Category: Travel Tips

The blog has been going since 2012, but it was back in 2018 when I quit my job and took on blogging full time, alongside marketing for a number of clients. I therefore had to work out how to blend travelling the world with working remotely.

Of course, that was before Covid, as the world has changed so much, technologically it’s a different place now. I remember when nobody would jump on a video call as it was too awkward, but we overcame that with Zoom’amania. But if you’re looking to mix travel and working remotely then I hope this guide will give you some tips.

Essential Tips

Working away from the office is incredibly difficult and there are a number of considerations you have to have in order to keep productivity levels high, while allowing you to experience new places and travel between destinations.

If you plan in advance for all possible outcomes, as well as backing things up for offline usage, then you can ensure your workflow remains uninterrupted even when the environment changes. Establishing consistent working methods, selecting suitable tools (I live for Trello), and preparing for logistical challenges form the foundation of successful travel-based work. Detailed planning (plus sometimes travelling at odd hours) reduces stress and enables sustained levels of performance for your boss (unless you’re the boss, then your clients) across multiple time zones and locations.

Those working in surface pattern design roles can benefit from locations that provide stable work settings and reliable digital infrastructure. Integrating opportunities such as surface pattern design positions into travel planning helps you to maintain a strong continuity of work while exploring new places.

Avoiding Burnout

Suffering burnout in my 20’s often led me to jump on a plane and explore the world. But even working while travelling, something people often wish for, can leave you excessively burnt out.

You have to fit your travel plans, exploring attractions and sights which often leads to 20k steps a day, balanced with a heavy work schedule.

It’s important to set out a realistic breakdown beforehand. If you’re working for a normal office job, see if you can switch to part time hours, they may accept just working the mornings, or you could drop to 2-3 days a week, therefore you’re still bringing some money in to fund your activities.

You also want to consider the accommodation you’re staying in. I often stayed in hostels while travelling, but if working remotely, I don’t know how I could handle the snoring and people coming back drunk and making noise. It’s fine when you’re all partying together, very different when you’re working alongside travelling.

Stop Always Thinking of Travel as a Holiday

Identifying the distinction between work travel and leisure prevents any unrealistic expectations that might sneak in. Travelling in a remote-work context demands time management, workspace planning, and task prioritisation, something I had to learn over time. I often stay in a hotel for work and my evening can disappear watching rubbish on TV, when I’ve forgotten to save my Netflix login, or plan for something entertaining in my evening.

Consider time zones

Having a client in the USA was a nightmare, fortunately they spent a lot of time in France so it wasn’t too bad for me, but when they were in the USA, one of us always had to take the meeting at an obscure time and more often that fell on me.

Understanding the time zone difference and working out an appropriate time in advance for calls is crucial. Say for example, Thailand is 7 hours ahead of the UK, so if you were over in Koh Samui and had a client in the UK, then you might want to state meetings can only happen in the morning, say between 9-10am, so that for you it’s between 4-5pm.

Home Exchange

A home exchange arrangement is an increasingly popular option, but you simply don’t know what facilities they may have in place, from desk space (they may have their own desktop there or simply not have a spare table) to WiFi facilities. Having said that, a kitted out home tends to have better facilities than a hotel, especially when it comes to internet connection in most countries. The environment should support focused work, including desk availability, noise levels, and reliable connectivity. Understanding the logistics of another person’s home enhances preparation and ensures a consistent workflow.

Get A Decent Phone Contract

Make sure you have a good option for roaming, mine offers it for free in the EU but I had to negotiate to get that included and I have to re-demand it every year which is annoying. Also, having a decent amount of data is critical when you don’t always have access to WiFi. You’ll be using it for both your worklife and your travelling life, so it will be double-important.

Maintain a routine and schedule.

Easier said than done, but setting up a level of routine and sticking to it is key. It can be tempting to let the work slip when on the road, but you don’t want that sneaking in, as it can be a hard habit to get out of. Treating it like you have set work hours, like back home, means you don’t allow it to pile up on you, leaving you stressed and again feeling burnt out.

Equally, you should build in breaks like you would when working at an office and needing a lunch break or a coffee break.

A long time ago I was a backpacker, staying in hostels for incredibly low prices. As I turned 30, this became hotels, as I started to enjoy the finer things in life. Every trip revolved around booking stays, scanning ratings, checking in and out like clockwork. They always started with a confirmation email and ended with a checkout bill. However, recently we have been contemplating whether something like a caravan might offer a different way of having a UK holiday, especially now we have dogs.

We bought a motorhome, hit the road, and haven’t looked back. This isn’t a travel trend piece; it’s our story of how swapping hotels for a motorhome changed how we live, work, and see the world. Let me tell you why it became one of the best travelling decisions of our lives and can be yours as well!

Why a Motorhome Could Change Our Travelling Experiences

For us, a motorhome could unlock a life where travel and home are the same thing. We could give up the predictability of hotels for the unpredictability of the road, and that unpredictability has been tempting with two dogs, one of which is very anxious and we hate leaving at home with a dog sitter. 

We could wake up in places we choose, not places we booked because they were available or near to a station or airport. Our expenses could go towards experiences rather than lavish hotel rooms and overpriced breakfasts consisting of croissants and fruit.

So below are some of the main motives for us:

1. Freedom To Travel On A Budget

One of the best things when swapping to a motorhome is that you’re able to travel whenever you want, not sticking to off-season around school holidays or avoiding popular dates in the calendar (e.g. Edinburgh Fringe Festival sees a 1,000% increase in hotel prices). It’s not just the room charges, but meals, laundry, tips, and parking. Every new city meant starting over. 

In contrast, a motorhome is a one-time investment that keeps paying back in experiences. The expenses shift from ‘nightly rates’ to manageable monthly costs, which includes fuel, campsite fees and occasional maintenance.

2. Freedom To Travel At Your Own Pace

This was another perk of travelling in a motorhome, where there is the liberty to travel slowly, without rushing to hotel checkouts. So, we get enough time to explore towns at our own pace and get enough time to explore and connect with local culture (I do love a cooking class as well when visiting a new place). 

3. Get Home-Like Privacy And Comfort While Travelling

Initially, we were nervous about the idea of giving up hotel comfort, but with two dogs we can’t always find one that’s dog friendly. Would we miss the clean sheets, the room service etc? We worry that living in a small motorhome would mean living cramped, maybe getting stressed at each other or feeling like we can’t do our own things.

Instead of worrying about limitations, we are focusing on designing a motorhome according to our aesthetic tastes and comfortable sections for sleeping, cooking, and even a tiny living room section. Every meal could taste like home because it was cooked at home (sort of). It isn’t luxury in the traditional sense, but it does mean we can make health meals that are tasty and don’t have to spend a fortune in restaurants every night.

4. We Could Work While Travelling 

This is a big appeal (providing we can get the internet to work). We both work remotely, so the idea of heading to a new place, then setting up our laptops and working, but then getting to do what we want from 5pm in a new town is quite exciting. Especially if that town happens to be filled with hills that we can take the dogs. We could stop at places during our lunch break, enjoy views, and then start to travel and work simultaneously. This kind of freedom is quite thrilling. 

Most motorhomes have a small desk where we could sit and work while enjoying the outside views. While sometimes the Wi-Fi drops or the weather turns tricky, but honestly, we’d still pick this over hotel conference rooms any day.

What Problems You Might Face While Swapping To A Motorhome And How To Fix Them

While travelling in a motorhome has its own perks, we cannot overlook its potential shortcomings. Well, these challenges can be solved with smart planning and actions if we consider them from the start. There are flat tyres, leaky sinks and times when finding a good parking spot takes hours. We hadve to learn basic maintenance skills, understand our vehicle’s limits, and plan routes more carefully. Some days might be tiring, but the satisfaction of solving problems on the road is something no hotel could ever teach us. 

Another important thing is that when your home moves with you, insurance becomes your lifeline. It makes sense to get a comprehensive Motorhome Insurance in 2025 to ensure everything is covered, from basic fixes to the really important bits. 

We compared multiple plans, checked exclusions carefully, and have found a good few that fit our travel pattern and what we require, but it is certainly worth doing the research beforehand. Having that safety net lets you travel with true peace of mind, knowing that if something unexpected happens, your journey won’t end there. It doesn’t just cover accidents but also protects your personal belongings, roadside assistance, and even third-party liability if something happens at a campsite.

We finally got a car! Being almost 40, it’s somewhat shameful that I only just started learning to drive this year, while Raquel passed her test 6 months ago. I feel like we’ve left it so late compared to everyone else, considering many of my friends learned 20 years ago (wow, wish I didn’t just work that out).

But it also opens up so many opportunities for us. We have been looking into dog friendly hotels across the UK, yet it seemed impossible on a train, as they often were out in the country and we have very anxious dogs, which makes life a lot more difficult at times.

But I digress, as we start planning out our next road trip, I have been heavily researching about everything you need to know beforehand so I thought it was worth sharing.

The best road trips don’t start with a full tank or a boot stacked with tasty snacks…Even if they do make it more fun. No, they start with a car that’s in the best position to take on the long journey. Going through the theory test, I repeatedly had the question in the mock tests “when should you check the engine oil”, while the answer was “before a long journey”, finally I can put my knowledge into practice.

The freedom of the open road is intoxicating, or at least it looked it as I sat alongside my mates on many road trips over the past 20 years. You take detours that weren’t planned, you have music blasting with the windows down and the odd satisfaction that comes from stopping at services to eat your body weight in unhealthy food.

Yet all of that relies on something far less thrilling, whether the car is going to work. Hidden away under the car is one of the most overlooked travel companions of all, the exhaust system (I know, fun subject right). From quick patch-ups to a full exhaust replacement, giving it attention is the difference between a carefree road trip and a journey from hell.

Why Exhausts Deserve a Spot on the ‘Packing List’

Ask most people heading on a holiday what they do to prepare for a trip, and the answers will be predictable: Charge their phone, pack some snacks, maybe make a playlist so you’re not stuck listening to the radio. Hardly anyone remembers to check the exhaust….Me included.

But this quiet bit of engineering is doing a lot of heavy lifting. It keeps the drive smooth, stops fumes from sneaking into the car and ensures the car isn’t over consuming fuel like a marathon runner at a water station.

Without it in good condition, nothing else really matters, as the car simply won’t get you to where you want to go, or not healthily that is. Sometimes it’s a minor rattle that needs tightening (we all dread hearing that sound but hardly ever do something about it), other times the only real fix is a complete exhaust replacement before hitting the motorway. And that’s exactly where trusted garages make the difference, from small fixes to full exhaust replacement, Fife Autocentre can offer this service.

How to Spot Trouble Before It Ruins the Trip

No one wants to learn about exhaust problems halfway to the Highlands. The signs can be subtle at first, it might be a faint rattle while you’re driving, or a whiff of fumes that send your nostrils into overdrive (see what I did there), or that sinking feeling when the petrol gauge starts dropping faster than usual.

Vibrations under the seat or a loud humming are also red flags you should be looking out for. These are the car’s way of communicating to you that something isn’t right. If you don’t take action, these issues can often escalate, while the bill will also increase and nobody wants that. Waiting too long could mean a breakdown in the middle of the motorway, which is my absolute worst nightmare. So if you take the time to investigate before a big trip, you might be able to find a solution before the problem really compounds.

Topping Up The Engine Oil

I mentioned this earlier, as it’s something I learned in the theory test, but it’s important to top up the engine oil so it can sufficiently lubricate the different parts of the engine and reduce friction. If you happen to leave it to drop too low, then your engine might overheat. The cost of replacing the engine is horrific.

All you need to do is pop the bonnet open, find the dipstick (yep, it’s actually called that), which is a handle near the engine, pull it up and wipe it completely clean and then check the markers to see how much is there. You’ll see a minimum and maximum marker, just as important as not being too low, you also don’t want it above the maximum line, so be careful when topping it up.

Exhaust Replacement

The exhaust system is integral as it carries the gases away from the engine and directs them behind the car. You also have the muffler that reduces the noises you hear (hence why some older cars with a rubbish muffler are so loud). Plus you have the catalytic converter, which is integral with cleaning the emissions your car produces, to help the environment.

So can you hear any odd noises like a rattling or hissing? Can you smell fumes when you turn on the engine? Are there obvious holes or rust on the exhaust pipes? Check these three things before the big trip. An MOT should also help to ensure there are no damaged parts.

Sometimes it will be a whole system swap out if necessary, but you might only need a section removed and replaced, such as a back box, the middle pipe section or the catalytic converter. Each of these come with different price brackets, so it’s important to know this beforehand. If you’re lucky, any issue might just be the back box, which is the cheapest to fix.

Check Those Tyres

I swear, if a tyre comes off on the road, I’m in real trouble. I have no idea how to change a tyre, I guess it’s something I have to learn soon, but I’m just hoping I don’t get caught out before then. On the subject, make sure you have a spare tyre and that it’s pumped up to a decent level. So many people don’t pack a spare tyre and live to regret it down the line.

You should be checking the pressure in your tyres, while they can be inflated at a petrol station, or if you own a home compressor then you can actually do this yourself. If it has been cold recently then the pressure might need increasing, while the same can be said if you’re packing lots of bags or driving multiple people on a trip.

Make sure there are no big cracks or cuts in the tyre. You don’t want sidewall damage leading to a puncture, or wear on the tyres meaning your suspension doesn’t work effectively.

Working Brakes

Ever seen a movie where they’re driving and the brakes have been cut, scary right? Well I’m not hinting this will happen, unless you recently joined the Mafia, but brakes not working can be a serious issue which can prove fatal.

The brake pedal should feel firm when you push it down, it shouldn’t feel soft and spongy. You know your own car, so you should know the difference, don’t just presume you’ve trained your legs hard and suddenly you’re stronger, it’s never a good sign if the pedal feels spongy.

If you hear a noise when you use the brakes then this could be hinting that the pads are worn out. I remember riding my bike and the squeak it would let out when I braked due to the pads being worn to death, on a bike at 10mph it’s not too risky, but in a car on a motorway at 70mph, now that’s a different story.

You should also look out for whether the car pulls to one side when you brake. This is actually quite a common issue, but it’s a serious warning sign of an underlying issue and you need to go in and get it checked pronto.

PayPal is a well-known digital payment gateway, while it is increasingly aligning itself as the payment method of choice for travellers, providing its users with tempting perks, therefore I wanted to discuss the platform today as I know the subject comes up quite often.

Many people were introduced to PayPal when it was aligned with the online auction site eBay. The two have since split and PayPal has positioned itself as one of the major digital payment gateways. With new and innovative solutions for customers, it has several benefits for travellers and digital nomads, so if you’re planning your next backpacking trip, it’s worth researching the right options for you.

What Can PayPal Be Used For?

PayPal has several uses in the United Kingdom and abroad. As a global payment gateway, it can send and receive funds for both business and personal use. I have often sent money on PayPal to friends and family, as well as when paying for a service. When it comes to online shopping and services, plenty of major brands accept PayPal as one of the conventional methods nowadays when you get to the checkout.

Clothing giant ASOS, multi-purpose retailers like Argos and even supermarkets like Asda use it. It can also be used for online entertainment, while all major streaming services, including Spotify, Netflix, and Disney+, accept it. Oh, have you tried Netflix when visiting other countries? Prepare to be amazed by all the different movies you’ll find (I had this in Argentina where the Wolf of Wall Street was available when it wasn’t in the UK yet).

PayPal has also become one of the most popular payment methods in the iGaming sector. This is the industry that provides online bookmaking and casino games. When betting sites accept PayPal, they allow for a fast and secure way for players to credit their accounts. I used to do this with Diablo II when I was into the gaming world. Many will also provide bonuses in the form of free bets and matched deposits, providing additional value for customers. There are websites that will rank and review betting sites which take PayPal for you, finding the best one for your needs.

Benefits of PayPal for Backpackers & Travellers

Cash is slowly dying. I’m not saying it’s completely gone, especially in countries I’ve visited like Japan, where it’s fundamental if you want to get by in smaller villages, but if you compare the cash usage to a decade ago, it’s crazy how much it has disappeared. I always prefer a wallet with a coin section, but it’s always empty nowadays. Even worse when you have to tip a food delivery, I can’t remember the last time I had cash available.

As it is so globally accepted, PayPal is great for travellers looking for a digital option. You can load up your iGaming account, ready for a long airport wait, then book a hotel the next day. What is so helpful about it is that PayPal has built-in buyer protection, which often favours the consumer. I bought a fancy dress costume from a shady site using PayPal, but I requested the funds to be returned on PayPal and it was returned within 24 hours. Word of warning, don’t trust fancy dress websites ranking well on Google, as a lot are scams!

If a holiday is cancelled, then you will be able to claim your money back as well (well, as long as you booked it with a reputable company, always check and double check the brand you buy it from and that flights are ATOL protected). It is also relatively secure, protecting your details and financial data.

Without wanting to go on, I have found it to be quite convenient. By using PayPal, you don’t have to carry cash, which is easy to lose or could be stolen, especially if you have a cheeky drink while in a new city. With so many businesses accepting it worldwide, you will have to be in quite a far-flung corner of the world to find somewhere that does not accept it. It also gives you the option of streamlining your payment methods, so you are not carrying multiple cards, which could go missing.

I used PayPal while on my recent trip to Alderney, as I didn’t know if I would be charged by my bank when in the Channel Islands and didn’t want to take a risk, with a number of services accepting this method of payment.

Travel Subscriptions

For European users, PayPal also has a partnership with eDreams ODIGEO. This is Europe’s largest travel subscription service and travel tech company. It was formed by the merger of some of the biggest travel operations in the world. Its Prime service can provide travel subscription perks, like deals and discounts.

PayPal customers in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom now get Prime Discovery membership for free. They will benefit from its AI-driven search results, giving them personalised deals on flights, hotels, accommodation, packages and excellent customer service. It also shows PayPal’s position as the main payment method for travellers.

PayPal Card for Travellers

The brand recently introduced a physical card, I haven’t actually got one yet but it’s something that’s sat on my Trello list. It can be used at all points where Mastercard is accepted, while it is issued by Synchrony and can be used for both in-store transactions and online purchases.

The card is also offering six-month financing periods on purchases over a certain amount, though this may have changed by the time of publication. It is particularly aimed at travellers, allowing the spreading of payments for travel-related expenses, whether that’s a flight to the Faroe Islands or visiting a restaurant in Brighton.

There is now a suite of cards that they can provide for travellers. This joins the Cashback Mastercard, which can also be added to e-wallets. They even offer small loans (not that I recommend taking them), showing just how far into financial services they have come.

It is worth noting that this is designed to help people budget. Don’t take items out on finance you can not afford to pay back, and you shouldn’t use PayPal credit for gambling purposes. You should also be aware that the financing option does make you pay retroactive interest if you don’t pay it off within the designated time. This is interest that would have accumulated during that time, and it could be as high as 20% or more, depending on the card. This makes the ‘pay now’ option more of a backup option. You could use it if you have a last-minute, essential purchase that needs paying off when you get home. Such as a System of a Down ticket…They’re playing in London next summer and I’m currently deliberating whether to buy myself a ticket, as the price is through the roof.

Check the terms and conditions on all of the options I’ve mentioned, not just to protect yourself, but to get the best from their system.

I remember my old housemate Gaz coming back from a team building day at his office in Brighton. I was expecting it to be a corporate day at a country house or maybe those cheesy team bonding games in the office where you build a bridge out of straws.

He then emptied several packs of tupperware out of his rucksack full of mackerel. They had apparently gone to Brighton Marina and spent the whole afternoon fishing.

I do wish he at least washed them before putting them in the fridge, as there was fish poo everywhere and the smell was quite intense. But anyway, I was young, so I just nodded my head and moved on.

People always think that, if you fancy some fishing, you have to find an old lake in the middle of the countryside, but you can actually do a decent job right here in Brighton.

Personally I’m not a fan of the idea. I’m a complete hypocrite, I love eating fish, salmon is my favourite food in the world, but I feel too guilty on them to go fishing. I’d rather not hurt a living being, but I’ll happily eat it at dinner time.

Shore Fishing in Brighton

I’d always make sure to check the government rod fishing byelaws for the area you’re in before you go. You should also check whether the area of water you’re looking at angling in doesn’t have any set rules at all, as many do.

The shoreline from Brighton Marina to Hove Lagoon offers a mix of sandy bases (well, ish, with a lot of pebbles everywhere), rocky outcrops, and groynes, creating ideal environments for different species throughout the year. Popular fishing spots along this part of the South Coast include:

• Brighton Marina (both sides)

• Brighton Palace Pier (I know, you wouldn’t guess it, but you always see fisherman at the end)

• Hove Beach Groynes

• Rottingdean and Saltdean beaches (ideal if you rent out a bike to get there)

I’m new to fishing, it actually took a lot longer to get any nibbles, so I ended up playing on Big Bass Floats My Boat at Bet442 on my phone. Sure, it’s not quite fishing, but it kept me amused for a good while!

What Can You Catch from Shore?

Bass (April–October)

One of the most prized catches, especially around the marina walls and piers. Early mornings or dusk with lures or peeler crab bait work best. You can then make a pan fried bass with a lemony garlic herb sauce.

Mackerel (May–September)

During the summer, huge shoals approach the coast. Feathering from piers or groynes can yield a full string in minutes. Many people love them, while they pack in a lot of omega 3, being an oily fish, but I find the aroma too fishy for me.

Flounder & Plaice (Spring–Autumn)

Often found in sandy patches, especially west of the marina. Use ragworm or lugworm on a light rig. These are really nice when baked and with some butter.

Whiting (Autumn–Winter)

These become prolific as temperatures drop. They’re easy to catch and good fun on light tackle. A friend of mine cooks them with bacon, allowing the fats to combine, alongside some chips, which sounds like a naughty treat.

Dogfish & Smoothhound (Summer)

You can find them at the beaches near the marina with squid or crab baits. Smoothhounds offer a strong fight for shore anglers. I’ll be honest, I’ve never cooked these, but apparently they work really well in a Thai coconut milk based curry, so I do need to give this a go.

Boat Fishing off Brighton

If you’re willing to go offshore, Brighton’s boat charters offer access to deeper waters, wrecks, reefs, and banks teeming with marine life. Many charter boats operate out of Brighton Marina, with half or full-day trips available.

I’ve taken the speed boats from the Brighton Marina as a fun activity (albeit quite intense), while I often see them offering the chance to go fishing and rent a boat and captain for a few hours. You can even pay to do it alongside experienced fishermen, so they can guide you on the process.

What Can You Catch by Boat?

Cod (Winter to Spring)

Found near inshore areas and reefs. Squid, cuttlefish, or lugworm baits are effective. Some specimen fish exceed 10lb supposedly. Cod is a British classic, ideal for some fish and chips that evening, while it’s even great for those that aren’t too keen on something ‘fishy’. Crazy to think how much it costs, when you can get it for free just off Brighton beach.

Pollock & Conger Eel (Year-round)

Especially abundant around wrecks, if you can find a good spot. Pollock go for lures and baited hooks, while Congers require heavier gear and mackerel bait.

Bream (Late Spring–Autumn)

Black bream are a favourite among boat anglers for their fight and eating quality. Try light tackle and squid strips. I do love bream, I hadn’t actually eaten it before a year ago, but I was mesmerised with how tasty it was, so this is a brilliant one to catch.

Skate & Rays (Spring–Autumn)

Common around sandy seabeds offshore. Thornback rays are most often caught using sandeel or squid baits. Considering I had a hole in my foot after being attacked by a stingray in San Diego, this is the only sealife I wouldn’t feel guilty about catching.

Tips for a Successful Brighton Fishing Trip

Tides Matter, remember that. Fishing two hours before and after high tide often achieves the best results, especially from shore.

Look into Licensing. No license is required for sea fishing in the UK; however, be mindful of local rules, particularly near the marina, as you don’t want to get in any trouble.

Safety must always come First. Wear life jackets on the boat and be cautious on slippery groynes and piers. If the weather is a bit crazy, be careful how close you go to the edges, as you can have big waves crashing against the sides sometimes.

Try to use local Bait. Visit Brighton’s tackle shops, such as Lagoon Bait & Tackle or The Tackle Box, for fresh bait and advice. This way, you’re using local produce and also supporting a local independent company.

Summer is here and the big European clubs have had their big opening parties, while most run until October, with some of the biggest nights you will find anywhere.

Ibiza instantly springs to mind, however some others are still hidden treasures, with vastly cheaper prices per pint (or whatever your beverage of choice is).

One party town I wanted to highlight as the biggest disappointment was South Beach, Miami. This isn’t to say I didn’t have a great time, however the great time was based on the amazing people I met at the hostel and us all having massive parties where we were. But the clubs were overpriced, snobbish and there were pickpockets on every single road. For anyone on the hunt for the most wildest clubbing scenes and beach parties, I have listed my top twenty below:

1) Ibiza, Spain

There wasn’t a chance I could make it long without mentioning the party capital of the world. Ibiza has a large amount of clubs blasting house music till about noon the next day, when the party moves to the beach.

The foam parties are known to be legendary, especially at the Amnesia club, although be careful of the prices and make sure you buy your club entry in advance online to get massive discounts. You should also be on the lookout as a number of celebrities take to the Ibiza clubbing scene every year.

2) Rio De Janiero, Brazil

Home to Carnival, the biggest festival around the world, Rio is perfect to visit around February/March. Parties take over the streets as you let your hair down and dance like an idiot, while the nightlife is meant to be legendary.

The white sandy beaches are also a perfect place to rest on a hangover day. One surprising alternative to Rio De Janiero would be Sao Paulo as it is another great area to go out clubbing in Brazil, yet isn’t as filled with tourists. If you do plan on visiting, you should certainly have a read of my list of things to do in Rio De Janeiro.

3) Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand

A Full Moon Party is something inevitably on the bucket list, as around 30,000 people dance and drink the night away on this small island. The party doesn’t stop till midday the next day, while they will serve up buckets of booze to anyone with money.

Do not take drugs if you go here, as the policing in Thailand is incredibly harsh on drugs, and the penalty can be five years in jail instantly if caught. These parties happen once a month during the full moon, so plan your trip around this date. Have a read of my list of things to do in Thailand if you’re going to head over.

4) Las Vegas

Viva Las Vegas, whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, the quotes are infamous and the city deserves its reputation. Sin City is a dangerous place for a gambler, as you quickly forget what time of day it is when in the casinos, as they make it appear like midday when it is 3am.

The club entry is very expensive, while the drinks are even more so, however my hot tip is to find the women who walk around with small drinks on a tray in exchange for tips, and buy the lot! These worked out a fraction of the price of the drinks behind the bar and got us ridiculously drunk. Oh, and between midnight and 6am at Hooters hotel you can get 25c chicken wings, definitely my hot tip!

5) Goa, India

Still not a big name like Ibiza or Vegas, Goa is rapidly gaining pace as one of the best party locations around the world. The highlight to me is that it hasn’t been over filled like Ibiza, Magaluf and Ayia Napa just yet, so there is a feeling that you have walked into a hidden treasure.

Palolem Beach holds some of the best beach parties, many of them silent disco’s (you have headphones in playing your own music or a set playlist) and massive bonfire parties. Anjuna beach is also a great spot for secret parties, while the best time to visit Goa would be during the winter. There are plenty of things to do in India for a trip with a difference.

6) Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is a place you can be promised an amazing time all year round (as long as you know where to go), however the biggest party of the year is on King’s Day (formerly Queen’s Day), on April 27th. Put on your orange clothing and join the 800,000 people dancing, drinking and smoking on the streets and on boats on the canal.

The celebration is nationwide, celebrating the King of the Kingdom’s birthday, Willem-Alexander. They also set up huge flea markets which you can raid through the day and find items and attire for the night ahead. Have a read of my list of things to do in Amsterdam.

7) Ayia Napa, Cyprus

The clubbing scene and beach parties in Ayia Napa are definitely tailored to a certain group, as the beaches become filled with English people paraletic and breaking everything in their path. A number of famous guest DJ’s attend the parties at Ayia Napa every year, while you can be promised a headache by the morning.

8) Brighton, England

Brighton is a sleeping giant during the winter, as it comes out to party during the summer months. Each weekend, half of London travels down on the train to party it up on the South Coast. If you’re flying in, Gatwick is located between London and Brighton, providing a 40 minute train journey to get there.

There are a number of nightclubs along the seafront, which stay open till around 5am, while people seem to be pretty merry all day around the seafront during the summer.

9) Berlin, Germany

The one key feature that really stood out for me with Berlin was that their clubs happily stayed open till 10am, where people would regularly nap in the bathrooms and wake up at 3am to continue the night.

The Berlin Love parade during the summer attracts huge drunken crowds, while a number of clubs have swimming pools fitted in. One bar in Berlin also offers a beer bath, however the price is lofty, so make sure you really want to rinse in real ale. If you head to Berlin, get ready for the Jaggerbombs!

10) Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok isn’t for everyone, a definite tourist trap, but if you’re the adventurous type then it has to be ticked off the list. You can begin with a dinner of fried bugs (cockroaches and co), followed by a shot of snake blood, then head down to a thai boxing bar. There you can fight your mate in exchange for a case of beers.

After that, you can take to the nightclubs, of which you will be spoilt for choice. Of course, there is plenty more to do once you get off the tourist cliche list. The acts that play live in Bangkok are becoming more high profile, while the street food available is mouth watering, albeit not the best quality. If you do visit, then I can wholeheartedly recommend the spectacular So Sofitel Hotel in Bangkok as it was one of the greatest hotels I’ve ever stayed in, the perfect 30th birthday present to myself.

11) Cancun, Mexico

Known across the pond for its legendary spring break parties, Cancun offers perfect white beaches, even if you can’t see the sand through all the party animals. Most popularly visited in March (obviously), expect heavy drinking, loud music and a party atmosphere like no-where else.

This is a destination commonly visited by Americans, but it is growing in popularity with Europeans. It’s also a popular destination for British people heading for a honeymoon, so it’s not just about the partying, thanks to the stunning resorts.

12) New Orleans, USA

Most people know New Orleans for the Mardi Gras celebrations, which made it onto my list of 100 things to do before you die, however any time of the year you visit you can expect loud music, beads and ridiculously strong cocktails! I went there a good few years ago and hands down it was one of the best times of my life.

13) Montreal, Canada

Perhaps my biggest temptation to visit Montreal, besides the wild nights and late night DJ’s on Mont-Royal Avenue, is the comedy festival. People from Montreal have a strong reputation, they don’t detest the drunken tourists, they welcome them with open hands, for they are party animals themselves.

You may want to practice your French before your visit however, being the main language in Montreal, but they still commonly understand English as well.

14) Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires has become a slight blur in my memory, a hell of a ride but something I shouldn’t write about in an open space, for the nights were beyond wild. The clubs were open till around 5am, while it seemed like a playground for adults, able to do whatever you want whenever you want, followed by a steak the next day for breakfast.

The restaurant cuisine was unbelievable, I know this isn’t the most important subject on a page about partying, but you do want to enjoy your food while you’re there and it was all so amazing.

15) Belgrade, Serbia

I love to find one people aren’t expecting on any list I create and I feel many people won’t be aware of the party atmosphere over in Eastern Europe. Serbia has some lively cities, but none more so than Belgrade. They actually host 24 hour parties, which makes me feel tired just thinking about it, but I have hit my thirties now (god I’m getting old). What’s most bizarre is that they’re often not held in night clubs, but held in random venues, offices or University buildings.

16) Prague, Czech Republic

To date, Prague is my favourite place in the whole of Europe, while they love to stay up late in this city. Plus, you can be guaranteed the best beer in the world from every bar, with so many of the greatest coming from Czech. If you do think of visiting, make sure to read my list of things to do in Prague.

17) Budapest, Hungary

Budapest has a lot of different clubs and festivals you could visit, but the biggest party is the Sparty, a pool party in their spa facilities. The child in me loved the whirling pool which pulled you along at high speeds, albeit I think everyone else was trying to meet someone.

Budapest also has some great pub crawls you can book yourself into, it’s an amazing way to meet other people who are new in town and are looking for a wild night. We made good friends (for a few days) with people on these bar crawls and ended up doing it again the next day, seeing the same groups.

18) Mykonos, Greece

Ok, how far does your budget stretch? This is such a nice area, but it certainly tested my bank account. Some of the restaurants almost become nightclubs, with dancers performing, karaoke taking place and napkin waving. Unfortunately the plate smashing doesn’t seem to happen much anymore (one place did it, but it cost hundreds of pounds per person for a meal).

There are so many Greek islands that could be listed in this article, in fact I might do a follow up article on the best Greek islands, while if you do visit, you might want to island hop to enjoy each one of them. There is nothing better to beat a hangover than a swim in the sea, while Mykonos has some gorgeous beaches to enjoy after a heavy night of drinking.

19) Stockholm, Sweden

Heading up to the much colder Scandinavia, Stockholm is more than just the capital of Sweden, it’s the party capital of Northern Europe! There are also dance floors catering music to all audiences, so you can pick and choose the one that suits you.

20) Sydney, Australia

Sydney has so much to offer someone looking for a wild night out, from beach parties to pool parties, dance floors to dive bars, DJ sets to live music, it has it all. It’s also great to visit all year round, meaning you don’t have to worry about visiting in peak season.

Where is your favourite party town around the world? Let me know in the comments below!

If you’re considering getting a tattoo while on holiday or just before flying abroad, you might want to know how air travel could affect your fresh ink. In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know to make an informed choice and help your tattoo heal smoothly.

Is It Safe to Fly with a Fresh Tattoo?

That’s probably a good place to start. The short answer is: Yes, it’s generally safe to fly with a fresh tattoo. However, there are some essential precautions you should take for both comfort and safety and to prevent any complications for when you land.

1) Healing and Altitude Pressure

A fresh tattoo is, essentially, an open wound, and the change in air pressure on a plane can make your skin feel tight or irritated, which can also be the case if you’re landing somewhere at high pressure like Peru.

Flying can also slow down the healing process if you don’t take care of it properly, as the recycled air in planes is dry and can cause dehydration (a reminder to drink lots of water on a plane, even if you hate the idea of running to the toilet every five minutes). Staying hydrated is key — both for your tattoo and your general well-being.

2) Tattoo Aftercare on a Plane

Tattoo artists tend to recommend keeping fresh tattoos covered for at least the first few hours (I was told a week and stuck to it, but I’ve since learnt nobody sticks to that rule). On a plane, it’s especially important to do the following:

• Protect Your Tattoo: Keep your tattoo clean and covered with a breathable bandage or specialist tattoo film (available from Tattoo parlours or on Amazon). Avoid cling film for prolonged periods as it can trap moisture, leading to bacteria buildup and increasing the risk of infection (that’s what I used, but I’ve since learned it’s not the best).
• Avoid Touching the Area: Resist the temptation to touch or scratch your tattoo, even if it starts to itch. Plane surfaces aren’t the cleanest, and unwashed hands can introduce bacteria. Seriously, it does get a bit itchy, but hold the temptation.
• Keep It Moisturised: Pack a small, travel-sized bottle of your preferred tattoo-friendly moisturiser. Apply a thin layer to keep it from drying out, but don’t overdo it; excessive moisture can interfere with the healing process. I’d say this one is optional depending on how recently you got your tattoo, you don’t need to apply anything if it’s only just been done, better to just leave it covered.

Choosing The Tattoo Placement Before a Flight

Placement matters, particularly if you’ll be travelling with your tattoo shortly after it’s done. Think about where your bags will rest and how you’ll be seated on the plane. For instance, a back or shoulder tattoo may be irritated by a heavy rucksack or the plane seatback, while a tattoo on your leg could get rubbed if you’re seated for long stretches.

If you’re going backpacking, you may want to avoid tattoos on the areas that will be under constant pressure or friction. I got my tattoo on my back (as can be seen in the pics), therefore I switched to a duffel bag rather than a rucksack for my trips directly afterwards, which was frustrating but felt necessary.

Sun Exposure

If you’re thinking about getting a tattoo on holiday, remember it’s highly advised to protect the tattoo from direct sunlight (as with all your skin, you don’t want to be wrinkly in 10 years time). UV rays can damage the fresh ink on the tattoo, causing it to fade or even change colour in some cases (I’ve heard of some go orange coloured). Given that your tattoo is a lifelong mark on your skin, sun damage is the last thing you want. To protect it, you could cover up when outdoors, plus you could use a suntan lotion with a decent level of SPF, but only after the initial healing period.

Avoid Hot Tubs, Pools, and the Sea

Ok, this one sucks, you get on holiday and you want to jump in the hotel pool or swim while on the beach, but these both could cause issues, especially the bleach in a pool.

Fresh tattoos and water don’t mix well. Swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, and the sea all contain bacteria and chemicals that can irritate or infect a tattoo. Even if it’s tempting to take a dip while on holiday, it’s best to wait until your tattoo has fully healed, the general rule is to wait 2 weeks. Submerging your tattoo in water can also draw ink out, which may cause it to look faded or patchy.

Managing Tattoo Pain and Discomfort While Flying

Flying can be uncomfortable enough as it is, and a fresh tattoo can add another layer of irritation. Here’s how to keep any pain to a minimum:

• Dress Comfortably: Forget fashion for a day! Wear loose, soft clothing that won’t rub against the tattooed area. If it’s on your leg, for example, avoid tight jeans and stick with shorts/skirt or trackies if you want it covered up.
• Stay Hydrated: I’ve already covered this, but you want to stay hydrated on your journey. Bring an empty water bottle into the airport and you can fill it up for free at the water fountains they have near the toilets. Hydrated skin heals more efficiently and will feel less irritated.
• Carry Pain Relief: If you’re feeling particularly uncomfortable, having some pain relief on hand can make a big difference. I always pack some, as you don’t know what will be available abroad and how much or at what strength.

Addressing Allergy Risks

If it’s your first tattoo, consider testing for ink allergies beforehand, not many people do but it’s generally recommended, especially if you’re travelling soon after. Finding this out once you’re on a long flight is the last thing you want, so if you’re at all concerned, check with your tattoo artist about doing a small test patch.

Lockdown might feel like a lifetime ago, but a good quiz picture round on Zoom still goes down a treat. We had amazing fun with my family and co-workers on a number of hilarious quizzes but I did find myself Googling for ideas and themes.

Therefore I wanted to share a number of online quiz ideas you could try over Zoom. If you’ve not played this before, the quiz master arranges a number of pictures around a category, then shows each picture in order and the competing players have to write down what they believe the picture is.

1) Brand Logos

This concept is so popular, there is an entire board game around it. So many brands are instantly recognisable nowadays, such as the golden arches of McDonald’s, or the Nike tick.

Try to consider the ages of people playing and get some from brands popular in each era, so to make it all equal. Also, make sure to throw in some hard ones!

2) Superheroes

They might struggle a little if they haven’t kept up with the Marvel series, but remember you can be creative here.

Include old variations as well as new, so you could have multiple Batman actors, to really confuse and test people’s knowledge.

3) Quality Streets / Roses

Whichever chocolate brand you pick, you can play the tester of ‘what chocolate is this’. I would struggle, I know I love the strawberry dreams in Roses, which I always have to quickly grab before my big sister.

There is also Celebrations or Heroes, which both have a number of famous chocolate bars.

4) Capital Cities

Don’t just go for the big ones, like Paris and London. Really try to test out their travel knowledge. Include the likes of Beijing, Moscow, Seoul and Buenos Aires to see how good they really are.

You could even try to include a trick one, e.g. include Sydney (the capital of Australia is actually Canberra), a point for the first person who points it out.

5) Music Artist

Again, depending on the age of the players, you should try to blend different eras. You should also contemplate what type of music everyone listens to, so it’s equally fair.

We grew up playing a great game called HumBug, where you had to hum the tune to the other players for them to guess. My dad would know all the 1950’s songs, but we’d be staring blankly back at him, so it can be difficult with age gaps.

6) Famous Actors/Actresses

Ok, I’ll say famous with a twist. If you go for Will Smith, Brad Pitt and Meryl Streep, the scores will all be equal. Try to look just below that level of celebrity status, the ones that people will know but might not know the name of by heart.

These could include Amy Adams, Chadwick Boseman, Jennifer Garner, Joaquin Phoenix, Kathy Bates, Tommy Lee Jones, Jane Fonda, Christopher Walken etc.

7) Baby Photos

I love this one. Admittedly, I love it a little less when I’m competing, as I often mistake myself for my little sister in the baby pictures, as I had incredibly long hair! I also seemed to be blonde for the first 4 years of my life.

Anyway, if someone has access to baby pictures, this could be a great one to catch some people out.

8) Animals

Forget the obvious ones we’re used to seeing like cows, chickens and hamsters. Try to think of the more unique ones where people will drop points.

You could try a capybara, pangolin, Tasmanian devil, Japanese spider crab, blobfish or the vampire fish. If you don’t know any of these, you’re going to have fun researching them!

9) Celebrity Caricatures

Type in a celebrity name and then ‘caricatures’ on Google and you will find a picture available on Google Images. Compile a list and test out whether people can catch on to their facial features. If possible, try to go for a picture where it’s not completely obvious, the worst drawings tend to bring out the greatest laughs.

10) Comedians

Try to do a mix of UK and abroad. Some ideas could include Jack Whitehall, Kevin Bridges, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams, Jimmy Carr, Eddie Izzard, David Mitchell, Peter Kay etc.

11) Football Club Badges

Ok, I’d only include this one if everyone in the group is a football fan, otherwise you might get some groans from non-football fans, who feel left out of this round.

Having said that, they might surprise themselves. Look at the Wolves logo of a wolf and their guess might just come out right. But some are certainly harder than others. You’ll have to blur out any writing on a club badge of course.

12) UK Cities

I’m writing this as someone based in the UK, but if you’re reading this and based in another country, then you might want to adapt this for your own country.

This will test out their domestic travel knowledge. Try to include some key landmarks and monuments to give the clue. You might want to include Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Nottingham, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, York and Cambridge, but to name a few.

13) British Foods

Again, if you’re from a different country, you might want to adapt this to your own country.

Some examples could be a beef wellington, Eton mess, Cornish pasty, jellied eels, spotted dick, black pudding, haggis, battered mars bar and toad in the hole. As you’ll notice from this list, most may guess them, but some will fall short.

You don’t want to go for the obvious ones like a roast dinner or fish and chips, as everyone will guess it straight away. Try to make them work for their answer.

14) Celebrity Chefs

Let’s test how much they’ve been keeping up with their cooking shows. I have to admit, I love every show Gordon Ramsay is part of!

Some example chefs you could include are Jamie Oliver, Wolfgang Puck, Delia Smith, Heston Blumenthal, Nigella Lawson, Ainsley Harriott, Paul Hollywood and Rick Stein.

15) Famous Movie Scene

There are some classic moments in a movie that you can recognise straight away, such as Neo from the Matrix bending backwards to dodge the bullets. One image and you should instantly guess it.

So try to collect famous images from movies. Some examples could be Hannibal Lecter rolling up with the mouth guard on, Tom Hanks sitting on the bench in Forrest Gump, the woman screaming while holding the phone in Scream, the Joker going down the steps or Macaulay Culkin screaming while holding his face in Home Alone.

16) Who Said That

You can look at famous quotes, or you could look at notorious Tweets, both would work equally well, especially following the years of Trump, where almost anything was Tweeted without filtering.

You could blend the areas you get this from, such as famous people from history or funny quotes at celebrity awards.

17) Cereal Boxes

You may need to blur out the writing on the box so this may test your Photoshop skills, or you can find a free website online to blur out sections of images. Or you may simply want to crop an image so the brand name is missing, just showing the box colours and characters on the front.

18) Name The Dog Breed

This will suit dog lovers to a T, but you can catch everyone out with some more unique ones.

Some example dog breeds you may want to include are Pomeranian, Dobermann, Shiba Inu, rottweiler, shih tzu, Maltese, Chow Chow, mountain Bernese, border collie, boxer, great Dane, Samoyed and a Yorkshire terrier.

19) Name That Cake

How much of a sweet tooth do the players have? Test their culinary knowledge with pictures of mouth-watering cakes.

Some you could include are the Victoria sponge, black forest gateau, molten chocolate cake, Sernik, Pound cake, sticky toffee pudding, pavlova, Cremeschnitte, Battenburg cake, scones, Bakewell tart, Dundee cake, Eccles cake, shortbread or a Chelsea bun.

20) Famous Politicians

This might not work if you have young people playing, but you could try famous politician faces, to test their knowledge of the political world.

There are a number of famous British politicians which you could include, such as Tony Blair, Boris Johnson, Ed Balls, Theresa May, Gordon Brown, Nicola Sturgeon, John Prescott, Sadiq Khan, Dominic Raab, Caroline Lucas, Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, Priti Patel, John Major, Vinca Cable, Hilary Benn and Keir Starmer.

It doesn’t matter what side of politics your family or friends sit on, you can pick a complete blend so everyone stands a chance.

21) Tall Buildings

It seems to be a constant race for countries around the world to have the tallest building, this is another one where you’ll be testing their travel knowledge, so it may favour the nomad of the group who jumps on a plane regularly.

Some you could include are Burj Khalifa, Shanghai Tower, Petronas Towers or the Makkah Royal Clock Tower. Despite being a big traveller, I think I’d drop a lot of points on this round!

22) Personal Drawing

This one is especially fun to prepare! Draw something or someone, whatever you want to draw, this is your choice. They then have to guess what the drawing is.

It could be animals, celebrities or people who are playing, don’t consign yourself to one category.

23) Celebrity Yearbook Photos

Yearbook or childhood photos, either will work fine, let’s see how well everyone can guess who these little kids grew up to be!

Some will look immaculately like their adult versions, while others went through a serious change in look. Just look for ‘*celebrity name* childhood photos’ on Google and you’ll find plenty.

24) Country Shapes

This is another geographical option, testing out their knowledge of the map. You can find individual images of the country shape, with no writing on the top via Google images, which will work to see if they can guess which country it is.

The United Kingdom is way too easy, but some others are achievable to guess yet remain just hard enough. I’m thinking the Italian boot shape, Chile, Russia, Cyprus, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Mexico, Canada, Iceland, India, Australia and the USA.

25) Cheese

Damn I love cheese! But I’m quite a boring sod when it comes to cheese, I love my mild ones, like Double Gloucester and Red Leicester, or maybe some cheddar. However, I still think I could guess the images of a fair few cheeses.

Some you may want to include are mozzarella, parmesan, gouda, brie, camembert, gorgonzola, ricotta and feta.

My dad is hooked to every cheese in the world, so I’m pretty certain he’d get 100% on this round!

26) Name That Tree

Alright, this one sounds a little boring, but you need to catch people out on certain rounds and make sure people drop some points.

Some you might want to include are the major oak tree, weeping willow, dragon tree, beech tree, apple, maple, sycamore, pine, fir, elm, magnolia, tulip, cedar and the butternut tree.

27) TV Series

With Netflix launching shows on a daily basis, it seems like there is a neverending list to catch up with.

Some shows you might want to include a picture of are the Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Planet Earth, Breaking Bad, Band of Brothers, Chernobyl, Sherlock, Friends, Dexter, Fawlty Towers, Narcos, Blackadder or the Peaky Blinders.

If you want some motivation, I’d recommend going to the IMDB top 250 TV shows, there are so many classics to pick from.

Like with the music options, try to blend different eras, so everyone stands a chance. Someone 70 years old might not know Rick and Morty, while an 18 year old might not know the Twilight Zone.

28) Famous Dogs

There are a number of dogs that have become famous for starring in a movie or a TV show, or even ones that have become famous for looking unique, such as Tunameltsmyheart (if you don’t know, go have a look on Instagram now).

Some you could include are Toto from the Wizard of Oz, Lassie, Beethoven, the Jack Russell Terrier from Frasier or Hooch from Turner and Hooch.

29) Famous Skylines

With the number of skyscrapers being built in some cities, it is becoming easy to guess a city from a far away image due to the skyline.

Some of the most iconic skylines that you could show a picture of are Chicago, Dubai, Sydney, Shanghai, New York (obviously), Kuala Lumpur, San Francisco, London, Singapore and Bangkok.

30) Extreme Close-up

I love this one, as I think it’s hilarious watching people try to guess. You can either pick a celebrity, or someone everyone in the group knows, but get a picture and then zoom in very close in the face, so it becomes hard to guess who it is.

The picture needs to have some kind of distinguishable feature which still makes it achievable.

31) Cartoon Characters

As mentioned with other rounds, if the age gap of the players varies, then you will need characters from different eras, or one that had longevity, showing on TV throughout.

Some you may want to try are Charlie Brown, Homer Simpson, Fred Flinstone, Popeye, Cartman, Squidward, Top Cat, Beavis, Yogi Bear, Hank Hill and Speedy Gonzales.

If there are parents in the group, then you could try some modern options, but it will be harsh on those that don’t have kids. Also, it doesn’t have to be kids cartoons, you can try adult cartoons such as Family Guy, American Dad and South Park.

32) Album Covers

It seems a thing of the past to know what album covers look like, so if there are players who are 24 or under, this round might be best to avoid.

Some album covers are instantly recognisable, partly as they’re great music and the albums sold well, but also because the album cover itself has gathered attention.

Some include Pink Floyd: The dark side of the moon, David Bowie: Aladdin Sane, Prince: Purple Rain, Bruce Springsteen: Born in the USA, NWA: Straight Outta Compton, Nirvana: Nevermind, Blink 182: Enema of the state and The Strokes: Is this it.

33) Famous Landmarks

You need to make sure to use some that haven’t been featured in any other geographical based round.

Obviously, skip ones like the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben, as this will be too easy. If you need some inspiration, you can check out my article on famous landmarks in Brazil.

Some of the most recognisable landmarks that you could go for are Sydney opera house, Kremlin, Taj Mahal or the Golden Gate Bridge.

34) Name The Connection

You will have to give people a bit of time to work these out in their heads, as it isn’t always obvious.

You need to find two people with connections that people MAY know. It could be that both actors has been the Dr in Doctor Who, or that two actresses have been ‘Bond girls’, or maybe that two actors are related that people don’t commonly know about.

35) Horror Movie Characters

My little sister would win this round easily. Despite being scared of every evil character, she loves a horror.

I only got into horrors a couple of years ago, but I’ve slowly been ticking them all off.

Some of the horror movie characters you could include a picture of are Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, It, Hannibal Lecter, Chucky, Carrie, Patrick Bateman or Norman Bates.

36) British Soap TV Sets

Whether it’s an image of Albert Square or Coronation Street, you can find images of the sets on Google without the actors in place, which could really rack their brains to remember which show it’s from.

37) Famous Straplines

You could go several ways with this. You could go with brand advertising slogans, such as Nike’s ‘just do it’ and Marmite’s ‘love it or hate it’, or you could go for famous movie excerpts that have been used to sell the movie.

I think some of these can catch people out, such as Disneyland’s ‘the happiest place on earth’ or Old Spice’s ‘ the original. If your grandfather hadn’t worn it, you wouldn’t exist’, genius!

38) What Year Was It?

You can gather a selection of images that will hint at the year.

For example, if you chose 1999, you could have the impeachment of Bill Clinton, the release of the Matrix, or a pic of Eminem’s video for My Name Is.

39) Who Won The Oscar?

This is great when it is a year where it’s highly dubious. The one that always comes to mind is the 1995 Oscars.

Going for best picture, you had Pulp Fiction, Quiz Show, The Shawshank Redemption, Four Weddings And A Funeral and Forrest Gump. That must have been the greatest year in movie history! For the record, Forrest Gump won, but my vote would have been for Shawshank Redemption.

40) Blurred Face

Get some pictures of famous people, whether actors, singers or people from history and then blur the image. This can easily be done online if you just type in ‘blur an image’.

The best part is hearing people’s wrong guesses, the more bizarre the better!

41) Childhood Foods

If you were brought up in the UK, then the likes of potato smiley faces, fish fingers, custard creams and Babybel’s should be instantly recognisable.

Of course, you have to be aware of where people were brought up in the group, this might not be favourable for an office if people grew up in different countries. I don’t expect everyone to have eaten a turkey dinosaur on a Sunday morning.

42) Country Customs

Did you know that people point with their thumbs in Malaysia? Or that slurping up your food is a compliment in Japan? If you ask for the salt when being served food in Egypt it’s seen as a huge insult of their cooking. When a child loses their tooth in Greece, they throw it on the roof.

All of these interesting cultural differences make for a great quiz round, but you might need to combine this with an image and a description.

43) Guess The Planet

How good is everyone’s astronomy? I would do terrible at this, or I presume I would, it’s all a childhood blur. But the planets in our solar system do look quite unique from each other, so some in the group should get pretty high scores. The real question is whether you include Pluto!

44) Oscar Awards

You could show Leonardo Di Caprio finally winning his Oscar, or when the wrong winner was announced with La La Land over Moonlight. How about the infamous scene when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock.

But some may be harder to remember (or you may be less aware of), like Martin Scorsese finally winning his long overdue directing Oscar for The Departed on his sixth attempt.

45) Face Merge

This one isn’t an idea I came up with, it’s actually from the Game Show activity we tried in Brighton, where you and your mates are on a mock game show. They got pictures of people within the room and merged them with a celebrity face and everyone had to guess the two people.

Some were harder than others, it’s a really creative idea and it will have everyone laughing (my mate being merged with the Queen was particularly hilarious).

You get to the airport, check-in your big suitcase, then you arrive at security only to find a big bottle of sun tan lotion in your hand luggage, to be taken away by airport security.

This was a memory from when I was 14 and how devastated my mum was when the entire holidays worth of sun tan lotion was taken away, which does cost a pretty penny.

However, we’re on the periphery of this all changing. No longer we’ll we have to take out our liquids from our hand luggage when we reach security. No longer will we only be allowed miniature bottles.

Why Is The Rule Changing?

There are new 3D scanners and enhanced X-ray machines, the C3-Standard Explosive Detection System Cabin Baggage (EDS-CB), which screens the baggage to detect any presence of explosive materials.

3D layered images have been created by the HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX in Heathrow since 2019, so much of this technology is far from new, but they’ve been patient in ensuring the technology properly works before making the switch.

What Does This Mean For Us?

• You will no longer have to take your laptop or battery packs out of your baggage
• You will no longer be limited to 100ml liquids in your bags
• You will no longer have to remove liquids from your baggage
• Due to the reduction in tasks at security, it means this process will be much more speedy and efficient
• Goodbye to those clear plastic bags, which is good for the environment
• The initial max you could bring was 1 litre, being 10 x 100ml bottles, which will no longer be the case

When Will This Change Take Place?

The date was set for the change to take place in June 2024, with major airports in the UK installing these devices in Heathrow, Stansted, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Manchester.

This was all announced in December 2022, however the June target was a loosely set date and there are rumours it might be delayed till the end of the summer or potentially next year.

The smaller airports in the country have managed to get these in place ready for June, some even testing it right now, but Heathrow and Gatwick look most likely to push it back until 2025.

I would recommend checking with the airport you’re flying from what the rule is before flying if you’re heading off this summer, but it might be worth sticking with the old rule to avoid disappointment or items being taken away.

Also, not every airport around the world is getting this organised at the same pace, so some may already have this installed and others may not, so be aware of this for the flight back home.

Madrid Barajas and Barcelona El-Prat are hoping to launch this technology in the summer, whereas other airports in Spain are pushing back until 2025. Paris Orly Airport has actually been testing out the scanner technology since October with positive results.

How Much Liquid Would I Be Allowed?

From what I’ve read, the rule will change to 2 litres per bottle rather than 100ml, while your total limit will change from 1 litre to 2 litres. Personally, I’m not sure why you would need any limit.