Helsinki is not a cheap European city, but its reputation for being extremely expensive can be misleading. For travelers used to major cities in Western or Northern Europe, many everyday prices will feel fairly familiar, while accommodation, restaurant meals, drinks and several paid attractions can push the total higher. I would focus less on finding the cheapest possible options and more on knowing which expenses are worth paying for and which are easy to reduce. Helsinki’s compact center, reliable public transportation and many free sights make that easier than it […]

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Riviera Nayarit, Mexico — For many travelers, Nayarit begins with the Pacific: long stretches of beach, surf towns, jungle-covered mountains and the luxury resorts of Riviera Nayarit. But travel inland — or simply a few streets beyond the shoreline — and another side of the destination emerges. This is a Nayarit shaped by artisans and traditional cooks, Indigenous communities, centuries-old towns, archaeological sites, religious celebrations and recipes passed from one generation to another. As travelers increasingly seek experiences that offer a deeper connection to the places they visit, Nayarit is putting […]

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The Creek Khunkorn is a small, nature‑immersed café hidden along the rural road that leads toward Khun Korn Waterfall, about half an hour outside central Chiang Rai. Walking in one quickly realizes this isn’t a ‘normal’ restaurant in the conventional sense. Old license plates from the various states in the U.S. decorate a wall next to a bar and small covered seating areas overlook a stream. But keep walking and you will see numerous tables and chairs sitting in the stream; this is where patrons enjoy their meals. This feels […]

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DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA—AUGUST 2026—The Georgia mountain town of Dawsonville, conveniently an hour from downtown Atlanta and two hours from Chattanooga, is a cultural destination filled with world-class museums, great dining options and an upcoming agricultural trail. Top that off with a unique history of moonshining that led to the founding of NASCAR and Dawsonville makes for the perfect getaway. Unique History During the Great Depression when Prohibition was still in effect, Dawsonville residents produced moonshine to provide income for their struggling families. Because the production of alcohol was illegal at the […]

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New guide highlights local favorites, outdoor adventures, family-friendly attractions and hidden gems throughout Conejo Valley’s Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills, California. THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., August — Visit Conejo Valley is inviting travelers to take the scenic route with the launch of its new “101 Things to Do Just Off the 101” guide, a curated collection of stops and activities located throughout Conejo Valley and conveniently accessible from Highway 101. The “101 Things to Do Just Off the 101” guide highlights attractions across Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills and Newbury Park, featuring […]

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Tallinn is a city that feels like it’s been sketched from two different dreams: one medieval, one modern. Its Old Town – all cobbled lanes, spired churches and honey‑coloured stone – is a UNESCO‑listed wonder that looks almost too perfect to be real. But step beyond those ancient walls and you’ll find a city pulsing with creativity, digital innovation and a Nordic‑Baltic cool that’s entirely its own. For example, beyond the Old Town lies Telliskivi Creative City, Tallinn’s hipster‑industrial playground of street art, indie boutiques, concept stores, craft breweries and […]

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Photo credit: Dawsonville George CVB DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA—JULY 2026—Slip away from the noise and hustle of city life to the quaint town of Dawsonville, nestled within the scenic North Georgia Mountains. It’s the perfect getaway with unique options for accommodations and a growing culinary scene only an hour northwest of Atlanta and two hours south of Chattanooga. Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge One of Georgia’s most visited state parks is located just minutes from downtown Dawsonville, but the mountainous retreat feels a world away. Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge […]

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The brutal reality check that hits every backpacker flying from SE Asia into Australia. The barman at the first pub I walked into after dropping my bag slid a schooner across the bar and said nine dollars. I handed over a tenner and stood there waiting for change that wasn’t coming. He’d already moved on. I picked up the glass and did the maths in my head the way you do when you already know the answer isn’t good. Here’s what Southeast Asia does to you. It makes you genuinely […]

The post It Stopped Feeling Like Travelling and Started Feeling Like Surviving appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

Tobias Sweijen and Katarina Bagherian are the founders of Swaphouse, a free home-swapping platform helping people travel more affordably by exchanging homes with others around the world. Tobias is a product manager with a background in digital products, growth and user experience, while Katarina is a product, UX and customer insights leader who helps founders and teams build products people truly need. Together, they started Swaphouse after experiencing first-hand how difficult and expensive it is to find accommodation that was both affordable and suitable for longer, more flexible stays. What […]

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As of the end of 2025, Tunisia has seen a nearly ten-fold increase in tourism in the past few years. Primarily from Mediterranean cruises docking and dumping tourists for the day into the crowded downtown area, where they will visit to the markets and bazaars of the Souk (but won’t see much else.) But don’t knock it, the Souk is absolutely huge and you can easily get lost in the many narrow alleys. Tunis’ Souk also claims to house Africa’s two oldest cafes, dating back to around the year 1600. […]

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Bukidnon has a way of surprising travelers. One moment, you are passing through long highway stretches and cool mountain towns. Then suddenly, the landscape opens into rolling grasslands, misty ridges, cattle country, and wide scenic views that feel very different from the usual beach-and-waterfall image of Philippine travel. One of the best examples of that highland charm is Communal Ranch in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon. Known for its open grasslands, ranch scenery, mountain views, livestock, and cowboy-country atmosphere, Communal Ranch has become one of the most recognizable scenic stops in Northern Mindanao. […]

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I landed in Barcelona with a broken suitcase wheel, a dead phone, and absolutely no idea what I was doing. It was my first solo trip to Spain, and I’d spent weeks reading guides that all said the same thing: “Visit the Sagrada Familia before 9 AM for the best lighting.” Helpful? Sure. But not exactly the kind of advice that prepares you for the moment you step out of the metro into a plaza full of strangers, with the Catalan sun on your face and no plan beyond “find food.” Five days […]

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New Zealand pulls remote workers like nowhere else. The fibre broadband reaches further than you’d expect, the time zones work surprisingly well for Asian and Australian clients, and the scenery makes a 9am Zoom call feel almost bearable. But there’s a catch. Most places you’ll stay, from a Coromandel bach to a Queenstown Airbnb, were not designed with your spine in mind. Here’s how to work through Aotearoa without arriving home with a sore neck and a physio bill.   The Bach Problem The classic New Zealand holiday home is […]

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Annea Lockwood is an Aotearoa New Zealand-born composer and sound artist known for turning natural environments into immersive sound art. In her “Sound Map” projects, where she captures the sound of rivers, including the Danube, she records everything from flowing water to everyday human activity, revealing the river as a constantly shifting and living soundscape. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and taught at Vassar College for many years Q. You grew up in Aotearoa New Zealand and Aotearoa New Zealand is a land of natural wonders. […]

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Malta is a small island but it has probably the highest density of things to see and do per square kilometre of anywhere I’ve been. I know that sounds like a brochure. It’s not. You can drive across the main island in about 45 minutes. Most visitors give it a day or two, usually on a cruise ship stop — they walk around Valletta, take a photo of the harbour, and leave, which means they miss almost everything. Give Malta a week and you’ll see what I mean. The Light […]

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