Posts by : Izy Berry

I’m basically at the one week mark – one week to go until I’m free free. While it is exciting, it also means I have a lot to do and think about before I leave.

Today I spent the afternoon going through my clothes and deciding which I will take with me and which ones I will give away. For the rest of the week I have a flat inspection planned, I need to tidy up the house, pack things away, move pieces of furniture I’m no longer using and so on. There’s a lot to do.

I need to get everything prepared, moved out and ready to go. I need to decide if I want to set aside some stuff to freight over to Panama with Allworld Logistics or repurchase stuff overseas.

After 1.5 months home, it feels kind of crazy to be leaving. For a long time traveling was the norm, but now I’ve become used to having a car and sleeping in the same bed every night. Although I know after a few days, or a few weeks, I will slide back into the traveling groove, for now it feels a little intimidating.

Traveling indefinitely means traveling light, at least a lot lighter than you would probably live in a home. I’ll be giving up a lot of things, such as access to a blender, a giant TV screen, a nice car, and so on… but I’ll be gaining much more than I give up.

I’ll be gaining the whole world. Soon I’ll be laying on a beach on Gilli T, or eating street food in Thailand, I’ll be biking around Paris and exploring the Greek islands. Every day will be an adventure, met with new challenges, new people and new adventures.

There are things that I do find hard about leaving indefinitely; saying goodbye to friends and family is always challenging, especially as I have young sisters still at school who can’t just come visit me if they want to.

I find it hard giving up the concept of having a home. Although it is very liberating to be so free, it can be a bit daunting knowing I don’t have a home to come back to at the end of it all. Of course, I can create a new home, housesit or continue to travel, but it is a weird concept.

I also don’t know when exactly I’ll next be home, probably within the next year, but who knows for sure. It’s certainly very weird saying goodbye with a time to see each other again in mind.

My stomach is in knots: it is a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and eagerness with a dash of anxiety. Each time I’ve left on a one-way ticket I’ve had these feelings mixed together, but this time it is different.

On this trip I leave with a full time income online and the option to extend the adventure for as long as my heart desires. I’ll also be leaving with my partner, Ben, which will be an exciting addition to my travels.

Seven days to go and then my bags will be packed and I’ll be boarding a plane into the unknown – I can’t wait!

As someone who has spent over 2.5 years on the road, I know what I need in a good suitcase or backpack. There’s nothing worse than buying a suitcase or backpack and finding out half way around the world that it doesn’t meet your needs and it’s holding you back. Some people are suitcase travellers and others prefer to travel by backpack – whatever works best for you. I personally take one of each and that works well for me. If you’re looking to buy a new suitcase or backpack for long term travel, check out In Luggage and these tips on choosing the perfect travel bag:

Tips for Picking a Good Long Term Backpack
Let’s face it, when you buy a backpack you’re probably going to set aside a decent amount of cash to do so, so why not pick something that’s going to last you a few trips or a few years? Here are the things I personally make sure my backpacks have:

• Excellent, Padded Straps

If you’ve ever loaded your backpack up to the max, you’ve probably noticed what a difference properly fastening the straps can make. I prefer backpacks with two straps: one that goes around the waist and the other, a smaller strap, across the chest. I also like my backpacks to have firm padding on the back of the pack so that I am comfortable when it’s heavy.

• Easy Access Area

There’s nothing worse than having to remove ALL of your clothes in order to find something at the bottom of your backpack. I have a backpack that zips all around for exactly this purpose – it means I can open the bag easily and remove whatever I need to use without pulling everything else out.

• Lockable Features

You will want a backpack that you can lock, especially if you’re traveling by public transport such as trains, buses and planes. It will give you an extra level of security and you’ll know instantly if your bag has been tampered with. My backpack has a lockable zip which attaches to a special part of the bag making it ultra secure.

Tips for Picking a Good Suitcase
I recently bought a small suitcase for my work stuff while I travel and spent quite a long time checking what features were important to me and practical. Here are my tips for picking a good suitcase to travel with:

• Make Sure it Balances When Full

I decided to read reviews of specific suitcases I was interested in to make sure they stood up when full. Many suitcases have a habit of falling over when they’re full, which means you constantly have to babysit them while in transit – annoying. You can look to buy a suitcase with two legs and a stand underneath, but I prefer suitcases with four wheels so make sure it is well balanced.

• Look Into Four Wheeled Suitcases

Suitcases with four wheels can be pulled along a variety of different ways and make it easier to fit in narrow areas, which is particularly important for cabin-sized suitcases.

• Check for Compartments

I personally required my cabin sized suitcase to have a sleeve area for my laptop, so that I can easily transport it around with me without carrying it on my back.

• Durable Wheels

If your wheels stop working on your suitcase, you’ll effectively have a box, which isn’t much help if you’re traveling the world. As such, it’s really important that you invest in a suitcase with decent wheels and good sized wheels, too.

Is there anything you find essential when you’re buying a suitcase or backpack? Leave it in the comments below.

The Great War was one of the biggest wars our planet has ever seen. Most people I know had a family member fight in the war, so it is unsurprising that visiting the WW1 Battlefields is a priority for many travellers – either to pay respect to their country, the sheer loss of life, or some specific family members. Although it is relatively morbid visiting such a historic place, it is important for many of us to honour and respect those who have risked, or lost, their life for our countries.

There are a number of WW1 Battlefields throughout Europe and depending on how many you would like to visit; you may wish to explore the various travel options available. Visiting the battlefields can be a both an enlightening and emotional experience so you may wish to break it up with visits to nearby cities.

How to Visit the WW1 Battlefields

You really have two main options if you decide you want to visit some WW1 Battlefields – either going by yourself or by way of a tour. There are pros and cons to both options. If you’re not sure which will suit you best, take a look at your budget, how much time you have in the area and who you are traveling with. If you want something easy and are planning to cover a lot of distance in a short time frame, then a tour might be the best option. However, if you prefer to be in control of your schedule, want more flexibility and have other activities in mind, then visiting the battlefields independently might be your best option.

Great Rail Journeys provide rail itineraries combined with accommodation and tours of the battlefields. More information about the options available can be found on their website.

Which WW1 Battlefields Should You Visit?

If you have any family ties to the WW1 Battlefields, then you might find it best to visit the specific fields Almost as soon as the guns fell down in 1918, people have started flocking to the Battlefields to pay respect to their friends, family and fellow countrymen that lost their lives here. If you are not sure which Battlefield you would like to visit, here are some suggestions:

Flanders Battlefields

Flanders is a region in Belgium that was fought over during World War I. For almost the entire duration of the war there was conflict in this region. Ypres, an ancient city in Flanders that is now known as Ieper, is a popular base for visiting the numerous Battlefields here. You can organise tours to Ypres either directly from the UK, locally or you can explore independently – there are a number of helpful guidebooks available.

The Somme Battlefields

Located in Northern France, the Department of Somme is another large region where there were a number of WW1 Battlefields. There are a number of Battlefields here and they are all quite easily accessible. If you only have a day spare, you will be able to find a number of good day long itineraries. Many visitors to the Somme base themselves in Albert, which is a small town – there’s not much in the way of hotels and restaurants, so be mindful of this when planning your visit. Albert is located only minutes from the 1916 Battlefields, making it a great base.

Verdun Battlefields

This is quite a unique area to visit, as after the war this region was considered a ‘red zone’ and many of the areas have not been rebuild. As such, there is still a lot left to see in the area. You can visit the villages themselves that were destroyed in the war, as well as the Battlefields. If you are planning a visit from England, Verdun is quite easily accessible so is often a popular choice.

No matter which WW1 Battlefield you choose to visit, it will be an emotional journey. To think of the sheer number of lives lost in each battlefield and collectively is overwhelming, even more so if you have family members that fought in any of the wars. Despite almost 100 years passing since World War I, many people each year flock to the Battlefields to pay their respects.

The truth is travel, like life, is not all peaches and roses. Stuff goes wrong, more often that you’d think. A bus will fail to show in South East Asia, you might get your camera stolen in Los Angeles or your credit cards stolen in Paris. Things go wrong so you need to have a game plan of how to deal with it when it does so you can minimise the damage. Here are my tips for dealing with problems that crop up on the road:

1) Consider Legal Advice

If anything goes wrong – to a serious level – you might want to consider touching base with some compensation lawyers. I have heard of travellers damaging their rental cards badly and being out of pocket or some insurance companies refusing to not cover things that they should. When I was traveling I had to return home urgently because of a death in my family. My insurance company hesitated to cover me, quoting all these reasons why, despite there being a clause for any unforeseen reason requiring you to fly home. One of my friends, who is a compensation lawyer, helped me craft a pretty convincing email and they decided to fly me home in the end. Of course there will be a cost involved with professional legal advice, but depending on what the circumstance is you might find it to be the best route of action moving forward.

2) Alert Your Travel Insurance As Soon As Possible

With many travel insurance policies you can make the claim when you return home, but if you’re traveling long term that might not be soon enough. Whatever the issue, alert your travel insurance as soon as possible and before any medical treatment where possible. The travel insurance company often has to approve your coverage before it happens, so it is not wise to leave them out of the loop. The sooner you notify your travel insurance company, the sooner you’ll know what’s going on.

3) Keep Your Bank Up-To-Date

Want to be locked out of your bank account when you’re on the other side of the planet? Nah, not my idea of a good time either. You actually need to notify your bank before you leave the country where you’re going so they don’t freak out and lock you out of your account. Likewise, if your wallet gets stolen call your bank as soon as possible so they can minimise the damage the thieves can do with your account. There’s not much worse than being stuck far from home with no access to your money!

Despite all that can go wrong, travel is one of the most rewarding experiences you can enjoy. Just be smart and seek the help you need to ensure a safe and secure trip.

New Zealand is a beautiful country – there’s no secret about that. A handful of great films have been shot here, in part because our scenery is so beautiful. I always tell visitors to New Zealand that the best way to explore it is by your own car. Public transport in New Zealand isn’t cheap and when you travel by car you have the option to stop off wherever you like along the way. It might also be a good opportunity for you to try out one of a new car, such as a 2015 Ford Mustang which will be released later in the year. Most people who come to New Zealand tend to stick to one island and if you only have time for one I suggest visiting the south as it is personally my favourite. Here are the destinations I would suggest you visit:

1) Queenstown

This is where New Zealanders go for their holidays and for good reason – it is stunning. It is a great destination no matter the time of year as it gets quite busy during the summer with a lot of activities happening on and around the lake. In winter, Queenstown hosts a festival called Winterfest and is a great hub to many of the ski fields nearby. Queenstown is one of those places where you walk around and just admire the natural beauty. There’s a gondola and luge here which are definitely worth the visit.

2) Nelson

For the best beaches in the south island, there’s no where better than Nelson. This little town has a laid back vibe that is hard to beat. One of my favourite beaches is Kaiteriteri beach – the perfect place to grab some fish and chips and watch the waves crash down. The World of Wearable Art & Classic Cars Museum is one of the best museums in New Zealand, combining art and cars ensuring that everyone in the family will be entertained.

3) Milford Sounds

Do you want to take a cruise through one of the most scenic locations in the world? Well then Milford Sounds is an essential place for you to visit. Whether you want to kayak around the sounds or enjoy it from the comfort of a boat, this is an unmissable destination on your next visit to New Zealand.

Have you ever been to New Zealand? Where are your top three places?

It’s no secret that traveling can be really demanding on your body – long flights, bus rides, food poisoning, cold showers and so forth. I personally take a few products from home that I find essential to keeping myself healthy, smelling good and sane while traveling.

Here are the products and tips I regularly use when I travel:

1) Great Deodorant

There’s nothing worse than being stuck in the vivid heat of Asia unprepared. You will NOT smell good. There are a number of brands of deodorants that you can purchase, but I tend to stick with Rexona. Bare in mind, if you’re traveling to Asia in particular, that many countries only seem to sell deodorants that contain bleach in them. For someone who is already pasty white and doesn’t like the idea of coating themselves in harsh chemicals, this is a terrifying thought. I always take a spare deodorant with me to Asia so I don’t have to worry about buying locally. Check out Rexona Clincial Reviews for more information about great deodorants.

2) Refreshing Moisturiser

Airplane rides wreak havoc on my skin. I think it’s a combination of the fact flights tend to be really dehydrating, with the recycled cabin air and pressure inside the plane. All of these factors combined with usually poor sleep results in my skin looking like a war zone. As such, I always take special precautions to ensure I have a small, refreshing moisturiser on hand. At the moment I’m using Mac Strobe cream which is great because it has a little shimmer, which brightens up your face after a crappy flight. I often use a face mask as well during the flight to keep things really hydrated.

I am in serious travel planning mode. I have bought packing cubes, new locks, a carryon suitcase, a new passport and the list goes on and on. It is so exciting preparing for a new trip and this time I’m heading off with my boyfriend, which will be a treat in itself. After 30+ countries, 2.5 years on the road and a number of horror stories, I would consider myself to be well travelled. As such, I think I know what I need to travel safe and healthy:

1) Travel Insurance

I can’t believe people fly out without this, especially to countries where their medical costs aren’t covered. It just seems like a bad idea! I have seen too many horror stories in the news and on Facebook about people who had accidents (even if they weren’t their fault) while traveling and their family have had to raise tens of thousands of dollars for their treatment. It just seems stupid! Now there are lots of benefits to getting travel insurance, too many to list here, as well as travel insurance for over 60s benefits. Whatever you do, don’t leave the country without properly protecting yourself and insuring your health and safety.

2) Activated Charcoal

If you’re heading anywhere where you might find yourself with an upset stomach or food poisoning, please take some activated charcoal. When I have been traveling in Asia, an upset stomach is a fairly regular thing for me, happening every couple of months. I used to take a few heavy doses of antibiotics and hope that things disappeared as quickly as possible. However, antibiotics can be quite hard on your body and interfere with other medication, so I prefer to avoid them where possible. Activated charcoal is a great natural alternative and can help with other stomach aches, as well as hangovers too – magic.

3) A Spare Credit Card

I suggest traveling with at least one spare credit card and a spare debit card as well if you can. So many of my friends have had their bags snatched or stolen and found themselves with no spare cards or cash in a foreign place. That doesn’t sound like my dream holiday. Having a spare card is great because if one gets stolen or used online for fraudulent purchases, then you have t least another spare when you need it most.

The Isle of Wight is truly a hidden gem. Statistically sunnier than anywhere else in the UK and only an hour away from London – the Isle of Wight should theoretically be fit to burst with tourists. Fortunately, this isn’t the case. What it is filled with however, is an array of water sports and activities to pursue, beautiful beaches and great local food.

Here’s a guide to the gorgeous Isle of Wight…

Local Cuisine

Foodies will simply adore the culinary delights that hail from the Isle of Wight. Take your pick from the island’s garlic farm which is home to locally-made jams, chutneys and generously-sized garlic bulbs or take a trip on the Wight Taste Trail. Here, you are invited to taste local produce by the island’s leading food producers and learn how it is made.

When you consider that there is one pub every square mile, there really is no excuse not to try some of the local fodder here.

Feeling Adventurous?

Part of the Isle of Wight’s big attraction is that it makes holiday makers feel as if they are a world away and this is largely down to an unexpectedly large selection of adventure sports on the island. Adrenaline junkies can enjoy everything from tree climbing and horse riding to sea kayaking and kite surfing. You can happily spend one day in the Isle of Wight learning the kind of skills you would normally only travel abroad to experience!

Nightlife

Whilst the island is not hugely known for its nightlife, locals like to improvise with the help of glamping and beautiful coastal scenery. There are plenty of events throughout the year that may take your fancy from open-air music festivals such as the popular ‘Bestival’ which runs from the 4-7th September to the many ‘Electric Woods’ events which stage outdoor concerts and light shows in the picturesque setting of Robin Hill Country Park.

Beaches

The beaches on the Isle of Wight are considered as some of the best in Europe – 17 of which are award-winning. What makes them so special? As well as being home to many great facilities and large family-friendly stretches of open sand, the Isle of Wight beaches have an annual appeal. Ramblers and holiday-makers alike flock to the island’s rural beaches during autumn and winter to get a glimpse of the unspoiled heritage coastline in all its breathtaking natural beauty. The Tennyson heritage coastline is particularly recommended for postcard picture-perfect views.

There you have it. An other-worldly home so close to home in the UK that can truly offer something for everyone – the Isle of Wight should feature on everyone’s travel wish list.