When trying to find a base for our English road trip, we originally wanted to stay in Bath. However, after finding a great AirBnB in Bradford-On-Avon, which was within our budget, that idea quickly changed! Bradford-On-Avon is a small town in Wiltshire and is only a twenty minute car journey (or a fifteen minute train ride) into Bath. It turned out to be an amazing place to stay as it was within easy reach of The Cotswolds as well.

On the second day of our English road trip, after having spent the morning exploring Lacock Abbey, we drove 10 miles up the road to our next Cotswolds Village - Castle Combe! Just when I was thinking that nowhere could be more beautiful than Lacock Village... Castle Combe may have stolen the show. This small village is arguably one of the sweetest places in England!

You Might Like: A Morning In The Picturesque Cotswolds Village Of Lacock 

On the second day of our English road trip we decided to spend it exploring beautiful villages in The Cotswolds. The Cotswolds is an area in the west of England famous for its gorgeous countryside, quaint little villages with thatched cottages, and beautiful old manor houses. 

You Might Like: Day 1 Of Our English Road Trip: The New Forest And Stonehenge

Our mini road trip around (mostly) the southwest of England had been in the works for months. Although I've now visited over 25 countries, I'd been neglecting beautiful areas that were only a mere three hour drive away. All of that changed this week! My other half and I packed up the car, left Brighton, and went on a four day adventure around the south of England.

Having grown up in the South East of England, we drove west and decided to focus our time on Wiltshire, The Cotswolds and Bath. Our first proper stop (besides Arundel castle which we discovered was closed on Mondays!) was The New Forest National Park. 

Northern Ireland is a country that has a mixture of everything. Belfast, the capital city that's famous for being the birthplace of the Titanic, has plenty of museums and restaurants to keep any city lover busy. Also, if you fancy getting outdoors and into the fresh air, Northern Ireland definitely isn't short of rugged and dramatic coastlines to explore. 

Northern Ireland shares its border with the Republic of Ireland, but since the 1920s has been part of the United Kingdom. Unfortunately the country experienced decades of violence between the late 1960s and 1998 known as 'The Troubles'. This was where conflicts arose between 'Unionists', people who wanted to stay within the United Kingdom, and 'Nationalists', people who wanted a united Ireland. In the late 1990s, the Good Friday Agreement was made. This agreement concluded that Northern Ireland would remain part of the United Kingdom, unless a majority in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland vote otherwise. 

Northern Ireland is home to some of the most beautiful and dramatic coastlines in the United Kingdom. The Causeway Coast runs between Belfast and Derry/Londonderry, and with a mixture of gorgeous beaches and historical sites, it's easy to see why the route attracts thousands of visitors each year.

With the aim of seeing more of the UK in mind, we decided to make a day trip from Belfast and see what else Northern Ireland had to offer. We focused on the Causeway Coast specifically between the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge and Castlerock and had the greatest time. Having access to a car is probably the easiest method of getting around, but there are also tour companies that offer day trip excursions that visit the main sights along the route.

Edinburgh is the capital and the second largest city in Scotland. It attracts thousands of visitors each year as there is so much to see and do. Exploring the Old Town feels like you're taking a step back in time due to the stunning architecture, narrow lanes, and cobbled streets. Therefore, it's no surprise that the Old Town and New Town combined have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. 

Edinburgh is fairly compact and so it's easy to explore the city on foot. Although it's a town full of steep hills and beautiful green gardens so bring comfortable shoes! If you're interested in travelling further afield to the surrounding areas, there are plenty of tour companies offering trips to explore the Scottish Highlands.

It's safe to say that almost all of us will have taken a family trip with our parents as kids at some point. But how many of us continue to do this as adults? As we grow older, and begin our own separate adult lives, we spend less and less time with our parents. Perhaps without even realising it, work, hobbies, significant others, and busy social lives can mean our parents can sometimes get put to the side. However, it's only a fact of life that none of us are going to be around forever so it's important to spend quality time with them.

Since exploring the world is a huge passion of mine, it felt like a good move to start taking trips with my parents. I enjoy travelling the most when I'm doing it with people I love. I frequently travel with my sister, my partner, and my friends. So why hadn't I considered my parents before? Up until the end of last year, I'd never really travelled with my parents as an adult. I either wrongly assumed that they wouldn't be interested in the idea, or that it just wouldn't be fun. How wrong was I?!

Fast forward to now, and it's one of my favourite ways to travel. I've been on several trips now with my Mum and Dad, both together and on separate trips, and I've loved every single one. I've been on a road trip around Northern Ireland with my Dad, I've spent a weekend exploring Luxembourg with my Mum, and we have plans to visit Amsterdam together in the summer. 

Here are five reasons why you should travel with your parents:

Southeast Asia is one of the most popular destinations for backpackers. It's easy to travel through, and the region is generally very cheap and budget-friendly. The food is amazing, the temples are beautiful, and there are so many activities to get involved with. From zip-lining in the jungle, hot air balloon rides, kayaking, caring for elephants or riding scooters through lush paddy fields - the choices are practically limitless. No matter what your interests are, there's something in SE Asia for everyone.

However, with countless places to see and things to do, if you're limited on time (and/or money!) how do you decide where to go?

Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country split in half by the South China Sea into two parts, and is one of the most well developed countries in Asia. One half is known as Peninsular-Malaysia which shares a border with Thailand, and the other half is Malaysian-Borneo which has neighbouring countries Indonesia and Brunei. What makes Malaysia so exciting to travel around is how multi-cultural it is. The country is full of diversity and has an amazing mix of different ethnicities and religions, namely Islam, Budhism, Christianity and Hinduism.

Malaysia is also world-famous for its incredible food. Influenced heavily by Indian and Chinese cuisine, you can't visit the country (especially Peninsular Malaysia) without trying their curries and noodle dishes. My favourite dish throughout my visit was Wanton Mee, a noodle dish served in a hot broth with wonton dumplings and barbequed pork. The best way to taste lots of dishes is to visit a street food market, especially if you're visiting Penang.

If you've been struggling with the Southeast Asian heat and humidity, visiting the Cameron Highlands will be a welcome change. The weather here is completely different to that of everywhere else in Malaysia. In fact, as the temperature rarely climbs above 20 degrees Celsius it was almost like being back in the UK. So remember to bring a jacket!

The Cameron Highlands is a unique place to visit and ideal if you're interested in trekking as there are a number of different trails in the area. Visiting the lush green tea plantations and the strawberry fields are also must-dos. Although, not-so-fun fact, if you're from England the strawberries may be a slight let down. This is because 90% of those grown in the Cameron Highlands are actually completely sour.

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia, and is a great starting point for any first-timer visiting Peninsular Malaysia. The city is vibrant with several well-known tourist attractions, including the world-famous Petronas Towers. It's also famous for being a shopaholic's heaven with its impressive shopping malls and markets.

Kuala Lumpur has one main international airport with two terminals, KLIA1 and KLIA2, which are connected via ERL's high-speed train. Getting into the city centre from either terminal is incredibly easy, and takes just under 30 minutes via the express train. Once you've reached the centre, visitors can then get around on foot, hop in a taxi, or use the monorail to get from place to place. 

Bordered by Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, Cambodia is a firm favourite on the South East Asian backpacker route. With cheap, frequent bus services and affordable hostels, Cambodia is easy for travellers to visit. It's a country rich in culture with plenty of history to learn about, and Cambodian beaches and islands could easily rival those of Southern Thailand. If that wasn't enough, it's also home to the eighth wonder of the world - Angkor Wat. 

It would be impossible to explore an entire country in the space of one month, let alone nine days. However, this itinerary covers most of the highlights including the temples of Angkor, the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields, Sihanoukville and Koh Rong Sanloem island. It starts in Siem Reap and finishes off in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

Siem Reap is best known for being the base town for visiting the temples of Angkor, the eighth man-made wonder of the world. Most visitors only stay for a day, explore the temples, and then move on. However, Siem Reap has plenty of other things to offer those who choose to stay a little longer. 

Siem Reap is a small town in the north-west of Cambodia. As a popular stopping point on the backpacker route through SE Asia, it has a whole host of budget-friendly hostels and hotels to choose from. There are also plenty of amazing cafes and restaurants serving up traditional Khmer cuisine.

Putting Angkor Wat aside, here are six things to see and do in Siem Reap:

It's often a misconception with people that you need to be rich to travel the world. Let me tell you now... you don't have to be a millionaire to travel! You also definitely don't need to have wealthy parents that will fund your travels either. Instead, you simply need to be willing to work hard and make a few sacrifices in other aspects of your life. You'll be surprised at how easy it is after you start!

I've always been good at saving. I started saving for my first car when I was 16 by working throughout the summer on a farm. I then saved for my three-month backpacking trip around Central Europe and Asia by putting money aside from my internship and scholarships whilst studying at university. 

If you're planning a trip soon and don't know how to start, here are my 10 top tips for saving money to travel:

Angkor Wat is a complex of temples in the North West of Cambodia. It spans over 400 acres, and was built in the 12th century for the Khmer Empire. It's the largest religious monument on the planet and is also the 8th man-made wonder of the world. These accolades mean it's no surprise that Angkor Wat is the most visited UNESCO World Heritage Site, with over 2 million visitors each year. 

Getting Around The Temples

As the temples are so spread out it's impossible to walk between each one. Therefore you're going to need a different mode of transport besides your own two feet! There are several options for visitors to choose from: tour buses, bicycles, scooters... even a private helicopter tour! There's something to suit all budgets. 

A popular option is to hire a tuk-tuk driver to pick you up from your accommodation in Siem Reap (the base town for seeing the temples) and drive you around to the various temples of interest. It sounds expensive, but it only costs around $15 for an entire day. The driver will wait at each temple whilst you go off and explore, and then drop you back at your hotel or hostel at the end of the day. 

Don't worry about booking ahead weeks in advance. You can arrange this with almost any tuk-tuk driver (or one of his mates if he's busy) in Siem Reap the day before you want to visit.

Vang Vieng is a small, backpacker-oriented town in Northern Laos on the Nam Song River. The town is directly between Luang Prabang and Vientiane, so it's incredibly easy to get to. It's surrounded by beautiful scenery, with a backdrop of gorgeous mountains and lush green paddy fields. Once known as a party town full of drunken tourists, the town now has a much more relaxed atmosphere. After heavy drinking resulted in several tourists drowning, by 2012 the Lao government cracked down and removed the riverside bars. Today visitors can still go inner tubing down the Nam Song River, but it's a much safer and calmer affair than it once was.

I spent two nights in Vang Vieng during my one month trip throughout SE Asia, and it was hands down my favourite place I visited. This wasn't because of any world-class temples, or an impressive historical site though. I fell in love with Vang Vieng because it was peaceful, beautiful and just plain fun. I went there with no expectations, and left feeling blissfully happy. Isn't that what travelling is all about?

Luang Prabang is often the first town that visitors head to whilst travelling through Laos. Although not the capital, this sleepy city is popular with travellers because of its impressive waterfalls and Pak Ou caves. Situated in Northern Laos, this old French town is famous for the daily giving of alms to the Buddhist monks in their bright orange ropes. Every morning locals line the streets to offer cooked rice to the monks before they head off to start their day. 

The city has a population of just over 400,000 people, and has been a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. It's incredibly easy to travel to, with many travellers arriving from Thailand through the Huay Xai border crossing, or from Vang Vieng or Vientiane in Laos.

Chiang Mai is the largest city in Northern Thailand, and is an amazing place to spend a few relaxed days after the noise and chaos of Bangkok. In fact, it was one of my favourite towns I visited during my month long trip through SE Asia. There are tens of beautiful temples, an incredible night market, and the most delicious street food. Most of the places to see and things to do are inside the walls of the Old City. This makes Chiang Mai a great city to walk through and explore on foot, as everything is reasonably close together.

Where To Stay

There are plenty of cheap and clean guest houses in Chiang Mai. We stayed at the Lanna Place Guesthouse, which provided everything we needed. The bed was comfortable, we had a private bathroom with hot water, and good air-conditioning. Breakfast was also included each morning, and the owner was incredibly helpful and friendly. A double room cost us 585 Baht (around £13 / $17) per night. 

If there's one excursion you should do whilst visiting Chiang Mai, it's to spend a day at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. It's a once in a lifetime experience, and one that I'm not going to forget anytime soon. The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is made up of nine locations in Chiang Mai and Phuket, and all provide homes for rescued elephants that were formerly mistreated or tortured. They provide a safe and sustainable environment for visitors to interact with the elephants, whilst most importantly making sure the animals are well looked after.

One of the main reasons we decided to visit Chiang Mai was to see elephants for the first time, and the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary ticked all of our boxes. The elephants were safe and loved, and the full day experience was within our budget. I definitely didn't want to put my money into an establishment where riding was part of the itinerary. At the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, they aim to teach people why elephants shouldn't be ridden or overworked.

You Might Like: 3 Amazing Days In Chiang Mai, Thailand

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is one of the most populated cities within South East Asia, and also has one of the largest airports in the region. Therefore, if you're planning a trip to the area, the chances are you're probably going to fly into the city! Bangkok can be overwhelming, and if it's your first visit to SE Asia, prepare for a culture shock. The sights, the food, the change of culture - it can be very different to what you're used to. But needless to say, this Thai capital (however noisy and busy it gets!) can be an amazing place to explore. The food is delicious, the temples are beautiful, and it's easy to get around. 

If you're planning a full backpacking trip across multiple countries, or maybe you're simply heading to the beaches, Bangkok is definitely worth at least a day of your time. For me, the city marked the beginning of my month long trip around SE Asia. I spent one chilled day exploring Bangkok, before getting the overnight train north to Chiang Mai, and this worked really well. It eased me in perfectly to the rest of my trip.

Here's how I would recommend spending your first (and perhaps only) day in Bangkok:

Hong Kong is bordered by mainland China in the North, and because of its location between Europe and Australasia it's a popular destination for stopovers. The city itself is vibrant and exciting, with a world famous skyline and an amazing mixture of architecture. Hong Kong has so much to offer, it's hard to know where to begin. 

I spent one day exploring the city at the end of my G Adventures Tour, Beijing to Hong Kong Express, and so here are four places I would recommend for any first time visitor:

Although not the capital, Shanghai is the largest and most populated city in China, with a population of over 24 million. The city has grown rapidly over the last twenty years, which can be seen by the number of skyscrapers that have built up in recent years. It's a popular city for expats and tourists as there are many landmarks and sights to visit, including Shanghai Disneyland. 

Shanghai also has a thriving nightlife which I can definitely vouch for! During my G Adventures Tour, Beijing To Hong Kong Express, we went to an all-you-can-drink nightclub for around £10, and it was completely crazy. We had VIP service, our own table and waiter, and the drinks just kept on coming... We were dancing until 4am! This seemed like a great idea at the time, but it certainly didn't on the following day when we had a schedule booked full of sightseeing.

Anyway, let's move on! Here are three places you must visit in Shanghai, China:

Beijing, formerly known as Peking, is the capital city of China. It's the second largest city in the country, after Shanghai, and has a population of over 20 million people. Beijing is a city built around the principle of symmetry, and has a central axis running from North to South through Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, and the Drum Tower and Bell Tower. Throughout history the city has had over ten different names. Bei = North, and Jing = Capital, so its name literally means the North Capital!

Beijing was the first stop on my G Adventures Tour, Beijing to Hong Kong Express. Although I knew the city's pollution levels can be off-the-charts crazy, nothing could have prepared me for the thick smog. You had to look through a grey haze to see any of the buildings in the distance. Even for those that weren't too far away! Our guide told us that even though factories were moved out of the city for the 2008 Olympics, Beijing often only has one or two days of clear skies per year. It's not unusual to see people who live there wearing pollution masks.

Putting the pollution issues aside, the capital city of China is grand and unique. It's home to ornate palaces, and the largest city square in the world. Here are 4 places you must visit in Beijing, China:

Organising a trip can be fun and exciting, but it can also often be stressful and-time consuming. There are so many things to balance - how to get from one place to another, how long to spend visiting each place, and what to do when you're there! So how do you decide whether to plan a trip yourself, or join an organised tour? It's a difficult decision, and one that can either make or break your trip. There are pros and cons to both methods of travel, and the notion that one style is better than another is, in my mind, crazy.

Travelling through Europe by train is arguably the best and most affordable way to visit several European countries in one trip. Forget flying between countries and spending two hours at the airport before a flight, or needing to wait around to collect your luggage. When getting a train you only need to arrive at the train station roughly 15 minutes early, and then you'll be on your way to the next town, or even a new country!

Buying an Interrail/Eurail pass makes taking the train even easier, as you don't need to buy individual journey tickets throughout your trip. Depending on the pass you buy, every journey could be covered! Europe has an amazing railway system, with frequent and good connections between most major cities. This means there are endless combinations of places you can visit throughout your trip.

Here's my guide to spending three weeks interrailing through Central Europe!

The city of Prague is beautiful and unique, and is one of the most popular places to visit in Europe. It's the capital and the largest city in Czech Republic, and it's easy to see why it attracts thousands of visitors each year. 

With its old Gothic architecture, and delicious local foods, Prague ticks all of the boxes for travelers. The city is famous for its beautiful red-roofed buildings, Charles Bridge and the River Vltava, and is incredibly easy to walk around. In fact, walking is the only way I would recommend to explore the city!

Here are 20 incredible places to see in Prague!

Salzburg is one of Austria's most well-known cities and attracts visitors from all over the world with its charm and beauty. The city is the birthplace of Mozart and is famous for being where The Sound of Music was filmed. Its Old Town is so charming it's even listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

This Austrian city has a picturesque river with several pedestrian bridges, as well as stunning gardens. Surrounded by a backdrop of beautiful mountains, you can't make this quaint little city up. Then throw in an incredible castle overlooking the town, and you have a place resembling somewhere taken straight out of a fairytale. 

Vienna is the capital and the largest city of Austria, and is known as the 'City of Music'. This is because it's famous for the composers that have lived here, including Mozart and Beethoven, and its impressive State Opera House. It has a thriving coffee house scene, and you can't visit the city without trying sacher torte, an Austrian type of chocolate cake.

It's a charming city with beautiful buildings and stunning architecture. It's also home to many parks, so visiting Vienna in the summer is ideal to see all of the bright flowers.

On the outskirts of the centre of Vienna is Schönbrunn Palace, one of the city's most well known buildings. During my first afternoon in Vienna I spent hours walking through its beautiful gardens. With its amazing, brightly coloured flower beds and well kept lawns, the palace and grounds feel like a place taken straight out of a fairytale.

When I told friends and family that I was going to Bratislava in Slovakia, I was often met with confused looks. However, visiting the city fitted in well with my interrailing plans back in the summer, so I figured why not? And I'm so glad I did! It was a city I knew very little about, and I only had a few ideas of what I wanted to do there once I'd arrived. However, all of this added to making Bratislava one of the highlights of my three week trip around Central & Eastern Europe. 

Only an hour's train journey from Vienna, or a three hour train journey from Budapest, Bratislava is easily accessible and a beautiful place to explore for a day or two. Situated right next to the Danube River, it has a quaint Old Town, and the impressive Bratislava Castle overlooking the city. 

In recent years, Budapest has become one of Europe's most popular destinations for a city break. And rightly so, it's an incredible city and there are countless things to see, eat and do. Budapest was the third destination of my three week interrail trip around Central Europe, and was one of the cities I was most excited for. And let me tell you, it didn't disappoint.

Budapest is full of beautiful buildings and amazing views across the river, and is home to tens of historic thermal baths and plenty of delicious food. Budapest is a huge city that captivates its visitors from the very first moment. Originally split into two cities by the Danube River until 1873, Budapest is made up of Buda on the west bank, hence the name of Buda Castle, and Pest on the east side of the river.

Here are 13 amazing places you must see in your first trip to Budapest...

For my first afternoon in Budapest I had no real plans, and so I made my way towards Heroes Square and the City Park,  a public park close to the city centre. The park is home to the Szechenyi Thermals Baths, Budapest Zoo and Vajdahunyad Castle, which is by far one of the most beautiful castles I've ever seen!

Krakow is the former capital and second largest city of Poland. It's often used by visitors as a base for day trips to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps and the Wieliczka Salt Mine. By no means though does that mean you should skip visiting the city itself. Krakow has a lot to offer, and is well worth a day or two of your time.

After surviving years of war and struggle, Krakow is full of history and culture. It has attractive, cobbled side streets and an impressive Old Town with a large central square. The city is also home to an abundance of churches and the former Jewish Quarter which shouldn't be missed.

The city of Warsaw, Poland is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and it's mix of different architectures highlights its tough history. You can wander from the picturesque Old Town Market Place, past communist concrete tower-blocks, to the more modern part of the city with three-lane roads and skyscrapers all in the space of a few hours. In fact the city is so spread out, throughout one day of my trip I walked over 25km!

The quaint Old Town with its pastel coloured buildings is well worth a visit. In the past the Old Town was heavily bombed, and so after World War II the area was restored using as much of the original bricks and decor as possible.