10 reasons why travel reunions are so important

Southeast Asia is one of the most marketable destinations for all kind of travellers. It offers so much in value and variety that in recent years tourism has sky-rocketed. Let’s be honest, we’ve all seen at least one mesmerizing photo of the beautiful places in SEA, enticing you with its white-sanded beaches, intricate temples, Buddha statues, the luring green jungle and the natural coconuts ready to sip on. Making it a traveller’s dream!!
There are hundreds of places to visit over there, if not thousands, that offer its visitors some form of inspiration. Unfortunately, some travellers have limited time, so for them making the decision of which places they shouldn’t miss out on their trip becomes a very complicated and stressful situation. To help release some of that stress, we decided to put together a list of all of the places that stand out from the rest and are a ‘must visit’ in Southeast Asia.
1.Borneo, Malaysia
Borneo is special because of two things: the rainforests and the friendly orangutans that live in there. Orangutans share 96% of human DNA making them one of the most intelligent primates, and seeing these interesting creatures in the wild can inspire any traveller. Wildlife is unique in parts of Asia, and these amazing orangutans top the lot!
Unfortunately, the rainforests in Malaysia are being destroyed for the search of natural resources; such as palm oil, so their native beauty is slowly diminishing. We hope deforestation stops soon, as the orangutans need their natural habitat to live and reproduce. If you want to go a step further you can sign up to volunteer with them -which includes feeding them first hand.
2. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is often the postcard photo of Southeast Asia. With its intricate design and spread out structure these ancient ruins inspire the most to travel to Southeast Asia. Especially if you’ve witnessed the sunrise or the sunset peeking above its pillars.
Angkor Wat is one of the largest religious sites in the world and also one of the most visited – with over 2 million visitors each year-. If you’re looking for cultural kicks and true insights of the history of Cambodia, exploring the incredible ruins of Angkor Wat are a must-see in Southeast Asia.
3. Halong Bay, Vietnam
Vietnam has a reputation of being fast and furious with its millions of bikes and raw and ready culture, but the archipelago of Halong Bay couldn’t be further away from that. Based in the North of the country, Halong Bay offers a set of idyllic limestone islands, topped with rainforests. The laid back and exotic nature of these islands are perfectly complemented with emerald waters, making it an inspiring view for any cruise or boat trip.
If you decide to visit this beautiful place,Cát Bà National Park is a particular hotspot.
4. Rice Terraces, Philippines
Thousands of years old, these UNESCO Heritage certified rice paddies and terraces are like an array of rural steps made for giants. With rows and rows of weaved green platforms in Banaue, situated in the Philippines north, the rice terraces are a must visit. Despite their beauty, still the majority of travellers in the Philippines, who choose the unspoilt white-sanded islands instead, often overlook them. If you’re a bit of an outdoorsy traveller and love a good hike, just seeing the photos of the rice terraces will immediately give you wanderlust.
5. Mount Rinjani, Indonesia
Indonesia is most known for its holiday destination hotspot Bali, with the surrounding Gili Islands a treasure to visit. However, Indonesia is home to 220 million people and certainly has a lot more to it than that. Often seen as the most difficult yet worthwhile hike open to visitors in Southeast Asia, Mount Rinjani offers world-class views. With the peak far above the clouds near, it’s a popular activity to witness the sunrise here. An active volcano based in Lombok, the elevation reaches nearly 4,000 m and is the second largest volcano in Indonesia!
6. Krabi, Thailand
Any list describing the wonders of Southeast Asia wouldn’t be complete with mentioning some of what Thailand has to offer. The country that opened the door for Southeast Asia travel in its modernity, Thailand has many places that inspire and is normally the first stop people go to. With a more commercial outlook than it’s neighbours, it’s easily the most visited. Famed for its Thai islands in the south, the province of Krabi has many a wonder to inspire. With a white-sand stretch of beaches such as Railay, crystal clear waters for snorkelling and scuba diving with a plethora of marine life, and limestone rocks that match of Halong Bay, Krabi will be the place you’ll often see on the front of the brochure.
7. Bagan Temples, Myanmar
With Myanmar opening to visitors only as recent as 2011, it’s recent surge of travellers have only begun to gather pace in the last couple of years. Even though the number of tourists hasn’t reached the heights as expected, the potential is definitely there. The country has limited the access for visitors to a lot of places, however, there are in total 4400 temples and pagodas open to anyone to freely explore. Probably the most sought for sights in the whole country are the Bagan temples, where if you manage to get a good view from the heights, the stunning backdrop of the temples provide a view of the magnificent intricate brick structures, as well as an insight into the history and size of the empires that once ruled this area.
WIN a bonus $200 each spending money from Travello by inviting 5 friends to Travello through our “invite Friends” function in the app. If all 5 create a profile you’ll also grab the spending money if you win the major prize!
To enter, first download Travello if you have not done so yet.
Then post on the feed in the Travello App the following:
There is no limit on the number of entries, so get creative and enter as many times as you like on the Travello feed!
PRIZE CHOICE 1:
PRIZE CHOICE 2:
MORE EUROPE HOP-ON HOP-OFF INFO:
MORE CAMBODIA TRIP INFO:
This competition is in no way associated, sponsored or administered by either Apple, Google, the App Store, Google Play or Facebook.
To enter, first download Travello if you have not done so yet.
Then post on the feed in the Travello App the following:
There is no limit to the number of entries per person, so you post as many times as you like!
Encourage your friends to like the post too. We will be compiling a final list of 5 entries which we will then post on to Facebook, from there it will be voted by the public as most favourite entry!
Win a Parrot Bebop Drone – take your travel shots to a whole new level, into the sky! Valued at $250.
Take aerial video and pictures like a pro. The ultra-light drone with a full HD camera digitally stabilized on 3-axes! Equiped with a 14 megapixel fisheye camera, the Parrot Bebop Drone records videos and pictures in a 180° field with remarkable image quality. A full-digital image stabilization technology allows the Bebop Drone to take remarkably stable and clear aerial footage regardless of the drone movements. Splash and dust proof lens. Please note, prize is for the original Parrot Bebop not the Bebop 2.
This competition is in no way associated, sponsored or administered by either Apple, Google, the App Store, Google Play or Facebook. Parrot, the drone brand is also not associated with this competition, the drone is simply a prize giveaway from Travello.
Information on how to enter and prizes form part of these Conditions of Entry.
Entry into this promotion is deemed acceptance of these Conditions of Entry by each entrant.
Entry is open to all Travello users who are aged at least 18 years old.
Employees of Travello and their immediate families are not permitted to enter.
Duration of Promotional Period
The competition commences at 4:00pm AEST Tuesday 26th September, 2017.
The competition entires on Travello closes at 11:59pm AEST Friday 20th October, 2017.
The final 5 entries will then be announced by Tuesday 24th October and will then proceed to the final public voting round closing on 29th October at 5pm AEST.
How to Enter
Eligible entrants can enter the promotion in any of the following way:Persons must have a profile on the Travello App
Entries received will be considered final by the Promoter. Incomplete, inaccurate, erroneous, illegible or incomprehensible entries will be deemed invalid.
Entries must be received by the Promoter during the promotional period. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for late, lost or misdirected entries.
Any costs associated with accessing the App remain the responsibility of each entrant and are dependent on the Internet Service Provider/Mobile Provider used.
Draw Details
The competition will be drawn by Travello.
There will be a final list of 5 entries chosen by the Travello team that will then go on to be promoted onto Facebook. The eventual winner from those five will be chosen from a mix of engagement such as most likes/comments/shares etc for their entry from the Travello community!
The final 5 will be drawn at 3:00pm AEST Tuesday 24th October, 2017 at Travello headquarters in Brisbane, QLD.
The final 5 will be notified via the Travello App And Email by a direct message before 11:59pm AEST Tuesday 25th October 2017 and will also be announced on the Travello Feed in the app at that time.
From there the final 5 will be posted to our Facebook Feed by 9:30am Wednesday 26th October 2017 and voting will commence.
Voting of the final 5 on Facebook will close at 5pm AEST Sunday 29th October.
The eventual winner will be announced and messaged by 5:30pm AEST Monday 30th October.
The Major Prize Winner has until 5:00pm AEST Monday 6th November, 2017 to claim the prize. Although every effort will be made to contact the prize winners, should an unclaimed prize draw be necessary, in the event that the winner has not been able to be contacted or replied another draw will take place by Travello to select the next winner.
Prize Details
There will be one (1) major prize consisting of the following components:
– Value: AU$250
– Parrot Bebop Drone (Please note this is not the Parrot Bebop 2 Drone, prize is for the original Parrot Bebop Drone)
– Note, the drone hand controller is not included (we think its too bulky for travelling around with). It is able to be controlled by your mobile phone or tablet.
– Example of the drone can be found here – http://global.parrot.com/au/products/bebop-drone/
Winners must take the prizes as offered. Prizes are non-transferable, non-refundable, cannot be sold or exchanged for cash, credit or foreign exchange and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, discount or promotion. Negotiation with Travello or the prize partners will not be entered into.
Any passes and tickets issued as part of the prize are subject to prevailing terms and conditions of use and any tickets or passes are only valid for use within the stated duration on the passes or tickets issued or the duration of the chosen prize, whichever is earlier.
The Prize Winner consents to the use of their name, suburb of residence and image as well as their entry post for promotional and marketing purposes.
To the extent permitted by law, the Promoter is not responsible or liable for: inaccurate/incorrect transcription of entry information; purported entries that are not received for any reason, including because they are lost, misdirected or stolen, or that are received, but are late, illegible, incomplete, sent with insufficient postage (where entry is by post), or sent other than as directed in the entry instructions; any problems or technical failures of any kind, including malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems or network, servers or providers, computer equipment, or software; the unavailability or inaccessibility of any service whether or not caused by traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website; unauthorised human intervention in any part of the competition; electronic or human error which may occur in the administration of the competition; any loss suffered or sustained, to person or property and including, but not limited to, consequential (including economic) loss by reason of any act or omission, deliberate or negligent, by the Promoter, or its servants or agents, in connection with the arrangement for supply, or the supply, of any goods or services by any person to a prize winner and, where applicable, to any family/persons accompanying a winner; or any injury or damage to persons or property, including to the participant’s or any other person’s computer related to, or resulting from, participation or downloading any materials in this competition.
The promoter, Travello, will be liable for personal injury suffered during prize winnings.
This condition does not affect, and is not intended to affect, any rights a consumer might have, which cannot be excluded under applicable consumer protection laws. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any liability of the Promoter or its servant or agents for breach of any such rights is limited to the payment of the cost of having the prize supplied again.
The Promoter is Travello App trading as TRAVELLO PTY LTD 600 440 953.
The personal information of entrants will be collected to enable the Promoter to administer and promote this competition. All entrants and the Prize Winner may be used to market the Promoter’s services. The personal information of the entrants will be held and used in accordance with the Promoter’s privacy policy which is available at Travel Privacy Policy. The personal information of entrants & winners may be provided to our prize partners and to authorities that regulate this competition. If an entrant does not truthfully provide all requested personal information, the Promoter may determine that they are not eligible to win the prize
Create a profile on the app to find out about our next exciting competition coming soon.
COMPETITION CLOSES SUNDAY 27TH AUGUST 11:59PM AEST
Winner takes home a 2-Man Cinch tent + the choice of either a 5 night ski package for 2 to Altitude Madarao Lodge in Japan or a Stoke Travel 2 night surf trip in the heart of Basque Country in San Sebastian in Spain!
To enter, first download Travello if you have not done so yet.
Then post on the feed either 1,2 or 3 of these things. If more than one, a separate post for each.:
Win a Cinch 2-man Tent, the world’s most advanced pop-up tent. Valued at $470!
Plus also included is the Extended Canopy, Heat Regulating Canopy, LED Lanterns, LED Tent Pegs, Light Reflective Guidelines plus much more!
Cinch is one of Kickstarter’s most successful camping product stories!
View more about these awesome tents here through one of their instructional videos below:
5 Night Ski Package at Altitude Madarao Lodge in Japan
or
2 Night Surf Trip to San Sebastian with Stoke Travel.
This ski package at Altitude Madarao Lodge in Japan includes:
Altitude Madarao is a well-appointed recently renovated full service ski lodge with all the extras to make your stay extra comfortable but with out the price tag. Altitude Madarao is located less than 100 meters from the runs at Madarao Ski resort which is know for it’s high snowfall and great tree skiing located in both Nagano and Niigata Prefectures.
If you are looking for a taste of what the snow and skiing is like at Madarao, then check out the video below:
This surf trip with Stoke Travel in San Sebastian includes the following:
If you are looking for a taste of the San Sebastian Surf Trip with Stoke Travel then check out their video here:
Duration of Promotional Period
How to Enter
Draw Details
Prize Details
– Value: AU$470
– Cinch 2-Man Tent Package. Package includes the 2-man tent, extended canopy, heat & light regulating canopy along with all standard inclusion in their 2-man tent packages found here : https://www.cinchpopuptents.com.au/products/2-man-tent
Plus then the winner has the choice to choose from the following two other prizes:
1/ 5 Night Package to Altitude Madarao Lodge, Madarao, Japan. Value is AU$900.
This package includes:
*Please note flights are NOT included in the prize package
2/ 2 night surf trip with Stoke Travel to San Sebastian, Spain. Value is AU$210.
This package includes:
*Please note flights are NOT included in this prize package
TOTAL PRIZE VALUE UP TO $1,370 AUD (if Tent + Altitude Madarao Ski trip chosen)
Southeast Asia (SEA) is the home of tropical beaches, green verdant jungles, fascinating cultures and amazing food. The affordable prices attract hundreds of backpackers who embrace these lands, and because of its beauty and history all kind of tourists are flocking to the shores of Southeast Asia. Whether you’re on a trip for 2 weeks or 10 months, SEA is arguably one of the best places to visit.
However in all countries across SEA, laws and regulations vary, so if you want to enjoy your trip and be safe you might want to know a general overview of how things run in this part of the world. These are of course just broad general tips and advice, always use your common sense too and be respectful of others, especially the locals. We have a more in-depth country by country guide coming up next too.
Here are some basic pointers to know if you choose to visit Southeast Asia:
Visas
Overstaying your visas could potentially lead to fines and being banned from returning to that country. The longer you overstay the worse is the punishment. Southeast Asia is amazing; and you truly don’t want to ruin your trip!
Dress code
Dressing appropriately is expected when visiting all religious and cultural sites in Southeast Asia so make sure you are not bearing too much flesh, specially shoulders and knees. Even though the weather is super hot, wearing appropriate clothing is very important in the vicinity of cities, cultural sites, religion monuments and even some natural attractions. In Thailand for example, it is not allowed to drive WITHOUT wearing a shirt!
Religion and Law
Disrespecting countries monarchies, flags, monuments and even money is a big NO NO, like it would be in any country. However the punishments here are severe, that can lead to arrests, imprisonment or even death. Even taking photos of military sites or being too close to a border crossing is prohibited in most countries.
Behaviour
Touching people’s head, mocking locals, being overly loud, general disregard, disrespect or any type of bullying is extremely offensive and not warranted in many South East Asian countries. Visitors need to be aware that they are in a new country and should respect laws and expectancies that are sometimes completely different from some Western standards. For example:
Scams
Due to the rise and rise of tourism there is more competition for businesses and unfortunately some of them are taking quick short cuts that can trick you out of your money. Be extra careful when visiting tourist sights that are popular such as Angkor Wat, Bagan Temples, the Grand Palace and Tea Ceremonies.
Also if you are asking for a tuk-tuk ride or a taxi make sure you negotiate a fair price and itinerary, and/or put on the price meter. Don’t be too easily swayed by strangers and follow your instinct. Unfortunately travellers get scammed in Asia and you need to be aware of that.
Health
Malaria and Dengue Fever do exist in Southeast Asia, in some places more apparent than others. Always use mosquito spray especially in rural and jungle area and always consult your travel clinic first. You can arrange appointments and consultations prior to your travels.
Drugs
This one goes without saying, it’s pretty well known. Southeast Asia has a strict policy against drugs; wether is the production, supply or use. So the best thing to do is to steer clear of any contact with illegal drugs, as the wrong use can result in arrest, imprisonment or even the death penalty.
Just to give you an example here is the statement from the Kingdom of Thailand website: ‘Violators of laws related to illicit drugs e.g. having and holding for use, or being a producer, seller or transporter are subject to the death sentence.’
NEXT SOUTHEAST ASIA BLOG FEATURE:
Stay tuned for the next update in this series – A travel safety guide by each specific country across SEA.
ARE YOU OUR NEXT TRAVELLO AMBASSADOR:
Do you love travel? Do you have a passion for social media? Do you have a Travello user name and currently use the app? Then apply to become one of our next Travello Ambassadors! Find out more here – Travello Ambassadors
The best thing about traveling around Europe is how convenient and easy it is to travel from one destination to another, jumping from one culture to the next. In other regions around the world the foundations of the culture and ways of life normally all tie in with each other. Where as in Europe, you could be a couple hours away from a place that is so different to where you’re situated.
The Latin flair of Spain and Portugal isn’t too far from the shores of the UK, Amsterdam, Belgium and Germany, that’s the beauty of Europe, the variety and the history of each nation. Yet, as much as Europe is a place we all can find somewhere we want to travel and to visit, the costs in Europe are remarkably higher than other typical budget traveller destinations, especially Western Europe.
Now, we all know there are must see’s all around Europe, but it’s the cost it warrants to travel, live, eat, sleep and everything else that can become more difficult. We want to travel as long as possible, so with that in mind, we thought we’d come up with some Europe hacks for you to keep your budget tight, but make the most out of your trip.
These are the best travel hacks for making your way all around Europe on a budget this summer.
1. Sign Up To The Free Attractions
Free walking tours are a great way for you to learn the foundations of a place. You get the chance to do some sightseeing and make friends in the tour too. Plus, getting your bearings is always good with someone who knows where and when to go leading the charge. Also, any other free attractions such as visiting an old church, a viewpoint or a beach are always possible to see without cost.
2. Limit Big Tours, DIY
That being said, tours normally come at a price so if you don’t need to go with one, don’t. Travel is about exploring, and doing it yourself is one of the most liberating experiences. If you can take local transportation to a major attraction to save money rather than paying more on the tour, do it! In Europe things can be expensive, and if you do it more often than not this week, you’ll travel longer. However, for sure, sprinkle in the odd group tour if you can stretch the budget if you dont really want to do any planning or just want an easy way to meet and hang out with a large group, just understand what you will be sacrificing with that money though.
3. Don’t Visit Everything
Do your research before; you don’t have to visit every place you’ve read about, as then it only becomes a bucket list journey. Know what you like, what you’re keen on and what you’ve got budget for.
The Colosseum in Rome, Eiffel Tower in Paris, Big Ben in London; these are all monumental attractions that are on anyone’s travel bucket list, no matter what kind of traveller you are. Just bare in mind that some attractions sound better in a listicle rather than what they actually are, but if you want to see the main attractions then keep to that, this experience is for you.
4. Stay With Worldly Friends
In today’s day and age most travelers have a friend or two from destinations afar. Why? The world is more interconnected; people are moving abroad and traveling more. So if you’re in Munich for the weekend and your German buddy whom you shared drinks with one time lives there, hit him up! You get to see things the local way, free of charge and have a friend to go with too!
5. Try Couchsurfing
If your pool of friends isn’t that vast yet, then Couchsurfing is a more official way of staying with locals for free. You get to meet someone new, and hopefully if they’re a good host they’ll take you to some of the budget friendly places you won’t have any idea they were there.
6. Download an App to Meet People
Travel apps nowadays are extremely helpful; they can save you money and time with your experiences whilst on the road. If you want to meet other like-minded travelers with a similar trip, Travello puts you in touch with people near you. You can make contact with them and see what plans they have.
7. Eat Street Food or Cook For Yourself
Eating out in Europe can be a bit pricey, especially if you’re on a tight daily budget. Nibbling at street food sandwiches or baguettes for 4-5 Euro’s will keep you going, but if you have time, you can cook for yourself at the hostel. Pasta is always the easiest dish, and keeps the costs way down too!
8. Pre-Drinks Always
If clubbing is on the agenda, which in a lot of the cases it is at some point during your travel in Europe, it’s best to pre-drink before the main event. European drinks prices in bars can be high depending where you go, so if you need to stick to a budget, finish off some cheap wine before you go out. You’ll save money doing this for sure.
9. Use Car Share Services
One good thing that you can access whilst traveling Europe are car-sharing services such as Bla Bla Car. Things might get a little squashed in a car full of strangers, but the cost will be a lot lower when traveling around a country, or crossing into another.
10. Bus It Instead of Interrail
Bus companies such, as Flixbus, are ideal for traveling Europe. These services run regularly all day and night in most European countries, and also offer a consistent hop on-hop-off service at cheap rates. Although the Interrail has historically always been cemented as part of a travelers Europe experience, being more practical has to be considered if you’re traveling on a budget.
11. Work In a Hostel For a Bit
If you fell in love of a country and want to see more of it, there is no better way to do it than working in that place so you can really explore its environs. Hostel working normally comes in exchange for accommodation and food, which covers some major costs. At the same time you’ll meet other travelers, locals and get to see the best pockets of the place you fell in the love with in the first place.
This Is A Guest Post by Tommy Walker
Tommy Walker | The Wandering Walker | www.thewanderingwalker.com
To enter, first download Travello if you have not done so yet, then join the Peterpans Adventure Travel Group and simply post your most memorable adventure or adrenaline filled travel moment on their feed with either a photo or video along with a short description of why its you favourite!
Join the PETERPANS ADVENTURE TRAVEL Group here to get started!
Travello is the app where travellers connect from all over the world!
Duration of Promotional Period
How to Enter
Draw Details
Prize Details
– A$500 Peterpans Adventure Pack with supplier AJ Hackett Auckland.
– Adventure Pack includes an Auckland Bridge Climb, Sky Walk & Sky Jump.
– Prize is valid for a period of 24 months from the date of issue.
TOTAL PRIZE VALUE TO $500 AUD
Backpackers, Travel Bloggers, Digital Nomads, Female Solo Travellers, we all have different ways on how we choose to travel. Whether we decide to do it solo or with a partner, we all eventually at times find ourselves struggling to connect with others.
In a previous blog on Travello, we talked about how travelling can open the door to meeting the most amazing people, friends you will keep for life. However, that is not always the case, travelling can be lonely at times as well, it’s not always so easy to make friends everywhere straight away.
I remember the first time I left my country to travel solo, I was on my way to Asia with no one next to me to share the adventure or to lean on when things don’t go as planned. Till that trip, I’ve never realized how hard it can be to meet other people while travelling, and it is not because of lack of skills to do so, is just that people come and go so fast in hostels that it makes it hard to make a quick connection with others.
Travel bloggers spend a lot of their time alone. “Being a solo traveller that is usually working on the road makes it harder to meet others. Hostels are usually out, as a blogger you need a reliable work place and deadlines can mean you are in and out far too quickly. The bonus is this makes you seek out connections with locals so you can gain a better understanding of a destination”. – Dan Flying Solo –
There is also that part of matching trips between travellers that make things harder, especially for those who are constantly travelling around the world driven by the need to go off the map and hunt down the places where other travellers wouldn’t normally go.
Steph Dyson from Wordly Adventurer believes that “sometimes it’s conducive to writing, specially when visiting places where having a new travel buddy joining her for a hitchhiking adventure would make her feel safer, or be a good distraction on a long journey”. The speed of traveling is another factor for Steph because she “ has a tendency to travel far slower than other backpackers, meaning that it leaves fewer opportunities to meet a new companion and disappear traveling with them”.
Travel blogging can be the most amazing career, but it also makes it very difficult for them to connect with others. Unlike everyone else in the hostel they always got a deadline hanging over their shoulders, social media to schedule or some emails to send – Steph Dyson-
Travelling with a partner can make you feel lonely sometimes too. “Some people consider that travelling as a couple would never make you feel lonely, but that is not always true. It can be very difficult to find new relationships on the road because you tend to pigeonhole yourself to just being with that one person. Even though it’s incredible for the relationship and you grow infinitely stronger and closer, you can miss out on a lot of the solo-travel experience when you’ve got your rock with you”. – Ava Pendl –
These stories reminded me a conversation with a friend about her trip through USA with her partner, she told me she found it really hard to meet other couples with the same interests and plans in order to organize some adventures together. There is also that part of needing time alone, but sometimes it is difficult because you were travelling as a couple so you never thought on meeting others separately.
And that is only the physical aspect of meeting people, there is also the online world, where options like Facebook groups offer travellers the opportunity to connect with others in travel groups, however a comment can get lost between the other hundreds of posts published per day, and if you are looking for specific information within those groups it is almost impossible without scrolling down and having to check every single post.
Luckily we have now social networks specific for travellers like Travello, where meeting others is a tap away. There is no need to know the person before hand to be able to connect, plus with the “Groups” feature you can find specific information that is only related to what you need and want. This feature also allows you to see who is in there so it is easier to connect. While if you have a trip planned you can add that into Travello and see who else is planning to be in that same destination at the same time as you.
So if you ever find it hard to meet other people in a future or current destination, remember that Travello (Download here) gives you the amazing benefit of connecting with others with similar interests. Connecting with others is just a signup away.
Being an adventurer traveller can be rough sometimes, moments when you feel lonely and defenceless. Facing situations that make you realise how far away you are from all those that you reach when you are in need; whether it is a relative or a friend, all of them are miles away from you.
Have you ever found yourself stuck inside a train across China for 24 hours, travelling by mistake in a carriage that is probably considered like 5th class, with no seat, surrounded with people that do not speak your language and that are probably wondering what is this crazy foreigner doing here?
Well, I did. But the best part of these stories are not the upside downs or what I went through to endure the trips. What was totally worth it and I’ll always remember are those kind and selfless characters that without knowing me put their time and effort to ease the discomfort, those who changed my life forever.
But this story is one of many. For Travel Blogger Wendy was Catarina and her taxi called Milano 25, the best taxi ride ever.
“It looked like she and her car escaped out of a fairy-tale. She inherited the taxi from her partner who died of cancer and to whom she promised to keep driving the car. Besides her work as a very special cabdriver, she also arranges free rides to the hospital for little cancer patients. She turns the trip into a party and makes them forget the misery for a while (Click here to read more about her story). – Wendy–
People you meet while travelling that make you see life in a different way. Someone once told Travel Vlogger Sian Galbraith from Sians Travel Diary: “While travelling you can meet the most amazing, interesting, inspiring people for one day and never see them again”.
“I always remember the ones that changed my life, especially a man I met in Chiang Mai travelling with his daughter. Full of stories from around the world he truly inspired me to live my life to the fullest. I thought I had been, until I met him and I realised I had so much more to experience. So for that, I thank him from the bottom of my heart”. – Sian Galbraith-
Or like Douk in Cambodia the most memorable face Travel Blogger Daniel James (from Dan Flying Solo) has ever met.
“For many, he would be a beggar quickly dismissed, but to me he was a businessman. Taking time out to enjoy a drink together in Pub Street he told me about his life story and how he tragically lost his arms. The fact he still came to work each day, selling his book collection impressed me. He gifted me a copy of ‘Cambodian for beginners’ so we would be able to understand each other better next time I visited. It’s still in my backpack 18 months on and it’s a gesture I’ll never forget (Click here to read more about this story)”. -Dan-
Travelling sometimes comes with getting the ticket for the wrong destination, delayed flights or loosing your connection, that is when people you’ve met, your Airbnb host, or even the owner from the hostels become those friends you reach when you are in need.
Katie from Creative Travel Guide and her friend had to reach their hostel when they found themselves stuck at Chengdu Airport in China.
“It was super late after a delayed flight and we couldn’t get a taxi for an hour! Rang the hostel and they immediately sent out their driver. Turned out the driver was the hostel owner who was pushing 80 and whose daughters ran the hostel for him. He was the sweetest little man we have ever met! He also drove us to the Leshan Buddha the following day, spoke no word of English but yet we felt like we could really connect with him as the attempted to direct us around the Buddha”. – Katie-
Also some of our ambassadors have experienced some of these issues themselves. Shelley Treadway from The Four Explore had to reach their Airbnb host when they missed their connection train in Naples and later ended up on a train back to their original destination AGAIN!! Lucky for them he offered to pick them up and take them to his second home. What a relief!
“When we first met Marco we immediately knew he would be a lifelong friend. We spend the following days visiting him at his work as curator of the ancient Greek ruins of Paestum and grabbing the best pizza at his favourite local pizza restaurant. He knew EVERYONE and always made sure we knew where to go and how to get there.
When we met Marco I saw Italy in a new light. The friendship we forged will undoubtedly last a lifetime”. – Shelley –
Finally there are those you meet through Social Networks. Which according to Travel Blogger Ana Asanovic despite the fact that they are of different age, sex or occupation they all share the same trait: they are warm, friendly and hospitable people, willing to share everything and asking nothing in return. That is what makes them unique and special.
“I’ve been so lucky to meet great people during my travels. They mostly came through Couchsurfing and with the ones I bonded we still keep in touch even though we live in different corners of the world. Having locals like that in a new country is something priceless. People who cook delicious local food, introduce you to their family and friends, and make room for you in their busy lives”. – Ana-
Local hosts can make your trip flow easier because they know the city and can also speak your language. They make you feel safe and comfortable, and sometimes give you that boost of confidence to keep going to new places knowing that you’ll be able to find someone that will make you feel at home. Brenda Mejía from Traveleira shared with us how she met some of the most amazing people while traveling.
“ While staying in Malmo, Sweden for my first trip I was lucky enough to have a Chilean Couchsurfing hostess that made my first trip abroad a lot more comfortable. Going home and being able to speak on my same language or about things that we were both familiar made my transition to become a real traveller a lot better.
And while in Oslo, Norway I had the chance to be hosted by Daisy through Airbnb, one of the sweetest hostess and persons I’ve ever met in my life. She treated all of us her guests like we were part of her own family and made our stays a lot more comfortable and fun. I’m hoping I can see her again soon!” – Brenda G. Mejía-
That is the beauty of Social Networks for Travellers like Travello, they allow us to reach and connect with different characters around the world, people that could become friends for life or help us through difficult times.
So if you ever need help from locals or others travellers, remember that Travello (Download here) gives you the amazing benefit of connecting with others before you get to your destination or while you are traveling. In our app connecting with others is just a signup away.
Shelley Treadaway from The Four Explore
Sign up to their blog to follow their travels, or follow them on