travel

Pre Departure Checklist for Long Term Travel

| ameliacdowling

So I actually wrote this before I left home but ran out of time to post it… A week ago I said goodbye to England for almost 4 MONTHS and am now on the East Coast of America for a summer working at camp! This trip will be almost twice the length of my previous longest so I’ve had to put in a little more planning and preparation to make sure I’m completely ready to go (and then start uni 8 days after I get home…) (we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it). Here is my probably incomplete list of everything to do before you leave for summer camp or for other long term travel! Continue reading →

Best Jobs for Travel

| ameliacdowling

So you’re approaching the end of the academic year and you’re starting to think about how to spend your summer holiday. Maybe it’s a super long break between years at uni, maybe you need to relax after exams or maybe it’s the start of your gap year… Whatever your situation, the one thing that won’t change is that travel requires money, and unless you’re part of the tiny percentage of people whose parents will fund this, that means getting a job. From my experience there are definitely some jobs that are better suited to those who want to travel and I’ll be letting you know some of them here! Continue reading →

Visiting the US Embassy in London (J-1 visa)

| ameliacdowling

I still can’t work out if I’ve actually mentioned this on here but in June I’ll be flying to New York City (!!!) to spend my four months living and working at a summer camp in Pennsylvania! I can finally say that this is actually happening as yesterday (March 5th) I had my appointment at the US embassy in London and was granted my J-1 visa! The whole experience was a pretty interesting (and slightly stressful) one so I thought I’d share it on here in case anyone else has a visa appointment coming up or feels inspired to do this in the future…. 😉

Continue reading →

Sydney on a Budget

| ameliacdowling

Sydney, Australia. Home to some of the most wanderlust inspiring icons such as Bondi Beach, Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, Sydney also has well over 300 days of sunshine a year and never gets too cold. It’s easy to see why this city is such a popular spot to visit when in Aus! However for some travellers (backpackers, I’m looking at you), this location has one serious drawback. The cost. According to The Telegraph, Sydney is the 10th most expensive city in the world for travellers! However, this shouldn’t stop you from visiting, and I’ve put together my advice for saving money whilst still making the most of this beautiful place. Continue reading →

Recipe Ideas for Hostel Cooking

| ameliacdowling

If you’ve ever stayed in a hostel, then you will learn that their kitchens can vary hugely. One hostel’s ‘cooking facilities’ may mean a microwave and a fridge, whereas another might mean 10 rows of hobs, a Master Chef-worthy range of cooking implements and six fridges (my advice is to check pictures first). Your first time cooking in a hostel can be pretty stressful, so I’m going to share my recommended recipes and cooking advice!

Continue reading →

The People You’ll Meet in a Hostel

| ameliacdowling

Can you tell that I’m currently staying in hostels from all this hostel-themed content? Today I’m bringing you a non-definitive list of people you may meet in your hostel! Hostels are a real melting pot of people from all walks of life: budget business men, older travellers seeking interesting accommodation, long term residents on working visas looking for flats and jobs, and regular young backpackers. Please take this post with a pinch of salt, it’s meant to be humour, not me being a bitch!!

Continue reading →