Traveling across Europe by road trip is a fantastic way to see the continent. Road trips, especially extended ones, can offer you a new lease on life while experiencing and seeing some of the most beautiful things nature has to offer, not to mention all the famous cities and quaint villages. You will see things on a road trip that you cannot see any other way. It really gives you a sense of the vastness of the land and how small you are in comparison. Everywhere you go, you will see different cultures and people which enhance your life and broaden your horizons.

Image from Pixabay

Your Car 

Having the right car is essential. After all, you are going to be spending a lot of time just sitting in the car and driving. So it needs to be comfortable, and it needs to be reliable. Is the car you have really the best option? Perhaps now is the time you invested in a new car, ideally something grand like a Bentley. You may even want to consider hiring a car on the continent as then it will come with left-hand drive. However, provided you are careful and make adequate adjustments, then a British car should be fine.

Visas

There are 44 countries in Europe, and not all of them are in the Schengen zone. You may need to organize a Visa if you want to visit some of the countries not yet in this area. It is probably wise to decide which countries you want to visit and do a bit of research. 

Insurance

It is essential that you double-check with your insurance company which of these countries are fine to visit, which are valid on your current insurance policy. If your heart is set on visiting all 44 countries, you may need insurance from a different provider or a separate package. Again you will need to investigate which is the best option for you.

Road Laws

Different countries have different road laws, so you need to remain vigilant. In France, you are required to carry reflective jackets for the driver and every passenger. In Austria and Croatia, you need a first aid kit, and in most countries, you are required to carry a warning triangle and vests for everyone on board. Additionally, in some countries, you need to pay road tolls at booths, in others, you need a vignette, which is like a prepaid toll or road tax. 

Emergency Services Number 

The emergency service number across pretty much all of Europe is 112, so save this in your phone or write it down whatever works best for you.

Maps

Having google maps is a great start. Downloading it onto your phone will mean that it is available even when you are offline, which may happen a lot. Also, consider buying a road map atlas of Europe. The absolute last thing you want is to be lost somewhere, and your phone has decided that it’s not going to work. Physical maps are essentials.

With the holiday season fast approaching, and the world opening up, when are you taking your road trip?

The admin side of things is definitely the only bad thing about travelling the world. Honestly, if we could just travel everywhere without needing passports, visas or any other documentation, life would be so much easier!

Obviously, there are reasons why it’s difficult to go to other countries. The rules are in place for security, but that doesn’t make them any easier to understand – or less stressful when planning a trip. Visas are the worst of it; you have to apply for specific visas when going to certain countries, ensuring you apply for the right one. They cost money as well, and you might need multiple visas if you’re travelling over different continents. 

Luckily, as UK citizens, we’re allowed to travel to a whole host of countries without needing a visa at all. Yes, even after the whole Brexit fiasco! Currently, there are 139 visa-free countries we can visit. I won’t list them all, simply because there are too many to cover! But, I will show you a selection of the best places you can go:

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The Schengen Area

We’ll start a little closer to home, and this is actually a bit of a cheat. The Schengen Area isn’t a country, it’s a group of countries around Europe. To confuse things even further, it doesn’t have anything to do with the European Union. You have countries in the Schengen Area that are part of the EU, and ones that aren’t. 

Anyway, the countries in this area can all be travelled to from the UK without needing a visa. However, as explained on the Europe Visa website, at some point you will need to fill in an ETIAS application to travel to these countries. This isn’t a visa, and it actually lets you enter countries without one. You don’t have to do this just yet, but expect the new law to be introduced in 2022. 

Regardless, you can still travel to these 26 countries without needing visas:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

New Zealand

That’s right, you can literally travel to the other side of the world without a visa. It’s weird how some countries make you get a visa and some don’t. For instance, if you went to Australia, you’d need a visa. 

Regardless, UK citizens are allowed into New Zealand without any visa at all. What’s more, you can stay there for up to 6 months!! That’s more than enough time to tour the entire country and its two islands. There is a slight caveat, but you’ll witness similar things in other countries as well. While a visa isn’t required, you will need an NZeTA. This is a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, and it can be applied via a mobile app or the internet. You have to pay for it, but it’s only $9 via the app, and it’s easy for you to get. 

Now, you can explore New Zealand and enjoy all the natural wonders and landscapes it has to offer, blending rural life with modern cities, it’s a joy to behold!

Indonesia

Believe it or not, you can travel to Indonesia without a visa. You can only stay there for 30 days, but that’s more than enough time for most travellers. This is probably one of the best places you can travel to as there are so many things to enjoy in this wonderful country. 

The best thing about Indonesia is that there are plenty of islands dotted around that fall under its territory. So, you can technically travel to places like Bali without the need for a visa either! As you know, this is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world because of all the gorgeous beaches and hotspots Bali has to offer. The food throughout Indonesia is stunning as well; it’s just a wonderful place to go, and having no visa requirements for UK citizens is the perfect excuse to go there!

Vietnam

Again, another really popular travel destination, and you can go there without a visa. The staying period is much less here; you can only stay in Vietnam for up to 15 days without a visa. Still, that’s a decent amount of time to see some of the main attractions here. 

Naturally, there are so many relics of the Vietnam War that are well worth your time. You really get a different perspective of the war, compared to what you might have learnt in school or heard about from Western news outlets. 

Then, there are acres upon acres of gorgeous landscapes for you to marvel at, along with some of the best cuisines your tastebuds will ever get to experience. 

South Africa

Home of the safari, South Africa is open to UK citizens for up to 90 days without a visa. Everyone goes to Cape Town when they visit South Africa, largely for the aforementioned safaris, and to see the iconic Table Mountain. 

This country boasts things that most other countries in the world could only dream of. Primarily, it’s home to so many different animals and rare species that you’ll only find in Africa. If you want to be one with nature and see loads of animals in their natural habitats away from zoos, South Africa is the place for you. 

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The Bahamas

There is actually a selection of countries in the Caribbean that you can travel to without a visa. I’ve picked the Bahamas because, well, who wouldn’t want to stay there for a while? You can only visit for up to 21 days without a visa, though you might be able to extend this for up to 8 months. 

Does it really matter? With so many sandy beaches, beautiful blue seas, and a whole host of delights, you’ll have more than your fair share of fun over three weeks in the Bahamas. 

There you have it; countries you can travel to from the UK without needing a visa. All you need is a valid UK passport, and you’re good to go. Of course, be sure you check all travel requirements and guidelines relating to COVID before you book your next trip!

Hey Ya’ll – it’s been a hot minute! Between a pandemic, moving houses and just not having the motivation, it’s been hard to be as active blogging.

Now most of us are probably at home or getting ready for Christmas (we ight as well) but there are many of you still travelling smart and getting away where possible. Your health is so important while you’re travelling, it can completely ruin your trip so it’s important that you look after yourself. But a lot of people aren’t aware of the health risks that they are likely to face (outside of Covid19) on their trip and they get caught out. These are some of the most common travel health issues and how you can avoid them. 

Source – Pixabay CCO License

Sun Damage 

The most obvious issue when you’re travelling is sun damage, especially if you’re not used to the warm weather, which most people from the UK aren’t. Most people know that they need to wear sunscreen and moisturise so they can protect their skin, but what about your eyes. Sunglasses aren’t just there to help you see in the bright light, they’re there to stop you from damaging your eyes. It’s important that you get a good quality pair of sunglasses from a site like https://www.eyeglasses.com instead of a cheap pair that won’t offer you any protection. You also need to be aware of the dangers of sunstroke as well. Make sure that you drink plenty of water and take a break to get out of the sun if you feel that you are getting too hot. 

Sickness 

There are a lot of reasons why you might get sick when you are travelling. In certain countries, drinking the tap water can cause a stomach upset and you might struggle with the food if you aren’t used to it. In a new country, just be careful what you eat and drink and try to stick to plain foods for the first day or two while you get used to things. 

Motion sickness is a big problem for some people when they travel as well and if you know that you are likely to suffer on long journeys, take these steps to prevent it.

Blisters 

Whether you’re on a hiking trip or you are walking around the shopping district, you usually do a lot of walking while you are travelling. Blisters are a very common problem when people are travelling and they can put a bit of a downer on the trip because you are constantly in pain while you are trying to see the sights. That’s why you need to make sure that you have sensible, supportive footwear if you are doing a lot of walking. Don’t wear a new pair of shoes either because they need to be broken in before you start doing a lot of walking. If you struggle with blisters, check out https://www.travelfashiongirl.com for some tips on avoiding them. 

Insect Bites 

Insect bites are annoying at the very least but in some countries, insects carry a lot of dangerous diseases, so you have to be careful. Wearing long sleeves and trousers will help you to avoid being bitten, but you also need to bring plenty of bug spray, especially if you are going to a country where bugs are a big problem. Make sure that you get all of the necessary jabs as well so you don’t catch anything nasty if you do get bitten. 

Next time you are planning a trip, make sure that you plan for these common travel health issues.

XOXO

Hello my peeps – So its been 10 weeks since I’ve been in lockdown and social distancing and I’ve been keeping busy with a) video content b) trialling new things with my hair and my skin!

An interesting one that I had to share was the multi-purpose use I found my indian healing clay to have. Most of you would have heard of this mask on your face, it’s all the rave these days, and I for one love it. It is said that the clay absorbs oils and bacteria from the skin and this is removed when washing it off. The same theory is true for using this mask on your hair.

You have to mix it with water and apple cider vinegar. Let’s talk about apple cider vinegar for a moment, this ingredient is the real MVP. This ingredient came into my life after I found out I had a yeast intolerance, and guess what balsamic vinegar uses yeast in processing. So I found out that apple cider vinegar was the safer alternative. In turns out it’s a lot more than an alternative to my salad dressings.

Apple cider vinegar helps to balance your scalp, skin and hair PH levels and is great for combating dry scalp. Watch the video below on how I use apple cider vinegar as a cleansing shampoo!

You can also drink apple cider vinegar with hot water, it helps bloating, aids in weight loss and help lower blood sugar levels. I sometimes add apple cider vinegar into my hot lemon,ginger and honey drink so it doesn’t overpower the flavour.

When using this on your hair, mix the indian clay with apple cider vinegar, water and olive oil (or any other essential oil) as instructed on the video and apply it on damp hair. Leave it for roughly 25 to 30minutes, your hair will start to feel really hard and dry but fear not, once you’re in the shower the mask washes off easily.

The results? My curls felt slightly less moisturised but I didn’t add the oil and damp and detangle my hair before. My curls however, were more coily and clumpy which I really loved and they held longer than usual so I will definitely be adding this to my routine.

Let me know what your experience was!

XOXO