Backpacking in Turkmenistan🇹🇲: Staying at the Swanky Bagt Koshgi Hotel and Wedding Palace in Ashgabat

Posted on May 14, 2018October 21, 2024 by Jonny Blair

“Don’t kill your dreams” – Adam Topolski. The sea air eased my corporate soul back in 2007 as I smoothed my way for eternity out of daily office work, nothing against the wonderful Bite Communications company I worked for at the time, but I’d barely backpacked the globe and life was as stale as Turkmenistanian Read more about Backpacking in Turkmenistan🇹🇲: Staying at the Swanky Bagt Koshgi Hotel and Wedding Palace in Ashgabat[…]

Backpacking in Turkmenistan🇹🇲: Camping⛺At The Darvaza Gas Crater🔥, Karakum Desert

Posted on May 12, 2018October 21, 2024 by Jonny Blair

“Is this burning an eternal flame?” – The Bangles. Another travel dream was made when I visited the Darvaza Gas Crater in central Turkmenistan in 2018. This country was also my final FIFA country in the former Soviet Union. I really recommend a trip here, this is my story of Darvaza, go and see it. Read more about Backpacking in Turkmenistan🇹🇲: Camping⛺At The Darvaza Gas Crater🔥, Karakum Desert[…]

Backpacking in Oman: Staying At the Naseem Hotel in Mutrah

Posted on April 23, 2018March 7, 2023 by Jonny Blair

After my time backpacking in Saudi Arabia, I hung around on the peninsula for a while longer, by taking a flight from Jeddah to Muscat in Oman. Oman has changed its visa laws as of March 2018. This meant I needed to fork out $53 US for an online Oman visa in advance. Oman was Read more about Backpacking in Oman: Staying At the Naseem Hotel in Mutrah[…]

Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Staying at the Hotel Mercure in Al Hamra, Jeddah

Posted on April 21, 2018March 7, 2023 by Jonny Blair

After arrival into Jeddah for the Saudi Arabia Hotel Show in April 2018, I got a taxi to my hotel from the main international airport. It was my first time in Saudi Arabia and was a business trip on a 10 day adventure. We were staying in the Al Hamra district which is pretty close Read more about Backpacking in Saudi Arabia: Staying at the Hotel Mercure in Al Hamra, Jeddah[…]

The Truth About Vacation Packages

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Jonny Blair

You hear it everywhere, especially these days when travel savings websites are so hot: “Book flight and accommodations together and save!” “Reserve your hotel and tour together and save!” “Rent your car and room together and save!” But is it true? Can travelers really save money by bundling their entire vacation? The Short Answer: Yes Read more about The Truth About Vacation Packages[…]

Places to Stay: The Best Alternatives To Hotel.com

Posted on March 22, 2018March 23, 2018 by Jonny Blair

Booking a room on hotel.com is a great way to find the best online deals. Not only for your hotel stay but also for local accommodations, travel packages and all-inclusive deals you want to book online. However, there are alternatives to purchasing through hotel.com when the time comes for you to plan your travels and Read more about Places to Stay: The Best Alternatives To Hotel.com[…]

Backpacking in Belarus🇧🇾: Staying at the Kip Town Hostel in Grodno

Posted on February 26, 2018September 4, 2024 by Jonny Blair

2018 meant a welcome return to Belarus after a gap of 11 years. While my 2007 adventure took me to Babruysk and Minsk, here in 2018 I backpacked Grodno after another gruelling visa struggle at the Belarus Embassy (in Warsaw this time). Grodno is a cool city in western Belarus. Its only about 20 minutes Read more about Backpacking in Belarus🇧🇾: Staying at the Kip Town Hostel in Grodno[…]

Staying at the Ibis Plateau in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Posted on February 13, 2018February 18, 2018 by Jonny Blair

Since 2015, I have been using Ibis Hotels as one of my consistent brands to stay in. I have so far stayed in their hotels in Poland, Kaliningrad, Kuwait, France and Bahrain. Next it was the turn of the Cote d’Ivoire or the Ivory Coast. I was backpacking in Abidjan and Grand Bassam after getting Read more about Staying at the Ibis Plateau in Abidjan, Ivory Coast[…]