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  1. Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

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    After booking flights and the first couple of nights of accommodation for your journey, you might be asking yourself: Is travel insurance worth it? When you’ve just spent so much money on other things, it can be hard to then part with another chunk of cash on something you might not even need.

    Travel insurance is an annoying expense but it is worth it. It can save your butt and your wallet when you least expect it. Not convinced? Let’s break it down and look at why travel insurance is worth it and why you really do need it because who knows what might happen.

    What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

    Let’s take a look at exactly what you will be paying for if you decide to buy travel insurance. Most insurance policies cover at least the following:

    • Trip Cancellation or Interruption
    • Lost and Stolen Baggage and Belongings
    • Medical Emergencies and Death

    No matter how invincible you might feel, any of these things could happen to you. Of course, it is extremely unlikely that you will die or be seriously injured on your trip. However, if you aren’t covered by a decent insurance policy you could face medical or repatriation costs that run up into the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. For example, an air ambulance from the US East Coast to the UK will cost you around $50,000 if you don’t have insurance.

    How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?

    Travel insurance doesn’t cost as much as you probably think it does. Obviously, it depends on who you buy with and what it covers but overall it shouldn’t deplete your budget too much. Generally people spend around 5% of the total cost of their holiday on travel insurance.

    A decent policy should have the following included:

    • Up to £10m in medical expenses
    • £200 towards replacing necessities in delayed baggage
    • £5,000 of cancellation reimbursements
    • £1,500 for trip interruptions – so that you can continue your trip if an emergency happens and you have to go home
    • £25,000 pay out for personal accidents
    • £500 for loss or theft of money
    • £600 to replace lost or stolen travel documents and to cover expenses of travel or accommodation you need in the process

    How Do You Choose Travel Insurance?

    There are hundreds of different insurance companies that will offer you all kinds of policies. This can make choosing travel insurance quite tough. You want to make sure it is comprehensive but you also don’t want to pay through the roof for it. World Nomads is a popular provider because they cover virtually everything and have a good reputation for pay-outs.

    If you want to do some research yourself before you choose who to go with then there are plenty of comparison websites like Money Supermarket that will help you out.

    What you should be looking for primarily with your travel insurance is good medical cover. It is a good rule of thumb to opt for a policy that will pay for medical expenses up to £5,000,000, including repatriation costs. The more you can get on this front the better. Bear in mind that if you are buying travel insurance for high risk destinations or activities, your premium is likely to be much higher.

    Basically, the more dangerous your holiday, the more your travel insurance will cost. Unfortunately, your need for travel insurance will also be higher. It’s a pain but that’s just how it is. Insurance companies are businesses after all and profit is everything.

    To conclude: buy travel insurance. Once you know you’re covered, you can relax and enjoy your trip. It really makes traveling so much easier. If you can’t afford to buy travel insurance then you cannot afford to travel.

  2. The Most Spectacular Treks in the World

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    Trekking is always so much better than we imagine it’s going to be. Spending multiple days walking through the wilderness with a heavy pack on your back certainly isn’t the most glamorous way to spend your vacation, but when you’re doing it, there’s nowhere in the world you would rather be. We spend so much of our life sitting down, sometimes we need a multi-day hike to expend all that excess energy we aren’t using.

    Whether you are a trekking enthusiast or you’ve never walked further than your local shop, we can all appreciate the difference between a spectacular trek and an average trek. Spectacular treks go through scenery that blows us away and are challenging but not inaccessible. These treks are photo-worthy every step of the way and the five days we spend walking feels like just a few hours.

    If you want to do a trek like this on your next holiday look no further. Here is the crème de la crème of the trekking world.

    The Salkantay Trail, Peru

    The Inca Trail gets all the glory, but the Salkantay Trail, which leads all the way to Machu Picchu, is just as good and it’s free as opposed to $500. For 3-4 days you will walk through the lush Sacred Valley, flanked on either side by snow-capped mountains. Chances are you will spend entire days without seeing another living soul. Be sure to take the quick detour to the glacial lake on your way, you won’t regret it.

    Everest Base Camp, Nepal

    Honestly, can you think of a more famous trek than this one? Mount Everest is a name that strikes a mixture of fear and wonder into the heart of an individual. It is a monstrous mountain, only summited by the brave and insane. The trek to the Everest Base Camp is certainly no walk in the park, but it is far from impossible. Follow your Sherpa through the icy passages that lead to the camp and enjoy that incomparable sense of accomplishment when you arrive.

    Torres del Paine Circuit, Patagonia

    When it comes to rugged natural beauty, Patagonia takes the crown. The jagged peaks of its principal mountains distinguish Torres del Paine. The trek takes you around the bases of these mountains and past glaciers and lakes that make for some stunning photo ops. If you want a trek that takes you away from any form of civilisation, this one will do the trick.

    The Camino de Santiago, Spain

    Technically you could do this trek for a whole month if you had the energy. But, I recommend you pick one section of the route and go for just a few days. Back in the day, the Camino was one of the most important pilgrimage routes in the world. It guided people from all over the world to Santiago de Compostela, a beautiful city with a magnificent cathedral. Hundreds of thousands of people still do this trek every year so you’re likely to make a few friends along the way.

    The Lost City, Colombia

    Time to swap the snowy mountains for something a little more tropical. The Lost City trek involves five days of hiking through lush jungle and sleeping in open air hammocks along the way. You will pass through indigenous jungle villages and explore the remnants of ancient civilisations. The final part of this journey is an ascent up 1200 steps – not ideal after five days of walking, but the views from the top make it all worthwhile.

  3. Canada’s 5 Most Incredible National Parks

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    Canada is the second largest country in the world, but it only has a population of around 36.7 million. That’s less than California, which could fit inside Canada over 20 times. The point I am trying to make is that Canada has a lot of space and much of it is uninhabited. This gives the country ample opportunity to designate vast areas as national parks. If you are looking to be completely overwhelmed by the sheer power of Mother Nature, there is nowhere better to go than Canada.

    If you’re planning a trip in the near future and want to tick off some of Canada’s finest national parks, here are five to get you started.

    Banff National Park, Alberta

    Perhaps one of the most beautiful national parks in the world, let alone just Canada, Banff National Park is the pride and joy of this gigantic nation. Situated in Alberta, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Banff is Canada’s oldest national park. It comprises over one and a half million acres of alpine meadows, forests, glacial lakes and snow-capped mountains as well as some ancient monoliths dating back up to 120 million years.

    Fundy National Park, New Brunswick

    New Brunswick rarely features on Canada’s tourist trail, which is a real shame as it boasts one of the country’s most astounding national parks: the Fundy National Park. This park runs along the Bay of Fundy on the province’s Atlantic coastline. The most astonishing thing about this park is its tidal patterns. The tide rises and falls by roughly 12 metres every day and is considered a natural phenomenon.

    Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia

    Cape Breton is Canada’s version of the Norwegian fjords. Here, rugged cliffs blanketed with thick vegetation plunge into deep, blue river canyons. The dramatic landscape is nature at its finest and there are plenty of hiking trails snaking through the park that will allow you to fully soak up its splendour. The renowned Cabot Trail also runs through the park. This is a favourite among hikers and rewards those who walk it with panoramic vistas of this mesmerising scenery.

    Jasper National Park, Alberta

    Jasper National Park is on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains and is characterised by its sparkling ice fields that stretch out seemingly to infinity. Combine the ice fields with alpine meadows, turquoise lakes, towering mountains and a huge expanse of back country wilderness and you’ve got one of the most incredible national parks in Canada. At night time, the natural beauty shifts over head – Jasper is recognised as one of the best places in the world for star-gazing.

    Yoho National Park, British Columbia

    Last, but by no means least, is the Yoho National Park in Canada’s westernmost province: British Columbia. If you were hoping to find a park that will allow you to disconnect from the modern world and explore wilderness that seems untouched by mankind, you’ll find it here. Glaciers and mountains are staples in the scenery of this park and the Iceline Trail is the perfect way to take them all in. And, don’t forget to leave some time to visit the iconic Takkakaw Falls, which are the highest in Canada.

  4. 5 Things to Do in Asia that Are Out of the Ordinary

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    Secrets of a First Class Traveller

    While all your friends are stuck in the office, poring over spreadsheets and listening in on meetings that could have been emails, it will be with the utmost satisfaction that you jet off to Asia. More so than anywhere in the world, Asia is a favorite haunt for backpackers. It has a fully fleshed backpacker infrastructure and, in many places, it is well-suited for a backpacker’s budget.

    All packed? Time to make an itinerary. Most backpackers will quickly become familiar with the local hotspots when they arrive at a destination. Tourism agencies and other travellers will be singing the praises of various excursions and sights. But, it is much harder to find unusual activities that are off the beaten track.

    Here are five such activities that you should squeeze into your schedule while you backpack through Asia.

    1. Go to the Monster Café in Tokyo

    Have you ever heard the Japanese talk about Kawaii? It means cute and the Japanese are obsessed with it. From girls dressing like dolls to Hello Kitty plastered all over the place, anything that could be seen as cute is pounced on and commercialized.

    No place quite embodies this notion than the Monster Café in the quirky Harajuku area of Tokyo. This café goes all out, from the unicorn heads dangling from the ceiling to the neon food they serve. The servers in the café are girls dressed as ‘monsters’ (but still looking impossibly cute) and there are regular shows performed for kids during the day. It is the kind of place you need to go once, and only once, in your life.

    2. Explore Divar Island in Goa

    Most people, when they think of Goa, will picture beaches, bars and a raucous party scene. While this is not inaccurate, Goa has far more than just a nightlife. Get away from the beaches of Goa and you will be struck by the beauty of the region’s architecture and nature.

    Divar Island sits in the Mandovi River and is sprinkled with gorgeous Portuguese villas, remnants from Goa’s colonial days. Spend some time wandering around, taking in the views and checking out the buildings. Don’t forget to visit the spectacular Divar Church as well.

    3. Fire a Bazooka in Cambodia

    As a pacifist, I have never had much interest in arms, but firing such a powerful piece of machinery is an exhilarating experience. Of course, you’re not actually shooting or hurting anyone, it is just some harmless fun. Shooting a bazooka doesn’t come cheap but it is a one-off experience that can just about be justified.

    4. Visit the Upside Down House in China

    The Upside Down House is exactly what it sounds like – a house that is completely upside down. If you go inside you will feel like you are walking on the ceiling. Look up and you’ll see furniture glued to what is supposed to be the floor. The house is in the Fengjing Ancient Town, situated about an hour outside of Shanghai.

    5. Celebrate Songkran in Thailand

    You will need to be in Thailand in April if you want to be there for the Thai New Year, also known as Songkran. This might not be the most convenient time to jet off on vacation but trust me, it is worth it. For an entire week, the country comes alive with celebrations and the energy is positively infectious.

    The most common way to celebrate Songkran is to fill up a bucket or water gun and soak passers-by in the streets. Whether you want to join in with the festivities or not, there is no way to avoid getting drenched by both young and old Thais alike. Surrender your inhibitions and embrace the fun!

  5. 5 Things You Need to Know About the Trans-Siberian Railway

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    If you don’t like the idea of a scenic train journey through one of the most fascinating stretches of land on the planet, look away now. If, on the other hand, you think that taking a ride along the world’s longest railway would be an incredible experience, stay with me.

    Running for 9,289km, the railway connects the Russian capital Moscow with Vladivostok, in the far east of Russia. The railway also branches off across the border and into Mongolia, China, and North Korea. For a handful of adventurous people, riding the Trans-Siberian Railway is a bucket list experience. Indeed, the train journey is a holiday in itself, taking the best part of a week to travel from one end to the other.

    Has your curiosity been piqued? Would you like to know more about this iconic railway? Here are five things you should know before you go.

    You Need to Have a Plan

    Unlike most destinations, which welcome spontaneity, riding the Trans-Siberian Railway requires meticulous planning and forethought. First you need to sort out your Russian visa, which is no small task. Secondly, you need to get your tickets and know where you want to stop off along the way. Thirdly, this is a serious beast of a journey and you want to have plenty of time to enjoy it. Chances are you will spend at least six days on the train so ideally you want one to two days off the train for every day you spend on it.

    The Food is Pretty Good But You Should Still Take Snacks

    Train food doesn’t have the best reputation and Russia is hardly a culinary capital so it figures that Russian train food is going to be pretty bad. Fortunately, most people are surprised at what the Trans-Siberian Railway dishes up. Meals are basic but edible and they don’t cost an arm and a leg. You can usually get a starter and a main for around £25. Nevertheless, stock up on crisps, fruit, biscuits and nuts whenever you can because you’re going to get peckish and you won’t always want train food.

    There Is a Big Difference Between the Carriage Classes

    If you are on a tight budget you might want to rethink your plans. Travelling in third class on the Trans-Siberian Railway for six days is going to be uncomfortable. On the first night it might feel like an adventure but by the third night it will feel more like fresh hell. First class is ideal, but second class is satisfactory if you’re not willing to splash out quite that much.

    You Can Ride the Train All Year Round – But Summer Is Best

    The train runs throughout the year but if you want the best experience you should go during the summer months. From June until September you will have long days and plenty of sunlight so you can gaze out of the window and enjoy uninhibited views of the Russian countryside. Sunny weather also makes for more pleasant exploring when you disembark the train at your stop-off points.

    You Can Carry On Into Mongolia or China But Plan it in Advance

    If six days on a train through Russia isn’t enough for you, you can extend your journey into China or Mongolia. You can get a 72 hour visa for Mongolia if you are riding the Trans-Mongolian Railway but you will need to show proof of onward travel and your visa for the next country. If you plan on going into China then you will need to organise your Chinese visa well in advance.

  6. Why Every Traveler Needs a Scratch Off Map

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    Imagine a huge map of the world covered in that foil you get on scratch cards that you scratch off with a penny.

    The point of it is to scratch off the places you have visited. Simple, yet brilliant and if you consider yourself a traveler then you need to get one. Why? Here’s why.

    It Is a Visual Reminder of What You Have Achieved

    You will never forget the places you have travelled. But, having a visual reminder beaming down on you from pride of place on your bedroom wall is a really nice way to visualize these memories. A scratch off map is a constant reminder of all of the amazing things you have seen and done. This alone will put a smile on your face every time you look at it.

    Traveling is a huge achievement and not everyone is cut out for it. If you’ve got the determination and motivation to step out of your comfort zone and into the unknown then that deserves to be celebrated daily.

    It Is an Instant Conversation Piece

    So you’re hosting a dinner party and your guests glimpse your scratch away map. Suddenly, there is something to talk about. You can recite those well-loved travel stories your significant other has heard a billion times, and your guests can shoot off some of theirs. You can exchange travel tips, compare travel plans, and even whip out some photos on your Instagram. Before you know it, everyone is chatting away and it’s all thanks to your map.

    Travel Gives You Bragging Rights and a Scratch Off Map is a Subtle Way of Doing It

    Everyone who travels automatically has bragging rights, but there’s a difference between letting people know you’ve traveled and being an obnoxious jerk about it. Instead of going around telling everyone about how well traveled you are, simply scratch off where you’ve been on your map and let that speak for itself.

    It Makes a Great Decoration

    When you decorate your home you should inject some of your personality into it. You can do this with the colors and furniture you choose, as well as what you adorn the walls with. If you love to travel then there is no better way to show this than with a scratch away map.

    Use it to Set Targets With Your Friends

    A scratch away map is a great gift for someone who loves traveling. If you know someone that shares your passion for exploring the world, why don’t you treat them to a map for their birthday/Christmas/random present day because you love them. Once you each have a map, challenge each other to see who can scratch off 20 countries first, or 30, or 40! There’s nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition – especially if it drives you to travel more.

    It Will Motivate You to Keep Traveling

    Even the most voracious traveler will still have places on their map they haven’t scratched off yet. Let your map motivate you to keep traveling and keep scratching off new places. Who knows, maybe one day you will have scratched off the entire thing!

  7. 10 International Foods That Only the Bravest Stomachs Can Handle

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    Secrets of a First Class Traveller

    One of the most exciting things about travelling is being able to sample all kinds of exotic, international dishes. No doubt during your time on the road you will across some weird and wonderful food and been equally curious and gross out by it. In general, when you eat gross food you will hate it at the time, but love it in the years to come as it makes for an excellent anecdote. In fact, the grosser the food, the better the story.

    Of course, there’s always the possibility you might really like this strange dish you’ve been presented with. In which case it is win-win – good food and a cool story. So, if you’re ready to toughen up your stomach and try someone of the world’s most interesting food, take a look at this list for some inspiration on what to eat.

    Shirako, Japan

    Trust the Japanese to come up with this revolting dish. Shirako is the sperm sack or a cod, puffer fish or angler fish. It is gooey and white and looks a bit like a tiny brain.

    Balut, the Philippines

    Utterly stomach-churning, this dish is a fertilised duck egg containing a partially developed duck foetus. You’re supposed to crack a little hole in the shell and slurp out the juice before eating the rest of the foetus.

    A-Ping, Cambodia

    A-Ping is a deep fried tarantula, need I say more. These bizarre snacks are dirt cheap and pack a lot of protein if you can get past the fact that you are eating a huge spider. Eat the crispy legs first and then dig into the gooey body. Yum?

    Cuy, Peru

    Did you ever have a guinea pig as a pet as a child? If so, you might want to look away right now. Cuy is a national delicacy in Peru and is simply a roasted whole guinea pig. There’s not a lot of meat on it and it has a very strong game-y taste and the Peruvians love it.

    Sannakji, South Korea

    This dish is highly controversial and requires a young, live octopus to be chopped into small pieces and served up on a plate. When the plate arrives at the table, the octopus pieces are still wriggling around and the strong suckers on the tentacles kill at least six people every year as they choke on them. Enjoy.

    Hákarl, Iceland

    Hákarl is chunks of fermented shark and it is as gross as it sounds. The shark is served in cube-sized pieces and the smell it gives off is comparable to a mixture of cleaning products and urine.

    Casu Marzu, Italy

    A sheep’s milk cheese has its hard crust cut away after 3 weeks of curing so that flies can come and lay their eggs in it. The eggs hatch and the larvae eat the cheese and excrete it back out. We then eat the cheese, maggots and all.

    Blood Soup, Thailand

    Guess what the main ingredient of blood soup is. That’s right: blood! Pig’s blood to be precise. It isn’t the most sanitary dish on this list but it is definitely one of the best for anecdote fodder.

    Escargot, France

    Everyone knows that the French eat snails, but has it ever occurred to you that that is really weird and gross? The snails are usually smothered with garlic and don’t taste too bad so long as you swallow them quickly.

    Escamoles, Mexico

    Not to be confused with guacamole, escamoles are ant eggs. They are often pan fried and served as a topping alongside tacos and omelettes. They have a strange nutty taste and are considered a delicacy.

  8. 5 Beautiful Green Spaces in Paris

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    When you think of Paris what comes to mind? Is it the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe? Perhaps it’s the Louvre or the Champs-Elysées. Whatever it is that you conjured up in your mind, it is unlikely to be a park. Paris is known for a lot of things, but nature is not one of them. However, that doesn’t mean this city doesn’t have some beautiful green spaces – it just means you have to look a little harder to find the green spaces in Paris.

    If you’re sick of visiting the same old tourist spots in the French capital and want your next visit to be more nature-focused, here are five of the best green spaces in Paris.

    Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

    This gorgeous park is out in the 19th arrondissement and is blissfully free from tourist crowds. Throughout the park, you will find waterfalls, chalky cliffs, and a temple in the middle of a lake. Spend a few hours here and you will quickly forget about the noise and chaos of Paris. If the sun is out, take a picnic basket with you and basket in the peace and serenity of your surroundings. This is undoubtedly one of the top green spaces in the whole city.

    Jardin des Tuileries

    Running alongside the Seine is the stunning Jardin des Tuileries. At one end of the park you will find the iconic Louvre Gallery and at the other sits the Place de la Concorde. In the middle of the park, tucked away in the vegetation is the Orangerie gallery, famous for holding a number of Monet’s waterlily paintings. If you want to combine your nature fix with a spot of culture, this is the best place to do it.

    Jardin des Plantes

    The Jardin des Plantes is the sort of park in which you could easily spend an entire day. Within the park itself are four of Paris’ most prestigious museums, including the Natural History Museum. It also encompasses a number of botanical gardens and is just a stone’s throw away from the exceptionally photogenic Paris Mosque. There are thousands of different plant species growing in the park and its accompanying greenhouses. If you needed some flower shots for the ‘gram, you’ll find them here.

    Bois de Boulogne

    Situated on the border of the 16th arrondissement, the Bois de Boulogne is the second biggest park in the city after the Bois de Vincennes. In the heart of the park is an amusement park for kids, which features a small zoo and some rides. Don’t worry if that’s not your thing, the park is so big, there is plenty for people of all ages. If you want to relax, nothing beats meandering through the woods or sitting by the lake with a book in the sunshine.

    Bois de Vincennes

    Finally, we come to the largest public park in the city and one of the capital’s most beloved green spaces: the Bois de Vincennes. Perhaps the most enchanting part of this space is the Parc Floral, which takes up a hefty chunk of the Bois de Vincennes. The flower beds here boast every colour of the rainbow and are a delight to behold. Elsewhere in the park you will find a chateau, a lake, plenty of plant and wildlife species, and, if you time it right, an exciting free event taking place al fresco.

  9. Top 5 Reasons to Visit Costa Rica in 2019

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    If you are looking for a destination that has it all in 2019, look no further than Costa Rica. While Central America is often over-looked when it comes to vacation destinations, Costa Rica stands out as the shining gem of this part of the world. People flock to the tiny country from far and wide – and with good reason. No matter what kind of trip you are after, you will be able to find something to suit all tastes in Cost Rica.

    Need a little more convincing? Here are our top five reasons why Costa Rica should make it on to your itinerary this year.

    It Is Filled With Incredible Wildlife

    Costa Rica has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world despite its small size. In fact, you can find over 5% of all known plants and animals on earth in this tiny country. The country boasts several world class national parks, including Bahia Ballena, Parque Nacional Tortuguero, and Manuel Antonio. Within these parks you will see monkeys swinging from the trees, whales breaching in the sea and everything else in between.

    The Pura Vida Lifestyle Is Oh-So Appealing

    Costa Ricans call themselves Ticos and Ticas, a nickname that represents their fondness for affection and not taking things to seriously. This is just one element that makes up their famous Pura Vida lifestyle. Pura Vida literally translates as ‘Pure Life’ but it means a lot more than that. It is their way for saying everything is good and there is nothing to worry or stress about. Wander through any market in Costa Rica and you will find this saying emblazoned on T-Shirts, hats, and all manner of trinkets.

    The Beaches Are Out of This World

    Costa Rica has, hands down, some of the most spectacular beaches on the planet. Whether you travel along the Pacific or Caribbean coasts, you will find golden sand, soft as powder, fringed by lush vegetation and trailing down into warm water. Depending on what you are after, there are beaches for all occasions. Playa Conchal, Punta Uva, and Samara are all great for swimming, while Playa Grande, Dominical and Jaco are better for surfing. Of course, all of them are perfect for soaking up the sunshine and working on your tan.

    The Food Is Better Than You Think

    Forget about boring old rice and beans – you’re in for a real treat in Costa Rica. Thanks to the country’s two coastlines, seafood and fresh fish play a big part in the national cuisine. Head to Puerto Viejo or one of the other small Caribbean towns and you’ll find grilled fish, lobster, and scallops popping up regularly on menus. Served with coconut rice and seasoned to perfection, these dishes are utterly mouth-watering.

    There Are Dozens of Different Landscapes

    Not everyone will want to spend their whole vacation on the beach. Similarly, some will want a day or two at the beach and the rest of the time doing other things. Costa Rica’s landscape is exceptionally diverse. You will find a big city vibe in the capital, San Jose, complete with bustling markets and museums, but within just an hour or two’s drive you can be at the Arenal Volcano, exploring its rugged surroundings. Alternatively, you could venture into the cool, lush cloud forest or the humid rainforest if you want your nature fix.

  10. 6 Ways Budapest Will Blow You Away

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    Budapest is, hands down, one of the best cities in Europe. It is a beautiful city, rich with culture and history and (fun fact) did you know the city is actually made up of two different cities- Buda and Pest? They just combined the names together to form what we all now refer to as Budapest. It is also delightfully cheap, meaning you get some serious bang for your buck when you spend here.

    Thinking about visiting? Here are some of the ways in which Budapest will blow you away.

    1. Szechenyi Baths

    Best visited on a hot summer’s day, these baths will undoubtedly be the highlight of your trip. Picture the scene: you’re under the weather after a night of cheap Hungarian beer and you just need to unwind and chill out. Now imagine huge outdoor pools with perfectly heated medicinal water, accompanied by a whole host of indoor pools and saunas at varying temperatures for health purposes. One word of warning, once you’re in, you can’t go out and then come back in again so take lunch with you or you’ll end up forking out for over-priced poolside food.

    2. Goulash

    It’s actually pronounced Gwee-Yash according to a reliable Hungarian source. You’ve probably heard of it but chances are you’ve never experienced real Hungarian goulash. Well now is your chance. It’s a weird but wonderful experience and once you’ve had your first sip, there’s no going back. For those of you that don’t know, goulash is chunks of meat and potato in a delicious broth spiced with paprika. What more could you possibly want? There are loads of places that sell this stuff in Budapest and, of course, it is dirt cheap.

    3. The Castle

    To get to the castle you’ve either got to take the Funicular train or you can try and burn off some of that heavy Hungarian food you’ve been stuffing yourself with and walk up. The castle itself is gorgeous, but what really blows you away is the view from the top. The castle is in Buda and from the top of the hill you can see the entire of Pest, including the spectacular houses of parliament, the river and the famous chain bridge. It’s worth going up there at night as well when the city is all lit up.

    4. Langos

    If you’re a fan of heart-stoppingly greasy but mind-blowingly delicious food then Langos is the only Hungarian word you need to learn for your trip. This national staple contains a hideous number of calories but it will be the best thing you eat on your trip. It’s a thick disk of deep-fried dough smothered in a generous layer of sour cream and then sprinkled with grated cheese. Simple yet deeply satisfying.

    5. A River Cruise

    What better way to enjoy the city than cruising along the Danube Rivers, which separates Buda from Pest? There are dozens of different cruises available, day and night, If you are after something civilised opt for a dinner and wine cruise. If you want debauchery, there are a number of booze cruises to choose from. Whichever you choose, you are guaranteed world class views of Hungary’s finest architecture.

    6. The City

    Just walk around the city and look at everything. It is free to do and highly enjoyable. The National Museum, the Synagogue and the National Gallery are all incredible on the inside but also pretty beautiful from the outside as well. Once you get in to the touristy centre near the river, things start to get a bit more modern but the city has somehow found the key to modernising without becoming cheap and tacky. Everywhere you turn there is something remarkable – you’d be amazed at how quickly time passes when you’re meandering through the streets of Budapest.