The Nearest Thing Iraq Has to a Backpacker’s Hostel: The Parlaman Hotel in Duhok

I’ve written up lots of stories from my 10 days backpacking through Northern Iraq but I have yet to cover any of my hotel stays there – I stayed in 4 different hotels in Iraqi Kurdistan. You might not know what to expect when backpacking through Iraqi Kurdistan, a region which is beautiful, but sadly Read more about The Nearest Thing Iraq Has to a Backpacker’s Hostel: The Parlaman Hotel in Duhok[…]

Backpacking in Ethiopia: Staying at the Central Hotel in Harar

My memories of Harar will be one of extreme madness. Everything was just crazy. At dusk there was the hyena feeding, a night out on the town, touring the top sights of the fourth holiest city in Islam and also the crazy death mini-bus ride to get here and back. There doesn’t seem to be Read more about Backpacking in Ethiopia: Staying at the Central Hotel in Harar[…]

Staying at the 5 Star Yanggakdo Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea

While backpacking in North Korea, we were based in the capital city of Pyongyang. North Korea is slightly different from other backpacking destinations because your tour company organises everything for you. I’m not normally a fan of this way of travel, until I met Gareth Johnson, and the lads and lasses of Young Pioneer Tours!! Read more about Staying at the 5 Star Yanggakdo Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea[…]

Best Budget Hotel in Belem, Brazil: Hotel Unidos

You’ll probably remember that I was in Brazil for the World Cup in 2014. I stayed in some great hostels and hotels but also some bad ones! I loved the Hotel Mais in Macapa and the Hostel Green House in Iguazu, but not the Hotel San Francisco on Rio de Janeiro. Towards the end of Read more about Best Budget Hotel in Belem, Brazil: Hotel Unidos[…]

Staying at the Hotel Floresta in Caracas, Venezuela

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – be very careful if you go backpacking through Venezuela. The country doesn’t stand well with me – I hate it, and put it at the bottom of the list of places I have been. From the moment I stepped into the country (at the San Read more about Staying at the Hotel Floresta in Caracas, Venezuela[…]

Staying at the Ibis Sharq Hotel in Kuwait City, Kuwait

After arriving at Kuwait International Airport where I got my Kuwait visa, I stayed at the Ibis Salmiya Hotel for my first night in the country. It was nice to stay in Salmiya which is away from the busy bustling centre of Kuwait City. On my second night, I wanted to be closer to the Read more about Staying at the Ibis Sharq Hotel in Kuwait City, Kuwait[…]

Staying at the Ibis Salmiya Hotel, Kuwait City, Kuwait

After my longest stint in Europe for about 6 years, it was time to head back towards Asia. A new country beckoned on the way though and I plumped for Kuwait. Bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Kuwait is a small country in the Middle East which doesn’t attract as many tourists as it should. I Read more about Staying at the Ibis Salmiya Hotel, Kuwait City, Kuwait[…]

Backpacking in Gibraltar: My Lovely Stay at the Cannon Hotel

Some fellow travellers hadn’t even heard of Gibraltar when I told them I was heading here. Gibraltar was the newest country on my target list, having become a member of UEFA in 2014, meaning its national football team were competing in the Euro 2016 qualifiers for the first time. Gibraltar was always on my list Read more about Backpacking in Gibraltar: My Lovely Stay at the Cannon Hotel[…]