Backpacks and Bunkbeds

Neil caught the travel bug in 2005 via a last minute trip to South Africa. Backpacks and Bunkbeds followed 2010, where you can find all sorts of useful information on backpacking, road trips, hostels, weekend breaks, volunteering, and anything travel and/or budget related.

Backpacks and Bunkbeds

Recent blog posts

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A guide to Punta Prima, Menorca

27th January 2021 by Backpacks and Bunkbeds

Punta Prima is a small, family orientation resort in the south east of Menorca. Having just returned from a weeks visit to this small part of the Balearics Islands, I thought I would drop some knowledge on what’s good there, and how we enjoyed our days eat all of the food and taking in its lovely coastline. I should stress that this was no backpacking adventure, but a first foray into family package holidays for my gf and I, and our amazing 10 month old son. His time as a backpacker will...

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Sea kayaking in Menorca #MustSeeMenorca

31st January 2021 by Backpacks and Bunkbeds

Sea kayaking is an obvious choice for adventurous visitors to the Balearic island of Menorca. With impressive coastlines, mysterious caves, and the obviously beautiful torques waters, it’s a super fun activity, with the added benefits of a good upper body workout and (sort of) escape from the heat … but of course you’ll still need sunscreen!...

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A tour of Pollenca’s old town, the real Mallorca

9th February 2021 by Backpacks and Bunkbeds

So back in May I was lucky enough to be invited out to the Balaric island of Mallorca by the good folk at travelopo.com. They wanted me to get a taste for the north of the island (away from Magaluf) and experience staying in one of their villas. Tough decision right?! In short my family and I have a great week, and my first ever villa holiday was deemed a success. Two thumbs up from everybody....

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All aboard the Ferrocarril de Sóller, Mallorca

9th February 2021 by Backpacks and Bunkbeds

Riding Ferrocarril de Sóller from Sóller (duh!) to Palma (and back again) is a great way to take in stunning landscapes of Mallorca. Specifically those of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range - a world heritage site. The mountain range spans almost the entire west to north coastline of the Balearic island, and the railway line cuts right through the heart of the Serra de Tramuntana, linking the beautiful town of Sóller, with the islands capital, Palma....

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Mass Rock and incredible views over County Limerick

28th January 2021 by Backpacks and Bunkbeds

Simple but also beautiful, located in the middle of nowhere (sort of) asnd half way up a hillside, accessible only via a small set of rock steps but a vantage point from which you can take in some of the most incredible views of the Co. Limerick countryside. I give you Mass Rock....

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Things to do in Brussels - My top 5

31st January 2021 by Backpacks and Bunkbeds

The top things to do in Brussels, what are they exactly? Well obviously opinion will vary depending upon whom you ask, but I think I’ve covered a couple of the basics below. Just a shot hop from London via Eurostar, Brussels seemed like the perfect spot to kick off my travels for 2016, and I was pleasantly surprised by a city that I’ve often overlooked in favour of Paris. Well no more, Brussels is firmly on the favourites list, and somewhere I will definitely be looking to visit again in...

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5 things to do in Ho Chi Ming City

28th January 2021 by Backpacks and Bunkbeds

When visiting Vietnam you’ll no doubt work your way from north to south, or from the south up to the north. As such, Ho Chi Ming City (HCMC) will most likely be either you entry point or exit point from Vietnam. It’s a great place to get your Vietnamese adventures under way, or equally to go out on a high having explored this South East Asian gem....

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5 things to do in Hanoi, Vietnam

31st January 2021 by Backpacks and Bunkbeds

I really liked Hanoi, like REALLY liked it. Maybe because it was our first stop in Vietnam, having chosen to see this part of the world by working from north to south, or maybe it was because Hanoi was my first SE Asian city in almost 12 months. Either which way, I really liked it and thoroughly enjoyed my time there....

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Sightseeing in Amsterdam without a plan

31st January 2021 by Backpacks and Bunkbeds

So Amsterdam, a European capital which welcomes around 7 million visitors a year, and which has so much to see and do … yet I turn up in the Dutch capital having planned almost zilch. Well done me! This is Amsterdam without a plan! It’s very unlike me not to have a plan when travelling. I realise that most other travel blogs you might read will implore you to take you time and travel slow, allow some time for unplanned activities n’all that jazz, but I’m just not cut from that...

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10 reasons to visit Limerick city

27th January 2021 by Backpacks and Bunkbeds

Every time she says ‘next year’, but it just never quite seems to happen, I’d never found time to visit Limerick City. Ever since I starting dating my better half and having heard her stories of living and working in Ireland, I’ve been keen to explore the city she called home for a time, but it’s just never really happened....

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Taking a staycation in the Cotswolds

27th January 2021 by Backpacks and Bunkbeds

To be honest I never really realised just how close I lived to the Cotswolds. To drive to this gloriously green and rural part of England with the girlfriend navigating would take me no longer than it would normally take me to get the train into central London - around 90 minutes....

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15 stunning reasons to road trip The Ring Of Kerry

31st January 2021 by Backpacks and Bunkbeds

We’re a bit spoilt for choice when it comes to incredible roads in Ireland. I include both Northern Ireland and the Republic in that statement. From Belfast, the road that follows the coastline around to Derry via the Giants Causeway is a dream to drive, but equally within the Republic there are two very famous Peninsula ring roads that entice visitors from far and wide year upon year....