose to travel around Egypt with a group
• The surprising story of the armed guard on our tour bus
• What to expect at the pyramids and major tourist sites
• What it's like travelling through military checkpoints
• Why having an Egyptologist guide transformed my experience
• What it's really like to sail on a traditional Nile felucca

Helpful Resources & Links

Sailing the Nile on a Felucca: My Unforgettable Egypt Adventure
Read the full story of my experience sailing and sleeping on a traditional felucca on the Nile.

20 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Egypt
Read the companion article with all 20 lessons, practical tips and stories from my trip.

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 ever scrolled past a photo of Palau in Micronesia and wondered, surely that water can’t actually be that blue, I have good news… it really is.

Palau is one of those rare destinations where reality genuinely looks like the photos. Think jungle-covered limestone islands floating in impossibly turquoise water, hidden waterfalls, white limestone mud, traditional meeting houses, WWII ruins and an underwater world filled with reef sharks, manta rays and giant clams.

But where are those iconic photos actually taken?

In this episode of Tourist to Traveller, I’m taking you behind the lens and sharing 16 of the most Instagrammable places in Palau, Micronesia... including what makes each location special and how to capture beautiful travel photos even if you’re using nothing more than your mobile phone.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The best places to photograph Palau’s famous Rock Islands from above
• Why kayaking is one of the best ways to photograph the Rock Islands
• The most photogenic waterfalls, beaches and cultural landmarks
• Where to find Palau’s fascinating WWII sites
• The best locations for sunset and tropical island photography
• Palau’s incredible underwater photography opportunities

Helpful Resources & Links

Dive deeper into The Most Instagrammable Spots in Palau in my full blog post.

Continue Exploring Palau

• Kayaking the Rock Islands of Palau: discover what it’s really like to explore this extraordinary landscape from the water.
• Where to Stay in Palau: compare accommodation options and find the right base for your adventure.
• Best Tours to Do in Palau: discover the experiences worth adding to your itinerary.
• Ultimate Travel Guide to Palau: my complete guide to planning a Palau adventure, including a seven-day itinerary.

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.

What if you had the choice between two nights in a five-star hotel or two nights sleeping under the stars on a traditional sailing boat on the Nile?

When I travelled to Egypt, I never planned to sail the Nile on a felucca. In fact, I had already booked the luxury accommodation. But when our guide offered us the chance to swap the hotel for a couple of nights on a traditional felucca, we decided to say yes to the adventure.

And I'm so glad we did.

What followed was one of my most memorable Egypt travel experiences... sleeping on a communal mattress, watching the sun rise and set over the Nile, sharing meals, playing games, meeting locals and simply slowing down as Egypt drifted past us.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• What it's really like to spend two nights sailing the Nile on a felucca
• Why I chose a traditional sailing boat over five-star accommodation
• What life is like onboard a Nile felucca
• How a felucca compares with a traditional Nile cruise
• What to pack for a felucca experience
• My biggest lesson from saying yes to an unplanned adventure

Helpful Resources & Links

Read the full guide: Sailing the Nile on a Felucca: What It's Really Like + What to Pack

Choose the right group tour: How to Choose The Perfect Group Trip: My Personal Selection Process

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.

Hobart has a way of surprising you. One minute you’re wandering between historic sandstone buildings at Salamanca Place, coffee in hand. The next, you’re standing on kunanyi / Mount Wellington with cold wind on your face, looking across the city, river and sea. Then the sun goes down and you’re choosing between a cosy wine bar, a historic pub or somewhere serving incredible Tasmanian produce.

In this episode of Tourist to Traveller, I’m sharing my Hobart travel guide... including the best things to do in Hobart, where to eat and drink, where to stay, the day trips worth adding to your itinerary and the practical tips I wish every first-time visitor knew.

Because Hobart isn't a city I think you should rush through. The magic is in combining the must-see experiences with enough space to wander, discover and follow your curiosity.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• The best things to do in Hobart, Tasmania
• Why Salamanca Place and Salamanca Market should be on your itinerary
• How to experience kunanyi / Mount Wellington
• My favourite cafés, restaurants, bars and distilleries
• The best areas to stay in Hobart
• The best day trips from Hobart, including Bruny Island, Richmond and Port Arthur
• How many days you really need in Hobart

Helpful Resources & Links

Top Things to Do, See, Eat & Experience - A deeper dive into everything I've covered in this episode, including links.

Best Day Trips from Hobart - my detailed guide to the best places to explore beyond the city.

Unmissable Things to Do in Tasmania - for more Tasmania bucket-list inspiration.

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.

One of the things I loved most about travelling through Vanuatu was discovering just how much you can experience without constantly packing your bags and changing hotels. Port Vila is more than a place to stay... it’s the perfect base for exploring Efate Island.

Within an hour, you can be snorkelling over coral reefs, swimming in impossibly blue lagoons, chasing waterfalls, exploring tropical islands or finishing the day with a cocktail beside the ocean. And some of the experiences that stayed with me most weren’t necessarily the ones I expected.

In this episode, I’m sharing the best day trips from Port Vila, including the places I genuinely think are worth prioritising if you’re planning a Vanuatu adventure.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why Port Vila makes such a great base for exploring Efate
• Why Pele Island is my number-one day trip from Port Vila
• What makes Erakor Island ideal for an easy, relaxed escape
• How to combine Blue Lagoon, Eton Beach and Rarru Cascades into one incredible day
• What to expect from the Mele region, including Mele Cascades and Vanuatu Jungle Zipline

Helpful Resources & Links

The Best Things to Do on Efate Island
My complete guide to exploring Efate beyond Port Vila.

The Day Trips from Port Vila
My complete guide to exploring Efate beyond Port Vila.

Visiting Tanna Island & Mount Yasur Volcano
Planning to explore beyond Efate? Discover my experience on Tanna Island.

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 Gives You So Much More Than a Holiday

What if your next holiday could give you more than incredible photos, beautiful destinations and a few weeks away from work?

After more than 20 years of travelling, I’ve realised that some of the greatest benefits of travel have nothing to do with the destination. The real transformation happens in the moments when plans go wrong, you have to navigate somewhere unfamiliar, or you find yourself seeing everyday life through a completely different lens.

From discovering a secret 3am ferry in Samoa to navigating travel chaos in Spain and experiencing a major power outage in Granada, travel has taught me lessons I never expected to learn. And many of those lessons have followed me home.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• 12 unexpected life lessons travel can teach you
• How travel develops problem-solving skills and adaptability
• Why travelling can change your perspective and challenge your assumptions
• How travel builds resilience and confidence
• The unexpected ways travel can improve your financial awareness
• How travel can strengthen relationships and create meaningful connections

Helpful Resources & Links

Related blog: 12 Unexpected Benefits of Travel: How Travel Can Change Your Life - I’ve written a full guide expanding on the lessons and stories from this episode.

Explore more travel inspiration and practical planning advice at 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.

Petra was the reason I travelled to Jordan. I’d seen the Rose City in documentaries, books, travel feeds and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but nothing prepared me for the moment I walked through the Siq and saw the Treasury for the first time. It felt completely unreal... like I’d stepped into a film set, except this ancient city was very much real.

What surprised me even more was just how enormous Petra is. Over two days, I walked 26 kilometres and still felt like I’d barely scratched the surface. And while Petra can be busy, there are ways to experience this incredible ancient city with fewer people around... including one strategy that gave me several precious minutes at the Treasury almost completely alone.

In this episode of Tourist to Traveller, I’m sharing my practical guide to visiting Petra, Jordan, including how long you need, where to stay, when to visit, how to avoid the biggest crowds, what to see beyond the Treasury, and the things I wish I’d known before arriving.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why Petra is so much more than the famous Treasury
• How many days you really need to explore Petra
• The best strategy for experiencing the Treasury without the crowds
• Why the Monastery is worth the hike
• The best times of day for exploring and photography
• Whether Petra by Night is worth adding to your itinerary
• Important safety considerations, including heat and flash flooding
• Why I don't recommend supporting animal tourism in Petra
• Where to stay in Wadi Musa
• My top tips for making the most of your Petra experience

Helpful Resources & Links

The Ultimate Petra Jordan Travel Guide
I've also written a detailed Guide to Visiting Petra, Jordan, including where to stay, what to see, what to pack and how to plan your time.

Keep Planning Jordan
Continue your Jordan adventure with my Wadi Rum Travel Guide and Dead Sea Jordan Guide.

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 travelled to Morocco, I thought I knew what to expect: golden sand dunes, bustling souks and ancient medinas. While those iconic experiences absolutely delivered, what surprised me most was everything beyond the postcards.

From snow-capped mountains and lush green valleys to centuries-old traditions, incredible hospitality and even thriving wine regions, Morocco challenged every assumption I had. It was easier to travel than I'd imagined, richer in culture than I expected, and filled with moments that made me slow down and see the world differently.

In this episode of Tourist to Traveller, I'm sharing 50 fascinating things I learned while exploring Morocco. Whether you're actively planning a trip or simply dreaming about one, these quirky facts, practical travel tips and cultural insights will help you experience Morocco with more confidence, curiosity and appreciation.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why Morocco is so much more than deserts and camels
• The incredible diversity of Morocco's landscapes, from mountains to coastlines
• Cultural customs and traditions every traveller should know
• Food and drink experiences that might surprise you
• Practical travel tips for first-time visitors
• Local terminology that make navigating Morocco easier
• Small details that will help you travel more confidently and respectfully

Helpful Resources & Links

Ready to start planning your Moroccan adventure?

Explore my free 50 Fascinating Things to Know Before Visiting Morocco guide, featuring all 50 tips from this episode, plus a handy packing checklist, Moroccan travel terminology, tipping advice and destination highlights to help you prepare with confidence.

You might also enjoy these resources:

• The Ultimate Morocco Travel Guide
• 14-Day Morocco Itinerary
• How to Spend 24 Magical Hours in Marrakech
• Is Morocco Safe for Solo Female Travel?

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.