The Journal
Adventures, Guides & Stories
Real guides from real trips — destination breakdowns, packing lists and honest stories from Barbados to Patagonia.
Trip Planning
12 posts
trip-planning
Edinburgh Travel Guide: What to Do in Scotland's Capital
Edinburgh is the perfect bookend to a Scotland road trip — a compact, walkable city with a castle on a volcanic rock, closes that hide centuries of history, and some of the best pub food in the UK.
trip-planning
Patagonia Budget Breakdown: What Three Weeks Actually Cost
Patagonia has a reputation for being expensive, but three weeks across Chile and Argentina with a toddler cost us far less than people assume. Here's the full, honest breakdown.
trip-planning
North Island vs South Island: Which Should You Visit in New Zealand?
If you only have two weeks in New Zealand you probably cannot do both islands properly. Here is an honest comparison to help you decide which one deserves your time.
trip-planning
The Complete Patagonia Travel Guide
A complete route, season-by-season breakdown and practical planning guide for a 2 to 4 week trip through Patagonia's iconic stops.
trip-planning
The Ultimate Iceland Road Trip Guide — 12 Days Around the Ring Road and Westfjords
Iceland is one of those destinations people talk about for years before they go and can't stop talking about after. Here's how we drove 12 days around the full Ring Road, including the Westfjords.
trip-planning
New Zealand Travel Guide: 4 Weeks Around Aotearoa (2026)
A complete 4-week New Zealand itinerary covering both islands — Auckland, Rotorua, Hobbiton, Wellington, Queenstown, Milford Sound and the Catlins, with everything you need to plan your own trip.
trip-planning
Long Haul Flight Tips: How to Survive Long Haul Flights
Surviving long haul economy flights takes more than hoping for an empty seat next to you. Here's everything that actually makes a 13-15 hour flight bearable, from packing to layovers.
trip-planning
Budget Breakdown: Canadian Rockies Road Trip
The full cost breakdown of our two-week RV road trip from Whitehorse to Calgary through the Canadian Rockies — flights, rental, gas, groceries and campsites, compared against staying in hotels.
trip-planning
City of Sails: Barbados to Auckland NZ
After 48 hours of travel from Barbados, Auckland appeared below through rain clouds — grey, wet, and nothing like the sun-drenched welcome I'd imagined. Here's how one exhausted arrival day unfolded.
trip-planning
Budget Travel 101: How to Travel Often
Travelling can be expensive — flight prices and hotel rooms can make it feel out of reach fast. Here's every budget travel strategy we actually use to travel often, without cutting the experience short.
trip-planning
Travel Planning 101: Using Google Maps for Travel Planning
Some people love travel planning and some people hate it. Here's exactly how we plan every trip, including how to use Google My Maps to build your own interactive route before you go.
trip-planning
How to Stay Healthy While Travelling: Tips From a Personal Trainer
Keeping fit and healthy on the road is genuinely difficult — you want to enjoy the food and drinks without coming home 15 pounds heavier. Here are the practical tips that actually work, from a personal trainer.